The 14:40 Prayer for World Malaria Day

One child in Africa dies every 60 seconds from malaria. In a single 24-hour period—one day—1,440 people in Africa will succumb to this disease. World Malaria Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the devastating effects of this disease and encourage people to join in the worldwide effort to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.

Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) is inviting people across the globe to join them in a moment of prayer at 2:40 p.m. (14:40 on a 24-hour clock) on World Malaria Day—Wednesday, April 25, 2012—to remember the 1,440 Africans who die each day from malaria and to pray for all who suffer from malaria or will lose a child or other family member to the disease.

They offer the following as a potential prayer:

Lord God, our most merciful Father, in this fallen and sinful world death is the constant and impartial enemy of all. We humbly ask You to show mercy on all those who are suffering from malaria today. If it be Your will, restore the afflicted to full health. Surround them in their time of illness with Your love, especially the children who are weak and afraid, through the family and friends who minister to them. Comfort those who have already lost a loved one to malaria or will, especially the parents of young children, who in the minds of mothers and fathers are taken from this life too soon. We plead You to perform the miracle of ending this disease, in part through the education and relief efforts of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. Grant that LMI’s educators, physicians, health-care providers and missionaries are powerfully and fully equipped to bring an end to the human suffering and death in Africa caused by malaria. And Lord, through the Gospel of Your Son Jesus, proclaimed through Word and Sacrament, strengthen our faith and lead others to see that a life in His grace leads only to an eternal existence in Your loving presence. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior. Amen.

Learn more about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative at www.lcms.org/lmi.

Print this article