With the surge of Omicron cases, Hong Kong has recorded over 1 million infections and more than 7,000 Covid patients have died. Pray for God’s intervention, mercy, and full protection for our society especially the weak and the elderly. Amen!

Some migrant domestic workers (MDWs) infected with Covid-19 have been fired or made homeless by their employers under the 5th wave of the pandemic. They approached our MDW programme team for aid; and we promptly responded by collaborating with other NGOs to offer care or anti-epidemic packs and asked for isolation shelter from the government which has been eventually approved. Pray that we strive to aid the MDWs in need who work far away from their hometowns to earn a living.

We are grateful to different supporting agencies for donating care packs including rapid antigen tests (RATs) and medicines to our service centres. The donations were distributed to our clients in need. Pray that our ministries always present a unified front of following Jesus Christ’s example.

Today is International Children’s Day!
May God’s message be instilled in all Christian hearts to embrace children and meditate on the verse, “whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:5) Pray that more people will partner with us to support abandoned and disabled children in Qinghai.  Amen!

Today is Ching Ming Festival (i.e., Tomb-sweeping Day). According to Chinese tradition, people sweep tombs and pay tribute to their ancestors.  Pray that they would also realize the one true God “though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:27-28)

Give thanks to all our supporters and donors. Our Season of Love Charity Drive – Healthy Nuts and Dried Nuts Sale ended last week. Another need-oriented campaign “Emergency COVID-19 Relief Packs” has been launched to raise funds to fill the need gaps for infected families and to protect the uninfected, especially those living in sub-divided units and elderly single people. Pray for continuous Godly providence during the pandemic.

Today is World Health Day; themed “Our Planet, Our Health”. During the epidemic, a polluted planet and increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease endangers our lives. Let’s pray for closer global collaboration in creating societies focusing on the well-being of mankind and a healthy planet, that we cherish and protect God’s wonderful creation.

16 undergraduates from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have volunteered in our “Power Up EM Summer Vacation” programme to online tutor ethnic minority students from early March to mid-April. Today marks a virtual closing ceremony. Pray that we strive to help the EM children in self-enhancement so that they will feel cherished in the community.

To curb the spread of the virus, the training courses under the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) particularly those placement-tied courses requiring practicum have been suspended until further notice, but virtual classes continue for others. Pray earnestly that all training services would resume face-to-face soon as we try to better equip the trainees and jobseekers. Amen! 

Over the past month, different centres of our Social Services Division have been collecting and distributing the most-needed anti-pandemic care packs including masks, RAT kits, disinfectants, food and supermarket cash coupons  to deprived families under our food programme and other social service centres. Pray that our ministries will relieve part of their burden at this stressful moment.  

To help deal with the pandemic, our Ethnic Minorities (EM) support team has delivered over 1,000 Whatsapp messages to alert EM students about infection preventive measures and urge them to take Covid-19 doses for better protection. Pray that the latter will unite to fight the virus and feel the concern of the community through our efforts.

Our Centre for Refugees continues to conduct home visits to deliver anti-epidemic supplies and food packs to one of the most marginalized sectors during the epidemic crisis.  Pray for His full protection and provision for them when they serve their clients as mentioned in Matthew 25:40 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Amen!

Praise God!
This month, about 210 donation boxes will be placed at the counters of a well-established fast-food chain and a Japanese departmental store. Pray for our unwavering faith in His divine providence and protection particularly at this critical time.

One of our partner churches has been actively preparing 10 primary-six pupils under our after-school care programme who will attend admission interviews for their Secondary School Place Allocation to be held from mid-April onwards. Pray that we strive to enrich the children from the disadvantaged sector with skills and love; so that they feel cared for despite the challenges ahead.

Today is Good Friday!  May we meditate on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Hope that we will be empowered by His word, His sacrificial example and His presence; and that we will persist in our vision and mission with passion and conviction even in times of adversity.  

Our Charitable Tax Exemption scheme has been launched since March and is targeted to partner with corporate clients to bring hope to the underprivileged. Pray that the proceeds will be channeled to support the food and after-school programmes for these grassroots families.

Hallelujah! Christ is risen!  
Pray that through Our Lord’s resurrection, all Christian Action’s (CA) staff, supporters, board members and all their families are lifted, just as it says in Isaiah 40:31, “…those who wait for the Lord shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles…”

The hearings for some of our shelter clients under the MDW Programme have been adjourned partly due to their Covid-19 infections, and partly due to the court suspension. May God bless them to overcome all challenges with a gentle and hopeful spirit; and that they may start new lives either in Hong Kong or in their mother countries when the cases are settled.

Answered prayer
Hoorah! Today face-to-face classes will resume in primary schools as schools have been closed for early summer break since March due to the Omicron outbreak on the condition that the pandemic situation has not worsened. Pray for His full protection to all children clients under our after-school care programme and mentorship programme.

Please continue to pray for our Administration and IT teams as their services may not be easily “noticed” by others, but their support is indispensable to the smooth operation of CA under the epidemic outbreak. Pray for His full protection, especially for the former who have to shuttle daily from centre to centre; or visit different venues.  

Our 9th-phase Child Development Fund (CDF) Mentorship programme is under recruitment now. Long Ping Service Centre has conducted 2 virtual briefing sessions this month about this programme to potential client families and partner churches to invite mentees and mentors respectively. Pray that our next generation will be blessed to seek God through this pair-up relationship.   

The 2022 HK Diploma of Secondary School Examination will begin next Monday. Please pray for all students sitting for it especially those under the care of our youth programmes amid the epidemic crisis, that they would also discover their dreams and passions in life as they map out their future career path under the services we offer. Pray that they will believe that God has a plan to prosper them.

Please intercede for Christian Action Asia (USA) to receive Godly inspiration and wisdom to promote our ministry helping the deprived and disabled children on the Tibetan Plateau; and that more partners will join us to deliver hope and love to those children in need in Qinghai.

Please pray for the smooth staff transition for our Centre for Refugees; that they strive to garner enough support including the manpower for our ministry to serve the most marginalized sector in the city. Amen!

CA’s Board meeting will be held this week.  Pray for His divine insight and protection for CA through the dedicated board members who support our ministry for the disadvantaged sector both in HK and Qinghai even during the pandemic strain.

Under the severe Omicron crisis, our various Social Services Centres continue to offer the most-needed items and supportive services to our clients in need, particularly those who have currently contracted Covid-19. Pray that people would learn that we are following Jesus Christ’s example to bring love and hope for the desperate and deprived in the community.

Please pray for Godly guidance as our China Programme team is making a new project plan for the disadvantaged children in Qinghai. Pray that our ministries can fill the service gaps and needs of those children.

This morning sees the Annual General Meeting for the Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor (HKCNP).  Mrs. Cheung-Ang Siew Mei, JP, our Executive Director, will join in her capacity as an Executive Committee member of the HKCNP.  Pray that the network will continue to extend a helping hand to the impoverished under the strain of the Omicron surge.  

Give thanks! The Employment Support Services Programme teams received funding from the Social Welfare Department to enhance preventive measures at the centres against the virus spread. Pray that the priority of protecting staff, clients and visitors will improve workplace safety. Amen!

This April, our Social Enterprise Department launched several “Green Collection Charity Drives” in various private housing estates in Kowloon East.  Pray that our goodwill would spread further across the city; and more people would embrace our green initiative.