Saturday, July 25, 2009

Election Fever

Coming home tonight I waited impatiently behind two buses crammed with young people hanging out the windows and shouting “Tzartché!” In another week the president will be holding a referendum that will allow him to continue as President for another three years and run for re-election an unlimited number of times. ( “Tzartché” is Hausa for something along the lines of “continuity”) Tensions are building as all the opposition parties have united to not simply present a “no” vote but a boycott of the referendum altogether. International pressure has also come into play to discourage the president in his current attempt to change the constitution. While we don’t expect any this to have any direct impact on us or our ministry, it does reflect the issues that come up regularly in our conversations with our friends and something that is in the forefront of many people’s minds. Many local churches and local prayer groups have made the political situation a major topic of prayer, and we too invite you to pray for the peace and stability of our country. If you are curious to know more details of what’s happening here , googling “Niger Referendum” would probably yield some fruitful results.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

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