Christians from around the world participated in a prayer day designed to raise awareness about the plight of the Karen people of Burma, which has been under a military dictatorship since 1962. Roughly 1 million Karen have been displaced from their homes as a result of destruction caused by an ongoing internal conflict, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which organized the Global Day of Prayer for Burma along with Karen Aid, the Karen Action Group and the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People. The prayer day was held in London on March 10. “[CSW] believes that prayer changes things in ways beyond our imagination,” said Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s chief executive officer, the Christian Post reported. “Burma is a country that needs prayer—for the regime, for those suffering oppression and for those helping to change people’s despair to hope.” Among the prayer targets were for God’s truth and love to penetrate Burma; for lasting peace and freedom in the nation; and for the restoration of democracy, ethnic rights and freedom for all political prisoners, the Concerned for Burma Web site reported.
