Andy Clasper writes: “Christian Aid Week (13 – 19 May) is a time to express our unity as the people of God, our unity with one another and with the poorest communities in the world.” Andy works in Christian Aid’s Church Relations team and is passionate about the role the Church can play in the world.

“Christian Aid has a vision – a world free from poverty! We want to tell people that a different kind of world is possible.  A world where children live way beyond their fifth birthday and mothers don’t die in childbirth; where people don’t lose their lives to perfectly preventable diseases and have enough to feed their families; where every child can go to school and every person can live in a safe environment, as fully accepted and valued members of their society.

We want to tell people that this kind of world is possible, but we don’t just want to tell them, we want to show them too.  Our emergency relief work, long-term development projects and campaigning for justice are part of this demonstration, and every year Christian Aid Week is part of it too.

From Sunday 13 to Saturday 19 May this year – as many as 200,000 collectors will come together to help raise £13 million to support this work.  Many, many more, in churches and households up and down the country, will give, campaign and pray to see this vision of a world free from poverty begin to be made a reality.

This year we want prayer to be a huge part of this.  Prayer changes things and change of this scale will surely only come about with God’s help.  We’re asking people to stand together, uniting in prayer for those in poverty this Christian Aid Week.  And, as a visual symbol of this unity, we’re inviting them to share their prayer with us via text* and see it displayed on our website along with thousands of others. What will your prayer be this Christian Aid Week?”

Pete Grieg says: ‘I’ll be praying for some of the poorest people on earth and for all God’s people who minister his love practically and faithfully throughout the year.’

To find out more about the CA text prayer, go to www.caweek.org/pray. Be part of other Christian Aid Week events and activities around the UK and Ireland and check out www.caweek.org.