Our hearts are breaking as we hear of the violent protests taking place across the UK following the tragic news of the stabbings that took place in Southport in July.
It is always so deeply tragic to hear about the murder of lives so young, so precious; something so wasteful in a young life full of promise cut short; something so brutal about wielding a knife to end a life; such that we are stunned each time we hear of yet another young life lost.
We mourn deeply with the families and friends of those three little girls, and all those affected by the tragedy in Southport. We pray for devastated families, mourning the loss of such precious young lives, and we long for justice.
Now, in the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident, our hearts continue to break as more lives are affected by growing and extreme social hostility.
Several towns and cities across the UK have now seen unrest, with hundreds of arrests being made, including in places such as Manchester, Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, Rotherham, Middlesborough and Belfast.
Our hearts cry out to the Lord.
And now we pray for peace in our cities, and across our nation. We pray reconciliation, for restoration – for the light of the gospel to shine out.
We pray for our police and emergency services – for wisdom and protection. For our national and local leaders as they discuss a way forward – we pray they would be guided by God to bring the right response.
Above all we pray for people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
“I urge … that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 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 Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4
As Christians on the mission that God has set before us, we continue to grow in love and hospitality, and we pray that we would be an example to others, being ministers of reconciliation.
For we know that all are made in the image of God, and all are invited to share in the life-saving good news of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful in challenging times like these, to be part of a community of Christians whose eyes are fixed on the light of the gospel, who are sharing that transforming news with the ‘outsiders’, those on the margins, with people who are displaced, with those from other faith backgrounds – through love and hospitality – as LCM have done over the last 189 years.
As the Bible says, the Lord “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
So even in the face of political turmoil, unrest and terrible violence, we can continue to fix our eyes on the cross and share the hope, freedom and dignity for all that is found in Jesus Christ.
Graham Miller, Chief Executive
London City Mission
Please join us in praying for peace. If you'd like to join our online prayer meeting on Wednesday 7 August, with Deputy CEO Efrem Buckle, to pray in light of the violent protests, then click here to register.
