January 2013

My dear friend,

I write to you from Curitiba, where I came to celebrate Project Hannah Brazil’s 10th anniversary, as well as to launch the Portuguese version of my book When Hope Wins.  The conference celebration took place at the birthplace of Brazil in Porto Seguro – a beach town where the Portuguese celebrated their first Mass upon discovering this land.  Women here carry the sadness and bruises in their bodies and souls inflicted by “domestic violence – an evil that worldwide kills more women then heart disease, traffic accidents or even war!”  We start 2013 interceding for this mortal gangrene to stop destroying lives and families everywhere!  Think of the power unleashed by the prayers of more than 40,000 Project Hannah intercessors praying earnestly for the same requests in more than 70 languages!

My friend, as we pray, let’s not forget that we all have broken God’s law.  Selfishness and pride – the root cause of violence – actually lives inside of us!  By God’s mercy and his gift of faith, we can pray with confidence knowing that his promise will be fulfilled.  “If my people humble themselves … I will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Abuse and domestic violence is encroaching in many Christian families.  Let’s pray that believers will repent, submit to Christ, die to self and follow Him, loving and respecting the women in their families.

As we do so, we partner with God as a catalyst restoring countless families and we experience firsthand that, indeed, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).  I encourage you, dear friend, to ponder the crude realities reflected in the daily prayer request. As we gird ourselves with determination to do the faithful work of prayer, we become “world changers.”  I don’t know about you, but this very thought energizes me.

So I invite you to pray without ceasing.  Pray fervently proclaiming God’s word and calling hurting women to “[a]rise, shine, for your light has come” (Isaiah 60:1).  The Light of the world – Jesus’ light – can pierce and destroy the darkness of all evils and certainly of the darkness of domestic violence.

Praying with you,

Marli Spieker
Global Ministry Director/Founder
Project Hannah
TWR