From 23 February to 1 March, thousands of Christians will join in prayer to see real change around the world.

Tearfund’s Global Poverty Prayer Week is a call to the UK church to join with churches around the world in calling on God to hear the cry of their hearts for some of the world’s most difficult situations.

Disaster relief, water and sanitation, climate change, people living with HIV, and the impact of the local church in the most needy places are all topics for prayer during Tearfund’s Global Poverty Prayer Week.

"Is it his world in our hands, or is it our world in his hands?" says Matthew Frost, Tearfund’s Chief Executive.

"Whichever way you look at it, God has invited us to be part of restoring this fallen, broken, beautiful world. He has given us the privilege of partnership. And we know that he answers prayer."

He pointed to a recent prayer effort which saw thousands of Tearfund supporters joining with others around the world in prayer for people living in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the regime of rebel leader General Nkunda.

"We prayed that God would move in his heart after his army had defeated the country’s army in vast areas around the eastern city of Goma," says Frost.

"We were concerned for the 250,000 people who had been made homeless as a result of his rebel uprising. We took it to God in prayer, alongside those who were suffering and oppressed, and cried out for justice.

"Soon afterwards, the rebel group unexpectedly split, lessening Nkunda’s power, and then last week Nkunda himself was arrested by Rwandan troops."

Resources for prayer, including a DVD featuring Lynne Hybels, Tim Hughes and Roger Forster, have been made available through the Tearfund website to support Christians in the week of prayer.

"We know that praying about global poverty issues and world events does have an impact, both on our own lives as well as to others. God is at work in this world, and it’s exciting to be part of it!"

On the web: www.tearfund.org/prayerweek