Mission Group Urges Christians to Set Aside Sept. 29-Oct. 5 for Focused Prayer

Contact: Palmer Holt, 704-662-2569, PHolt@InChristCommunications.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 26, 2014 /Standard Newswire/ -- SIM (www.sim.org), the global mission organization of which SIM USA (www.simusa.org) is a part, is encouraging Christians around the world to set aside Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and pray (www.praytoendebola.org) that God would stop the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.

SIM encourages prayer specifically for the people of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where the Ebola outbreak has been most severe. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 3,000 people already have died from Ebola, and more than 6,200 probable, confirmed and suspected cases of the disease have been reported. Experts say infections from the Ebola epidemic could soar to 1.4 million by mid-January.

"Our aim is that prayers will be raised continually throughout the entire week on behalf of those infected and affected by the Ebola virus," said Joshua Bogunjoko, international director of SIM. "Though we are troubled by this outbreak, we do not despair. Though we grieve, we are not without hope. For two millennia, the church has prioritized the sick and marginalized. We are called to do no less today."

The infection and death rates continue to rise in the region.  SIM urges prayer specifically for healthcare workers, grieving families, church and government leaders and protection for those who otherwise come in contact with the deadly disease.

SIM USA (www.simusa.org) had two of the three American missionary workers who contracted Ebola in Liberia and were evacuated to the U.S. for treatment.

SIM asks individuals and churches to particularly set aside Sunday, Oct. 5, as a day for focused prayer in stemming the tide of Ebola. The group asks Christians to pray individually, in groups and as church bodies for God to break the grip the deadly disease has upon the people of West Africa.

"We know that when Christians unite in prayer and call upon God, he acts," Bogunjoko said. "We have witnessed countless examples of God answering the prayers of his people — from seemingly every day requests to world changing events. This is no different. We hope millions of Christians around the world will join us as we ask God to deliver us from this horrendous Ebola outbreak."

The latest updates on SIM's role in the Ebola epidemic in Liberia are available at www.simusa.org.

To schedule an interview with Joshua Bogunjoko, SIM international director, contact Palmer Holt at 704-662-2569 or pholt@inchristcommunications.com.