The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) International Director, Geoff Tunnicliffe has released a statement on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana in the USA.

He expressed his grave sadness at the events and offered unity and compassion with those that had been affected. Tunnicliffe said, “We unite in grief and sadness with all of those in the United States who have been affected by the hurricane and flooding. We grieve with those who have lost loved ones and all their belongings.”

He went on to ask for Christians across the globe to keep in their thoughts the ones suffering and made a call for worldwide prayer, “We call on Christians across the globe to remember these suffering ones in your prayers and to respond generously toward the relief interventions.”

Specifically the WEA asked for Christians to pray for:

• Courage and comfort to people still trapped by the flood waters.

• Healing and heath to the injured.

• Comfort for who have lost loved ones and those who have not yet heard from their loved ones in the effected regions.

• Rapid deployment of relief supplies – food, water, medical supplies, and clothes.

• Strength, courage and wisdom to the medical personnel helping the injured; persons searching for survivors, relief workers taking in food, water, and medical supplies; those counselling the bereaved and grief-stricken.

• Courage for Police and National Guard who are seeking to restore order and provide security.

• Guidance for Pastors, church leaders and lay people as they seek to provide spiritual counsel and help.

• Strength, courage and wisdom to those directing the emergency response.

• An end to the violence and a spirit of lawfulness on the part of all.

• An outpouring of generosity from the Christian community towards those affected by this tragedy.

In addition to all these, Tunnicliffe asked that people pray for those who seek the lord in “this time of tragedy”, and also for the National Association of Evangelicals and its affiliate members responding to the disaster.