A prayer for the Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls #bringbackourgirls

Tonight, May 7th at 6:30pm CST, people are invited to pray aloud the names of Nigeria's kidnapped girls. Pray these names tonight wherever you are and feel free to share this invitation to prayer with others.  Feel free to use and adapt the following prayer, one I wrote for our congregation, as you pray.  

The list of names includes both Christian and Muslim students and was sourced from http://www.punchng.com/news/can-releases-names-of-180-abducted-schoolgirls/ 

A Prayer for the Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls

O God of Mercy, you who call us to release the captives and comfort the afflicted, we pray for the Nigerian Schoolgirls who were abducted.  May they find light in the darkness and compassion in unexpected places.  May they be a comfort and strength to each other and in this time of fear may they be emboldened by hope and strengthened by your presence.  

We pray for the searchers, that they may have the resources necessary to enable the safe return of these children.  We pray for their parents--sick with worry, grief, frustration and anger.  We pray for their captors, that they may find it within themselves to allow for the safe return of these girls to their homes and families.  

And, in the midst of these prayers, for these girls--we pray for change in a world in which women and girls are all too often treated as objects and commodities, in which there is a "market" for the sale and trade of women and children.  We pray for a world in which acts of violence against women and children are all too frequently met with complacency and silence.   

May we as a community of faith shine light into these places of darkness.  May we as a community of faith raise up all of our children to advocate for the marginalized.  May we as a community of faith stand against the powers that seek to destroy the bodies and minds of women and girls.  May we as a community of faith give witness to the truth that each child born on this earth is a beloved child of God.  

And, tonight we lift up by name the missing daughters as we too cry out #bringbackourgirls 

Deborah Abge Christian, Awa Abge, Hauwa Yirma, Asabe Manu, Mwa Malam Pogu, Patiance Dzakwa, Saraya Mal. Stover, Mary Dauda, Gloria Mainta, Hanatu Ishaku, Gloria Dama and Tabitha Pogu, Maifa Dama, Ruth Kollo, Esther Usman, Awa James, Anthonia Yahonna, Kume Mutah, Aisha Ezekial, Nguba Buba, Kwanta Simon, Kummai Aboku, Esther Markus, Hana Stephen, Rifkatu Amos, Rebecca Mallum, Blessing Abana, Ladi Wadai, Tabitha Hyelampa and Ruth Ngladar, Safiya Abdu, Naomi Yahonna, Solomi Titus, Rhoda John, Rebecca Kabu, Christy Yahi, Rebecca Luka, Laraba John, Saratu Markus, Mary Usman, Debora Yahonna, Naomi Zakaria, Hanatu Musa, Hauwa Tella, Juliana Yakubu, Suzana Yakubu, Saraya Paul, Jummai Paul, Mary Sule and Jummai John, Yanke Shittima, Muli Waligam, Fatima Tabji, Eli Joseph, Saratu Emmanuel, Deborah Peter, Rahila Bitrus, Luggwa Sanda, Kauna Lalai, Lydia Emmar, Laraba Maman, Hauwa Isuwa, Comfort Habila, Hauwa Abdu, Hauwa Balti, Yana Joshua, Laraba Paul, Saraya Amos, Glory Yaga and Naomi Bitrus, Godiya Bitrus, Awa Bitrus, Naomi Luka, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Mary Yahona, Ladi Joel, Rejoice Sanki, Luggwa Samuel, Comfort Amos, Saraya Samuel, Sicker Abdul, Talata Daniel, Rejoice Musa, Deborah Abari, Salomi Pogu, Mary Amor, Ruth Joshua, Esther John, Esther Ayuba, Maryamu Yakubu, Zara Ishaku, Maryamu Wavi, Lydia Habila, Laraba Yahonna, Naomi Bitrus, Rahila Yahanna, Ruth Lawan, Ladi Paul and Mary Paul, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa, Margret Watsai, Deborah Jafaru, Filo Dauda, Febi Haruna, Ruth Ishaku, Racheal Nkeki, Rifkatu Soloman, Mairama Yahaya, Saratu Dauda, Jinkai Yama, Margret Shettima, Yana Yidau, Grace Paul, Amina Ali, Palmata Musa, Awagana Musa, Pindar Nuhu and Yana Pogu, Saraya Musa, Hauwa Joseph, Hauwa Kwakwi, Hauwa Musa, Maryamu Musa, Maimuna Usman, Rebeca Joseph, Liyatu Habitu, Rifkatu Yakubu, Naomi Philimon, Deborah Abbas, Ladi Ibrahim, Asabe Ali, Maryamu Bulama, Ruth Amos, Mary Ali and Abigail Bukar, Deborah Amos, Saraya Yanga, Kauna Luka, Christiana Bitrus, Yana Bukar, Hauwa Peter, Hadiza Yakubu, Lydia Simon, Ruth Bitrus, Mary Yakubu, Lugwa Mutah, Muwa Daniel, Hanatu Nuhu, Monica Enoch, Margret Yama, Docas Yakubu, Rhoda Peter, Rifkatu Galang, Saratu Ayuba, Naomi Adamu, Hauwa Ishaya, Rahap Ibrahim, Deborah Soloman, Hauwa Mutah, Hauwa Takai and Serah Samuel, Aishatu Musa, Aishatu Grema, Hauwa Nkeki, Hamsatu Abubakar, Mairama Abubakar, Hauwa Wule, Ihyi Abdu, Hasana Adamu, Rakiya Kwamtah, Halima Gamba, Aisha Lawan, Kabu Malla, Yayi Abana, Falta Lawan and Kwadugu Manu

And, in silence we pray for those girls whose names are not yet known

Amen.