"For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever."

– Psalm 9:18

Africa

• Praise God for the conviction and sentencing of a man in Uganda who abused his partner over months, leading up to an especially violent attack earlier this year. The neighbors intervened, but he returned the next day with further threats. The survivor in this case reported to police, who partnered with IJM to investigate and bring charges in court. Last month, the man was sentenced to three years in prison for assault and threatening violence. Pray for his change of heart, and for communities to grow in their awareness of domestic violence and their willingness to bring it to an end.

Latin America

• Praise God for all the brave survivors of sex trafficking and sexual violence we have had the privilege to serve this year in Latin America. After IJM teams across the region have poured into their lives with many hours of therapy, follow-ups and more, many children and young women survivors have successfully completed their aftercare programs, and are now equipped and empowered to take ownership of the next steps of their restoration and pursue the lives they want. Pray that God will give them wisdom and direction to continue thriving in the next year.

South Asia

• Please continue to pray for children, women and men trapped in bonded labor slavery across South Asia at this time. With your help we are making so much progress, but millions of victims are still being forced to work in brick kilns, sugarcane farms, stone quarries or silk factories even as you read this prayer request. Pray we could work with our government partners to find families in need and rescue them quickly in the new year. Pray we could intercept human traffickers before they abuse the poor — so we can shut down this violence for good.

Southeast Asia

• Pray for our IJM staff in Southeast Asia. We praise God for each staff member who has worked sacrificially to bring rescue and restoration to vulnerable people. As the year comes to a close, please pray for peace and wisdom for each of our staff members as they celebrate what God has done this year and plan their goals for next year.