Americans joined in a national day of prayer to pray for those affected by Hurricane Harvey on Sunday.
The prayer day was called via a presidential proclamation, with US President Donald Trump noting at the signing of the proclamation late last week that “[f]rom the beginning of our Nation, Americans have joined together in prayer during times of great need, to ask for God’s blessings and guidance”.
The death toll from the hurricane which struck the southern US last week has reportedly risen to at least 50 with more than a million people displaced from their homes. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has estimated the cost of the damage to be up to $US180 billion.
Paying tribute to those who have aided in the response – including first responders such as the Coast Guard, Mr Trump said that people “have never seen anything quite like this”.
“Individuals of every background are striving for the same goal: to aid and comfort people facing devastating losses,” he said. “As Americans, we know that no challenge is too great for us to overcome – no challenge.”
Meanwhile the head of the World Council of Churches, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said in a statement issued over the weekend that churches were praying for those affected by floods in both the US and South Asia, where at least 41 million people have been affected and more than 1,200 killed in countries including Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
“We stand with you as you face the pain of lost loved ones, destroyed homes and disrupted lives,” he said. “We pray for your continued strength and for the strength of those offering rescue and relief in so many ways – as churches, as neighbors, through amazing feats and through simple acts of kindness.”
He commended the individuals, churches and organisations responding to the crises.
