Welcome to the June 2026 Prayer Vigil!
The word “compassion” is explained in one way as “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others” or defined in mirriam-webster.com as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it”. It means to sense, understand and share in the suffering of others and a desire to help either in word or in deed. There are many places in the Bible where we are told that God is a God of compassion.
In Exodus 34:5 - 6, we read “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…””
Elsewhere in the Bible we come across many testimonies of God’s compassion -
Ps. 86:15 - “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Ps. 103:13-14 - “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
Lam. 3:22-23 - “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
In Nehemiah chapter 9 the Israelites worshipped and confessed their sins, recounting how God had been compassionate and gracious to rescue them from their sufferings which came upon them as a consequence of their unfaithfulness and rebellion (Neh. 9: 17, 28).
In the New Testament, God’s compassion is reflected in the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” where the father ran out to embrace his wayward son who returned home repentant (Luke 15:20). In the Gospels, Jesus who is one with God (Jn. 10:30; Jn. 14:9) revealed to us the nature and character of God, his love and compassion. In John 11: 33-35 Jesus wept in response to Mary and Martha’s grief over Lazarus’ death, and on many other occasions Jesus showed compassion -
Matt. 14:14 - “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Matt. 15:32 - “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”” (See also Matt. 9:36; Mark 1:40-41).
As children of God who have and continue to receive the benefit of God’s love and compassion in our times of trials and suffering, how are we to respond? We are certainly to be filled with gratitude and praises for our Father in heaven, but also to take on the character of Christ our Lord and Savior. God’s will for us can be seen in Christ’s statement “Love your neighbor as yourself” and in the ensuing “Parable of the Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37). We are also to heed the warning in the “Parable of the Unmerciful Servant” (Matt. 18:23-35). Although the parable is about forgiveness, it shows that any of our actions which are contrary to God’s character will cause God’s displeasure.
Pray -
Holy Father, Almighty God, thank you for your great love, mercy and compassion which are new every morning. Without them we will certainly perish! Help us Lord by your Holy Spirit for we are weak. Help us to continuously abide in Jesus your Son so that our faith and our love for you and others will continue to be strengthened, and so that those in need will experience your compassion through us and give you praise.
Continue in prayer for -
- Those who have recently been baptized that their faith and love for God will grow through knowledge of God’s word.
- Thanksgiving for Pastor Dominic and other speakers whom the Lord has graciously called to minister to IBC and teach us God’s word.
- The deacons, ministry leaders and teams, the church staff, Life Group leaders and Small Community Group hosts, that the Spirit will work through them to help the whole Body of IBC work together as one and grow in Christ.
- The Lord to raise up more leaders and discipleship makers in IBC so that we will be a community of disciple makers and prayer warriors to fulfill the vision and mission of IBC.
- The Pastor Search Team to be led by the Spirit as they continue to meet with candidates.
- The participants in the Alpha Course, that God’s word will dwell in their hearts and bear fruit even though Alpha has ended.
- God’s guidance and protection for Carlos and Analie in their future ministry after they leave Hong Kong.
- Suzy Pelling in the Children Ministry and Amy Tong in the Youth Ministry.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong Kong and beyond.
- The inmates of the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, Lai Chi Kok prison and other prisons; the street sleepers in Sham Shui Po and Happy Valley; the elderly in Wah Fu Estate and Silver Mine Bay; that they may experience God’s love and receive salvation through Jesus.
- Our young people who are studying or working abroad; for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
- Those we know who need physical, emotional or spiritual healing and care: Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi (recovery after stroke); Tony Mo (recovery from second stroke); Mike Ainslie (Alzheimer’s); Brian and Yun Xiang’s baby Hudson; Alice's brother in law, Edward (treatment for rare illness); Thomas Lam (eyesight); Iris’ two sisters, Winnie and Teresa, and Jackson’s sister-in-law Alice (God’s grace in their fight with cancer); Stephanie’s father (eyesight and hearing); Frank’s brother Jan (glaucoma) and brother John (cancer); Ailin Iwan’s father Susanto Iwan in the U.S.(metastasized prostate cancer); Vera Tong in Canada (chemotherapy for cancer); Sandy’s father (Thomas’ father-in-law) in Shanghai (cancer treatment); Auntie Anna’s granddaughter (treatment after removal of rare brain tumour); Charlie Teo’s grandfather (critically ill).
- God’s grace, care and strength for Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Kaushic’s mother and Alex’s father; continue to pray for Steve Metz and his family members.
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs.
- Non-believing friends and loved ones to be drawn to Jesus – Charlie Teo’s grandfather; Frank’s brother Jan; Kenneth’s mother and siblings; Terry’s son Joseph; Michelle Niem’s family members; Angela’s sister and brother-in-law; Pansy’s husband; Stephanie’s parents and sister; Frederick’s mother; Ivy’s son and family; Maria Tanielu’s mother and family in Samoa; Charles’ brother William in Canada; Iris’ sister Winnie in Australia; Ailin Iwan’s parents in the U.S.; and Sandy’s father in Shanghai.
We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]