WCC NEWS - Bible App brings “love for God and love for neighbour” prayers to smart phones

Materials for the world’s largest prayer gathering—the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity—are newly available on smart phones via a Bible App that is reaching millions of people. Photo:Marcelo Schneider/WCC 18 January 2024 In addition to the online material available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic, the resources are also available for smart phones via a Bible App produced through a collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and YouVersion. The theme for 2024 is "You shall love the Lord your God ...and your neighbour as yourself…” Members of different churches in Burkina Faso, facilitated by the Chemin Neuf Community, prepared the resources for the week, reflecting on the need to place love at the centre of the quest for peace and reconciliation. “When one considers the state of affairs in our world today, one can but conclude that there is a shortage of ‘neighbourliness.’ This year’s theme reminds us that our unceasing prayer for Christian unity must be fuelled by these two facets – love for God and love for neighbour,” said WCC programme executive for Spiritual Life Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts. “Being neighbourly is about possessing a deep sense of compassion and love for each other,” he said. “That is equally vital as affirming our love for God. The two are inseparable. When kept in balance, we are edified as we continue praying and working together for the ‘visible unity of Christians.’ ”  Materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches since 1968. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated in the Northern hemisphere from 18-25 January. The materials for 2024 are already available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic. Follow World Council Of Churches in the Bible App Download Social Media Cards created to promote the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland