Basque Country Prayer Points for November 2024

Sampie Brown on November 30, 2024

Prayer Points and verse for the month:

Prayers points:

  • The flooding that happened in the Valencia region continues to be a major topic. Aid is still needed to support those who were impacted, workers to help clean-up from the devastation and people are looking to understand why and how this happened.
    • Pray for those impacted, the aid/relief workers and peace as people work to understand why.
  • November 25 is the day against male (domestic) violence. They shared some of the statistics from the last year and they have seen a ~7% increase from the same period as last year. About 6,000 women have received protection from the Ertzaintza (Basque Police) this year.
    • Pray for leaders as they look for solutions to reduce male violence, those who help protect and serve those affected, those affected and those who are the aggressors.
  • A leader in the Basque government is highlighting a concern about the declining usage of the Basque language in daily life. A resolution was presented to the European Language Equality Network (ELEN) and passed which further supported the concern. They are looking for ways to revitalize its usage and make it more commonly used.
    • Pray for leaders as they look for ways to preserve the Basque language.
  • Germany is the second largest buyer of products from factories located in Basque Country. Through the first 8 months of 2024, Germany has bought ~17€ million less than over the same period from 2023. Further data shows that the German economy may be moving into a contraction period.
    • Pray for the economies of Germany and the Basque Country as they look to understand these changes and adjust.
  • Spain is considering making a change to the legal limit of alcohol in the system after being the same for 35 years. It is currently at 0.5g/l and they are considering reducing it to be 0.2g/l.
    • Pray for those who are political leaders, officers who enforce the limits, victims of drivers under the influence and those who make a choice to drive under the influence.
  • The Basque University System is about to elect a new leader for the first time in 16 years. The term is for 6 years and the previous years only saw 1 candidate run. This time there are two candidates. The university has quite the world wide reputation being listed in the Top 400 in the Shanghai rating system, with some programs being in the top 200.
    • Pray for the candidates, those who are voting, the students and next steps the university will take with the new leader.

The verse for the month:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

Basque Country Prayer Points for June 2024

Sampie Brown on June 28, 2024

Prayer Points and verse for the month:

Prayers points:

  • The increase in home prices is continuing for both renters and buyers with no relief expected in the near term. They are saying it is due to several different factors. One of the largest of those is the lack of available housing. Others are the recent laws that were passed, apartments for tourists and for Donostia and its growing popularity.
    • Pray for people as they look for housing, the builders and leaders as they look for solutions
  • For the upcoming school year the trade schools (formación profesional), are seeing a significant increase in students registering. The number of employers who will support the program is also increasing. They are seeing this as beneficial as the labor market has shortages across several areas: factory mechanics, business admin and accounting, electricity and several other areas.
    • Praise that the trade school system is seeing an increase and for the collaboration with business to meet the needs. Pray for the students and teachers as they begin these programs.
  • The population in Basque Country with a university degree is the 4th highest percentage in all of Spain. Additionally the number of Basque Students that choose to continue studies in University is also 4th. This comes as Basque Students complete the exam for entering the university system at the beginning of June.
    • Praise for the high number of University Educated people living here and prayer for students as the look to make a decision about their education.
  • The European Parliament elections were held June 6-9. The results in Basque Country compared with 2019 saw PNV support drop and EH Bildu along with PSE-PP seeing an increase. For all of Spain, the PP party gained 9 seats and PSOE (PSE-PP)  dropped 1. Overall the PP party has a 2 seat advantage (22-20). The next largest party is VOX (far right) with 6 seats. The right wing parties did make some advancements, though not enough to have a majority.
    • Pray as these newly elected officials meet to form coalitions that will govern the EU for the upcoming 5 years.
  • Absenteeism is a growing concern for Basque businesses. Over the last ten years the number of days that workers are absent has doubled to be 22 days in 2023. Two listed causes were longer wait times to be seen by the health care system and mental health issues. The concerns for this increase are being voiced by business and political leaders.
    • Pray for workers, business and political leaders as they look for solutions on decreasing the number of days workers need to be absent.

The verse for the week:

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬