The earthquake in Chile may cost the global insurance industry as much as $7bn (£4.7bn), Swiss Re has estimated. Though the material costs may be high the loss of life is irreplaceable.  Pray for the families and relatives who have lost loved ones and friends in the earthquake and pray for all who now have to rebuild their shattered lives.  Remember the poor who would not have been able to pay for insurance and depend on assistance from aid agencies, churches and charities.

Half a million people will need to be moved from their homes in mountainous areas of Uganda because of the risk of mudslides, the government has said. Hundreds are believed to have died last week when mud enveloped communities on the slopes of Mount Elgon, in the east. The government said some 200,000 people living in the west, near the Ruwenzori mountains, would be among those who should be relocated.  Pray for the bereaved of those killed in the mudslide and for those who need to be relocated.

The father of a British boy kidnapped in Pakistan has returned home, against the wishes of the country's police, the BBC has learned.  Sahil Saeed, five, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was seized by an armed gang while staying with relatives last week.  Pray for Sahil's safety and release and also for his parents and relatives.

Pray for the leadership of the church in Belgium. There is a lack of Belgian pastors, especially in the northern Flemish area. Less than half of the leaders in the Flemish churches are from that area. Pray for new life in the church and for many Belgians to be called into leadership in the church.

Sandwiched between Brazil and Suriname, French Guiana is the only remaining colony in South America.  There has never been any permanent work established among the tribes who live in the equatorial jungle. Pray that Christians from tribes in Brazil and Suriname would be called to share the gospel and disciple people from their tribes who live in Guiana.

Protestant and evangelical Christians face some persecution and hassles from the authorities. Pray that churches would still grow despite all the problems they face.