President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference pray for Venezuela following US military strikes
03 January 2026
Following months of increased US military activity against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific, the US has launched large-scale military strikes on military sites in Northern Venezuela, including Caracas.
On 3 January 2026, U.S. forces conducted multiple large-scale strikes, affecting military bases, communication towers, and dock infrastructure. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country. Maduro’s government have declared a national state of emergency, denounced the strikes as “imperialist aggression,” and have demanded proof of life.
Methodist Partner in Venezuela
Our Partner church in Venezuela, the Comunidad Cristiana Metodista de Venezuela, CCMV (the Methodist Christian Community of Venezuela) is located in the northwestern town of Maracaibo and has confirmed that the strikes have not directly affected its congregations. However, they are deeply perturbed by this US military intervention. The Revd Leonardo Elias Paredes Rivas, the Vice President of the CCMV, tells us “We did not sleep at all last night, but thanks be to God that we are all well…we are praying to God that his good, acceptable and perfect will to be done in our nation and in our church too”.
When asked how the Methodist Church in Britain can be praying for Venezuela at this time, the Revd Glen Mendoza, the treasurer of the CCMV responded by asking “pray for life and peace - that God would touch the hearts of those who are bearing arms.”
“Pray for life and peace - that God would touch the hearts of those who are bearing arms.”
The Revd Glen Mendoza, the treasurer of the CCMVPlease join us in praying for Venezuela
Almighty God, whose Son is called Prince of Peace,
We ask for the peace of Christ to reign in Venezuela.
We ask that you touch and move the hearts of all those intervening, bearing arms or calling for armed resistance.
May they be moved to seek a peaceful solution for the good of the nation.
We pray that the hearts of communities all over the country, especially those close to the strikes, will not be dismayed.
We pray that they will find the strength to turn to God for help in this time of trouble, remembering that God upholds them with his righteous right hand.
We pray for our partner church in Venezuela, the CCMV, that you grant its members peace during these disturbing times.
We pray, Lord, that you will strengthen their resolve to continue incarnating the faith, hope and love of Christ in their communities.
We join with our Venezuelan Methodist family in asking that your good, acceptable and perfect will be done in Venezuela and in the church.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
The President and Vice President of the Methodist Church in Britain