Rachel Sabbath Initiative
We need 100 prophetic voices to save women's lives. Will yours be one of them?
More than 350,000 women and girls die every year as a result of preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth, most of them in developing countries.
United Nations Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5), focuses on improving maternal health and universal access to family planning, which could prevent up to one third of these deaths.
The Religious Institute and national religious leaders call on congregations and denominations across a range of faith traditions to raise awareness and support for MDG 5 by observing a Rachel Sabbath in your congregation.
This could be as simple as including a prayer of the day in worship, or could include a sermon and/or religious education on maternal health and mortality. There are many resources available here to help worship leaders, religious educators, and social action committees draw attention to global maternal health and access to family planning.
Please let us know if you are participating in a Rachel Sabbath: click here.
NEW - Prayer for Maternal Health
Religious Education and Sermon Preparation Resources
Rachel Sabbath Library (books and online articles)
Why do we call this a Rachel Sabbath? Read Rachel's Story here.
Suggested Rachel Sabbath dates for 2012:
- March 8, 2012 - International Women's Day
- April 4, 2012 - World Health Day
- May 13, 2012 - Mother's Day
- July 11, 2012 - World Population Day
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