Women from seven Otoe County churches gathered in Syracuse Friday for the World Day of Prayer service arranged this year by the African nation of Cameroon.

The women of Cameroon asked the world to join them in prayer for exploited children and social justice.

They said Cameroon is known as the “Africa in miniature” for its cultural diversity and emphasized the importance the people there place on music, family and faith.

Dottie Halvorsen of the United Methodist Church, which hosted this year’s event, has visited West Africa and said that was enough to land her the job of organizing the service.

 The United Methodist Church in Nebraska has a partnership with the United Methodist Church in Nigeria.

“We have since built an orphanage in nothwestern Nigeria very colse to Cameroon. I am now the chairperson of the Nebraska side of that partnership,” Halvorsen said.


She demonstrated articles of clothing worn by women in Cameroon while slides of photographs she took in Nigeria were shown.

Betty Sautter, who played piano, said she enjoys the world perspective. Over 170 countries joined in prayer on March 5 with the Cameroon theme of “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God.”
Edie Hillman said she attends the World Day of  Prayer whenever she can.

“I think the world needs more prayer in this day and age and when the world’s women pray, it’s very powerful,” she said.

Joan Cameron of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Otoe said the church is looking forward to hosting next year’s World Day of Prayer.

She said people leaving the service have a more positive attitude toward prayer.