Soon we will enter the season of Lent and begin to think again about Jesus' death and resurrection. Then at the end of March we will join with Christians all over the world to celebrate that wonderful resurrection.

But, before that, one part of the world in which we in the Diocese of Southwark have a particular interest, Zimbabwe, will be holding elections.

It is impossible to pick up a newspaper, listen to the radio or watch the television at the moment without hearing something about what is happening within this troubled country. So, it is even more important than usual that we here in Southwark take time to pray for those Christians within the Dioceses to which we are linked.

But, more than that, we need to pray for the nation as a whole for justice, peace and security for all the people there. For it is only as this comes that the country may begin to emerge from the poverty and crisis in which it finds itself.

Each year the Bishop of Southwark has a Lent Call and a regular feature of the Call is now to focus on some projects in our link Dioceses. So, this Lent why not use those projects to help you as you think and pray about our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.

This month's special report focuses on our Diocesan link with Zimbabwe. Links have had a bit of an unfortunate history really. They haven't always been seen as equally valuable to both partners. But, in the last few decades it has been realised that links between churches in different parts of the world can be very important to both churches.

Diocesan Links are about sharing experiences and learning from each other's liturgies and ways of life and, possibly most importantly, they are about praying for one another. The people in Zimbabwe find themselves in a really hard situation at present and yet many have a vibrant and lively faith, one that celebrates all that God has done for them. Let's give thanks for them and all that we can learn from them and support them with our prayers at this crucial time.