together for children

World Weekend of Prayer

for Children at Risk
2nd-3rd June 2007

together for children

World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

elcome to the World Weekend of Prayer for

Children at Risk! Thank you for adding your
voice to the prayers of millions of Christians, as
we unite in our different nations on 2nd and 3rd June
2007.

Although the problems facing children have never been

more serious, we believe in a God of hope, who is greater
than any of these things. He tells us to
be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer1, and we come to him this weekend in response
to that call.
Let us pray together for Gods hope and healing to
transform life for the desperately poor, the orphaned, the
exploited and the neglected. Pray that the reality of who
God is will touch childrens hearts, bringing peace and joy

to those who feel hopeless and afraid. Jesus said,

I am the light of the world (John 8:12)
I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
I am the gate (John 10:9)
I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
I am the true vine (John 15:1)
Lets not stop with one weekend. Persevere with us in
seeking God over the weeks and months to come. Let us
be patient through difficult circumstances, and faithful in
asking God to lift children out of the situations which put
them at risk.

1 Romans 12:12

How does Viva help children?

oday, the Christian community represents the

largest body of care for the estimated 1.2 billion
children at risk worldwide. Tens of thousands of
individuals and projects are reaching out to them and
speaking up for them. Yet, due to the sheer scale of the
situation, these workers often find themselves isolated and
under-trained, with some projects existing on the brink of
closure.

It doesnt have to be this way. Even though more children

are at risk than ever before, we believe that the Church
has the potential to make a profound difference, if only it
worked better together.
Working together, we can revolutionise the quality and
quantity of care available to the worlds most needy
children. Together, we can influence governments and

change policies that work against children. Together, our

solutions are better and our responses quicker. Simply put,
when we work together, more children will
receive better help.
Today, Vivas network is a global community of childcare
practitioners and supporters totally committed to working
together to give children all they need to thrive.
Established in 1996, Viva has pioneered effective
collaborative work amongst Christian projects and
organisations serving children at risk.
Today, Viva members are helping 1.8 million children. At a
local and national level, there are 89 network initiatives
representing over 7000 childcare projects in 40 countries.
At the international level, 82 Christian NGOs and mission
agencies are associate members.

Suggestions for prayer event organisers

Planning a prayer event

Get together with a few other people who can help you plan
the event.
Decide on a venue, and the length of your prayer time.
Think about the programme for the event. It often works well
to include a variety of ways to pray, and a range of different
prayer topics. See How to use the resources on page 7 for
ideas.
Decide who will lead each section of the prayer event. Dont
try to do it all yourself!
Buy any necessary materials. Paper and pens are needed for
some of the prayer activities, and you might like to provide
drinks or snacks for longer events.
Pray for the event, for the people who will come, and for
children at risk.
Publicising the event
Ask your church leader to help you promote the prayer event
in notices during services, and in notice sheets.
Make a simple flyer and give this out at local churches.
Put up posters in your area, using the template available on
www.viva.org/pray.
Advertise the event in a local newspaper and/or on local radio.
You can download a sample press release from the Viva
website.

Keep praying
See What can we do next? on page 34 for ways to stay
involved and keep supporting children at risk throughout the
year. You can pray in your own daily devotions, keep your
church up to date with prayer needs, or give towards Vivas
work for children.
Feedback
Remember to fill in the sheet at the back of the booklet, and
send it back to Viva so we can improve our prayer resources in
future years, and encourage others with stories of prayer events
all around the world. You can also fill it in online at
www.viva.org/pray at the click of a mouse!
On the day, keep a count of the numbers of people (adults,
youth and children) who take part, so you can remember when
you come to fill in the sheet.
5

How to use the resources

o make best use of these resources, work out

what kind of prayer time is most suitable for your
group, and find the parts of this booklet that will be
useful to you:

Are you planning a church service focused on children

at risk for 3rd June? See our service ideas on page 9.
Are children taking part? Bring the issues to life using the
stories in each section of the booklet, and help the children
to imagine what its like to be a child living in each situation.
Involve them through the prayer activities in each section,
and make the time active, varied and fun! For more ideas,
see the Activity File on www.viva.org/pray.
Are you organising an event at your church or in your
community? There are all sorts of ways to be involved, so
here are a few ideas:
Maybe you are meeting in a home with a few other
Christians Choose a couple of the sections in this
booklet and talk through the issues together. Break into
smaller groups and pray, using the prayer points to start
you off.

Or perhaps you are holding a larger-scale prayer

gathering Use the prayer information and stories to tell
the group about a wide range of issues. You might like to
ask children or others involved to read out some of the
stories, or to present a section using role-play. Or display
information about each theme in different corners of the
room, so that people can read and respond to it in their
own time. Be creative!
Choose prayer activities suitable for your group, and
intersperse them with quiet prayer times and worship.
You might like to sing worship songs that remind the group
of Gods love for the vulnerable, and his power to change
lives.
At the end of your prayer time whether it lasts ten
minutes or ten hours come together and pray the 2007
Prayer for Children at Risk (see back cover). Youll be
joining with over a million others around the world, as
together you lift your prayers to God in unity of purpose,
on behalf of children.

Praying for children at risk in your church service

eel free to use any or all of these suggestions to plan

a church service for the World Weekend of Prayer
for Children at Risk. Why not make it a family service,
with children playing an active part?

Make sure you tell people in advance that the services on

Sunday 3rd June will focus on children at risk. You could
include the following text in your notice sheet:
Did you know that 1 in 5 of the worlds population is a
child at risk? Join us on 3rd June as we focus on children
around the world who suffer from poverty, abuse and
exploitation and help make a difference!
Prayer time
Encourage children in your church to lead a prayer time,
choosing the themes that catch their attention.
Read out several of the stories from the booklet, along
with some background information.
Pray through the prayer points from these sections,
either from the front or in small groups.
All pray the 2007 Prayer for Children at Risk together

(see page 20). You can print this on service sheets, or

use an overhead projector so everyone can see it.
Sermon
You could base the sermon on Jesus I am statements
in Johns gospel (see page 3), considering the impact that
these make on all of our lives. Talk about the way Gods
character is revealed through these verses, and how he
can bring hope and change for children at risk. Perhaps
focus on just one or two of the verses, looking more
closely at the concept of Jesus as the light of the world, or
of Jesus as the good shepherd, for example.
Make the talk child-friendly by using some of the suggested
prayer activities, and involving children through role-play
or visual demonstrations.
Communion
If your service includes Communion, you could include a
short time of meditation on the verse, I am the bread of
life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he
who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35.

World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the light of the world

John 8:12

The world is a dark place for the many children who suffer
sexual abuse, violence and exploitation. But Gods light can
break through into the darkest places, exposing the wrong
that has been done to children and bringing hope and
salvation. Jesus is the light of the world the light for every
nation, every situation, and every child.

Thanh, a 12-year old Vietnamese girl, was recently rescued from a brothel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where she was forced to
serve up to eight men each day. Her family had sold her into the brothel to pay off their debts.
At first, she found it hard to adapt to living in her foster home. Torn between relief and fear, she felt she had let her family down
by escaping the brothel. Now, she is beginning to settle in. She is going to school for the first time, and her caregivers are helping
to build her confidence through activities like horse-riding, sewing and hairdressing classes.
Life is still a struggle, as she suffers from sleeplessness and anxiety, but counsellors are helping her to recover from her trauma.
Unfortunately, she cannot go back to her family, as they are likely to re-sell her. But as she builds a relationship with her
housemother at the foster home, and learns to feel secure, staff hope that she will grow into a happy and healthy young woman2.
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Thanhs Story

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The facts

Exploitation
Up to 27 million people are enslaved through sexual
exploitation and forced labour, and nearly half of these are
children3. This is more than double the number deported
during the 400 years of slave trade to the Americas, but often
the problem is hidden from view. Sexual activity is generally
seen as a private issue, so communities can be slow to
intervene. Children are particularly vulnerable as they are not
strong enough to defend themselves from violence, and they
do not know how to find help.
The Chab Dai network in Cambodia has begun to counter
this by giving out thousands of help cards to vulnerable
children. The cards give phone numbers for the agencies that
can help them if they are in danger, or have been abused.
They provide a way out for children who dont know where
else to turn.
Work
A large proportion of children 218 million worldwide

have to work to earn a living, although this number has

gradually started to decline4. Many of them work in
dangerous places like factories, mines or on the streets. While
children in richer countries often protest about going to
school, these working children are denied the privilege of
education. Things need to change if the cycle of poverty is to
be broken, with children equipped to fulfil their potential.
Violence
Children are often caught up in war: 300,000 children around
the world are involved in fighting, in 30 separate war zones5.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Colombia and
many other nations, children are either involved in conflict, or
still recovering from the trauma it causes. In northern
Uganda, children are only now beginning to feel safe enough
to sleep in their own homes at night. For years, rebels have
been raiding rural villages, kidnapping thousands of children to
fight and to serve as wives for soldiers. At the height of the
unrest, 50,000 children6 left their homes each evening,
walking miles to sleep in urban areas and avoid abduction.

2 Chab Dai Network, Cambodia, 2006. 3 K. Bales, www.freetheslaves.net. 4 International Labour Organisation, The End of Child Labour: Within Reach report. 5 UNICEF, Child Soldiers
Factsheet, http://www.unicef.org/protection/childsoldiers.pdf. 6 Stop the Traffik campaign, Uganda project, http://www.stopthetraffik.org/projects/uganda.aspx

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300,000 children are involved in fighting

I am the light of the world

Prayer points
Pray for nations to recognise the full extent of child
sexual exploitation in their country and region, and to
take action to stop it.
Pray for Christians working to bring Gods light into the
lives of exploited children. Pray that the darkness would
be dispelled as they persevere in bringing justice and
hope.
Thank God that the number of children who have to
work for a living is going down. Pray that governments
and international groups will continue working to lift
needy families out of poverty, so that children are freed
from the need to work.

Activity
We can be lights in a world that is dark because of sin. Our light can be
our prayers. Each prayer can bring Gods light to hurting children. Take a
candle or another kind of light. Ask someone to volunteer to pray and let
that person hold the light during his or her prayer. Then pass the light to
the next person. Holding the light reminds us that our prayer brings light
into that situation. If you are inside, turn off the main light and use the
candle to emphasise the powerful light that prayer brings.

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World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the bread of life

John 6:35

Jesus gives us life. We need him, just as we need food to stay

alive. The crowds followed Jesus because they saw that he
could meet their needs. They saw him healing people, and
feeding five thousand with a few loaves and fishes. His
message of eternal life was about physical as well as spiritual
bread - Jesus cares about every aspect of our lives.

In Costa Rica, the Casa Viva initiative is helping churches to support children at risk on their doorsteps, training and supporting Christian families
to foster children in need of a home. Paula and Sebastian were among the first helped when the initiative began.
Paulas mother abandoned her when she was 11. Life on the streets was hard, and soon she was entangled in the world of commercial sexual
exploitation. At 14, she became pregnant, and gave birth to a baby boy, Sebastian. The government placed the two of them in a home for single
mothers, but the funding for their accommodation only lasted until Paulas 18th birthday. She was unable to take care of Sebastian on her own, so
the government was ready to put him into a state orphanage a situation that Paula desperately wanted to avoid.
Casa Viva stepped in, with a Christian couple and their two children taking Sebastian into their home. The Casa Viva team at their church helped
find Paula a part-time job and a place to live, and she has regular contact with her little boy and the family. Once Paula has re-established
herself, everyone hopes that she and Sebastian will be reunited7.
14

7 Casa Viva, Costa Rica, 2006

Paula and
Sebastians Story

15

The facts
Basic needs
Childrens health and wellbeing are threatened when their
basic needs are not met. 27,000 children die every day
because of hunger or preventable disease8. 100 million
children live or work on the streets9. Even in the UK,
regarded as a rich country, 1 in 7 children are either
homeless or living in poor housing10. More than a billion
children worldwide are living in extreme need11. The church
needs to show children that God can satisfy their hunger.
We have received Jesus bread of life for ourselves, and we
need to share it in practical ways.
Bible clubs
In 2006, a church in Chile ran a summer Bible club in a
needy area close by. Their pastor, Simon Aquino, says:
We fasted for seven days, praying for the event. We were
expecting 20 to 30 children at the local community centre,
but on the first day 200 turned up! They didnt all fit into the
building, so we had to take one group outside for their

sessions. We spent the amount we had for the week in one

day, yet God not only provided the money to feed the 200
children that day, but gave us enough for the whole week. A
Sunday school was soon launched there too.
Pavement Project
The Pavement Project is another way that Christians share
the bread of life with children at risk. Providing counselling
for street children, it leads them through a process of telling
their own story, and brings God's Word into their lives.
David is one child who received counselling in Kenya. At the
end of the session, he was given a card with the Bible verse
The Lord watches over you (Psalm 121:5). He told his
counsellor that he had never known that Jesus watched over
him on the street, and the session really made an impact on
him. Within days, he was showing his card to other street
boys, telling them about Jesus, and inviting them to Sunday
school. Thanks in part to Pavement Project, he is now living
at home with his grandparents and going to school.

8 UNICEF, Young Child Survival and Development, http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index_34322.html. 9 UNICEF, State of the Worlds Children 2006. 10 Shelter, Against the Odds report,
2006. 11 UNICEF, Child Poverty in the Developing World report, 2003

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100 million children are on the street

I am the bread of life

Prayer points
Thank God for his promise to satisfy our deepest needs
as we come to him, and pray for children you know to
understand his love for them.
Pray that more and more churches will find ways of
reaching out to the children around them, through
projects like Bible clubs and fostering.
Pray for young people like David, Paula and Sebastian
to be set free from poverty and homelessness. Pray that
governments will take childrens needs seriously,
fighting injustices in society.

Activity
Bread reminds us that Jesus cares about the needs in our life, and came
to give us life. Give everyone a piece of bread to hold, or have one piece
of bread to pass around during the prayer time. Ask someone to name a
need that a child at risk might have (such as food, a home, healthcare,
education) then ask that person to pray for children around the world
who are experiencing that need now. Take turns, letting everyone pray
for the needs of children at risk. Afterwards, eat the bread together and
praise God for providing for you all.

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World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the gate; whoever enters through me

will be saved John 10:9
Jesus promises to save us as we come to God through him,
and children need to know the safety and protection he
brings. Coming to him brings eternal relationship with God,
and the promise of a home in heaven where there will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain12

When Maggie was young, her father left home. Her mother was left to raise six small children alone, in Davao City in the Philippines. She couldnt
make enough money to live on by selling snack food on the city streets, and even with her eldest sons income it was hard to make ends meet. By
the time Maggie was 17, the situation was bleak; so when her aunt found out about a well-paid job as an entertainer in Japan, Maggie and her
mother were persuaded that she should go abroad to work.
She set off on a journey that would take her by boat to Manila, and then by plane to Japan, fearful but convinced that she was doing the right
thing for her family. At the docks, she met three other girls and a woman who would escort them to their new home.
Fortunately for Maggie, a social worker from a Christian ministry was aware of the areas trafficking problem, and watching out for potential
victims. She was able to intervene before they boarded the boat, and she took the girls to the Bahay Silungan shelter. Maggie returned home two
days later, and a local church spent time with the family, explaining the dynamics and dangers of child trafficking to Maggies mother. With access
to information and guidance, the family is safer than before, and less likely to be deceived by the hollow promises of traffickers. Education is a key
part of the fight against trafficking13.
18

7 12 Revelation 21:4. 13 Philippines Childrens Ministry Network (PCMN), 2006.

Maggies Story

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The facts

Trafficking
So many children are vulnerable and far from home, unable
to come and go freely because they have been trafficked
from one country to another. Forced or tricked into leaving
their homes, children find themselves in a foreign country,
with no-one to help them escape the exploitation waiting for
them there. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked
each year14 it is the fastest-growing form of international
crime. This year, the Stop the Traffik campaign
(www.stopthetraffik.org) is raising awareness of the issue,
and lobbying governments and the United Nations to bring
about change.

Birth registration
One problem that often escapes the public eye is
statelessness. When children do not have citizenship in the
country where they live, they often cannot access education,

basic rights and services. It is very hard for the stateless to

challenge the injustices they face. This is a problem for
trafficked children, but also for many poor families who
cannot register the births of their children because they live
in isolated areas, or lack the information needed.
As governments do not officially recognise the existence of
unregistered children, they are outside the states
protection, making them even more vulnerable. 30% of all
births go unregistered15. This is a significant problem around
the world.
Some nations actively prevent certain ethnic groups from
registering their childrens birth. In Central and Eastern
Europe, Roma children are affected. In Syria, Kurds are
unable to register births. Whole sections of society face
discrimination through these policies, which are intended to
make the size of the immigrant population look smaller than
it actually is16.

14 UNICEF, Child Protection Factsheet, http://www.unicef.org/protection/cpgeneral.pdf. 15 UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_birthregistration.html. 16 ibid

20

1.2 million children are trafficked each year

I am the gate
Prayer points
Pray for many more children worldwide to come to know God
as their protector.
Pray for children like Maggie to be kept safe from trafficking,
and for education about its dangers to be made widely
available wherever families are vulnerable to it.
Pray for changes to make it easier for all families to register
their babies births, so that childrens rights are protected
and needs met.

Activity
Ask two people to make a gateway by standing opposite each other
and holding each others hands above their heads. In turn, have everyone
else walk through this gate, as a symbol of children coming to Jesus in
safety. As each person goes through the gate, ask them to pray for
trafficked and stateless children to be protected and treated justly.

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World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the good shepherd, who lays down

his life for the sheep John 10:11
Thousands of Christians all over the world are living like
Jesus in the sacrificial way that they serve children at risk.
Jesus set us an example in laying down his life for us, and
childrens workers often set aside their own comforts and
ambitions to bring hope to children. Like the good shepherd
tending his sheep, they care for lost and needy children,
keeping them safe and guiding them through their early life.
Oto and Maria are a Christian couple living in eastern Slovakia. When their three children grew up and left home, their house
felt empty - they decided to become foster parents for children in need of a home.
After a lengthy process, five Roma children were placed in their family. They are now parents to Martinka, David, Lacko, Patrik
and Ondrej, who are aged between 8 and 12.
When the children came to them, they were fearful, thin and had frequent bad dreams. At home, they had experienced a lot
of violence and had lived in poverty. The trauma of their background still affects them: Lacko involuntarily covers his head with
his hands when people try to touch him. Now, the children have a stable, happy home, and they are adjusting to their new life.
They enjoy helping in the garden and the kitchen, and they all attend school.
The family is supported by their local network of childrens ministries and carers. Each year, they go to Viva Network Slovakias
conference, where they meet other foster parents and receive vital training on caring for the children, as well as lots of spiritual
encouragement. They are regulars at the Foster Family Club, and receive help from a psychologist and specialist teacher. With
this ongoing input, the couple are able to bring new hope and a safe childhood to children who desperately need it.
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Oto and Marias

Story

23

The facts

Caregivers and networks

Over time, the responsibility involved in their work can
leave caregivers tired out. When workers spend years living
closely with vulnerable children, loving them and being
involved with their lives, there isnt much time to receive the
help and support that they need for themselves.
Vivas local networks provide a forum where ministries can
find ways to work together and to support each other.
Childrens workers can learn from the experience of others
who have already dealt with the issues and questions that
they are facing. Emily is a member of the network in
Kampala, Uganda, and runs the Ray of Hope slum school.
She says, It is invaluable to be able to share and pray with
others who are all following Christian standards. It makes
such a difference.
Caregivers retreats are organised by many of the networks,
providing a time for them to relax, listen to God, and receive

24

from him. Getting away from their everyday pressures helps

them to renew their vision and sense of calling in their work
for children. Talking through issues with others in similar
situations is reassuring and can help resolve problems. One
volunteer at a ministry in the Philippines was ready to leave
before she took part in a caregivers retreat, but the time
away helped her so much that she was able to carry on in
her work. She has been meeting up with another retreat
participant ever since, sharing encouragements and even
beginning more outreach work for children at risk.
Networks also provide training in how to support children with
particular needs, such as trauma counselling and HIV/AIDS
care. Child protection, healthcare, and other issues that
members need to deal with are covered in various training
programmes. Workers are equipped to give children a better
standard of care, and their confidence is increased.

It is invaluable to share and pray with others

I am the good shepherd

Prayer points
Pray for God to strengthen childrens workers as they
cope with demanding situations and give their time and
love to children at risk
Thank God for the work of networks worldwide which
support caregivers and help them to achieve more for
children in their area
Pray for children who are fostered or cared for by
Christians. Pray for God to help them feel secure and
happy in their new homes, and that they will know him
as their good shepherd

Activity
Adults who care for or shepherd children need our prayers. Ask one
person to hold a toy lamb, a picture of a sheep or a shepherds crook
that person will represent these caregivers. Gather in a circle around the
caregiver and pray for all those who give their time and love to hurting
children. Talk about what needs these adults might have:
encouragement, extra helpers, time to get everything done, talking with
other Christians, etc. As each idea is shared, ask someone to turn that
idea into a prayer.

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World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the way, the truth and the life

John 14:6

Jesus brings certainty of hope and salvation in a world full of

uncertainty and change. He offers us true life. Following him,
the way, we can have life in all its fullness and an eternal
relationship with God the Father.

Vivas Christmas parties give thousands of children in 23 countries the opportunity to spend a few hours enjoying their childhood
to the full. Leopoldina, who attended a party in Nicaragua, said This was a very special afternoon for us. We didnt think we
would be able to celebrate Christmas this year because we have nothing.
But as well as giving thousands of children a fun and safe time, these parties provide an opportunity for Christian ministries to
connect with the children, find out their needs, and offer them the appropriate support. In the past, these parties have been
turning points for many children who have been able to receive residential care, or start attending drop-in centres and
education programmes as a result.
The gospel message is a central part of the parties, so children like 12-year old Lucy in Argentina often hear about Jesus for the
first time and are drawn to his good news. Follow-up events and camps are planned, so there are opportunities for Lucy and
others to find out more about the way, the truth and the life.
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Christmas Parties

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The facts

HIV/AIDS
For vulnerable children around the world, a perfect Father is
what they need most. Many look after their brothers and
sisters because their parents have died through HIV/AIDS.
15.2 million children have lost one or both of their parents
to AIDS-related diseases, and only 10% of them receive any
support from outside their communities17. Grieving, and too
young for the responsibilities which come their way, these
children are amongst the most vulnerable of all. God is the
Father of the fatherless18, and his comfort and strength can
reach each one of them.

Abandonment and family breakdown

Other children have run away from abusive families, or have
been abandoned by parents who cannot cope with bringing
them up. In Romania, at least 9,000 babies are abandoned
at hospitals every year19. Mothers who cannot afford to
support their children often leave them in the care of others,
and this is accepted within Romanian culture.
In many countries, a large proportion of children have little
contact with their fathers after their parents divorce or
separate. A quarter of fathers in the UK do not live with their
children20.
Children whose parents have abandoned them or left the
home are at risk of growing up with low self-esteem, feeling
unwanted. Gods unconditional love and fatherhood can
change this.

17 UNICEF, Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS, http://www.unicef.org/uniteforchildren/knowmore/knowmore_29012.htm. 18 Psalm 68:5. 19 UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/
infobycountry/romania_37375.html. 20 Social Trends 32, UK Office for National Statistics, 2002

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15.2 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS

I am the good shepherd

Prayer points
Praise God that he is the perfect Father, and loves all
his children equally and infinitely.
Thank God for the way that Christians are bringing
hope all year round through Christmas parties for
children at risk.
Pray that God would provide all the finances necessary
to put on each event, and to support the ongoing work
of networks to help the children who attend.

Activity
Jesus brings us life when we believe in him. Pray for children around the
world to hear about Jesus and put their faith in him. Take a globe, map,
or a list of country names. Pick someone to close his or her eyes and spin
the globe or point on the map or list. Tell the group a little about each
nation that comes up, to help them imagine what it is like to be a child
living there. Then ask that person to pray for the children in the country
he or she has chosen. Continue until everyone has had an opportunity to
pray.

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World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

I am the true vine John 15:1

As we remain rooted in Christ, following him and learning
from him, our lives will be fruitful. Jesus promises this in John
15:5, and we can see part of this fulfilled in the ways that
children are rescued, restored, cared for and given a future
through the work of Christians.

At the Team Challenge project, street children from the Kisoku slum in Uganda are given the chances they need. Matthew is one of the
boys whose life demonstrates the fruit of their work.
He is one of 11 children, but when his parents divorced, his siblings went to live with different relatives. Matthew stayed with his mother at
first, but ended up on the streets when his mothers new boyfriend mistreated him.
One day, he was invited to the church where Team Challenge was based, and for the first time he encountered what he calls genuine
unconditional love. Over many months, the projects director got alongside him. He says, There was something about her and her love for
Jesus that made me want to keep in touch with her and find out more. It was only a matter of time until Matthew found faith for himself.
Matthew is now working at Team Challenge himself, mentoring some of the younger boys. When the project received a donated computer
from Vivas local network, he was nominated to take part in training. He has gone on to take responsibility for all their computer work, and
now keeps the accounts for the small poultry business that helps to support the project.
Matthews life has changed beyond recognition. He says, I have a purpose now that I never dreamt possible when I was on the streets.21
30

21 CRANE network, 2006

Matthews Story

31

The facts

32

God uses his people to do his will and bring his

kingdom in the world. Part of this calling is to pray:

call from the police, saying Prayer works! The criminals you
prayed about yesterday were arrested last night!

Over the years, we have seen changes in the laws of a

number of nations, after Christians have prayed. In India,
concerted prayer for law changes brought compulsory
primary education and free midday meals for children at day
centres.

At World Weekend of Prayer events in many nations,

hundreds of children have become Christians in the last few
years. As they join in with prayer times and see the faith of
others, they understand more about God, and are drawn to
give their lives to Jesus.

During the 2006 World Weekend of Prayer in Bungoma,

Kenya, 80 congregations came together to pray at a local
stadium. Government officials and police attended the
event, asking Christians to pray for security, as a group had
been committing a spate of violent burglaries in their town.
Many women and girls had been attacked in their own
homes. The following day, the event organiser received a

In nations as diverse as Liberia, the USA and India, groups of

Christians have committed to ongoing prayer after they have
been involved in the World Weekend of Prayer. Their
faithful, focused intercession for children locally and around
the world is one of the ways that God gets his people
involved in his plans to bring change.

If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit

John 15:5

I am the true vine

Prayer points
Thank God that he chooses to use us to bring his hope,
through prayer and action.
Praise him that young people like Matthew can find
purpose through the support of Christians and faith in
God.
Pray that God would help us to remain in him, listening
to him and doing his will. Pray that our lives will make
a difference, bearing fruit that will last.

Activity
When Christians help others, it is like growing good fruit for Jesus. Take
a long piece of green wool or thread to represent a vine. Give out paper,
and ask everyone to draw their favourite fruit. One at a time, let each
person tape his or her picture onto the vine while praying for Christian
workers to see the good effects - fruit - of their hard work. Encourage
the group to thank God for the ways that he has answered prayers and
brought change for children around the world.

33

World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2007

What can we do next?

The World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk doesnt need to be the end of your time of prayer for children
why not make it the beginning?
Email resource: Children at Risk Prayer News
If youd like to pray regularly with your church or small group, why not sign up for our email update on children at
risk? Every fortnight, well send you news on issues affecting children, and prayer requests from ministries and
networks helping children at risk. You could set aside time in a service to pray for children, or bring together likeminded Christians from one or more churches for a monthly prayer time.
Prayer through the post: Viva Network Prayer Diary
If youd like to pray each day for children, individually or with your family, you can subscribe to the Viva Network
Prayer Diary. Prayer requests for individual children, projects and networks are provided for each day, alongside
relevant Bible verses. The Prayer Diary is sent out every quarter.
Get children involved
Why not get together children from your area or church to pray for other young people on a regular basis? It is never
too early to help children understand Gods compassion and the need to pray. You could include a Children around
the world time in your Sunday school sessions, or hold an interactive childrens prayer afternoon every few months,
with prayer activities and a focus on a particular country.
Give
If you or your church would like to help children at risk financially, one way to do this is through Viva Network. Your
contributions will help Christians around the world to work together to transform the lives of the most vulnerable.
Feedback
Fill in the form on pages 36 -38 to let us know how you would like to stay involved.

34

More information
If you would like some more resources to use during or after your prayer time, have a look at the following websites:
www.viva.org/pray
Versions of this booklet in a wide range of languages and formats
Activity File with more interactive prayer ideas for children and adults
PowerPoint presentation on children at risk
Further information on the needs of children around the world
www.redviva.org
Resources in Spanish
Information focused on the needs of children in Latin America
www.globaldayofprayer.com
Viva Network is partnering with the Global Day of Prayer to raise awareness and mobilise
prayer for children at risk in our nations.
Resources are available online to help you pray for transformation in your nation, including prayer for children at risk
There is information on prayer events taking place on Pentecost Sunday, 27th May 2007, and details of how to get involved
www.oakseed.org
Viva is partnering with Oakseed Ministries International to mobilise prayer for children at risk, and as part of this we are
encouraging young people to reflect on a theme and respond in writing. Details of the essay contest on Compassion and the
Working Child (entry deadline 16th April, 2007), and resources on this theme, are available on the Oakseed Ministries
website and on www.annualdayofprayer.org. The essay contest winners receive prizes of $1,000 USD, $500 USD and $250
USD in each of three age categories
www.unicef.org
Up-to-date news on children at risk in countries around the world
www.windowkids.com
Information and activities to help children pray for the 10/40 window region, and children at risk there
35

How was your prayer time?

Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS

CONTACT DETAILS

How did you hear about the World Weekend of Prayer

for Children at Risk? (please tick the box)

q Mr

q Mrs

q Miss

Name:

q Other

q Viva publication

q Another publication (please specify)

Surname:
Address:

Postcode:

Tel:
Fax:

q Viva website

q Other (please specify)

How many people participated in your time of prayer?

Adults (over 18)

___

Youth (12-18)

___

Children (under 12) ___

E-mail:
Ministry/Organisation/Church:

How long did the prayer last?

36

___ hours ___ minutes

Help us make the World Weekend of Prayer even better!

Tell us more

Did the information in the prayer booklet help you pray?

q

Tell us more

Did the prayer booklet help you organise your prayer event?

Tell us more
Did you use the prayer activities?
q Yes

q No

If Yes, did you find them useful?

q

37

Keep going!

Wed like to help you keep praying and supporting

children at risk how would you like to stay involved?

Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS

How did God answer your prayers? What encouraged you?

Pray
q Please send me a fortnightly email of prayer news

q I would like to receive the quarterly Prayer Diary by post

(I enclose 10.00/$20.00)
Give
q I enclose my donation to the work of Viva for children
at risk
q Please send me more information on giving
Help us encourage others!
What was the best part of your day?
q Please tick the box if you do not wish Viva to share these
stories to encourage others

38

together for children

To order more copies of this booklet, please contact:

Viva, Unit 8, The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1JU, UK
+44 (0)1865 811660
pray@viva.org
www.viva.org

Remember to register your prayer event on www.viva.org/pray, where prayer resources in other languages
and formats are also available to download.
The photographs used in this booklet do not depict the actual children referred to in the text and all names
of children have been changed to protect their identity.
Viva are very grateful to Stephanie Mallen for many of the photographs used in this booklet
Design by Santamaria design consultants, mail@santamaria.co.uk

2007 Prayer for Children at Risk

We fund urban community projects that

Lord Jesus,
support
people on the margins of society. We
Thank you for your love for every child in every nation of the world.
Thank you for
dying andworkers
rising again for each
of them, bringing
and life.
enable
local
toonetackle
thehopeeffects
of
We have come together to pray for the 1.2 billion children at risk in the world today:
poverty
and transform their neighbourhoods.
Light of the world, shine into lives trapped in the darkness of abuse and exploitation.
Bread of life, provide food, shelter and security for the poor.
Good shepherd, give wisdom and strength to all those caring for children.
Thank you that you are with us, and that you hear our prayers,
In your name,
Amen.

together for children

Viva, Unit 8, The Gallery,

54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1JU, UK
+44 (0)1865 811660
pray@viva.org
www.viva.org