Litany for the

Millennium
Development
Goals
Leader: In the spirit of the Millennium Development Goals, let us pray that God’s justice
and peace will prevail in the world.

Leader: Let us pray for the poor, hungry, and neglected all over the world, that their cries
for daily bread may inspire works of compassion and mercy among those to
whom much has been given. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Leader: Let us pray for schools and centers of learning throughout the world, for those
who lack access to basic education, and for the light of knowledge to blossom
and shine in the lives of all God’s people. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to achieve universal primary education.

Leader: Let us pray for an end to the divisions and inequalities that scar God’s creation,
particularly the barriers to freedom faced by God’s children throughout the world
because of gender; that all who have been formed in God’s image might have
equality in pursuit of the blessings of creation. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to promote gender equality and empower women.

Leader: Let us pray for the health of women, children, and families around the world,
especially for an end to maternal and child mortality, that in building healthy
families, all God’s people may be empowered to strengthen their communities and
repair the breaches which divide nations and peoples. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to improve maternal health.

Leader: Let us pray for an end to pandemic disease throughout the world, particularly
the scourges of HIV and AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis; that plagues of death
may no longer fuel poverty, destabilize nations, and inhibit reconciliation and
restoration throughout the world. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to combat HIV and AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

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 Leader: Let us pray for an end to the waste and desecration of God’s creation, for
access to the fruits of creation to be shared equally among all people, and for
communities and nations to find sustenance in the fruits of the earth and the
water God has given us. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to ensure environmental sustainability.

Leader: Let us pray for all nations and people who already enjoy the abundance of
creation and the blessings of prosperity, that their hearts may be lifted up to the
needs of the poor and afflicted, and that partnerships between rich and poor for
the reconciliation of the world may flourish and grow. Lord, in your mercy,
All: Give us the will to develop a global partnership for development.

(This prayer was used on September 25, 2008 at an Interfaith Service of Recommitment and Witness to the
Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in
New York City by the Ecumenical Women of the United Nations. All rights reserved. Used with permission.)

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 About World Vision
W o rld Visi o n is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to helping
children and their families break free from poverty. Our work is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ. We
see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can
be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World
Vision is unique: We bring nearly 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and
families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across
many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social,
emotional, and spiritual well-being.

W o rld Visi o n R es o u r c e s educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to social justice,
and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world. By developing biblically based
materials for educators and ministry leaders on the causes and consequences of global poverty, World Vision
Resources supports the organizational mandate to move the church in the United States to more fully embrace
its biblical responsibility to serve the poor.

For more information about

our resources, contact:

World Vision Resources

www.worldvision.org
wvresources@worldvision.org

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