June 4-5 is the World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk.
There are children at risk everywhere in the world, even in affluent neighborhoods and cities. No country is immune to this global problem. For a child to be at risk means they are in a state or condition marked by a high level of risk or susceptibility to harm, even death.
There are many factors that cause children to be at risk and fail to thrive. Some of the most common factors are: parents with alcoholism or drug abuse, poverty, physical or mental disabilities, extreme neglect emotionally and/or physically, sexual or physical abuse, violence in the community or school, war and conflict, and homelessness.
On Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, Viva Network encourages Christians around the world to pray for children at risk. This is the fourteenth year for this emphasis.
This global initiative brings together more than 2 million people across 89 countries. Whether you attend a nationwide event scheduled for your area, plan something with your church, go to a prayer breakfast, or simply spend a quiet 5 minutes praying in your own home, make time to pray during this World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk.
This time of prayer is a call to Christians everywhere to pray for the 1.2 billion vulnerable children of the world and those who minister to them through churches and missions. The plight of children and the deplorable conditions they must endure will surely touch your hearts. Here are some facts about children around the world:
1. Every day, 30,000 children under age 5 will die of preventable diseases such as diarrhea, measles and malnutrition.
2. AIDS has orphaned 15 million children; by 2015 there will be 40 million (UNICEF). Without parents to care for and protect them, they are at increased risk for neglect, abuse and malnutrition.
3. Every year, 1 million children are forced into the commercial sex trade to join the 10 million children already trapped in it.
4. There are 246 million children engaged in exploitative child labor (International Labor Organization).
5. Around the world, there are 150 million street children (UNICEF).
6. Alcoholism and divorce are on the increase in many world areas; children are the most vulnerable and hurt by fractured families.
7. Worldwide there are approximately 46 million abortions each year (Center for Bioethical Reform).
8. More than 674 million children live in absolute poverty (lacking resources to meet basic human needs). In sub-Saharan Africa, 65 percent of children live in absolute poverty (UN Child Poverty Report, 2003).
9. Ninety percent of casualties in armed conflict around the world are civilians, and half of these are children (UNICEF).
Christians assemble every Sunday to worship and to celebrate God's blessings... let's pray for the most vulnerable among mankind... our children.
1. Every day, 30,000 children under age 5 will die of preventable diseases such as diarrhea, measles and malnutrition.
2. AIDS has orphaned 15 million children; by 2015 there will be 40 million (UNICEF). Without parents to care for and protect them, they are at increased risk for neglect, abuse and malnutrition.
3. Every year, 1 million children are forced into the commercial sex trade to join the 10 million children already trapped in it.
4. There are 246 million children engaged in exploitative child labor (International Labor Organization).
5. Around the world, there are 150 million street children (UNICEF).
6. Alcoholism and divorce are on the increase in many world areas; children are the most vulnerable and hurt by fractured families.
7. Worldwide there are approximately 46 million abortions each year (Center for Bioethical Reform).
8. More than 674 million children live in absolute poverty (lacking resources to meet basic human needs). In sub-Saharan Africa, 65 percent of children live in absolute poverty (UN Child Poverty Report, 2003).
9. Ninety percent of casualties in armed conflict around the world are civilians, and half of these are children (UNICEF).
Christians assemble every Sunday to worship and to celebrate God's blessings... let's pray for the most vulnerable among mankind... our children.
Prayer resources are available from the Viva Network. Christians around the world are working with children to improve their lives and opportunities. There is much to celebrate, but there is also much work to be done. The number of children at risk continues to escalate because of current world affairs.
Viva Network has been leading this special weekend of prayer for 14 years. But Christians and congregations can organize events and activities all year long that focus on the needs of children at risk. TEACH your own children to reach out in love to all children less fortunate.
Here’s a list of activities that could be organized by any church. They are simple things, easy to organize and implement
- Host a praise and prayer party that encourages children and youth to participate.
- Focus a church service on praying for children at risk.
- Set up a prayer room for people to come freely at their convenience to pray.
- Use the prayer booklet as part of a small group meeting.
- Use the PowerPoint presentation or show the “You Tube” clip from the website.
- Work with a mission or prayer group to help you organize some of these events.
- Hold a prayer breakfast quarterly to highlight projects and local focus.
Many children throughout the world do not know Jesus. Pray that the children at risk wherever they are will accept Jesus as their Savior.
