1
Together Prayer for children at risk
Together There are thousands of Christians across the world responding to the needs of children at risk, and many of those people are being led to work together. The issued faced by children are too big for any one person or group to tackle alone, and as projects and ministries connect and partner, we are beginning to see the fulfilment of Jesus’ profound prayer in John 17:
2
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through [the disciples’] message … I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17 v 20-23
Yet Jesus didn’t want unity simply for its own sake: he calls for unity so that the world can know the love and power of God. In the same way we believe that working together is not something we do just because it makes the work easier or because it seems the right thing to do. We want to work together so that more children have a better chance of becoming all that God intends for them to be.
Contents:
This booklet looks at what unity can help to accomplish across four major areas of influence in society. These areas shape the thoughts and values of different cultures in different ways, and this can have both good and bad effects on children. Each section gives examples of issues children are facing and shows how Christians working in unity really can make a difference. We hope their stories will inspire and guide your prayers.
What now?....................................................................... page 30
Family and Education .................................................... page 4 Business and Government............................................ page 10 Media, Arts and Entertainment.................................... page 16 Religion.............................................................................. page 22 Ways to use this guide................................................... page 28 Your feedback.................................................................. page 31
Although this booklet has been produced for the 2011 World Weekend of Prayer, it is available as a general resource to motivate and lead prayers for children at risk all year round. All the stories are real examples from Viva’s work or the work of our partners around the world, although names have been changed for child protection purposes. All Bible verses are taken from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.
3
Family and Education “Education is the very best anti-poverty strategy, the best economic development programme.There is simply no better means to empower the powerless, and to put their future directly in their own hands.”1 Two of the biggest areas of influence in a child’s life today are their own family experience and their educational opportunities. There are significant challenges to be faced in both of these areas: globally there appear to be more family breakdowns than at any other time in history, and although the number of children attending primary school is increasing across the developing world, the rate of that growth is slow.
4
One of the largest factors influencing family life and education is poverty. Many families are separated because one parent needs to find paid work, often far away from home. Also when parents are struggling to provide for their families they can often turn to alcohol or drugs to escape the pressure, with the potential knock-on effect of divorce and family separation. Poverty also affects children’s likelihood of receiving an education, as many children are unable to afford the basic requirements for school attendance.
United Nations General Assembly, May 2002
1
5
Family and Education ? w o n k u o y id D
Family breakdown
35 million
In South Asia primary school-age children are out of school, and in subSaharan Africa it is
46 million.
3
not only costs society in terms of human unhappiness, but also in financial terms - it takes an estimated to repair the damage caused by family breakdown every year in the UK.2
£20 billion
The Study of Civil Society says that its statistics show that “If you take
6
almost any measure - how well children do in school, whether they turn to crime, whether they commit suicide - it’s better to have two parents.”4
Ephesians 6 v 4 ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’ familylaw.co.uk/articles/CentreSocialJustice07122010-5423 3childinfo.org/education 4news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6542031.stm
2
ics t s i t a t s t o n Stories
Pakistan
Aalia had three children when her husband ran off with another woman, leaving her to support the children alone. She took on several jobs, but was still unable to earn a good wage. At 13, 11 and eight years of age her children ended up leaving school because she was unable to pay the fees. However, through a local church Aalia was introduced to Viva’s partner network in Rawalpindi. The team visited her house and prayed for the family, then worked with that church and other local projects to arrange schooling, books and uniforms for Aalia’s children.
Sri Lanka Darma was born in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka, in the middle of the civil war. Her parents had been too afraid to go outside their own village and so had postponed registering her birth. That was 12 years ago. Still with no birth certificate, and unsure of her exact date of birth, she is unable to enroll in school. Darma’s parents did not survive the war and so she ended up in a refugee camp with no one and nothing to identify her. Thanks to a sympathetic family who befriended her she found a place to stay in the Palaam Children’s Home, a church-based project caring for children affected by civil unrest. Darma is now being helped to pursue birth registration so that she can go to school and be empowered to learn for a better future.
7
Family and Education Look around you at the needs of your local community, and think about what you could do to meet some of these needs.
Together we pray that single parent households, often headed by women who are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, are cared for and helped to find ways out of poverty 8
child-headed households, where children have to work hard to keep the family going, will be given emotional and practical support all children, regardless of their financial situations, can experience a holistic education where their spiritual, physical, emotional and academic needs are met Christians in education will be able to influence this area for good, modelling godly principles
Thoughtful responses Are there children who are left to fend for themselves? Are there families who need support? Are there children who need help with their education? Do you know any teachers or people involved in social work, and would you be prepared to pray for them on a regular basis?
9
Business and Government “It is indeed a terrible indictment of our civilisation that in spite of economic growth, technological advances and food surpluses in so many countries, over 800 million people in the world - mainly women and children - still go hungry every day.” 5
10
These two spheres of influence have the power to make or break the future for several generations. The daily lives of children and families all over the world are affected, for better or worse, by the decisions of those in power.Yet sadly many governments and businesses are more concerned with financial gain than with the wellbeing of society’s most vulnerable members. Corruption in a country’s infrastructure both shapes business practice and legislation and ultimately permeates the value systems of entire societies and global communities. However, there is a growing call that large and small organisations alike should demonstrate a level of ownership and corporate responsibility towards society, and an increase in international aid agreements is putting pressure on governments not only to value the welfare of their own citizens but also to assist other nations. United Nations General Assembly, May 2002
5
11
Business and Government ? w o n k u o y id D 42 million
An estimated children aged five to 17 are in
218 million
forced labour worldwide.
Over people in the world today have been displaced from their homes by civil war and persecution. Half of these people are years old.7
under 18
children
6
The world’s 225 richest people have a combined wealth of $1 trillion. That’s equal to
12
the combined annual income of the world’s
2.5 billion poorest people. 8
Psalm 89 v 14 ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.’ urbanministry.org/global-poverty-statistics 7iafr.org/downloads/map/Map%20of%20Refugee%20Highway%20v201006.pdf 8urbanministry.org/global-poverty-statistics
6
ics t s i t a t s t o n Stories
El Salvador
Violence, perpetrated mainly by youth gangs, is one of the biggest issues affecting communities and children in El Salvador. So one of Viva’s local networks have started an important advocacy campaign promoting the good treatment of children, and the main leaders are actually the children themselves. These children, called ‘Peace Ambassadors’, have caught the attention of the media and local government authorities, and even the Vice President of El Salvador is now involved.These authorities have now committed themselves to work together to stop the violence.
United Kingdom Heaven’s Attic, an online retailer of gifts and accessories, are a great example of how businesses can stand against injustice and be intentional about making a difference for children at risk. They say: “We passionately believe that, by making right choices, we can make a real difference in our world.We share our profits with various charitable causes throughout the year, and we source products from disadvantaged communities around the globe.”
13
Business and Government Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.�
Together we pray that those elected to government would have pure motives, and leaders would be moved with compassion for the needs of the next generation 14
business men and women who use their resources to support those who are vulnerable will be blessed, and that more people will follow their example governments would be called to honour their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals, and that progress would be made towards reaching them in the time set God’s righteousness and justice would be the foundation for government and business structures, no matter what the religious beliefs of those in positions of power
Thoughtful responses How could love make a difference in our communities?
What might that look like at both local and national government level? What might that look like in terms of our response to businesses, both small and large, and how we engage with them?
15
Media, Arts and Entertainment “The importance of culture, leisure and sport in addressing issues such as social inclusion, health and crime is becoming increasingly apparent.� 9 We have been created in the image of God and are creative beings, and there are many amazing and thought-provoking paintings, plays, books, blogs, films and dances that demonstrate that. However, the advancement of technology has significantly increased the influence of the media, arts and entertainment industries on society, and this can be good or bad depending on the decision-makers shaping these key areas.
16
Statistically, many children in the UK and USA now spend more time learning life skills from television and the Internet than they do from home or school. Children are also potentially more vulnerable to abuse through unregulated access to media, and the probability of inappropriate images and information reaching them is now much greater. Yet it is clear that arts and entertainment are also improving the lives of children, as they are used increasingly in various forms of therapy such as counselling mental health patients, developing children with disabilities and rehabilitating young offenders.
UK Govt. Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9
17
Media, Arts and Entertainment ? w o n k u o y id D A typical teenager spends more than per day 11 listening to
2 ½ hours music.
By age 18, the average young person will have seen through television and films.10
200,000 acts of violence
18
One in seven children who use the Internet have been in some way.12
sexually solicited
Genesis 1 v 31 ‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day.’ parentstv.org/ptc/facts/mediafacts.asp
10
frankwbaker.com/mediause.htm
11
safefamilies.org/sfStats.php
12
Cambodia
ics t s i t a t s t o n Stories
Veng is 10 years old, and lives in a poor rural village. One day as she was gathering wood in the jungle not far from her house, a man attacked her.Veng managed to escape, but returned home injured and very traumatised. Veng was treated for her injuries and began to physically recover, and she also began meeting with an arts therapist. At first the therapist just sat quietly with Veng, who didn’t want to speak.Then she started drawing a picture on some paper and invited Veng to join in.Veng’s first picture was a little bird with both its wings broken. Veng started to cry, saying “The bird is so sad, it feels like it can never fly again.The bird dreams of living with their family but it is scared because bad things hurt little birds so they are not safe to go back home.” Through the story and the picture,Veng began to find her voice again and express her pain. She soon discovered she loved to dance and sing, and with ongoing help from the arts therapist she is slowly beginning to trust people again and to feel safe and happy. communityalbums.com/video/please-dont-leave-me-unattanded [sic]
13
Uganda
Sitting Duck Media have recently developed an initiative called Community Albums, which uses music, photography and video to empower poor communities across the world, giving them a voice to raise awareness of the issues they face. Recently they went out to work with Viva’s partner network in Kampala to create a short video about keeping children safe13. This clip was presented to the Ugandan Parliament, along with a petition asking for things like better government support of children with disabilities and more social workers to help the police when they investigated crimes against children. As a result the government has already promised to fulfil some of these requests, and is working on a response to the others.
19
Media, Arts and Entertainment
Together we pray that creativity will be celebrated, encouraged and used in ways that honour God 20
people who try to use the media for immoral purposes will be exposed and stopped, and children will be protected from harmful influences
How much do films, magazines, television and the Internet influence our lives? Is it all helpful?
Thoughtful responses Do we know any good stories concerning children from our lives or communities that are newsworthy? How could we get positive and inspiring stories into our local media?
we will see more children released from the effects of past trauma through the redemptive nature of the creative arts those working in the media would be able inspire compassionate and godly responses from audiences towards issues facing children today
How do we express our creativity and encourage that in others, particularly children?
21
Religion “Righteous Father, the world has never known you, but I have known you, and these disciples know that you sent me on this mission. I have made your very being known to them - who you are and what you do - and continue to make it known, so that your love for me might be in them exactly as I am in them.” 14
22
The political, economic and cultural contexts into which children are born all have an impact on their life opportunities, but the prevailing world view (whether religious or secular) is a key shaper of the way in which children are able to engage with and grow in the emotional and spiritual aspects of their lives. There is huge opportunity for the church to shine in this sphere of influence, as it is an area where we can model the truth of Jesus and his love, and show the transformational power that is available when we work together. No one religion or world view has the monopoly on being the best or the worst able to care for children, and there is much we can learn from each other. History gives us too many examples of things being done in the name of religion that are contrary to what we know of the love of God. So we need more confidence in demonstrating the positive impact that people of faith can have on children worldwide, particularly in the light of what John’s gospel shows us of Jesus’ prayers. The Bible, The Message Version, John 17 v 24-26
14
23
ics t s i t a t s t o n Stories
Religion
? w o n k u o y id D
Faith-based groups provide approximately
40% of the healthcare in
African countries, a higher percentage than is provided by the government.15 24
Democratic Republic of Congo
12-year-old Belinda is restless, disruptive and prone to extreme behaviour. Not all that surprising as, following the death of her aunt, she was accused by her own mother of being a ‘witch’ and causing the death. Her uncle punished her by running a burning iron over her back and legs.
On the western border of Nepal more than have formed a network to fight child trafficking, working in unity to from being taken into India and exploited.16
90 churches
Thankfully Belinda managed to escape, and fled to a local church-led refuge.They had only recently opened, providing a safe house for girls like Belinda, where they can come as an interim step before returning to their families or moving into foster homes.The team working at the refuge offered Belinda care, guidance and unconditional love, and are continually praying that God will heal her scars, both physical and emotional.
protect young girls
Costa Rica
97% of the churches
The congregation of the City of God church works with over 500 of San José’s poorest children. They knew it was important to make sure that the children received the best possible care and attention, so they were keen to improve their safety measures. After attending Viva’s training on Child Protection the first thing the pastor did was to make sure windows were installed in all of the children’s classrooms, “so that we can always be watchful, and look out for the children and for one another”.
in six African countries are working with and 17 vulnerable children.
orphans
James 1 v 27 ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.’ tearfund.org/webdocs/Website/Campaigning/Policy%20and%20research/Faith%20untapped.pdf
15
Viva Annual Review 2009, page 16
16
See footnote 15
17
The church leaders also worked together to formulate a child protection policy that was relevant to their congregation, and taught them how to report any mistreatment of children. As a result several cases of child abuse have now been properly addressed, and the church is confident that their children are much better protected.
25
Religion Jesus’ prayer in John 17 was full of hope that the world would know the love of God through his glory reflected in our lives.
Together we pray that more Christians would be prepared to speak out on issues of injustice, and that those who do will gain credibility and have a positive influence 26
local churches will be expressions of God’s love in their communities, particularly responding to the needs of children in their areas the future leaders of nations, who today are still only children, will be good and godly leaders children and adults will be seen to be of equal value to God, and that people of all ages will stand alongside each other in living out God’s word
Thoughtful responses What do people see in our lives? How can we help others in a way that shows God’s love and gives him glory?
How can we respond to the challenge of coexisting with people of different faiths? Can we balance humility with the need to be confident about the hope we have in us?
27
s i h t e s u o t Ways . . … a n i e d i gu
small
ssign ps and a is u o r g r into fou r section of th Divide he articula opy of t each a p very group a c ive e t pages guide. G relevan w them and allo tes 10 minu yer a pra to plan the around let each activity ow given. N hole group n io t a m infor d the w turn lea yer. in p u o gr in pra
s
28
ervic Invite e to the peopl front ew of t hobbi ho, throug he church h es, ea f ch re their wor our p k r e or se the sp heres nt one of of influe Also nce. pr four c epare hil to sta dren nd in f r and r ead a ont of the a s socie ty and hort praye dults r for its eff that a ect o the w n children rea of PowerPoints orld. aroun d available
g roup
Print off PDF’s
in life. ake on d be t e w s us role o do an the vario asking them t in y t ie ight be e nce soc o influe at what God m about positiv t le b a g ll a h in s r e n e b r a io afr to at . We t roles t gener to look n x e e le r n p r o u e c e h t Help p in their ally for specific , e g n a h c
n
chil
dre Ask n’s the child g ro out a sce ren to up each ne o take r of th t e s activity urns act relat ing whil pheres of in ed to st o t fl h u e to g uess rs try ence, w h th a Wh ey are. t e n they don each e a thin area mi discuss re king ght h ow in o bad thin f one go fluence g. Th c en p od thing hildren , ray f a or e nd one ach area .
ent e room v e yer around thof this e, a r p on ions ions
ct at ch nt st four se ity at ea e r e f e if activ nt th up d Set represe creative eople p a to ave or give ing to H . e t eth guid som way tha m a e take pire th en an s h n half i will y even w r about lead d ra te to p vent. Af ether an ayer. e g p o e t e r ve th people orporat a e l they gather me of c r ti hou in a m e th Find helpful links and YouTube clips
sermo
For more ideas and additional resources see viva.org/wwp
29
What now? Pray regularly
To read our prayer blog, receive regular prayer updates from around the world, or find other useful resources check out viva.org/pray
Your feedback We would love to know how you use this prayer guide, particularly with regard to the World Weekend of Prayer, and we are always interested to hear stories from your prayer events and activities. So please do go to viva.org/wwp and fill in the online questionnaire. It is so encouraging for us to learn what God is doing through the prayers of his people…
Stay informed 30
A quick visit to viva.org will allow you to sign up to our global news email, read the blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter, keeping you up-to-date with all our latest news and stories
Get involved
Whether you support our work financially, volunteer with us, or get your church or business involved, you can be a part of the united action for children at risk you have seen in this booklet. Just go to viva.org/whatyoucando
“A 13 she w year-old gir as al l who was s the pr most dying ayer e was b o sick ven rou We al t by her mo ght to l tog ther. prayed ether fo her an r d she w as healed completely ! Such good n ews.” Niger ia, WW P 200 8
ut all o c n re child ildren n w ch ro g ou for the was n i e “Se to God world ir e e of th erful, th e pow ers wer pray al and so re ionate.” 9 ass 200 so p P W nd, W a l g En 31
d to d by Go e ir p s in me girl was him, and she ca !” g n u o y s “One o know her schoolmate t s d n ie r rf of bring he event with 20 P W 0 to our W WP 201 W , ia s e n Indo
Children are suffering. We all know that. Thousands of people are working to help them. We all know that too.
We need to work together. Imagine what would happen if the people caring for children joined forces. If childcare workers, local churches, governments and international charities came together to tackle the issues faced by children. Whole cities would be transformed. Together we would have the power to bring about real change for children, not just chipping away at the surface of the problems but fighting them right at the root. At Viva we are doing just that. Through our 44 city-wide networks we are increasing the unity, quality and impact of work for children at risk, our joint action changing the lives of over 1 million children around the world.
Viva, Unit 8, The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF, UK t: +44(0)1865 811660 e: info@viva.org w: www.viva.org Viva is an operating name of Viva Network.Viva Network is a company limited by guarantee no. 3162776, registered charity no.1053389, and registered in England at Unit 8,The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF, UK
We would like to thank Sterling Greenaways for printing this booklet at no cost to Viva
Yet the problems persist. Children are still suffering. In cities all over the world there are projects doing great work, but a lack of money, people and time means there is a limit to what they can achieve alone.