Children & Poverty: The Bishops Initiative

Prayer Guide: August 2004

Prayer

Prayer Focus: That all children will have friends.

• August 1-7: Pray for children who live in isolated places that provide few opportunities for building friendships.
• August 8-14: Pray for children who are bullied and who are bullies.
• August 15-21: Pray for teenagers who are lonely and see gangs as their only resource for friendships and belonging.
• August 22-28: Pray for children who are homeless or move frequently and can't build lasting friendships.

Call to Action

Learn more by reading your newspaper and magazine articles about conflicts in schools. Listen to the children in your own family, your congregation or your neighborhood as they talk about their experiences in school and extra-curricular activities. Explore methods of helping children to gain skills in growing friendships with one another.

Identify issues related to friendship and social relationships in your own neighborhood or the wider community.

Act to provide training for parents, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and church staff on effective ways to help children to develop positive relationships with each other. Include skill building for all ages in conflict resolution strategies. Develop opportunities for children and youth to work and play together on service projects. Work with other churches and/or conference leadership to develop a conference on peacemaking for children, youth and adults.

Plan to work with others in your church, including children and youth, on developing a Children's Sabbath service for a Sunday in October. Contact Teresa Witkoske (teresa@nicumc.org) or the Children's Defense Fund (202.662.3652 or www.childrensdefense.org) for information and worship resources. Consider organizing a community-wide ecumenical observance.