Introduction

For 30 years, Viva has been supporting networks of churches and organisations around the world, and one special way they connect is through the World Weekend of Prayer for children at risk. This annual event is much more than just a programme for Viva’s partner networks, however.

Held over the first weekend of June, the World Weekend of Prayer invites individuals, families, schools, organisations and churches to set aside time to pray for children around the world, particularly those who are at risk or vulnerable – children impacted by loss, bereavement, poverty, and conflict.

In 2025, more than 350,000 children and 250,000 adults in 53 countries participated (including 27 countries where Viva doesn’t currently directly support a partner network). Children filled churches, schools, streets and plazas, doing prayer walks, singing, dancing, and using other creative means to pray for the needs of children in their communities and around the world. We hope that this year’s events will bring more children and adults than ever before to pray together for children - especially because this year, we are celebrating 30th birthdays for both Viva and the World Weekend of Prayer.

“Aaradhana serves as a teacher for children's fellowship in a rural village. She was deeply moved by the manner in which the children in the church united to pray for others. It was both emotional and amazing for her to witness them praying on various topics that they themselves brought up. They prayed for the children in their village to experience the love of Jesus.”

Christina, CarNet Nepal, World Weekend of Prayer 2025.

The World Weekend of Prayer has always been bigger than Viva, and through the resources we create and curate each year, we seek to serve the wider community of churches, organisations and networks who are passionate about praying for and with children at risk.

This year, we are delighted that the Global Children’s Forum, the Lausanne Movements' Children and Family & Children at Risk Issue Networks and World Without Orphans are supporting the World Weekend of Prayer.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to run a prayer event over the World Weekend of Prayer, which this year will run from 6-7 June 2026. Thank you for joining us, as, together, we pray for children at risk around the world.

This Year’s Theme

He’s got the whole world in His hands

The idea of the world being held in God’s hands is a reassuring image about trust and security. It’s not an image of a distant God that occasionally engages with His creation – with a lightning bolt or something similar.

Neither is it an image of a forceful God with a tight, restrictive grip. It’s an image of a God who cares for His creation – a God who is big, present, involved – a God who can be trusted.

It’s Psalm 95 that introduces the concept of being in His hands: “In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.” The depths and the peaks – the tough times as well as the joyful times. The next verse goes on to say, “The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” In Hebrew literature – so, in the Old Testament of the Bible – the sea represents chaos, disorder, evil, threat, danger and death. Therefore, this verse is saying that God is holding it all in His hands – He hasn’t dropped us – He’s able to hold it all.

Psalm 95, verse 7, explicitly states that God cares for us human beings: “for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” We can have confidence that we are His people for whom He cares – despite the chaos and evil in the world. God is holding the world in His hands and is close and involved in His creation. That makes us co-labourers with God, giving us the opportunity to – the privilege to – nurture all that He has created to make this world a better place.

Read the full devotion or watch the video at worldweekendofprayer.com

Held over the first weekend of June, the World Weekend of Prayer invites individuals, families, schools, organisations and churches to set aside time to pray for children around the world, particularly those who are at risk or vulnerable – children impacted by loss, bereavement, poverty, and conflict.

In 2025, more than 350,000 children and 250,000 adults in 53 countries participated (including 27 countries where Viva doesn’t currently directly support a partner network). Children filled churches, schools, streets and plazas, doing prayer walks, singing, dancing, and using other creative means to pray for the needs of children in their communities and around the world. We hope that this year’s events will bring more children and adults than ever before to pray together for children - especially because this year, we are celebrating 30th birthdays for both Viva and the World Weekend of Prayer.

Prayer Events

The World Weekend of Prayer is all about praying for children around the world and will look different for each participating prayer community.

Churches, schools and organisations that decide to run a World Weekend of Prayer event are welcome to do so in any way they wish – with children participating in planning and leading events at a level appropriate to their age and ability. Adults may lead activities or serve as guides and encouragers to children who take on the roles of planning and leading. Some tips on helping children participate in a meaningful and ethical way can be found on our website (worldweekendofprayer.com).

Prayer events can happen at any time over the weekend, 6-7 June, with the main purpose being prayer. However, an event may also include art, drama, games, or other child-focused activities, and the resources on the Viva website can be adapted for use in each setting as appropriate. Special events can be organised, but prayer for children by children can be embedded in regular activities where children gather, or prayer for children by adults can be part of a regular church gathering.

“Amanda, José Félix and Luis Fernando were very excited, as it was the first time they participated as moderators worshipping through songs and with the instruments. They are the relay of the first child prayer warriors, who are already teenagers. It was a beautiful time where the children learned about the reality of other countries and cried out for the children of those nations.”

RENACSENIV, Venezuela, World Weekend of Prayer 2025.

In previous years, the following have been done by different groups around the world:

Holding a special ‘For Children by Children’ prayer event as part of a normal activity in a youth club or children’s group meeting.
A special focus on praying for children in a normal church service or prayer meeting.
Children leading a special prayer session during school assembly.
Children leading prayers during a church service – or leading the whole service!
Children or youth sending out prayer requests on WhatsApp, email or other digital platforms.
Children asking friends or neighbours for prayer requests, during supervised home-to-home visits.
Children, youth and adults doing a prayer walk or march in a safe location (with required permissions).
Children sharing their prayer requests for other children on the radio or television.
Public dialogues or debates on the issues that impact children in their community or city that require both prayer and practical action.