4-14 European Prayer Conference: empowering youth through prayer.

“Seeing the synergy between prayer and activism was a great awakening!”

Our International Prayer Co-ordinator, Chrissie, recently had the privilege of seeing what children can accomplish for their nations when you just give them the chance.

Friday 18th - Tuesday 21st February witnessed the 1st European 4-14 Consultation of Children in Transformational Ministry, hosted by Viva and Hope for Europe. 4-14 gets its name from a variation on the 10/40 Window theme. It refers to the fact that children between the ages of 4 and 14 are the most open and receptive to every form of spiritual and developmental input.

Chrissie says, “This is an opportune window for a previously silenced group of people to become key figures of transformational ministry. God is calling us to alter the way we view children and to respond to their importance and rightful place in his kingdom.”

30 attendees between 10 and 14 years, representing Finland, Slovakia, Croatia, Belgium, England, Scotland and Austria, all came together in Hastings for a weekend of prayer, discussion and activism. Children were invited to speak out about the problems that the young people in their own nations are facing, to listen to God and guide each other in praying for a better world for young people.

“It was a time for us to stop and realise how broken the young people of Europe are. One example brought to light was that the young people of Finland were suffering terribly high levels of depression. We were then able to pray together for all the hardships of the youth of today.”

And was it successful? “It most certainly was! It was such an incredible experience. There was a real sense of a blessing from God for Europe’s youth. Both adult and child attendees went away with a change in belief of what God can achieve.” The 30 young people who came to the event were so inspired that they went away and started up their own Facebook groups for further discussions and interaction. “It was so great for children of different nationalities to get to know one another; lots of fun was had all round and prayer was recognised as a wonderful form of advocacy. We have also kick-started the process of these young people leading prayer and change movements in their own nations. I can’t wait to see where this leads.”

Viva believes in networking, in working together for children. But, as Chrissie reminds us, “we must also work with them. This weekend has so clearly shown that when children are given an opportunity, they rise to it.” She sums up the weekend with this clear call: “We must give children a voice and then we must listen. I know God is.”