Over the two days, hundreds of thousands of Christians from over 40 nations are expected to gather in prayer marches, church services, conference centres and special events to pray for vulnerable children.
 
The theme for this year’s 2014 World Weekend of Prayer is 'child-friendly communities’, and Viva is calling on Christians to pray that marginalised children would be loved and protected, that leaders would be wise in creating policies, and that churches would have a heart for children in their communities.
 
According to the UN, in the world today, over a third of all births are not registered, 115 million children are engaged in hazardous child labour, 61 million primary-aged children don’t go to school, and 275 million witness domestic violence each year.
 
Andrew Dubock, Viva’s Communications Manager says, 'The vision of the future we all hope and pray for is one where children everywhere are surrounded by a loving family, kept safe by society, educated in school, integrated into the local church and fulfilling their God-given potential in every way.'
 
Andrew adds, 'We’re encouraging Christians wherever they are that weekend – whether in homes, churches, Sunday schools or youth groups –  to join us in turning to God together in prayer for a change of attitude and action by communities towards their children.'
 
During last year’s campaign, over 141,000 Christians prayed in 24 languages with about half of all participants in the weekend aged under 18 years – including vulnerable children themselves. Events included praying with policemen in Bolivia, prayer-walking in India and tying prayers to gates in South Africa.

They included members at Mumbles Baptist Church, which has taken part in the Viva weekend of prayer since it first began.

Member David Morgan said, 'We know that God answers prayer, and feel privileged to join with brothers and sisters around the world living in a variety of ways to seek God's pleasure.
 
'This year we will focus on children being part of a loving caring family either their blood family or families called by God.

'We have children here in every street in Mumbles in great need, and every church in the UK and across the world has such children. We all need to cry out to the Lord and seek His will for us as churches and individuals.'