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Mersey Region Week of Prayer

For Young People

An opportunity for Christians across our region to unite in prayer and call on God

to do awesome things with, and through, the young people of the Mersey Region.

When? Between the 30th of August and 5th September, 2009

What? Christians from across the Mersey Region will stand together physically and spiritually to pray for young people. Various events specifically aimed towards prayer for young people have been organised during the week and each day will have a particular prayer focus.

Why?   Many of the young people of our region are financially and socially deprived, many more are spiritually deprived. And yet there are many inspirational young Christians out there who offer a glimpse of what God can do with a surrendered young  life. The gospel, in all its fullness, is the hope for our region and prayer plays a significant role in any move of God.

Sunday 30th August:

Prayer Focus: Pray for your young people and their leaders.

The greatest youth evangelists are young people whose lives have been impacted by the gospel. Today we encourage you to pray for the Christian young people in your church and those who lead them. That they will remain in Christ and bear much fruit. That they will become movers and shakers in our society and that they will transform our communities through the knowledge that they are free from sin and loved by God. For those who have no young people, pray for some.

Events am:   Why not focus your service on young people and then meet for a church lunch to celebrate the importance of young people and to thank those who lead your young people.

Events pm:  YP2 & YFC youth prayer and worship event at Toxteth Tabernacle Liverpool - 8:15pm (Park Road, Liverpool, L8 8AN)

Monday 31st August:

Prayer Focus: Pray for your young people in your area.

According to recent statistics, 96% of under 18’s in the UK do not attend church on a regular basis. As such our church services and youth programmes cannot directly impact 96% of young people. While our programmes may not be able to make an impact, our prayers certainly can. Please pray today for the issues that affect the young people in your area. If you are unsure what affects the young people in your area then ask God to show you.

Events:         The Big Day Out: 31st August 2009 - Young people from Wirral will be meeting at 12pm at Woodchurch Ferry Terminal with their ‘Savaway’ in hand to take a trip on the Mersey Ferry to Liverpool. There they will be joined by young people from Liverpool who are meeting at 12:40pm at the Pier Head. After a packed lunch together and a time of prayer, both groups will get the ferry to Seacombe for a prayer stomp and then return on the 3:30 ferry to  Woodside (3.40pm)   or Liverpool (3:50pm).

Tuesday 1st September:

Prayer Focus: Pray for Hope

Whilst hope has been on the agenda for many Christians for the past 18 months for many of young people, ‘hope’ is a rare commodity. According to a recent report in a national newspaper “we have a nationwide problem with a single source: too many young people lack the incentive of hope “. This view was backed up by Hackney-based Superintendent Leroy Logan in a recent address to parliament in which he suggested that “Lack of hope is leading teenagers to put membership of a gang above the norms of society”. Pope Benedict XVI described the problem perfectly and his words form the basis of our 7 prayers points for today:

“(1) Young people today lack hope. (2) They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ever more urgently in a confusing world, and (3) they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. (4) They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions. (5) They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. (6) They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and (7) they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another”.

Wednesday 2nd September:

Prayer Focus: Pray for respect

In January 2006 Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a keynote speech to Parliament about Respect and set out his Respect Action Plan which he hoped would spark a “fundamental shift to give people control of their communities so that they can begin to re-build the bonds of community for a modern age.” His action appears to have little success; perhaps because the nation did not need another speech but an example of radical respect for those whose race, financial status, physical stature or social standing demanded none. Jesus was just such an example. Pray today that young people would be impacted by the radical example of Jesus Christ and would give and receive the respect owed to every child of God. 

Event:            10 -12noon - Prayer at Shrewsbury House, Everton, Langrove Street, Liverpool, L5 3PE

Thursday 3rd September:

Prayer Focus: Pray for Schools

It goes without saying that young people spend a great deal of time in school during their formative years. Schools therefore have a significant impact in shaping who children are and what they will grow to become. According to statistics, 86% of Christians came to faith under the age of 16! Wouldn’t it be great therefore if there were Christians praying for every school in our region. Pray today for your local school, for the pupils and staff and for those who provide Christian input.

Events:         Pray for Schools in partnership with Scripture Union. Drop in style prayer events with a running program from 7am - 9am in the morning and 4pm-9pm in the evening. All schools staff are  encouraged to join us either before or after school.

Liverpool: All Saints, Childwall Abbey Road & Score Lane , Childwall, L16 0JW

Wirral: The Hope Centre (Fishers Lane Community Centre), Fishers Lane, Pensby

Friday 4th September:

Prayer Focus: Pray Against Violence

At the inspirational Redeeming Our Communities Launch at the Echo Arena in June, Christians from across the region were challenged to play their part in reducing violent crime in our region.  The call was led by senior members of Merseyside Police and a 200 strong choir of primary school children who formed in response to the killing of Rhys Jones. Whilst actions are certainly needed (see www.citylinks.org.uk for details), prayer must be the starting point. As Rt Revd James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, rightly comments  “Peace on our streets is our prayer.”

Today we pray for:

•  Gods healing touch; that light will shine in the darkness - See Matthew 5:14-16

•  The Police force; that God will protect them and give wisdom to those who are leading the fight against violent crime in our region.

•  The young men and women of our region who carry knives and guns through fear or hate.

Event:            10 -12noon - Prayer at Shrewsbury House - L5 3PE

Saturday 5th September:

Prayer Focus: Pray for Parents

Parents of children and teenagers: According to Rob Parsons of Care for the Family, “being a parent is one of the most challenging and yet one of the most important roles” people can be “called” to do. Today we pray for Christian parents, that God would grant them an abundance of wisdom as they live out Proverbs 22:6. For support and advice please visit www.careforthefamily.org.uk

Teenage Pregnancy: According to statistics, the Mersey Region has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Pray that this number will reduce significantly in the coming months and years. Also pray for those who are working with young mums and leading teenagers.

For crisis pregnancy and post abortion support and advice please visit www.careconfidential.com

Abortion: More pregnancies have been terminated in great Brittan since the 1967 Abortion Act than the number of people killed in the Holocaust!  Lord Steel, architect of the Abortion Act, says that abortion is being used as a form of contraception in Britain and admits he never anticipated "anything like" the current number of terminations when leading the campaign for reform.  According to SPUC men! and women are consumed by guilt in every community for many years after a termination and often struggle with suicidal thoughts, drug/alcohol addiction to numb the pain, eating disorders or depression. And yet so much of the church remains silent, choosing to avoid the inconvenient truth - neither providing support for those in their church who have personal experience or speaking out against the problem. Pray today for those who are affected by abortion personally and pray that the body of Christ would be silent no more.

Event:            Worship event in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral - Details to follow

For more information on any of the above please contact us:

office@liverpoolyfc.co.uk

0151 944 1135

LIVERPOOL YFC SPONSORED FUN RIDE

Raising money for the football cage project.

Saturday 26th September 2009

Liverpool Youth For Christ are raising money for our Football Cage Project and as part of that we would like to invite you, your church and family to come on a bike ride with us to Formby. It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember the last time you rode your bike or if you are a professional, it is fun for all!

The ride is about 12 miles long and there is the option to cycle back which will be a 25 miles round trip for you enthusiasts.

We will be leaving St Paul’s Church, Kirkdale at 11am, arriving in Formby were we will enjoy a free BBQ together. (All fans, friends and family are welcome to the BBQ (£4 donation for non-participators)). Minimum sponsorship of £15 per participator or if you don’t fancy getting sponsors then you can just pay the ride entrance fee of £15pp (The event is not suitable for under 12s, and all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). Register by contacting Joe or turn up on the day. Registration will be open from 10.15am.

We are anxious to get the football Cage Project up and running as soon as possible having seen the success of events using a hired cage, and we already have groups interested in using it.

For further information and a sponsor form please contact Joe by e-mail (joe@liverpoolyfc.co.uk), mobile (07595 293688) or by phone the LYFC office 0151 944 1135.

We appreciate your support and hope that you would advertise this event to your church, family and friends.