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Young people in Aotearoa face immense challenges, and the call to pray for them has never been more urgent. Across the motu, Christians of all denominations are being invited to come together in unity to lift up the first third—those under 30—in prayer. I sat down with Rev. Lorna Gray, National Youth Facilitator for Tikanga Pākehā, to hear more about the heart behind this initiative and why prayer is so crucial for the younger generation.
When I was a youth pastor in Miramar, we were facing some really big challenges with our young people. We realised that what we needed most was to pray! So, I met with some other youth pastors in the local area, and we started praying together. We prayed in significant places around our community, and we even chartered a plane to fly over the city with nine people from different generations onboard praying over Miramar Peninsula. It was amazing to see the results of those prayers!
That experience showed me the power of united prayer, and now I believe we need to be praying for young people not just in our local communities, but across the whole nation.
This is about all generations coming together. The older generations have so much wisdom and faith, and that is a gift to young people. When we pray together, it strengthens not just the first third, but the entire church community.
The need to pray is louder than ever. If you look at the statistics in our churches, young people are missing. We need to cover them in prayer, asking for God’s presence to be known in their lives.
Young people today are searching for truth, peace, and hope. Many are struggling with anxiety, uncertainty, and a sense of disconnection. Social media, devices, and external pressures can be overwhelming, often drowning out God’s voice in their lives.
We can pray for:
There is so much to pray for, and we believe that when the church unites in prayer, God will move powerfully.
Already, I’m seeing connections forming as people catch the vision for this. Churches are coming together, and there is an incredible sense of unity unfolding, which is so encouraging.
Who knows what God will do spiritually across our nation if we gather together in prayer? I hope to see lives transformed, young people meeting Jesus, and churches stepping up to support and disciple the first third. If this prayer movement brings churches together and helps young people encounter God, that’s the whole point. If we can all work together in this, it’s a win-win for the entire body of Christ.
This nationwide prayer movement is part of a wider call to pray for our communities and those who don’t yet know Jesus. You’re invited to join Bishop Steve and others across Aotearoa as we commit to 40 Days of Prayer during Lent.
Weekly: Sundays during Lent, 8 PM
Join us here: https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/94247586363
Let’s lift up the first third in prayer and seek God’s presence over the young people of Aotearoa. Spread the word, invite your church, and stand in unity for the next generation.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Young people in Aotearoa face immense challenges, and the call to pray for them has never been more urgent. Across the motu, Christians of all denominations are being invited to come together in unity to lift up the first third—those under 30—in prayer. I sat down with Rev. Lorna Gray, National Youth Facilitator for Tikanga Pākehā, to hear more about the heart behind this initiative and why prayer is so crucial for the younger generation.
When I was a youth pastor in Miramar, we were facing some really big challenges with our young people. We realised that what we needed most was to pray! So, I met with some other youth pastors in the local area, and we started praying together. We prayed in significant places around our community, and we even chartered a plane to fly over the city with nine people from different generations onboard praying over Miramar Peninsula. It was amazing to see the results of those prayers!
That experience showed me the power of united prayer, and now I believe we need to be praying for young people not just in our local communities, but across the whole nation.
This is about all generations coming together. The older generations have so much wisdom and faith, and that is a gift to young people. When we pray together, it strengthens not just the first third, but the entire church community.
The need to pray is louder than ever. If you look at the statistics in our churches, young people are missing. We need to cover them in prayer, asking for God’s presence to be known in their lives.
Young people today are searching for truth, peace, and hope. Many are struggling with anxiety, uncertainty, and a sense of disconnection. Social media, devices, and external pressures can be overwhelming, often drowning out God’s voice in their lives.
We can pray for:
There is so much to pray for, and we believe that when the church unites in prayer, God will move powerfully.
Already, I’m seeing connections forming as people catch the vision for this. Churches are coming together, and there is an incredible sense of unity unfolding, which is so encouraging.
Who knows what God will do spiritually across our nation if we gather together in prayer? I hope to see lives transformed, young people meeting Jesus, and churches stepping up to support and disciple the first third. If this prayer movement brings churches together and helps young people encounter God, that’s the whole point. If we can all work together in this, it’s a win-win for the entire body of Christ.
This nationwide prayer movement is part of a wider call to pray for our communities and those who don’t yet know Jesus. You’re invited to join Bishop Steve and others across Aotearoa as we commit to 40 Days of Prayer during Lent.
Weekly: Sundays during Lent, 8 PM
Join us here: https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/94247586363
Let’s lift up the first third in prayer and seek God’s presence over the young people of Aotearoa. Spread the word, invite your church, and stand in unity for the next generation.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
