Annual Prayer Service for Children

As world leaders gather for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the Summit of the Future, and other high-level meetings at the United Nations Headquarters, it is crucial to recognize the stark reality: 783 million people are grappling with chronic hunger.  Among them, children bear the brunt of this crisis.  According to UNICEF, 148.1 million children under the age of 5 suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition; 45 million children face wasting, a condition characterized by severe weight loss, 13.7 experience severe wasting, which poses immediate health; and 37 million children are overweight, highlighting the complex interplay of hunger and nutrition.

In a world of abundance, child hunger threatens the lives of millions of boys and girls worldwide. The consequences ripple through societies, impacting its economic development, perpetuating poverty, and undermining stability.

World Vision, together with ACT Alliance, Anglican Communion, Caritas Internationalis, The Episcopal Church, The Lutheran World Federation, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and World Evangelical Alliance, is convening the. Through the power of prayer, we urge world leaders to prioritize ending child hunger.

As we gather for this prayer service, over 5,000 religious leaders will be gathering in Seoul-Incheon, South Korea, to catalyze global church collaboration and bring nations together to shape a better world in 2050.  The Annual Prayer Service will bridge the gap between those attending the UN General Assembly in person and those engaging virtually from the Lausanne Congress. It will also connect Christian communities from regions across the globe.

Children from Uganda and Myanmar will participate in person, representing the voices and prayers of children around the world.

Let us join to pray for a world where no child goes to bed hungry, and every child receives the nourishment they need for a full life.