Christians unite in prayer for youth

Christians from around Whangarei will be combining their belief in the power of prayer with a concern for the district's young people at an interdenominational prayer event tomorrow.

The event has been organised by the Whangarei Ministers' Association and builds on the success of similar events in previous years.

Focusing on the theme of The Plight of Our Youth - Problems, Needs and Solutions, the gathering will hear from invited speakers representing community and government organisations before praying for the issues raised.

Whangarei Mayor Morris Cutforth will be the first invited speaker, followed by Whangarei physician and foster parent Cheryl Bollen, Dargaville youth worker Chris Fulop, chair of the Northland Secondary School Principals' Association Grant Burns, and Lou and Sharon Davis who are the managers of Te Ora Hou and Parent Support Services.

Following a short presentation of the problems facing young people in their area of expertise, the speakers will be joined on stage by selected ministers who will pray for God's help in addressing the problems.

President of the Whangarei Ministers' Association Pastor Ron Brewer said the gathering was open to all Christian denominations and anyone else who had "a heart for the young people".

Mr Brewer said Whangarei ministers were united in their concern for the young people of the district and believed that God never intended for them to have such a bleak outlook.

"I think that our youth have never, ever needed prayer as they do today."

"We're so sad about the way the youth are going, they've got no vision, they've got nothing before them."

"What we're doing, we're asking the experts to let us know from their point of view and then we can pray respectively about what they say are the issues."

God is only too happy to respond when Christians unite in prayer, Mr Brewer said.

Christians account for more than 10 per cent of Whangarei's population and it was important for Christian leaders to be unified in prayer for their community, he said.

Mr Brewer said he was hopeful the meeting would also provide opportunities for networking.

The event will begin at 2pm tomorrow and will be held at Elim Christian Centre, 33 Porowini Avenue, Whangarei.