TERRORISM MAKING OUR KIDS
FEEL UNSAFE

Once again the most sensitive poll on Australian's attitudes has been taken.
Thousands of children around Australia were invited to write down their prayers for their family, their country and themselves.

While the drought still hovered as a core issue for rural children along with personal issues like school, family relationships and pets, it seems television images are sending them to bed at night feeling quite unsafe.

Prayers like the following were very typical this year, "I pray that there's be no bombings in Australia"; "I pray that there'll be no terrorist attacks and we'll get stronger"; "I pray for Australia that all the terrorists will stop bombing and start doing good things in the world so everyone can feel safe living in Australia. Amen."

For a generation raised outside of Sunday School and in front of the TV news, it was interesting to hear poignant prayers like this:-
"I love you God and I always will. If I ever die, just don't forget me."

While country children were also conscious of terrorism, with prayers like:- "Dear God, protect us from armies."
A range of prayers about rain, water and drought were in the forefront of their thinking with prayers like:- "Dear God, please stop the drought, Amen." And Lochie aged 6 from Central NSW prayed, "Dear God, can we please have some rain" and another 8 year old prayed, "Thank you water."

A range of very touching personal prayers like the following:- Scott aged 8 prayed, "I'm sorry for all that I've done that's bad." Sharlene aged 5 wanted more friends. Caleigh aged 4 ½ on the other hand prayed for dolls and clothes.

FAMILY ISSUES
Once again figured largely with prayers like:- "I pray my family will get along with each other and will have a clean house." " Another 8 year old prayed, "Dear God, help me not fight with my sister."

It's always heart wrenching to see how many prayers like the following turn up each year:- From a 7 year old, "I wish I had a Dad who lived with me."

Some couldn't make out the difference between Easter and Christmas with prayers like:- "Dear God, thank you for your Son's birthday. Could I get a motorbike off your helper Santa."

Pets always get a mention. "I wish everyone in Australia would be nice to their pets instead of dumping them."
Rebecca, 7 years of age prayed, "Dear God, thank you for cats and 8 year old Kylie prayed, "I wish I had a horse and a place to keep it."

11 year old Cornish captured the mood and had all the bases covered - "Dear God, please help people stop bombing all the places and please help other people to become Christians. Please help there to be no volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. Please help people get food, water, money and a home to live in. Please help there to be no more wars and please help there to be no wars in Australia. Thank you that we have our families. Please help us care more about tadpoles and habitat that we need for them. Amen"

Now in its 15th year, the prayers have become a fascinating and sensitive measure for what our kids have been feeling deeply about. Thousands of these prayers will be taken up on Good Friday evening and prayed from 6.00pm to 6.00am all over Australia.

It's been an annual reminder of the way our media and society is impacting on our children's sense of wellbeing. This year the organizers are hoping that the Mel Gibson's movie will remind us all that love is not just a euphoric feeling but a costly commitment to a sense of wellbeing for those we love.

You might like to ask Mal Garvin how this unique Aussie approach to Easter celebrations is breaking out all over the world. This trans-denominational celebration of Easter will climax in every capital city on Easter Sunday afternoon with colorful marches led by hundreds of young Australians who will be commissioned as ambassadors of reconciliation as they leave for a Pilgrimage to Uluru.

Mal Garvin and National Coordinator of the Awakening movement is available for interviews on 0412 904 589 & 02 9789 4888. Or contact your state representative.

Victoria - Poul Bottern on 0402 338 715
Queensland - Wells O'Neil 0422 869 919
SA - Dean Polkinghorne 0402 015 925
ACT - Ian I'Anson 0413 598 577
Tasmania - Matt Garvin 0413 598 625
WA - Andy Braun 0412 145 269

For more information contact your Awakeing State Office