"Dear God, I hope that the GST doesn't make the poor more poorer"

Just one of the thousands of kids' prayers that will be prayed in 70 regions, mostly outdoors, across Australia this Good Friday. Collected by Awakening 2000, they provide an intimate insight into kids' hopes and fears for Australia, their families and themselves. The survey, now in its ninth year includes prayer ranging from the hilarious to the poignant.

Prayers like this one from Philippa aged 11,"Dear God, I hope that the GST doesn't make the poor more poorer".
Or this one from Kareece, 12, "Keep all the refugees safe and when they return to their homeland help them find a job. We really are a lucky country."
Eight year old Peter simply wanted to "Help the East Timorese"
Ellie also eight said, "Please pray for my mum's dog Dusty because he's dead"

Perhaps the most touching ones though, are kids prayers for their families, which highlight the pressures many homes are facing.
Jocelyn, 11, "My prayer is my mum is sick and has no money and I am the only one living with her"
Brad, 12, "I pray for my parents to stop arguing and my mum's boyfriend to stop drinking. I would also like my brothers to stop teasing me and beating me up."
Andrew, 12, "I pray for my dad to live with us, that we can sell our house so that we don't have to pay so much."
Hayley,10, "I would like my Mum and Dad to have enough money for their bills."
Pam, 12 asked for "My parents to get back together."

In the year of the Olympics some had big dreams on their minds.
Like Anthony ,10, "My prayer for myself is to win the Olympic Games"
And Melinda, 8, "My prayer is I can run like Melinda Gainsford-Taylor"

Many showed a strong sense of spirituality, even though few of them had been to Sunday School.
"Thanks for helping me when I needed it" said Daniel, 8.
"Dear God, this is a new day in your great world. Help me to remember that you are with me " Lachlan, 8.
"Thank you for the food that fills my tummy" Emma, 10.
And eleven year old Lorna "I want my cousin and sister to be made undeaf."
"Dear God, can you pleas help me withmy spellg . Aman". Matt, 11.

Thousands of people will join the vigils to pray around giant candles and will be linked by mobile phone right through the night. Awakening 2000 Coordinator Mal Garvin said, "Edmond Burke the philosopher said, 'Society is a contract between those who have been, those who are and those who are yet to be.' These prayers ask the question, "Just how well is the contract being honoured?"

Celebrations for the first Easter of the new millennium will climax when tens of thousands gather in the streets in every capital city and celebrate Resurrection Sunday linked by a satellite broadcast. They'll launch Millennial celebrations that will include a huge Global March to Stadium Australia on June 10.

More prayers and information contact:
Dave Mitchell
Awakening 2000
NSW (02) 9789 4888
E-mail: sydney@fusion.org.au

or contact your Awakening State Office