National Children’s Prayer Day attracts many youths

The seventh National Children’s Prayer Day attracted many youths on Saturday. The Weid Mijn Lammeren Foundation (WML) organized this event that was held in the Congress Hall in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (BIZA) . The main objective of this event was to emphasize the importance of prayer and especially the prayers of children. The WML Foundation strongly believes in the power of children’s prayers. Children are not hypocritical and are often more sincere and honest in their faith and trust in God than adults. “We see a clear growth in participation and involvement. Especially the group of loyal volunteers who lead the prayer workshops or who cook behind the scenes and decorate the room deserve our appreciation. In the early years, children were very often shy to pray aloud even in a small circle, but things are getting better. It is important for children to be mentally resilient. Through prayer they become aware of God’s presence and that gives children a compass to make the right choices in life,” WML director Gloria Lie Kwie Sjoe said in a press release. Home Affairs Minister Mike Noersalim welcomed the children, especially those who had come from the outer districts. “Praying together is a precious freedom that is not ‘allowed’ in all countries. In Suriname we are free to pray, and the ministry therefore finds it a good thing that deserves all the necessary support.” Noersalim encouraged the children to pray for each other and not to participate in bullying at school. There was a record number of registrations of 310 children from churches, schools and children’s homes. Many parents and their children also attended the event. The children’s choir of the Gemeente Gods Rainville were dressed in festive red uniforms as they performed two rhythmic acapella songs. This year children from other districts once again joined the prayer event and the delegation from the Open Poort foundation from the Nickerie District was the largest. Children could express their personal feelings by dancing or painting. The children participated enthusiastically in the dance workshop called ‘Praying is not boring’. That was also the clear message of the seventh National Children’s Prayer Day.