Alpha Canada launched a national prayer campaign this September, challenging Christians to pray weekly for their students and staff as Canada high schools begin their academic year next year, as they “work on the growth of economic, social and cultural challenges.”
Title created for this: uniting in prayer for all 4,911 high schools across Canada, the campaign calls for the church to have deliberate time to pray for the next generation of leaders and citizens currently studying in schools.
The church can select at least two high schools on an interactive prayer map and “participate in prayer across the country.” According to Alfa Canada, there is a continuing commitment to regular intercession: “Believe in the transformative power of compassion, community, and courage that will shape Canada’s future.”
“I believe this generation of young people are amazing. They are creative, resilient, full of the possibilities to lead with empathy and courage,” said Shyra Visser, Canadian national director. “They are made for these times, and we, the church, are made in this moment: to defend, support them, to cover them with prayer.”
Joanna La Fleur, director of Alpha Canada’s brand Influence, told Christian Daily International that the prayer campaign will take place from September this year until June 2026.
“We will work with 24-7 prayers (the international prayer movement) to create prayer prompts that will guide people each month on how to pray for schools and remind them to pray each week,” Lafleur confirmed. “These are emailed monthly four weeks in advance, so for that timing, the school doesn’t know (yet) that they are being prayed.
“We encourage the church to think of creative ways to encourage and bless the school and let them know that they are praying for them.”
According to Le Fleur, they may even bake “simple muffins” for teachers and administrators to begin a new academic year in September.
“In a note, for example, that they pray for the church and are supported,” La Fleur added.
According to Alpha Canada, what was created for this prayer movement is “rooted in hopes for a generation facing an increase in social detachment, an increase in cost of living, and a generation facing a mental health crisis.”
“Through our weekly prayer guide, the church asks God to govern our schools and grow into young people to flourish academically and emotionally, and to grow into caring leaders, people of kindness, wisdom and integrity that have a positive impact on Canada and the world.”
The prayer campaign follows a 2021 study by the Barna Group, showing that digitally connected Canadian teens are more concerned than ever about issues of justice along with openness to spirituality and authenticity.
“We invite the church to believe in the youth of Canada, to pray for them, to stand with them,” Visser said. “And I believe that when we turn our hearts towards the next generation, we will change for the better and God will answer our prayers.”
