Rocio Choque (left) from the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina in conversation with Rodolfo Catunta Uturunco (center) from the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church and Isabella Reimann Gnas (right), LWF Vice-President for the Latin America and Caribbean region. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
LWF Youth lead global weekend prayer vigil advocating for action to prevent digital violence and promote online safety
(LWI) - Young Lutherans from churches around the world came together this past weekend for a 16-hour long prayer vigil and advocacy action as part of the 16 Days campaign to end gender-based violence. Over a hundred young people from all seven regions of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) participated in the online event which focused on combatting digital violence and creating safer spaces for users of online platforms.
The vigil was organized by regional youth coordinators from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America, together with LWF staff. It began with an opening prayer session and reflection offered by Rev. Dr Marcia Blasi, Program Executive for Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment. The prayer chain moved from region to region, with activities including songs, Bible study, sharing of stories and brainstorming on ways of strengthening online protection for all women and girls.
Adeline Rajkumar from the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, said the vigil “created a space where we could stand together for every woman and girl facing digital violence, especially the stories that stay unseen and unheard.” As one of the organizers of the weekend event, she said she learned a lot about “how powerful unity can be. Even a simple youth-led vigil can open conversations, build awareness and remind people that digital safety is a basic right, not a privilege,” she said.
Adeline Rajkumar from the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church leads discussions with other delegates at a recent Asia Church Leadership Conference. Photo: LWF/Johanan Celine Valeriano
Candles lit to make the shape of a cross at the COP conference in Belém, Brazil. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Bupe Kibiki from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania speaks at a recent Africa Regional Leadership Conference. Photo: LWF Erick Kinyanguli, Conne Boshielo
As digital natives, the young participants stressed the need to take an active stand to combat this growing form of gender-based violence. Bupe Kibiki from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, one of three LWF youth coordinators for the Africa region, highlighted the need “to listen with compassion and speak with courage to survivors.” She emphasized that “these 16 Days will never be just a yearly campaign, but a lifelong commitment to promoting peace in my community,” adding an intention to “walk in the light of Christ so that through my actions and my life, people will see healing, hope and justice.”
Praying for healing, advocating for justice
During the vigil, participants led prayers in many languages and spoke about the work for gender justice in their different contexts. Rocio Choque from the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina, a youth coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean region, prayed for “the courage to act and denounce those responsible” for online abuse, hate speech, harassment and all other forms of digital violence. “Let us join in protest in our cities and in proclaiming justice and advocacy in public spaces in order to break the cycle of violence,” she said.
Our hopes, determination, learning, prayers and advocacy commitments passed around the globe in a tangible way during this vigil
Savanna Sullivan, LWF Program Executive for Youth
The vigil ended with an hour of Sunday worship and blessing, giving thanks for the shared commitment to ending digital violence. This included prayers for healing for survivors and a call to empowering families, men and boys to become advocates and allies in the work for online safety and dignity. Lumbani Wellani from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, who has participated in the LWF Peace Messengers program, said the vigil taught him that “as youth, we have the power to make the internet safter and kinder and it starts with how we speak, act and stand up for others online.”
Savanna Sullivan, LWF Program Executive for Youth noted it was “truly inspiring to see the diversity of gifts offered by young people around the world during these 16 hours.” She concluded: “Our hopes, determination, learning, prayers and advocacy commitments passed around the globe in a tangible way during this vigil – a reflection of what we hope happens every day, living together as one global Lutheran communion.”
