World Day of Prayer 2026: “I will give you rest, come”

On Friday 6 March, Christians across the globe will once again unite for the World Day of Prayer (WDP), an international, ecumenical movement of people praying together for peace, justice and transformation in the world.  

World Day of Prayer is built around the simple but powerful motto: “Informed Prayer; Prayerful Action”. Each year, women from a different country prepare the service, sharing their stories, faiths and concerns with the world. For 2026, the focus country is Nigeria, with the theme taken from Matthew 11:28-30: “I will give you rest, come”.  

It is deeply moving that, in a country facing insecurity and hardship, the chosen theme speaks of rest. Through this service, Nigerian women invite us to hear again Christ’s gentle words: “come to me, all you who are weary”. It is an invitation not only to personal comfort, but to shared strength, reminding us that we are stronger when we stand and pray together.  

World Day of Prayer is more than a single service in March. It helps to build understanding, friendship and solidarity across nations. It calls us to listen carefully to the experiences of others and to respond with compassion, not only in prayer, but in action.  

 

Mothers’ Union in Nigeria: Faith in action 

For Mothers’ Union members in Nigeria, this theme is not abstract; it reflects everyday life and ministry. 

Across the Diocese of Pankshin, Mothers’ Union members continue to grow in faith and service. They take part in seminars, workshops and conferences, strengthening their spiritual lives and equipping themselves to support their families and communities. The executive committee meets regularly to reflect on the needs and challenges within the diocese, seeking God’s wisdom for the way forward. 

Members have also led a gender-based violence awareness campaign, encouraging women and children to speak out and seek help. This work requires courage, compassion and persistence. It is a clear example of prayer leading to practical action. 

Alongside advocacy, there is also quiet and faithful care. Christmas packages are shared with children and widows across the diocese. Fellowship gatherings bring encouragement and unity. Through these simple but meaningful acts of love, members make Christ’s promise of rest tangible, offering hope and support to people who feel weary. 

For many women and girls in Nigeria, daily life brings real challenges. In some communities, girls have fewer educational opportunities than boys. Early marriage can limit a girl’s future and expose her to health risks, and violence and discrimination remain a reality, with widows often experiencing isolation and hardship. These are not distant issues; they shape the lives of families and communities. As part of a global Mothers’ Union movement, we are called not only to be aware of these realities, but to hold them faithfully in prayer and respond with love where we can. 

 

How you can participate this World Day of Prayer 

As we approach 6 March, we can join the global movement of WDP in simple but meaningful ways: 

• Attend a local World Day of Prayer service in your parish or diocese 

• Use the Nigerian service materials to guide worship and reflection 

• Organise small group prayer meetings around the theme “I will give you rest” 

• Link prayer with action in support of women and families in your own communities 

World Day of Prayer reminds us that prayer connects us across borders. When we pray for Nigeria, we are not praying for strangers; we are praying for our sisters in Christ. 

May this World Day of Prayer be a time of renewed hope, deeper unity, and a fresh commitment to live out God’s love through Mothers’ Union – in Nigeria and in our own communities. 

 

World Day of Prayer prayer – taken from Mothers’ Union Prayer Diary 

We pray with gratitude for the country and people of Nigeria who have prepared today’s service: humbled that amidst the constant hardship and turmoil in their country, the theme is “I will give you rest, come”. May all your people stand firm in the promise that we are stronger when we pray together. Amen.