Bermuda's young people prayed for the community on the steps of City Hall during yesterday's National Day of Prayer.

The noon prayer session focused on the recent rise in violence among the Island's youth. Students representing the Island's public and private schools took centre stage to prove that all is not lost by praying for the violence to end.

Nathaniel Perry, 17, a student at CedarBridge Academy, opened proceedings by praying that Government leaders will make wise, useful and fair decisions about the law.

Samantha Lightbourne, 15, who is home-schooled, took to the podium to pray that God would work on the hearts of the Island's young men. She prayed to teach them guidance and to help them to avoid peer pressure. She also asked that the violence and foolishness stop.

Caleb Crockwell, 17, from Saltus Grammar School, prayed for spiritual leaders among the young people. He asked that all young people be saved and stop settling for mediocrity.

Warwick Academy student Mikhaila Faries also touched on recent violence and asked that God support those trying to get out of bad situations violence and to guide them in the right direction.

The 16-year-old prayed that adults would support youths instead of chastising them.

The youngsters ended their prayer session with a prayer from Ana-Marie Perry, 22, a missionary and recent graduate of Appalachian Bible College. Miss Perry is a CedarBridge Academy graduate.

She prayed for the young women of Bermuda and asked God to protect and guide those looking for love in all the wrong placed. She also reminded those women who are mistreated or feeling unloved that God is always there for them.

Premier Ewart Brown spoke Premier Ewart Brown spoke at the event, telling worshippers: "Of course faith and religion in our community is critically important. And the lifeblood of any faith is prayer. It is the way each of us communicates with our Divine Spirit and, on this Day of Prayer, it is that line of communication we are reflecting upon."

He said prayer would not be enough to solve the Island's problems and hard work was needed as well.

"On this National Day of Prayer, I am proud to tell you, and to tell God, that I am committed to the hard work that is required. Let us climb the mountain together."

Dr. Brown highlighted the Mirrors Programme for at-risk youths, the Hope for Life Bus, free day care and national sports programmes addressing anti-social behaviour of today's young people.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan addressed parents, asking them: "Do your children know who their Lord and Saviour is?"

He said today's children do not have the same values as they did when he was a child. Those values learnt through the Church's influence helped shaped today's adults. If you're not sending your child to Sunday School then you have a problem, we have a problem, because they don't have the core values that were instilled in us as children."

Churches across the Island held special sessions early yesterday morning as part of the National Day of Prayer and there was also a prayer session in Victoria Park last night.