19-25 October 2024

International Development Week

New Beginnings

International Development Week will take place during Saturday 19 to Friday 25 October (with 'ID Sunday' falling on 20 October).

The theme of this year's International Development Week is ‘New Beginnings’. It aims to highlight the transformative power of collaboration and community. As International Development Week also overlaps with Anti-Slavery Day, the focus for the week is on anti-human trafficking and modern slavery.

The resources have been created to be adaptable depending on the time you have available. You may choose to use the resources as they have been divided below or use a combination of the resources.

Whatever time you have to give, use the resources below to guide your prayers into this area.

In the video below, Clinton tells his story of experiencing human trafficking and modern slavery and how The Salvation Army has offered him a fresh start. Watch the video and spend some time praying for Clinton, others like Clinton and the international work of The Salvation Army.

Download and share the video to raise awareness of the topic and Salvation Army projects internationally. Alternatively, post on social media using #IDWeek2024 with a sentence or short video using the prompt, "A new beginning I am thankful for...". Use this opportunity to share your story.

Download the video

Focus your prayer time alone, as a small group or as a wider congregation on this topic. Pray for victims, their families, the perpetrators and those who work to offer others new beginnings.

Messages of Hope

A new platform has opened for anyone to submit messages of hope to survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. The messages will be shared with Anti-Trafficking Coordinators directly in contact with survivors. During prayer, display the screen below with the QR code and ask people to use their phones to write their message. You may choose to watch the video above first to give some context.

Conclude this time of prayer with a song or open prayer for those involved.

Song suggestions for this time of prayer:

‘I’m in his hands’, SASB 848
‘Cornerstone (My hope is built)’, Hillsong Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55-EQXrDgtA
‘Make me a channel of your peace’, SASB 608

Key Dates

A PowerPoint template with a slide for the 'Messages of hope' QR code

Resource PPTX /

1.43 MB

Key Dates

A PowerPoint template with a slide for the 'Messages of hope' QR code

Resource PPTX /

1.7 MB

ID Sunday (20 October) offers an opportunity to explore the theme 'New Beginnings' and how God offers each of us this opportunity to be renewed through him. This year's theme also highlights Salvation Army projects supporting victims of anti-slavery and human trafficking.

Key Dates

Based on the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), this sermon outline highlights the new beginnings we are all offered in Christ

Resource PDF /

276.09 KB

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Ideas to support your worship service on ID Sunday

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350.36 KB

Resources to support all age worship and small groups focussing on this topic during International Development Week.

Key Dates

This session is aimed at children aged 5-11 and uses the story of The Singing Mermaid to introduce the issue of human trafficking in a safe and accessible way.

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410.59 KB

Key Dates

Get ready to meet one of the Bible’s most courageous women. May her ‘once upon a time’ story inspire you to believe you too have been called ‘for such a time as this’ (Esther 4:14).

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295.1 KB