This year marks a decade of the December Prayer Project, celebrating Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s heartfelt poem, December Prayer. Written at age 9, Mattie’s timeless words inspire unity, peace, and faith across all beliefs and traditions.
This year marks a decade of the December Prayer Project, celebrating Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s heartfelt poem, December Prayer. Written at age 9, Mattie’s timeless words inspire unity, peace, and faith across all beliefs and traditions.
Support this mission with an end-of-year donation to the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation. Together, we can amplify Mattie’s legacy of hope and peace and continue spreading his #Pathways2Peace vision.
This year marks a decade of the December Prayer Project, celebrating Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s heartfelt poem, December Prayer. Written at age 9, Mattie’s timeless words inspire unity, peace, and faith across all beliefs and traditions.
Click below to watch videos and explore written and video translations created through this special project, sharing Mattie’s vision of a world built on hope and understanding. The December Prayer Project continues to unite people globally in celebrating peace and pathways to connection.
Support this mission with an end-of-year donation to the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation. Together, we can amplify Mattie’s legacy of hope and peace and continue spreading his #Pathways2Peace vision.
Mattie, born with a rare, incurable medical condition, was much like any other kid — he enjoyed games, hanging with friends, and hobbies like rock collecting and reading. He was also a gifted writer, offering choices to “cultivate pathways to peace” through his seven bestselling Heartsongs poetry and peace essays.
Despite struggles related to disability, being bullied, and witnessing close friends perish in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mattie celebrated life for almost 14 years on Earth. He knew that conflict and challenges would always exist, but still believed that peace is possible.
— Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Mattie encourages us to seek purpose within—and to celebrate our “reason for being.” Our purpose grows as we make peace with others through purposeful habits and actions, and as we bring peace to others—even people who are different from us, or with whom we disagree.
“Mattie’s message of ‘peace, purpose, and play’ is as relevant today as it was when he wrote his first books. The Surgeon General has stated that we are going through an epidemic of loneliness and Mattie’s message can help us through that.
Learning about his message has helped me come to find my own purpose in life and although I may only be one, my gift in life is fun, which may seem trivial to some but because of his words, I know that every time I share my laughter with others, I am continuing his legacy and spreading his message.”
Larissa Johnson
Public Speaker & Educator
“Jeni — Mama Peace — and the Foundation bring a sense of purpose, a commitment to peace, and a reminder to play!”
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street Connect
“The Foundation’s focus on ‘PEACE PURPOSE PLAY’ signals and reminds us that we need to balance our days, weeks and years. We need all three P’s to achieve quietness, reflect on our personal goals, and celebrate with joy. Peace, Purpose, Play is LIFE.”
Jenn Lynn
“
Mattie’s message of “peace, purpose, and play” is as relevant today as it was when he wrote his first books. The Surgeon General has stated that we are going through an epidemic of loneliness and Mattie’s message can help us through that.
Learning about his message has helped me come to find my own purpose in life and although I may only be one, my gift in life is fun, which may seem trivial to some but because of his words, I know that every time I share my laughter with others, I am continuing his legacy and spreading his message.
Larissa Johnson
Public Speaker & Educator
“
Jeni — Mama Peace — and the Foundation bring a sense of purpose, a commitment to peace, and a reminder to play!
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street Connect
“
The Foundation’s focus on “PEACE PURPOSE PLAY” signals and reminds us that we need to balance our days, weeks and years. We need all three P’s to achieve quietness, reflect on our personal goals, and celebrate with joy. Peace, Purpose, Play is LIFE.
Jenn Lynn
We continue Mattie’s mission of promoting well-being and a deeper understanding of peace among youth and adults globally. Our goal is to support individuals in making peace a personal and community choice, finding one’s purpose, and connecting with others through conversation and play.
We help people understand, practice, and promote peace through inspiration, information, and connection with others. Our Pathways2Peace and Peace Certification programs offer in-person activities and also virtual events like Peace Trees, For Our World Campaign, and Heartsongs Contests, that have engaged participants globally.
We use donations, grants, and sponsorships to create easy to understand resources, facilitate programs and activities, host in-person and virtual events, and mentor global youth and adults—at little or no cost to participants. View our donate page to learn more.
Star reviews of our programs, workshops, and Peace Certification
Our programs and activities support you in better understanding and choosing peace – within, with others, with our world – through education, conversation, and fun.
Our tips and tools for families, educators, and leaders help guide you in role modeling and teaching peace to children and adults in simple, creative, and purposeful ways.
Our Peace Certification program offers a more hands-on experience with our organization, as we mentor individuals and groups on personalized journeys of peace.
Stay up-to-date and inspired. Safe, secure, and no spam.
Coffee with Mama Peace, webinars, and more.
Ask questions (audio or text) about Mattie, peace, or our world. There are also clickable links for learning more about specific topics or current news and events.
From classrooms and offices to taverns to healthcare settings, we‘ve helped guide others on their peace journeys. We’re here to help. Contact us today.
+1 (202) 888-MJTS (6587)
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