IF I commence a project, whether making a fence or planting potatoes, I know how I will proceed and what the final successful outcome will be.

I read (Echo, August 23) that Dr Sentamu is going to fast and pray for peace for six days. I am intrigued as to how he expects it to happen.

Will IS, now rampaging through Iraq, suddenly have a change of heart and lay down their arms?

Perhaps he hopes God will interfere directly, putting sand in all of their vehicles’ fuel tanks or ensure that every shot fired by the Kurds and Iraqi armies is on target and kills an IS fighter.

Surely there are millions of people throughout the world praying and hoping for peace.

Quite why should the addition of Dr Sentamu’s prayers make a difference?

I find it hard to believe they will influence any of the combatants in the many conflicts worldwide. If his prayers are to influence God then surely God already knows what is happening and would not need the additional prayers from Dr Sentamu to act.

Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough