The Global Day of Prayer for Scarborough Shoal was organised by the US Pinoys for Good Governance, which lobbies for Filipinos around the world.
It took place in around 400 towns and cities in 21 countries, including across the Asia-Pacific region, in the Philippines, the US, and in Australia on Tuesday, the anniversary of former president Benigno Aquino Junior's assassination.
"We are going to pray for justice and peace. In other words a resolution to this conflict without firing a shot, with diplomacy, either directly and behind doors," Loida Lewis, chairwoman of US Pinoys for Good Governance, told Radio Australia's Connect Asiaprogram.
"We want to have at the end peace and resolution on how to extract the trillion dollars worth of oil and gas which is within our exclusive economic zone."
The Scarborough Shoal is claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan. Tensions over the area escalated in April when the Philippines' navy apprehended eight Chinese fishing vessels docked in the Shoal's waters.
"China has been very aggressive.
"It has said lately: 'We are ready for anyone that will invade our town,' because they created a town that included our Scarborough Shoal, which has been in our books since the Spanish times.
"So really it is egging us to war, but we know we are like a little mouse in front of this elephant.
"But we have something, we are a people of faith. The Philippines is the only Christian country in the east, in Asia, and so we know that with God everything is possible," Ms Lewis said.
"You may have warships but have the worship."
Ms Lewis added that the US Pinoys for Good Governance, which has previously organised a boycott of 'Made in China' good, was hopeful of influencing the next Chinese Government.
"I believe in miracles, I believe they are going to take notes that we are extending a hand saying: 'China, superpower, don't be a big bully, be a big brother'."
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