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Christians
Worldwide Mark 4th Global Day of Prayer
Millions of
Christians across the world are uniting in prayer Sunday to mark the
fourth annual Global Day of Prayer and to commemorate the descent of
the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the other followers of Christ as
described in the Book of Acts. Last year, millions of Christians from
204 nations participated in the Global Day of Prayer, seeking God in
repentance and prayer for the transformation of their communities and
nations. Driven by Habakkuk 2:14 – which states
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" – the goal of GDOP
has been to mobilize Christians from every single nation in the world
to participate in the united prayer effort over the next few years
before 2010.
“This morning as the sun rose in the East to later this evening
when it sets in the West, the body of Christ in almost every nation in
the world is gathering in homes, churches, parks, cathedrals and
stadiums,” stated South African Christian businessman Graham
Power in a video broadcast to GDOP participants. “Our goal is to
saturate the nations of the world with prayer. We believe that as we
humble ourselves, seek our Father’s face, and turn from our
wicked ways, God will hear from everyone, forgive our sons and heal our
lands.”
According to Power, it was when 45,000 Christians gathered in a stadium
seven years ago in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, that the vision
for GDOP was berthed.
“It was a day of intense intercession that transformed lives and
was reflected in a changing city in the months to come,” GDOP
organizers state in the event’s web site.
In the following years, the event spread out to 8 different venues in
South Africa and then to 27 African countries before making history
with the first ever continental Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa
in 2004, when Christians from all 56 nations of Africa reportedly
joined in. On Pentecost Sunday in 2005, Christians from 156 of the 220
nations of the world were said to have united across denominational and
cultural borders for the first Global Day of Prayer.
“More than ever before the nations of the world are needing God
to heal their land,” explained Power. “It is as we actively
engage in acts of repentance and pray our faith that we prepare the way
for God to save the lost and to transform our nations.”
In London, where GDOP has been a focus of prayer and Christian action
since 2006, a crowd of 25,000 is expected to gather at the Millwall
football stadium.
“At Millwall this Sunday, we will be urging thousands of
Christians to be agents of transformation for the global poor,”
reported GDOP London founder Dr. Jonathan Oloyede, according to
London-based Christian Today. Other prayer topics will include missing
British girl Madeleine McCann and other abducted children, as well as
crimes in the capital.
“[T]oday, as you join with hundreds of millions of Christians
from all over the globe, we are together writing, I believe,
history,” Power stated in the promotional video.
GDOP organizers are also reminding participants and observers that the
focus of the annual event is not only on a single day of prayer, but to
see a lifestyle of prayer established that will transform communities.
“Let’s all keep praying together,” Power stated.
“Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the
perfecter of our faith, so that together we can say ‘Let Your
Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.’”
Pentecost, one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical
year, is celebrated 49 days (7 weeks) after Easter Sunday. Eastern
churches, which follow the Julian calendar, will mark Pentecost this
year on June 15.
Christian Post
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