Christians Dedicate 10 Days for First Global Day of Prayer

Since the National Day of Prayer last Thursday, American Christians are called to be unified in persistent prayer for the 10 days leading up to the first-ever Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday, May 15.

An estimated 200 million Christians in more than 160 countries - the largest prayer gathering in history - are expected to be united in prayer to seek God's forgiveness and blessing and usher in a global transformation.

According to event organizers, the 10 days of prayer leading up to the Global Day of Prayer event is of great spiritual significance.

"For ten days, the twelve disciples sought the Lord in fervent prayer. During that ten-day period of intense intercession, God increased their numbers and prepared them to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost."

"GDOP participants anticipate a powerful movement of God's hand as He responds to an army of 200 million."

The purpose of the 10 days of prayer is to "saturate our Communities with Prayer, establish day-and-night prayer furnaces for 10 days all over the world to pray for the healing of the nations and for the glory of the Lord to be revealed," according to GDOP.

During these ten days (between the ascension of Jesus and the descent of His Holy Spirit on Pentecost), according to GDOP, believers are organizing ways to pray together night and day beginning Friday 6 May through to the end of Pentecost Sunday, 15 May 2005 and there is a 10 day prayer guide on the website, here: http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/prayer.asp
available in 39 languages.

The organizers cited Scripture to support their mission of globalizing prayer, worldwide repentance, and revealing God's glory.

For globalization, they cited, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 NIV)."

The verse they cited for repentance was, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14 NIV).

For the glory of God, they cited "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
(Matthew 6:10 NIV).

The event will be simulcast through the Internet, radio, and television.

Sky Angel, the world's first and only multi-channel direct-to-home satellite system with a Christian mission and purpose, has announced that U.S. activities will be telecasted via its nationwide direct-to-home Christian-family satellite television service.

According to a statement released by Sky Angel, they will air the activities taking place at the "flagship" Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX on Angel Two/Channel 9702, from 5 to 8 p.m. ET, enabling believers to gather in homes, churches, colleges and more around the country to take part via satellite.

Like other Global Day of Prayer events, the Dallas event will transcend denominational lines, to be hosted by a diverse group of ministry leaders: Dr. Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas; Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House in Dallas; Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas; Dr. Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.; and Dr. Bob Bakke, director of the National Prayer Advance, executive producer of the Nationally Broadcast Concert of Prayer and an executive director of the Evangelical Free Church in America.

The U.S. activities of the Global Day of Prayer is coordinated by America's National Prayer Committee, but the global event is organized by the International Prayer Council and Transformation Africa. Visit www.globaldayofprayer.com for more information.