Christians Worldwide Mark 4th Global Day of Prayer

By Eric Young, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, May 11, 2008

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 son 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.