This special initiative was started in South Africa (Cape Town) in 2001,
and in just a few years has grown into the biggest prayer event of all
times. In 2008, 214 countries joined in! There was praying in football
stadiums, cathedrals, schools, squares or living rooms, sometimes a few
people, sometimes, tens, hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands; in some
countries ministers and presidents joined in; newspapers and TV-stations
covered the story… this event will be repeated until 2010. The goal is to
have 200 million Christians from 220 countries in the six continents, united
in prayer!
The prayer focus is that God will bless the nations so that “the earth
will be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord”. (Habakkuk 2:14)
Many international prayer organizations have joined forces for this event.
They want to form a “canopy of prayer” above all the continents. Such a
beautiful signal of unity cannot leave the Lord’s heart unmoved and will
have a great spiritual effect on this planet.
There is a threefold strategy:
During the 10 days leading up to Pentecost we will try to
mobilize 24h prayer chains in as many places as possible. This,
following in the footsteps of the first disciples, who spent ten days in
prayer and unity awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We aim for
one prayer chain in each province (in 2008, 124 churches participated,
together praying for about 2160 hours). If in each province there are 10
churches who each wish to fill 24 hours of prayer, this goal will be
easy to reach. There will be a coordinator facilitating in each
province.
On the day of Pentecost throughout the country there will be
prayer simultaneously in churches, public places or even football
stadiums. In Belgium there will be, just as last year, a united prayer
evening for all churches in every province (in 2008 we had altogether
750 visitors from 95 churches).
During the 90 days after Pentecost we want to proclaim a
special “time of grace” to reach out in evangelization and other
activities to help those in need. Resources and materials are being
developed and will be sent to all churches.
What can you do?
Talk about this initiative in your church to set up your own 24
hr prayer chain.
Contact your provincial coordinator to determine the day.
All churches receive an information pack: a brochure with
general information, a guide filled with practical tips on how to set up
a prayer chain and a list of prayer subjects for the ten days.
There is a press release available to publish in your church
magazines.
There is also a powerpoint-presentation that you can look at.
Enjoy the very inspiring video-clip (5 minutes) that shows images about
the GDoP-2006, and another video-clip (3 minutes) about prayer watches
all over the world.
A DVD with all materials and 12 inspiring video-clips
concerning prayer initiatives can be ordered by e-mail (see below) (5
euro).
Motivate all youth groups to find their own creative way in
which to take part (Saturday night before Pentecost).
Insert a special time of prayer (15-30 min.) during the church
service on Pentecost Sunday. A “Prayer for the World” will be
prayed in all the continents.
Attend numerously the closing evening of Prayer in every
province on Pentecost Sunday.
Any financial support for this project will be most welcome. The account
details are: “Prayer Belgium”, 979-6353088-78.
Information? Ignace Demaerel, tel 02/2452512 ; e-mail
Committee of recommendation:
Evangelische Alliantie Vlaanderen, Alliance Evangélique Francophone de Belgique, Youth with a Mission, Operatie Mobilisatie, a.net, Impact Brussels, Serve the City
Committee Pray4belgium:
Albert Leclercq, Carlton Deal, Claude Lefèbvre, Daniel Costanza, Eugenia Daskalopoulou, Ignace Demaerel, John Jupe, John van der Dussen, Koen Celis, Laurent Cayron, Nestor Kamuanga, Philip Quarles van Ufford, Roger Lefèbvre, Willy De Vylder, Wout van Wijngaarden
