Global Day of Prayer - History
Information compliments of http://www.globaldayofprayer.com
In July 2000 God captured the heart of a South African
Christian businessman, Graham Power, with a vision based on 2 Chron.
7:14. The vision had three clear instructions:
To call Christians from all denominations in Cape
Town for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium.
To challenge Christians across the rest of South Africa to unite in
a Day of Repentance and Prayer.
To challenge Christians in Southern Africa to unite in a Day of Repentance
and Prayer.
In March of 2001 more than 45 000 Christians united
for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape
Town. It was a day of intense intercession that transformed lives
and was reflected in a changing city in the months to come. Testimonies
of transformation caused the vision to be spread into the rest of
South Africa and planning immediately started for similar prayer gatherings
in 8 provinces of South Africa for 2002.
In February 2002 Graham Power had a second vision.
This vision had an even bigger challenge: The whole of Africa was
to gather in a Day of Repentance and Prayer, changing Africa to become
a "light to the world". Eventually, Africa was to invite
all the nations of the globe to unite in this move of transformational
prayer.
In May of 2002 Christians in South Africa gathered in 8 different
venues for a Day of Repentance and Prayer. Again, the testimonies
of church unity and the healing of communities inspired leaders to
expand the vision into the rest of Africa. At a Summit in September
2002 leaders of 9 African countries agreed on the vision "Africa
for Christ".
At the same time, it was clear that different prayer
streams from across the globe were flowing in the same direction with
a similar vision of community transformation through prayer. God was
busy raising up a church of intercession in order to prepare communities
for the revelation of His glory.
Across the African continent millions of Christians
were inspired to participate in the process of transforming Africa.
77 South African regions and 27 African countries (66 cities) committed
to a Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa on the 1st of May 2003.
On 2 May 2004 history was made when Christians from
all 56 nations of Africa participated in the first ever continental
Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa. Numerous communities, villages,
towns and cities united in non-denominational prayer gatherings at
different venues. In South Africa 277 communities participated. A
flame of prayer was burning in Africa!
At a meeting of the International Prayer Council in Malaysia in November
2004, the invitation from Africa went out to the nations of the world
to join in a five year Global Day of Prayer process up to 2010. On
Pentecost Sunday, 15 May 2005, Christians from 156 of the 220 nations
of the world united across denominational and cultural borders for
the first Global Day of Prayer. In the months following this day,
Christians were overwhelmed by the testimonies of God's powerful work
in answer to these prayers.
This move of prayer again miraculously expanded in
2006, when on Pentecost Sunday (4 June 2006) millions of Christians
from 199 of the 220 nations of the world united in prayer.
But, this is just the beginning of a process to saturate
all the nations of the globe in prayer: "For the earth will be
filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover
the sea" (Hab. 2:14). May every Pentecost until 2010 see a fresh
outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
Central Florida GDOP and SUMMIT
’07 coordinating team:
Associated Websites
www.globaldayofprayer.com
www.globaldayofprayer.com/youth
www.gdopusa.com
www.visionorlando.org/prayer/gdop2007.htm
www.UnitedCaribbean.com/gdop.html
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