International (MNN) — Christians from all across the globe will be gathered on one day, May 27, to pray for their nations. Believers in Africa, Asia, the UK, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Pacific Islands will be united in lifting up Christ and interceding for their countries during the Global Day of Prayer.
Just as in Acts when the disciples were gathered in one place seeking God's face, the goal of the Global Day of Prayer is to unite Christians all around the world to pray for their communities. Prayers are mostly focused on repentance and healing of the nations, as well as restoring the church.
The mission behind this day of unified prayer is for the whole earth to come to know the Lord, as stated in Habakkuk 2:14 and for Christians worldwide to work together in lifting up the nations to God. Rather than focusing on one day of prayer, the desired goal is to develop a lifestyle of praying and repentance.
The gatherings are nondenominational and range from tens of thousands of believers to two or three in persecuted nations. The importance, however, lies not in the number of believers but in the flow of the Spirit among those who are gathered together, for the Lord is among those who join in lifting Him up.
The Global Day of Prayer began six years ago as a small assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. Forty-five thousand Christians gathered in a rugby stadium, and one day of intercessory prayer would result in changed lives and a changed city in the months to follow. From there it engulfed the entire continent of Africa as millions joined together in prayer. Two-hundred and seventy-seven communities participated in South Africa alone in 2004.
Four years after its initial beginning, nations around the world participate in the Global Day of Prayer. In 2006, believers from over 199 countries gathered together to lift up their nations to God. The goal is to continue this Pentecost day of prayer until 2010, and the hope is for Christians from every single nation to join in unified intercession for changed lives and communities.
This year on May 27, believers on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro will be joining millions of Christians across the world in prayer. This event will be broadcast live on GodTV. More information on the climb and Global Day of Prayer can be found at www.globaldayofprayer.com.
