International (MNN) — Beginning
May 1st, Christians from around the world will be praying 10 days — just like
the disciples did. They'll be praying zealously that God would move in their
hearts. It will culminate in the Global
Day of Prayer on May 11th.
Joni and Friends is just one
organization that's participating this year in the largest prayer gathering in
the history of the world.
Joni and Friends' Dan'l Markham
says they're doing something a little different. "We're taking the Global
Day of Prayer prayer points that they provide, and we've sort of put our imprint
on those that address the 650-million people around the world affected by
disability."
This falls neatly under Joni And
Friends' mission statement which is to communicate the Gospel and equip
Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected
by disability.
According to Markham, prayer is
desperately needed for this segmentof the global society. "If you put them
all together, they would be the third-largest nation in the world. They would be
the most economically depressed; they would be the ones with the most physical
needs. They would be the most abused and neglected."
He goes on to remind people that
the marginalized were the ones Christ focused on. Their hope is that people will catch the
vision as a result of the prayer vigil through the eyes of Joni and Friends.
The Global Days of Prayer are
then followed by 90 days of Blessing. That's when their team puts feet to their prayers, through Wheels for
the World, two by two medical teams, family retreats and more.
There are specific areas they're asking people to pray about. As the teams look at growth, they're seeking God's
Wisdom on expanding outreaches where team members are strategically placed in administration
and evangelism.
The Chair Corps is hoping to expand its work from four to ten districts which
the 50 regional team leaders can oversee, along with provisions for moving
equipment between restoration shops.
There is hope that the prayer effort
will mobilize many to have an impact on those living with disabilities. Click
here for more details on the GDOP.
