12th June, 2006

More than 400 million people from almost 200 countries around the globe took part in this year's Global Day of Prayer. DAVID ADAMS spoke to Reverend Sarah Plummer, the national co-ordinator of the day in Australia...

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION: Reverend Sarah Plummer, national coordinator of the Global Day of Prayer for Australia.   "We wanted to launch the Global Day of Prayer in Australia at its centre. The prayer networks all came together and combined their desire to see us pray in a united way over this weekend. They came from the north, the south, the east, the west  - the Lord's Gideon-type army of 300 converged at the heart of our nation to celebrate, to pray, to worship, to glorify the Name of our precious Saviour, Jesus Christ."

How many people are believed to have taken part in this year's Global Day of Prayer in Australia?

"In Australia we had over 5,000 praying in 200 hundred churches and 300 gathered for the national gathering at Uluru."

Was that an increase on last year?

"This is the first year we officially launched the Global Day of Prayer in Australia. Last year a few gathered so it is a big leap forward."

Are you aware of any events which were held on the day in Australia?
" We have had people from Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and South Australian organise a prayer gathering in their own community with a combined churches activity."

You spent the weekend of the Global Day of Prayer at Uluru - what was your purpose in going there?
"We wanted to launch the Global Day of Prayer in Australia at its centre. The prayer networks all came together and combined their desire to see us pray in a united way over this weekend. They came from the north, the south, the east, the west  - the Lord's Gideon-type army of 300 converged at the heart of our nation to celebrate, to pray, to worship, to glorify the Name of our precious Saviour, Jesus Christ...

"On Saturday afternoon, 3rd June, the 300 gathered at Uluru dressed in red, symbolising the Blood of Jesus and, according to II Chronicles 7:14, prayed prayers of repentance and reconciliation, both personally and on behalf of the nation. At 3pm, the 300 had encircled the rock and stood for three minutes, dressed in white, in thanksgiving to God and declaring righteousness in our nation, before putting on yellow/gold to pray that God's glory would fall on our nation, and that He would be glorified in and through us, His children, as we continue in relationship with Him.

"In the evening at the resort's outdoor amphitheatre, we saw a colourful celebration of the National Day of Thanksgiving coordinated by the Australian Prayer Network. Our united, next generation, worship team drawn from different churches, even including a New Zealander, led us powerfully into the presence of God, surrounded by over a hundred flags. So tangible was the presence of God that several child flag-bearers were in tears as they worshipped. We were blessed by dance presentations from a group of 33 young people from Vanuatu (King's Kids) who flew over especially for the event. The Lord miraculously provided their air and coach fares, enabling them to flow on from the Vanuatu 400 years celebrations, where we connected with them on 14th May. There was also a strong Aboriginal contingent, who participated in the evening's programme - the re-dedication of our nation being made by an Aboriginal pastor.

"On Sunday morning, we joined with the millions of others around the world to celebrate the Global Day of Prayer.  Another time of powerful, and colourful, worship, prayers for the salvation of the lost, transformation in the church, world transformation, and a special segment praying for children at risk.  Again we were blessed by dance from the King's Kids, and a moving presentation from an Aboriginal group who drove across the desert from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, to be with us. They shared with us, for prayer, the very real issues facing their people and especially the children - illustrated powerfully by their young dance group - a highlight of the morning!

"We are so thankful to God for the privilege of being asked to coordinate 'United at Uluru', and we want in turn to thank those ministries and networks who joined with us to make the weekend the success it was.  I believe the Lord was pleased with the sacrifices that were made, the servant hearts of the many who laboured, and with our worship and our prayers. I believe this was truly a united event."

Between 400 and 500 million Christians from as many as 198 nations are believed to have gathered together around the world to life their voices for the Global Day of Prayer in 4th June. Here is some of the feedback received by the day's organisers: "Never ever has there been a prayer meeting involving so many hundreds of millions of Christians on one single day across the globe. If we truly believe that there is power in prayer, we can expect amazing things to happen in the coming months. God is really raising up an army who will change the destiny of our nations.'" "EXTRAORDINARY!  From the depths of my being, I thank God for what His Spirit accomplished through us on the Global Day of Prayer...Over 200 North American cities and communities (took part), multiple international broadcasts and a remarkable meeting in the Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas, that was aired on television and radio across thousands of broadcast outlets across nearly 200 nations. Hundreds of millions of people prayed, filling immense stadiums, public parks, government centers, grass fields, church sanctuaries, as well secret places and small quiet rooms. Thousands gathered in Kuwait. Millions across India and Indonesia. Forty million in Africa. Tens of thousands in Hong Kong, and still more in Singapore. Scores of local reports across North America are coming to me daily from groups of 10 to 10,000 throughout 48 States. New England locations are suggesting that the fires of revival are being stirred once more...Nothing like the GDOP has ever happened before but we are only scratching the surface.  Kansas City had several thousand and they are talking about a stadium in 2007. Houston had nine sites. 10,000 showed up in Toronto, Cananda, and another 10,000 in Calgary. Thirty gathered in a small rural church in the mountains of New York, and 400 near the beaches in Hawaii.  A tipping point is very near!" For more reports and information about the day, visit www.globaldayofprayer.com

Why do you believe it's a worthwhile "event"?
"God wants to see His children humble themselves and pray and call upon His name (as in) II Chronicles 7:14. To have Christians stand together in this visible way delights God. This call to pray has come from Africa. A continent filled with famine, war, drought and aids. The Africans are desperate for God to change their nations and seek His face so that the gospel may transform them and their communities. I want to support our African brothers and sisters in their contribution to the universal church."

What do you think are among the most pressing prayer needs around the world at the moment?
"The most pressing need is the whole Gospel being proclaimed. When Christ is proclaimed lives are transformed, communities are transformed, nations are transformed. We must pray that Christ be proclaimed. In so many of the countries that took part they are unable to hold open meeting and proclaim Christ and they desperately want to be able to freely speak about their faith."

What about in Australia?
"When the African Team came to Australia to share this vision they said to me, 'What are you desperate for in Australia?'. I found this hard to answer! What are we desperate for - how would you answer this? We are desperate to have stable family units, we are desperate to have a quenching of the 'spiritual drought' we see around us as well as the physical drought. We are desperate for Godly leaders to speak into all levels of society. We are desperate for our children to be protected from such sickening increases in abuse."

Do you think Australian Christians take prayer seriously enough?

"Prayer has been on the agenda in the secular context with Sophie deleze? and Beaconsfield in our minds but it is often a magical view of prayer or a Santa Clau- view - make a wish and see what happens. Australian Christians do take prayer seriously as we were one of the first nations in the world to set up a national prayer network. This has not yet translated into our churches. I do not see many church prayer meetings being the highlight of their gatherings - not yet anyway."

When you're not co-ordinating the Global Day of Prayer, what do you do?
"I like to focus on one key thing and to do this well. I have been working on prayer journey resources called 40 days with the Risen Lord (www.40dayswiththerisenlord.org) as a prayer lead up to the Global Day of Prayer. It starts Easter Sunday and follows the disciples' transformation with the Risen Lord to Pentecost and how the Gospel went forth to the ends of the world in Luke and Acts. I am a full time mum at the moment who has been trained at Moore Theological College and (have been) working in various churches these last 18 years."

What are you looking forward to most about next year's Global Day of Prayer?
"I am looking forward to sharing this vision with the council of churches in each state and see whom God raises up statewide in Australia to implement this vision in the way they wish to."