The Bishop of Barking, the Rt Revd David Hawkins is amongst the many church leaders that have welcomed the forthcoming Global Day of Prayer event, taking place at West Ham FC on Sunday 27 May 2007 as an opportunity for Christian denominations to foster greater relationships with each other.

|PIC1|He commented, "Britain's is home to a wide range of Christian traditions, each of them have something to offer and we all have something to learn from each other. The exciting thing about the Global Day of Prayer is that it will bring together Christians from different ethnicities and different expressions of the Christian faith to pray for unity, London and the World."

The Rt Revd David Hawkins chairs the organising committee for The Global Day of Prayer London, an event instigated by former Muslim, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, who is a member of the pastoral team at Glory House, one of London's largest Pentecostal churches.

The Global Day of Prayer was started by businessman Graham Power in South Africa in 2001 who felt God called him to bring South African Christians together for prayer. Over 45,000 people attended the first Global Day of Prayer event held at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town. The vision expanded to the whole of the African continent in 2003 and in 2005 Christians from 156 nations took part in the first ever Global Day of Prayer.

Pastor Jonathan has received a good reception from Christians for the Global Day of Prayer London initiative. He commented, "Since I began sharing this vision to bring together Christians from all over the UK to pray for Christian unity, and revival in Britain and the international community, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from church leaders and para-church organisations. They have all been incredibly enthusiastic in their support for this event and see it as an opportunity to demonstrate that Christianity in Britain is alive and vibrant."

Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Anglicans, the United Reformed Church, Catholics and the Greek Orthodox Church, are amongst the Christian traditions that will be represented at the Global Day of Prayer event. Para-church organisations giving their support include the Evangelical Alliance, Churches Together in England, Prayer for the Nations, Christian Aid, God TV, Premier Radio and Christian Today.

The Global Day of Prayer event has the full support of The Rt Revd Bernard Longley Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. He said, "It is very encouraging that our Churches across a wide spectrum of cultures and backgrounds are coming together at Pentecost to pray for London, its people and their needs. I would warmly encourage my brothers and sisters in the Catholic communities across London to join us at the West Ham Football Stadium so that we can witness to our Christian faith together in this remarkable way."

Rev Joel Edwards, General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, an organisation that represents one million Christians commented, "Global Day of Prayer is not just a good idea. It's what God is doing on the planet - and it is always a good idea to get behind God!"

Rob Frost, a Methodist minister and founder of Share Jesus International commented, "The Global Day of Prayer is an effective way of bringing the churches and the many cultures of the world together in a time of prayer that unifies us all. I commend it to you wholeheartedly and will make every effort to be there myself."

Pentecostal minister, Bishop Wayne Malcolm, leader of Christian Life City church in Hackney, east London commented, "The diversity of churches and Christian communities giving their full support to the Global Day of Prayer event has been truly marvellous. I know God is pleased when Christians join together in one mind and purpose to pray and demonstrate to the world that they are a united force."

"The Global Day of Prayer event will be a truly ecumenical one," says The Bishop of Barking, the Rt Rev David Hawkins, "and hopefully the relationships that are currently being built to make this event a reality will be long lasting so that churches can continue to work together for the greater good of British society."

For more information please visit:
www.gdoplondon.com
www.christiantoday.com/prayer

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