TAIPEI- Tens of thousands of Taiwanese from 12 cities in Taiwan participated in the world’s largest prayer movement on the Pentecost Sunday. This is the second year that such activities held in the country.
June 4 marks the Global Day of Prayer. Starting from 2001at South Africa, the prayer movement has now spread to over 200 countries worldwide. This year, a total of 500 millions Christians from all countries have joined the event. Speaking in their native tongues, Christians will offer up praises and prayers. In Taiwan, the theme is "Let the Earth see the Glory of the Lord", which means that the blessings of the salvation of Christ may fall on the country.
In the front of the administration office of Taiwan president in Taipei, around 30,000 Taiwanese Christians gathered for the prayer meeting. In order to achieve unity with the world, the participants are able to watch the live broadcasting from other venues inside and outside of Taiwan, including Taizhong, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The program in Taiwan is also being broadcasted to the international preparation committee through the Internet.
At the center of the stage, 800 participants wearing red caps aligned in the shape of the cross, symbolizing the light of Christ’s salvation will shine upon the entire land. In the midst of social chaos and declining morality, the renowned Taiwanese pastor Rev. Kou Shao An first guided all participants to give prayer of repentance.
According to Kou, Christians are not here to condemn the sin of the political leaders, but they must first confess their sins and repent in front of God, as they have fallen short of God’s glory and have not played the role as the salt and the light of the world.
The place where the prayer meeting held is used to be a popular location for demonstration. The prayer meeting shows that the Church should influence the society. Taiwanese Christians pray for the political authority that God’s righteousness will be with them. They cried out the slogan in Chinese, "Act righteously, be merciful and walk with the Lord with humble heart."
Head pastor of the Taipei Bread of Life Church Rev Nathaniel Chow offers prayer of gratitude for the unity of Christians. He then prays for more people to love the land and to dedicate themselves in world missions. Especially, he invites all Christians to face the West and to raise up their hands to bless China. Christianity in Mainland China has been flourishing over the last few years; therefore religious freedom is a even more critical issue nowadays, said Chow.
The Christian Council of Taiwan leads all participants to pledge their love for Taiwan, declaring that it is the most beautiful island in their eyes and they will dedicate themselves to evangelism and to serve the society.
The prayer event closes with the program for young people and children, reminding the movement will be inherited from generations to generations.
This year, a total of 12 cities in Taiwan joined the prayer event. Christianity is developing every year. When all cities and provinces in Taiwan are united in prayers, it will brings more blessings to Taiwan.
[Editor’s note: Joanna Wong reported from Taipei for this article.]
