A leading Chinese megachurch at the San Francisco Bay Area has experienced the power of uniting in prayers on the first ever multi-ethnic prayer meeting.

The River of Life Christian Church at Silicon Valley, part of the Bread of Life Church founded in Taipei, has hosted a huge prayer meeting on June 4 to celebrate the Global Day of Prayer with another 500 millions Christians across the world. The prayer meeting has uniquely gathered believers from American, African, Spanish, Iranian churches in the Bay Area along with other Chinese Christians. This is the first prayer meeting of its kind.

With an urgent heart of prayer, believers humbly asked God to give them the spirit of repentance and unity, to allow all churches to unite together as one body of Christ and to give blessing to the land.

During the prayer meeting, pastors of different colors and nationalities were seen holding hands together and led the congregation to offer the prayer of repentance. They asked for God’s help to eliminate the hatred between ethnic groups so that they can love one another and unite in Christ.

As June 4 coincides with the 17th anniversary of the tragic Tiananmen Square Democracy protest, head pastor of the River of Life Christian Church Rev. Liu Tong said a special prayer for China. He wishes that the church of China will grow healthy and enjoy more religious freedom, and God will change China to receive the salvation of Christ Jesus.

The pastor from the Iranian Church shared with the congregation the great work of God in Iran. In the midst of persecution from the government, Iranian brothers and sisters have remained unshaken in faith. Persecutions have even reaffirmed their faith in Jesus. Therefore, he would continue to pray for blessings and revival of Iran.

"When pastors of different nationalities and colors prayed together in one heart, I am really touched. I have also experienced the power of uniting in prayers," shared Rev. Liu, adding that the prayer meeting was very graceful. As the name of the church building is "A Home for All Nations", he expressed his wish to lower himself more and to unite different churches together in the body of Christ through prayers. The River of Life Christian Church is not only a church that belongs to Chinese, said Liu.

[Editor’s note: Jonathan Quan contributed to this article.]