Global Day of Prayer to Celebrate 10-Year History

By By Ethan Cole

The Global Day of Prayer, observed by millions of Christians each year, will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its founding by a South African businessman this Sunday.

South African believers will gather at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town – site of the first GDOP event – to pray and to celebrate how one of their own started one of the world’s largest prayer events.

South African businessman Graham Power organized the first prayer event in Cape Town in 2001, drawing around 45,000 Christians to pray in Newlands Rugby Stadium. The prayer event then expanded to other parts of Africa and soon after around the world. Today, as many as 500 million Christians from more than 200 countries participate in the GDOP.

“I am deeply grateful that God led Christians in the southern part of Africa to launch a movement of prayer that has now encompassed the globe,” commented Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance. “Given the challenges we face in the world today the Church desperately needs to be united in prayer. We thank God that Global Day of Prayer has made such a profound impact.”

For the past few days, Tunnicliffe has been participating in the three-day GDOP conference leading up to the prayer event. During the May 20-21 conference, the Canadian evangelical led a plenary on the Church and the current global challenges and opportunities facing it. Some of the issues he discussed included globalization, persecution, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, the financial crisis, war, climate change, and nuclear weapons.

“God’s vision is the church joined together in every community around the world effectively living out and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus,” said Tunnicliffe, whose organization joins together more than 420 million evangelical Christians. “These united churches seek transformation, holiness and justice for individuals, families, communities, peoples and nations.”

The evangelical leader is scheduled to lead prayer at the Cape Town GDOP event on Sunday.

More than 200 countries around the world have pledged to participate in this year’s GDOP.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

Top Stories