Calgary Christians join 220 million in Global Day of Prayer

Unifying force of prayer used to develop acts of love and practical service in the community

"So many live as if truth doesn't exist: we must reach out to them and proclaim the message with boldness, unapologetically and unabashedly." - Bishop Fred Henry

By VIRGINIA BATTISTE
Special to the WCR
Calgary

Several hundred Christians from various churches gathered at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Calgary on Pentecost Sunday to pray for civic and religious leaders, children and youth, local, national and world needs.

They were part of the city's third Global Day of Prayer that took place simultaneously at five churches around the city. They were also part of the estimated 220 million believers in 226 countries spanning the globe who prayed for renewed unity in the Body of Christ and for the Church to be a blessing in the world.

Began in South Africa

Begun in Capetown, South Africa, in 2001, as a stadium event that drew 43,000, by two years later the Global Day of Prayer united more than 23 million people in prayer in 28 countries across Africa.

In 2004, Christians in all 56 African countries joined in prayer, and in 2005 the Global Day of Prayer began to reach around the world, with Calgary one of the first sites to hold an event in North America.

Change of venue

In both 2005 and 2006, the event, which has been endorsed by Bishop Frederick Henry, took place at the Saddledome, attracting several thousand participants.

However, Saddledome officials declined to book the venue for this year's event in anticipation of the Calgary Flames making it to the Stanley Cup finals.

Dr. Don Swenson, master of ceremonies at the Holy Spirit Church gathering, has been part of the organizing committee for two years. He says the lack of availability of the Saddledome led to the decision to break the gathering into five smaller locations, which also proved to be more cost effective.

A parishioner at St. Michael's Catholic Church and an instructor at Mount Royal College, Swenson laments that Christians have failed to live up to the mandate to bless the nations.

Rather, he says, they have been the source of judgment and failed to care for others. He thinks these events may change things.

"I think we are on the cusp of something phenomenal in the history of Christianity when millions of people worldwide are gathering for prayer focused on being a blessing and showing love and care for others. It is part of restoring the unity that is needed for the world to believe in Jesus."

Father Julian Studden, pastor at St. Michael's, agrees with his parishioner. He led participants in prayers for repentance among clergy and for strengthening to shepherd their flocks in love.

Studden sees the Global Day of Prayer as a unifying force of prayer among Christian believers.

"It is wonderful to see people gather for prayer. We see people gather to demonstrate or protest, or even for war, but this is an instance of people gathering together to raise their hands in prayer," he said.

"Only prayer will unite and save the world."

Bishop Henry, also in attendance, led a prayer to remind those gathered that each one is called to embrace the mandate to proclaim the Gospel. That must be done without overpowering, intimidating, or bullying.

"There is a new paganism present in our society," Henry said.

"It is not enough to just maintain ourselves as a community of believers.

"So many live as if truth doesn't exist: we must reach out to them and proclaim the message with boldness, unapologetically and unabashedly.

Reach out

"Reach out, draw in, and proclaim with confidence and passion the Gospel message and its truth."

Swenson's wife, Angela, joined with two children from St. Michael's Parish, Abigael Gritter and Olivia Harrison, to pray for children around the world.

Expressing their personal sentiments in prayers they had composed, the two girls led the participants to pray for the plight of children who are disadvantaged, abused, and suffering illness and deprivation.

As part of the Global Day of Prayer movement, the Calgary event will be followed by a 90 Days of Blessing project. Churches that participated in the Global Day of Prayer have been invited to develop acts of love and practical service in their local communities to show the love of Christ in action.

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