We had a great time at the 2009 Global Day of Prayer in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada as people from dozens of churches in the area joined with the body of Christ locally and around the world to pray and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a sweet time of fellowship as we united together to repent and then to pray for a number of areas - the homeless in Edmonton, the police force,our nation of Canada, and for the world. One of the individuals who prayed in part for the world was a 10 year old Filipino boy who did a great job. Our worship team, the New Hope Church of God, was from a Spanish church and the praise and worship had a very distinctive joyful Latino flavour.

A main them of our event was "Empowered to reach the lost" - and in fact the first Pentecost Sunday, 2000 years ago, was also a day of empowerment. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." David Macfarlane shared "vision" on evangelism and encouraged us that it was a time to reach out to the harvest. As well people were admonished to bless their neighbours and community for the next 90 days.

Overall it was a joyous evening as we joined with Christians locally with all 220 nations to
glorify the Lord.

In July 2000 God captured the heart of a South African Christian businessman, Graham Power, with a vision based on 2 Chron. 7:14. The vision had three clear instructions:

1. To call Christians from all denominations in Cape Town for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium.

2. To challenge Christians across the rest of South Africa to unite in a Day of Repentance and Prayer.

3. To challenge Christians in Southern Africa to unite in a Day of Repentance and Prayer.

In March of 2001 more than 45 000 Christians united for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town. It was a day of intense intercession that transformed lives and was reflected in a changing city in the months to come. Testimonies of transformation caused the vision to be spread into the rest of South Africa and planning immediately started for similar prayer gatherings in 8 provinces of South Africa for 2002.

In February 2002 Graham Power had a second vision. This vision had an even bigger challenge: The whole of Africa was to gather in a Day of Repentance and Prayer, changing Africa to become a "light to the world".

 Eventually, Africa was to invite all the nations of the globe to unite in this move of transformational prayer.

In May of 2002 Christians in South Africa gathered in 8 different venues for a Day of Repentance and Prayer. Again, the testimonies of church unity and the healing of communities inspired leaders to expand the vision into the rest of Africa. At a Summit in September 2002 leaders of 9 African countries agreed on the vision "Africa for Christ".

At the same time, it was clear that different prayer streams from across the globe were flowing in the same direction with a similar vision of community transformation through prayer. God was busy raising up a church of intercession in order to prepare communities for the revelation of His glory.

Across the African continent millions of Christians were inspired to participate in the process of transforming Africa. 77 South African regions and 27 African countries (66 cities) committed to a Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa on the 1st of May 2003.

On 2 May 2004 history was made when Christians from all 56 nations of Africa participated in the first ever continental Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa.

 Numerous communities, villages, towns and cities united in non-denominational prayer gatherings at different venues. In South Africa 277 communities participated. A flame of prayer was burning in Africa!

At a meeting of the International Prayer Council in Malaysia in November 2004, the invitation from Africa went out to the nations of the world to join in a five year Global Day of Prayer process up to 2010. On Pentecost Sunday, 15 May 2005, Christians from 156 of the 220 nations of the world united across denominational and cultural borders for the first Global Day of Prayer. In the months following this day, Christians were overwhelmed by the testimonies of God's powerful work in answer to these prayers.

In 2008 millions of Christians from 214 nations united in prayer and on 31 May 2009 a miracle happened when this initiative miraculously expanded to 220 countries in the world. Together with the 10 Days leading up to and the 90 Days of Blessing following the Global Day of Prayer, there is a sense that the call to unity and repentance is deepening. This will lay the foundation for God to fill the nations with His glory as His children from around the world cry out to him in unity. Global Day of Prayer is therefore continuing to call His people into His presence.

Report on the 2005 Edmonton & Area  GDOP as submitted to the International GDOP website

"We had a tremendous day in Edmonton, Alberta. About 3500 people turned out for this "electric" event as we joined with the body of Christ locally and around the world. Praying and repenting were Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, Pentecostals and many other different denominations and ethnic groups. Along with prayers for Edmonton & Area, Alberta and Canada, prayers were also offered for all six continents and an African children's group sang and danced as part of the event. It was also a festive occasion and a time to join with the "family of God" in this region as well.  Overall it was a remarkable day and event."

Click here to view the 2005 Program for the Edmonton & Area GDOP.  (PDF format  1.7M)

Report on the 2006 Edmonton & Area  GDOP as submitted to the International GDOP website

For Edmonton & Area the 2006 Global Day of Prayer was a wonderful experience in the "Son". Several thousand people joined together on the Alberta Legislature Grounds on a beautiful sunny warm day. It was a great day of unity across churches and denominations as we all joined together as the family of God in this region to worship, pray and exalt Jesus Christ.

Notable points included the embrace of the four leaders from the Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Charismatic churches, the parade of flags, as well as the flood of the youth to the front as the "next generation" led out in prayer.

Click here the view the program of the 2006 Edmonton & Area Global Day of Prayer.

Click here watch video reports from other cities and countries.

2007 Global Day of Prayer Report - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

For Edmonton & Area, Christians from many  churches and streams joined  together under the "shelter of His wings" to pray and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. People were enthusiastic about joining with other Christians outside of church walls and inside the Heritage Amphitheatre at the park  on a beautiful day. There was great worship and it was a delight to see the youthful dancers joining in as we gave our praises to the Lord. Some highlights included the "parade of flags" by the Missions Fest volunteers and  the prayers of unity by churches from different streams including Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Charismatic. A prayer was read by a student who together with a team was headed to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa the next day and would be presenting this prayer directly to the Prime Minister of Canada in a private meeting. We concluded with a focus on children and several of them prayed as well as their teachers.  Parents also brought their children forward and we all prayed over these "little ones" to receive God's best. What a delight it was to come together in unity across our region and also to join together globally as the  body of Christ.
 
Lorne Silverstein
Co-ordinator
GDOP Edmonton & Area 

What a joy it was to join with many believers in Edmonton & Area and 212 nations of the world to lift up and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Our theme this year was "The Prayers of a Million Mothers" and it was a time of honouring mothers and women on May 11, Pentecost Sunday and Mother's Day. Mixing worship, dance and prayer we joined together to repent and to pray for local, provincial, national and international needs.