AFRICA
Sunday, July 11, 2004
POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST MOVEMENT OF
PRAYER THE WORLD HAS SEEN SO FAR OCCURRED IN AFRICA IN
MAY 2004
20 Million People From 56
African Nations Participated
By Michael
Ireland
Chief
Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
AFRICA (ANS) -- On
May 2, 2004 over 20 million people gathered in 56 nations of Africa to
call on God. Prayer events were confirmed in all but two nations in
Africa -- Sao Tome and Principe. Ed Silvoso of Harvest Evangelism said,
"This may be the biggest prayer movement the world has ever seen."
According to Inger J. Logelin, in an e-mail report to Steve Loopstra,
executive director of Prayer Transformation Ministries in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, it all started when the word got out that God was doing a
work of unity and transformation in Cali, Colombia, in response to
united prayer.
In 1998, after hearing an audio tape of George Otis, Jr., of the
Sentinel Group, talking about transformation in Cali, South African
church leaders began to meet together to pray.
"When the Transformations video was launched in 1999, an increased
hunger for God to move in South Africa was ignited. Benny Mostert began
distributing the videos in Africa and to date some 20,000 videos have
now having been distributed there," said Logelin.
Graham Power, a businessman from Cape Town, South Africa, was one whose
heart was ignited by the video, Logelin said.
"He began the prayer campaign in 2000 after God gave him a vision in
four parts. Power saw a vision of repentance and prayer for Cape Town
taking place in the Newlands rugby stadium. Then he saw the rest of
South Africa praying together in a national day of prayer. The third
part of the vision involved all of Southern Africa in prayer. The
fourth part of the vision was all of Africa praying together.
Logelin said all of these things have now happened.
"In this process of transformation in Africa many in the church have
caught the vision of repentance, building relationships, mobilizing the
whole church, and winning Africa for Christ," he said.
A TURNING POINT FOR AFRICA
Transformations Africa, one of the teams helping coordinate the events
said, "The amount of venues went far beyond our expectations. Many more
towns and cities prayed together than what was anticipated. . .The
overall feeling across the continent is that May 2, 2004 was a turning
point in the history of the continent. In many countries there was a
breakthrough in Church unity. Miracle upon miracle is reported."
Here are some confirmed reports. By no means comprehensive, they do
give a glimpse into what was happening all over Africa on May 2.
Sierra Leone For the first time Christians
gathered to pray in all four regions of the country.
Tanzania
In Dar es Salaam marchers with flags and trumpets proceeded from six
points in the city.
Senegal
In Senegal the day was the culmination of prayer that had started 30
days before.
Ethiopia
Some 13,000 churches held prayer gatherings.
Mali
In this 90 percent Muslim nation, Christians prayed at the National
Cultural Palace in the capital city.
Kenya
The sky above the stadium in Nairobi was clear that day while all
around them torrential rains that had fallen on the nation for weeks
continued.
Congo
The first lady of the country covered the expenses for the Brazzaville
gathering where 5,000 people from ten denominations gathered.
Malawi
In the north all the churches were involved, led by 67 pastors. In
Mzuzu between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended.
Sudan
Prayer began on two days earlier and people were saved and healed. A
24/7 prayer chain has been established. Meanwhile, a pastor in Cairo,
Egypt gathered 4,000 Sudanese to pray for Sudan.
Ivory Coast
Some 25,000-30,000 people gathered in the stadium in Abijan as pastors
asked for forgiveness for causing division.
Egypt
Ten thousand in more than 100 towns and cities prayed. All 17
denominations in Egypt took part, including some Coptic churches.
Logelin said that due to the sensitivity of political and religious
situations, reports from some countries cannot be mentioned. Around the
world people joined in to pray for Africa -- in the U. S., Canada,
France, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, and Poland.
NEXT TIME, THE WORLD
What started in one city, moved to a region, then a nation and finally
a continent is by no means over, Logelin said.
A global day of prayer is planned for 2005. Transformations Africa
says, "Right across Africa people area already excited and starting to
plan for the ten days of Fast and Prayer for Africa and the world and
the day of prayer for the world on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005."
** Michael Ireland is an international
British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London
newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982
and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station.
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