EAUK Press Releases - http://www.eauk.org/press
For Immediate Release: 25th November 1999
Switch
off your computer
and
go do something more useful instead
-
pray!
Christians across the country
will be switching off their computers as the
new millennium approaches,
not out of fear for the millennium bug but as
part of the Anno Domini Prayer
Countdown, which begins on Sunday.
The Anno Domini Prayer Countdown
is organised by the Evangelical Alliance
and runs for the first three
weeks of Advent (28/11/99 to 19/12/99).
Christians are being called
to fast and pray during the period. Rev Joel
Edwards, general director
of the Evangelical Alliance, said: "A call to
fast doesn't mean the church
should starve for three weeks. How about
giving up Eastenders, or maybe
one night a week of entertainment or
leisure or surfing the Internet.
Fasting is not just staying away from
food or pleasure; it is about
spending time with God."
Over 150,000 Anno Domini prayer
guides have been taken up by churches,
schools, universities, prisons
and old people's homes. The guide, which
provides biblical passages,
prayer suggestions, and the Millennium Prayer
written by 14 year Anna Compton
of Ipswich, is also available on the
Evangelical Alliance's website
(www.eauk.org). Churches in Australia,
America, Canada, Indonesia,
Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea
and Spain are also taking
part. In a survey of churches taking part in
the countdown, over 62 per
cent said they would be encouraging their
congregations to fast in some
way.
Jane Holloway, prayer co-ordinator
at the Evangelical Alliance, said: "It
is wonderful to see the nation
focused on prayer as we approach the
beginning of AD2000. Cliff
Richard's Millennium Prayer hit is a way those
who do not normally go to
church can join in the prayer at this momentous
time in history.
The Archbishop of Canterbury
is amongst a number of Church leaders
supporting the Anno Domini
Prayer Countdown. George Carey said: "For many
centuries Advent has been
used by the Churches as a time for prayer,
reflection and spiritual preparation.
As the Millennium approaches these
will become increasingly important
for us as Christians and I am delighted
that the Prayer Countdown
initiative has been launched to help us to
foster them."
Among the other Church leaders
endorsing The Prayer Countdown is Rev David
Coffey, president of the Baptist
Union of England and Wales; Matthew
Ashimolowo, pastor of the
4,000 strong Kingsway International Christian
Centre in the east end of
London; and Gerald Coates, leader of the new
church network Pioneer.
The Anno Domini Prayer Countdown
is the culmination of the 1,000-day
prayer countdown that began
on 6th April 1997. Churches across the UK
registered to pray on a particular
day. In August last year, the
initiative was re-launched
as the 500-day prayer countdown and was then
open to individuals as well
as local churches.
For further information contact:
Gavin Drake at gdrake@eauk.org
or Jill Howard at jhoward@eauk.org
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