More than 1,000 Christians from various denominations, churches, and backgrounds gathered on Friday at Emmanuel Christian Centre in Westminster, London for the launch night of the 'Year for London' 2007.

|PIC1|So far about 250 churches from across the capital have signed up to take part in a year-long prayer relay for the capital, and many more pledged to join following the prayer launch.

Dr Jonathan Oloyede of Glory House in East London, who is one of the main driving forces behind the movement, addressed the mass of Christians with a verse from Psalm 60:1-2 - 'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.'

Dr Oloyded exhorted: "I am speaking to London. It is your time! This is a year of prayer, a day of prayer."

Also talking about 'The Global Day of Prayer' which is being promoted in parallel with the Year for London, Pastor Oloyede gave a call for more than 30,000 Christians to gather at Upton Park Stadium on Pentecost Sunday 27th May 2007, for a huge prayer event.

Dr Oloyede appealed for believers across the capital to replicate the scene at Pentecost in Acts 2:1 and gather "together in one place" in prayer.

He said, "The vision is not an event, the vision is prayer - the vision is to get down on our knees and pray!"

Regarding the Year for London, churches were told to sign up quickly to book a day for their church to pray.

"2007 is just the beginning; get ready for what God is about to do!" he said to a rapturous reception from the congregation.

Rob Frost, the founder and director of Share Jesus International explained how 2007 will be a spring-board to gather tens of thousands of Christians to praise Jesus in 2008.

Pastor Shola Adeaga, Head of Operations at Jesus House - the church which opened the Year for London on New Year's Day - rallied those gathered at Emmanuel Christian Centre to pray: "Prayer is the vehicle God uses to manifest his will. Every minute of every day throughout 2007 will be devoted to praying 'Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done'. If we do it this year, London will never be the same again."

More than 100 people volunteered to act as regional and church representatives on the night, and will now support the coordination of the advancing prayer movement.

All churches across London are called to support the Year for London by signing up to pray for one full day with their congregants. More information can be found at www.londonprayer.net/2007