Ecumen expands SMS prayer alert service

Last year Ecumen brought the Bible to mobile phones. Now the Welsh company is launching a new service that will help Christians stay up to date with the latest prayer needs.

In partnership with Welsh Christian charity, Prayer in Action, Ecumen has developed a service to facilitate text prayer alerts to hundreds of thousands of Christians in the UK.

About 60,000 Christians will be offered this service initially. Made up of existing Prayer in Action supporters and Ecumen customers, it is anticipated that this figure could mushroom in the next couple of years.

The service will harness the prayer efforts of tens of thousands of people on issues of particular concern to Christians, such as terrorism, homelessness, euthanasia and the credit crunch.

Erik Fok, Ecumen's Head of Sales and Marketing said: "Within the next two to three years, this service will be offered to about 500,000 Christians. With a world in turmoil, it's amazing to think that we could soon have half a million people in the UK alone, joining in focussed prayer on an issue of national concern. This will be a force for positive change in our nation."

Carl Brettle, Chief Executive Officer of Prayer in Action said: "In a world of uncertainty it's great to know that the Prayer in Action mobile texting service will be able instantly to mobilise thousands of people to pray into the key issues that face society today.

"With over 90% of the UK owning a mobile phone, gone are the days when we have to wait for a letter to arrive or an email to be opened. The Prayer Mobile text service pulls together one of the oldest traditions known to mankind with one of the newest most prevalent technologies available. Prayer is only a text away."

For further information on the service visit the website www.prayerinaction.mobi