Global Day of Prayer organisers celebrate backing of PM, mayor

The Global Day of Prayer London, held last Sunday, received huge backing this past week with the Prime Minister, the newly-elected Mayor of London and the national media all showing active support and interest.

The event, held at Millwall Football Stadium, saw 11,000 London Christians worshipping and praying in sweltering heat, and organisers say they are going full-steam-ahead with their plans to encourage mini-regional prayer days next Pentecost Sunday, as well as a North London stadium venue event, and a national Prayer Event at the new Wembley Stadium on Pentecost Sunday 2010.

In recognition of the event's increasing importance in the life of the Church and capital, Premier Gordon Brown held a Reception 'In Honour of the Global Day of Prayer' at 10 Downing Street last Wednesday when he commended the initiative and the "invaluable work of the churches in London".

Boris Johnson, newly elected Mayor, asked to speak at the Millwall event to share his vision of how churches could work with him in stamping out gun and street crime and to ask for ongoing prayer support. The event was covered by national newspapers, the Press Association, BBC, ITV, Sky News and IRN.

The London event is linked to the worldwide Global Day of Prayer which this year saw co-ordinated events in 211 countries. Sixty other centres in the UK took part in the prayer day.

GDOP London founder, Pastor Dr Jonathan Oloyede, said: "We feel privileged and honoured that the Prime Minister, Mayor and Media took such an interest in this year's event. GDOP is being used by God to motivate the Church to pray and to expect God to act.

"It is also encouraging Christians to become part of the answer to their prayer as they live out their faith in the communities in which they serve. It was a great honour on Sunday for everyone to pray for Mr Johnson as he starts his term of office."