AUCKLAND
We are planned a MULTI-ETHNIC BANQUET of Eating, Praising, Sharing and Praying as we gathered together from many Churches and many Ethnic groups at Faith Family Baptist Church, 99 Pilkington Ave, Panmure from 6pm to 9pm!
We prayed for the World, the Nation, the Community, the Family. The major emphasis was on many small groups of mixed ethnicities sharing their varied experiences of outreaches, and praying for each other's witness. There was opportunity for giving to a special outreach to the lost and needy in the South Auckland community. An exciting challenge! And a delicious experience!
AUCKLAND KOREAN CHURCHES
We held a series of meetings for the Global Day of Prayer as follows:
Prayer meetings between Korean pastors -- 1st - 9th May at 7:30pm -- at varied addresses.
Korean united prayer gathering -- on 10th May, Saturday at 7:30pm -- at Pyung Gang Church,
Korean united prayer gathering -- on 11th May, Sunday at 7:30pm -- at Auckland Full Gospel Church,
OAMARU
Here in Oamaru the action Group planned a 24/4 prayer from 7th - 10th May instead of 10 days. On Pentecost Sunday we had a Dawn Prayer Meeting from 7am to 8am at the Cape Wanbrow Lookout, which is the high place overlooking the town.
Then at 7pm we had an all-age, multicultural Ecumenical Service in the Salvation Army Centre. The Collection was used a) to encourage single-parent families in North Otago as part of the 90 Days of Blessing, and b) for the Manila Street Dwellers, via TEAR FUND. Last year we sent the Collection to help the poor in S. Africa, in recognition of where GDOP started.
WAIMATE
We hosted an all night prayer and worship meeting on Saturday 10th May to participate in the GDOP 08.
PELORUS SOUND
We again hosted a GDOP event on Sunday, 11 May 2008 at Tira Ora Estate. We will also held prayer meetings daily (in the evenings) for the 10-day lead-up. It was exciting to be involved in this initiative again!
INGLEWOOD
The Inglewood Combined Churches prayed in their own church services in the morning. In the afternoon we once again be prayed together as Combined Churches from 2pm to 4pm
WELLINGTON
We had a Multi-ethnic gathering for combined churches at 2.30 at the Elim International Church
TE PUKE
We in Te Puke had a Global Day of Prayer Service, 7pm, 11th May at the Te Puke Baptist Church. There wa a time of singing, formal and informal prayers. There also was some visual displays showing specific prayers for various countries and continents. It was followed by supper at approximately 9pm. Then for the next week, the call went out to the churches of Te Puke to pray continually for 24 hours a day, 7 days – in a building on Commerce lane, set up creatively. We will be joining a worldwide non-stop prayer movement with a dream to turn the tide of youth culture back to Jesus and the transformation of society. At least 5 churches are in on this.
TAUMARUNUI
This year we are holding a series of one-hour prayer meetings at 7am each morning from Monday the 5th at the Taumarunui prayer house - following the 10 days of Prayer format. And plans are on the way for a special prayer event on the day! Contact: Bob Sinclair 07-895-8122
WAIHEKE ISLAND
Combined churches met at Living Waters Church – Surfdale, from 5pm to 8pm. Praise and prayers were donetogether, and praying also in small groups, for God to deal with the needs in churches and the community and the nation, especially through evangelism. Praying for other nations, and particularly Israel.
RANGIORA
This year we again invited most churches in North Canterbury to attend and participate. And we invited the youth groups as well. And, to make it into an interactive prayer event, there were six prayer booths set up with an interaction happening - to encourage specific prayer for each segment: ie North Canterbury and its youth, NZ, Nations of the world, Middle East/Israel, Repentance. We also showed a Transformations video, as well as the Global Day of Prayer video. We participated in the Prayer for the World as well. A very full program. Venue: Rangiora Baptist. Address: 111 East Belt. Time: 6:00-9:00. Contact: Bryan Chivers 03-313-7791.
UPPER HUTT
We are blended the GDOP into our morning service commencing with the 12 min video and of course the requested Prayer for the World and then we had as our speaker: Dr Aung Mang – Principal of Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology. His parents were the first converts in their region of Chin State. He was an evangelist before his studies and a church-planter while studying, and he is still involved in that! He is also participates in caring for 7 orphanages! His message was followed by prayer for Myanmar (Burma
LOWER HUTT
Hope Centre made the Global Day of Prayer the focus of their evening service – 6.30pm. We had a praise, prayer and intercession night -- using the GDOP points and praying for NZ revival, also for nations.
GISBORNE
Mangapapa Church hosted a Global Day of Prayer Service on the Sunday evening at 7pm, and invited other congregations/church folk to join them in prayer for the World, and for God’s Kingdom to come.
WANGANUI
The Ministers in Wanganui organized a Global Day of Prayer Service at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Glasgow Street, at 4pm on the 11th May. Wanganui Churches also prayed from 6am to 10pm for the 10 days leading up to Pentecost at the Prayer Centre
WHANGAREI
The combined churches gathered at 2pm on Sunday 11th May at the Kauri Lounge, Okara Park Rugby Stadium. We used the Prayer for the World as the basis for our gathering.
KAITAIA
The Far North House of Prayer, 19 Bonnetts Road, Kaitaia, was open for all for the GDOP on Sunday 11 may 2008 from 2.00 pm onwards to watch the celebrations in Jerusalem and to pray.
NAPIER
For those wishing to participate corporately in the Global Day of Prayer there was a Prayer Breakfast held at the House of Prayer, Prayer took place from 7am until 8am and a light breakfast followed. We had the privilege of being amongst some of the first in the World to pray. .
TAURANGA
St Peters Presbyterian Church on Spring Street had many praying all day and night from Saturday 8.30am until the start of their Sunday morning service at 8.30. They sought God's face and the power of His Holy Spirit in preparation for their special emphasis on the Global Day of Prayer. This was also be the main focus of their 7pm service.
INVERCARGILL
St Andrews Presbyterian in the South of Invercargill had a Prayer Chain of participants signed up for every hour from 10am Saturday to the start of their 10am Sunday service for their special focus on the Global Day of Prayer. .
SWANSON, WEST AUCKLAND
In our own church (Harvest Christian Church in) we made the Global Day of Prayer a major feature of our morning meeting. We had 40 paper slips under seats, covering a wide variety of countries world-wide with a Gospel focus for each, so that many could pray specifically for these. Then those who had the slips and prayed came forward to place a lighted candle on the place on a large map of the world as a witness to the light of Christ dispelling the world's darkness. Then the message was on The Power of Pentecost - to fulfill this mission!
The combined gathering in Auckland in the evening worked out well. Following the opening worship, I had opportunity to present the story of the GDOP from its start, and the challenge and inspiration it is for us all -- and then to lead into The Prayer for the World. And we had key men and women from Samoan, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Maori, Tongan and European as the 7 to pray. The challenge to further our outreach to communities was blessed by the offering, and will be continued by those who signed up to be part of a team that will meet together in future to further encourage one another in united outreaches, and in looking ahead to next year's Global Day of Prayer.
John Fulford. jfulford@xnet.co.nz |
