Global Day of Prayer draws near
June 6, 2006
ST. LOUIS – Organizers agree that the essence of Acts 1:14 is what drives the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, from 7 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. at the new Busch Stadium.
The eleven disciples from Galilee along with Mary the mother of Jesus and a core of other true believers were gathered in the upper room to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. The verse describes that these men and women, who went on to become the muscle and the tissue of the church, were praying in one accord, with one purpose or mind. That is what the event is all about.
“It’s really a joy to see Christians have a burden to pray,” said Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director David Clippard, who came to the stadium May 12 to participate in a kickoff luncheon for leaders. “Every great awakening starts with a movement of prayer. Now whether or not this becomes a performance of prayer or whether it’s a movement of prayer is to be seen, but I’m encouraged to see this many folks from the body of Christ united in prayer.”
About 3,000 people came last season to the old Busch Stadium for the first Global Day of Prayer here. The goal for this year is for 10,000 to participate at the newest ballpark in Major League Baseball for prayer moments that are going to be broadly connected through a theme of healing.
Other MBC leaders attending the May 12 luncheon were Ed Moncada, director of international student ministries, and Matt Kearns, student ministry director. Bott Radio personality Harold Hendrick, a member of First Baptist Church, Ferguson, served as the master of ceremonies. Several Missouri Baptist pastors were also in attendance.
“I trust that our folks will respond to their leadership and come and really pray,” Clippard said.
Jacqueline Brock, wife of St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock, was the featured speaker at the May 12 luncheon. She talked about how the body that was formed in Acts 1 is the same body that is at work redeeming the world through Christ today. June 4 is another opportunity for the church to shine.
“This is a time for the body of Christ to stand up for Jesus and be represented,” she said.
Last year, more than 150 million Christians in 156 nations gathered in large and small venues to pray. The goal for this year’s event is 500 million Christians from 200 nations. The largest city in Missouri, St. Louis, includes several thousand Christians but many more lost souls, Clippard noted.
“Our work here in the city in particular is not strong,” he said. “It’s not anything like it should be after being a convention for 170 years. Everywhere you turn (in St. Louis) there’s an ocean of people. We just need to be real serious about our commitment to reach this city with the Gospel.”
The Lausanne Covenant, a declaration agreed upon by more than 2,300 churches during the 1974 International Congress, gives the Global Day of Prayer a structure of unity. Protestants, Catholics and Pentecostals all come to the stadium knowing and accepting that no one group will be given preeminence. The goal, in fact, as organizers put together the program is for absolute and total humility to be the one true impression from start to finish.
“Our intention is not to mention one human name on June 4,” Hendrick said.
For more information, visit www.praystl.org.