Global Day of Prayer promotes unity in Christ
ST. LOUIS – Organizers for the Global Day of Prayer June 4 in the new Busch Stadium are pleased by the response of the body of Christ so far in support of the Pentecost Sunday event and are hoping to return to the home of the St. Louis Cardinals on May 27, 2007.
The first Global Day of Prayer drew 3,000 to the old Busch Stadium. An estimated 5,000 came to the second event.
“I thought there was a tremendous surge of people seeking the Lord together,” said Bott Radio Personality Harold Hendrick, a member of First Baptist Church, Ferguson, and a key organizer of the event. “As far as style, there was something for everyone, and God was at work. There was wonderful biblical unity and wonderful worship.”
Global Day of Prayer is an African-led prayer movement that has spread to other continents. Last year, more than 150 million Christians in 156 nations gathered to pray. Updated reports of this year’s event can be found at www.globaldayofprayer.com.
In St. Louis, three stages of prayer developed as leaders gathered around microphones on the baseball infield. Praise and thanksgiving, the first stage, gave way to repentance and reconciliation, and then petition. Hendrick was one of several anonymous prayer leaders who stepped forward in due time to execute his or her duty. Hendrick’s task was to instruct people in small prayer groups sitting in the stadium seats how to pray for the healing of the United States and the St. Louis region.
“God, please give us a lifestyle of personal, ongoing repentance,” Hendrick prayed.
Praise dancers waving colorful banners of purple, red and blue flowed over the infield. One waved a white flag with “HOLY” in purple lettering near a large wooden cross by second base. Later in the evening, during a special musical number by the India Children’s Choir, a group of interpretive dancers praised the Lord through their discipline.
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock helped close the event by praying with his wife, Jacqueline near home plate.
“This is only the beginning,” Lou Brock said. “Global Day of Prayer is a year-round transformation in the city of St. Louis.”