World

Millions pray ‘Your Kingdom come’ on Global Day of Prayer

Millions of Christians around the world raised their hands up in united prayer and worship on Pentecost Sunday as part of the fourth annual Global Day of Prayer.

The UK was among at least 201 nations registered to take part, with major prayer and cathedral events taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the common theme of “Your Kingdom come … on Earth as in Heaven”.

In London, thousands of Christians gathered at Millwall football stadium in central London to pray for God’s love and Holy Spirit to fall upon London, particularly communities blighted by gun and knife crime.

The message on the day was overwhelmingly one of hope and unity. “When the church unites in prayer there is no stopping it,” said Jonathan Oloyede, senior Associate Pastor of Glory House and visionary of Global Day of Prayer London. “Prayer changes things,” he added.

Last week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in honour of Global Day of Prayer in which he praised the contribution of faith groups to the United Kingdom.

“When our government leaders begin to value what the church is doing in this country, we are in for revival,” continued Pastor Oloyede.

Newly elected London Mayor Boris Johnson took to the stage to ask that Christians pray for young victims of gun and knife attacks as well as their families. A total of thirteen young people have been shot or stabbed to death in the capital so far this year.

He paid tribute to devout Catholic teenager Jimmy Mizen, who was murdered on Saturday in an unprovoked attack in a south-east London bakery the day after his 16th birthday, and Borough teenager Lyle Tulloch, who was murdered a week ago.

"In the last few days we have seen the deaths of Lyle Tulloch and Jimmy Mizen and I'm sure their parents will need your prayers," said Johnson.

He pledged to work with faith groups in combating gun and knife crime, saying, “There are too many parents across London today who have lost their young children or young teenagers in the last year to gun crime and knife crime ... together we can do something, together we must do something, and together we will do something.”

The father of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, Richard Taylor, also joined the event to ask that Christians pray for every family affected by gun and knife crime across London, before the entire stadium fell silent for two minutes in memory of victims.

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