Global Prayer Power
Malaysian Christians joined millions in the family of God around the globe on May 31 to pray for their countries and the world. The annual Global Day of Prayer (GDOP), held on Pentecost Sunday and billed as the biggest prayer meeting on earth, saw a participation of 220 countries, the biggest number since it started in 2005.
Throughout Malaysia, churches in 43 towns and cities gathered for their local GDOP meetings. In the Klang Valley, some 2,000 Christians from various churches and denominations gathered at SIB Kuala Lumpur to lift up the nation and the world to God. Prior to this meeting, over 50 churches had taken part in the 10-day, 24-hour prayer drive organised by NECF Malaysia.
The GDOP 2009 night was packed with praise, worship, repentance and intercession for the king and country, good governance, migrant workers, social justice, freedom of religion for all races, church unity, cooperation and alliances among churches, missions, and para-church groups, and to top them all, the furtherance of the gospel.
To reflect an all-age prayer movement, there was a special children's session where several children prayed in different languages and dialects, and another session led by youths under the banner of RunNat (Run for the Nation - see pg 14 for more information.)
Declarations were led by the adults - Dr Tan Nget Hong (GDOP Malaysia coordinator), Rev. Eu Hong Seng (NECF Malaysia Chairman), Rev. Looi Kok Kim (GDOP Malaysia co-coordinator), Bishop Hwa Yung (Bishop of Methodist Church Malaysia), Rev. Lawrence Yap (Senior Pastor, Charis Christian Centre), Elder Kong Yeng Phooi (Elder, PJ Gospel Hall), Venerable Eddie Ong (St Paul's Church, PJ), Rev. Elisha Satvinder (Senior Pastor, New Covenant Community), Rev. Daniel Raut (President, SIB Semenanjung), Pr Andy Yeoh (ACTS Church) and Pr Dr Chew Weng Chee (Senior Pastor, SIB KL).
Back to Simplicity, Back to the Cross
In his opening message, Rev. Eu observed that the Malaysian Church had become complicated and called for a return to the simplicity of the cross.
He said: "We believe in God but not in praying to the God we believe in. We won't compromise on the use of the Bible but (we) obey it selectively, especially the part where we are exhorted to always pray.
"We believe God can answer by fire, but we don't have the fire in our prayers to implore Him to answer by fire. We believe in intercession as long as it's relegated to some small group doing it and we don't have to pay the price for it."
He said that NECF has two main goals - to get the churches involved in nation building, and to get the Church to return to the house of prayer.
The drought over the nation is not only financial but political, moral and spiritual as well. Christians must therefore learn to put their heads in between the knees like Elijah did.
"Otherwise, the rain will not come at the end of the three and a half years and there will be no distinctiveness between the people of the Book and the people of other faiths, he added.
"The crisis in our nation seems never ending - the economic leakages, billions squandered. The wrong people seem to be getting arrested while the drama in our courts could keep Hollywood going for a long time to come, BUT our prayer meetings remain insipid and listless," he lamented.
"Tonight, we call upon all to go back to your churches to pray!"
"YES, it's time we stop barking up the wrong tree, stop faltering, and return to simplicity, return to the foot of the cross, and return to good old fashion praying."
At the gathering, the GDOP committee also announced that next year's GDOP would be held on a far larger scale at Stadium Melawati in Shah Alam. Glory to God! |
