Global Day of Prayer 2011: Making Choices and Standing Firm
by Debbie Loh
"STAND firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
These words by Moses to the Israelites in Exodus 14: 13-14, moments before crossing the Red Sea, are an appropriate take-home message from the Malaysia Global Day of Prayer 2011. Malaysian Christians today are challenged with the call to stand firm in prayer, in humbling ourselves, and in turning away from sin.
This was the short message delivered at one GDOP rally held at the Petaling Jaya Evangelical Free Church on 12 June 2011 by GDOP Malaysia Chairman Rev Looi Kok Kim. Similar rallies were held simultaneously or throughout the week by churches in over 40 cities and towns throughout Malaysia. Worldwide, Christians in more than 200 countries also gathered for this annual global prayer rally.
As participants prayed through the list of items for Malaysia, the Middle East, the Church and the world, Rev Looi summed up the mood of the times.
"2011 is turning out to be a year of making choices, whether on a personal level, nationally or globally," he said. He referred to choices facing Malaysians, for example, whether to remain in the country because of the current state of affairs. He also referred to choices facing Middle East citizens in recent and on-going protests for a change of government.
 Rev Looi noted that these major choices people make now will shape events in the coming years.
"Things may happen for better or for worse, but the important thing is for God's people to stand firm in faith. Faith is required in order to do the unthinkable, such as the crossing of the Red Sea," he said.
Prayer focus
On Malaysia, people were urged to pray for repentance, restoration of moral values and healing for society. Among the items highlighted were the high number of child prostitutes between the ages of nine and 18, estimated at over 4,000. Malaysia is currently listed as a Tier 2 country on the United States' Trafficking in Persons Report, which means it is a country that does not fully comply with minimum standards to fight human trafficking, but is taking steps to address the situation.
Other concerns included the crime rate, in particular rape, where statistics show that one rape occurs ever 2.5 hours; and baby dumping, where one baby is said to be dumped every 10 days; and the high incidence of abortion at one for every five pregnancies, and HIV/AIDS victims.
For the Middle East, prayers were said for mercy and peace to be restored to countries facing political turmoil, for genuine freedom and improved livelihoods for citizens.
For the Malaysian Church, unity among Christians across denominations and generations, and boldness in standing for justice, integrity and to preach the Word were prayer priorities.
Youth participation
 At another GDOP rally at SIB Brickfields, Rev Danil Raut, president of SIB Semenanjung, said he was heartened by a strong turnout from the youth. "I was very encouraged to see more young people, unlike before."
Rev Danil took up the theme of 2 Chronicles 7:14. People will have to humble themselves, pray and seek God, and resolutely turn away from sin in order for God to bring about healing and blessing. Both calls in Exodus 14 and 2 Chronicles 7 echo each other. Practically speaking, it means not letting up prayer efforts even after GDOP events are over for this year, and it means consciously making ethical choices to reject wrongdoing.
Another youth-led GDOP event was the rally in Kampar on 11 June. It was organised by three youths who were students at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) at the Grand Kampar Hotel. Daniel Chi of the GDOP Kampar Committee, said they had wanted to inspire more students to be engaged in prayer for the nation. The event drew about 100 people, mostly UTAR students and Orang Asli Christians from around Kampar.
Praying through the Rukun Negara
 The Kampar meeting was held in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, and took the unique approach of praying for forgiveness and restoration of Malaysia by using the five principles of the Rukun Negara: Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan (Belief in God), Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara (Loyalty to King and Country), Keluhuran Perlembagaan (Supremacy of the Constitution), Kedaulatan Undang-Undang (Sovereignty of the Law), Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan (Good behaviour and morals).
Restoration of godliness was also the prayer focus for the Chinese GDOP rally held at the Taman Midah Lutheran Church in Cheras on 16 June which drew about 400 people. The gathering broke into small groups to pray for the seven mountains or sectors of society: business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, the family and religion.
Rev Kok Chin Ming from the Mudun Chinese Methodist Church spoke on the need for personal holiness and urged Christians to live holy lives in order to affect change in these sectors.
In Penang, about 1,300 people attended the rally anchored by the Excel Point Community Church (EPCC). Pastor Sam Surendran of EPCC said the prayer rally was the culmination of the 168-hours non-stop prayer chain held from June 4 - 11, and the Run Penang event, both of which were organised by other churches and leaders in the state.
The rally also saw Penang churches unite to form dance and worship teams and choirs for the event. In keeping with the call of 2 Chronicles 7, the Penang rally had a time of repentance and reconciliation led by Rev Hwa Jen of the Penang Wesley Methodist Church.
Apart from the major prayer meetings reported here, several others were held across the country while many others held smaller-scale events in homes and churches.
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