Leaders in the GDOP movement extended an invitation to the rest of the world to participate at the meeting of the International Prayer Council in Malaysia in November 2004.

In Minnesota, more and more churches and organizations are joining the movement, making the 2007 efforts considerably more organized and unified than years past.

GDOP efforts around the world follow a similar sequence of events, beginning with 10 Days of Constant Prayer leading up to Pentecost Sunday, a corporate worship and prayer gathering on Pentecost Sunday, and 90 Days of Blessing following Pentecost.

At an initial planning meeting in October 2006, a group of suburban pastors and leaders “prayerfully decided to have that group join a group of urban pastors to unite for the effort,” according to Sheila Ford, project manager for the 2007 GDOP effort.

Ford, who also runs the ministry consulting firm Mission to Mobilization, said she joined the movement because of her long-held passion for reconciliation.

“The GDOP starts at the core of what we need—repentance and humility,” Ford said. “We start on our knees in humility and in our heart repentant, seeking God on what and how to live out an example of His justice on the earth.”


10 Days
For the first component of the 2007 GDOP, local leaders are asking congregations and believers to join in 24/7 fasting and prayer across the state May 17-26.

Congregations are encouraged to host organized prayer events or provide facilities for Christians to gather and pray. Families and small groups are asked to pray for the city, state and nation when they gather.

Groups participating in the 10 days of prayer leading up to Pentecost can also register their participation online at the GDOP Minnesota Web site (see action box). KTIS FM radio will broadcast a series of interviews with project leaders, participants and prayer intercessors during the GDOP events.


Pentecost Sunday
On Pentecost Sunday, May 27, a concert of prayer and worship will take place at Northrup Auditorium from 4 to 6 p.m. The gathering will include hymns, a Catholic bell choir, spoken word, dance and art in efforts to include a range of styles and diverse denominational representation.

“We desire to engage more of the body in earnest prayer that the Lord would change the spiritual environment in our state, dismantling competition, isolation, hypocrisy, etc. while releasing a sense of unity, love and action within our communities,” Ford said.

Key areas to be addressed at the GDOP gathering will include: adoration, revelation, repentance, restoration and mission. In an effort to keep the focus on prayer and unity, event organizers are being careful not to call attention to any one organization or personality.

“The churches that are coming together are operating in the vein of Acts 2,” Ford said. “They recognize there is great wealth and need in all of us. Through prayerful, intentional relationships there becomes a demonstration that those myths and old facts will be demolished.”

Prayer intercessors from across the state will share and be interviewed about the power of prayer they have seen demonstrated in their lives.

“We want to show how prayer can demolish the works of Satan and also encourages love, helps, support and reconciliation in our communities,” Ford said.


90 Days of Blessing
Following the GDOP gathering, Christians around the world are encouraged to be a blessing in their communities from May 28 to August 28. In Minnesota, this aspect of the 2007 GDOP is receiving much more focus than in years past.

“The natural outflow of the Spirit in our lives is blessing our communities with acts of kindness,” said Carl Nelson, president and CEO of the Greater Minnesota Association of Evangelicals.

GMAE is a financial sponsor of the GDOP overall and Nelson is part of a steering team that is helping identify community organizations and service projects where churches and teams of volunteers can get involved. The 90 Days of Blessing will focus on four areas of specific need: housing, schools, youth mentoring, and food shelves and emergency services.

“It’s consistent with our mission of bringing evangelicals together to do what we cannot do alone,” Nelson said. “It’s an emerging movement that started outside of the U.S. and over a number of years has spread and gained momentum. It’s exciting to be a part of a large spiritual movement that originated from another part of the world and has now come here to the U.S.”

The GDOP Minnesota Web site offers a listing of volunteer opportunities with partner organizations for the 90 Days of Blessing that includes: Habitat for Humanity, Urban Homeworks, Kinship, Hope for the City and Meals on Wheels.

Christians already actively involved in other service projects are also encouraged to identify those projects with the GDOP movement.

“What I like about the whole GDOP movement is that it’s wholistic. It doesn’t end with the day of prayer but it recognizes and it respects that people are transformed through the spiritual act of praying together and that that will result in Christians loving and blessing our community through acts of service,” Nelson said. “It expects that we are changed and transformed and we will begin acting those changes out in our community.”


ACTION POINT:
For more information about local GDOP events, visit www.globaldayofprayermn.com. To read more about the international movement, visit www.globaldayofprayer.com.