The National Day of Prayer and Worship has announced plans to encourage every church in the UK and Ireland to turn their Pentecost Church Service on Sunday 19th May into a PRAYER MEETING.
This is the fourth year that the National Day of Prayer and Worship have been calling Christians to unite through online national gatherings. Last year at Pentecost, over 18,000 Christians took to high streets, shopping centres and other public places to sing the same hymn and pray the Lord’s Prayer.
The name of this year’s campaign is ‘In One Accord‘. The aim of the campaign is evangelism, calling to Christians to pray for loved ones, their neighbours and communities to come to Jesus.
NDOPW is looking to local churches and believers to connect with their own communities across the Isles as part of this national prayer campaign.
A simple resource, in partnership with a number of national prayer ministries including TKC, The Send and World Prayer Centre, is being produced to support and resource local churches in their prayer.
There will be a united Isles-wide celebration this year coming from Canterbury. This special online In One Accord event at 6.00pm on Sunday 19th May is available for Christians across the UK and Ireland to watch on the National Day of Prayer and Worship YouTube. Christians from across the South East can join in person at Canterbury Baptist Church, St George’s Place, Canterbury, CT1 1UT
Canterbury has been spiritually significant for Christianity for centuries. The city wide Christians Together in Canterbury will be hosting this national celebration, in partnership with NDOPW.
On the Friday evening before Pentecost, 17th May, there will be a hybrid Night Watch where Christians can come together to pray through the night, between 10.00pm and 5.00am. Christians will be able to come in person to St Andrews Church, Watling Street, Canterbury, CT1 2UA as well as meeting via Zoom for the whole of that time. This will be led by different Church Leaders from across Canterbury and focus on national as well as local issues in the city.
Speaking of these years plans, Pastor Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Convenor of the National Day of Prayer and Worship said:
This year’s Pentecost mirrors the first Pentecost when the disciples gathered to pray in the Upper Room before the coming of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost which marks the birth of the Church was forged in persistent or continuous prayer.
That’s why I urge Christians everywhere to join us in person or online from Friday 17th to start the Pentecost weekend in that spirit as we await the great Birthday celebration on that Sunday.
I’m looking forward to celebrating Pentecost with the churches in Canterbury. Canterbury has been a focal point since Christianity for centuries. As we approach this ancient well of faith, let us unite and pray for a renewal and refreshment of the Holy Spirit and we go forward.
Welcoming the partnership with NDOPW, Pastor Aaron Berko, Chair of Christians Together in Canterbury and Senior Minister of New Life Church in the city said:
Christians Together in Canterbury are thrilled to announce that Pastor Jonathan and NDOPW have graciously accepted our invitation to join forces for the Pentecost weekend. This collaboration heralds a time of profound spiritual significance, both locally and nationally, as we collectively pray for Canterbury, an ancient city steeped in Christian history, and for divine revelations across the British Isles. The anticipation of witnessing God’s work even before the weekend’s event fills us with hope and excitement. We hope you can join us and we look forward to sharing the many stories of transformation and blessings that are sure to unfold.
The Revd Luke Barr, a Minister at Canterbury Baptist Church added:
We are thrilled as a fellowship to be hosting the In One Accord Pentecost Celebration at Canterbury Baptist Church.
Knowing that Christians from across Canterbury will be gathered together in one place on the birthday of the Church is such a delight, but equally knowing we will have Christians from across the Isles joining us online brings the wider church together. I believe this truly is a living out of what happened at the heart of that first Pentecost!
