2. Shaping the Event

A. Purpose and Theme: The glory of Christ and the transformation of the nations. See the important comments below under “Designing the Program” which tell about the purpose and theme.

B. Timing. Fix the start and ending time. Because the events involve people from diverse traditions and cultures, it is more crucial than it may appear that the program begin and close on time. You can be assured that there will be enthusiasm during the event to continue after the appointed closing time. For the integrity of future GDOP events, it is imperative to dismiss at the agreed upon closing time. To accomplish this, the program leadership must, in a clear and perhaps even strident way, insist that participants carry out their assignments within appointed time frames.

C. Incorporate global “broadcast” items. The most important item to present during your program will be a seven minute summary of GDOP gatherings around the world. Since most of this seven-minute video compilation will be only hours old, it will be tremendously encouraging. At least 100 million people, and perhaps twice that number, will be gathering in time zones around the world. The GDOP will start near the dateline in the nation of Fiji (during the late afternoon of Saturday afternoon in America) and move across the globe. The video compilation will be completed early on Pentecost morning (for North Americans) and be available for download. Check this website for the appropriate links. At this time, plans are still in the works for a three hour broadcast, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EASTERN Time. This three hour program is not being designed as a substitute for locally led concerted prayer across the land. Portions of this broadcast may be helpful components of local programs, but because plans are still developing, it’s best for local leaders to design a program with local participants, leaving room for the seven minute summary. Keep checking the broadcast page (link) to get the very latest in the steadily changing plans for broadcast.

D. Location. If at all possible, meet in a location other than a church building. The dynamic prayer movements in Asia and Africa have demonstrated that the extra cost of using public venues, such as school auditoriums, sport stadiums, convention centers and even open parks, has resulted in increased participation and shared ownership amidst a wide diversity of denominations and traditions.

E. Equipment and facilities. Obviously, good sound equipment is necessary. If possible, choose a setting with a projection system with large enough screens to project the words to prayers and songs, and to show the video summary of the GDOP. Some cities are planning short video reports of what is worthy of prayer and praise in their communities.

F. Local expression of a global reality. The Global Day of Prayer is not a regimented program with a centralized organization. It represents a rise in local communities and churches of passion and hope for God to fulfill His purposes to glorify Christ and bring healing to entire cities and nations. It’s always easier to localize a global reality, than to try to globalize a local program. Seek to ways to give prominence to the fact that you are gathering with millions of others on the same day. But at the same time, be sure the program focuses prayer for your particular community.

3. Program Leaders: Facilitators and Platform Participants

A. The “MC” figure. Carefully select the best person to serve as the spokesperson acting as an “MC” for the event. To avoid a confusing and unwieldy program, stay away from having multiple “MC’s”. One recognized leader facilitating the participation of several participants usually results in coherence and balance.

B. Prayer and worship leaders. Choose an array of prayer leaders who are themselves people of prayer. Be sure they grasp the value of enabling the entire gathering in in prayer. Choose your worship leadership carefully. The most important thing to emphasize to all platform leaders is that there are no speakers and there are to be no sermons, speeches or teachings. The content and substance of the prayers and the worship will be powerfully instructive and challenging.

4. Designing the Program

A. Purpose and Theme: The glory of Christ and the transformation of the nations. These are not empty words. Focus on the person of Christ and the certain hope of His greater glory. His utmost glory comes by the healing, blessing and transformation of the nations. You will of course, find ways to focus upon the healing, blessing and transformation of your city or region. But please conceive your gathering as local expression of a historic, global event. It is tempting to use the occasion as a way of advancing local or even political agendas. You may find different wording, but please incorporate and emphasize the stated theme of the GDOP: the glory of Christ and the transformation of the nations.

B. What to minimize

• No speeches. The most certain way to diminish the GDOP gathering in to allow speakers to deliver sermons and teachings. It’s wise to simply forbid speeches, homilies, challenges so that the event is consecrated as a session of extraordinary prayer. There will be gifted preachers and teachers in attendance. Resist the temptation to allow them to speak. Ask them to direct their words to God in a way that enables the entire gathering to pray along with them. 

•Few introductions. Minimize introductions. It’s good to show honor, but find ways to introduce leaders in succinct and diplomatic ways.

• Few announcements. Try to minimize announcements. The 90 days of blessing is an integral part of the GDOP. Some announcements are needful to encourage people to participate. Try to find ways to summarize these opportunities. Ideally, publish such recognized opportunities on some website or community publication. Resist pressure to publicize many details of countless ministries during the program. Be sure to announce the next Global Day of Prayer: Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2006.

• Little, if anything, for sale. Establish a policy of what will be available, either as a “freebie,” or by purchase. For the most part, it’s wise to establish the GDOP as a commercial free zone. See how close you can come to having nothing for sale and no other flyers or printed material. Without some kind of policy, you will be forced to respond at the most inopportune time when well-intentioned people appear with their wares and promotional literature.

C. What to emphasize

• Worship. Choose Christ-honoring hymns and songs which focus on declaring scriptural truths. Choose recognizable songs that will make it easy for people from diverse streams to sing with gusto.

• Prayer. Break up the praying so that there are many short sessions of prayer of three to five minutes in length. Engage the entire gathering of people in prayer by inviting them to form and to pray in small groups. One proven pattern is to invite people to form circles of three people (often called “prayer huddles”). Pastors and platform leaders should be invited to express succinct prayers from the microphone, but consider their contribution as ways of stimulating, punctuating, and restating the prayers of the entire gathering.

D. What must be included

• The “Prayer for the World”  This is the only item that will be found in every GDOP gathering around the world. It takes five minutes to read. Consider organizing your entire program around the seven sections of this prayer.

Click here to read the "Prayer for the World"

This prayer is included in the 10-Day Prayer Guide available from WayMakers.

Click here to see ideas for using the “Prayer for the World.”

E. What can be included

•The Apostle’s Creed. This ancient creed expresses the common faith of those who are gathering. It is a worthy element to include. Click here for text of the Apostles Creed.

•Day ten of the ten day prayer guide. The ten days of prayer include Pentecost. Read carefully the text (Acts 3:20-21) and the prayer ideas (both His Church and Our World). There are any number of creative ways to pray in powerful, life-giving ways with these ideas.

•An offering. This needs to be carefully considered. To what need or opportunity will you direct funds? Consider allocating part of your offering to defray the costs of the event and to give organizers something to work with for the next GDOP in 2006. Consider allocating part of your offering to empower proven servants who will be active in serving your community during the 90 days of blessing. Avoid merely giving money to particular needs. Seek to enable people who by their personal service amidst your community are becoming God’s blessing and are part of the answer to your prayers. It’s perfectly all right to announce that particular needs/opportunities will be determined after the event. To what institution will checks be written? In what receptacles will you collect funds? How will you recognize your appointed ushers? Be ready with experienced people to count and safeguard the offering. For all the apparent complexity, an offering is doable and can become a wonderful act of worship and faith.