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Norfolk Christians unite on Global Day of Prayer

As Christians in more than 220 nations around the world met for the 2013 Global Day of Prayer, hundreds of believers from many regional churches united for prayer at Norwich Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday (May 19).

 
StuartBellGDOP420Welcoming the united congregation back to the Cathedral after three years – the event has been held at other venues in recent years -  the Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Graham Smith said: “This is your Cathedral . . . it belongs to us all.”
 
In a keynote address, guest speaker Stuart Bell, senior leader of New Life Church, Lincoln, spoke of the “beautiful diversity among the people of God – and the importance of unity which is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.”
 
Stuart is also leader of the Ground Level network of 100 churches in the UK.
 
The ministerial team behind the united Cathedral event were “Unite East Anglia”, part of the Transforming Norwich network. Worship was led by musicians and singers from Fountain of Life Church at Ashill.
 
Emphasising the spiritual oneness among God’s people, Pastor Paddy Venner (of Eternity, Norwich) said:  “There is really only one church in this city, with many different ‘expressions’ and locations.” 
 
As a South African, Paddy also recalled attending the first-ever global prayer event with 55,000 people at a sports stadium in Capetown, South Africa, in 2001 – an initiative that grew into the global prayer movement across 220 nations - “praying globally, gathering locally,  with one voice.”
 
To encourage Norfolk Christians, Pastor Trevor Pimlott of Norwich Family Life Church recalled a comment by the US-based Christian leader Jeff Lucas from the state of Colorado, who spoke in Norwich recently.  Jeff was highly encouraged to hear about the forthcoming “Celebrate Norwich and Norfolk” event from June 7-9, but one pastor asked Jeff what lessons the church in the US might have for us in the UK?  Jeff replied: “What we need is to do bring American believers to Norwich to see what God is doing right here!”
 
Other local leaders taking part in the Cathedral prayer event were Jill Gower, who leaders the ‘Call to Prayer’ initiative;  Rev Stephen Mawditt from Ashill; and Pastor Phil Thorne of City Church, who helps lead the  “Prayer for Revival” events involving 50 churches, meeting in five regional centres.
 
The next Norwich Prayer for Revival evening is on Monday June 3 at NFLC at 7.30.
 
Next year’s Global Day of Prayer will be on Sunday, June 8, 2014.
 
Pictured above: the gathering at the Cathedral, and keynote speaker Stuart Bell.

Published: 22/05/2013


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