The Tribune

TOMORROW, more than 3 million people world-wide will be praying and worshipping together during an annual day of prayer, using a service prepared by Christian women in Malaysia. Annette Poitier, president of the International Committee of the World Day of Prayer said: "This is always an exciting day as a great wave of prayer sweeps the world, beginning when the first service is held in the Queen Salote Girls School in Tonga and continuing around the world until the final service takes place, some 35 hours later, in neighbouring Western Samoa. By then the day will have been celebrated in over 170 countries and thousands of services will have been held." The service in New Providence this year, will be hosted by New Covenant Baptist Church on Independence Drive beginning at 7pm. The guest speaker is the Janet Bostwick, the first female to be elected a member of Parliament in the Bahamas. Although the committees all over the world are made up of women, the service includes men, women and children - clergy and laity. An offering will be taken to help with the World Day of Prayer and collections of one-cent coins are requested for 'The Fellowship of The Least Coin'. Refreshments depicting the food of Malaysia will be served following the service. If possible, the committee would like those worshipping to wear clothing with a tropical look. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Throughout its history it has attracted migrants from other parts of Asia and beyond and it is one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in South East Asia. Women have made important contributions to its social and economic development but, nevertheless, they still face discrimination and violence at all levels of society. Malaysia is now the most popular destination country in Asia for migrant workers and human trafficking has become a sophisticated and organised operation. Although Malaysia's multi-ethnicity has added to the rich heritage of its land and people, it has also given rise to many problems. In the service, those issues of concern are named and the women voice their hope for the future. Justice for all is their hope, and their prayer is "Let Justice Prevail". World Day of Prayer is a global, ecumenical movement of informed prayer and prayerful action, organised and led by Christian women who call the faithful together on the first Friday in March each year to observe a common day of prayer and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. The origins of World Day of Prayer date back to the 19th century when Christian women in the USA and Canada initiated a variety of co-operative activities in support of women's involvement in mission, at home and abroad. Efforts for unity continued and in 1922 two separate united days of prayer, one in Canada and one in the United States, came together with a common date - the first Friday of Lent. In the second half of 1926, the women of North America spread the worship service to many countries and partners in mission. The response worldwide was enthusiastic and World Day of Prayer came into being.