Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Global Day of Prayer relate to the World Day of Prayer?

The Global Day of Prayer is a Christian movement that originated in South Africa, and has spread to believing churches and organizations around the world.

The term World Day of Prayer is applied to a number of annual events. The oldest is a Christian gathering also known as the Women’s World Day of Prayer. This March event has more than a century of history, but while celebrated in over 170 countries, it has never gained a large following.

The World Day of Prayer in September is an ecumenical Unitarian event that welcomes the participation of a number of world religions. At this event one would expect to see many expressions of prayer that are far outside the Christian tradition.

There are also a number of much smaller events that advertise under the title World Day of Prayer. There is the World Day of Prayer for Cancer, the World Day of Prayer for the Ordination of Women, the World Day of Prayer to End Homophobia, the World Day of Prayer for Ordained Priests, the World Day of Prayer Against the Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children, just to name a few.

How does the Global Day of Prayer relate to the National Day of Prayer?

The National Day of Prayer is an annual ecumenical event to pray for the United States of America. It came about as the result of a joint resolution of Congress in 1952 signed by Harry S. Truman. In 1988 Ronald Reagan amended the resolution to make the first Sunday of May to be the official National Day of Prayer. While there is a Judeo-Christian feel the event, the official resolution invites and encourages members of any religious affiliation to participate.

Who is welcome to participate in the Global Day of Prayer?

The Global Day of Prayer arose from Christian believers in Africa, and as it has spread to encompass the world, it has also remained faithful to its Christian roots. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate, but since the celebration is designed for believers, we would ask that visitors of another faith be respectful of our Christian traditions and expressions.

What do you mean by the term “Blessing?”

To many, the word “blessing” implies a verbal action. The blessing of a meal. The blessing at the end of a church service. The response to a sneeze.

 Our intent during the 90 days of Blessing is to put our hands and feet where our mouth is, and to BECOME the blessing for Lane County. We hope to bless our community through our actions of service…to make a tangible difference by what we do, and not just by what we say. If you would like a list of service projects we are initiating, or more importantly, if you yourself would like to participate in a service project, see the 90 Days of Service and Blessing page.