Bermudians are being urged to join together to take part in a Global Day of Prayer on May 15.

"We realised that Bermuda was not represented so we're trying to pull all the Christian groups on the island together for the event," said Claire Durrant, one of the local organisers of the event.

Mrs. Durrant said the group is in the beginning stages of planning the event but has already had a lot of response and assistance from churches. At the moment, they are looking at two large outdoor venues in which to hold the event.

The Global Day of Prayer began in South Africa in 2001 when businessman Graham Power was inspired by a vision from God which called on him to rent a rugby stadium in Cape Town, South Africa and get Christians to come together and pray in March 2001. Approximately 45,000 Christians joined Mr. Power in fulfilling the first stage of his vision.

By 2003, more than 22 million Christians from 58 African countries prayed on May 2. It was one of the world's largest gatherings of Christians and was facilitated by the help of the Transformation Africa organisation.

This year, Mr. Power, along with Transformation Africa and the International Prayer Council plan to take the event worldwide. He said he hoped Christians around the world will join in and predicted that 200 million Christians will pray on May 15.

The event is being held on May 15, Pentecostal Sunday, which marks the day the Holy Ghost visited the apostles 50 days after the resurrection of Christ.

The Global Day of Prayer will begin when the sun rises in the east and will be marked first in New Zealand. It will end when the sun sets in the west, and American Christians will be among the last to participate in the 2005 event. Mrs. Durrant believes Bermuda will celebrate the event around 4 p.m.

For more information contact Claire Durrant at 292-5260.