Muslim nations, organizers said Tuesday, February 27. Netherlands-based Open Doors, an international group supporting Christians persecuted for their faith, told BosNewsLife in a statement that the prayer chain, dubbed ‘Shockwave’, will run from March 2 through March 4.
"We start in New Zealand with youth gathering for prayer which will spread as a shockwave to every time zone of the world," Open Doors said in remarks from its headquarters in the Dutch town of Ermelo.
In the Netherlands at least 25 prayer groups are involved in ‘Shockwave’. "They will pray in churches, small rooms or just at home. Prayer groups can comprise dozens or just two or three people," Open Doors explained. "It is our intention to send a real shockwave of prayer throughout the world," said Sven Leeuwestein, who leads the prayer event on behalf of Open Doors’s youth devision ‘Underground’.
FIFTH ‘SHOCKWAVE’
It is the fifth global ‘Shockwave’, but the first time the Netherlands participates in it, organizers said. "This year young people will especially pray for Christian youngsters in Muslim nations like Egypt, Iran and Uzbekistan," Open Doors said. The Internet will play a crucial role in providing information for prayers, the group added. Via website www.odshockwave.org prayer partners can communicate with each other and send prayer requests.
Besides Western nations, young Christians in the United Arab Emirates Emirates, Iraq en Papua New Guinea are among those praying, according to a list released before the prayer event was due to begin.
"For the Internet generation it is very normal to be connected internationally," said Leeuwestein. The ‘Shockwave’ prayer chain is "a beautiful opportunity to encourage young people to focus on the situation of fellow youngsters who pay a high price for their faith (in Christ). Some even pay with their lives," he added. Leeuwenstein said that prayer may require "an offer, but it gives strength in the lives of others," persecuted for their Christian faith.
