The United States Strategic Prayer Network and the Institute for Global Affairs, a Christian organization based in the United Kingdom and Canada, have organized the G8 Prayer Initiative, in which Georgia pastors, ministry leaders and intercessors will be praying for leaders attending the 30th Annual Group of Eight (G8) summit that runs through Thursday. The initiative, which begins today, will consist of unified prayer and worship groups from across the state.
As leaders from eight of the world's most powerful nations gather at Sea Island, Georgia, dozens of prayer networks have been organized involving tens of thousands of intercessors mobilized to pray specifically for the attending G8 leaders, the decisions they will make and for peace throughout world, the organizers said.
"God is calling His church to take her place within a global arena," said Jacquie Tyre, state coordinator of the Georgia Strategic Prayer Network. "The mission of the body of Christ remains to lift up and pray for all in authority across denominational, racial and social lines."
Currently, the Georgia Strategic Prayer Network, a chapter of the USSPN, is organizing the initiative with the Institute of Global Affairs, which has initiated G8 Prayer Summits and partnered with local churches to coordinate worship and prayer in Birmingham, England; Cologne, Germany; Okinawa, Japan; and Calgary Canada. Believers and church leaders from around the world will attend worship and prayer summits running simultaneously in Atlanta, Brunswick, the county seat for Sea Island, and Savannah during the G8 summit.
Reuters reported that about 20,000 police and federal agents have been assigned to patrol the streets, beaches and waters off Sea Island to provide heightened security for the G8 summit as President Bush and the leaders of Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia are expected to attend the summit.
Christians and churches are encouraged to organize worship and prayer efforts in their communities. More information on the G8 Prayer Initiative can be found at http://www.g8prayer.org or http://www.ifgaonline.com.
