The idea for the Global Day of Prayer started in Africa a couple of years ago. Last year, organizers say, people in 273 towns in South Africa and all 56 countries in Africa participated in a Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa.
This year, the aim is worldwide in 150 countries, with the Reunion Arena event planned as the flagship for a half-dozen United States events. As in this country, the international leaders are evangelical Christians who want people to pray for spiritual transformation.
Bob Bakke, director of the National Prayer Advance of the Minnesota-based Evangelical Free Church in America, sought out Dallas preachers to host the main U.S. event.
"There are very few places that have the religious wherewithal on very many different fronts as Dallas," Dr. Bakke said.
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