This year marked the 77th time that South African women participated in a woman-led worldwide day of prayer. But it was the first time that the women of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Helderberg Basin in Somerset West, near Cape Town, South Africa, hosted the interdenominational day of prayer. The day of prayer took place Friday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer (WWDP) is a worldwide movement of Christian women from various cultures, races and churches who come together to observe a common Day of Prayer on the first Friday of March each year. It is open to all faith groups who wish to join them in prayer. Organizers of WWDP say their vision is for Christian women to be used by God through a dynamic prayer movement to make a positive impact on all spheres of society.

The worldwide theme for this year’s WWDP worship program was ‘United Under God’s Tent.’ The program was designed by the women of Paraguay, whose concerns about unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, violence, corruption, alcoholism, drugs and prostitution are shared by women from other countries around the world.

“Something like this brings hearts together, brings us into common identification with each other, in our common needs,” said Aleta Blow, who coordinated the event at the Helderberg Seventh-day Adventist church located on the Helderberg College campus. “As we reach out to the great God of heaven something happens within us that makes us aware of the brotherhood and sisterhood of man. It also makes us more aware of the world’s great needs.”

“Throughout the years women have played a significant part in stabilizing in South Africa especially right after apartheid,” said Wilma Anderson, another Adventist coordinator. “Many women called prayer meetings because they recognized that there was power in their prayers and togetherness. This is no different.”

The program was attended by more than 200 women who represented countries such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Italy, Bolivia, Holland, Australia, Paraguay, Thailand, Tanzania, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Lesotho.

Greetings were offered in 23 different languages. This kind of diversity breaks down prejudice on every level, racial and sectarian, Blow noted. She pointed out that she got similar reactions when women from other faith groups found out that the Adventist church would be hosting the event.

“It came as a surprise to other ladies from other churches that we opened our doors,” she said. “Adventists in the Helderberg Basin are seen as a very exclusive group. I think this day of prayer has been a bonding experience that is not limited just to that one day.”

“I think it was wonderful to get together,” said Fritzi Eck, from another denomination. “We got close to others and understood each other a little bit better. It made no difference what faith they were.”