The World Church to Begin 2023 with Prayer

Prayer is often regarded as the key to unlocking heaven’s storehouse. However, it is prayers spoken with faith as big as a mustard seed that moves the hand of our miracle-working God. When the Church prays, complacent and luke-warm congregations undergo a transformational revival. Bed-ridden individuals experience unexplainable healing and restoration. Lost souls find the hope of salvation in Jesus, giving their lives to Him through baptism. 

For over a decade, thousands of Adventists worldwide have experienced the impact fervent, faith-filled prayer can have through the General Conference (GC) of Seventh-day Adventist’s annual Ten Days of Prayer. Beginning January 11, 2023, “There [will be] thousands, if not millions, of Seventh-day Adventists uniting in prayer around the world,” highlights Jonathan Walter, media and communication manager for the GC Ministerial Association. 

This ten-day Revival and Reformation event “guides individuals, families, groups, and churches into a meaningful time of united prayer,” he emphasizes.

Dwain Esmond, associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate, shares, “God’s people are to be powerful, but we are distracted.” In our fast-paced world, time in prayer and Bible study has been overtaken by technology, among other distractions. “In the United States, children aged 8-12 spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using technology,” notes Esmond. In addition, “the average person taps, clicks, or swipes their phone 2,617 times per day.”

For this reason, this year’s prayer theme, “Back to the Altar,” not only introduces the GC’s latest initiative, but also seeks to revitalize and restore family and personal worship in Adventist homes worldwide. 

“The materials include daily, very short readings, as well as prayer requests and prayer pointers to help participants spend a meaningful hour (or more) in united prayer. The emphasis is really on actually praying together and less on talking or reading,” notes Walter.

The Ten Days of Prayer guide is available in nearly 40 languages and includes Bible promises on prayer, an outreach challenge, and information on incorporating fasting throughout the ten days. 

Prayer Moves Mountains

Over a decade ago, several churches in the Central California Conference joined together to pray fervently for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and called the ten-day event, “Operation Global Rain.” Since its organization, the Ten Days of Prayer initative has become “one of the most appreciated initiatives around the world coming from the General Conference,” notes Walter.

For Harley G., a past participant from Singapore, Ten Days of Prayer was a “healing miracle.” Upon being admitted to the hospital because of a sudden illness, Harley shared, “I felt really hopeless because my condition seemed to worsen each day.” Nevertheless, Harley participated in the prayer initative from the hospital. “With the nightly devotional through Zoom meetings, many prayed for me and my healing … God [was] so gracious to me because I was discharged even before the Ten Days of Prayer ended. It was His healing power that made me whole. I was sick and He touched me,” rejoiced Harley.

Similarly, Arlene A., a past participant, shared how Ten Days of Prayer produced a spiritual revival in her church. “The Ten Days of Prayer brought our members closer to the Lord. The fellowship has been sweeter, and individuals have verbalized that they are more determined to engage in mission and soul winning.”

Moureen K., a past participant from Uganda expressed, “People cried their hearts out to God during our prayer times. We learned for the first time what it means to pray according to God's promises and to claim Jesus' most precious gift the Holy spirit.”

For Walter, Ten Days of Prayer has been a special occasion. “I remember hearing about ‘Operation Global Rain’ back in 2007 as a young person, and was fascinated by the idea that Adventists would connect worldwide to pray together for God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit.” 

After participating in the event for many years, Walter expressed, "I have never regretted spending time in united prayer with fellow believers … The Ten Days of Prayer have always provided such a blessed and powerful, Spirit-filled start into the new year.”

Other Opportunities for Prayer

Though Ten Days of Prayer occurs once a year, the GC Revival and Reformation initiative provides regular prayer-focused events throughout the year. Known as “Quarterly Days of Prayer,” every first Sabbath of any new quarter is an opportunity for the World Church to engage in prayer together. 

In addition, Revival and Reformation also provides materials for church members to participate in 40 or 100 Days of Prayer whenever they’d like.

Along with prayer, church members can participate in Revival and Reformation’s Believe His Prophets initiative. This five-year reading plan guides participants through the Bible one chapter a day and through selected Ellen White writings one chapter a week. 

In her book Steps to Christ, Adventist pioneer Ellen White shares, "Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?" (p. 94). 

As 2023 begins, may the World Church seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May families be led to daily worship, and may all recommit their lives to Christ. Jesus is coming soon.

Watch this year’s Ten Days of Prayer promo video here. Learn more about 10 Days of Prayer and find other Revival and Reformation Bible study resources here.