By Lenae Simpson

CIU Student Writer

Columbia International University students will be an important part of the annual Global Day of Prayer on June 12. 

The Global Day of Prayer is a call to repentance and unity through prayer.   The worldwide event, which began in South Africa in 2000, has expanded to 220 nations with 300 million participants. 

Last year, over 4,500 people met at the Colonial Life Center in Columbia for the Global Day of Prayer as CIU students helped spread the news of the event among Columbia-area churches.  CIU President Bill Jones was one of several Columbia-area Christian leaders who spoke at the local observance.       

CIU students are playing a key role in this year’s day of prayer by encouraging local churches to take part.    

“Students are the church of today,” said Barry Russell, the youth pastor at East Lake Community Church in Irmo, S.C. northwest of Columbia.  “(The Global Day of Prayer is) an awesome opportunity to preach the Kingdom of God.”

Local organizers say there are over 600 churches in Columbia, and the goal is to unite them all as one body, through prayer, in Christ.  

Pastor Ken Jumper implored CIU students to “help us make history here.”

CIU students will also help by being ushers, parking attendants, and security.

For more on the Global Day of Prayer visit http://www.gdop-columbia.org/ .