Call to National Day of Prayer and Fasting – June 21

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has invited all Australian Christians to participate in a national Day of Prayer and Fasting on Refugee Sunday 21 June.

The purpose of the day is to focus on the plight of asylum seekers and refugees both on mainland Australia and in offshore detention centres.

The General Secretary of NCCA, Sr Elizabeth Delaney, said, “For all who believe in believing prayer, the combined prayer of Christians from all churches is surely powerful. This, combined with fasting, prayer in action, is a concrete witness both to Christians responding to the Gospel call to welcome the stranger and our desire for unity through common action.”

Jesus taught that fasting from food and prayer is a way of accessing the power of God to enable the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6.16-18; Matthew 17:14-21).

The Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia, the Most Reverend Dr Phillip Freier, has commended the day to all Australian Anglicans.

The NCCA has made available a range of resources for the day of prayer and fasting, including liturgy, prayers and teaching on fasting in the Bible. (http://www.ncca.org.au/)
Paul Arnott