A total of 27 churches from eight denominations from Klang Valley came together for the first 24-hour non-stop praise and worship event – A Day of Praise & Worship – on 3 July at Grace Convention Centre (GCC), Petaling Jaya.
The vision of ADOP is to bring about the unity of the Church in Malaysia through praise and worship, in addition to dancing, painting, acting, sharing the Word of God, and prayers made by church leaders across denominations.
“Church unity is a great concern to Jesus Christ because He prayed for our unity before His Cruxifixion. And this is not a given but it is something we must actively do. We cannot sit around for church unity to happen but we need to make every effort,” said Mr Tan Kong Beng, Executive Secretary of Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3)
“The Catholic Church has always seen the importance of Christian unity. Every year in January, the Catholic Ecumenical ministry with other Christian brothers and sisters meet and dialogue. This is to bring oneness of faith despite our differences and understanding of faith,”said Rev Fr Andrew Manickam, Parish Priest of Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
“The two main things that the devil hates is our worship to God and Christian unity. And at ADOP, we won with our ceaseless praise and worship to God against all odds for 24 hours. We brought down the walls of division. Nothing is going to stop us now. We will continue to love God and love people,” said Shamini Ruth, Country Coordinator for Global Worship.
Rev Henry Pillai, Senior Pastor of Grace Assembly in Petaling Jaya, was the first speaker of ADOP. He stressed that many people had been praying for this historic moment of church unity to happen, a seed planted by the saints many years ago.
In fact, Rev Henry shared that the hours of prayer hold special significance because it marks a time of transition. At midnight, Paul and Silas were released (Acts 16:25-26). At midnight, the firstborns of the Egyptians were destroyed and Israel was released (Exo 12:29). Jesus also told the parable of the Bridegroom coming at the midnight hour to claim His Bride (Matt 25:6). And finally, many evils happen at night – the enemy sowed weeds among wheats at night as well (Matt 13:25). Hence, as saints, we are called to keep awake during this midnight hour of transition.
“Whoever controls that transition will control the rest of the season. So, God has gathered us here, so that we are given the honour to work with Him to be in charge of the hour of transition,” said Rev Henry.
As for the vision for ADOP, Country Coordinator for Global Worship Shamini Ruth shared, ““We hope to see what we do in ADOP take place in all states, cities, and towns in Malaysia. But the bigger picture is seeing the Church of Malaysia join the coming Global Worship Day as a nation in uniting with the rest of the world in worshiping God.”
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
ADOP also had their first KidsADOP this year, with more than 100 children aged between 5 to 12 years on 5th of July, for a day camp filled with various activities such as praise and worship, mime, message through magic or puppetry, hip hop praise dance, skit, ballet worship dance, and sign language and movement.
The speakers for the ADOP included firstly Rev Dr Henry Pillai, Senior Pastor Grace Assembly, PJ; Rev Sean Prasad, ADOP-Pastoral Advisor; Rev Ng Wah Lock, Principal of Tung Ling Bible Seminary; Rev Fr Andrew Manickam, Parish Priest of Church of Saint Francis of Assisi; Dr Herman Shastri, Secretary-General of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM); and Elder Tan Kong Beng, Executive Secretary-General of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).
The churches and Christian organizations that took part as a worship team in ADOP included Grace Assembly, PJ; World Harvest Church, Sunway; New Life Restoration Centre, PJ; Christian Life Gospel Centre, PJ; Tabernacle of David, KL; Grace Assembly, Klang; Damansara Utama Methodist Church (BM); Good Tidings Assemby, Shah Alam; SIBKL; First Baptist Church, Subang Jaya; National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF); St Gabriel’s Anglican Church, KL; Kajang AOG, Church of St Francis of Assisi, Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur; SIB KL Sentral; The Abundant Church; Ace Lighthouse, New Creation Revival Centre, KL; Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM); C3 Subang; Breakthru Worship Community Church, KL; BWCC; Kepong Evangelical Free Church; Christian Federation of Malaysia; Every Nation Church, Puchong; and Every Nation Church, Damansara.
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
(Psalms 133:1-3)
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Note: All pictures are credited to A Day of Praise & Worship (ADOP)
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