Thy Kingdom Come, the ecumenical prayer initiative, has announced radical changes in how it operates in response to Covid-19.
The prayer campaign has launched a suite of digital resources to allow Christians to participate in prayer sessions remotely, 24 hours a day. Launched at the beginning of March this year, the campaign has had to change tact, dropping mass prayer events and physical gatherings in line with lockdown restrictions.
Endorsed by senior Christians such as Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the “global prayer movement” has spent five years praying for evangelisation. One step recommended to those following the program is termed “Pray and Care”, encouraging Christians to “practically demonstrate their love and care through action” in the 11 days leading up to Pentecost.
Another resource launched by the project is “The Upper Room”, an online space where Christians can participate in round-the-clock prayer sessions with fellow believers from around the world.
Other “Thy Kingdom Come despite Lockdown” resources to equip people to worship at home include a podcast series, a prayer journal with Bible readings, reflections and suggested care actions, and a revamped version of the project’s app. The app allows users to follow the initiative in eight languages; last year, it was downloaded in over 100 countries. A digital “prayer map” has also been released, replacing a pre-pandemic paper version and allowing families to join together in prayer from home.
Speaking on the changes made to “Thy Kingdom Come”, Archbishop Welby was upbeat, drawing parallels with early Christian practice: “That’s where the church began – in people’s homes, in people’s houses and where in many parts of the world it still happens.”
Churches supporting the project include the Catholic Church of England and Wales, the Methodist Church of Great Britain, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. Countries worldwide where Churches are preparing to participate in the initiative span from Canada and Brazil to South Korea and South Sudan. “Thy Kingdom Come” claims to have engaged more than a million people across 65 denominations in 172 countries since the beginning of the project in 2016.
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