On 9th May 2009 (about a month before the European elections) The SPEAK network is having a prayer day. The idea for this day is that SPEAK groups meet up in their own areas, Speak links organise prayer events with their cells/churches- and we all pray for the success of our Corporate Accountability Campaign, for the upcoming European elections, and for SPEAKs finances.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

1 Timothy Chapter 2 vs 1-2

With this prayer day a lot of people all around the country will all be praying for the same things at the same time. Prayers of intercession are really powerful, especially when people join in prayer:-

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Matthew Chapter 18 vs 19-20

Prayer is going to be a key for change. So please put the 9th May 2009 in your diary and organise your groups to get together and pray. Please try and mobilise other people and groups for this prayer day too.

A Few Ideas for what you can do on the prayer day:-

-Have a Meal and share in communion together, breaking the bread and drinking the wine- Spend the meal and time after the meal in prayer.

-Organise a 24 hour prayer day where different people sign up to come for one specific hour during the day- so if 24 people sign up then every hour throughout the day will have someone praying. Ideally at least 2 people will be signed up for each hour.

- Simply meet with your group as usual, spending the time praying- perhaps you can find creative ways to pray using poems, pictures or songs

-As you pray, plant seeds to represent your prayers, as the flower grows and blossoms over time, so will your prayers.

-You could organise a regional prayer gathering so lots of SPEAK groups and links from your region meet in one place to pray together for the day.

Your prayer event can last the whole day or it can just be an hour or so. I imagine each group will do different things.

Specific Prayer Points

- We want people in the European Parliament to stand for justice, we want the elected MEPs to be people that listen and who are open minded- people who want change. Pray that the new elected MEPs will be people who will work for positive changes in corporate law.

- Pray for the European Elections, and the hustings events in the South west and Northwest being hosted by SPEAK groups in the next few weeks. Ask that these events would communicate the importance of corporate accountability, poverty reduction and sustainable development to people in the UK to potential MEPs.

- Ask that new MEPs will select a Commission that is more open to corporate accountability. Pray that decisions being made in Brussels would be open, transparent and wise. Corporate lobbyists have been a problem in Brussels - ask that decision makers would hear the opinions of normal people, and would not be influenced simply by professional lobbyists representing the rich.

-Pray that the hateful messages of parties like the BNP not to win over voters and that they will not get any seats in the European Parliament

The Corporate Accountability Campaign

Thank God for new recognition among decision makers that regulation needs to be part of the global market and financial systems. Pray that this will translate into laws that reflect God's vision of justice and wholeness for his world.

- Thank God that Gunter Verheugen has announced a study into a potential legal framework for European Businesses operating abroad. This is a real campaign success! Ask that this study looks seriously at the research that has already been done in this area by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, and leads to a change in European law.

- For the new phase of the campaign, asking for a Business, Environment and Human Rights Commission. Pray for the Corporate Responsiblity coalition as they make a strategy for this campaign. Ask for God's unity, vision and wisdom for this work, and for constructive dialogue between businesses, government and the public, which leads to a better and more responsible way of working for businesses.

- Thank God that the Competition Commission have called for the formation of an ombudsman (watchdog) for supermarkets. This is a step towards our goal for all industries! Pray that the ombudsman will be put into place swiftly, with the resources and powers it needs to be effective in ensuring that supermarkets are behaving responsibly. Ask that this will result in a noticeable improvement in workers' rights and conditions throughout the supply chains of supermarkets.

-Pray for the success in our campaigning- that it will be heard and will be an influence of decision makers.

- Pray that the campaigns petal would grow and be able to input into producing resources and training the network.

The Speak Network

-Pray for new SPEAK staff. We need regional support workers, a campaigns officer, and a Network support team co-ordinator. Pray that God provides the right people for the roles and also provides for them all the support they need to do this.

- We need more loudspeakers- people who give financially to SPEAK on a regular basis. Speak is suffering financially and we need some constant source of income. Pray that God provides, so that we can continue to produce resources and cover the costs of our campaigns and events. We need enough loudspeakers to cover our monthly core costs.