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Think Tank 2022
Interreligious Association for Peace and Development
IAPD-Brazil Hosts Online Program With 2,450 Participants
Monday, March 22, 2021
Brazil—On March 22, 2021, the Brazil chapter of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) held an event with the theme “International Month of Prayer.”
The strategic plan was to each religious leader to express what the meaning of pray is. By sharing their vision, it can help us to come together and build unity, overcoming all the barriers and walls between us.
Held online through the Zoom and YouTube platforms, the event was attended by 2,450 participants from all over Brazil.
Emcee of the event was Pastor Wallisson Batista. Representatives of different Christian denominations participated:
Apostolo Helio Araujo of the National Convention of Evangelicals) Participating were 650 community members.
Bishop Andre, from the International Interdenominal Convention for Christ), which brought 560 people.
Dr. Carlos, Cruzado for Dignity, brought 310 people to the event.
Bishop Edson Luiz, president of the Association of Married Fathers, Church of the Family.
Maria Aparecida Cidinha, therapist, coordinator of the Association of the Brazilian Organization of Women Entrepreneurs.
IAPD- Brazil brought 910 participants.
Pastor Boubacar Diallo, president of IAPD-Brazil, asked for prayer for everyone, especially for those sick with covid, for our nation, and, at the end of the event, for Cofounder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
At the opening, he mentioned that prayer is a conversation between parents and children and the most effective way to restore our relationship with God, the Parent of the universe
Dr. Simão talked about the importance of prayer, based on the words of Reverend Moon explaining that humans are essentially spiritual beings who spend a period of time on Earth to learn to love.
Prayer is part of the life of faith of every human being. That is why it is very important to create this habit. Just as we need to breathe to live, we need to pray to keep our spirit alive, and the Word of God is like food for our spirit. Some important aspects of prayer are praying as long as possible to break spiritual barriers, praying out loud, and praying in community. Think about God during prayer, give thanks; pray for the world, for the nation, for compatriots of faith, for the family, and only then pray for yourself.
Dr. Carlos Limongi said that he sees prayer as an important means of uniting with God. In this moment that we are at home, it is a moment of introspection, of union with the family, praying with the family, creating the habit of prayer in our family. At this time, churches also need to come together to pray and fast for our nations.
Pastor Hélio talked about the importance of intimacy with God during prayer. Prayer is a relationship, so it is important to exercise prayer so that this intimacy is established. Prayer is lacking when intimacy with God is lacking. We must speak during prayer, but we must also hear God's answer.
Professor Cidinha referred to the Bible passages Matthew 18:20, I Thessalonians 5:25, Psalms 104: 4, and Matthew 9:29 to exemplify that to pray is to believe and to have faith in the redemptive, healing power of God. Ephesians 2:14 shows us that prayer is the love we can show to others. Prayer also shows us what we need to do. We are strengthened because we are in the presence of the omnipotent when we pray.