Month-long prayer vigil for the nation gets underway

A month-long national prayer vigil kicked off this week with an invite to Christians across the UK to start 2026 by praying for spiritual renewal, unity and direction for the nation.

The initiative is being led by National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW) and runs from 5 January to five February, bringing together churches and individuals from across denominations, regions and traditions in round the clock prayer.

The vision, shared by NDOPW Founder and Convenor, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, is for “every hour, each day, every believer in every church to flood heaven with prayer -believing the Holy Spirit for renewal, peace, and healing across the UK and Ireland throughout 2026”. 

Participants will give you the chance to hitch day by day online prayer rooms, participate in local gatherings, and connect with coordinated intercessory networks focused on communities, national life and global concerns, throughout January.

Pastor Oloyede said that the timing of the vigil reflects a growing hunger for spiritual depth and cooperation amongst churches.

“We consider the Lord is looking His Church to wish as one: one cry across the land, one heart before God, and one continuous offering of prayer. This isn’t about one ministry or movement, but the entire Body of Christ, churches, prayer networks, denominations, and independent intercessors, intentionally connected in prayer,” he said. 

NDOPW has been organising national prayer initiatives since 2006, when 1000’s assembled at Wembley Stadium for its first major event.

Since then, the movement has expanded right into a year-round rhythm of online prayer, including day by day sessions at 7am and 7pm, virtual prayer nights every month, and prolonged prayer vigils that draw participants each in person and online.

Organisers say the New Year vigil builds on a 12 months of growing engagement with prayer, in addition to the recent successful Christmas outreach led by Shine Your Light, which mobilised 1000’s of churches across the UK and Ireland and reached greater than three million people through over 2,000 public events in mid-December.

Events ranged from carol services in shopping centres, markets and sports stadiums to workplace outreach, street evangelism and community-based celebrations.

The campaign launched with a high-profile carol service on the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by The Salvation Army, drawing an audience of 5,000 people.

Additional exposure got here through national media, including a dedicated episode of Songs of Praise, while a recorded carol service was broadcast in prisons and homeless shelters over the Christmas period.

Pastor Oloyede said, “This month-long vigil is an invite to hunt God together for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 2026 and, to proceed to interrupt down denominational barriers as Christians from different churches gather together locally to wish for his or her communities, the nation and what God is doing across the globe.”

The scale of engagement during December encouraged organisers as they prepared for the New Year prayer focus.

Pastor Oloyede shared: “Throughout the 12 months we sensed the Holy Spirit momentum constructing. Attendance at our day by day 7am and 7pm online prayer rooms grew steadily, with tons of gathering recurrently, and our 72-hour prayer vigils were supported by churches and 1000’s of people from all 4 nations.”

He added that churches involved in Shine Your Light have reported refreshed boldness in evangelism, with many lay Christians taking steps they previously felt hesitant about — including public testimony, digital outreach and one-to-one conversations about faith.

Local church leaders have also spoken of deeper collaboration at town and city level, with congregations sharing resources and planning outreach together for the primary time.

Organisers say the January vigil is meant not only as a continuation of that unity, but as a moment to pause, listen and pray intentionally for the 12 months ahead.

“As we enter a latest season, we consider the Lord is looking us to go deeper, to press in for transformation in our communities, in our government, and within the hearts of individuals across the UK,” Pastor Oloyede said.