We have launched a new website and this page has been archived.Find out more

[Skip to Content]

29 September 2012

300-strong Gideon Army reclaim the hoodie at NDOP

Young people in hoodies normally have a bad rep. The hoodie has become a symbol of hooliganism and disorder. 

But an army of 300 young people dressed in red reclaimed the hoodie during the National Day of Prayer at Wembley today. 

As 40,000 gathered from across the country to pray for the nation, the young people – dubbed the Gideon Army – were commissioned to take a lead in transforming our communities.

Representing 15 different parts of the UK, the young people have already signed up to play their part in seeing unity, prayer and transformation outworked across their areas.

The young people surrounded the pitch at Wembley, as LZ7 led the crowd in dancing and worshipping. This followed a rousing reading from Ezekiel. 

Phil Hulks, cluster development director of Urban Saints, said: “It will be the youth of our nation that will lead the Church back to its anointing and its calling. That’s one of the reasons we’ve come here today. We believe it’s a significant time for the youth of our nation.

“We’re commissioning young people to unite us across our towns and cities. Young people do it better than we do. They don’t get hung up with denominational boundaries and theological issues. They naturally cross the divide. So we’re asking young people to unite us this year.

“We as a Church need to pray the prayer of Hannah. She prayed: ‘God if you give me a child, I’ll give it back to you.’”

Hope Revolution - the youth stream of HOPE Together - also partnered in the project, dubbed the UNITED youth initiative.

Speaking ahead of the event, London convenor of the Global Day of Prayer Jonathan Oloyede said: “The vision I saw of many young people marching as an army is about to be fulfilled at Wembley. This nation is about to witness an explosion of dynamic youth on fire for God and the kingdom.”

Image by Clive Mear, Tearfund