LONDON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Christians and churches across the UK are being encouraged to pray and make a noise and join in the nationwide mass bell ringing planned for the first day of the 2012 Games.

More Than Gold poster

According to a More Than Gold press release to mark the opening of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the London Organising Committee is calling for thousands of bells to be rung across our nations. The mass bell ringing on Friday 27th July will begin at 8.12am and will last for 3 minutes.

LOCOG are encouraging the tolling of ‘any bell, anyone, anytime’ (www.allthebells.com). It’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved in a special commission by the Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed.

More Than Gold, the agency helping churches make the most of the Games, is calling on Christians and churches everywhere to join in and use this moment to ‘Stop and pray at 8.12am on Friday 27th July for God’s Kingdom to come and for a turning to come in our nations.’

The press release said the opportunity to get involved in All the Bells comes on the final day of More Than Gold’s 70-day Prayer Relay – a cascade of praise and prayer throughout the UK which began on 18th May and has toured the country running alongside the Olympic Torch Relay.

Batons containing prayers have been handed over from community to community and as the torch and the prayer relay have travelled through each area, individuals and churches have taken time to pray for the Games and those involved, and for their own communities.

Throughout the London Olympic and Paralympic Games More Than Gold will be helping thousands of churches to provide outreach, hospitality and service for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Church leaders have added their encouragement and are urging everyone to get involved in this unique event:

‘This is a fantastic opportunity for churches to make some noise to show that we support the Olympics and the hard work that all of the athletes have put in. I would urge bell ringing teams in our churches to join in this peal and for as many of us as possible to get together to pray for the 2012 Olympics,’ said the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt. Revd Colin Fletcher.

Rev Ian Bunce, head of Mission for the Baptist Union of Great Britain said: ‘This is an opportunity to be part of a prophetic act, a turning point which will shape the future of our nation. Let's make a noise, talk about God, pray for peace, pray for reconciliation and commit to love God's world and his people.’

‘London 2012 has presented the churches and the nation with a wonderful opportunity for positive community engagement. The Salvation Army is delighted to join with this initiative to pray for success and safety for all involved,’ said Lieut.- Colonel Ivor Telfer, The Salvation Army UK and the Republic of Ireland.

For more details go to: www.morethangold.org.uk/prayercall

Peter Wooding is an award-winning TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant under the name of Peter Wooding Productions (www.peterwoodingproductions.com). Having previously spent 10 years as news editor with UCB Radio in the UK, he has travelled extensively reporting from countries including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Dubai, South Korea, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Croatia, Israel and India. He now reports regularly for CBN News, ASSIST News Service, GDOP London, Russian Ministries, Whispering Word and Sorted Magazine. Peter and wife Sharon live in North Wales, UK with their three children. Passionate to see God’s Justice and Mercy impact lives, Peter is director of a new UK ministry Mercy Projects International (www.mercyproject.org.uk) to help at-risk young people in Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Kosovo, the Middle East and beyond. Contact Peter for consultation at: peter@peterwoodingproductions.com or tel. +44 1244 549167/+44 7500 903067