Following four grueling hours of Jakarta traffic, on buses that were made with seats to fit a normal 5’6” Indonesian male, we finally made it to the stadium for the highlight event. The hype promised 100,000 people—including 20,000 children intercessors--in this stadium, and millions participating via satellite at stadiums across Indonesia.

I can’t figure numbers, but I suspect they were close to the promise. Unfortunately, the distance from the platform for most people made a stadium not the best venue for a prayer gathering. It was very difficult to see and to understand what was being said. And as is typical of a lot of longer, large prayer events, they often feel like there is not a lot of prayer—at least not prayer that the audience participates in.

While the event, honestly, was not as big a thrill for me as the anticipation, there were some very significant, powerful moments.

The highlight for me was the ceremony where they lit a unity torch. What it symbolized was powerful. The Indonesian Church is probably the most unified church in the world. Pentecostals, evangelicals, mainline denominations and yes, Catholics, all fellowship together, do things together, and pray together. Believers and pastors from mega churches to small works don’t remain in their little ministry silos like in the West.

We in the West could sure learn something from the Indonesian Church in that regard. I have. By the way, that makes this church the most ripe for leading a powerful spiritual awakening. Remember John 17 reveals that when unity occurs, people are drawn to Jesus.

The other highlight of the evening was the effective use of children. Besides some great choreographed dances to our singing, one powerful time was when they had prayer for different spheres of influence. For each section, a recognized adult prayer leader prayed from the mike on the platform, then a child. The kids were all part of a children’s track, that saw more than 500 kids from nations around the world come to learn and pray together. The Holy Spirit was powerfully in them tonight!

Well tomorrow will be a processing day. Because of traffic, I need to head to the airport by 10 am so I will miss the closing. Depending on when I can get internet connections again, I will share what God is doing in me through this event.