Media release – 26th January, 2007Â Â
It was a day of “history making†in Melbourne after more than 
4000 people turned up for the united Australia Day prayer rally at Festival Hall in West Melbourne on Australia Day today to pray for the land and view the Prime Minister’s personal address to them.
Indigenous community was also thanked and acknowledged for “opening up†Australia.
Catch the Fire Ministries president Danny Nalliah, who hosted the major prayer event, said it was a day of “history making†in a never before seen meeting where denominational differences were cast aside. He said the entire place erupted into cheers after the Prime Minister’s message was aired.
“Denominations as diverse as Catholic, Anglican the Salvation Army, Uniting, Pentecostal and Baptist churches and many others came together to pray about the drought, poverty, youth suicide, terrorism and protection over both soldiers and farmers,†Danny said.
“There were so many who expressed to me that they never 
have seen a day like this where doctrinal differences were laid aside for the benefit of the nation. Australia is facing a crisis and we as Christians have come together to storm heaven so to speak, to ask for a break in the drought,†he said.
“We also prayed against the scourge of youth suicide, the poverty many in our society face and for greater compassion 
for each other. Many had said they could never remember seeing such a large gathering of different denominations like this to pray for Australia.â€
“It felt like a show of unity all round as the Prime Minister expressed what a force for good Christianity had been to Australia since this nation’s inception,†Danny said.
“We were hearted to see everyone come together for the good of the nation and there were so many Australian flags. We also had an indigenous community leader speak also, there was such a show of unity, it was a great Australia Day.â€
“We were also very happy to thank and acknowledge the Indigenous community for opening up this great land to us so we can all call Australia home.
Christian leaders and congregations from most denominations throughout Australia united today to call on God to intervene for the good of the land – a day of unity and history making.
What a joy it was to agree in prayer with so many of our brothers and sisters. So many denominations and ethnicities were present and we could all agree with every prayer, song and message, because we are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. It was ‘a little taste of Heaven’! What better way could there be to spend Australia Day!?
I am so glad that our brother from Cairns made himself known to the meeting. We must work together for justice for these people who had their land taken from them. The young people delighted our hearts. Long may the privilege of teaching Christian Religious Education in our state schools continue, especially in the primary schools. Let us commit ourselves to prayer for more teachers and for children’s hearts to be open and responsive to the truth.
God bless and encourage you Danny and Daniel and may justice prevail in your VCAT case. Thank God for Justice Nettle who was given the gift of discernment. May this law which limits free speech, especially that of Christians, be overturned and very soon.
What a great God and great cause you serve. May your lives and families be protected and blessed abundantly.
In fellowship in Jesus, Meryl Rowe, Malvern East
Today’s all denominational Christian assembly organised at the behest of the fast growing ‘Catch the Fire Ministry’ of Dandenongs at the Festival Hall, West Melbourne was a great blessing to many of the Christians who have so far been very much disheartened with a way their faith has been trampled upon by the unbelievers and followers of other faiths who have come to share the spoils of Australian economic prosperity in recent decades.
Pastor Daniel Nalliah needs our prayers and sincere gratitude for organising such a blessed Australian Christian assembly of believers on an Australia Day. It was very heartening to see many races of mankind gathered under one roof to praise and thank our Lord with at most reference.
While attending this great event, I remembered with gratitude of those great missionaries of European decent who had journeyed to several far off Asian and African countries in the 18th and 19th centuries against terrible odds to preach the Christian gospel and redeem the unredeemable. By the work of such dedicated Disciples of Christ, God’s servants like Pastor Nalliah could witness and lead this sort of inspiring gatherings in today’s Australia. In a way, as a former Indian Christian, I feel indebted to those selfless Anglo-Saxon missionaries and obliged to return the favour to their great grand children today.
May such gatherings in the future be encouraged in Melbourne and other parts of Australia to revive the true spirit of Christianity –the state religion of Australia.
Dr. Robert Inbakaran, Thomastown
For the last several months Annette and I have been in northern Yemen, a land in darkness and oppression where many basic freedoms are non-existent. Women and children suffer the most in a society where equality and freedom of choice are denied. How lucky we are to be able call Australia home. Although we could not be there, we joined with you in prayer and rejoice that 4000 came together from many different denominations to pray for our great country. After 32 years of serving the Lord in Indonesia and having spent quite a bit of time in the Middle East over the last 2 -3 years, we know that we have good reason to pray and the most effective prayer is believing and united prayer for that is where the Lord will pour out His blessing. Well done Danny! Keep the fire burning and maybe many more will Catch the Fire!
What a great event .To see all denominations gathered as one and to have the Australia Flag prominently featured was a great Blessing .I was amused with the only protest in sight being a single banner Saying”God is a delusion” held by a young girl with adults standing behind here .After talking to them they explained there is no God ,If only they had come into the house of the Lord they would have been blown away as we all were.Thank you for a great event
Rene Rivera wrote:
Dearly beloved brethren,
I am one of the 4000 who attended and was greatly blessed during this morning’s Australia Day Prayer Rally. What a sight to behold and be with fellow Australians of various ethnicities and differing denominational persuasions holding hands together and expressing unity in prayerful intercession for our nation Australia and the many concerns for this land. Indeed the Lord’s presence was manifest from the opening call to prayer and songs to the final prayer and word spoken.
Of significance too, was the singing of the Australian National Anthem–bearing additional stanzas which have Christian significance. May I kindly request for the full lyrics of what was sung during the prayer rally? I believe the singing of this in church gatherings will promote our love for our country.
As it was mentioned during the rally, a bigger venue is indeed needed for the next one–which I hope will be soon, too.
To Pastor Danny Nalliah and the leadership team and everyone who comprise Catch The Fire Ministries, may you continually be strengthened in your resolve to serve God to fulfill His mandate and minister to His Body. I have no doubt that you will continually receive His rewards–”Well done good and faithful servants”.
To God be the glory–great things he has done and with excited anticipation for His favour and answers to the pleas and prayers lifted up in united prayers!
Much love and blessings,
Rene
Hi Danny,
Last Friday was so fantastic! I loved the Australia Day prayer meeting! I
felt so much more spiritually awake that evening and energised. It was such
an encouragement to be not just at a prayer meeting, but at a prayer meeting
with all denominations united! It was a powerful display of unity – and I
was unbelievably happy to be a part of it. I was absolutely delighted I
could be there with the new baby. I just can’t say what an encouragement the prayer meeting was. God has put the issue of church unity on my heart for a number of years now – and to see it like that was greatly encouraging! Praise God for your leadership!
Blessings,
Kirsten.
Jeannette Newton wrote:
Through Salt Shakers I heard of this event. Some members of our
congregation gather every Friday morning from 9.30 to 10.30am (Qld time)
to pray for our church and its direction, for our shire and our country.
Today we shared that hour with all of you who were praying in Melbourne.
As 10.30am (11.30am Vic time) approached I received an overwhelming
feeling of the enormity of this event. At this time I do not know how
many people were involved in Melbourne but we certainly felt their
presence here in Caboolture, Qld Love and God’s Blessings
Thank you so much Catch the Fire. I was on a high for the rest of the day and have been excited everytime I have told people what a great time we had. I have been telling people what I did on Australia Day and it has given me an opportunity to spread His Word. When God blesses, our cups overrun. The blessings keep going on and on. We just have to call on His name and allow Him to guide us to them. The group of people I went with all enjoyed the unity of the holy spirit so much. We can’t wait for next year. Thanks again Catch the Fire for stepping out in faith to organise such an event. God bless you all and stregthen you to keep in His work.
Dear Pastor Danny,
Just a note to thank you for inspiring and organising the Australian Day Prayer event – our church was most touched when we see all the leaders of denominations on stage, coming together for our Nation’s needs of Jesus. The day was very well organised with the different people praying, the inclusion of the young people was especially special.
Please pass on our sincere thanks to all the leaders of movement and denominations who were there, their presence at the prayer meeting encouraged little churches like us tremendously.
Pray that this is only a good beginning, and we will have more to come.
Love and Blessings
Diep-Thanh Lee
Pastor
Hope of Glory Prahran