What began as a movement in South Africa has spread around the globe
In July 2000 and in February 2002, God gave two complimentary visions to Graham Power, a successful businessman and relatively new convert, that Africa would become the "light to the world.”

The first stage was to invite the Christians in Cape Town, South Africa from all denominations, to unite in a Day of Repentance and Prayer. Forty-five thousand Christians gathered at the Newlands Rugby stadium on March 21, 2001. This started a process that has changed many lives in the city of Cape Town.

In the next year, eight other areas across South Africa hosted similar events. The event was broadcast live on national television by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and the GOD Channel. Many participated in community centers, churches, correctional facilities, retirement homes, town halls and private dwellings. The one-day event was also seen and heard in many African countries via television and radio broadcasts.

The day of prayer so captured the hearts and minds of people all over the continent that a group decided to develop a strategy to take the process of Transformation forward. A summit was held from September 22–25, 2002. Some 220 church and community leaders, businessmen and delegates from nine different African countries gathered. The representatives decided on a mission and vision for Transformation Africa. The vision, "Africa for Christ," would carry the mission "Transforming Africa through Unity and Prayer as we mobilize the body of Christ and all spheres of society, community by community, nation by nation with the full Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The challenge facing the continent was that of uniting all the churches in different regions to work together toward transforming South Africa and Africa. People needed to join hands over a broad spectrum, not only in regard to race and culture, but also across the boundaries of various church denominations.

In the same year, the International Prayer Council (IPC) gathered in Cape Town, South Africa. At this international consultation, a proposal was made to institute a Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005. This coincided with the vision of Transformation Africa and many reports from elsewhere in the world.

Across the continent, Christians were inspired that 77 South African regions and 27 African countries (66 cities) committed themselves to participate in the process of Transforming Africa and taking part in a Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa on May 1, 2003. In 2004, the Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa was held on May 2. The aim was to have all 56 countries in Africa participate. Part of the planning centered on involving every town/community in Africa. More than 273 cities/towns in South Africa and all 56 countries in Africa (more than 1,200 towns/cities) committed themselves to the process of transforming Africa and participated in a Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa, raising a "Canopy of Prayer" across the continent. More than 22 million people participated, undoubtedly changing the face of Africa forever.

The next stage saw a Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005. People started praying as the sun rose in the East (New Zealand) and continued in different time zones until the sun set in the West (USA). The planning involved leaders from all 6 continents and included more than 240 countries around the Globe, under the auspices of International Prayer Council. And the event itself, as people all over the world poured out their hearts in prayer and worship, was a testimony of the moving Spirit of God.

About 70 prayer leaders from each of the major regions of the world have committed to continuing with the Global Day of Prayer movement each year until 2010, in order to build momentum and fill the earth.