From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 1, January 1999.

A praying marathon, which began at mid-night on January 1 in Tonga, will continue until mid-night on December 31.

Every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day for 365 days, “a person or a group of people in Tonga will be talking to God in prayer,” say the organisers.

The idea for a Prayer Wheel was introduced by Christopher Racine, the owner-manager of the Oceania Broadcasting Network in Nuku‘alofa. There is a new topic to pray for every 15 minutes. The topics have been compiled by the staff of OBN, and include prayers for all the government ministries.

Sangster Saulala, a staff member of OBN, said that the purpose of the year-long prayer chain is “to thank God for all his blessings in the 20th Century, and at the same time preparing the people for the new millennium.”