Worldwide Prayer Meeting November 30, 2023
Prayer Focus - USA Central Territory
It is a glorious day! Thank God for the opportunity you have to be with your family and the people you will share the day with. The phone you hold in your hand would have been thought impossible a generation ago, yet with it you can accomplish a whole host of tasks that literally reach across the globe. More astounding than that, you can pause for a moment anywhere at any time and be connected to the Almighty God, the Creator of all that was or ever will be. Eternity can meet you in this moment. This is indeed a glorious day.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as the winter season makes itself known I rejoice that I find my place of safety in You. You have provided for me in so many ways. Sometimes my problems just seem to take all my attention and You know I have some pretty big problems. Remind me that You are there with me in them, just like You were with the disciples when they were on the stormy sea, keeping them safe the whole time. But sometimes those waves seem so big and I seem so small. Let me here you say again, “Peace, be still.” Don’t just say that to the waves. Say that to me. Remind me I am safe with You. I know it in my head but I think there are times I need to feel tucked away in Your arms so that I know it in my heart as well. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
The Chicago Staff Band plays William Himes superb piece “Endless Praise.” Well worth the time to listen to this great Salvation Army band piece!
Background of the USA Central Territory
The states that comprise the USA Central Territory – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin – have represented the traditional backbone of American values as well as been much of its economic base until the latter part of the twentieth century.
Built originally largely by European immigrant populations that were attracted by its rich and abundant farmland, this part of the United States has literally fed the world. Rich in natural resources and served by the Great Lakes, it was a readily developed into a highly productive manufacturing area, most famously for the automobile industry but other heavy manufacturing as well. It led in these areas until cheaper and more innovative overseas competition overtook its advantages.
Its conservative nature was guided by a widespread commitment to the Christian faith that more recently has been challenged by immigrant populations in the urban centers, most notably of the Muslim faith, that have resisted integration into the mainline culture. As a result, there has been a growing polarization between the large urban areas and the more conservative rural and smaller urban areas.
The Christian church has had an uneven response to the challenges. Technologically, it has grown more adept at finding ways to reach people through social media and other means. There has been successful highly beneficial integration of cultures among those with Christian backgrounds such as Caribbean, Hispanic and European. But it has been almost frozen in place by ignoring or being reluctant through fear or ignorance in making efforts to reach out to those in the newer immigrant populations such as Muslim or Asian.
The Salvation Army: The Army made an early advent into the central states in the USA after officially opening in 1880. It rapidly expanded in both large cities and small towns across what is now the Central Territory. When, in 1896, the Volunteers of America formed and took a large number of corps and officers with them, particularly in the Chicago area, The Salvation Army quickly rebounded, becoming stronger than ever as result. The large number of immigrants from the United Kingdom that settled in this area helped to build a strong tradition of brass banding that endures to the present day, most notably seen in the Chicago Staff Band.
Facts, Stats and Leadership of the
USA Central Territory
Statistics
- Total population with which to fish and disciple: 48,007,640
- 572 officers, 18 auxiliary captains, 33 Envoys, 36 cadets, and 10,496 employees
- 496 retired officers
- 244 corps
- 12,471 senior soldiers
- 1,914 adherents
- 2,291 junior soldiers
Leadership
- Territorial Commander: Commissioner Evie Diaz
- Chief Secretary: Colonel Steve Howard
Prayer Requests of the USA Central Territory
- More people for Jesus
- More candidates responding to the call to officership and to local leadership
- Successful fundraising season
- Wise, godly choices in all areas
- For the 135 years celebration of the territory and all the remaining programs in 2023 to be implemented
USA Southern Territory Prayer Requests
- Lt. Colonel Mark Israel
- Major Raymond Cooper
- The Southern Spirit
- Melissa Williams, Kroc Marketing Manager, Kroc Development Department
- Junior Abraham, Support Center Supervisor, CRD Interchange
- Angela Pueschel, Financial Reporting & Project Manager, Finance
- Major Bradley Caldwell, Pastoral Care Coordinator, EBC
- Cadet Brian Shea
- Major Jay Spalding, Divisional Candidates Secretary, North & South Carolina Division
- Major Paul Cain, Director of Moulton Memorial Student Center (Asbury University), NHQ
- Lt. Colonels Kent & Melody Davis, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers of the Florida Division
- Volunteers
- Anonymous prayer request thanking God for answered prayer for children and family; praying for the peace of Jerusalem
- Anonymous prayer request for worldwide calm; for the homeless; for a family friend who lost a child over the Thanksgiving holiday and for others who lost loved ones over the holiday; and for another family whose family is bereaved after losing a loved one; asking prayer for my husband who is in pain
Something to Consider
There were a good many of us who can remember America’s bicentennial in 1976 when we were flooded with all sorts of commemorative memorabilia. After enduring the cynical years of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the good old USA was giddy with patriotic partying as we fairly marveled that we had made it to the 200 year mark. There were reasons to wonder at times.
One of the things that was offered was a bicentennial quarter. The 25 cent pieces were everywhere, unique because they had a nifty reverse patriotic design. Now, it seems, some of these are worth a hefty sum of money, well over $10,000 if you have the right one. That’s enough to make you start scurrying into those old trunks and boxes to see if you can find any of them. When you realize that something has value, a lot of value, you’ll go looking.
That’s what Jesus wanted us to realize when He told the story of the lost sheep. Having 99 safe ones wasn’t enough. That one lost one was valuable, enough so that the shepherd could not be satisfied that most were safe. Jesus shared, “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:5-7).
I hope you find that valuable bicentennial quarter. But more than that, aren’t you glad that Jesus found you? And might He not want you to find someone for Him that is even now wandering lost on the hillside?
Benediction
May God bless you in this day, knowing that you are valued in His sight, cherished and loved and worth seeking. Amen.
After making reference to the 99, it would be wrong not to share that great old hymn, “The Ninety and Nine.” For those of you who may not know it, listen to these marvelous words that tell a moving story.