Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Worldwide Prayer Meeting
January 11, 2024
Prayer Focus - USA Eastern Territory
This is a day of wonders. Already you have enjoyed the tender mercies of God from the moment of your waking to the point where you are reading this. Just because it happens daily does not make it less than wonderful than it is. Heaven’s music is always playing if our ears are attuned to hear it.
Prayer
Gracious God, With the cold weather we thank You for our homes where we can be sheltered with those we love. We pray that our home would not just be a place that keeps those inside safe from the weather but it would be a sanctuary from the dangers outside so that when those who live in my home think of safety, they think of our home first. If there is strife in our home, O Lord, come be our peace. If our home is divided between those who honor You and those who don’t, Lord, come be the conqueror of all hearts so that it is Your domain from floor to ceiling. We want our home to be Yours. If we have allowed things to creep in that don’t belong, dear God, rid our home of anything that should not be there. We can fool people but we can’t fool You. How can we be ready for a heavenly home if our earthly home bears no resemblance to what You want? Again, dear God, we ask that You make our home Yours. Keep us safe in it in every way. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The New York Staff Band is one of the premiere bands of The Salvation Army. Listen to this beautiful flugelhorn solo of the classic Christian hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth.”
Background of the
USA Eastern Territory
With the exception of the states of Virginia and Maryland, the history of the United States largely began in what is now the USA Eastern Territory. It is here that the first great cities began to rise, manufacturing centers formed, transportation modes were laid and through which the first great waves of immigrants flowed in. The early religious influences of the Puritans, the Quakers and religious revivals as well as other factors, gave rise to a rugged individualism that soon sowed the seeds of what would lead to the American Revolution and later, the anti-slavery movement. It was largely in this section of the country that the fabled “American dream” was born that spoke of every person having a chance at success regardless of his birth or background. It was also here that the thirst to grow America beyond its borders pushed it further west until the United States spanned the breadth of the North American continent.
The progress of this section of the country was fueled by industries such as steel, aided by railroads and the first oil boom. New York City became the defining picture of big business, culture and entertainment not only for the United States but for the world.
The Salvation Army: It is no surprise, then, when The Salvation Army decided it was time to leave the shores of Great Britain, its first target would be the United States, specifically what is now the area of the USA Eastern Territory. Begun unofficially in 1878 by Eliza Shirley in Philadelphia (with an even earlier fledgling effort started in Cleveland a few years before), George Scott Railton led the official opening in 1880 when he and seven “Hallelujah lassies” descended upon New York City at Battery Park. The Army quickly spread throughout the northeast but in doing so faced considerable opposition, much like it had faced in Britain and in Europe.
Two disaster befell the Army, both centered and most affecting the Army in this part of the USA. First, Thomas Moore led a split of The Salvation Army in 1884 which nearly destroyed The Salvation Army in the United States. Quick action by International Headquarters eventually turned things around and the Army emerged stronger than ever. But not too long after that, the resignation of the Founder’s second oldest son and his wife, Ballington and Maud Booth, then the Army’s national leaders, who then formed a rival almost identical organization called the Volunteers of America, caused considerable damage. Again, the Army recovered but both of these blows slowed the Army’s progress.
Eventually, the Army won the hearts of the American people by its unwavering evangelism, loving service to all people and not the least, its stellar service during the First World War.
Facts, Stats and Leadership
of the USA Eastern Territory
- Total population with which to fish and disciple: 73,769,396
- 910 officers, 7 auxiliary captains, 29 envoys, 39 cadets, 7,744 employees
- 688 retired officers
- 334 corps
- 3 outposts
- 24,241 senior soldiers
- 9,482 adherents
- 9,679 junior soldiers
Leadership
- Territorial Commander: Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz
- Chief Secretary: Colonel Ivan Rock
- Territorial President of Women’s Ministries: Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz
Prayer Requests for
the USA Eastern Territory
- Prayerful support in lifting the new USA Eastern Territory Leaders, Commissioners Ralph and Susan Bukiewicz as they transition into their new appointments.
- Prayerful support in lifting the new command heads for the Adult Rehabilitation Center Command, Lt. Colonels Timothy and Willie Mae Lyle, and for the Southwest Ohio & Northeast Kentucky Divisional Leaders, Majors Scott and Susan Kelly as they transition into their new appointments.
- Prayerful support of all the USA Eastern Territory officers as they find time to rest and rejuvenate after a busy Christmas ministry.
- Prayerful support for the USA CFOT and Candidates Secretaries and their teams as they engage with prospective candidates across the territory for successful enrollment in the CFOT.
USA Southern Territory
Prayer Requests
- The family of Lt. Colonel Tom Jones, who was Promoted to Glory this week
- Lt. Colonel Janice Riefer, Secretary for Personnel
- Major Frances Pangrazio, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, Women’s Ministries
- Business Administration Department
- Daphne Bryant, Accounting Specialist, Finance
- Emma Edelman, Child & Adult Safety Coordinator, Personnel
- Jonah Addy, Service Operations Supervisor, Trade
- Commissioner Barbara Howell, Assistant Principal, School for Leadership Development, EBC
- Cadet Sarresa Thorson
- Captain Dominque Darby, Candidates Secretary, Georgia Division
- Dr. Bill Ury, National Ambassador for Holiness, NHQ
- Majors John & Cristina Murphy, officers, beneficiaries, employees and volunteers of the ARC Command
- Young Adult ministries
- An anonymous prayer request that God would help her be closer to God in 2024 and the strength to keep the enemy at bay
Something to Consider
Tony Evans shares the following story from his book, Called for a Purpose:
“A young banker made an appointment to meet with the bank president , who was about to retire. The younger man was in line to be the new president, and he was seeking advice as he prepared for his new responsibilities. He had one basic question: How had the older gentleman become so successful?
“His predecessor looked at him and said two words: ‘Good decisions.’”
“The young man, wanting more detail, pressed him further and asked how one could come to make good decisions.
“’Experience,’ his predecessor said.
“The young banker continued his line of questioning. How could someone gain experience?
“The older man replied, ‘Bad decisions.’”
I was recently asked to provide my bio for a project I had worked on. I did so but said that I am never comfortable doing so because a truthful biography would have to tell about the disasters, mistakes, miscalculations and failures along with the “accomplishments” that the inquirer wanted me to share. I am grateful for what I learned in the courses and classrooms but I was shaped far more by the times my heart was broken. Looking back, I am as grateful for the doors God slammed shut as the ones He opened. I learned through it all that I am in desperate need of grace
Failure has been good for me. And I did it enough to get quite accomplished at it. I have found that God redeems failure when I give it to Him and I don’t double down to try to prove I was right or have my own way. I have learned with Paul - “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Benediction
Let each step this day be taken in the power and the presence of the Lord who loves you, and as you seek His guidance to walk in a manner that pleases Him. Amen.
Let’s think about our Lord’s Amazing Grace: