Prayer Focus - Canada & Bermuda Territory

May 29, 2024 | by Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

Moraine Lake at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Prayer Focus -

Canada & Bermuda Territory

Thank you for taking the time to join The Salvation Army around the world as we pray for God's blessing. This week we focus on Canada & Bermuda Territory as well as the needs within our own Southern Territory. We hope that the videos, prayer needs, and the short devotional will provide you with a meaningful time of preparation as you personally go before the Lord. May God richly bless you.

Prayer

For those who are falling out of the habit or for those who never made it a habit, it is good every now and then to repeat the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father,

Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done

In earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil,

For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

Forever and ever.

Amen.

Background of the

Canada & Bermuda Territory

            Canada: Geographically, Canada is the second largest country in the world. It has a wide variety of mountains, prairie grasslands and forests, much of it sparsely populated with a few cities holding most of its population. Canada has been described as a “mosaic of indigenous and immigrant nations and peoples, many of whom have retained much of their original cultures.”

            Canada is one of the world’s leading industrial nations but with the lowest public debt. Its abundant natural resources point to a bright economic future for many years to come.

            Canada has enjoyed a long history of stable, sound government under a multiparty parliament. It was a British colony until 1867 when it became the Dominion of Canada. The Province of Quebec has clung to its French heritage, and at times has sought at times to separate from Canada, the only real threat to Canada’s unity. Canada in recent years has also been reckoning with its past treatment of the peoples of the First Nations, including restoring lands to them.

            There is freedom of religion in Canada, and although the nation has been historically Christian, that is under serious threat as there has been a long and sustained decline in its influence as well as its numbers. In fact, to claim to be born again or evangelical has negative weight in many circles in Canada.

            Bermuda: A colony of the United Kingdom, Bermuda is a self-governing democracy composed of 200 small islands. It’s superb climate makes it a tourist paradise as well as a tax haven for many offshore companies. It boasts the world’s wealthiest Black majority population, while still having disparity of wealth and an aging population. Gang-related violence is a growing problem marring the positives of Bermuda.

            Christianity is claimed by over 90% of the population and is a strong part of the heritage of the island colony. But the failure of the churches to work together effectively has been a problem.

              The Salvation Army: Organized Salvation Army activity was reported in Toronto newspapers in January 1882 with activity also reported in London, Ontario five months later. Major Thomas Moore from the USA National Headquarters officially established work on July 15, 1882. In 1884, Canada became a separate command. The League of Mercy (now known as Community Cares) began in Canada in 1892. An Act to incorporate the Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada received Royal Assent on May 19, 1909.

            The work in Newfoundland was begun on February 1, 1886 by Divisional Officer Arthur Young. On January 12, 1896, Adjutant Lutie Desbrisay and two assistant officers unfurled the Army flag in Bermuda.

Facts, Stats and Leadership of the

Canada & Bermuda Territory

• Total population to fish and disciple: 39,170,949
• 577 officers, 10 auxiliary-captains, 24 cadets, 8,512 employees
• 935 retired officers
• 274 corps, 2 outposts
• 15,401 senior soldiers
• 29,209 adherents
• 1,847 junior soldiers

Leadership

Commissioner Lee Graves – Territorial Commander

Commission Deborah Graves – Territorial President of Women’s Ministries

Colonel John Chamness – Chief Secretary

Colonel Lani Chamness – Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development

Prayer Requests for the

Canada & Bermuda Territory

We praise and thank God:
 

• For the souls being saved into the Kingdom and for the recommitment of lives to Christ being made throughout our territory.

Please pray:
 

For continued renewal and revival: 

That the Holy Spirit would continue to breathe renewed life into individuals and into our ministries across our territory.                                                                                                     

That Salvationists would experience the power of the Holy Spirit in all its fullness and live lives of holiness and compassionate love for others.

For continued strengthening and spiritual health:

That continued emphasis on strengthening a disciple-making culture that grows authentic followers of Christ that will help our ministry units be places of holiness and spiritual vibrancy, and help our communities of faith flourish, having transformative influence in the neighborhoods where The Salvation Army is present.                                               

That the evidence of the continued pastoral care over our officers will bring new strength, healing, renewed purpose, and a deeper joy in their calling.

For the harvest of candidates:
That hearts would be open and courageously willing to follow God’s call, and with His strength, trust in His guidance and the assurance of His presence.                                   

That officers would be filled with a joy and boldness and a greater discernment to intentionally engage in meaningful conversations with individuals regarding officership.   

That God would open the floodgates of candidates for His service in this territory and throughout The Salvation Army world.

For the continual efforts in forging stronger partnerships:

That with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we would seek knowledge, discernment and understanding of spiritual and social issues, developing solutions and partnerships with Kingdom-oriented individuals, groups and organizations, to best support and serve our mission.                                                                                                                                               

For our 2024 Partners in Mission Self-Denial Campaign and that as a territory we will be reminded of the importance of sacrificial giving. With a goal of $2.4 million, we pray earnestly for the surpassing of this target. May our collective efforts ensure the expansive presence of The Salvation Army worldwide.

USA Southern Territory

Prayer Requests

• Major Pamela Werner, Retired Officers’ Service Secretary
• Territorial Commander
• Deanna Breeze, Accounting Operations Manager, Trade
• Cheryl Werner, Graphic Arts Director, Communications
• Mona Moody, Web & Social Media Systems Manager, Communications
• Major Patrick Richmond, Director of Personnel, EBC
• Cadet Jillian Warf
• Colonel Paula Johnson, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, Texas Division
• Major Alma Cain, Associate Director of Moulton Student Center at Asbury University, NHQ
• Majors Anthony & Elizabeth Juliana, officers, cadets and employees at the Evangeline Booth College
• Commissioning Weekend
• Anonymous request thanking God for our schoolchildren and asking His protection over them for the summer months

Something to Consider

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

            “Can you spare a moment?”

            This question was asked me at a time when I felt I had not a minute to spare. There were so many things to do around the home – I should be cleaning my windows that very instant; I was almost ashamed to try to look out of them. Many jobs that needed doing flashed through my mind in the twinkling of an eye, particularly when a talkative neighbor wanted to take a “minute” that generally lasted for  at least a half an hour.

            When we think of it, what is the measure of time? I can think of occasions, when, in the stress of anxiety and loneliness, time seemed to stand still; when a night was an eternity. There have also been times of intense joy and concentration when hours have gone on wings.

            My neighbor is diet-conscious and she confided, “I believe we would be able to keep to a diet much more easily if every item was written out for every meal every day, and no choice given.”

            I wondered how it would be if we had our minutes portioned out in this way. To have time for work and time for play all neatly arranged, without an idle moment – what a lot we would miss! What of those glorious times when we just stand and stare? The sunsets, how they thrill us with their changing glory and reminder of the greatness of God! And what of  the joy that comes from playing with an infant’s finger as it grips our larger one in its little form? Or the cooing of an infant lying in its carriage curling up its chubby toes? In this busy world would they allot time for listening to the singing of the birds, or for watching of bees and butterflies?

            Time, however, is precious and we ought to use it wisely. We should gather up the fragments of time. Here is the solution to the practical difficulty of providing moments for devotion and prayer. It does not take long to read a Bible verse and commit ourselves to God for the day. We stop for the neighbor; we ought to learn to stop for the Lord.

-Mrs. General Janet Wiseman

From Earth’s Common Clay

Benediction

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)