Worldwide Prayer Meeting

Jun 4, 2024 | by Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

Prayer Focus -

United Kingdom & Ireland Territory

Welcome to this week’s edition of our Worldwide Prayer meeting. We hope that by the time you read this you have already taken the time to praise the Lord for the blessings that this day has brought you, knowing that more blessings are on the way. Yes, there will be challenges as well but you go into them knowing that the Lord is with you, and He is your strength and shield. 

Prayer

Wondrous Lord, Thank You for the blessings that are mine through You. Because of You I am aware of who You are and can know not only that You exist but know You personally in my life. You take time to speak to me in so many ways. Sometimes it is through the nature You have made. At other times there is music or something one of Your servants says. Your Words speaks to me so clearly and then You so many times whisper in my heart. Thank You for that personalized care You give me. I am so very grateful. Please hear my heart as I say it to You now. I want better words than these but I can’t find them so again, hear my heart. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Background of the

United Kingdom & Ireland Territory

           The United Kingdom was home to the first industrialized economy that has now yielded to one that features financial and business services. Since the Second World War, its economy has struggled but it still has the world’s fifth largest economy. Once a part of the European Union, it has since severed that tie which was never a comfortable fit.

            Historically, the British Empire once encompassed one-fourth of the world but now is largely restricted to the British Isles and a few scattered outposts. Many of the former colonies remain affiliated as members of the British Commonwealth. The transition from a world power to it’s a country relating to its own continent has not been easy but the UK remains influential both militarily and culturally worldwide.

            A Christian nation for many centuries, there is freedom of religion in the United Kingdom. However, the Christianity that exists in the UK is largely a shadow of its former self and in many ways, is openly scorned. The Church of England (Anglican) remains the Established Church in England as does the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) for Scotland. Currently, less than 60% of the people claim Christianity with over 35% claiming no religion at all, and that number is growing. Immigrants account for an upsurge in the growth of Islam, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and other religions.

            Traditionally, the UK has been highly mission-oriented for generations, having sent tens of thousands into the world to serve in spreading the gospel. Although that pace has slowed, it continues to send personnel throughout the world even when it has its own manpower shortages at home.

            The Republic of Ireland enjoys a booming economy led by the high tech industry that has replaced the traditional farming and tourism as the most important leaders. The country enjoys one of Europe’s most successful economic growth rates.

            The Republic of Ireland was partitioned in 1921 from the northern counties that remained with Britain. Predominantly Catholic, the southern counties became totally independent in 1922 and then a parliamentary republic in 1949. There were years of strife as efforts were made to reunite the northern and southern counties into a single nation, but this has largely faded as the Republic of Ireland has gained its feet as a strong nation in its own right.

            There is freedom of religion in Ireland. Although the Catholic Church has no official link to the government of Ireland, it continues to have tremendous influence within the country. Over 92% of the Irish claim Christianity, although there has been declining church attendance over the past 25 years. Evangelicals have seen sustained growth and there has been waves of renewal seen both in the Catholic and Protestant churches.

            The Salvation Army: The birthplace of The Salvation Army, the territory’s history cannot be separated from the formation of The Salvation Army itself. Started in London as the Christian Mission in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth, the name was changed to The Salvation Army in 1878.

            Throughout the Army’s history its work in this geographical area has been organized in a variety of forms and territories but before 1990 these were all part of International Headquarters administration. However, on November 1, 1990 a restructuring occurred so that now the United Kingdom Territory is separate from International Headquarters and under a single command similar to that of the Army’s other territories. On September 2021, the name was officially changed to the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory.

Facts, Stats and Leadership of the

United Kingdom & Ireland Territory

• Total population to fish and disciple: 72,705,335
• 925 officers,  68 envoys, 27 cadets, 3,783 employees
• 1,250 retired officers
• 622 corps, 20 outposts
• 21,152 senior soldiers
• 7,799 adherents
• 2,589 junior soldiers

Leadership

Commissioner Paul Main - Territorial Commander

Commissioner Jenine Main - Territorial Leader for Leader Development

Colonel Peter Forrest - Chief Secretary

Colonel Julie Forrest - Territorial Secretary for Leader Development

Prayer Requests for the

United Kingdom & Ireland Territory

• Together24 will take place in Newport, Wales, 12 – 14 July. We pray for this territorial congress which will include the commissioning of new officers and celebrate 150 years of Salvation Army mission and ministry in Wales.
   
• We praise God for the good attendances at recent Design for Life and Exploring Leadership events. We pray for all Salvationists to consider God’s call to spiritual leadership  and opportunities to serve.
   
• The Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Department has done vital work to fight for social justice and offer compassionate care since 2011. We pray for the developing partnerships with other Salvation Army territories across Europe, Africa, the South Pacific and East Asia and united work in protection and prevention.
   
• We praise God for His faithfulness during the past year of structural change and huge challenges for the territory. We pray that God will continue to lead and inspire us, to call and equip His people to minister in the name of Jesus in every expression of Salvation Army mission.

USA Southern Territory

Prayer Requests

• Major Amy Lee, Human Resources Secretary
• Spiritual Life Development Department
• Elfreda Parks, Purchasing & Uniform Services Manager, Trade
• Deirdre Ballard, Executive Administrative Assistant, Spiritual Life Development
• Sean Reynolds, Senior Computer Support Analyst, Information Technology, ARC Command
• Major Carey Richmond, Director of Personnel/Health & Wellness, EBC
• Cadet Christopher Swinney
• Captain Michael Good, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi Division
• Major Paul Cain, Director of Moulton Memorial Student Center at Asbury University, NHQ
• Majors Mark & Jan Harwell, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers of the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Division
• Weekend Retreats
• Anonymous prayer to thank God for all the territories where the Army gives aid and that Army officers and employees give hope to all who seek it and that healing would be given as God sees fit

Something to Consider

           The book of Exodus records the epic battle between God and Pharaoh over the Hebrew nation of slaves. The will of God for Pharaoh is understood from the beginning: “Let my people go.” God had no interest in attacking the Nile, of overrunning the country with insects and amphibians, of sending boils and hail, of blighting the crops, of killing livestock or the sons in each unguarded household. The point of it all was this: the people of God were to be set free.

            But Pharaoh, believing that he was the only one to decide what would and would not be permitted within the borders of his country, would not allow surrender to anyone’s demands, even if that One stood above time and eternity. So he clamped an iron grip on the chains of the slaves while his nation collapsed around him. He failed to notice that in refusing to surrender the slaves, he surrendered everything else. When at last he loosened his grip, he and the nation were broken, bleeding and bowed down.

            The freed slaves sang all the way out of town. All seemed to be going quite well until they arrived at the shores of the Red Sea. Before they could even plan their next move, they turned around to see the dust of Pharaoh’s chariots and heard the faraway tramp of Egypt’s foot soldiers. Pharaoh had one thought in mind. He had come to return the Jews to slavery, to restore things as they had been, to prove that even after all he suffered, nothing had changed. Egypt would be restored to order which included a nation of slaves to serve, to scrape and to bow. He still commanded the people’s fate and these Jewish slaves would be bound again. Slavery would define their existence.

            Rather than trusting in the God who had delivered them mightily, there was panic among the people. They wailed to Moses, “Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?” (Exodus 14:11) It may be that the chains of slavery had been severed from the hands of the Jews but they remained slaves in their hearts and minds. Freedom was something too wonderful to grasp. Slavery, as cruel and exploitive as it was, at least was a life they understood. Liberty presented too many choices and ultimately, too much personal responsibility. As long as they were slaves, the people had someone to blame for their troubles but when freedom came they faced the terrible tyranny of choice. No wonder to some the life of a slave looked better.

            When someone becomes a child of God, that one has been wrested away from Satan. And even though Satan knows his kingdom is even now crumbling, like Pharaoh he wants to hold on to the former slave of sin even though at Calvary the fatal wound was struck. But he wants that soul. He wants you.

            After someone is converted and begins living the Christian life it would seem that Satan would accept the defeat and move on. He does not. Like Pharaoh who mounted his chariot and led his forces into battle to recapture the slaves, Satan wants you back. He cares not for his defeat at the cross because it is you he wants back in chains, back in servitude, back in subjection.

            Too often, we are like the former slaves of Israel. Though we are free, we remain slaves in our minds. Rather than rising up to claim the riches of the people of God, we look back to slavery with its thoughtless doom and find that somehow that was more secure. In our slavery, in our sin, we could blame the addiction or the consequences of our foolishness or the people we imagined who were out to get us. But standing as free men and women in Christ, there is a wide plain before us with choices and the demand that we grow in faith. For some, that can be frightening.

            Or maybe it is not a return to slavery but a return to Egypt that is the goal. If we can just live in Egypt but not be slaves, we imagine we can have the best of both worlds. And that is precisely what many Christians try to do. They try to live in the land of sin but claim the freedom that is in Christ.

            But Pharaoh wasn’t charging out to bring the Israelites back as freed men and citizens of his kingdom. Egypt meant only one thing: slavery. And for the Christian fool enough to think they can live in the sinful land as a freedman there is only one fate to be had: slavery.

            Don’t turn back. Don’t live as a slave. Cross over. There is nothing behind but chains.

            You are free now. The Promised Land is yours.

Benediction

“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10,11).