Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Prayer Focus -
Denmark and Greenland Territory
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been His counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him
that He might be repaid?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
(Romans 11:33-36)
Prayer
Dear God, I lift my heart in praise to You! Your ways are indeed far above ours and Your thoughts so much greater than we can imagine, yet You think about me! Sometimes I can’t take that in. Whether I understand it or not, I thank You that it is true. Accept my words of praise to You this day. I want to say something better than this. You know that but since You know me, read my heart and take see what I don’t know how to say and let it be like an angel’s song of praise to You. In Jesus name I offer this prayer. Amen.
This is a short video of an open-air witness in Denmark, with the Army band playing a familiar tune for Salvationists, “His Provision.”
Col 2 content area
Background of the
Denmark & Iceland Territory
Denmark: The Kingdom of Denmark has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Although a member of the European Union, it often asserts its independence. Denmark enjoys a strong economy based on a large service sector, environmental innovation, agriculture, fishing and light industry. Because there is such a wide array of social services, there is a very high tax rate as well.
There is freedom of religion with the Lutheran Church recognized as the national church. Over 85% of the population identify themselves as being Christian. Having said that, 80% of Danes say they are Lutheran but within that number 50% report that they are agnostic or atheist. While the Lutheran Church seems to be in trouble, there has been an encouraging spiritual turnaround elsewhere after a long decline in spiritual interest. An influx of immigrants has resulted in a sharp rise in Muslims, now around 5% of the population. Very little has been done to reach this internal mission field.
Greenland: Greenland is the world’s largest island with lowest population density of any country. It is part of Denmark but is self-governed and has been given increased autonomy over time. The economy is primarily based on fishing supplemented by substantial support from the Danish government.
There is freedom of religion. Greenland has been “Christianized but not converted.” There is very shallow spiritual life shown in widespread immorality, sexual abuse, alcoholism and high suicide rates. Countering this has been recent expressions of growth and witness by evangelicals, but this is mainly in the larger settlements and has not yet reached the remoter areas.
The Salvation Army: The work of The Salvation Army commenced in Copenhagen on May 8, 1887, under the leadership of pioneer officers Majors Robert and Isabella Perry. Lieutenants Magnus and Petura Haraldsen were appointed to begin Army work in Greenland in August 2012.
Facts, Stats and Leadership of the
Denmark & Iceland Territory
- Total population to fish and disciple: 5,857,472
- 33 officers, 1 envoy, 80 employees
- 29 retired officers
- 20 corps, 3 outposts
- 714 senior soldiers
- 265 adherents
- 1 junior soldier
Leadership
Lt. Colonel Jan Risan - Territorial Commander
Lt. Colonel Kjersti Risan - Territorial President of Women's Ministries
Major Joan Münch - Chief Secretary
Prayer Requests for the
Denmark & Iceland Territory
- Pray that we as The Salvation Army in all things will have our focus on Jesus and be faithful to our first doctrine:
"We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice."
- Pray for "laborers for the harvest" - (Matthew 9:37-38) - that is, people who will serve in The Salvation Army and help us to lead people to (grow in) faith in Jesus.
- Pray for faithfulness in relationships and continuity in orders, so that all corps are built up in love for Jesus and for our neighbor.
- Pray that much more people will be discipled and choose to serve Jesus and their neighbor as soldiers and adherents in The Salvation Army, to the increase and strengthening of the Army.
- Pray for increase and faithfulness in the ministry of giving.
- Pray for the Greenlandic people and society, that God will raise them anew to be in His original plan and purpose for them.
- We thank God, that The Salvation Army daily meets people with God's love and transformational power, and we pray that even more doors and opportunities will open up.
- Pray for this summer's national camp for corps and families, that it will be a huge blessing for both "old" and new people in the corps. Pray also that all of the camps will be of tremendous blessing.
- Pray for the implementation of the territory's strategy, based on our values and characteristics, that it will benefit our mission in all parts of The Salvation Army.
- Pray that we will succeed in the ongoing process of ensuring a long-term financial sustainability that makes room for innovation and new initiatives.
USA Southern Territory
Prayer Requests
- The victims and responders to Hurricane Beryl in both the Caribbean, Texas and beyond.
- The family of Colonel Yvonne Payton, mother of Major Linda Payton, who was recently Promoted to Glory
- Captain Jervonne Hinton, Territorial Candidates’ Secretary
- Business Administration
- Robert Snelson, Territorial Worship Arts Publications Director, Music & Creative Arts
- John Nemecek, Territorial Property Director
- Christopher Dana, Sales & Marketing Manager, Trade
- Captain Josh Hinson, Director of Mission & Ministry, EBC
- Cadet Jeremiah Crawford
- Major Jay Spalding, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, North & South Carolina Division
- Dr. Bill Ury, National Ambassador for Holiness, NHQ
- Lt. Colonels Allan & Fiona Hofer, officers, soldiers, employees, and volunteers of the Potomac Division
- TYI/TMI
- Latrice thanks God for His blessing on her each day.
- An anonymous prayer request asks for God’s blessing on nurses as they bring comfort and cures to those in need and blessing upon their families; blessings on those in the armed forces, that God would keep them safe and they would know our appreciation for them keeping our country safe
Something to Consider
“The Lord said to me, ‘I will quietly watch from where I live, like heat in the sunshine, like dew in the heat of harvest time’” (Isaiah 18:4 NCV).
There are times when we feel as if God has abandoned us. We cry out, but He seems not to hear us. Yet God is with us, watching over us. We may not feel it, but we can know it.
I think of the story of a woman who had been taken from her home and sold as a slave. Her owner was a woman who had not been able to have a child. It was a time when a woman’s value was determined by how many children she gave her husband. Guided by the law and culture of the day, the woman decided to use the slave’s body to conceive a child. When the slave became pregnant by the woman’s husband, she reacted with joy – and a little superiority. The woman became jealous and treated the slave harshly. The slave woman escaped into the desert.
That is where she met God. Alone, hungry, tired, and desperate, Hagar met God at a well. She had not known Him before, but He assured her that she was not forgotten or alone, that He would take care of her. Hagar gave God a new name: Lahai Roi, “the Living One who truly sees me.” God told Hagar that she would have to return to Sarai, her owner, and she was ready to obey because she had met the living God who saw her in her desert place. (Genesis 16)
Is God your Lahai Roi? The Living One who is present like heat in the sunshine or the welcome dew at harvest time? When you are in the middle of the worst day of your life, remember Lahai Roi, the God who sees you. In fact, every day of your life, remember Lahai Roi, the living God. He knows all about you and want what is best for you.
- Commissioner Debi Bell
From On Eagles Wings
Benediction
May we watch for you, O Lord, in the storm, in the earthquake and in the fire; lest in the stillness of the silence you go undetected. May we know that You never lose sight of us and in turn, may we never lose sight of You. Amen.
And finally, a song that concludes this thought comes from gospel artist Larnelle Harris, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”