Worldwide Prayer Meeting December 21, 2023
Prayer Focus: Philippines Territory
Binondo Church - Manila
O, come let us adore Him. This week as we approach Christmas Day there are a lot of last minute things to be done. You may be preparing to travel or receiving guests; preparing meals or taking food to join someone else; wrapping gifts or still shopping for gifts. Or maybe you are involved with still trying to raise money for the Army during these last hectic days. These things are all important. They must be done. Include the time to adore the One who came, who is the center point of all that Christmas is. O, come let us adore Him. Christ, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Savior, Thank You for every reminder of You this Christmas season. I love the Christmas cards, especially the ones that honor You with beautiful artwork and lovely words about You coming to be our Savior. Thank You for the Christmas music that plays on the radio and while I’m shopping, and while a lot of it about silly things like snow and reindeer, a lot of it is about You. Thank You for every Christmas light that reminds me that You came to be the light of the world. Thank You for every manger scene that shows a tiny baby in straw who came so humbly rather than coming in some stately palace in a golden crib. Thank You for the excitement of children as they anticipate gifts and I pray, holy Savior, that if they do not know You already, that they would be even more excited to welcome You into their hearts when You come to them with the gift of salvation. Thank You for Christmas, for coming to us, for coming to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is a traditional Christmas song in the Filipino language of Tagalog entitled “Sa Maybahay Ang Aming Bati” (“To the Owners of the House we say Merry Christmas”) and “And Pasko Ay Sumapit” (Christmas has Arrived).
Background of the Philippines Territory
The Philippines was a Spanish colony for nearly 350 years, then an American colony for almost 50 more, achieving its independence in 1946. Although composed of over 7000 islands, only 10% of these are inhabited. It has a mixed agricultural and industrial economy with a high population growth, social and political unrest, and has suffered from devastating natural disasters. This, with historic poor government, has resulted in high unemployment and widespread poverty.
There is a great Filipino diaspora with over 8 million Filipinos living abroad, many of whom send money back home to their families. Without this income it is doubtful they could survive. The greatest export for the Philippines in fact is people, not only legitimate workers such as health care professionals, engineers, seamen, domestics, etc. but also over 100,000 children who are trafficked and 400,000 women, many in the sex trade.
The Philippines was the first Asian country to be Christian, although a small but militant Muslim minority in Mindanao even now demands an independent Muslim state. The majority of the population claims to be Catholic, although these numbers are shrinking as there are growing numbers of evangelicals and charismatics. Spiritual vitality has been long and sustained, and includes a warm fellowship between evangelical denominations and fellowships. The Filipino churches have also become active in sending missionaries throughout Asia and the rest of the world, making an impact for Christ.
The Salvation Army: The first Salvationist to preach in the Philippines was Major John Milsaps, an American officer who was a chaplain with the US forces during the Spanish-American War in 1898. A more permanent work came as a result of Filipinos who had met The Salvation Army in Hawaii and returned home, commencing their own meetings in Panay, Luzon, Cebu and the Mindanao Islands between 1933-1937. Colonel and Mrs. Alfred Lindvall officially opened the work in June 1937, taking over work that had already taken root throughout the country.
Facts, Stats and Leadership of the Philippines Territory
Statistics
- Total population with which to fish and disciple: 109,035,343
- 154 officers, 6 envoys, 7 cadets, 66 employees
- 91 retired officers
- 87 corps, 29 outposts
- 9,467 senior soldiers
- 5.654 adherents
- 1,084 junior soldiers
Leadership
- Territorial Commander: Colonel David Oalang
- Chief Secretary: Lt. Colonel Rodolfo Salcedo
- Territorial President of Women’s Ministries: Colonel Elsa Oalang
Prayer Requests of the Philippines Territory
Praise and Thanksgiving:
The territorial theme for 2022-2023, “God is able to superabundantly bless, beyond our greatest prayers, hopes and dreams” (AMP Ephesians 3:20) received an overwhelming response from our comrades. In spite of the pandemic, the Self Denial and Helping Hand giving increased. Most of the corps have recorded an increase in their local income. Various local initiatives on property development, corps and divisional programs helped in the increase of soldiership and evangelism.
Prayer Concerns:
- For more young people to respond to the call to officership and for the training of ministry volunteers - those who are willing to offer a certain number of years for service. Afterwards, they may eventually decide to enter the Officer Training College or return to service as local officers.
- For greater impact of community based social programs that focus on developing disaster preparedness/empowerment and resilience.
- That our social services Inc. will be able to renew its accreditation as a donee institution so we can get better and bigger donations from the public.
- The Bethany Children’s Home that sheltered abused girls had to move to a government facility because our building was declared unsafe. Please pray for the future of BCH.
- For property concerns as we grow in number both in soldiership and number of corps.
- For the educational services (learning centers/schools), that the schools will continue to recover from the challenges caused by the pandemic.
- For the new Territorial Theme 2024 “EMPOWERED AND UNASHAMED” based on Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
May this theme inspire Salvationists to stand courageously and serve as light and salt of the world. Please pray for more intentional and radical evangelism/mission initiatives.
USA Southern Territory Prayer Requests
- Lt. Colonel James Seiler, Territorial Secretary for Business Administration
- Captain Jervonne Hinton, Territorial Candidates’ Secretary
- Women’s Organizations
- Laura Dake, Ministry Toolkit Coordinator, Communications
- Richard Lerner, Territorial Auditor, Finance
- Teri Waters, Office Administrator, Youth
- Major Syung Young Lee, Assistant Principal for Training/Director of Business Administration, EBC
- Cadet Kathleen Farmer
- Captain Michael Good, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, ALM Division
- Lt. Colonel Jeanne Baker, Anti-Human Trafficking and Special Projects Officer, SAWSO, NHQ
- Lt. Colonels Allan & Fiona Hofer, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers of the Potomac Division
- Kettles
- Anonymous request that God would take the pain she is suffering away from her.
- A request from Jocelyn Simpson from Chattanooga Area Command for healing following a severe injury to her arm resulting in paralysis. She was forced to take short term disability and now seeks prayers for all that she now faces.
Something to Consider
Christmas music, lights, decorations, gifts, concerts, sales, television specials, cookies, trees, candles, wreaths, mall Santa Clauses and scores of other sights, sounds and smells signal that something special is happening. Now is the time to think of someone else, whether that be a person close to us or someone in need but whom we may never have met. For The Salvation Army it means getting kettles out, keeping bells repaired, wholesale purchases of toys and food, processing Angel Tree gifts, visiting care facilities until by Christmas Eve the last ounce of strength is spent.
One thing that is settling during these rush times is tradition. Too many people want to jettison tradition, treating it like something akin to yesterday’s
trash. But traditions are the basket that holds our collective memories. The Christmas tree we put in our home is linked to trees of our childhood and our children will link this year’s tree to something in their homes decades from now. Christmas traditions ground us, reminding us that Christmas is more than the bills that come due in January, more than the frenetic pace and crowded parking lots. It is deeply meaningful, so that a trace of a smile can be seen on the face of even the worst Scrooge.
We who cherish the Christian Faith find even deeper meaning in our traditions than others. The lights, the candles, the trees, the wreaths, the carols and the gifts speak ultimately of Christ. There has been some drift from the original intention for many, but others point clearly to Christ. Although there is increasing opposition to public nativity scenes, few traditions more accurately tell us about why Christmas is. Dancing snowmen and flying reindeer fade when compared to the beauty of the Christ Child.
This year, stop to consider the why of what you are doing and then thank the Who that is being heralded.
Benediction
Seek Christ as fervently as the shepherds. Rejoice as happily as they did. And like them rejoice as you tell others that the Savior has come. Amen.
Enjoy the Celtic Women sharing the classic, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”