It would be foolish to think that the only prayer effort on behalf of Denmark is through this Pray for Denmark.com website. We believe God has laid Denmark on our hearts, but we recognize that we are not alone in our prayer ministry. There are many believers throughout Denmark itself and in all of the various evangelical local churches and such Folkekirke (State Church) renewal movements as Oase and Indre Mission that are committed to fervent prayer for their spiritually needy homeland. One focused nation-wide effort is called Bedehus (prayer house, place for prayer), a prayer initiative started by a group of Danish Christian leaders, including Kurt Christensen (Nexø), Bent Christiansen (Kolding), Allan Funk Hansen (Herning), Lene Knudsen (Brøderslev), Lars Bo Olesen (Herning), Palle Schær (Oase), Ruth Cilwik Anderson (Willow Creek Denmark), Inger Porsen (Women's Aglow Denmark), Jurgen Galonska (Blahøj), and John Mester (Malmø). Bedehus (www.bedehus.dk) has put together an around the clock 365 24/7 prayer network of individuals and prayer groups located throughout the country. There is also an Internet initiative called Bedeemner (www.bedeemner.dk) that solicits prayer requests that are posted on its website and makes sure these requests are prayed for systematically. Many of these requests are quite personal and touching and reflect personal needs and concerns about world events. For example, this plaintive request in English came from a 15-year old girl worried by recent events affecting Denmark in which she wrote:
"What are we going to do? Is this the end? Is our 11 September yet to come? Is the 3rd world war just around the corner? Will we die? I fear a war between Danes and Muslims. Will FN and NATO stand up for us, or are we lost because of a stupid newspaper? Will we survive? What about us children? Are we going to die too? They've scared us. They've burned our embassy and all we could do was evacuate the people inside the building. Will this madness ever end, or will we live in fear for the rest of our lives? Please God, help us. Save us from the storm--don't let them tear us apart" (lightly edited for clarity).
An advertisement for a 2005 prayer seminar in Denmark stated, "It is not only up to politicians to do something about God's purpose for a nation, but is is also up to the Body of Christ in the country to take responsibility and seek God in prayer on behalf of the nation." J. Sidlow Baxter wrote forcefully, "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers." There is no denying the truth that "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b, NIV).
PRAISE God for the upsurge in interest for prayer and intercession amongst Danish believers through the founding of Bedehus Denmark and other prayer initiatives.
PRAY for the prayer efforts within the Danish Folkekirke (Lutheran State Church) by such renewal groups as Danske Oase and Indre Mission.
PRAY that whole cities and towns will feel the full force and effect of the prayers of individual believers as well as the organized prayer groups now meeting throughout Denmark.
PRAY that those submitting prayer requests to the Bedeemner.dk website, such as the 15-year old girl mentioned above, will be strengthened spiritually as they see that God truly does answer prayer and meet needs, and that those who have yet to come to faith will openly acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
An advertisement for a 2005 prayer seminar in Denmark stated, "It is not only up to politicians to do something about God's purpose for a nation, but is is also up to the Body of Christ in the country to take responsibility and seek God in prayer on behalf of the nation." J. Sidlow Baxter wrote forcefully, "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers." There is no denying the truth that "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b, NIV).
PRAISE God for the upsurge in interest for prayer and intercession amongst Danish believers through the founding of Bedehus Denmark and other prayer initiatives.
PRAY for the prayer efforts within the Danish Folkekirke (Lutheran State Church) by such renewal groups as Danske Oase and Indre Mission.
PRAY that whole cities and towns will feel the full force and effect of the prayers of individual believers as well as the organized prayer groups now meeting throughout Denmark.
PRAY that those submitting prayer requests to the Bedeemner.dk website, such as the 15-year old girl mentioned above, will be strengthened spiritually as they see that God truly does answer prayer and meet needs, and that those who have yet to come to faith will openly acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
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