Pray for the believers in Copenhagen’s largest Pentecostal
church, Kirken i Kulturcentret (The Church in the Culture Center) as they
embark on a bold new plan to train their young people and reach out in the
nation’s capital.
“We’re done with being boxed in,” lead pastor Jarle Tangstad
told the congregation last month. “We’re done with being segregated. We’re done
with just being ourselves. The power of God’s Kingdom is way beyond that.”
Watch his announcement here. (English translation included.)
During the congregational announcement, Pastor Tangstad laid out
a wide-ranging plan to bring together everyone in the congregation into one
worship time, strengthen systematic biblical training for young people, and
re-emphasize small groups to help cross ethnic and language barriers.
The ethnically diverse, urban church will also place a new
emphasis on their evangelization and social outreach in the city.
“I dream of the day when the police will tell us that we’ve
made a difference,” he told the crowd, drawing extended applause.
Pastor Tangstad said the scope of this new phase of training
and outreach rivals anything they’ve experienced before, even comparing it to
the original vision for Kirken i Kulturcentret. Their church was created in
1999 with the consolidation of four smaller congregations. Today the
Norwegian-born Pastor Tangstad is calling for new vision, energy, and trust as
they move ahead.
So this fall, children will participate in what they call
“Creative Lab,” while parents will begin their Sundays with Bible school,
followed by a bilingual (Danish and English) worship service, with options for
translation into up to eight different languages — including Thai, Spanish,
Russian, and Arabic. A related Philippine congregation may continue meeting
separately. A meal for all will follow.
“We want to be a lighthouse for children and young people in
this city,” said the pastor. “Reaching across language, background, culture,
outlook, and anything else. We want to take the gospel in a practical way out
on the streets so people see that this is how the gospel works.”
PRAY for the
believers in Kirken i Kulturcentret, that they will catch a God-given vision to
strengthen their young people and reach out to the community.
PRAY for the
resources they will need to expand and grow.
PRAY for
protection of Christians in Copenhagen as they reach across boundaries with the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
PRAY for Jarle
Tangstad and his leadership team, that God will protect them and continue to
give them a unity of vision.
PRAY for many
more to be introduced to Jesus through this church, and this strengthened
outreach.