Saturday, July 01, 2006

Danish Summer Conferences, Camps, and Bible Schools

Many church and revival movement conferences, camps and Bible schools will be meeting this summer throughout Denmark whether under tents, at resorts, in school buildings, or even in the open air. A sampling of them appears below, though the list is hardly complete. Because such summer activities are important for inter-church fellowship, for evangelistic contacts, and for believers' spiritual growth, they are surely deserving of our prayers.

July 2-8 - Oaselejr Sjællands Familielejr, a regional family camp that is part of Dansk Oase, is meeting the week prior to the national SommerOase 2006. Sjælland (Sealand) is the large island on which Copenhagen is situated. This Family Camp will be held at Odsherreds Efterskole, in Fårevejle Stationsby, northwest Sjælland. Speakers include overseas visitors as well as Danish pastors and leaders. www.oaselejrsj.dk

July 8-14 - The Apostolsk SommerCamp 2006, a gathering of believers aligned with the Dansk Apostolsk Church (Danish Apostolic Church) will be held on the campus of the denomination's Internationale Apostolsk Højskole in Kolding, Jutland. The theme of this year's conference is "Tro, virksom i kærlighed" (Belief, effectual in love). The headline speaker will be Dale Hewitt, pastor of the Apostolic Church in Perth, Australia. Several practical worshops on ministry-related topics are on the program schedule. www.staevne.dk/

July 8-14 - The Pinsekirkernes (Pentecostal Churches) SommerCamp 2006 will meet on the expansive campus of the churches' Højskole (High School and Bible School) in Mariager, 36 miles north of Århus. This year's theme is "Drevet af en passion" (Driven by a passion). http://sommer-camp.sequelsite.dk/default.asp?id=8693

July 8-15 - Dansk Oase, a charismatic-oriented organization within the national Lutheran Folkekirke, will hold its SommerOase 2006 conference at Rudehøj Efterskole in Odder, Central Jutland. The conference theme is "Reformation." A number of Danish church leaders will be featured speakers together with several pastors and Christian workers from other countries. www.danskoase.dk/index.php?id=406

July 8-15 - Another Lutheran Folkekirke revival movement, known as Nyt Liv (New Life), will have its Sommerferie 2006 (Summer holidays) family camp at Djursland Efterskole, northweast of Århus with meetings and activities for children and youth as well as adults. The speaker will Mikkel Vigilius, Luthersk Mission Højskole, Hillerød. Svend Aage Paulsen of the Dansk Bibel Institut, Frederikssund, will conduct a seminar on apologetic topics. Renown singer Signe Walsøe will assist with the music.
www.nytliv.dk/Nyt%20Liv%20april%2006(9).pdf

July 16-22 - The Baptist churches' Missionsstævne (Missions Meeting/Conference) will once again take place at the Pinse Højskole in Mariager. A full and challenging program has been planned for adults, youth, and children. The theme chosen for this year's Missionsstævne is "Vejen" (The Way). The schedule displays an imposing array of speakers from Denmark and from other countries. One main speaker will be well-known author Philip Yancey, from the United States. www.missionsstaevne.dk/

July 16-22 - Indre Mission's Sommerbibelskole 2006 will be held at Børkop Højskole, between Vejle and Fredericia on Jutland's east coast. Various course are to be offered by Danish instructors on the Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66; on spiritual gifts; the Epistle to the Romans; central ethical themes from everyday life, from Romans 12:1, 2 and 13:1-10; and, the ministry of the church's diaconate. Indre Mission is the oldest of the Lutheran Folkekirke revival movements. www.imb.dk/sommerbibelskole06.htm

July 22-28 - Det Danske Missionsforbund (Danish Mission Covenant) will hold its multigenerational "Sommerkonference 2006) on the grounds of the campus of the Internationale Apostolsk HYøjskole in Kolding (south Jutland). The theme of this year's denominational conference is "Gud gir håb" (I believe this means, "God gives hope"). The well-designed conference program features as speakers the pastors of several of the denominmation's churches. There are activities planned as well for various age groups, from children to seniors.
www.missionsforbundet.dk.staevne.portal/portal.asp

July 23-29 - Vineyard Norden churches from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland will gather for a week of SommerCamp, this year at Liljehomen's School in Rimforsa, Sweden. The theme for the week is "Att vara en Jesu Fäjunge idag--vad betyder det?" (To Be a Disciple of Jesus today--what does that mean?" The visiting speakers will be Peter and Kathy Downs, national directors of Vineyard in Australia. A wide range of seminars will also be offered. www.vinyard.se/summercamp/index.asp

August 3-6 - Scandinavian Calvary Chapels' 8th Annual Summer Conference will take place in Sorøro, Sjælland, only a 45-minute drive from Copenhagen. Guest speakers will be Pastors David Guzik and Mark Walsh of the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany. Calvary Chapel ministry specializes in verse-by-verse biblical exposition and this year's conference them is "Kong David's Liv" (Life of King David) from 1 Samuel, chapters 14-18. www.calvarychapel.dk/english/indexeng.htm

August 5-12 - The Dansk Metodistkirken (Danish Methodist Church) will hold its annual Sommerhøjskole at Solborgen ved Sejerbugten, near Holbæk (a short distance northwest of Copenhagen). The Sommerhøjskole theme is "Livsglæde og kristent fællesskab" (Christian fellowship/community and the joy of life?). http://hjem.get2net.dk/ed/hs2006/hs06.htm

This could be merely a long and boring list of events. But, visitor to this website, think what could happen to Denmark if the Spirit of God were to revive the hearts of hundreds who will be involved in these conferences, camps, and Bible schools. The prayers of earnest and committed believers from all over the world, joined with those of Danish leaders and prayer warriors, could make the difference between business-as-usual and a genuine visitation by the Holy Spirit. God truly does hear and answer the prayers of His people. There are small but powerful evidences that God is working in Denmark. Let us join Him in His activity through our fervent prayers of intercession for these 2006 conferences, camps, and Bible schools. "Revive us, and we will call on Your name" (Psalm 80:18b, NIV).

PRAY that the Holy Spirit will inspire and unify the hearts and minds of every leader and speaker in each of these conferences, camps or Bible schools.

PRAY that every attender will come to these events expecting God to bless graciously and powerfully in meeting their individual needs. When they return to their families and congregations, may it be evident that "they have been with Jesus" (cf. Acts 4:13).

PRAY that this summer the Spirit of God will sweep over Denmark bringing repentance, genuine reform, renewal, and revival evidenced by changed lives and all-out commitment to Christ and the Gospel of grace.

PRAY for the musicians as they lead the people in praise and worship. When it comes, revival will surely be borne along on the wings of Spirit-led praise and Spirit-empowered singing. No revival ever comes without God's people breaking out in songs of high praise and worship.

PRAY that in every conference, camp, and Bible school there will be a fearless and dynamic presentation of the human need for salvation and a positive response by the unsaved to the Savior who so graciously through His once-for-all sacrifice made possible our salvation.

PRAY for a sense of ministry to pervade the actions and activities of the supporting staff at each of these conferences, camps, or Bible schools.

PRAY for God's protection from accidents and injuries and possible Satanic influences at each conference, camp, or Bible site.

PRAY that as a result of these summer conferences God will give such a spirit of unity and love for each other that the various denominations will be able to deal effectively with whatever problems, antagonisms, dissensions and spirit of competitiveness there may be between themselves and other denominations, local churches, and church members.