Growing Pains (the Good Kind)

They’re moving to larger quarters because they’ve outgrown their old buildings. And that’s good news for two Danish Lutheran “free” fellowships – the Københavnerkirken and Nordvestkirken. 

“Our location in a school in Amager (southeast Copenhagen) was ultimately too small,” explained Torben Østermark, a member of the church who also works with Open Air Campaigners in Denmark. “So for quite a while we’ve been looking for something larger and more centrally located in Copenhagen.”

Their prayers were answered late last fall, when a gathering of some 275 worshippers held their first service in the Bethesda church building, near the Nørreport train station, downtown. It’s a central location that positions the outward-focused group to grow even more. Their published mission? “Sent to the world as disciples, who win disciples.”

“We’re especially pleased that many have come to know Jesus in the recent years,” said Østermark.

Nordvestkirken had also outgrown their facilities, and that fellowship was able to buy the vacated Utterslev Lutheran church building in Copenhagen’s north end. It’s a good-sized building for the fellowship to grow into. But even without a pastor, they continue to draw new members and seekers to contemporary services and family-friendly teaching.

Both churches are prime examples of independent churches that maintain cultural connection to the historic Danish faith, without formal ties to or dependence on state church leadership.

PRAISE God for the faithfulness of believers at Københavnerkirken and Nordvestkirken! And…

PRAY for these two strategic fellowships, that Christ would continue to be held high and that many new seekers would be drawn to faith here.

PRAY for the pastoral staff at Københavnerkirken, including pastor Claus Grønbæk and the rest of the leadership team. Pray that they would continue to have a heart for reaching their community in the name of Jesus.

PRAY ALSO that members of Nordvestkirken would continue to grow in their interim, and that God would bring just the right leadership, in his time.

PRAY that God would raise up and revive even more Danish churches like Københavnerkirken and Nordvestkirken.