New Evangelical Alliance Leader Calls for Unity

Newly elected as head of the Danish Evangelical Alliance, Thomas Bjerg Mikkelsen is calling Danish churches of different traditions to unite around their common roots — and the Savior. Mikkelsen, 35, comes to the influential leadership role after four years as general secretary of Indre Mission, the Lutheran renewal movement.

“Differences aside,” he told Domino (an online magazine for Danish free churches), “Lutherans, Baptists, and Pentecostals all value salvation in Christ and missions. We all share the Holy Spirit, and we’re all loved by Christ. So we need to see each other as brothers and sisters, even across cultural boundaries, confessions, and traditions. That’s why it’s also important that we can meet in a fellowship where we can pray together and be inspired by each other.”

PRAY that believers from different Bible-believing churches will unite for prayer, outreach, and revival across Denmark.

PRAY that longstanding differences will be put aside as God's Spirit moves across the land.

PRAY for Thomas, that he would rely on Christ for daily wisdom and courage.

Growing in Hillerød

Daniel Jacobsen, pastor of Calvary Chapel Hillerød (not far from Copenhagen), asks for prayer in what he calls their huge step of faith. “We’ve signed a lease for a room that is way bigger than what we need,” he tells PFD. Up to now, they’ve been meeting in homes every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening. Learn more about the fellowship here.

PRAY that God would send a flood of new people and seekers to this expanded ministry.

PRAY that God would honor their step of faith in Hillerød, and continue to expand their vision for outreach.

Prayer Night Copenhagen

 
Danish Christians from many backgrounds are now coming together for an hour a month at Kingos Church in Copenhagen to pray. “It’s something that crosses church and nationality boundaries,” says Henrik Munch Roager, one of the organizers. “We dream that Prayer Night may be a part of creating a wave of prayer in Copenhagen.” As more people notice their Facebook page (“Prayer Night Copenhagen”), other prayer groups around the country are coming to light, as well. You’ll find a video interview (English/Danish subtitles) of several participants here, also here, and here.
 

PRAY that God will encourage the growing number of Danes who are turning to him in these meetings, both in the free and state churches.

PRAY that God’s Spirit will move through the country in response to faithful prayer.

Praying for Aarhus

 

Every year, Christians from churches all across Denmark join in a special day of prayer for their country. It’s called “Store Bededag,” (“All Prayers Day”) and this year it’s May 4. Believers in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, are taking the opportunity seriously as they promote a special “Pray With Aarhus” day, in which they lift up their city and neighbors to God. “I’m participating in ‘Pray With Aarhus’ because I believe God hears and answers prayer,” says one of the movement’s supporters. “And when we pray for Aarhus, then something’s going to happen in Aarhus.” 

PRAY for the thousands of residents of Aarhus who don’t know Christ, that they would be touched in a new way by this day of prayer. 

PRAY for the believers who are on their knees for their city, that they would know God’s presence in a fresh way. 

Prayfordenmark.com Announces Robert Elmer as the New Editor

Dr. William F. "Bill" Hunter has been editor of Prayfordenmark.com since its inception on March 1, 2004. Because of responsibilities in the care of his wife of 65 years and given his soon-to-be 86 years of age, he has felt that it is time for a change in the editorial role for this webblog. We are grateful that the Lord has brought to this ministry the right man at the right time with the right background to assume the editorship.
 
Beginning April 1, the new editor/writer will be Robert Elmer, currently Manager of Communication Services at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. Brad Haugaard will continue in his role as the technical editor. Brad has given unstintingly of his time to this ministry and has been most generous in covering expenses connected with it. Prayfordenmark.com would never have gotten off the ground without Brad's assistance.  Most of all we give thanks to the Lord for the way He has blessed and sustained the ministry over the years and for all those who have been so faithful in their prayer support.

Bob Elmer is a committed evangelical believer who loves the Lord dearly and looks forward with eager anticipation to having a part in rousing fellow believers around the world to pray for evangelism, discipleship, revival/renewal, church growth, and church planting in Denmark.

Like Bill and Brad, Bob too has Danish ancestry. His parents are both from Denmark; his father born and raised in Copenhagen, and his mother on the island of Møn. They met in Denmark shortly after WWII and immigrated to the United States in the early 1950s. Bob was born and raised mainly in California, but in many ways has always felt a strong connection with his Danish heritage. His knowledge of the Danish language comes from having grown up in a Danish-speaking family. In fact, Danish was the only language in his home, so he grew up speaking Danish, and the Elmer family observed many Danish traditions along the way. He was raised in the Lutheran Church, but since accepted Christ as Savior and Lord at age 17. He affirms, "I've always felt a deep burden for the Danish people." During his college days in San Francisco, he volunteered at the local Scandinavian Seaman's Mission.

There are interesting elements in Bob's Danish heritage. His Great-Uncle Robert, after whom he was named, was a postman in Copenhagen and took his family to stay with out-of-town relatives during the worst days of WWII. Apparently he felt it would be safer for them to be away from the city. As Bob understands it, he would visit his wife and children on the weekends, and commute back to their apartment in the city during the week. But on one of those trips back to Copenhagen he was targeted and shot dead by Nazis--it is uncertain if it was in a crossfire situation or if it was deliberate. As for others in Copenhagen, there is no plaque commemorating the spot where he died, but understandably the story made an indelible impression on Bob.

Another story that made an impression on him was about his mother's sibling, Bob's Uncle Hother, who would apparently sneak out at night from their home to take part in a Resistance group. Uncle Hother was reluctant to speak of his experiences. Those familiar with some of Bob's novels can detect elements of these stories in them.

Bob has had a fulfilling career as a writer and editor and as a news editor, advertising writer, and freelance author. For a short time he was an assistant pastor at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. In the past (depending on where they've lived) Bob and family have attended churches of various denominations. This has given him an appreciation for the various traditions amongst evangelical Christians. He is a graduate of Simpson Bible College and St. Mary's College.

As yet, he has visited Denmark only once, as a teen, but he is excited about the prospect of another visit to make contact with Danish churches and believers on behalf of prayfordenmark.com. Bob and his wife Ronda have been married for 32 years; they have three adult children and four grandchildren.

PRAY for Bob and Brad as they continue this much needed ministry of prayer support for the Lord's work in Denmark. We believe the best is yet to come. What joy it would be to see a nationwide return to Christ in Denmark!

Jeremiad or Challenge?

For some time Danes have been leaving and continue to leave the Folkekirke, Denmark’s state church, in significant numbers. According to the October 2012 issue of  Folkekirkens Mellemkirkelige Råd publication Inter-Church News, Folkekirke membership has declined from 85.4% to 79.8% since 1999.  The article adds that “this decline is suddenly quite steep” as what began as a mere trickle has become a steady stream.  It is notable that the resignation figures for all of 2011 totaled 13, 587, but in the first six months of 2012 alone 12,406 Danes left the Folkekirke.

Various causes are assigned for this trend, including the nation’s financial crisis as well as the Folkekirke’s promotion of gay marriage.  It is also attributed to “a bad press,” whatever that may mean, and “aggressive atheism.”  The article cited above opines, perhaps a bit lamely, that “part of the explanation lies in the number of newly-nationalized immigrants who are not members of the Lutheran Church and, hence, do not pay the church tax of around 0.9% (2011) incumbent on all Lutheran Church members.”  

From our perspective it would appear that rampant secularism is the major cause of the decline.  With its highly socialized governmental system, Danes are snugly comfortable from cradle to grave with little thought that there is life after death that demands a choice in the here and now between heaven and hell.  It is little wonder many Danes consider the church passé and irrelevant, and because they do the parish churches have been emptying for years. We can hear the pain of a dear Danish Christian friend who wrote recently: “We are very thankful for your prayers as you know that the church in Denmark for a big part is betraying our Lord.”

This is not to say there are no exceptions to the trend.  There are pockets of vibrancy in local parishes here and there throughout the country.  The Valmenighed movement appears to be gaining momentum and revival movements within the Folkekirke continue to have their devoted adherents. If at some point the Folkekirke drops its status as a state church, as seems to be the trend in Scandinavia, it is within the realm of possibility these revival movements may result in splintering of the Folkekirke as it is known today..

So, where does this leave Evangelicals and the Danish free churches?  They have their own set of problems and preoccupations of such magnitude they may or may not be up to the evangelistic challenge presented by the vacuum created through Folkekirke departures.  Surely there are Danes who hunger and thirst after righteousness. And it is for this reason that the free churches need to get their act together to foster an aggressive evangelism and an enhanced emphasis on the planting of new churches rooted in a sound biblical theology. 

If ever there was the need for a nationwide revival of faith in Denmark, this is the time.  Danes need to hear and know that “Jesus Saves!”  So often repeated we hardly hear it anymore, the truth of the Word of God remains:  “If my people, who are called by my Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV).  It reads the same in Danish:  “Mit folk, som mit navn er nævnt over, så ydmyger sig og beder og søger mit ansigt og vender om fra deres onde veje, da vil jeg høre dem fra himlen og tilgive deres synd og læge deres land” (Anden Krønikebog 7:14).. 

PRAY earnestly that God will honor and answer the prayers of believers in Denmark as well as in other lands concerned for a genuine Spirit-led revival reaching every corner of “det yndigt land" (the lovely land).

PRAY that God would raise up a new evangelist voice, or many such voices, to fearlessly and faithfully proclaim the Good News of the Gospel in such an irresistible way that Danes would listen and respond.

PRAY that the Danish government would relax its tightened immigration and residence requirements so that biblically sound workers from other countries would find it easier to assist evangelistic and church planting efforts in Denmark. 

PRAY that Danes living overseas that have come to know the truth and power of the Gospel of Christ in their lives and subsequently have become thoroughly grounded in the faith would consider return to the homeland as witnesses of the saving grace of Christ.

Is Jesus from Herlev?

Bible stories are coming to life for grade-school children in Herlev, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Organized by three local Lutheran churches, a new one-day outreach program called “On the Trail of Jesus” (“På Sporet af Jesus”) blends drama, authentic costumes, and creative outdoor storytelling in a way that engages young imaginations.

Last September, 70 fourth graders were given maps to trace out a journey between church building, parks, and even a hospital. They began under a large tree outside the Herlev church, where Pastor Niels Jørn Fogh dressed as Zachaeus to tell them his story—in character. From there the children met Mary and Martha (who argued about household chores), a fisherman by a lake (a.k.a. the Sea of Galilee), and eventually Jesus himself at a party hosted by Zachaeus.

Now in its second year, the idea was inspired by a similar program at a church in the southern Danish island of Lolland, and “imported” to the Herlev-area churches by youth worker Johnny Tidemand.

“Seven classes signed up for the day,” Tidemand told the Danish Bible Society, “but we only have room for four. That’s why we’re organizing another session in the spring. And I suppose that means we have a waiting list. We take that as a good sign.”

PRAY that youth workers in Danish Lutheran and free churches would be inspired to reach out in new, creative ways that will touch young hearts for Christ.

THANK GOD for the 70 children who participated in the program this fall. PRAY that even more would be reached in the spring, and that they would be challenged to respond to the truth of the Gospel in a personal way.

Posted by Bob