Camp meeting, Danish-style

Please start praying now for one of the highlights of the Danish summer: The annual “SommerOase” camp gathering, planned this year for July 12-19. It’s one of many Christian summer camps and events, and probably the largest.

photo: Jesper Rais

SommerOase is sure to draw hundreds of families -- including parents, kids, and youth groups -- for open air and tent meetings and worship in a large field near Odder (south of Aarhus).

This year’s theme is “Kongen og Korset” (The King and the Cross), a back-to-basics emphasis that seems especially appropriate in a country where even some church leaders and pastors seem confused about who Jesus really is.

 

“We want to celebrate Jesus as our king and honor him as our savior, who died on the cross for us,” explained DanskOase General Secretary Karsten Bach. “After all, that’s the essence of our faith.”

Worship leader Arvid Asmussen echoes Bach’s focus on the essence of faith, even as he prepares new music for the event and gets ready to lead worship times there.

“Lately, I think God has called me back to the foot of the cross,” he said, “where I’ve again come in contact with my own inadequacy, and have rediscovered Jesus as my savior. The answer is still ‘Jesus.’ There is no other way to the Father. There is no one like Jesus, who teaches me to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Featured speaker is Ajith Fernando, internationally known author, speaker, and theologian. He leads Youth for Christ in his native Sri Lanka.

Kongen og Korset. It all adds up to a unique opportunity for renewal, revival, and spiritual growth.

PRAY for many unsaved and spiritually hungry to attend – and that their Christian friends will be bold enough to invite them along. PRAY that many will come to Christ this summer, or rededicate their lives to him.

PRAY that families will be strengthened and for Christians to grow in their faith.

PRAY for SommerOase leadership, that they’ll be sensitive to God’s leading, focusing on what the Lord wants from this event. PRAY for plenty of volunteers to help run events.

PRAY that Christians of different denominations will come together in unity here in a fun, camp atmosphere.

KEEP PRAYING until this event is over, July 20!

Balloons, anyone?

They’re the ones sharing the gospel every year at popular Danish campgrounds and public venues, organizing outreach events and concerts, wading into vacation crowds with good news booklets, telling the story of Jesus through puppets, balloons, and any other way that has a chance of reaching the hearts of Danish young people and families. And this year Friluftsmissionen -- the Danish branch of Open Air Campaigners International -- turns 20.

Happy birthday! (Or as they say in Denmark, tillykke!) The 2014 calendar is full. Their signature “Jesperhus Gospel” event is planned for June 9 this year at the Jesperhus vacation park and gardens on Mors Island. Now in its fifteenth year, and in cooperation with local churches, they’re bringing praise music, a gospel choir, puppet theater, and much more to this festive outdoor venue. In addition, a summer team outreach is planned for July 7-18 at the lovely Gammelbro campground in southern Denmark, near the sea at Årøsund. The Friluftsmission team has also been active in urban youth evangelism, in cooperation with kids from the Inner Mission Lutheran renewal organization.

And that seems to be the strength of this vital ministry: working with a wide spectrum of Christians across Denmark -- from committed Lutherans in the state church, to free church youth groups. And because of their commitment to camp and street outreach, they’re coming in contact with families and young people who might otherwise never consider stepping foot in a church building. Although they don’t consider themselves a church, the Friluftsmission workers play a critical role in building up the Danish church.

Keep in mind that most Danes treasure their summer outdoor and camping experiences. That’s part of the reason why the Friluftsmission approach is so strategic in this country. Believers from the Friluftsmission are going to where the people are, meeting them where they’re at. So they need all the prayer support we can offer.

PRAISE GOD for 20 years of successful ministry in Denmark, pointing people to Jesus, one camper (or pedestrian) at a time.

PRAY for Torben Østermark, who faithfully heads this ministry. Ask God to give him strength and vision as they reach out this summer, and throughout the rest of the year.

PRAY especially for the Jesperhus Gospel event in June and the Gammelbro campground outreach in July, that God would soften the hearts and open the ears of many who will follow Christ through these events.

PRAY that the good partnerships between the Friluftsmission and Danish churches would continue to increase and flourish. Pray for more open doors of cooperative efforts between the two.

PRAY for even more workers and volunteers to join with the Friluftsmission team, so that God might increase the harvest and use this vital support ministry to help bring revival in the Danish church. 

Sunrise Over Danmark

If you’ve been reading the “Pray for Denmark” blog during the past year or so, you may be getting the idea that God is up to something in Denmark. We have worked hard to bring you encouraging news of Danish believers who are reaching out, and of Danish churches that are growing. 

That’s not always easy in a Denmark where believers are in the clear minority, where the culture has grown indifferent or even hostile to faith. But maybe you’ve been encouraged by accounts of new free churches, or growing congregations associated with the Lutheran Oase movement, or a dedicated movement of praise musicians and leaders springing up among young believers. Young pastors are faithfully preaching God’s Word every week in cities such as Aalborg or Kolding, Odense or Roskilde. Larger, contemporary urban churches in Copenhagen are reaching the unreached, internationals, and Danes who had never before visited a church.

Is God at work? Is He doing something new?

It may be true that certain segments of the Danish church are growing and changing in a way never before seen. So we continue to join faithful Danish believers in many different denominations who continue to seek revival across their land. We pray for God’s Spirit to sweep across Sjaelland and Jylland this Resurrection Sunday, bringing new life to people who so desperately need Him. From the tip of Skagen to scattered islands of Møn or Bornholm, Lolland or Fyn… and everywhere in between.

There is an old Danish folksong: “I Østen Stiger Solen Op.” The Sun Rises in the East. And this Easter morning, many faithful Danish believers will gather at sunrise to watch the sun rise in the East. Perhaps they’ll huddle around a bonfire, or on a beach along the coast, as they remember together the promise of new life in the resurrected Lord, singing praises to the King.

As you celebrate Christ’s victory over death this year, celebrate with those faithful, as well. Celebrate His victory over death for all Danes -- for all who know Him, and for all who will come to know Him in the year to come. Watch the sun rising in the East, and think of it rising over this beloved little country.

And praise Him for what He is going to do, what He will do in Denmark.

New Pastor, New Direction for Kolding

Keep an eye on the exciting young church in Kolding, Denmark’s seventh largest city. Established just over a decade ago in this industrial center, it’s grown to some 200 members today. And now they’re converting an old textile mill into a new worship center, attracting attention for their outward focus and emphasis on family and community service.

Their newly ordained lead pastor, Mads Peter Kruse, joined veteran pastor Henning Astrup earlier this year. They identify with the Oase renewal movement that’s behind some of the most visible growth in the relatively independent (but still Lutheran) Valgmenighed churches nationwide. Kruse recently received leadership training at Aarhus Valgmenighed, and is also associated with “The Order of Mission,” a UK-based global network of missional leaders emphasizing revival and spiritual awakening. He’s dedicated to seeing the Danish church renewed.

Meanwhile, members of the Kolding church have been busy renovating their new building on Industrivej, where there’s plenty of room not only for worship and church offices, but also for classrooms and a café. They hope to officially move in during the first part of this year.

So what’s next in Kolding?

“I believe God has a plan for Kolding Valgmenighed,” says associate pastor Henning Astrup. “And that plan comes together for us when we travel together as His disciples.” 

PRAY for the pastors and staff in Kolding, that they’ll follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to reach their city for Christ. 

PRAY for the believers in Kolding, that they will dedicate themselves anew to living out the Great Commission in their city. 

PRAY for the people of Kolding, that they’ll see something new and different in the disciples at Kolding Valgmenighed. 

PRAY for revival in Kolding!

Gro14: A New Vision

Is this the future of a revitalized, outward-focused, disciplemaking Danish church? This past weekend, nearly 200 Christians from a variety of church backgrounds gathered in Aarhus to find out.

Worship at Gro14 brought together believers from all over Denmark.

Months in the making, “Gro14” (Grow14) brought together leading international voices on church growth and renewal, with encouragement from the UK and the US.

The gathering kicked off with a video greeting from Mike Breen, the US-based leader of the 3DM movement who presented a cross-denominational focus on discipleship and mission in a post-Christian world.

Another American, Aaron Keyes, brought his own perspective on leading worship: “Developing worship leaders is good,” he told them, “but discipling them is critical.”

One of the weekend's highlight speakers was Keld Dahlmann, lead pastor at Aarhus Valgmenighed and an inspiration to the European church planting movement. His church sees encouraging signs of growth through outreach groups called “klynger.”

As one participant put it, they were “immersed in the discipling culture of one of DK’s largest churches.”

Levi Dørken, a leader in the Danish Alpha outreach movement, shared his passion for reaching Danes who normally remain outside the reach of traditional Christianity.

And from England, Toby Flint and Mick Woodhead presented their take on discipleship and missional communities -- an outward focus that is gaining more and more acceptance in Danish churches.

“We are all asking questions,” tweeted Thomas Willer, a pastor from København. “Let’s ask them together and find out how Jesus is answering them.”

PRAY for every person who attended this landmark event -- that God would stir their hearts and encourage them as they return to their churches and ministries.

PRAY for the missional movement in Denmark, that God would equip more and more small, outward-focused groups to reach areas of society beyond the usual church influence.

PRAY that Gro14 would be another step to greater cooperation, unity, and revival in Danish churches.

PRAY that Danish believers would adapt this encouragement from other countries to their own unique culture.

PRAY for the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into His church in Denmark, today, through worship leaders, pastors, and ordinary Danish believers.

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (1 Cor. 6:2)

Open-faced Sandwich Evangelism

They love their city -- and its people. Through a monthly outreach called “Elsk Aalborg” (Love Aalborg), believers at Aalborg’s Valgmenighed church are demonstrating the love of Christ in very tangible ways.

Like making hundreds of delicious (and lovely) Danish-style open-face sandwiches. Last month, families at this growing evangelical church became a sandwich factory, bringing together some of their best family and traditional recipes. Once done, they delivered heaping trays of their handiwork to people in need of a good meal at the city’s “varmestue” (“warm den”) centers. These church-sponsored storefronts offer food and a caring hand to anyone off the street.

But this unusual fellowship isn’t stopping there. Their contemporary worship services fill a large commercial loft in downtown Aalborg every Sunday, and they’re still looking to grow. In fact, they have a vision for planting other “missional” fellowships -- new, vibrant churches designed to make disciples through focused outreach and faith lived out in community. As part of the financially independent “valgmenighed” branch of the state Lutheran church, they want to be a model for church growth throughout their region of northern Jylland. 

Pray especially for their energetic young pastor, Jesper Fodgaard. Among other things, he makes good use of social media, inviting members (and would-be members) to join them through creative weekly videos.

PRAY for the families of Aalborg Valgmenighed, that God would show them new ways to reach out in the name of Christ as they “Love Aalborg.” From sandwichmaking to… ?

PRAY for Pastor Fodgaard and his family, for continued vision and God’s Spirit.

PRAY that this church would become a new model for growth and outreach throughout northern Jylland.

THANK GOD that He is doing new things in Denmark.

Happy Birthday Hillsong Denmark!

Members of the Australia-based Hillsong church recently celebrated their first year in Denmark with a special celebration of praise in central Copenhagen’s 650-seat Bremen Theater.

 

In many ways, the gathering resembled other lively services throughout the Hillsong family of churches now scattered around the world, from London to Moscow, South Africa to Paris. On the front platform, a 10-piece band (volume cranked up) headed by well-known worship leader Reuben Morgan led a crowd of young worshippers in the words to “Your Love Has Set Us Free.” Colored light projectors illuminated the scene.

“We’re gathered here because of one name,” said lead pastor Thomas Hansen, taking the platform. “Christ alone. Not because of anyone else, and not because it’s in the Bremen Theater. If that’s why you came, you’ll be disappointed. This church isn’t an event, it’s a family.”

And apparently the family is growing in this unusual (for Denmark) church. Certainly unusual for the numbers: They’ve already had to expand to three services each Sunday, and claim hundreds of first-time decisions for Christ -- people from a variety of backgrounds who have decided to follow Jesus. With services in English, the church attracts a mixture of both Danes and internationals.


One Egyptian immigrant said she wasn’t sure she would encounter young people in Danish churches, but found plenty of them at Hillsong.

“It’s good to be here,” she told Udfordringen online magazine. “I forget my worries. People are friendly, relaxed, and accommodating -- even if you come here alone.”

Signe Frederiksen has been with the young church from the start, and has attended both the sending church and its associated Bible school in Australia. Over the past several months she has seen the fruit of her commitment.

“Only when you get involved in the church do you seriously grow in your faith,” she told Udfordringen. “That’s how it’s been for me. Five years ago I was much more shy, and I would often hide in the background. If you had met me back then, you wouldn’t recognize me today. I’m a completely different person.”

Given its origin and its language, Hillsong might not be considered a typically Danish church. But they’re organizing what they call “Connect Groups” all over the city, where all are invited to share a meal, get to know people, and talk about their faith. Wednesday nights are for “Basic,” where seekers can ask questions about Jesus, or just dig a little deeper. No matter their mother tongue, people here are becoming disciples of Christ. They’re being baptized. Isn’t that what the church is all about? 

PRAISE God for lives changed in Copenhagen through the Hillsong ministry. 

PRAY for continued growth, that people of all ages and nationalities would find new life in Denmark -- even where they might least expect it. 

PRAY that God would use this movement to touch other churches throughout the country, and that revival would begin here.