Open Air Campaigners-Denmark (Friluftsmissionen)

We value the friendship of Torben Østermark, a good friend of Pray for Denmark.com whom I met in Copenhagen several years ago. Torben is the Director of Friluftsmissionen, the Danish branch of Open Air Campaigners International.

Torben has done a lot of travel this year. At the beginning of the year he and his family were in New Zealand and Australia where they had an opportunity to meet with Robert Siakimotu, the President of Open Air Campaigners International. Since then, he has been in Vienna, Austria for the European Open Air Campaigners leaders meeting and in the Faroe Islands teaching evangelism in a Bible school. At the end of June he will be evangelizing on Bornholm island. He is also looking forward to a trip to Mexico in February-March that may include a visit to the United States. Torben will participate in the Open Air Campaigners International conference in Mexico. We can be assured that Torben will have his eyes and ears open to learn new ways of presenting the gospel in Denmark.

Friluftsmissionen engages in many evangelistic endeavors. As I am writing this on June 13 the organization, along with several Folkekirke churches, has been involved with the Jesperhus Gospel day camp event held at Blomsterparken near Nykøbing Mors, Denmark. Jesperhus Gospel is held annually on the day after Pinsedag (Pentecost or Whitsun tide).

Gammelbro Camping is a quiet and attractive camping site located directly at the sea (Little Belt/Lillebælt) in the southern part of Denmark at Årøsund near Haderslev.. A family Bible camp is held there annually in which Friluftsmissionen has a major evangelistic ministry with adults, children, and young people. This year the camp will convene from July 4 through July 15.

A Reach the City campaign is coming to Copenhagen, August 3-6, involving Friluftsmissionen in cooperation with Inner Mission youth of Copenhagen. The team will hit the streets in the area of the city around Storkespringvandet fountain sharing the gospel through such means as drama, kids programs, and music. In addition, the plan for the three-day event calls for bringing the gospel to residential areas, parks, beaches throughout the city. The three-day effort will also be joined by a team from Open Air Campaigners-USA headed by OAC evangelist Paul Adams.

Reach the City was originated by Open Air Campaigners in Europe to bring the gospel of Christ to such cities as Vienna, Austria; Cologne, Germany; and, Bristol, England. Inspired by what God has done in those cities, Friluftsmissionen and young people of IMU have joined together and organized the 2011 project to reach Denmark’s capital city, believing that God desires to reach out to the people of Copenhagen as well.

Besides direct evangelism, Reach the City-Copenhagen will also provide team members with instruction and training in evangelism that will doubtless have a continuing effect throughout Denmark in the months and years ahead. There will be workshops on giving a personal testimony, kids programs, puppet theater, sketchboard, drama, event organization and much more taught by Danish and international teachers.

PRAY that in each of these scheduled events the gospel will be proclaimed boldly in the power and presence of the Spirit of God empowering Friluftsmissionen’s evangelists Torben Østermark, Lars Kristiansen, and team member associates.

PRAY that in each venue the Lord would prepare the hearts of unbelievers to receive and apply the biblical message of salvation by grace through faith plus nothing.

PRAY that Danish young people who join the team will not only have surrendered their own lives to Jesus Christ, but will through these events get a taste for evangelization that is so greatly needed in Denmark today.

Danish Gideons at Work

It amazes me to discover something new about Danish people who love the Lord and are busy in the work of the Kingdom of God. Just when I think I have learned about all there is to know, something new comes to my attention. For instance, I hadn’t the slightest idea that there are Gideon camps throughout Denmark until I came across the Danish Gideons’ webpage (www.gideonitterne.dk) just a few minutes before I sat down to begin writing this issue of Pray for Denmark.com. The Gideons are not strangers to me for when I was a child my father was a Gideon and I accompanied him often when he spoke in churches about Bible and Testament distribution. Later, as a pastor I also had the privilege of welcoming Gideons to speak about their work in our services.

For those who may not be familiar with Gideons International, its members throughout the world are mainly Christian businessmen and professionals. Generally, local Gideon groups (called in Gideon parlance “camps”) also have an associated Gideons wives auxiliary (in Danish, gideonithustruers). The Gideons number around 280,000 members in 193 countries. The website of Gideons International may be viewed at www.gideons.org/Splash.aspx.

The Gideons are wholeheartedly dedicated to Bible distribution and evangelism. Gideons’ focus worldwide is on the distribution of complete Bibles or New Testaments in more than 90 languages. Copies are presented directly to certain individuals such as students, prisoners, and police, fire, medical and military personnel, or to individuals they have witnessed to about faith in Jesus Christ. The Gideons are perhaps best known for the copies of the Scriptures they have placed in hotels and motels, hospitals, convalescent homes, medical offices, domestic violence shelters, or prisons and jails or in selected public locations where large numbers of seeking individuals have found life-changing answers from the Word of God for their spiritual needs.

Though there were precursor organizations in the country, the work of Gideons (Gideonitters) in Denmark dates from 1969 and has since spread throughout the country. Currently there are around 260 Danish Gideons who come from local folkekirker or evangelisk frikirker. Gideon camps are found in Bornholm, Esbjerg, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Herning, Hjøring, Horsens, Næstved, Nørresundby, Odense, Randers, Roskilde, Silkeborg, Sønderborg, Thisted, Vejle, Viborg, Aalborg, Århus, Aars, and several camps in metropolitan Copenhagen. Danish Gideons distribute 3500 New Testaments annually.

The Danish Gideons webpage tells of the first Bible-Blitz held in Denmark in October 2003 (week 44) when within a week's time several thousand New Testaments were distributed in schools, universities and colleges and other locales in West Jutland, Lolland, Falster, Roskilde, Odense, and in the Copenhagen area.

Whether from churches or individuals, all contributions go toward purchase of Bibles or New Testaments. Gideons themselves pay for administrative expenses. As in other countries, Gideons value invitations to speak in churches and Christian groups about their work of Bible distribution. Though non-denominational in nature, the Gideon’s depend on contributions from churches’ and individuals’ to assist them in their work of Bible distribution.

PRAY that Danish Gideons will see Scripture distribution as an important avenue of evangelism and that they themselves will not lose sight of or water down the saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAY that many individuals and families will come to know the truth of the Gospel and be saved through reading a Bible or New Testament placed in hotels and other locations by Danish Gideons.

PRAY that Gideons will find open doors in many more locations throughout Denmark for distribution of Bibles or New Testaments.

PRAY that God will supply needed funds through His people to help Danish Gideons purchase Bibles and Testaments for distribution.

PRAY that chairman Tommy Petersen will be able to provide godly and effective leadership for Danish Gideons as they seek to increase the number of groups (camps) and members throughout Denmark.

A New Church Plant in Bjerringbro

Free churches and denominations in Denmark form a sort of patchwork quilt of “Danish evangelicalism.” It appears that the theological emphasis of most leans heavily toward Arminianism with Pentecostal/charismatic movements seemingly in the ascendancy. I have not been able to verify something I recall having heard a while back that Baptists in Denmark (the present Baptist Union) were originally Reformed in theology, i.e., Calvinistic but with a Baptist perspective. Somewhere around 1930, and for reasons to me unknown, a switch was made to embrace a more Arminian approach. As far as I have been able to tell currently, one would look far and wide in Denmark without finding a free church or denomination that subscribes to Reformed theology. The Folkekirke is confessionally Lutheran but that theological base is highly compromised in some parts of the church because of the inroads made by liberal theology.

However, there is a new and significant development on the free church scene with the recent formation of a “Reformed Baptist” church in Bjerringbro called “Kristuskirken, a name more commonly associated with the church of the same name in Copenhagen, the first Baptist church in Denmark, founded in 1839, and one that I know quite well. Bjerringbro is located in the Mid-Jutland Region near Fjends and Sparkaer where, just incidentally, my mother was born. American pastor Paul Washer of the HeartCry Missionary Society visited Denmark in July 2009 and spoke at a public gathering in Randers on July 15. There were also private meetings from July 14 to 16 concerned with the planting of “biblical churches” in Denmark.

Two “ultimatums” issued by Washer caught the attention of Cameron Buettel, an Australian engineer working in Denmark: 1. If you are in a church where the Gospel is not preached―get out! Come out from among them! Touch not the unclean thing. 2. If you are not in a biblical church then find one or start one.

Buettel indicates that he was “desperately sad and grieved after almost three years in Denmark because he had not been able to find a church where the Gospel was preached.”

Influenced by Washer’s ultimatum, Buettel together with his wife and children moved to Bjerringbro to become a part of a new church plant. The new church was “formed in November 2009 by several Christian families in Denmark who were desperate for fellowship and a place where the Gospel would be preached in purity.” Buettel would agree: it is far easier to start a new church than to try to reform an old one.

The recently formed church in Bjerringbro is described in this manner: “Kristuskirken is a newly planted Reformed Baptist Church in Denmark. We hold to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. We place great emphasis on the authority of Scripture, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, gospel purity, and the call on all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel. We believe that evangelism should be normal Christian behavior. We stress the biblical importance of male headship. We love the fellowship of believers and seeing sinners come to saving faith. And we desire to see God's Name magnified and exalted in Denmark.”

Buettel’s blog further describes the new church as one “that preaches Christ crucified without apology. A church where the Bible is the sole rule for all matters of life, faith, and practice. Kristuskirken is a church that recognizes the Holiness of God, the utter sinfulness of all men, the reality of God’s wrath, the constant danger of hell, the necessity of the Christ’s death as a penal substitute on the cross, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the call on all men everywhere to repent of their wickedness, and the glorious eternal hope for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ – Who is the resurrected Savior." That sounds pretty much like historic, classic evangelicalism to me and a message Denmark needs to hear.

At this point precise information is difficult to come by as to how this new church is faring after little more than two years of existence. There is a website for the church: http://www.kristuskirken.com/blog/wordpress/ (in Danish). Cameron Buettel himself is a consummate and dedicated blogger whose interesting postings in English may be read at: http://onceuponacross.blogspot.com/2010/12/kristuskirken-reformed-baptist-church.html.

Don’t look for existing free churches in Denmark or the Folkekirke to give an especially warm welcome to the new church or to the Reformed doctrines that underlie its message. Buettel has already had some brushes with representatives of existing denominations and movements that are less than appreciative of his approach. There is a note of bluntness in Buettel’s approach that probably hits hard at the heart of Danish cultural and even “evangelical” hygge.

I have prayed for a more aggressive evangelism in Denmark and the Reformed Baptists may be God’s way of initiating it. It remains to be seen whether or not the movement gains traction in the country. There are certain aspects of the Reformed message that make it an important counter-thrust to an evangelism of an easy-believism that downplays the necessity of sound biblical doctrine and teaching.

PRAY that the Reformed Baptist message will turn out to be a positive corrective and not unnecessarily divisive voice in a land so greatly in need of confrontation with biblical teaching and evangelism that takes into account “the whole counsel of God.”

Gospel Choirs Come to Denmark

My sense is that God’s Spirit is at work quietly, and perhaps in ways overlooked, plowing up the fallow ground of Danish Christian culture. Can it be that “signs and wonders” are not always spectacular and immediately discernible? The comment I (Bill) made in the August 16 issue of Kristeligt Dagblad suggested that one of the indications of the Spirit’s working in Denmark is the presence and increase in the number of gospel choirs. Though at the time it was a statement not probed deeply enough, I have thought much of it since it appeared in print and have become more and more convinced of its truth.

So, what are we talking about here? When we refer to gospel music in Denmark, the essential reference is, as Pastor Lewis defines it, “the rhythmic sounds of African-American gospel with texts that convey a gospel message in English.” To get an idea of what this sounds like in a Danish context, press *Ctrl + click* on each of the following links:

The Danish Gospel Choir

Joyful Noise & Crossroads

Ringe Kirkes Gospelkor


My perceptions have recently been firmed up in the reading of a paper written by Mark W. Lewis, /“Gospel Choirs: A Meeting Ground Between Christians and New Age Adherents”/ (the paper was written when Lewis was a doctoral student at the School of World Mission at Asbury Theological Seminary). It is available on the Internet at

Gospel Choirs

Lewis, who is currently the pastor of Jerusalemkirken (Methodist) in Copenhagen, gives some excellent insights about the gospel choir movement in Denmark. I now find that the thrust of his doctoral research has been made available in a book recently published in the United States (ISBN 419-994-0535) entitled "The Diffusion of Black Gospel Music in Postmodern Denmark: How Mission and Music are Combining to Affect Christian Renewal."

No figures are available as to the exact number of gospel choirs in Denmark, but there is little question there has been exponential growth of the movement from a few choirs in the early 1990s to what must be several hundred or more at present. There can be little doubt that for Christians this is a phenomenal and not-to-be overlooked development in Denmark. While our focus is on Denmark, it should be noted that the black gospel music movement has filtered to other European countries as well.

Gospel music grew out of the long struggle of black Americans for deliverance and the achieving of justice and civil rights. It is somewhat perplexing to see “proper” Danes, who have no parallel experience originating from the effects of slavery, uninhibitedly “singing, clapping, and swaying to the energetic, rhythmic and joyful sound” of gospel music. Rather than dismiss gospel outright as out-of-character for Danes and Danish culture, it is perhaps best understood as a deliverance of another sort than that experienced by black Americans. Lewis sees its manifestation in Denmark as “a deliverance from the stodgy forms of state and folk church religiosity that have pacified the populace from deeper interaction with and experience of Christian faith in a way that appeals to a common interest that may or may not be associated with Christian meaning.”

Though largely centered in Danish churches, both Folkekirke and free, the gospel choir movement is pluralistic in that it attracts singers from the entire social and cultural spectrum. Age seems no barrier as both young and older, even the near elderly, are participating. Singers are attracted by the informality that requires very little from them other than interest and desire to engage with others in this particular musical modality. In the choirs’ rehearsals and performances, singers find themselves feeling very comfortable coming into a non-threatening social networking of the kind not usually found in churches of the Danish Folkekirke. As a general rule, choir members seem to be willing to support choir activities, even singing at worship services or other Christian events, even if they hold personal views that are quite contrary to evangelical Christianity and more akin to New Ageism. Usually, no requirement of Christian commitment is made of choir members with the result that the choirs are often made up of believers and unbelievers alike. The position of some directors is, as Lewis suggests, that “encouraging those who sing about Jesus to actually believe in the One whom they were singing about is an unnecessary imposition and is not germane to the future proliferation of the gospel music movement.” Lewis says further, “People can sing ‘Jesus is the Rock’ or ‘O Happy Day’ again and again, and be free to be moved by the message, or simply sing and sway without real regard for the intended meaning of the message.” Not a few committed Christians will shudder at this.

Not everyone in Denmark is so enchanted by gospel music and not a few consider it an abberation. However, gospel has arrived at pop status throughout the country, evidence of its wide acceptance and accessibility in spite of the fact that the gospel message in the music is as Lewis avers “image-laden and expressive in ways that do not reflect the conceptual theology of many traditional sermons and hymns.” Gospel choirs have sung on Danish radio, at the famous Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, in various festivals throughout the country, and elsewhere other than in churches. There is concern on the part of some and undoubtedly well-taken, that “gospel choirs must make the effort to insure that the music does not disengage from the message, lest the movement begin to contradict its roots and squander a unique opportunity for Christian mission and discipleship.”

One has to know something of Danish religious culture to understand how revolutionary the spread of gospel choirs has been. Danes may be for or against gospel music, but the discerning believer can look beyond and at least wonder if this may be God’s way of breaking up the ingrained, stodgy Danish religious culture so that the biblical Gospel message can be more effectively introduced in its place. Gospel music may not be great music, but in Denmark it may be the vehicle for transition to worship styles that are more in keeping with worshiping God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24, NIV). Indeed, gospel music could conceivably bring revival to places in Denmark where revival and renewal have never even be dreamed of.

* *

PRAISE God that many Danes have been moved in recent years by a lively and energetic musical form so completely different from traditional Danish church music.

PRAY that the imprint of more immediate spiritual experience that is the mark of gospel music will spill over into the too-often spiritually dry or tepid liturgies of the traditional churches, whether Folkkirke or free.

PRAY that the spread of gospel choirs will be promoted in Denmark without doing violence to the very heart of gospel music that is so deeply embedded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAY that the unbelieving singer may in spite of himself or herself come to believe and personally commit to the truth of the gospel of Christ so simply portrayed and reiterated in the gospel music they are singing.

The Meaning of Christmas Largely Forgotten in Denmark

From a purely worldly and cultural standpoint, Christmas in Denmark has many wonderful and inviting traditions. This is not the place to write of how Danes celebrate Christmas, but if the reader is unfamiliar with these customs the following websites offer a fine overview. Check them out at:

http://www.fyidenmark.com/christmas.html

http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Denmark.htm

http://www.fisher.k12.il.us/denmark/report.htm

What is rather depressing in these descriptions of Christmas customs in Denmark is the absence of reference to Juletjenester (Christmas services) in the churches, save for one line in one of them, “… some families go to church in the afternoon [i.e., Christmas Eve] to hear the Christmas Gospel about the birth of Jesus,” a statement that says much of where Denmark is spiritually. It is likely there will be more Danes attending church services on Christmas Eve than usual, upping the percentage somewhat from average Danish church attendance reputed to be only about 2-3 percent of the population. But, the truth is the vast majority of Danes will not “hear the Christmas Gospel about the birth of Jesus” because they will not be there to hear it.

Most Danes possess a secular mentality. They will celebrate a jolly and tradition-filled Christmas with little or no thought of Jesus Christ, who he is and why he came to earth taking on himself human flesh. The Apostle Paul tells us why Christ came: "God our Savior . . . wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:3-6, NIV). Or, as John 3:16 affirms so clearly, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

One couple (http://www.churchplantingindenmark.org/) who sense a call to minister the gospel in Denmark and have a good grasp and accurate assessment of where Denmark is spiritually write on their webpage: “Today, the Word of Truth (Eph 1:13) has lost its voice in the land of Denmark. The generations that once knew God have passed away, leaving a generation that is postmodern, post-Christian, and unaware of the Gospel. The place that at one time revived the heartbeat of missions has indeed hardened its own heart toward God.” Denmark needs to be reevangelized and the gospel made clear by every means possible to everyone throughout the country.

Having said that of the land and secularized culture as a whole where the Word of Truth has lost its voice, we do need nevertheless to recognize that there are numbers of born-again believers in Denmark found in both Folkekirke and free churches. While they comprise only a miniscule percentage of the Danish population and while we may not agree in every aspect with many of them theologically, God thankfully has not left himself without a witness in this dejlig (lovely, beautiful) land. We continue to ask God to bring revival to his people in Denmark and to give new breath and voice to evangelism and church planting. For that to happen, the Word of Truth must be given voice as never before so that every Dane has an opportunity come to faith in Christ, the One born in a manger, put to death on a cruel cross, and arose from the dead. God loves the Danish people and so do we!

PRAY that Danes’ love of family and the cozy hygge of Christmas customs will not stand in the way of understanding it is Christ and Christ alone through his birth and ultimate death and resurrection who is the central focus of this Season.

PRAY that at this Christmas season there will be many spiritually hungry Danes who will realize their need of a Savior and turn to him in repentance and faith to own him as Lord of their lives.

PRAY that Danish born-again believers will be empowered during the Season to give a clear and bold witness to their friends and neighbors of their commitment to Christ and trust in his finished work of redemption.

To all friends of Pray for Denmark,

We wish for you a Blessed Christmas and a Spiritually Prosperous New Year.

Introducing the Tuohy Family in Esbjerg

Confident and determined to follow God’s leading, Martin and Hansy Tuohy recently returned after five years in the United States to their home base in Denmark’s city of Esbjerg. Martin completed his biblical education at Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas and received his Master of Theology degree on May 8. The Tuohys had lived in Esbjerg before leaving for study in the USA and Martin has members of his family living there as well. Hansy was originally from the Faroe Islands. The Tuohys have four children: Jónatan, Isabel, Victoria, and Emma Grace.

The family is in fellowship with a small church in Esbjerg, Den Kristen Forsamling i Mølleparken (The Christian Assembly in Mill Park). This small assembly has been in existence for 30 years but has for some time lacked the theological background and gifting of someone who can offer systematic teaching of the Scriptures, as had been true in past years. This is the very thing that will be the focus of Martin’s ministry. The worldwide network of non-denominational churches (i.e. assemblies) popularly known as “Brethren,” from which the Esbjerg assembly springs, has been noted for the emphasis on such teaching. Some of the most well-known and able verse-by-verse expositors of the Bible have come from within that fellowship of churches, especially in Great Britain and the United States. Among them have been such Bible teachers and scholars as H. A. Ironside, Robert Chapman, J. N. Darby, F. F. Bruce, A. C. Gabelein, Samuel Ridout, F. C. Jennings, J. G. Bellet, W. E. Vine, and many others.

Martin is well-equipped spiritually and academically for this ministry of the Word of God. He is now teaching on Sunday mornings following the church’s Breaking of Bread service (believers’ worshipful remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection). The Breaking of Bread, as it is called, has been a hallmark of assemblies services from their beginning in England in the early 1800s. Martin is rejoicing having a part in a ministry that he believes strongly has great potential for Mølleparken assembly’s development and growth. While Mølleparken is not exactly a new church plant, the Lord has given him an opportunity to help the church get up and ready for what He has for its future. As he puts it, “Prayer supporters have been doing the groundbreaking work here in Denmark. May this mean that the seeds of God’s Word that we cast out here will fall on good soil.”

As far as getting started in ministry is concerned, Martin says the first learning objective has seemingly been more about waiting than doing and adds humorously, “We thought waiting was what missionaries did before leaving for the field.” Martin will have to be self-supporting at present and has had to secure secular employment. He writes, “Our years at seminary should have prepared us to expect the unexpected from God, but once again we are reminded that some lessons, though basic, are not learned in just a few years. Before moving, we made a mental list of the challenges we expected to face. So far, we have only been able to add to the list, rather than check them off. I am sure the others will come later.”

Martin’s Danish mother and other members of his family have been very helpful getting the family settled into an adequate rented home near the church and daughter Isabel’s school, and only a few minutes away from his parents’ farm.

Esbjerg, Denmark’s fifth largest city, is located on the central west coast of Jutland, about three hours west of Copenhagen and just an hour away from the original Legoland. It is a city and area of 115,000 people. At one time Esbjerg was noted for its large fishing industry. However, with the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea, the harbor is now mainly devoted to the needs of this new industry.

The Folkekirke (state church) is found all over the area, but Esbjerg has several “free churches” (independent of the Folkekirke), including Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Apostolic, Word of Faith, Salvation Army and non-denominational churches. I understand, and I hope correctly, that none of these churches has over 80 in attendance and non-charismatic churches are doing well to have 20 attenders at Sunday services. Martin believes, “There is much work to be done among Bible-believing evangelicals.”

Of Denmark in general, Martin writes: “It seems Danes are searching for answers, but many have dismissed Christianity, thinking they already know what Christianity is all about [through] confirmation classes …”The truth of the matter is they have received a false understanding of what the gospel is all about … It is our desire to help people in Denmark realize that they have not been given the whole truth regarding Christianity. We want to be available to them to present God not only as their loving Creator, but also as the only One worthy of our worship.”

PRAY that God will provide liberally for the material needs of the Tuohys and their children.

PRAY that Martin’s life and testimony before his fellow workers at his secular employment will draw them to the church and to Christ Himself.

PRAY that believers at Mølleparken assembly will grow in grace and knowledge of Christ through Martin’s teaching ministry and become a major influence for the gospel of grace in the Esbjerg area.

PRAY that as God leads Martin’s ministry may ultimately extend to teaching opportunities at Danish and Faroese Brethren assemblies in Hirtshals, Odense, Copenhagen, Amager (Kristnastova), Glostrup, Skovlunde, and perhaps even in the Faroe Islands.

PRAY that the believers of Mølleparken assembly, armed with sound teaching from the Word, will be spurred to seek new ways and means of confronting men, women, and children with the truth of the gospel of grace and that many in the Esbjerg area will come to faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

Pray for Denmark.com Article in Kristeligt Dagblad

August 10 was significant for Pray for Denmark.com. On that day the Copenhagen daily newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad published a story about our ministry headlined “Amerikanere beder for vækkelse i Danmark” [Americans praying for revival in Denmark]. The initiative for the article came from Denmark. Brad and I were not available for a one-on-one interview, so reporter Marguerita Hvid Spangsberg submitted a series of interview questions for our written responses. The result was a story that accurately and fairly reflected the nature and purpose of Pray for Denmark.com. Much of the story consisted of direct quotes from the interview questions. The article in its entirety [in Danish] with an excellent photo of Bill taken by his granddaughter Kari Meidlinger, may be retrieved on the Worldwide Internet at www.kristendom.dk/artikel/374943:Globalt-nyt--Amerikanere-beder-for-vækkelse-i-Danmark.

Here are a few excerpts of our responses to reporter Spangsberg’s interview questions:

Kristeligt Dagblad: “Why do you pray specifically for Denmark?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“We believe prayer is an essential aspect of all Christian ministry. For us it is more than a tool, it is the very lifeblood of relationship with God, spiritual growth, and ministry. John 5:17 records Jesus as saying that “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Brad and I are just crazy enough perhaps to believe that promise and to accept it at face value. The major purpose of the Pray for Denmark.com blog is to call believers around the world to prayer on behalf of the spiritual needs of Danes. We believe that if we pray God will answer according to His will and in His own time. The blog has no denominational or other organizational affiliations or support. It is completely self-supporting—two evangelical believers of Danish heritage attempting to summon prayer support for evangelical outreach in our ancestral homeland. We validate any ministry that honors the Word of God. We yearn to see Danes have a personal and vital relationship with God by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the salvation of humankind. We have a passionate love for Denmark and the Danish people.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “How do you use the webblog?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“It is a matter of “what you see is what you get.” We are devoid of ulterior motives. We support existing work and workers and have no plans for ourselves taking up ministry in Denmark. We neither attempt to procure funds from others nor do we have funds to disburse for work in Denmark. We are simply calling others, especially those who like us may have Danish ancestry or connections, to join us in prayer for Denmark and its spiritual needs. The blog is on the Internet with the expectation that God will use our efforts as He sees fit. We keep looking for ways in which we could be of greater use to God’s work in Denmark.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “Why do you pray specifically for Denmark?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“Who else but us? There certainly are Danes who share our prayer burden for the country, people like Aase Ellerbeck Larsen, Inger Porson of Women’s Aglow, and scores of others. We believe God led us to establish the blog and we join our prayer efforts with Danish prayer blogs such as Bedehus and OASE. If God were to bring a resurgence of evangelism and revival/renewal to His work in Denmark, the overflow would certainly reach all of Scandinavia and the rest of Europe as well.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “What do you pray for? Can you mention some specific subjects?”
Pray for Denmark,com:
“It seems that by and large the church in Denmark is asleep and lacking in spiritual power and effectiveness. That is why we focus primarily on praying for aggressive evangelism, Spirit-empowered revival/renewal, and greater vision and effort in planting new churches. Our goal is to try to arouse prayer support for any evangelical effort in these areas of concern. As any reader of the blog can affirm, we want to come alongside churches, denominations, para-church organizations, and individuals that have a similar evangelical belief in the authority of the Bible as the Word of God and hold to the classic theological fundamentals of evangelicalism. We do not by any means rule out what God can do by His Spirit for the Folkekirke and pray toward that end. Lately, I have been concerned as well for a resurgence of solid, in-depth Bible teaching and expository preaching in the evangelical churches and ministries.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “What is your impression of Christianity in Denmark? - How is it different from America?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“In spite of all its problems, its sometimes lack of depth, and sad disappointments in ethical and moral areas on the part of some, evangelical Christianity in America is much stronger than in Denmark and church attendance is far greater. Denmark has a strong heritage from the Reformation but that heritage seems not to be as powerful a force in Danish life and culture as it may once have been. From north to south, from east to west, Denmark is filled with hundreds of church buildings too often all but empty of worshipers. Secular influence on Danish culture seems to be at its zenith while committed Christian life is at low ebb. It might even be said that the majority religion in Denmark today is a highly secularized Christianity. The trappings of Christianity are in place but the mind-set of the nation is secular. That is, Christianity has unfortunately become a sort of cultural artifact that keeps many Danes going through the motions of christening, confirmation, marriage, and burial rites but is otherwise irrelevant in the daily life of the majority of them. The low level of church attendance would seem to be a major barometer of the church’s irrelevance. To be fair, much of what is said of Denmark is equally true of Great Britain and the United States.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “What should Danish Christians/the Danish church do to attract more people in your opinion?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“Danish believers and churches need to be more focused and aggressive in praying for and expecting revival and renewal to come to Danish life and culture. Churches cannot and should not compromise with secularism but must display renewed zeal and commitment in consistent and no-legalistic Christian faith and lifestyle. The culture needs to be seen for what it is so that attractive ways and means of presenting a biblical gospel is found that is not watered down or compromised. Denmark should be viewed as an open and needy field for evangelism. The land requires its own methods, strategies, and approaches that attract and not repel Danes. Danish evangelicals may be informed by American ways of doing ministry but need to tailor them to fit the Danish context. A prime need is for young people to prepare and step into leadership roles. The evangelical churches need to pray for their young people encouraging them to catch the vision of service for Christ as ministers and evangelists. Many older ministers currently serving as pastors of churches are at or near retirement age and churches appear increasingly to have difficulty finding trained pastors and workers to replace them. Hundreds of gifted, leadership-quality young people are needed to sacrifice their lives and plans for the sake of the kingdom of God. Without them the churches and ministries will be crippled for the future.”

Kristeligt Dagblad: “How do you see the future for Christianity and the church in Denmark? What is your hope?”
Pray for Denmark.com:
“There is quite enough evidence that God is at work in Denmark to cause us to have great hope for the future. If God is for us, and He is, who can be against us? Nothing would thrill us more than to see Denmark come alive in Jesus Christ.”

PRAISE God for Kristeligt Dagblad reporter Marguerita Hvid Spangsberg’s article that we hope will make many in Denmark and elsewhere who have not heretofore known of us aware of the ministry of Pray for Denmark.com.

PRAY that Danish believers will be encouraged by the article to join with us and with the several Danish prayer webblogs (i.e. Bedehus, Dansk OASE) in earnestly and importunately asking God for revival, evangelism and new church planting in Denmark.