Taking Root in Living Rooms

Start praying right now for Danish believers whose lives will be changed at a landmark church planting conference April 24-25 called “Gro15.” It’s a yearly gathering of Danish church planters and church folk -- all passionate about seeing the church of Christ grow and mature throughout Denmark.

This year’s main speaker is London-based Al Gordon, global vice president for Alpha International. Gordon co-leads a team that oversees Alpha’s evangelistic outreach work in 169 countries worldwide. Matt Reynolds, pastor of Atlanta’s Grace Midtown Church, is also planning to attend.

And here’s something different: Each attendee will be hosted in a local home, where they’ll have a chance to talk through what they’re learning about evangelism and church planting in a local, living room context.

The conference is co-sponsored by Alpha Danmark, along with the Aarhus Valgmenighed church and Kirke Planter Net, a movement to encourage disciplemaking, church growth, and church plan

ting throughout Denmark. KPN started in 2009 and is now an independent movement.

PRAY for this organic, authentic Danish church planting and outreach strategy, that everyone attending will be moved to reach out beyond their local churches in the name of Christ.

PRAY for the speakers, Al Gordon and Matt Reynolds, as well as Danish pastors Peter Søndergaard and Keld Dahlmann, that God would touch them with just the right message for this time.

PRAY that God would continue to grow this exciting church planting movement, and that it would remain focused on Jesus in a spirit of truth and unity.

PRAY for the conference home groups, that real church growth would be planted in living rooms around the city of Aarhus.

A God bigger than terror

Last June, a senseless shooting on the university campus where I work left one innocent student dead and several others wounded. Students, staff, and faculty were deeply affected, and the shocking tragedy drove us to our knees. Through tears of grief we prayed, not only for the victims, but also for the shooter. For mercy. For healing. For God’s presence.

Students pray after a 2014 shooting. (Luke Rutan photo)

God answered our prayers.

Now the peaceful little country of Denmark is rocked by not just one, but two shootings in the capital city. And while the motivations of terrorists surely cannot be compared to those of a campus shooter, the immediate results of these evils are eerily similar.

At this writing, one has been killed, several wounded. And beyond that, the sense of security and safety most Danes enjoy has surely been shattered. City residents, many ordered by police to stay indoors and away from their windows, are shaken to the core. Has something like this happened since the darkest days of World War 2?

Perhaps the news would not be quite as shocking had the shooting occurred in a city where such things are featured daily on the inside pages of the local newspaper. But this is Denmark, where a prevailing sense of peace and safety provides essential thread to weave together the fabric of society.

So how will Danes deal with this heart-rending tragedy?

That’s obviously yet to be seen. But I do know one thing: God is present in this kind of pain and fear. In Seattle… and in Copenhagen. And there is only one way through the horror -- on a road paved with prayer. 

PRAY for those most closely affected by the shootings, for those close by, and the first responders. 

PRAY for believers in Copenhagen, for strength as they minister to neighbors, friends, and to the city as a whole. 

PRAY that the Danish church would fix their eyes on Jesus and rise to serve in his name. 

PRAY for Denmark, that God would meet Danes in this trying time.

2015: Year of the Danish Street Church?

They’re not waiting for people to come to church. More and more Danes are venturing out into the streets to pray for strangers and share their faith.

One example: Mona and Bo Henriksen, who came to faith only a few years ago, but who now join other “street disciples” three days a week on the streets of København.

“Many of those we meet are open to the gospel,” says Bo, “but they’re not at all motivated to attend church. So we meet them on the street and pray for social, practical, or physical needs. On the deepest level, we put ourselves at the disposal of the Holy Spirit, as lights in the darkness.”

It’s somewhat unusual to find Danish Christians taking this approach. But the Henriksens and their friends aren’t afraid to be noticed in their neon green vests printed with “Gadekirken,” or “Street Church.”

And the growing movement is drawing from a wide spectrum of churches in and around the city, including Apostolic and Pentecostal churches, but also Betlehemskirken, the Adventists, Vintræet (Vinetree Church), Gospel Church, and Københavns Bibeltrænings Center.

“We’ve prayed for thousands of people up to now,” says Bo, “and we’ve seen people healed. But the more of us there are, the more people we can reach out to.”

PRAY for the Street Church movement, that God would reach many more hearts in the year to come -- and that they would find church homes in which to grow as disciples.

PRAY for more volunteers from an even wider variety of fellowships, both free churches and state churches, and that God would use this to knit together His church in Denmark.

PRAY also that the Street Church would encourage believers across the country to reach out in the love of Christ to people where they are -- on the street and beyond.

PRAY that the Street Church would remain focused on Jesus.

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.

Missional Denmark?

Do we worry first about ourselves first, or look outward to the mission and calling of Jesus? Next month, Danish church leaders must ask themselves that question as they come together for a hard look at the focus of their church. Judging by their choice of a main speaker, it looks like something called the “missional movement” will flavor their perspective.

And that’s a good thing. This movement emphasizes mission and outreach over buildings, budgets, and programs. It’s disciple-making at its core, becoming the sent people of Jesus to a world that needs him – in the world, but not of it. It’s all about the mission.

Thus the invitation to Alan Hirsch, a South Africa-born writer and leader in the missional movement. He’s the founding director of Forge Mission Training Network, and co-leads an effort to help churches become more mission-focused, called Future Travelers.

“I’ve been to Denmark a couple of times,” he told potential conference-goers in a video. “I love the country. We’re going to be talking about the essentials of the missional movement. We’ll look at all things in a new light, and hopefully find renewal in our love for God, love for Jesus, and our commitment to follow Him and change the world in his name.”

Sponsored by LederOase (Leader Oasis), the gathering is planned for January 24 at the Scandic Hotel in København.

PRAY that more and more Danish churches would look beyond themselves and catch the vision to reach out to their communities, searching out real needs.

PRAY that many would attend this conference and be inspired to make a difference. Pray for representatives from a wide variety of denominations, and from fellowships of all sizes.

PRAY for Alan Hirsch, that he would connect to the group and understand their perspectives. Pray that there would be no language barrier. Pray for his health and safety.

PRAY that God would use this key event as a spark to ignite renewal and outreach in the Danish church!

Acting Up

You may not hear his name mentioned at next year’s Academy Awards. But a young Danish actor is using his talent and humor in a way that is reaping more lasting rewards than any golden trophy.

Today Jens Jødal is criss-crossing his small country, putting on biblically themed one-man shows and larger theatrical productions through a ministry called Kirketeateret (“The Church Theater”). And he goes where the people are, bringing his unique energy and humor to church services, youth groups, outdoor summer camps, and schools. He offers a gospel message many young Danes (and their parents) may never have heard before.  

In one show, Jødal is the apostle Peter, demonstrating what it’s like to struggle as a flawed follower of Jesus. In another, he’s the good Samaritan (and the Samaritan’s donkey). He’s Moses, the prodigal son, or Daniel. He makes his audiences laugh. But before the laughter trails away, he also makes them think.

And it’s not just Bible-based shows, either. Jødal and his crew are leading Easter and drama workshops, musicals, even worship opportunities for teens. He’s challenging young people (as well as adults) by pulling them into the stories -- and the truth -- of the Bible. 

“It needs to be interesting to capture young people,” he says. “Preaching can certainly be entertaining, and entertainment can be preaching. My specialty is to provide preaching and entertainment -- at the same time!” 

PRAY for Jens Jødal and his ministry, that many young people and their families will be introduced to the truth of the Bible through drama. 

PRAY that God would enlarge this ministry and open new doors into new venues where the unchurched will hear the gospel. 

PRAY that God would draw even the entertainers and actors closer to himself through this entertainment, for changed lives and revival in Denmark.

How About That Danish Music?

You may have read about new young Danish worship leaders, and how Christians across the country are beginning to create genuinely Danish church music -- worship music that reaches Danish hearts. That’s a wonderfully healthy sign that God is stirring hearts.

To be sure, there’s also a good deal of international influence in Danish church growth and worship, places where songs from the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. are sung in English. The growing Hillsong fellowship in København is a prime example. And God is doing great things there.

But how about that Danish music? Here’s a wonderful project that’s collecting some of the best examples of today’s Danish worship music: Stille Stunder (“Quiet Moments”). They’re hoping to build up the Danish church across denominational lines:

1.     Through their YouTube channel, featuring music videos of leading Danish worship musicians. Latest add is a wonderful tune from Arvid Asmussen of Aarhus Valgmenighed.

2.     Through their Facebook page, which features behind-the-scenes looks at featured artists and videos. It’s in Danish, but you can get the idea.

3.     Through a working partnership with Brighter, a yearly renewal and discipleship conference for young people organized by the Skywalk Church in Randers. The conference is coming up October 15-18.

The most encouraging part about Stille Stunder is their Christ-centered, big picture view. They want to build up not only their own young church in Randers, but churches all over the country, in the name of Jesus. Please pray for them.

PRAY for this new generation of Danish musicians and worship leaders, that they will use their music to spotlight Jesus, and not themselves.

PRAY for the people behind Stille Stunder, that God would prosper this exciting new ministry and use it to bring many to Christ.

PRAY for Brighter, that young lives will be changed this year and that the Danish church will be strengthened as a result.

PRAY that God would use this music to revive his church in Denmark.