Fear makes us weak

At the end of every year, Danes pause for a few minutes to hear a New Year’s message from their queen. This year’s message included Queen Margethe’s somber reflections on terrorism at home and abroad -- including the attack last February in Copenhagen’s synagogue, in which two people were killed.

Despite the challenges, she told her country, “our reaction must not become a crippling fear. Fear makes us weak.”

If that sounds familiar, think of all the biblical warnings to not be afraid. From Isaiah and Joshua to the words of Jesus himself, we’re reminded: Be not afraid.

Be not afraid, because God is doing great new things in Denmark. Worship leaders are seeing a resurgence in genuinely Danish praise music. Attendance is up at Bible colleges. New urban church plants are growing as never before. Believers are reaching out to neighbors and immigrants. Christians are bolder than ever in sharing their faith.

Despite the challenges of a world prone to violence and fear, there is good reason to be excited about what God is doing in 2016. As the queen said at the end of her talk, “Gud bevare Danmark!”

God save Denmark.

PRAY for the Holy Spirit to move in new ways through His church in Denmark, filling Danes with compassion for the lost and hurting.

PRAY for protection and wisdom for Christian leaders.

PRAY that believers would be obedient to God’s leading as they face the challenges of a culture that is far, far from God.

PRAY for new energy in the church and for genuine revival in Denmark!  

Heartcore Business

Pray for the new national leader of Youth for Christ Denmark, Daniel Baun. Since October, he’s been in charge of the group that’s doing key outreach and discipleship among Danish teens in schools and cities around the country.

Under Baun’s leadership, they want to do even more.

“I’m standing on the shoulders of the enormous work that’s already been done in YFC Denmark,” he says. “We have a well-functioning house, a good economy and talented co-workers. We want to work to see YFC more outward-focused.”

Baun already has a high profile in Denmark as a business consultant, speaker, and author of the book Heartcore Business. His approach looks beyond the pursuit of profit to the deeper meaning of real success in the marketplace. And he’s taking this perspective to YFC.

“I like to see things happen,” he explains.

PRAY for Daniel Baun in his new role, that God would use him to spread vision, enthusiasm, and energy to reach more youth for Jesus Christ.

PRAY that Youth For Christ Denmark would remain true to its name, and that along the way its workers would grow in their own relationship to Christ.

PRAY for unity of purpose among YFC Denmark.

PRAY that more and more Danish young people would follow Jesus as a result of this vital ministry, and that revival might take hold on campuses across Denmark.

Pray for Børkop

Things are looking up at Børkop Højskole--one of several Bible colleges in Denmark. After a period of declining admissions and troublesome deficits, enrollment is back up and the school is again on solid financial footing. A popular student lounge has recently been renovated. Eager young students are studying the scriptures in 5- and ten-month programs, growing in their faith and preparing for ministry in many forms.

School leaders say there’s a new optimism and spirit in the school, with new initiatives for future growth.

That’s the good news.

The challenge is that headmaster Erik Pedersen has just announced he will be stepping down at the end of the coming school year. He started at Børkop in the spring of 2012. His last day will be July 31, 2016.

“We’re deeply thankful for Erik’s sizeable contributions,” said school administrator Per Søgaard, “and that he, along with (his wife) Margit, said ‘yes’ to this undertaking and call as headmaster during a very, very difficult period for Børkop Højskole.”

A search is already underway for a new headmaster. In the academic world, these kinds of searches typically take many months.

PRAY for the search committee, and that God will raise up just the right leader.

PRAY that the positive momentum they’ve seen over the past several years will continue and increase. Børkop is an important school for preparing Danish Christian lay leaders.

PRAY for the students at Børkop this term, that they will grow in their faith and be a part of what God is doing to bring revival in Denmark.

PRAY ALSO for the faculty and staff, and thank God for the leadership the Pedersens have provided.

Is it Christmas, yet?

Danish Christians are already looking forward to the Christmas season, but this year they’ll have something more than just cheery greetings to hand out. Hint: In this case we’re not talking about an online outreach.

This is all about challenging unchurched and once-a-year visitors in a traditional format that’s been used and valued in Denmark for decades: Good old-fashioned Christmas magazines.

Yes, magazines. In secular Denmark, most such publications are filled with seasonal short stories and features, packed with plenty of Julenisser (Christmas elves). This year’s “Julemagasin” from Christian publisher Lohse builds on that tradition with a tried-and-true format highlighting stories of transformation and gospel outreach. It’s a culturally acceptable way for believers to reach their unchurched friends and neighbors with the good news of Jesus Christ.

So yes, it may be old-school, but it’s working. The magazines were first produced in 2008, and print runs have been rising ever since. Last year more than 80 churches ordered copies to give away to nearly 13,000 Danes.

“We ordered 200 magazines and handed out half of them on the street,” said Asbjørn Asmussen from Sct. Mihaelis church in Fredericia. The other half of the magazines were given to those attending their Christmas Eve service—including their once-a-year visitors.

This year, the magazine features a story about Danish prison ministry, holiday reflections, and articles about Heaven.

PRAY for the “Julemagasin” outreach, that God’s Holy Spirit would touch hearts through the stories, and that lives would be changed.

PRAY that more copies than ever would find their way to unreached homes.

PRAY that God would touch the hearts of Danish Christians in this outreach, helping them to see the joy of sharing Christ with others.

They're open to... what, exactly?

In a few weeks a small group of young Danish Christians will gather in central Jylland for a special weekend of encouragement, worship, prayer, and challenges. It’s called “Frimodig (Openness) Weekend.” And make no mistake: These 17- to 25-year-olds are open to God’s Spirit, open to deepening their faith. They care about following Jesus, no matter where it takes them.

The weekend is sponsored by the Danish chapter of Open Doors, which focuses on persecuted believers worldwide. And many of the Danish participants have been involved with awareness campaigns and prayer for Christians in the Middle East and other high-risk areas of the globe.

In this case, October 2-4 will be a time for the young Danes to deepen relationships with each other and with the Lord. It may be a time when God impresses them with a call to lifetime service, or opens their eyes to the needs of persecuted Christians. It may be a time when God’s Spirit calls these young church leaders to influence their generation for Jesus Christ. They need our prayers.

PRAY that God would bring together just the right group, and that finances would come through for each participant.

PRAY that God would touch their hearts and meet them in a special way.

PRAY that God would open their eyes to needs in their own schools, neighborhoods, and beyond.

PRAY that God would give them hearts of compassion for the world, and that this outward-focused love would spill out across the Danish church.

Jesus for (Danish) kids

Across theological divides, this man has a vision for reaching Denmark’s young people, by all means possible. Brian Nissen is in charge of youth outreach programs through the Indre Mission -- Denmark’s Lutheran renewal movement -- but he’s asking, imploring people in churches all across Denmark to join him.

“We’re working every day with a sharply defined goal,” he wrote recently, “Denmark’s children must hear about Jesus.”

And in his role as national leader of the DFS (Sunday school) program, Nissen is doing everything he knows to make that happen this fall through weekly programs for all ages. Through programs with names such as “Messy Church” and “Godly Play.”

So yes, thousands of Danish kids are hearing the Word every week. Nissen knows how important it is to teach the young. But his programs are just a starting point, he says.

“My dream is that in all churches, across fellowships and theological differences, that we make 'Jesus for kids' a priority. That we set aside time to serve as youth leaders, go on camps, drive kids to clubs or choirs, include them in our worship, and much more.

“I dream that we will include youth in our prayers,” he adds, “and voluntarily take on the financial support of Christian youth work in our land. So you are hereby invited to share this vision, that Denmark’s youth will hear about Jesus. Will you join in?” 

PRAY for the youth of Denmark this fall, that many more will hear about Jesus… and come to follow him. 

PRAY that many adults across Denmark will catch Brian Nissen’s vision and share in youth ministries. 

PRAY for the protection of these Danish kids, that they might be delivered from the many distractions and pitfalls of growing up, and that they might be introduced to a better way of life than their society offers. 

PRAY for a revival of faith across the land, spreading from the youth and beyond, and spreading across church traditions – from Lutheran to Pentecostal, Baptist to independent.

Why are all these people smiling?

Why are all these people smiling?

Perhaps because of the way God is working in their church this year. Members of Kristus Kirken (a reformed Baptist fellowship in Bjerringbro, north-central Jylland) have been busy this summer. Here’s what’s happening, according to their pastor, Henrik Mortensen.

·      They’re welcoming several new members, with a baptism service planned for the end of the month.

·      They’re reaching more listeners with Biblical preaching, through online sermons. “We’re thankful for the number of downloads,” writes Pastor Mortensen, “considering how small a language Danish is.”

·      They’re expanding their literature ministry, translating and producing more biblical materials to help ground their people in God’s word.

·      They’re opening their front doors and singing traditional Danish hymns -- and people around their Bjerringbro neighborhood are hearing the music!

Pastor Mortensen asks for prayer for their growing group, and for their outreach. Here are several specific ways to pray…

PRAY for the people of Bjerringbro who receive tracts and hear from church members, as well as for those who hear the enthusiastic singing wafting down the street every Sunday morning. Pray that more and more people would come to know the Savior as a result of this witness.

PRAY for those who will be baptized this month, and that many more would follow in this clear witness for Christ.

PRAY for members of Kristus Kirken who are reaching out to the lonely and the seekers. This kind of caring is counter-cultural, but certainly scriptural! Adds Pastor Mortensen: “And may we find more individuals laid at our door.”