WITH The Salvation Army's 150th anniversary in 2015 getting closer by the day, two initiatives have been announced by the International Congress office – both of which use the 'Boundless' Congress as the focal point while providing opportunities for the 1.5 million Salvationists of the world to join together in prayer and study.
Boundless ... the Whole World Praying is a year-long prayer initiative beginning on 1 July 2014 and concluding on the last day of the congress (Sunday 5 July 2015). In a message from General André Cox to Salvation Army leaders, Boundless ... the Whole World Praying was described as 'a wave of prayer that will roll over from one territory to another', intentionally focusing Salvationists in continued united intercession for the Army, the world and in preparation for the congress. The initiative is a working out of the International Vision Plan mission points 'We will unite in prayer' and 'We will deepen our spiritual life', and the General's message says the 2015 International Congress 'is a timely opportunity to continue forward in these mission priorities'.
The prayer initiative will be facilitated by the congress office with the Centre for Spiritual Life Development (CSLD). Salvation Army territories have been assigned specific days of prayer throughout the year to ensure that the anniversary preparations and celebrations are bathed in constant prayer, although this should not be seen as a discouragement to people from the rest of the world! Go to sar.my/boundlessprayer for more information.
Boundless ... the Whole World Reading is a Bible-reading challenge starting on 5 January 2015 and running for the whole year. Salvationists and friends around the world will be challenged to read through the whole of the New Testament in one year – together. Each week, everyone taking part in the challenge will read five chapters of Scripture and take time to consider discussion questions relating to the text.
Quality resources will also be provided for children, who will consider one reading each week and undertake a simple activity based on the same chapters being read by adults.
A printed study booklet outlining the reading plan will be made available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Additional commentaries and expanded resources will be available online when the dedicated Bible-reading challenge website goes live in 2015.
The message from the General concludes: 'As this wave of Bible reading sweeps across the Salvation Army world throughout congress year, we pray that God will speak to us, both individually and corporately, as we take time to reflect on his Word.'
