The International Salvation Army announced a new prayer initiative focus on the Middle East and North Africa entitled, “Operation Desert Rose,” as part of its commitment to world evangelism.
The Commissioner for World Evangelization, Paul Du Plessis, first spoke of the specifics involved in Operation Desert Rose during the International conference of leaders last month.
‘If we are to make even the first tentative steps into the least-evangelized world of the Middle East and North Africa, we need to start planning,” said Pessis.
According to Pessis, there are several steps involved in the plan. Pessis said members in “territories (and their partners) can monitor opportunities in neighbouring Operation Desert Rose (ODR) countries; we can identify Christians, including Salvationists, working in ODR countries and coordinate pastoral support for them; we can identify Christians, including Salvationists, exiled from ODR countries and coordinate pastoral support for them; we can coordinate Salvation Army visits to ODR countries – health, emergency services, etc; and we can muster prayer support through a fortnightly information leaflet.”
After the Conference, General John Larsson of the ISA told the International Management Council that Operation Desert Rose is about the gospel and the work of God shown through the hands of Christians and other Salvationists.
“Operation Desert Rose aims to raise awareness of, cultivate prayer for and nurture hope in a significant part of the world. Here is one of the new things God is doing with us in his work of renewal,” said Larsson. “He is calling us to focus on an important but often overlooked part of the world. I hope Salvationists and other Christians will register their support by contacting the Office for World Evangelisation. I do not at this stage envisage the Army starting work in any of these countries. Any further action that God may require of us will be known by collective understanding as we discern his will.”
For more information about the prayer initiative, visit the Salvation Army website at: www.salvationarmy.org.
