Worldwide Prayer Meeting

Apr 30, 2025 | by Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

Prayer Focus 

Hong Kong & Macau Territory

Victoria Harbour at sunset Hong Kong

It is wonderful to have you with us today. The Worldwide Prayer meeting is meant to be a time when people associated with The Salvation Army pause and pray together, focused on a common theme for specific needs. Thank you for taking time to do that with us today. May God bless you.

Prayer

Dear Lord, We are grateful to You that You hear even the faintest whisper when we pray or sometimes, when we cannot even find the words to say what we want to pray to You. You hear our hearts. You see deep inside of us. Sometimes it is because our need is so great but other times it is because so much is going on, we don’t know which end is up. Then there are those other times when we feel such joy and while it seems like we would know what to say, instead that joy just blows across our souls and no words come. Thank You that through Your Holy Spirit You hear all of that and understand what I don’t understand myself. So, right now, hear my unspoken prayer. I am trying to be quiet. I am trying to listen. Help me to hear Your unspoken words in return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Background of the

Hong Kong & Macau Territory

            Hong Kong was forcibly taken from China during the Opium Wars to give the British access to China. The lease for Hong Kong expired, allowing the People’s Republic of China to resume control in 1997 under the Hong Kong Basic Law guaranteeing existing legal, political, and economic structures for another 50 years. Although there has been some tension between the citizens of Hong Kong and the Chinese government, Hong Kong remains one of the most free and open societies in Asia.

            A huge port, banking and financial center, Hong Kong is one of the richest cities in the world and one of the most densely populated. Its tourism and prominence as a shopping hub attracts millions of visitors a year. The role of Hong Kong has diminished somewhat, as other cities in China have gained more prominence but it remains prominent as an international destination and in its influence.

            Religious freedom is guaranteed. Traditional Chinese religions, including Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religions, and blends of these claim the largest number of adherents in Hong Kong, with non-religious being the second largest group. Christianity comes third with over 12% of the population. Although Christians comprise this small number, most of the schools and social organizations are run by Christians as well as 25% of the hospitals, allowing it to have considerable influence.

            Macau was originally a Portuguese settlement, rented from the Chinese in 1557 until becoming a colony of Portugal in 1887. It reverted to Chinese control in 1999 as a Special Administrative Region with a large degree of economic and political autonomy.

            The economy is dominated by gambling and tourism, mostly from mainland China. As such, it is highly vulnerable to the rise and fall of the Chinese economy. It has a reputation as a “City of Sin” with rampant prostitution and drug abuse, closely associated with the gambling industry.

            There is freedom of religion in Macau, but Christians comprise only about 3% of the population. Fortunately, there is unity among the churches but with the economy and so many involved in the gambling industry, it is a very difficult field of labor.

            The Salvation Army was requested to begin work among girls and women in Hong Kong following a meeting at Government House in 1930. Work was pioneered by Majors Dorothy Brazier and Doris Lemon under the direction of the North China Territory. Work was closed during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War but reopened soon after hostilities ceased. Early in 1948, a separate headquarters for the Army in Hong Kong was established under the Salvation Army Ordinance.

            In 1988, disaster relief and community development projects were carried out in mainland China. In 1999, Lt. Sara Tam pioneered work in Macau, with the work being officially registered there in July 1999 and commenced in September.

            In 2017, The Salvation Army Hong Kong was officially registered in boy Kunming, Yunnan and Chengdu, Sichuan (China) and an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO).

Facts, Stats and Leadership of the

Hong Kong & Macau Territory

• Total population to fish and disciple: 8,095,170
• 29 officers, 1 cadet, 3,015 employees
• 22 retired officers
• 17 corps, 1 outpost
• 2,492 senior soldiers
• 21 adherents
• 514 junior soldiers

Leadership

Colonel Phil Maxwell - Territorial Commander

Colonel Deslea Maxwell - Territorial President of Women's Ministries

Major Tsui, Heung-Ying (Minny) - Chief Secretary

Prayer Requests for the

Hong Kong & Macau Territory

Praising God for:

• Under the theme Legacy of Hope the Hong Kong and Macau Territory celebrates serving Hong Kong for 95 years and Macau for 25 years in 2025. We praise the Lord for his unfailing love, joy, and hope, which remains the foundation for both our mission and our ministry.

Requests:

• Pray for the visit of General Lyndon and Commission Bronwyn Buckingham to Macau, Mainland China and Hong Kong – culminating in the commissioning of the Keepers of the Covenant session this October. Through this celebration event, may God revive the Salvationists in their passion, call His people to serve Him, strengthen our staff in their service, and grant hope to those touched by our ministries.

• We would invite you to join us in praying for the Brengle Institute in September. That God will speak clearly into the lives of our officers and soldiers.
   
• As we approach 100 years of service in Hong Kong, the Territory has launched the 5-year strategy with the theme Hope and a Future. The six priorities focus on our people, our ministry, our message and our management. Pray for God’s sovereignty over the leadership, administration, ministries and services, and that good and effective stewardship will be seen across the territory.

USA Southern Territory

Prayer Requests

• The family of Ronnie Pope, brother of Major NJ Pope, who was recently Promoted to Glory
• The family of Major Nellie Swimm, mother of Major Jackie Reckline, who was recently Promoted to Glory
• Captain Brett Cundiff, Command Secretary for Program, Adult Rehabilitation Command
• Property Department
• Karmen Decosta-Saxon, Paralegal – Litigation, Legal Department
• Von Wilson, Support Center Specialist, THQ CRD Interchange
• Junior Abraham, Support Center Specialist, THQ CRD Interchange
• Captain Nathan Bridges, Director of Curriculum, Evangeline Booth College
• Cadet Francisco Romero
• Colonel Paula Johnson, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, Texas Division
• Colonel Wendy Morris, Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, Japan Territory
• Lt. Colonel Mark Harwell, National Treasurer & National Secretary for Business Administration, NHQ
• Majors Anthony & Elizabeth Juliana, officers, soldiers, employees, and volunteers of the Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi Division
• Fundraising

Something to Consider

            It was Jesus who spoke in this way to Paul, “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose…” It was Jesus who spoke in this way to William Booth. And it is this same Lord who speaks to us today. He still gives orders. “Rise, and stand upon thy feet.” Let no one resent them. For if He cannot command us who are saved by His grace, whom can He command? And if we are not His soldiers to obey, whose orders are we willing to accept in lieu of His?

            So far as the Christian gospel is concerned, this is what could be called the crunch. Even those who would reduce our knowledge of that historic Jesus to a minimum leave untouched the fact that He was the friend of publicans and sinners. That is to say, His ministry was a redeeming one. Now the work He has for us today is none other than the continuance of His own work in the days of His flesh. If His was a gospel of redemption, so must ours be. To preach any other gospel is, as the apostle said elsewhere, to be accursed.

            But we are not left to attempt this on our own. We are neither thrown back on our own devices nor left to think up our own conception of what our work should be. As His work on earth was redeeming work, so must ours be also. But, confronted by such a call, none need hesitate. For those who are willing to follow His example will find that the grace of His presence will be all-sufficient.

-General Frederick Coutts

From Through the Year with Frederick Coutts

Edited by Peter M. Cooke

Benediction

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33,36)