Day 64: Praying for all those who grew up in The Salvation Army (1937)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 64 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘But people who serve the Lord should be happy because of what he has done. They should trust him to keep them safe’ (Psalm 64:10, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1937

Shirley Bassey was born in Cardiff on 8 January 1937. After her performance at the Oscars in 2013 the website of the Sacramento Salvation Army, USA, highlighted her Army background:

‘Welsh music icon, Dame Shirley Bassey sang her hit “Goldfinger” at the Oscars last night in tribute to the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise and the 1964 theme song that launched her international music career. Dressed from head-to-toe in sparkly gold, Bassey gave an effortless performance that received the largest ovation of the evening.

‘Although some of her biggest hits were about diamonds and gold, Bassey’s music career began in a working-class dockside district in Cardiff, Wales’s capital city, where she discovered her talent and love for music while singing in The Salvation Army’s youth choir as a junior soldier.

‘From her start at The Salvation Army, Bassey began singing at local public houses and clubs before signing her first professional contract at the age of 15. Bassey is one of many talented vocalists and musicians who discovered their passion for music with the help of a Salvation Army youth program.’

Prayer

• If you grew up in The Salvation Army, reflect on your days as a young person. Maybe there is a song from those days that still encourages you. Sing it now.
• As you do that, pray for all the young people growing up within the influence of a corps family. Pray that God will so fire them up that they will serve him all their lives.