Day 72: Praying for Caerphilly (1945)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 72 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘May people always respect your authority, God, through all time, as long as the sun and the moon remain in the sky’ (Psalm 72:5, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1945

The war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945, Victory in Europe (VE) Day, but in the 19 May War Cry General George Carpenter declared, ‘We must fight on!’ He wrote:

‘In this historic hour I call upon Salvationists in every land to turn their joy at release from a large part of the burden of war days into channels of new consecration to urgent tasks.

‘In his infinite mercy, God is giving the western world one more chance to turn from the errors which have led it into unspeakable misery and unparalleled devastation.

‘Today I see the western world as a field of battle, bewildered in its exhaustion, from which the shouts of victory will soon die away. Are there not too many aching hearts for prolonged jubilation?’

The Caerphilly Corps history book recorded the following:

8 May

‘Peace declared in Europe as Germany capitulated. Great relief is felt after six years of terrible war. We put leaflets out in Lawrence Street and Pontygwindy Road and in our Thanksgiving meeting an excellent crowd gathered. Lawrence Street people gave a great tea in the street – we opened in prayer; and CO led sacred community singing.’

21 May

‘Our band headed a civic procession and supplied music for a great thanksgiving service arranged by the Caerphilly council to commemorate VE Day.’

Prayer

• Pray for the district and town of Caerphilly. Thank God for the heritage of The Salvation Army in the town.
• Pray for the efforts being made to see The Salvation Army once more worshipping and serving in the town.