Captivated by a kaleidoscope of prayer
Lieutenant-Colonel Carole Bate, Social Justice Consultant for The Salvation Army Eastern Territory in the United States, was the guest speaker for Captivated. (Photo by Lena Pobjie)
Renewing, sacred, honest, liberating, saturating and healing were just some of the words used to describe the recent Captivated by the Word conferences and events that took place throughout the territory this month.
Lieutenant-Colonel Carole Bate, Social Justice Consultant for The Salvation Army Eastern Territory in the United States, was guest speaker for the 25th Captivated, accompanied by her daughter, Natasha Bate, who enhanced the spoken messages through her worshipful singing. The theme for each event was Kaleidoscope of Prayer.
A two-day conference was held at The Collaroy Centre on Sydney’s northern beaches, the Tuggeranong Corps in the ACT and Townsville Riverway Recovery Centre each hosted evening events, and the North Brisbane Corps was the venue for a one-day conference.
More than 600 women attended these special occasions.
When Carole was searching the scriptures to see where the Lord was leading her as she prepared for Captivated, she wanted to focus on some aspects of prayer that can cloud our communication with God.
Hannah’s story, as told in 1 Samuel 1, was an obvious choice.
“Hannah’s story focuses on coming before the throne of God and being honest,” Carole explained.
Carole also spoke about Mary and Martha, who asked Jesus to come to them when their brother died. Jesus waited two days before he came.
“Sometimes we don’t really understand why the Lord is doing what he is doing, or why he doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers,” she said.
“We need to believe in the goodness of God and wait upon him when he’s not working according to our time schedule.”
The “widow’s grief”, as told in Luke 7:11-17, was also a focus in Carole’s messages.
“I’ve always been drawn to this scripture,” she shared. “In her grief and pain, the widow is not even aware of Jesus’ presence and yet his heart goes out to her, he initiates a conversation with her and resurrects her only son.
“Jesus’ heart goes out to us today, too; he is available and he desires to initiate conversations with us.”
Carole also spoke about the prayer bowls full of incense before the throne of God in Revelation 5.
“These are the prayers of the saints and show how our prayers are eternal and live on beyond us,” Carole explained.
Natasha sang at each venue, with the addition of a drama presentation in Sydney.
During each of the Captivated events, Commissioner Jan Condon, Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, thanked the women gathered for the $100,000 raised for the Salvos Women Territorial Project for 2014 – basic medical kits, sewing classes and Bibles for women in the
Tanzania Territory.
Commissioner Jan also launched the project for 2015 – “I will survive”. Funds raised through this project will help young women leaving orphanages in Ukraine, Eastern Europe Territory.
During the Sydney conference Letitia Shelton, founder of Toowoomba’s “City Women” movement, spoke passionately about their 80-church collaborative ministry to girls and women at risk in the city. For more information see citywomen.com.au
Captain Carole Smith, Training Officer, School for Officer training, organised prayer rooms for the Sydney conference, with the assistance of second year cadets.
In Townsville, Captain Meaghan Gallagher, Corps Officer, Townsville Faithworks, interviewed four different women about their personal prayer journey, with each one testifying to their dependence on God.
For an extended report on Captivated, look out for the March issue of Women in Touch.
Audio recordings of the main sessions are available for $25.00. Prayer diaries and resource manuals on prayer can also be purchased. For details, email salvos.women@aue.salvationarmy.org
For personal reflections and comments on the events, check out the Salvos Women Facebook page.
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