Faithful Workers, Open Doors — and a Country That Needs Prayer
By the time Henry and Minnie Eskelund married in December 1948, the work in Denmark was taking root. Henry became full-time co-director in 1954, and with a full-fledged Dane now in leadership, more doors began to open. Lessons were translated and published. Training classes were held, teaching women how to lead children to Christ. A bi-monthly paper — Vogt Mine Lam (Feed My Lambs) — was launched to share the vision with a wider audience.
God continued to call workers.
Hanne Merrild Nielsen came to live in the Eskelunds’ home in suburban Copenhagen, translating lessons, doing secretarial work, helping with teacher training and children’s clubs. For 18 years she served faithfully as their right hand.
Then Jørgen and Annette Hansen became the first Danish couple to enter the work full-time. Jørgen had been a tailor — one of such skill that he had fitted the men for the wedding of Princess Anne-Marie to King Constantine of Greece. Serving the royal family had been his dream. But when the King of Kings called, he said yes without hesitation — no financial promise, no Danish krone of support, and four small children at home. Years later, asked whether he had ever lacked anything, Jørgen smiled: “God has abundantly taken care of us.”
In 1976 another young couple, Kresten and Birgit Jensen of Fredensborg — near the famous Fredensborg Castle, one of the Queen’s residences — also entered the work, eventually taking over leadership from the Eskelunds when they officially retired in 1987.
The ministry grew.
Summer tent outreach reached some 700 children in a single year. Annual camps saw children come to know Christ and grow in their faith. A telephone ministry launched on both the island of Sjaelland and the mainland of Jylland. In its very first year 1,750 children called in to hear a Gospel message. Children’s prayer cell groups — 64 small groups of two or three children meeting to pray for themselves, their peers, and their parents — sprang up across three areas. In 1984 a weekly half-hour radio Bible club began broadcasting, now carried on five local stations. A monthly television programme for children followed.
By the time the Eskelunds stepped back, they had seen Denmark’s work become fully manned by its own people and recognised as autonomous in 1971. One of their greatest joys was seeing children who had trusted Christ in Bible clubs years earlier now helping to bring other boys and girls to Christ.
The young girl who once argued with God in a rented room in Dallas — “Denmark? Oh no, Lord” — found out she was needed, yes very much needed, even in Denmark.
Today, Denmark is a focus country for CEF Europe.
Currently there are no workers there, and the ministry that once reached thousands of children has no one to carry it forward. We are asking God to raise up new workers for Denmark — and we are asking you to pray with us. Would you take a moment to pray for Denmark today? Pray that God would call workers, open doors, and once again reach the children of this beautiful country with the good news of Jesus.
*This story is taken from the book Harvest Comes in Spring by Ruth E. Turnwall, a former CEF worker.
(Image:Adobe Express)
