Prayer Covenanters League History
"Pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances, 
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
HISTORY OF THE PRAYER COVENANTERS' LEAGUE
The earliest record of Covenanters in Australia appears in the War Cry magazine on July, 19th 1902.
The term is linked back to the Scottish Covenanters of 1638 – 1688, a courageous band of men and women who covenanted “to resist the encroachment of corrupt authorities upon religious liberty”. Many signed their name in blood at the Greyfriars’ churchyard, Edinburgh.
An article appeared in the War Cry of July 19th 1902 calling for Salvationists to pledge themselves to another “Solemn League and Covenant”.
To quote the article:
“Not in this case to resist the encroachment of corrupt, authorities upon religious liberty, but that every Salvationist should make a determined individual and aggressive effort to pray for special sinners, win them to Christ, pledge them for soldiership in our ranks, and do their utmost for a united advance against the hosts of sin and the devil..
If this covenant is to be carried out – and who dare say that it cannot be – it will assuredly only be by considerable amount of practical self-denial, personal toil, and unshaken perseverance.”
The language might be quaint, but the message in the last paragraph of the article is as relevant then as it is now.
“The Campaign Covenant lies before you. Take it as your Lord’s call for fresh proof of your love to Him, and the best opportunity yet presented to you of being a channel for His love to flow through into others hearts.
Rise up and ‘pay your vows to the Lord’…
WILL YOU BE A COVENANTER ?”
In 1905 the call for covenanters was renewed, as the influence of the Welsh Revival swept around the world.
Commissioner McKie placed a full 2 column plea in the February 4th, 1905 War Cry for a Prayer League to “work in our lives, and bring renewal”. The covenant was placed on page 9 of the War Cry and all soldiers were encouraged to sign up.
Daily prayer meetings at 12 noon at THQ were commenced.
Covenanters today are linked to the fervent, praying band of Salvationists at the beginning of the last century (what a privilege!).
Brigadier Cyril Brimblecombe was the first Prayer Covenanters secretary. He was followed by Brigadier G Clarke, then Adjutant L. C. Rusher in 1943. There is no record until 1960 when Colonel Cyril Brimblecombe again became the Secretary. He was followed by the then Captain Roland Hill, Lieut. Colonel Alan Sharp, Major Brian Corfield, Major Horrie Wishart & Major Gwenda Watkinson.
Major Jennifer Middleton became the Prayer Covenanters secretary in December 2001, and handed over to Captain Donna Bryan in January 2005.
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Contact: |
Captain Donna Bryan |
