Nigerian Believers - 30 Lives on Palm Sunday

While Christians around the world gathered to wave palm branches and sing Hosanna, our brothers and sisters in Plateau State, Nigeria, faced a literal walk through the valley of the shadow of death. On Sunday evening, as families prepared for Holy Week, gunmen stormed the Angwan Rukuba community, opening fire on unsuspecting residents.

Reports confirm that at least 30 lives were lost in this unprovoked violence. Among the fallen were young believers, aged 21 to 31, whose futures were cut short on the very day we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

'Our people are living in fear,' shared a local contact, describing the scene where homes were burned and families displaced. Despite the darkness of this hour, faith remains the only anchor. Humanitarian workers remind us that even in tragedy, we find hope in Christ, who is 'a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.'

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, we do not mourn as those without hope. We stand in solidarity, calling for peace and justice for the vulnerable. Let us lift our voices for Nigeria, praying that the light of the Resurrection will pierce through this overwhelming grief.

Details are in the comments 👇

#PrayForNigeria #PalmSunday #ChristianPersecution #FaithUnderFire #HolyWeek2026

Kabul Airport Attack - 13 Americans Dead

These are the US service members killed in the Kabul airport attack

The identities of the 13 US service members who were killed by an ISIS-K suicide bomber outside the Kabul airport while helping to oversee the evacuation of thousands of Americans and Afghan allies have been confirmed by authorities.

The US Marines on Saturday released the names of the dead, including 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman and one Army soldier.

We continue to mourn the loss of these Marines and pray for their families. Our focus now is taking care of the families of those who were killed and caring for our injured,” Maj. Jim Stenger, a Marine Corps spokesperson, told The Post in an email. 

Here’s what we know about the US service members who were killed. 

Maxton Soviak, 22, Navy

Soviak, a Navy hospital corpsman, hailed from Berlin Heights, Ohio, and graduated from Edison High School in Milan in 2017, the Sandusky Register reported. 

A woman who identified herself as Soviak’s older sister and goes by Marilyn Soviak on Instagram, penned a heartbreaking post Friday that confirmed her brother’s death. 

“I’ve never been one for politics and i’m not going to start now. What I will say is that my beautiful, intelligent, beat-to-the-sound of his own drum, annoying, charming baby brother was killed yesterday helping to save lives,” the sister wrote. 

“[H]e was a f–king medic. there to help people. and now he is gone and my family will never be the same. there is a large Maxton sized hole that will never be filled,” she wrote alongside a slideshow of images showing the two as children.

“[H]e was just a kid. [W]e are sending kids over there to die. kids with families that now have holes just like ours.”

W. Territory Prayers - Bangladesh Territory

 Prayer Focus – 30 March – 05 April 2026

Bangladesh Territory

Territorial Leader: Lieut-Colonel Elizabeth Nelson

Chief Secretary: Major Gabriel Dewri

TSWM: Major Chaya Dewri

Praise:

· We are thankful for God’s faithfulness and provision throughout the territory.

· We praise God for our seven new Cadets, (Proclaimers of Transformation Session), and for those who have responded to God’s call to full-time ministry as Officers.

· We thank God that the territory was able to complete the purchase of land for Jhimali Outpost.

Prayer Requests:

· We thank God for the territorial theme for 2026, ‘Spirit Led Transformation: Together We Rise’. As we focus on this theme, we are praying for a powerful spiritual impact on our territory.

· Pray for spiritual revival and a renewed passion for God among all Salvationists in the territory. New initiatives have been introduced for Corps to participate in Alpha - an online Bible Study for youth, and Bible Studies for men’s ministry.

· Pray for financial sustainability of our Corps to continue their mission effectively. We are working together to develop income-generating initiatives that can provide needed support to our Corps.

· Pray for those involved in developing our Development Strategy for the territory. We have some effective development projects in the territory, and we want to strengthen and expand our work into areas of Bangladesh where we can have an impact and influence.

· Please pray for Territorial Leadership and the upcoming transition in leadership. Pray for God’s Spirit to guide and lead them with wisdom, vision and courage. May we hear and be obedient to what God is calling us to do to impact His Kingdom.

Frank D. - Judy H. PTG

A LIFE WELL-LIVED—Commissioner Judy Hedgren is Promoted to Glory. She lived her life for the Glory of God !!

Commissioner Judy Hedgren was Promoted to Glory on March 26, 2026, at the age of 77. 

Judith Ann White was born on February 14, 1949, in Richmond, VA to Majors Lairon and Edith White. She lived her life with deep faith, contagious joy, and boundless love. Her life was truly an adventure with God, marked by laughter, compassion, and a heart that reflected the love of Christ to everyone she met. 

On April 12, 1975, she married the love of her life, Steve Hedgren. Together, they felt the call to Salvation Army officership and applied to enter the Training College in Chicago in 1976 as members of the Disciples of Jesus session of cadets. They were commissioned as cadet/lieutenants to Rockford Citadel, IL. Ordained and commissioned in June 1978, they later served as corps officers in Champaign, IL, and Port Huron, MI, and as divisional youth leaders for the Midland Divisional Headquarters. 

In 1991, they transferred to the Southern Territory, with corps appointments, area command roles, and divisional leadership in Tampa, FL; Miami, FL; Atlanta Temple, GA; and eventually to the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. 

The Hedgrens then transferred to the Eastern Territory, accomplishing a seldom-achieved status of serving in three USA territories, eventually becoming territorial leaders. Throughout their ministry, they influenced thousands through preaching, teaching, youth work, and international Salvation Army events. 

Commissioners Steve and Judy Hedgren retired from active service on April 1, 2016, after over 37 years of ministry. 

Commissioner Judy Hedgren is preceded in death by her parents, and by her devoted husband of 46 years, Commissioner Steve Hedgren. 

She is survived by her children, Heather (Jay) Needham, and Captain Matt (Jessica) Hedgren; and her six grandchildren. 

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for April 9, 2026, at the Tampa Corps.

Angela S. - Aunts PTG

This afternoon, our family is celebrating the life of my beautiful Aunt Virginia in Phoenix. Please pray for her husband George, children Mark and Leigh, their spouses, grandchildren and many family members as we grieve our loss and celebrate Heaven's gain. I would also ask prayer for those of us who will speak about her life and the impact she has made. Holy Spirit, may your presence be felt and known today.

Divisional Youth Retreat

Please pray for our leaders and young people are attending the Divisional Youth Retreat at Camp Redwood Glen. May each one draw closer to the Lord during this time. May God get all the Glory! 

Six Airmen Killed - Plane Crash

CFOT Brigades Summer Assignments

Today our cadets from the College For Officer Training are traveling to various ministry locations for 10 days of service and mission. This is always a meaningful time where the rubber meets the road - classroom learning meets real-life ministry.

This year our cadets will be serving in several locations across the Western Territory:

Hawaii: 3 brigades will be serving on different islands, partnering with local Salvation Army ministries and communities.

Portland, Oregon: One brigade will be serving in the greater Portland area.

 Seattle, Washington: Another brigade will be ministering throughout the Seattle area.

Redondo Beach: The last group will be serving in the Redondo Beach area. 

During these ten days they will be involved in a variety of ministries, community outreach, worship, service projects, and sharing the love of Christ with people in each community.

Please pray for:

·        Safe travel and good health

·        Open hearts in the communities they serve

·        Unity and spiritual growth within each team

·        Opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ

These moments of ministry are formative experiences for our future Salvation Army officers. We are grateful for the corps, officers, Divisional leaders, and communities who will host them.

Thank you for covering our cadets in prayer over these next 10 days. Blessings. Spring Campaigns 2026 College for Officer Training at Crestmont

Julie S. - Daughter's Health and Healing

After 6 hours in the ER , Katie is now being admitted. She has an abscess on her face and cellulitis. So she too needs IV antibiotics but there is no in home hospital care for pediatrics. This is going to be a few days in the hospital.

Julie S. - Son Andrew's Health

Spent 7 hours in the ER today with Drew until Duncan took over at 11:00 and is with him now. 

Drew has a UTI that is resistant to most oral antibiotics with the best oral being one he is allergic to. We fought for “in home hospital care” so that he wasn’t admitted. Duncan will bring him home tonight. We will have phlebotomist and nurses coming in daily to check his white blood count and to administer the antibiotics. You are considered septic when your white blood count is at 12 - Andrews was at 11.6 - the Dr said “essentially septic” I am so glad we took him in! 

Please pray that these antibiotics work and that everything goes smoothly. I am still on my FB fast, so I won’t be back on, but wanted to ask for prayers!

Joy - Daughter

Prayer request:

F. has been waking up the last few nights because of nightmares. She gets scared to go back to sleep. I was late to work twice last week and today we missed church.

She took a nap today and woke up crying again.

It’s not reoccurring but the theme is her & I separating. 

Can you please say a prayer for her, especially when she dreams

Pray for these fallen Soldiers Families

Jeannie B. - THQ Prayer Requests

THQ Prayer Requests – Thursday, 3/05/26

THQ – Please pray for the delegates and leaders of the Holiness Retreat which begins this morning at the Crestmont Campus.

Vinnie Olds - Please pray for my family, my daughter especially who has been sick.  I need prayers for my entire family all 4 generations.  My church family and our young Pastor who leads a flock of people “set in their ways” keep him strong and healthy.  I ask for payers for my coworkers and their families in whatever they need, prayers for this world as a whole. 

Thank you, Vinnie

Minnie Cleveland - Please join me in praying for God’s leading and guiding the hearts of leaders to make decisions that align with God’s will both religious leaders, as well as, government, all over the world. 

Roya Yavari - Please pray for my country , IRAN . Pray that people survive this war and that this regime is replaced by a democratic one; people have paid a very high price for this regime to change.

Erin Sedlewicz - I have hurt my back and need healing.  Wisdom too on what to do and not do in the meantime.

Doris Hall - Please pray with me for Teesha, Pastor James, Jon and LaStar and children, JT and KG, Officer and employees. Thank you.

Major Petr Janousek - One of our members went to Israel 2 weeks ago and we received a great blessing by him reading to us online Psalm 122 from Jaffa gate in Jerusalem on Sunday February 22. But now he is stuck in Tel Aviv because of the war. Pray please for the safety and safe return not only for him but for many others in likewise situation.

Thank you.

Lt. Christopher Rockwell - Please pray to sharpen our mindfulness so we listen closely to His voice/follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Pray that He fills us with a proactive spirit so we step forward in faith, serve with joy/act with courage to accomplish everything the Holy Spirit calls us to do. Pray that God strengthens our unity, grants us wisdom/sustains us with steady strength as we follow His direction in our community in the Farmington area.

Captain Felicia Grant - Currently, we are without vital volunteer support. Please pray for the well-being of our volunteers, as they are a tremendous blessing to both staff and the community we serve. Their partnership and participation are key to providing our community with Salvation Army programs and services. Thank you!

Captain Megan Trimmer - We are stepping our youngest, Wesley has 6, off his seizure medication as he has been 2 years seizure free. Prayer that as we step him down from medicine, he continues to be seizure free, but also, for his behavior/him being able to self-regulate his emotions and such. Thanks.

Major Taylor Santos - Please continue to pray for the ministry in FSM especially in Chuuk. May the Lord provide us leaders for the harvest. Pray for the Micronesian officers and their children.

Julie Merinar - Please pray for my son Malcom and the families involved. Praying for a positive and lenient outcome for my son and our family. Thank you.

 

 

 

Guillermo and Rosio - Clovis Corps

May God be with Guillermo and Rosio as they take on their Pastoral duty at the Clovis Corps. May God prepare their way and bless their new ministry! May God give increase at their appointment! May God bless them and their family!