International leaders visit Newfoundland

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle both grew up in Newfoundland, Canada, but this September marked their first official visit to the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of the Canada and Bermuda Territory as international leaders of The Salvation Army.

Throughout the weekend, the General delivered messages centered on surrendering to God. “Our Founder William Booth said, ‘God shall have all of me,’ and because of that we have The Salvation Army.” He added the challenging question, “What does God want to do with you?”

During his final message of the weekend, the General assured those gathered that “God has a plan for The Salvation Army in Newfoundland and Labrador.” Then, he asked Salvationists to give themselves in service to God by saying, “Can God count on you? Surrender your all, the Kingdom is at stake!” Stirred into action by his message, many people moved forward to pray. NFC

Salvationists attend World Council of Churches assembly

Six Salvation Army representatives attended the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in September, which brought together more than 3,500 church leaders and representatives in Karlsruhe, Germany, under the theme “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity.”

The Salvation Army group included Commissioner Jane Paone, Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations at International Headquarters (IHQ), who headed the Army’s delegation; Commissioner Vibeke Krommenhoek, Officer for European Ecumenical Relations (IHQ); Lt. Colonel Bishwo Samhika, Secretary for Capability Development and Training (IHQ); and from the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, Lt. Colonel Karen Shakespeare, Lt. Colonel Jonathan Roberts and Lt. Jonny Whitmore.

“It became clear over these days that the only way to reach our fractured world is for each follower of Christ to show his or her love to the world, beginning with his or her neighbor,” Paone said.

The Salvation Army is an observ- er member of the WCC, which was founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. An assembly typically occurs every eight years. The last assembly took place in Busan, Korea, in 2013. NFC

‘Limitless God’: International Conference of Leaders 2022

Leaders of The Salvation Army’s 58 territories and commands gathered in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 24–Oct. 1 for the 2022 International Conference of Leaders (ICL), themed “Limitless God.” Although hybrid, this was the first in-person such gathering since 2017, and the first led by General Brian Peddle.

During the conference, officers examined a range of practical and theological issues. This year’s group considered how the international Salvation Army can best meet its mission in the 21st century, with a focus on “Our Identity,” “Our People” and “Our Priorities.”

As the conference began, the General spoke of the importance of discernment, of being able to recognize the Army’s strengths and weaknesses. “We are charged with intentionally and critically examining whether the movement is fit for purpose in today’s world,” he said. “Fruitful deliberation should help us to ultimately shape a strategy to help The Salvation Army flourish and meet the needs of the most vulnerable without prejudice or discrimination.” NFC

Salvation Army hosts soccer tournament

The Salvation Army United Kingdom hosted its 11th annual soccer tournament in Manchester for those experiencing homelessness. Over 20 teams came together to participate, including players from housing shelters, outreach programs and Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA) services, all of which provide support to those in need.

The annual tournament is one of the many ways The Salvation Army promotes positive and independent living for its service users, while reinforcing its message that helping people to move on from homelessness is more than just providing a home. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag attended the event as a special guest. “It was fantastic to attend today’s event in Manchester with The Salvation Army. The organization does great work in supporting homeless people to rebuild their lives,” he said. “Homelessness is a difficult problem in our city and anything I can do to raise awareness is important. It was great to see everyone playing football (soccer) together, showing energy, spirit and teamwork to promote well-being.” NFC