All The World (April 2011)

uPDAtE – Haiti earthquake New General takes office Photographic Competition Flood response in AustrAliA

The face of

homelessness APril–JuNE 2011

VOl 49 NO 2

MANNEQUIN EXHIBITION AT INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

C O U N T RY O R T H E M E

APRIL–JUNE 2011

CONTENTS

Visit ALL THE WORLD at: www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

03

UPFRONT From the Editor

04

NEWS the new General

05

EMERGENCY sri lanka

08

HOME AND AWAY reflections from the usA and France

10

FACT FILE Haiti facts and figures

11

EMERGENCY Haiti update

14

ART Exhibition

15

EMERGENCY New Zealand earthquake

16

COMMUNITY Denmark

18

EMERGENCY Australia floods

22

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

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11 11 14 16 15 18

Salvation BookS

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WHAT A HoPE!

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DEAr PAUL

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SpRINg SALE

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No pain, no gain? tHE start to 2011 has not been easy. trouble in the Middle East has been interspersed with natural disasters in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and, of course, Japan. i now regret mentioning just over a year ago to a colleague in international Emergency services that ‘there hasn’t been a big disaster for ages’. Me and my big mouth ...!

On a personal level this year has also not started well. in February my lovely grandma, Mrs Edna Baker, died – ‘promoted to Glory’ according to the wonderful salvation Army phrase – and in March i was was shocked to learn of the promotion to Glory of my friend and former corps officer (pastor) Major Janet Gilson, who was murdered while visiting family in Hong Kong.

Grandma’s death was sad but, at 94 years old, she was at the end of a good and long life. she had a strong faith, tempered no doubt in the fires of wartime liverpool, into whose bombed-out streets she and my grandad were appointed – they were salvation Army officers – principally because Grandad could drive! she told me that they would go round after a bad night of bombing, offering help and comfort where they could. they even once accepted a request to obtain cigarettes for people working at a makeshift morgue because the smoke would keep the smell bearable and help ward off infection!

Of course, to me she was just Grandma – full of love and, even though

she could fit under my armpit, giver of the biggest hugs ever!

Janet – i don’t think i ever called her Major Gilson – was a pioneer when the salvation Army returned to russia in the early 1990s. she was a strong, principled woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed, and many russian salvationists will mourn her passing. she was also a hardworking church member, always available to young and old alike.

‘This pain is part of what makes us human, part of what makes us care for others’ At a time when my wife and i needed support because of concerns during a pregnancy, Janet was everything we could have hoped for. At that moment, for us, she truly was God’s representative on earth.

EDITor Kevin Sims DESIGn AnD ArTWorK Berni Georges EDITorIAL oFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; fax: [44] (0)20 7332 8079 Email: IHQ-AlltheWorld@salvationarmy.org FoUnDEr William Booth GEnErAL Linda Bond

Kevin Sims, Editor

UPFRONT

From THE EDITor

What stood out for me in the loss of Grandma and Janet was that their deaths touched me in a way that the tragedies i had seen on tV had not. And yet behind the bewildering numbers of deaths there is the stark truth that each of those people leaves behind someone who hurts, not with physical pain but with the heartache of losing someone they love. this pain isn’t something to be ashamed of. it’s part of what makes us human, part of what makes us care for others. As Christians we look to Jesus for our example. We read in the Bible that Jesus wept when he went to see the tomb of lazarus, who he loved. i am certain that Grandma’s and Janet’s faith has taken them to be with the saviour they lived to serve.

But as i remember the good times with Grandma and the coversations i shared with Janet i can’t help but feel the pain of losing them – the same pain felt by parents, children, siblings and friends of people in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil or Haiti. through the pages of this magazine i hope you are able to come closer to understanding what people are going through and even be inspired to help. in medicine it often takes pain for patients to realise something is wrong before they act on it. Perhaps if we experience at least a little of the pain felt by other people it will inspire us to respond compassionately.

EDITor-In-CHIEF Lieut-Colonel Laurie robertson Annual subscription from Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (periodicals), 66-78 Denington road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, northants nn8 2QH, United Kingdom Cost: United Kingdom £3.00 Worldwide surface £3.50 Worldwide airmail £4.50

Published by Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army.

Printed in Great Britain © The General of The Salvation Army 2011

Single copy 40p (UK), or from any Salvation Army headquarters. Published quarterly

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NEW GENERAL

T

HE new international leader of the salvation Army is General linda Bond. General Bond was elected by the High Council – made up of the salvation Army’s most senior leaders – on 31 January 2011 and took office on 2 April. she is the salvation Army’s 19th General and the third woman to hold the office.

General Bond has 42 years’ experience of Christian ministry and leadership. From May 2008 she headed up the salvation Army’s work in the Australia Eastern territory, based at territorial headquarters in sydney. this territory includes the recently devastated state of Queensland where the salvation Army continues to be heavily involved in assisting victims of widespread flooding.

Prior to this, the General served at the salvation Army’s international Headquarters (iHQ) in london as the secretary for spiritual life Development and international External relations – based mostly in her native Canada. this was her second spell at iHQ, where she had previously served as under secretary for Personnel in the mid-1990s.

General Bond served in her home territory of Canada and Bermuda in local corps (church) ministry, on the staff of territorial and divisional headquarters and as part of the training staff for new officers. she was also a divisional leader and subsequently became chief secretary – second-in-command – of the territory.

New General Accepts God’s Call

ComPILEd fRom REPoRts ANd AN INtERvIEw by Lieut-CoLoNeL Laurie robertsoN

Other appointments included divisional leadership in the united Kingdom and as territorial leader of the usA Western territory. speaking after her election at the High Council the then Commissioner Bond affirmed that her relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important one she has in the whole world. she went on to say: ‘i give him all the glory. Jesus is my redeemer and saviour. He has transformed my life and he is my lord.’ referring to her personal commitment to be obedient to Jesus Christ she said of the salvation Army: ‘Our relationship with Jesus is what makes the salvation Army great, effective and loved. this is the most important thing for the Army to centre on – uplifting the name of Jesus ... ‘the lord has raised us up and given us a mission to save souls, grow saints and to serve suffering humanity. Every day the salvation Army must be obedient and give itself to God and say, “We will do what you

have called us to do and be who you have called us to be.”’ interviewed shortly after becoming the General-Elect, Commissioner Bond described her thoughts on being world leader of the salvation Army: ‘When i was nominated i felt it was an affirmation from my peers. My overall feeling was that “this is of the lord”. He had been speaking to my heart through scripture and, although i had not intended to, i accepted nomination in obedience to the lord. i felt that i had to wait to see what he wanted to do.

‘When i was elected i was humbled, but i had a real sense that this was the lord’s doing. to me it was a miracle – it was a work of grace.’

The July-September issue of All the World will include an article by General Bond Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson is Communications secretary, Editor-in-Chief and Literary secretary at the salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London, UK

Welcome and Dedication meeting General Linda Bond SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2011 4 PM NINE KINGs sUItE, LANCAstER LoNdoN LANCAstER tERRACE, LoNdoN w2 2ty Admission by complimentary ticket only. Please send sAE to the special Events Unit, UK UK tHQ. further information available on [+44] (0) 20 7367 4860

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SRI LANKA

Not forgotten

T

HE early months of 2011 have not been short of natural disasters. the news has been full of tragic stories of largescale emergencies in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

Major raelton Gibbs reports for All the World on the emergency response and long-term ministry offered by the salvation Army after disastrous floods in sri Lanka

i received a warm welcome and my One situation that went largely initial impressions were that the work unnoticed was serious flooding in sri undertaken by local salvationists with lanka. Maybe this is because – fortunately little funding had been commendable.

Early the next day, accompanied by – not many people died. Current estimates are that 44 people lost their lives but – as two colleagues – Nalin and Captain Felix we are beginning to appreciate in the Kumaravel – i set off east to Valachchenai Western world – the loss of home and and Karadiyanaru.

We stopped for breakfast to eat a local possessions can be terribly stressful, especially when your means to earn a spicy delicacy with a table of Buddhist monks for company. Our journey took living is also gone.

My short assessment trip to sri lanka just over six hours but the unusual sights, began in Colombo, the capital, where i such as elephants rather than dogs in met the country’s salvation Army front gardens, made the journey pass leadership to review the response to the quickly. upon arriving we were kindly hosted flooding. My international Emergency at a local corps (salvation services role involved me Army church). After a i n a s c e r t a i n i n g wh a t They had quick sandwich lunch we was happening from an suffered war travelled with the local objective viewpoint, helping sectional officer (Major the local salvation Army to for years then Puvanendran Muthusamy) decide what the direction they were hit to flood-affected areas to of the work may be, and view the situation and then assessing any future by the Indian involvement.

Ocean tsunami speak with the victims.

Above: mothers and babies in the maternity section of Hope House, Colombo

the flooding had mainly receded but the effects of it were obvious and had taken their toll. i still question how people with next to nothing are always affected in these situations and left with even less. these communities had suffered war for years then they were hit by the indian Ocean tsunami in late 2004 and all but wiped out. Now disaster had struck again. the locals talked about their needs but most of the matters they raised were longterm issues that existed before the floods – poverty, poor education and high unemployment. the community includes a large number of fishermen, who explained that they struggled to sell their produce because people believe the fish will have eaten flesh from dead bodies in the tsunami and floods. they did ask for their wells to be cleared and cleaned as they had been contaminated by flood-water. At a cost of A PR IL –JU N E 2 0 1 1 | ALL THE WORLD |

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SRI LANKA

Below: major raelton Gibbs, wearing a garland of welcome, with Sri Lankan colleague nalin; right: a community meeting in Ampora

only us$10 a well, this seemed to me to be a cheap and simple way to help that would have a profound impact on their lives. As far as i was concerned it was a win-win situation!

While there i also saw two salvation Army projects in action. the first was a mobile clinic that visits the community every week. in an old rundown building the doctor and nurses attend to a line of sick people of all ages, caring for them, treating their ailments and dispensing medication. the second project provides the children of the village with extra nutrition and education. it also tries to help them work through and deal with the traumas of war they have experienced. i was greeted as a special guest with garlands of jasmine and a song in English.

i felt i had done nothing to earn such respect. i was merely taking the opportunity to visit and show an interest.

Having said that, i am aware how important it is to know you are not forgotten. i was really impressed with the dedication and work of both teams. Well done to the salvation Army’s Canada and Bermuda territory for investing resources in these projects!

We headed back to Battacalo for a meal with the district officer and his family. they kindly took some of the heat out of the meal for my Western taste buds! the day ended with a visit to the salvation Army’s children’s home on the complex. twelve girls from the age of six to 18 lived here, in two rooms plus toilets

and kitchen. the facilities may not be large but the quality of care was clear. All the girls are doing well at school and some of the older ones have been accepted for university. i continue to be amazed at the selfless work of the salvation Army around the world. the day ended at the local hostelry – which was basic but clean – listening to a deafening chorus of frogs followed by the call to prayer at the Buddhist temple. it had been a tiring day, but one not to be forgotten. the third day of my visit started by meeting local political leaders. First we were received by Mr Pon selvarasa, the local Member of Parliament, before we paid a visit to the mayor. As well as ensuring that they knew what the salvation Army had been doing we wanted to hear their thoughts on the crisis and learn what gaps in provision they thought we could fill. Coordination is an important element of any emergency response and all information received is useful when we take part in meetings with government and non-government organisations (NGOs).

We then left for Kokatichcholai, Kalmunai and Ampora to visit more people affected by the flooding. to get to some of the communities we had to cross a lagoon by ferry. i was grateful the journey was no more than 10 minutes! Only one car was allowed, along with a couple of tuk tuks (a type of scooter often used as a taxi) and as many bikes and motorbikes as could be packed around them.

We visited a number of communities where the houses were built of mud, Left: an elephant in a front garden

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SRI LANKA

right: children at a Salvation Army schools project in Anuradadhapua; below right: a community meeting in Kalmunai; bottom: the rickety ferry across a lagoon

which meant the floods had washed away the walls. One community mentioned that during the floods they had a problem with snakes and crocodiles. this problem was brought home to me when i saw a seven-foot crocodile swim past the ferry.

Following a quick lunch we started the long journey home, which was not helped by it being the start of campaigning in the local political process. in the uK it often seems we couldn’t care about elections but this is certainly not the case in sri lanka. We passed through a number of rallies, with groups of supporters of the various parties waving flags and banners, and driving in convoy.

On the way home we called into a salvation Army project, based in a rented house, supporting local children and women. When we got there an English lesson was taking place. Once more i was impressed by what i witnessed. the journey back to Colombo took a total of nine hours, the roads having been damaged by the flooding. this included a short stop in the city of Candy for sri lankan-style Kentucky fried chicken! the final day of my visit started with another meeting at territorial headquarters, where the observations and recommendations from the visit were discussed. the rest of the day was taken up with report-writing and a visit to the Haven, a project for women in Colombo. some of the women sent to the project by the

During the floods they had a problem with snakes and crocodiles government are homeless, others have been abused or raped, some have been the victims of domestic violence and a number have themselves committed crimes. the building has certainly seen better days. One wing which was built to hold 34 women currently houses 72. the team of single women salvation Army officers at the Haven work in difficult circumstances, with some residents so distressed that they have been known to eat glass to try and kill themselves. these difficulties make the success rate at the Haven even more remarkable. the

ministry being undertaken is of such high quality that the government is keen to keep referring people to the centre.

My time in sri lanka enabled me to see many aspects of the salvation Army’s extraordinary work in the country. the ongoing ministry is amazing and i discovered that the emergency relief programme was just as good. With limited resources, the emergency response team of dedicated salvation Army officers, coordinated by Major Jayaratnasingham, responded well to what initially seemed to be an overwhelming situation. sri lanka has had more than its fair share of problems and, following my visit, the rains continued causing flooding to many of the areas, bringing more destruction. At this difficult time i know that the salvationists of sri lanka can be assured of our continuing practical and prayerful support.

major Raelton Gibbs is Programme officer for the salvation Army’s International Emergency services A PR IL –JU N E 2 0 1 1 | ALL THE WORLD |

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H O M E A N D A W AY

A sERIEs LooKING At tHE tHoUGHts ANd ExPERIENCEs of PEoPLE woRKING foR tHE sALvAtIoN ARmy IN tHEIR CoUNtRy of bIRtH ANd otHERs GIvING sERvICE AbRoAd

CAPtAiN MArY NOrtON, UsA Far left: Captain mary norton with her family; left: leading the Home League women’s meeting

what is your role in the salvation army?

Corps officer at El Cajon, near san diego, California, UsA. what would be your typical day? my days are never typical! the needs of people always arise, moving other tasks aside and making it difficult to keep track of the time. my responsibilities are mainly in the area of programme: youth activities (sunbeams, girl guards, music classes, corps cadets, etc), women’s ministries (home league, monthly groups, etc), sunday worship and weekly bible studies. there can also be special events such as advisory board luncheons, baby showers, divisional events, music recitals, Christmas programmes and vacation bible school. my schedule adjusts to meet the demand at the time.

How did you meet the salvation army? my sisters were counsellors at summer camp, which introduced our family to the salvation Army. this led to my parents becoming auxiliary-captains.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

I have home-schooled my four children, beginning in kindergarten, and am about to graduate my oldest from high school.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? my dad has always been my primary spiritual influence. what is your favourite bible verse?

At this stage in life I want to be a mature believer so my theme verse has been James 1:4: ‘Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything’ (New International Version). what is your favourite salvation army song? maybe ‘there’s No other Name but this Name’.

How do you think the salvation army in the usa differs from the rest of the world?

In the same way that the UsA differs from the rest of the world! Each country and culture brings its own challenges and joys, and the UsA is no different. our culture is very modern and technologically driven so our Army is also modern and technical. we live in an environment of abundance, and have to face the challenges of over-indulgent people. I’ve only ever served in the UsA so I can’t compare or contrast when this is all I know. what particular challenges does the salvation army face in the usa? same as the rest of the world – many sinners in need of the saviour! we certainly must wrestle with the financial side of things – how to be good stewards of what we have while

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being generous and grateful. the law and law suits have impacted our ministry, so we have many obstacles to overcome in keeping in line with the hiring/firing/employee rights issues of our country and other legalities. what do you like most about the usa? freedom! we still have the freedom of speech and exercise of religion, which is such a blessing that we often take for granted. It is a beautiful country with such variety of people and landscapes and opportunities for ministry. It is my home and my heart aches for its lost and misguided people. what aspect of another country’s culture/attitudes do you think would be useful in the usa?

I am very patriotic, very loyal to the UsA. I haven’t heard of or seen a culture that is better, though I freely admit that my perspective is limited. there are certainly problems in our country, which I am very aware of, but I haven’t seen any other country in history that has the moral beginnings that this country has, with the freedoms that we enjoy. there is a scary shift taking place here, and our religious freedoms are at risk – so if you asked this question in 20 years I think I may answer very differently. if you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? officers should serve for 20 years before promotion to major – I’m too young to be a major! Again, I do not have the scope of the Army’s work to even begin to address any significant need for change. more of Jesus is what we all need! if you could choose to work for the salvation army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

I don’t want to serve anywhere else but if I had to pick somewhere I’d say England because our family is there [mary’s husband, Captain darren Norton, is English]. what skills do you use most in your work?

Prayer, submission, brokenness. what skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

Prayer, submission, brokenness.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who belonged to God. I want to be identified with Jesus. what’s so special about the salvation army? there are resources and opportunities in place like no other organisation. the potential to do real work for God is unlimited.

&

away

what is your role in the salvation army? territorial President of women’s ministries for the france and belgium territory (plus territorial candidates secretary).

Ò COlONEl JANE PAONE Colonel Jane Paone, with her husband Colonel massimo Paone, leads the salvation Army’s france and belgium territory. she has a cosmopolitan past – she entered training to become a salvation Army officer from Italy but was born in the UK and says she is ‘very proud’ of her scottish heritage.

How did you meet the salvation army?

I was taken along to the meetings in my pram! mum and dad were corps officers (salvation Army church ministers).

Left: Colonel Jane Paone preaching in Antwerp, Belgium; below: taking part in a Home League rally in Belgium

&AWAY

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

Giving oversight (along with my husband) to the opening of the salvation Army’s work in Greece. Receiving legal recognition of the Esercito della salvezza (the salvation Army) as a ‘religious body’ in Italy.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

I have lots of heroes of the faith – so many wonderful people who inspire me in my walk with the Lord. my dad, major James moir, was probably my biggest hero. He had a warm word of welcome for everyone (even strangers in the street) and always saw the good in people and in situations. I guess if there are jobs in Heaven he’ll be on the welcome desk there! [Editor’s note: major moir was on the welcome desk at International Headquarters in London for a number of years.] what is your favourite bible verse? ‘therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version). what is your favourite salvation army song?

Colin fairclough’s ‘Christ of Glory, Prince of Peace, let thy life in mine increase’ (The Song Book of The Salvation Army No 479).

How do you think the salvation army in France differs from the rest of the world? we speak french and don’t want to speak English (at least not often!).

&AWAY

what particular challenges does the salvation army face in France? to find creative ways of bringing the social and spiritual work together. we are in touch with many residents, employees, volunteers and local authorities, which is a privilege and a challenge. the french public appreciates the fine humanitarian work carried out in our corps community outreach and social centres, but it is not so easy to speak openly about Christ.

what do you miss most about your home country? from the UK I miss marks and spencer’s. from Italy I miss our favourite ice cream parlour in Rome. what do you like most about France?

the way you can have an in-depth discussion about almost anything!

if you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

I would change the job description so it would be possible for a normal human being to do the job! the Army has grown since the time of the first General and the task is so enormous, yet we expect so much of our General. if you could choose to work for the salvation army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

No answer – is this is a trick question? If I say where I would choose to go I might end up there! I didn’t join to choose – it’s much more of an adventure that way. I am content where I am now. what skills do you use most in your work?

Language and people skills. what skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

I enjoy leading singing groups when I can get the chance.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who brought joy into people’s lives. what’s so special about the salvation army?

I can go anywhere in the world and feel at home with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

&AWAY

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FACTFILE

N norTH ATLAnTIC oCEAn Île de la Tortue

Port-de-Paix

Golfe de la Gonâve

Cap Haïtien

Hinche

saint-marc

Jérémie

domINICAN REPUbLIC

Île de la Gonâve

Port-au-PriNCe

miragoâne Jacmel

Les Cayes

Caribbean sea

0

50 km

50 miles

HAITI = the salvation Army began work in Haiti in 1950. the Haiti division is part of the Caribbean territory.

= Languages used by the salvation Army in Haiti: french, English, Haitian Creole.

= there are 64 corps (salvation Army churches) and outposts in Haiti, with at least 5,938 senior soldiers (full members) and at least 3,000 junior soldiers and 72 officers (ministers of religion).

= Port-au-Prince Central is the largest corps in the western hemisphere, with more than 500 senior soldiers and 500 junior soldiers. the corps worship hall was severely damaged by the January 2010 earthquake and has had to be demolished. when it is rebuilt – using funds raised by the salvation Army’s UsA southern territory – it will hold 3,000 people.

= the country of Haiti makes up around half of the Caribbean island 10 | ALL THE WORLD |

AP RI L– JU NE 2 01 1

the flag of Haiti was first created during the country’s revolution against the french, when rebels removed the white stripe from the french tricolour. In the mid-19th century the stripes were changed from horizontal to vertical. on a white background in the centre of the flag is the country’s coat of arms, including the inscription ‘L’Union fait la force’, which means ‘In union there is strength’.

of Hispaniola. the other half is the dominican Republic.

= Haiti was a french colony until, in the late 18th century, the country’s slave population of nearly half a million people revolted under toussaint L’ouverture. After a prolonged struggle, in 1804 Haiti became the first black republic to declare independence.

= Haiti is said to be the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with around 80 per cent of its population living under the United Nations-agreed poverty line.

Above: school children at The Salvation Army’s College Verena in Port-au-Prince; below left: a painting depicting the battle between Polish troops in French service and Haitian rebels fighting for independence

THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

Latest government figures report that 316,000 people were killed by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on 12 January 2010. this would make it the fifth or sixth worst natural disaster in recorded history (an earthquake in tangshan, China, in 1976 is known to have taken 240,000 lives but unofficial figures put the final death toll at more than 600,000).

H A I T I U P D AT E

out of the rubble

I

t sEEMs unbelievable that more than a year has passed since the Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit by an earthquake that, according to the most recent government figures, killed 316,000 people. At least a million people were left without homes. the salvation Army was already well established in Haiti, having opened work there in 1950. relief efforts by local salvationists were boosted by a largescale response from the international salvation Army.

A year after the earthquake, medical care had been provided to more than 26,000 victims and more than seven million meals had been given out. the salvation Army also distributed cooking oil, thousands of tents, cots, tarpaulins, hygiene and cleaning kits, and 1.5 million gallons of purified water.

Electricity was provided to 20,000 although many more are still being people who sought immediate shelter on arranged. tight regulations mean that a sports field adjacent to the Army’s Port- some plans to build houses are still on the au-Prince compound. this ‘tent city’ soon drawing board but the salvation Army came under salvation Army management knows that the solutions to Haiti’s and for 10 months the Army partnered problems cannot be found overnight. with other non-government organisations Good planning, sensible spending and to provide relief and security for these large doses of compassion will be needed internally displaced people (iDPs). it is to get the impoverished country back on its feet. still ‘home’ to thousands this section of All the of people who remain ‘At least a million World gives a small taste h o m e l e s s b u t n o t people were left of what the salvation abandoned.

Army is doing in Haiti – long-term projects are without homes’ plus a heartwarming now in place in Haiti,

Assistant project manager raymond Cedoine oversees the demolition at the main Salvation Army compound in Port-au-Prince

example of people reaching out across the world to provide help and hope.

CHOLERA TREATMENT land on a salvation Army farm in Fonddes-Nègres, Haiti, has been transformed into a new cholera treatment centre (CtC). the project required the levelling of land, clearing of roads and installation of waste removal and water delivery systems but the centre, set up with partner agency Medécins du Monde, was erected in just 15 days. the CtC features a carefully designed maze of tents that are sanitised and A PR I L–J U NE 20 1 1 | ALL THE WORLD |

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H A I T I U P D AT E

right: two workers from medécins du monde outside the entrance to the cholera treatment centre. This is where patients are registered and the severity of infection and course of treatment are determined

prepared to receive and care for patients through every stage of infection. From triage to recovery, the CtC delivers intensive rehydration therapy and monitors patients’ fluid levels in order to balance rehydration efforts. there have been more than 4,000 cholera-related deaths throughout Haiti since the epidemic began in late 2010, and medical experts fear that the disease will take a strong hold in the country throughout 2011. the salvation Army’s Bethel Clinic in Fond-des-Nègres dealt with 250 cases in only two months. the opening of the CtC increased the Army’s capacity to effectively treat people in the surrounding communities. in addition to setting up quarantine and treatment areas at Bethel Clinic, the salvation Army took steps to prevent the spread of cholera. Vital supplies – such as soap, disinfectant, oral rehydration packets and antibiotics – were distributed via salvation Army centres, including its corps (churches) and schools, throughout the country. in the capital city, Port-auPrince, efforts have continued through the primary health clinic, College Verena Primary and secondary schools and at the internally displaced persons (iDP) camp next to the salvation Army’s compound. the salvation Army’s efforts to treat and prevent the spread of cholera have been made possible through partnerships with

Medécins du Monde, the salvation Army’s Canada and Bermuda territory and a donor in the Bahamas.

WATER FOR SCHOOLS Craig Esterly, a rotary Club member from Pittsburgh, usA, purchased 10 FilterPure® water filtration systems for use in salvation Army schools in Haiti. the systems are easily maintained and durable, each consisting of a ceramic bowl filter and five-gallon bucket with spigot/valve. they are maintained simply by keeping the lid on the system to prevent contamination, lightly scrubbing the ceramic component when filtration slows and boiling it every three months.

With the current cholera epidemic, access to potable water (water that is safe to drink) has become a great concern. the salvation Army has been actively fighting the spread of cholera and working to ensure its schools, medical facilities and

major Sylvaine maegli, administrator of The Salvation Army’s College Verena in Port-au-Prince, introduces Dr Thiesbonenkamp (chair of the board of directors, Kindernothilfe) to children being taught in one of the temporary classrooms

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churches in various communities have access to clean water. this donation will take the Army one step further in that fight. the Haiti office is hoping to put 1,000 more of these systems in place. At a cost of us$30 per unit it is a small price to pay for the security of sustainable access to potable water for 11,000 schoolchildren. the purchase of these systems not only supports efforts to make potable water available to children in Haiti’s schools, but it supports the growth of the local economy. the FilterPure® systems are made in a Haitian-run factory in Cyvadier – a small town three hours south of Portau-Prince – in conjunction with Friends of the Children of Haiti.

For more information on the mechanics of the system go to www.filterpurefilters.org

COLLEGE REbUILDING the German organisation Kindernothilfe (KNH) has signed on as the sponsor for the reconstruction of the salvation Army’s College Verena in Port-au-Prince. in April 2011, the Army celebrates 30 years of partnership with KNH, which is dedicated to supporting the development of children and young people. ‘i am really very happy that we have advanced to this step in our collaboration,’ said Dr Jürgen thiesbonenkamp, chair of the KNH board of directors, during a visit to Port-au-Prince.

Dr thiesbonenkamp, along with his colleagues and the director of KNH Haiti, toured the salvation Army compound before demolition of damaged buildings began on 1 March. College Verena, which before the earthquake had well over 1,000 students of all ages, now occupies two temporary classrooms.

When construction is finished there will

H A I T I U P D AT E

Clockwise from above: retired Salvation Army officers living in Haiti – majors Lysius and Anine Salomon, major Catherine Pacquette oF (order of the Founder) and major Ezrulia Joseph; below: a page from major Joseph’s thank-you note

be separate buildings for kindergarten, primary and secondary school children with age-appropriate classrooms.

College Verena administrator Major sylvaine Maegli and Major Jean Volet (Construction Manager for the salvation Army’s Haiti recovery and Development Office) have been working closely with architects to ensure the new school will be a safe, child-friendly space that promotes learning.

Measures such as the construction of a separate entrance specifically for school children and fencing around the demolition and construction areas have been taken to ensure the safety of all College Verena students and teachers during the construction process. ‘it is very important for children to live and study in security,’ said Dr thiesbonenkamp.

FUND-RAISING in the face of a tragedy as overwhelming as the Haiti earthquake, many people want to help but most feel that their ‘small’ help will make little difference.

However, a retired officers group in south london, uK, went another route. the members were deciding what to raise funds for as part of their annual mission project. lieut-Colonel Glenys Heins, who heads up the group, says that Haiti was in the news and that they wanted to ‘do something’.

Following a visit from lieut-Colonel Heidi Bailey (international Haiti Earthquake response Director, international Headquarters) and her husband lieut-Colonel Brad Bailey the group decided to go along with a suggestion to raise funds for retired salvation Army officers living in Haiti. they knew that these retired officers had very little before the earthquake and that any funds they could raise would make a huge difference in their lives.

lieut-Colonel Heins explains: ‘they’re part of our worldwide fellowship of retired salvation Army officers. they’re people who we know are going to need help.’

When the Chief of the staff, Commissioner Barry C. swanson, was the group’s guest speaker in January 2011 he received a cheque for £2,250 – raised through events such as coffee mornings but also from donations made by members . the group was delighted to get notes of thanks from four officers who had given their lives to serve the people of Haiti over many years, receiving recognition for their work from salvation Army leadership.

Majors lysius and Anine salomon retired in 2002 having opened 13 corps (churches) and outposts in Haiti. For their work in Haiti they were awarded the salvation Army’s Order of Exceptional service.

Also provided for was Major Catherine Pacquette, who arrived in Haiti in 1951. she served as a corps officer and at Bethany Children’s Home. in 2006 Major Pacquette received the Order of the Founder – the salvation Army’s highest honour – for her pioneering work in Haiti. Finally, the group received a note from Major Ezrulia Joseph. the major was

the first Haitian officer commissioned in 1950. she continued to serve for many years after the death of her husband and retired in 1984. the majors each sent a note to give thanks for the kindness of their friends many hundreds of miles away. Major Joseph sent a hand-written testimony which explained how she and her husband came to join the salvation Army. she wrote in her accompanying letter: ‘i will [be] praying for you, pray for me too.

Peace and love.’

Major Pacquette wrote that the group’s gift was ‘a very, very great help to me.

May the good [lord] continue to strengthen, bless and grant each one of you success in all your activities.’ she also sent a handwritten testimony, explaining how God had led her to work in Haiti.

Finally, the salomons sent typewritten notes, each of which offered thanks for the kindness of their colleague officers while giving an explanation of their lives in Haiti. Major lysius salomon concluded his thoughts with the words: ‘All the glory is for God.’ Article compiled from various sources, including press releases sent out by Kara Langford, Communication officer for the salvation Army’s Haiti Recovery and development office

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A RT

STA N DIN G TA LL

tHE salvation Army’s international Headquarters in london has almost certainly

hosted nothing like it before. in the exhibition area next to the cafe stand brightly-coloured lifesize figures – decorated mannequins, each with a story to tell. the display, titled ‘this is Me’, is far more than a simple art exhibition – it gives examples of the salvation Army’s work with people rejected by society and is a fine witness to a place where this ministry has been carried out for more than 100 years. the mannequins in the exhibition were created by service users – mainly homeless men – from the Pleasance, a salvation Army hostel in Edinburgh, scotland, as part of this centre’s centenary celebrations. Each mannequin tells the story or feelings of the person who created it.

Homelessness Manager Ann Black explains: ‘We handed out 20 mannequins, one to each resident, and left them to their own devices. As they built up the mannequins it was almost as if they were humanising themselves.’ the salvation Army’s founder General William Booth officially opened the building at 1 the Pleasance, Edinburgh, on 26 June 1909 as a ‘Working Men's Home and Elevator’ with accommodation for 100 men.

An early edition of the salvation Army’s weekly newspaper

Each mannequin tells the story or feelings of the person who created it

The War Cry records that the first centre manager, Major linacre, met a man who, unsteady on his feet, told him, ‘there is no place for me in this world, i can neither get work nor food.’ the man then collapsed at the major’s feet, grasping an empty bottle of poison. He had just swallowed the contents of the bottle but the major was able to save this ‘lost soul’ and give him his life back.

Fighting for social justice and providing a voice for the vulnerable in society are still hallmarks of the salvation Army. in Edinburgh today, the Pleasance – now called the Pleasance lifehouse – not only provides accommodation for up to 38 homeless men but also is a place of change, offering a wide range of programmes to encourage clients to regain their self-esteem, overcome addictions and to break the cycle of homelessness by moving permanently into their own accommodation.

Deputy Manager iain Wilson explains: ‘We believe in every person who walks through the doors at the Pleasance. it is our aim to listen and to walk side-by-side with them to help them achieve the best that they can in life. With encouragement, our residents can graduate to independent living and the achievement of holding down a job.’

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N E W Z E A L A N D E A RT H Q U A K E

Shaken but not beaten sALvAtIoNIst CoUPLE IN NEw ZEALANd PUt otHERs bEfoRE tHEIR owN ComfoRt

by Major Daryl Crowden

L

YNDsAY and Elizabeth Hooper worked and saved for 42 years to build their dream retirement home in Christchurch, New Zealand. it took just 42 seconds to destroy their home and their dream.

they recall that in the middle of the night of 4 september 2010, six months after they finished decorating their new house, ‘a horrendous noise, followed by the most violent jolt seemed to crush us into our bed’. they felt as if they were riding a wave that lifted the house and moved it 10 inches forward before it crested the ‘wave’ and slid back down to settle six inches closer to their neighbour’s home and three inches higher than its foundation. the concrete slab the house was built on had literally broken in two, and yet the inside remained remarkably intact.

When they finally made their way through the pitch black to their front door they then had to navigate through five two-foot-high ‘volcanoes’ of liquefied earth which were spewing silver-grey sand. they found their neighbours also out on the street where – terrified, confused and wet – they joined others in checking that everyone in the neighbourhood was OK. As the light broke over the city about two hours later the extent of the

destruction became evident. their house had moved so far that all the services had been severed. For the next nine days they would be without sewerage, water and electricity. And they were among the lucky ones.

Within days of the quake, semi-retired lyndsay and Elizabeth cleaned up their house as best they could and joined other members of their church, the salvation Army, to do whatever they could to help others. For the next three months they helped people who, in their words, ‘were worse off’.

By early 2011 life was becoming sane again. lyndsay’s taxi business was just starting to pick up with the return of tourists to Christchurch. their house – still broken but seemingly OK to live in – was clean, the mounds of liquefaction had been removed and the grass was growing back.

But then on 22 February the earth shook and their house moved They had to navigate through again – this time two inches in the direction. this quake, more five two-foot-high ‘volcanoes’ other violent than the last, threw their furniture and belongings around of liquefied earth

Lyndsay Hooper (left) and a friend look at some of the damage caused by the earthquakes

inside the house and their yard was once again visited by a river of liquefied earth. some people may have spent the rest of the day looking after themselves but not lyndsay and Elizabeth. they picked up their furniture and belongings in the morning but by the time afternoon came round they were heading out once more to help others who ‘were worse off’. lyndsay got back behind the wheel of a salvation Army truck and Elizabeth rejoined the production line to put together food parcels.

A month after the second disaster in Christchurch they were still helping others – and they would have it no other way. ‘that’s our family out there hurting,’ says lyndsay. ‘We can't sit in our broken house frustrated and useless. We have to help – we have to show others that there is hope.’

major daryl Crowden is from the salvation Army’s Australia southern territory A PR I L–J U NE 20 1 1 | ALL THE WORLD |

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DENMARK

Greater than the sum of its parts the salvation Army in Aalborg is integrating its social and church activities in order to create a stronger sense of togetherness

S

ituAtED in the centre of the Danish city of Aalborg, the salvation Army’s Aalborg Corps (church) is rarely quiet. From 7.30 am Monday to Friday the Mølleplads centre opens its doors for people to buy breakfast and coffee. During the cold winter months up to 70 customers make their way into the centre before the doors close at 11.30 am.

By the time a journalist from the salvation Army magazine Mennesker & Tro visited the centre in early January most of the customers had left. Of the few who remained, one sat alone reading the paper.

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Words and photos by Bent Dahl Jensen

these – Poul Madsen – has volunteered at the centre since september after recovering from an operation.

He comes every tuesday and helps with any odd jobs.

Many of the customers come back again at noon when the corps serves a warm lunch in the basement hall. today the menu says the meal is ham and potatoes with sauce.

Nearly every space at the tables is taken.

After everyone has eaten and drunk more coffee the lunchtime gathering closes with a couple of songs and a short devotional. ingrid Østerø reads a text from the Gospel of Matthew, sharing the story of when Jesus taught the disciples to pray the lord’s Prayer.

‘When we are together in worship it’s lovely to be able to pray the lord’s Prayer together,’ ingrid tells the informal congregation. ‘But it’s also lovely that we each have the opportunity to come alone to God in prayer. We know that God hears and

translated by Captain steven thomas

answers our prayers.’ the short time of worship finishes with a song. later in the afternoon it’s time for ‘the Word on the table’. there is opportunity to read a text from the Bible and to discuss what it means to those gathered. today’s passage is from Mark 10. the theme is divorce, which stimulates much discussion around the table. some people talk about the theological significance of the verses, while others have been through divorce or have a family member who has been through a separation.

All this creates a lot of discussion, which enables the subject to be approached from differing viewpoints.

Each week the group goes through a different chapter, passage by passage. this means that many different subjects are put ‘on the table’ for discussion. some have much to say on the differing subjects while others sit quietly and take it all in.

After an hour they have gone through the day’s chapter. this is followed by a time

DENMARK

opposite page: corps assistant Ingrid Østerø speaks with customers at the mølleplads centre; below: preparing breakfast in the kitchen of the mølleplads centre

of prayer for the work of the local salvation Army as well as for the themes set down in General shaw Clifton’s Call to Prayer for social Justice. there are also other activities on offer during the week. On Wednesday afternoons ‘Creative Corner’ is led by inge Poulsen and includes a variety of artistic endeavours.

Every other week ‘Friday’s Club’ begins at midday with lunch. Karin and leif Munk are responsible for the programme which includes singing and activities. there is a worship service every sunday morning which, like the rest of the week’s activities, is increasing in attendance. the last sunday in the month there is a special family service where both the junior and senior gospel choirs sing and the brass band plays. there is also a songster brigade (choir) that sings twice a month.

As well as the fellowship found within these activities there are three monthly cell groups – one of which is especially for families, providing opportunites for friendships to be formed. the corps tries to integrate the many activities to foster a stronger sense of togetherness.

One of these activities has been operating for more than 10 years. in 1999 the corps in Aalborg set up Project Nørholm with help from the city council. the project tries to help specific social groups such as those on unemployment benefits or those who have had to take early retirement on health grounds. Other people at the project have drug addictions or psychological disorders. these activities link closely together; for example, some of the helpers work at both the Mølleplads centre at the corps and

made new soldiers (full members) and adherent members who now also work as volunteers.

Dannie Bech came into contact with the salvation Army at the Mølleplads centre. in January 2011 Dannie was enrolled as an adherent member.

Dannie had a blood clot in the brain in 2007 which had a great impact upon his life. He had to learn to speak and read again and his wife left him and filed for divorce.

After years of retraining he has relearned to do some of the everyday things he could do before his illness. His speech is much better and he attends reading classes at the local college. the other days of the week he is found at the Mølleplads centre, attending sunday worship and other corps activities. this has resulted in him making many new friends and relationships.

When asked why he wanted to become an adherent member Dannie is very clear: ‘God is there and i believe in his ways,’ he says.

We offer an alternative to sitting alone at home, or on a park bench every day Project Nørholm, which is based 10 kilometres outside the city at the corps’s Nørholm camp. last summer Karl rafaelsen was employed as project worker. He comes from Greenland and, because of his influence, other Greenlanders have started to go to the project. ‘some who attend do not have large social networks,’ says Karl. ‘so we try to create a good fellowship among ourselves.

We offer an alternative to sitting alone at home, or on a park bench every day.

As a result of the work at the Mølleplads centre and Project Nørholm, the corps has

Article originally published in Mennesker & Tro, produced by the salvation Army’s denmark territory

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An Army of Support Compiled from articles by scott simpson, bill simpson and simone worthing which were originally published in Pipeline magazine, produced by the salvation Army’s Australia Eastern territory

T

HEY call it the sunshine state – beautiful one day, perfect the next! But for four harrowing weeks from mid-December 2010, Queensland in northwestern Australia was anything but a paradise as the heavens opened and poured forth a torrent of water.

the prolonged deluge sparked catastrophic floods which brought death and destruction on a widespread and unprecedented scale. the major cities of Brisbane, ipswich and toowoomba in the south-east of the state, and rockhampton, Bundaberg and Emerald in central Queensland were inundated. Numerous other towns endured the same fate. in toowoomba and the nearby lockyer Valley, where, tragically, many people lost their lives, the sudden onset of the raging water was so intense it led authorities to describe it as an ‘inland tsunami’.

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in northern New south Wales (NsW) many towns were left isolated and hundreds of people evacuated from their homes. And as the clean-up got underway in Queensland and NsW, north-central Victoria experienced its own flood crisis with hundreds of homes isolated by rising water. the damage bill will run into billions of dollars, with the longer-term economic cost to be billions more. the physical and emotional damage inflicted on the tens of thousands of victims, many of whom have lost their homes and almost all their possessions, is incalculable and the mental scars will take years to heal. By the end of January at least 35 people were known to have been killed in the floods. throughout the month that the disaster unfolded, the salvation Army was a constant and reassuring presence. in more than a dozen evacuation centres across Queensland and NsW, hundreds of salvation Army Emergency services (sAEs) personnel and volunteers provided

The physical and emotional damage inflicted is incalculable

Photo by Shairon Paterson

AUSTRALIA FLOODS

stoRIEs of tHE sALvAtIoN ARmy’s REsPoNsE to AUstRALIA’s woRst fLoods IN LIvING mEmoRy tens of thousands of meals, a warm, dry place to sleep, and – crucially – counselling services to the steady stream of people displaced by the floods. As the floodwaters began to recede, teams of salvationists also ventured out into impacted communities to help coordinate and assist in the massive clean-up effort. the salvation Army itself was a victim of the floods, with properties in Brisbane, Bundaberg, toowoomba, ipswich and Bundamba affected.

Above: Lieutenant Tara mcGuigan speaks to a flood-hit resident in rockhampton; below: some areas of Emerald were impossible to reach by road

AUSTRALIA FLOODS

Left and below: photos taken by Captain mark Bulow of the centre of Toowoomba at the height of the floods and a few weeks later (mark’s wife, Captain Jo-Anne Bulow, is in the more recent photo)

the floodwaters have now receded but it will be a long and arduous process as people try to rebuild shattered lives and communities. For many, life will never be the same again.

One thing is certain – the salvation Army will continue to be in the thick of this rebuilding process offering whatever practical, emotional and spiritual support is needed. the ‘salvos’ – as salvationists are affectionately known in Australia – are in this for the long haul.

Captains mark and Jo-Anne bulow toowoombA the salvation Army’s corps officer at toowoomba, Captain Mark Bulow, was in the city centre when a wall of water came raging through.

‘Nobody had ever witnessed here before what we saw on that day,’ said Captain Mark Bulow as he recalled the terrifying moments that a surge of floodwater, later described as an ‘inland tsunami’, hit central toowoomba.

‘You could hear the wall of water before you could see it. some kids were playing in the water on the side of the

road and people were just screaming at them to get out of the way. Within seconds, cars, bins, industrial containers and other huge objects were being swept down this torrent of water. ‘some young guys had jumped onto a wall to get a better view. the water hit the wall and knocked them into the water, but thankfully they got to safety.

‘People were in shock, it was just amazing. We couldn’t believe it and everyone went quiet. i thought, “is this really happening?” it was one of those things you never, ever want to see again. i felt so helpless.

rockhampton moDErATE FLooDInG

Emerald

SEVErE FLooDInG

QUEEnSLAnD Toowoomba Brisbane 120 mILES

‘in toowoomba we had a false sense of security, that at the top of the [mountain] range we wouldn’t get flooded, but we know now that we’re not invincible.’ in the days that followed, Captain Mark and his wife Captain Jo-Anne Bulow, together with teams of salvationists and volunteers, assisted with the feeding of emergency services crews and helped shop and business owners begin the clean-up process in the city. they also comforted people who were frantically trying to make contact with friends and relatives, and with those who had lost loved ones in the disaster.

‘We spent time with a man who lost his wife and two of his children as the floodwaters swept away the car in which they were travelling,’ said Captain Mark.

‘We spoke to him and his young son, and provided as much comfort as we could. [salvation Army] rural Chaplain Major Bob strong also spent time with them and will continue to do so. ‘the memories of what these people saw and experienced will be with them forever and they will need ongoing care and help.’ the captains received hundreds of offers of help. ‘Everyone is pulling together, including physiotherapists, counsellors and others who are willing to jump in if we need a hand. ‘there is a long road ahead, but we are here for the long road.’

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AUSTRALIA FLOODS

major marie Gittins

majors don and Eva Hill

LoCKyER vALLEy

EmERALd

While much of Queensland became a disaster zone, the lockyer Valley – and the small communities of Grantham and Murphy’s Creek in particular – was the scene of some of the worst destruction. lockyer Valley corps officer Major Marie Gittins worked with volunteers in laidley and Gatton, approximately 80 kilometres west of Brisbane, to look after evacuees and those who had lost comforting and generally doing anything everything. that needed to be done. ‘the people in this valley have been ‘it’s a real team effort in a place like devastated,’ said Major Gittins. ‘they this,’ Major Gittins said. ‘What will be have seen terrible things that will be with needed now is long-term counselling and them forever. they will need long-term the rebuilding of lost and damaged assistance and care. homes and lives. it will take a long time.’ ‘the house of one of our family store Major Gittins is asking for prayers. volunteers who lives in Grantham was ‘Pray for the recovery of our people, inundated with water. they actually saw particularly those who saw people lost someone swimming past their window and could do nothing about it,’ she said. and only had moments themselves to ‘some people saw others getting washed cling to the guttering of their roof to save away in cars. some saw neighbours their lives. banging on their windows and they ‘Another Grantham man was floating couldn’t do a thing to help them. away on his house and caught hold of his ‘Pray for the healing of memories for dog as it was washed out. He was just so those young and old who’ve had horrific thankful that his little boy wasn’t with him experiences because of this absolute at the time. He managed to escape when flash-flooding. Pray for those who’ve had the house bumped into something and water through their property, their farms, stopped. their businesses, their homes. Pray for ‘One salvationist was rescued when people as they clean up the mud and the she climbed into the bucket of a front-end mess, across the whole community.’ loader with four other family members. Another salvationist rejoiced when she learned that her ‘They only had moments to endangered family had been rescued from their roof.’ cling to the guttering of their the salvation Army assisted with cooking, cleaning, listening, roof to save their lives’

Majors Don and Eva Hill arrived home from another energy-draining day of feeding physical and spiritual food to flood-ravaged residents of Emerald, a small Queensland town that had become an inland island. Almost every day for two weeks, Don and Eva had served breakfast, lunch and dinner to hundreds of residents evacuated from their homes. the retired salvation Army officers were exhausted. they had barely had a break since floodwaters entered the town just after Christmas Day. the Hills were looking forward to a lie-in next morning. salvation Army reinforcements had arrived from Blackwater – flown in by helicopter because it was the only way to reach the town. Other salvation Army support was coming from Cairns, Canberra and Brisbane. the salvation Army’s Flying Padre helicopter from Mount isa was also involved.

Don and Eva Hill officially retired from salvation Army officership in 2007. But they have always been available to serve where needed. they answered a call to oversee Emerald Corps in July 2010 until new officers could be appointed in midJanuary. they had arranged two weeks’ leave at the end of November. But on 3 December they received a call that ended their leave early. Emerald, they were informed, was in terrible danger.

As flying padres for nine years they had been through floods and famine many times, but this was the worst.

Top: debris litters a Brisbane street after the floodwaters subsided; from left: Salvation Army volunteers help prepare meals in rockhampton; the flood level indicator on the Fitzroy river, rockhampton; The Salvation Army’s flying chaplain, Envoy Simon Steele, delivers supplies

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AUSTRALIA FLOODS

Left: the town of Emerald was particularly badly hit; right: reg Phillips with Governor-General Quentin Bryce

Less than a year ago Reg Phillips was a selfconfessed ‘homeless bum’ sleeping in public toilets around brisbane’s city centre.

‘it breaks your heart,’ said Major Don after another night at an evacuation centre.

When the floods hit he gathered his corps membership – just a handful of devoted salvationists. they put a feeding programme in place. some crossed to the other side of town to assist at other evacuation centres.

From early morning to late night they worked to help locals dispossessed of home and possessions to cope through the worst flood in Emerald’s history.

Don’s evacuation centre handled up to 160 residents at any one time. Across town, 300 people were cramming into other centres. there were times, Don confesses, when he wasn’t sure if there would be food for the next day. But it just kept turning up – day after day. ‘i don’t know where it was coming from,’ he said. ‘But it came. Our evacuation centre was at the local agricultural college. We were given the support of the college’s two cooks and kitchen. One day when a truck pulled up with a load of food one of the cooks who is not a professing Christian said: “God must be real.” ‘i must say that i thanked God with all my heart at that moment.’

Don and Eva were scheduled to leave Emerald in early January but they were not going anywhere while the emergency response was ongoing. ‘We can’t just get up and leave these people,’ he said.

‘Anyway, there’s no way out at the moment. We’ve still got work to do, so we’ll stick around until we are no longer needed.

‘We’re tired; yes. We wish it would all just go away; yes. But we have been sent here as salvation Army officers. We have a job to do. And with God’s help,we will continue to do it until it’s time to hand over to somebody else.’

Now he has cooked lunch for Her Excellency ms Quentin bryce, the Governor-General of Australia, at a salvation Army flood evacuation centre in north Queensland’s devastated Emerald.

‘How does this get to happen?’ a startled Reg asks. ‘How can somebody like me get to do something nice for such a lovely lady?

It’s a miracle.’

And so it is. It’s another reminder that the salvation Army, through the grace of God, is in the miracle business.

Reg, now 55, says he has had a tough life, mostly driving trucks around the country and doing an occasional cooking stint in a host of commercial kitchens.

Early last year he was out of jail but out of work and out of luck.

Circumstances saw him living on the street and the safest places he could find to sleep at night were public toilets.

He was told about the salvation Army’s hostel for homeless men in Pindari. He gave it a try and the staff offered him a room. ‘they treated me very well,’ says Reg. ‘I didn’t have any money when I first went there, but they said that was oK; that I could pay when I got some money. they were so good to me that I wanted to do something for them. I said I could cook a bit and would be prepared to volunteer in the kitchen.’ staff and tenants were impressed with Reg’s daily offerings. He was quickly promoted from volunteer to part-time cook.

In late december 2010, as floods engulfed Emerald, major don Hill called to ask if a relief cook could be sent to help at one of the evacuation centres. the Pindari management sent Reg. ‘I jumped at the chance,’ Reg says.

‘It was hard work but I would do anything to help the salvation Army.’ on the final day of the evacuation centre’s operation, Reg prepared a big barbecue for lunch. more than 300 people attended. Among them was the Governor-General. ‘she was really nice. she called me over for a chat and to say thank you for the barbecue. I thought that was really nice of her. I told her that I was pleased to have the opportunity to help. ‘she asked me a bit about myself. she was amazed. It was the biggest experience of my life.

‘It just goes to show what you can achieve if you put your mind to it. me and the Governor-General, eh? who would have thought?’

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C O U N T RY O R T H E M E

Photo by Paul Harmer

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

TOGO

It’s time to introduce a genuine snapshot to the ‘snapshots’ pages of All the World!

tHE salvation Army is now officially at work in 124 countries, following the opening of its ministry in togo on 1 April 2011.

this particular picture is a rarity, featuring as it does the staff of International Headquarters (IHQ) outside the IHQ building in London, UK. At the centre of the group are the Chief of the staff, Commissioner barry C. swanson, and Commissioner sue swanson (then world secretary for women’s ministries, now world President of women’s ministries). the picture’s rarity comes not because it’s unusual for IHQ staff to be away from their desks during working hours (!) but because such a group photo has not been taken for at least 15 years, probably longer. the photo was taken shortly before General shaw Clifton retired and a framed copy was presented to him and Commissioner Helen Clifton during their farewell meeting at IHQ.

‘Such a group photo has not been taken for at least 15 years’

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the west African country is bordered by Ghana to the west, benin to the east and burkina faso to the north. for salvation Army purposes the work in togo – officially known as the togolese Republic – will be overseen by the Ghana territory. the official recognition follows years of preparation. between 1999 and 2005 many messages reached International Headquarters from residents of togo and togolese people living in the UsA and Canada, asking that the Army be started in their homeland. In march 2007 the Ghana territory despatched a fact-finding team to togo, which was greeted with great enthusiasm by established churches and community leaders alike.

It was discovered that salvation Army meetings were already being held and converts were being made. seven societies have been opened during the past year, 230 seekers (people committing or recommitting their lives to Christ) have been registered and 14 indigenous soldiers have been enrolled. work among children and young people is also developing well.

Captains Hervé michel and Naty dorcas Ahouyanganga, of the Congo (brazzaville) territory, have been appointed to give leadership to this new work.

S N A P S H OT S

UK tHE salvation Army’s UK territory with the Republic of Ireland has renamed its residential centres for homeless people, previously known as hostels. After consultation with service users and staff they are now known as LifeHouses. the salvation Army is one of the largest providers of support and accommodation in homelessness services in the UK, and around 3,500 people stay in its centres every night. staff and service users at salvation Army centres chose the new name in a nationwide ballot, with LifeHouse the clear winner.

It is hoped that the rebranding of 83 centres across the territory will help to highlight the wider aims of the homelessness services which focus not just on providing housing and

‘Putting a roof over someone’s head is useful, but not the solution’

accommodation but also on helping residents to have purpose and build relationships. maff Potts, territorial director of Homelessness services, says: ‘this is not a pointless rebranding exercise but a defining moment for the salvation Army. the word “hostel” was linked with old-style warehousing of people and didn’t convey that there’s more to our support services than simply housing.

‘LifeHouse clearly demonstrates that we are about providing purpose and relationships – two words which are at the heart of our delivery of support services. since 1865, the salvation Army has looked at helping the whole person and not just their problems. we know that putting a roof over someone’s head is useful, but not the solution.

‘Rather than hire a branding agency we asked the people who know best – service users and staff – to choose the name for us. An astonishing 667 votes were cast by service users, showing that they are keen to work with us in improving our services. ‘we believe that everyone is valuable and no one should be stigmatised because of their past or where they live. the salvation Army hopes that, as a culture, we will start viewing people who are “homeless” as having a contribution to play in our society. we know that just changing a name – from hostel to LifeHouse – will not solve social exclusion immediately. but it’s a start!'

‘for several years now the salvation Army has been refocusing its services for homeless people based on the principles set by our founder, General william booth, but still those who stay with us could not escape the stigma of being in a hostel.

Selected Writings Volumes 1 and 2, by Retired General shaw Clifton, will inform, inspire and surprise. these books succinctly, yet incisively, cover a wide range of vital subjects from moral and ethical issues to spiritual teaching and salvation Army processes and policy. they provide an insight into the heart and mind of the author as he shares from his practical experience and challenges faced. the General personally selected all that is included. He chose the articles and papers from his writings which, he says, ‘have mostly been confined either to the pages of The Officer magazine, which has an officially restricted circulation, or to those in senior leadership in the salvation Army. ‘volume 1 consists entirely of some of my early articles in The Officer. volume 2 ranges more widely and comes right up to date, often dealing with key matters of international Army policy.’

Price: £4.95 for a single volume or £7.50 for both.

Add postage and packaging costs of £1.30 UK or £2.56 to the rest of the world for a single volume, £1.50 (UK) or £4.10 (overseas) for both books.

Please send a cheque payable to ‘The Salvation Army’ to: Communications Section, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom. Be sure to include your name and address and to be clear which book/books you wish to purchase. The Selected Writings volumes are also available from territorial trade departments and on amazon.co.uk

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This!

PicTure

SEnd yoUr PHoToS THAT SHoW

tHE salvation Army is many things to many people. Its mission statement says it’s ‘an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church’ but that doesn’t tell the whole story. well over 1.5 million people call the salvation Army their church but to many thousands of others it is something else – the place where they go to school, a provider of health care, a home for the homeless. the salvation Army is all these things and more. what complicates matters still further is that in each of the 124 countries where the salvation Army is at work there are aspects that are particular to that country and relevant to its culture. It seems contradictory but the salvation Army is the same around the world yet there are also differences depending on where you are! A salvationist from the UsA attending worship in India, for instance, would see much that was familiar but also much that was unfamiliar. this aspect of the international salvation Army being ‘the same but different’ is something that All the World seeks to address. but sometimes words are not enough. this is why we are launching the first international All the World photographic competition. we want people around the world to show us what the salvation Army is where they live. the winning photographs will feature in a special photo spread in the october– december issue of All the World and will also be shown in an exhibition, titled ‘this is the salvation Army’, held at International Headquarters in London.

Prize details will be given in the July–september 2011 issue of All the World. what you take a photograph of is up to you. It may be an open-air meeting in Africa, a soup-run in Europe, a salvation Army school in Asia, emergency response in Australasia or worship in the Americas. feel free to be as creative as you want. we’ve included some images on this page that may inspire you to think of something a little out of the ordinary.

Please send digital photographs to IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org and printed copies to: All the World Photographic Competition, The Salvation Army, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom. Entries should include the name of the photographer and his or her location. For files larger than 10MB please send a smaller version and we will contact you if we need the full-size image. Unfortunately we will not be able to return printed photos. The closing date to receive entries is 15 August 2011.