All the World - January-March 2021 by Salvation Army IHQ

Care on the frontline Salvation Army workers and volunteers worldwide continue the fight against COVID-19

AUSTRALIA – comfort in grief Fresh approaches in the USA NORWAY – a place of warmth

VOL 59 NO 1

Prison ministry in SINGAPORE

JANUARY–MARCH 2021

CONTENTS

JANUARY–MARCH 2021

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

UPFRONT From the Editor

RESILIENCE Coping communities

SINGAPORE Bringing families together

HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

USA Finding solutions

PHOTO PULLOUT #FrontlineHeroes

NORWAY The warmest of welcomes

POSTER CAMPAIGN Sharing good information

AUSTRALIA International care

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

09 15

11 20

20 Cover photo shows a Salvation Army worker in The Bahamas

Subscriptions All the World subscriptions can be ordered online from www.sps-shop.com. Go to http://sar.my/atwsub OR fill in this form and send to: Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd 66-78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate Wellingborough Northants NN8 2QH United Kingdom

Name

(Miss, Mrs, Ms, Mr)

Address

Postcode Email Annual subscription rates (including postage) UK £8.00 Non-UK £15.00 (Costs may be lower if ordered with UK publications) Total: £

I enclose payment by cheque

(Please make cheques payable to: SP&S) For enquiries telephone [44] (0)1933 445451 or email subscriptions@satcol.org

All the World may also be ordered through many territorial headquarters. In the UK, subscribers can purchase All the World through the local Salvation Army corps at just £1.50 per copy.

Please debit my Mastercard/Visa/Maestro card Card No Start date

Issue No (Maestro and Switch only)

Expiry date

Security No

Overcoming the repercussions of

n Kevin Sims, Editor

IT’S NOT USUALLY a good idea to start with an apology or an explanation/ excuse, but I need to get this out of the way. I’m sorry that this issue of All the World, which should have been published in January, is only appearing in March. The good news is that it’s nothing to do with COVID-19, but it is to do with someone’s health – mine. In Autumn last year I underwent major surgery to treat an ongoing condition. The operation went well but the recovery less so, meaning that I was out of action for almost three months. Anyway, I’m back now and raring to go. Sorry for the delay but I hope that, as you read about remarkable work being carried out around the world, you’ll agree that, in this instance, late is better than never! My time out enabled me to reconsider many of the things I took for granted, most notably the assumption that I’d stay healthy enough to keep working. It was enlightening talking with nurses who had worked on COVID wards when the pandemic first took hold in the UK. They spoke about the helplessness they felt having to watch patients of all ages die, knowing there was very little that could be done to save them. The Salvation Army around the world has, of course, been affected massively. We have lost colleagues and friends, good people who sought to bring light into the lives of others. Things that were taken for granted have had to be reassessed. Thousands of normal programmes, including gathering for weekly worship, have had to be stopped because of COVID restrictions.

Fundraising efforts have also been badly hit. But, just as the sadness and horror of Good Friday moves through to the glory of Easter Sunday morning, that is only part of the story. Around the world, Salvationists, employees, volunteers and friends have found new solutions to new problems. (And, almost certainly, some have found new solutions to old problems!) The previous issue of All the World considered COVID-19 as a worldwide emergency that needed a metaphorical fire brigade. This issue looks more at how different areas of ministry have strived to carry on, making adjustments to get around problems that no one could have foreseen. Less fire brigade, more refurbishment team!

‘The good news is that separate doesn’t have to mean isolated’

EDITOR Kevin Sims

GENERAL Brian Peddle

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

Published by Brian Peddle, General of The Salvation Army

EDITORIAL OFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101 Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org FOUNDER William Booth

UPFRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

At the moment, for instance, I’m having to take a slightly different approach in terms of the type of story I feature. For now, I can’t find the stories I usually try to seek out – personal stories and reflections of people who have been assisted by The Salvation Army. I’ve come to realise that this pandemic has created a situation where there is often a physical separation between beneficiaries and people who are trying to help, making it hard to share someone’s story when you don’t know it yourself! It could be a separation of social distance or a physical barrier of personal protective equipment or screens, but the conversations and contact that used to be normal and natural are not – for valid reasons – happening right now. The good news is that separate doesn’t have to mean isolated. Distanced doesn’t automatically equal distant. And, as I discovered from my wonderful nurses, when a mask covers the mouth, eyes can still share a smile of care, hope and reassurance. Despite all the difficulties and enforced changes in approach, people are still having their lives changed by God working through The Salvation Army. I believe that, in years to come, many thousands of people in more than 130 countries will look back at what happened during the pandemic and say to those who represented The Salvation Army: ‘We may not have been able to be together physically – but I knew you were there for me.’

Printed in the UK by Blackmore Ltd The Salvation Army International Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1000566) whose sole trustee is The Salvation Army International Trustee Company, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (no. 02538134) at 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

RESILIENCE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

RESILIENCE in a COVID-19 world by Jo Clark

HAVE worked with The Salvation Army for the past 21 years in various roles which have involved community engagement, community development, community project management, integrated mission, faithbased facilitation and capacity building. The term ‘resilience’ was first used in a major way in the development field in a 2014 conference in France, where it was described as ‘a new paradigm for development’. Although some people were sceptical about the introduction of yet another ‘new’ concept (or buzzword), most agreed that the positive side was that a focus on resilience gave space for the acknowledgement of the unexpected and uncertainty in community life, and the way in which social systems change and are dynamic. Back in May 2020, a couple of months into the COVID pandemic in India, I spoke with Benny Dhaya, who works for The Salvation Army in the far south of the country. For more than 20 years, Benny’s work has focused on community empowerment through community health education (and provision) and the establishment of community self-help groups, and savings and loans groups. These self-help groups have primarily been established among particularly vulnerable women – many of them widows and/or living with HIV – in economically poor communities. The women are accompanied and supported long-term by a team of community workers which has been built up and is managed by Benny. Many groups have been meeting together for 15 to 20 years. When I spoke with Benny in May 2020 he told me: ‘Despite the fact that our community workers are mostly having to work from home in these days, on hearing the situation in the United States with respect to the COVID-19 virus, the self-help group leaders contacted me to say they felt they should come together to pray for SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office) and the USA Central Territory who … have been so supportive of the development of them and their

families over the years. So, on 22 April, 5,500 women joined together in their homes and communities and prayed for those from SAWSO and USA Central Territory who partner with them.’ These self-help group members are playing an ongoing crucial role in disseminating accurate COVID-19 related information and raising awareness about hand hygiene and social distancing within their communities. What’s more, they have joined together and decided to support those most affected by the lockdown in their communities. To date they have contributed 126,000 Indian Rupees (about US$1,700) from their savings and have formed a small team to purchase groceries and sanitary items to help widows and people living with HIV in their communities. By late 2020, these women had supported 50 people living with HIV, 93 widows and seven differently abled people, as well as 474 of their family members. It is amazing! A couple of days after our conversation, Benny shared with me the story of one of

‘United by their already strong bonds and relationships they quickly worked out new ways of being together’ 4 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN U ARY–M ARC H 2021

these self-help group women. Let’s call her Sumita. Back in 2003, when Salvation Army community workers came to Sumita’s village, her husband was at the point of dying from HIV/Aids. She was also, unknowingly, HIV positive and they as a family, with two children, were destitute. Sumita describes the practical medical help they were offered, the deep level of care they experienced from the Salvation Army team, and the many months and years of support they received which enabled both her and her husband to resume work and earn enough money to build themselves a house and educate their children. Today Sumita is a social worker. In recent months she has offered her assistance to the Salvation Army team to help in the distribution of anti-retroviral medications to HIV patients who could not access their medicines due to the suspension of public transport during the COVID lockdown period. For me this is a real testament to how a community development approach of accompanied support, capacity building, and self-organisation and encouragement can enable the community to increase its ability to absorb future shock as people have offered care to each other in their self-help groups. They have adapted to

RESILIENCE

Opposite page: Women from a self-help group in India pray for their supporting partners in the USA; this page, top left: Roma ministry leaders Patrik Herak and Ilona Herakova at home; below far left: responses to a Facebook Live worship time; below left: receiving food items from Paul Rajkumar and his team in India

a quite sudden new reality and been able to care for their long-term financial supporters through prayer while also taking intentional steps to reduce the risk to people who are currently most vulnerable in their community so that the overall risk taken by the community is more equally shared. Another conversation I had, with Paul Rajkumar of India Central Territory, reinforced for me the importance of these self-help group networks across the country. He explained how he was encouraging the women to sew fabric face masks which The Salvation Army could purchase (at the same cost that they would pay any other mask supplier) to distribute to vulnerable workers and community members across the state. At the time we spoke, the self-help group members had sewn around 4,000 of the 26,000 masks that had been

distributed by the territory. Through this approach, The Salvation Army continues to encourage community resilience by drawing on relationships of trust and cooperation which have already been established with and within communities. Let me take you now to a completely different context. In June I spoke with Patrik Herak, a Czech Roma Salvation Army soldier living and serving as a corps (church) leader in the UK. The Roma are a tightly knit community, living in large multigenerational families which place a high importance on hospitality and daily coming together. As you can imagine, COVID lockdown for them was tough! Patrik told me: ‘God reminded me how these times are similar to that which the apostles faced … times when they had to be closed-down, times of persecution, times when their leaders were physically

absent (as when Paul was in prison) and when believers were separate from each other. ‘God reminded me that the only contact they had with each other at that time was by letter. Today we are blessed with new technologies and new ways of being and connecting. We have had to learn these in recent weeks. Understanding and using the new technologies has been a real challenge for me, but I believe they are what God has given us. Getting to grips with organising prayer meetings and Bible studies via Zoom, worship and preaching services via Facebook Live and daily connection, encouragement and prayer request conversations via WhatsApp has been vital. Every ministry group within the church has its own WhatsApp group and people (old and young) are now in contact daily.’ Seen through the lens of resilience, I notice the adaptive capacity of this community of believers. United by their already strong bonds and relationships they quickly worked out new ways of being together and maintaining their identity despite the restrictions. However, it was another part of my conversation with Patrik which struck me most. He told me: ‘After a few weeks [of lockdown], while some people struggled in their relationship with Christ and had doubts and trials of faith, it was revealed to others that things weren’t right within their family or marriage relationships. ‘I personally had to accept some correction on this from God myself. This has strengthened me. I know that God has given us more to carry in these times, but I also recognise that the burden I carry is his and that he is with me… ‘Ilona, my wife, and I … have been meeting separately with the husband and wife of married couples, and then also together with the two. I can see things changing for the better and fruit coming out, with God bringing healing in marriages which they wouldn’t have known they needed. Even though some of the family struggles still carry on a little, it isn’t like it was before.’ Through the lens of resilience, I see the transformative capacity of this community – one which has been strongly accompanied and discipled by pioneering and deeply committed corps officers over J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

RESILIENCE

David S. Massaquoi with students from a Salvation Army school in Liberia

the past decade. During a time of global crisis, this Roma Salvationist community is – in the way its members have learned to seek God and minister to each other – showing a capacity to make intentional change to address the drivers of risk and vulnerability within its families and community, so that it is no longer unfairly borne by the women and children. And so, to a final example. I also spoke with David S. Massaquoi, Director of Salvation Army education and schools in Liberia Command and a soldier (full Salvation Army member) of Paynesville Corps. Over recent years, Liberia has been ravaged by civil war and the Ebola epidemic. Throughout this time, The Salvation Army has continued to provide a consistently high standard of education to almost 5,000 students. The Salvation Army’s education department and the schools themselves have robust structures and systems in place which were able to absorb some of the initial shock of the COVID lockdown. Communications and relationships were strong and the ability to review, reflect and plan already existed. David shared: ‘The learning methodology supported in our schools and colleges was all based around traditional classroom, group-based, interactive learning. Overnight this was suddenly no longer possible and we were forced into doing some immediate “thinking outside the box”.’ The team quickly adapted, working to distribute printed teaching materials to the homes of the students. With a huge effort they were able to reach 80 per cent of students, keeping staff and students 6 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN U ARY–M ARC H 2021

safe by adopting hygiene protocols they had learned during the Ebola crisis. A second step of adaptation, moving into online forms of education, was also tried but could only reach a quarter of students. Secondary exam students were phased back into school first at the end of June. For those who returned, the teaching staff developed a compressed and condensed curriculum. They worked hard to produce electronic notes and printed materials to give to the students so that classroom contact time could focus on reviewing and analysing these materials, rather than taking notes. They also added some Saturday school classes (extending the study week for most students to six days) and lengthened the usual school days. Seventh Day Adventist students were given additional support so they were still able to respect their Saturday sabbath. With these interventions and the time, energy and commitment of staff, David believes the students lost only about 10 per cent of teaching time (rather than 60 per cent that would have been the case). David continued: ‘An obvious reality is that we recruited our teachers on the basis of their classroom teaching experience and capacities rather than on the extent of their technological skills. Using technology to deliver remote learning therefore posed a huge challenge for many. ‘COVID has brought this technological dimension onto our immediate horizon and we have come to realise that, even in any kind of “new normal” moving forwards, it will play a greater role in our lives and our work. As a result, we

have already begun to develop new types of training and orientation on the use of technology.’ This, for me, is a good example of them taking some first steps in moving towards transformation of a community’s mode of operation and ways of working in order to protect against future shocks and stresses, and indeed, the emergence of a whole new education paradigm. In collecting these inspiring COVID response stories from around the Salvation Army world, it became clear to me that the approach taken by The Salvation Army – the way in which it has been working with (and within) each of these communities for the past 15 years or more – has been key to the community resilience that has been shown in the face of this global pandemic. Through our continued, and committed, accompaniment and our efforts to help them to develop their own capacities, skills and faith, these communities now have the strength within themselves to better absorb shock, to adapt to new circumstances and even to transform the way in which they work or live. They can support each other, and others too, in finding their way, in what is shaping up to be a profoundly different ‘new normal’.

To read more about these and other COVID-19 responses, go to salvationarmy.org and search for ‘My Coronavirus Story’

Jo Clark is International Facilitation Specialist for Community-Based Salvation Army Ministry at International Headquarters

HEN things go wrong on a global scale, it becomes even more important to notice when significant things are being missed locally. We became aware that COVID-19 would have a major effect on a group of people who remain unseen by most of the Singapore population – the prisoners and their children who we knew through our Prison Support Services programme. It was obvious that it was important for children to continue to meet their incarcerated parents even though faceto-face visits had to stop because of the pandemic so, using the facilities at the Salvation Army centre in Tanglin, we set up the means by which contact could continue in a way that was safe and secure. Starting in October 2020, we worked with the Singapore Prison Service to facilitate online bonding sessions for children of parents who were incarcerated in Changi Prison. The children came to our centre and – using Zoom video

‘The children came to our centre and – using Zoom – were able to “meet” their fathers and mothers’

Pulled apart but brought together

PRISON MINISTRY

SINGAPORE

by Jason Wong technology – were able to ‘meet’ their fathers and mothers. During the online bonding sessions, those in custody were given items with which they could engage with their children, such as basic handicrafts. It was heartening to observe how the fathers and mothers seized the opportunity to play out their role as parents to their children even while serving their sentence. My heart stirred to witness a father in Changi Prison praying for his two children – a 12-yearold daughter and nine-year-old son. In another session, a six-year-old daughter prayed in Chinese for her father, asking God to protect him. In one case, a mother and father are both imprisoned, and their children, aged 13 and 11, are also separated from each other. One child lives with a foster family while the other is in a children’s home. It broke our hearts because not only were they separated from their incarcerated parents, they are also separated from each other.

This event brought both of the children together after some months of separation. It marked a tender moment for them to meet each other and even more meaningful to meet both parents together using Zoom. Despite COVID-19 and safe distancing restrictions, a total of 36 families and 76 children were able to meet their incarcerated parents over the first three weeks of the project. Continuing to meet together will have obvious benefits in terms of fostering good ongoing relationships. We also believe we are fulfilling God’s wish – recorded in Malachi 4:5-6 – of turning hearts of parents to their children and hearts of children to their parents.

Jason Wong is Centre Manager/Prison Support Services Kids In-Play (KIP) for The Salvation Army in Tanglin, Singapore (article based on a report in the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory’s War Cry publication) J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

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

EDDO NKAYILU

Eddo Nkayilu is Territorial Projects Officer in The Salvation Army’s Democratic Republic of Congo Territory

Eddo at a partners conference in Switzerland

What is your role in The Salvation Army? I am the projects officer, responsible for the oversight of projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Territory. I am also a Salvationist, leading the ministry to children and youth as the YPSM (young people’s sergeantmajor) at Kimbanseke 1 Corps (church). How did you meet The Salvation Army? Through my mother, who put lots of pressure on me to attend church activities until the day I met personally with the Saviour. Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? By God’s grace, I happen to be the first lay person to work at the position of Territorial Projects Officer in the DRC Territory.

HOME

What is your favourite Bible verse ? John 1:12-13: ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’ What is your favourite Salvation Army song? ‘Trust and Obey’ (690, The Song Book of The Salvation Army). The first verse reminds us that ‘while we do his good will, he abides with us still’ and that he sends glory our way when we walk with him! How do you think that working in DRC differs from working elsewhere? Poor roads, health and other infrastructures, poor means of communication, poor education systems (this list is not exhaustive!) make the whole working conditions different and among the worst compared to other countries. Of course, the situations of any country (political, economical, social, etc) impact either negatively or positively the work of The Salvation Army. What do you like most about DRC? Its strategic geographical position in Africa; its unity despite its massive physical size (2,345,000 square kilometres), large population (more than 80 million inhabitants) and the number of tribes and ethnic groups (400-plus). What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in DRC? Anchored patriotism.

8 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN U ARY–M ARC H 2021

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? I would look past the military-inspired organisation to ensure that the voiceless are allowed to speak and that their input is taken into consideration as long as they contribute to the advancement of the mission. If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose? Any English-speaking country out of Africa because I like the practical ways of working I am aware of in these countries. I would also enjoy the opportunity of improving my Englishlanguage skills. What skills do you use most in your work? All the skills required in projects work to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more? Speaking and writing in English. How would you like to be remembered? As God’s creature who played his full role up to the limitations set by God himself. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? Its organisation and the way its doctrines are explained. Also, its uniqueness and unity despite the existing diversities around the world among its people, Salvationists. , Eddo between his two assistants ndo Trésor Kitumu (left) and Jimmy Mato

VINCENT JOHNSSON Born in East Germany, and having lived in Sweden and Australia, Vincent Johnsson works at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London, United Kingdom

What is your role in The Salvation Army? I work for the International Development Services Section in the Programme Resources Department as the Systems Developer and Analyst. Whilst my tasks are incredibly varied, my main focus is the development of a project management system (called The Hive) that is used across The Salvation Army world for Community Development, Mission and Emergency projects. What would be your typical day? I often have a ‘to-do list’, which on most days has been revised within half an hour of me starting and thrown out within the hour! A somewhat normal day would start off with a 5k run, followed by a cup of coffee, sorting through emails, and dealing with questions around the above-mentioned Hive system. There are often meetings with all levels of people throughout the global Salvation Army, and system development if I get there. During the current COVID-19 landscape it is then time for my wife to hand over the home-schooling baton for our four children. In the late afternoon we all have tea and biscuits before evening activities, followed by bedtime for the children and some more work. How did you meet The Salvation Army? My first encounter was while I lived in Sweden. My mum worked in a hotel run by The Salvation Army, half of which was used by homeless men, the other half by tourists and business people, etc. While I was too young to fully understand at the time, I thought it was incredible to house business and homeless men under the same roof. My first contact with a Salvation Army corps (church) was through friends who brought us to a carol service at Sutton Corps, which we now attend. It was the inclusivity that caught us. With four children – one of whom has highly complex needs – we felt safe, secure and welcome. Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? As a child a huge photograph of me was in the middle page of an East German Sunday newspaper and I was recently in the local papers due to a challenge I am doing [Editor’s note: Vincent is being humble here – this incredible man is running/crawling/cycling 5,000 metres every day for 500 days (through rain, sun and snow) to raise funds for Reverse Rhett. For more information, and to support, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/ vincents5adaychallenge].

AWAY

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? Whenever I read this section in All the World, I ponder over who mine would be. My mind brings me back to a good friend of mine called Adam. He introduced me to our local church and, whatever difficulties are thrown at him, he stays faithful. He ensures that our community and neighbours always come first. Being an ordinary person, yet faithful to the core and never shying away from your beliefs, is true heroism of faith to me and marks an extraordinary person. What is your favourite Bible verse? Ecclesiastes 3:1. The older I get, and the more knowledge and experience I gain, the more Ecclesiastes rings true to me. Even if things seem hard right now there have been and will be better times. ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ What is your favourite Salvation Army song? ‘Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart!’ (573, The Song Book of The Salvation Army) – one of a number of songs that go right through me and lift me to a different place. How do you think that working in the UK – and particularly at International Headquarters (IHQ) – differs from working elsewhere? It is more than just a job, it goes deeper. Conversations are more honest, profound and funny. Every day I learn more about the world around me. Every day I am challenged to think in ways I would not have considered in a million years! I also love the balance that exists between the seriousness of some of the work we are doing intertwined with a huge amount of

humour, laughter and stories shared over a cup of coffee. I have lived and worked in multiple countries, continents, sectors and groups. I have made friends for life along the way, but nowhere have I enjoyed the act of working and felt so rewarded as I do at IHQ. What do you like most about the UK/IHQ? The people, my family, my colleagues, my friends. What do you most miss about East Germany, Sweden or Australia? Food, friends, family and nature. What I miss most with any place I have ever been to is the people I met on the way, no matter if I was told their names or not. They all are there in my heart. What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in the UK? Interest in others – not just accepting but actually being interested in other cultures, music etc. In Germany and Sweden much of the arts is not just national, and the news is as much about the world as it is about national matters. I miss that, and I feel in the UK you have to actively search for other cultures. If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? I think I would focus on equality and ensuring that inclusion is real, transparent and happens on all levels. If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why? I love where I am – London and IHQ is probably the best place to be. But if I had to choose elsewhere, I’d go for the Salvation Army International Development team in Sydney, Australia. My sister lives there with her family, who I miss enormously. Also, having lived some time in Australia, I love the lifestyle. What skills do you use most in your work? Structured thinking, trying to make all I do as efficient, well run and high quality as possible. What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more? Languages. I speak and write fluent English, Swedish and German. How would you like to be remembered? As a faithful and good person who loves all humans. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? Its place in the world. A majority of the world population knows of the good work The Salvation Army is doing, which opens doors that in many cases would stay closed. The possibilities of doing the right things are endless.

AWAY

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

USA

New opportunities for service and success

FEEDING

by Carol Shoults

uring the COVID-19 pandemic, The Salvation Army has had to discover new ways of conducting ministry and providing services to the communities in which it serves. In Marquette County, Michigan, USA, the food pantry run by the Salvation Army corps (church) had to be temporarily closed and the weekday inhouse meal programme transitioned to ‘meals to go’. This, however, proved to be an imperfect solution. Many individuals had lost their jobs and simply could not afford the cost of operating their vehicles. Add to this the shutdown of the public transportation system and there were many people who needed assistance but could not get to the corps, even with the offer of free gas cards, to pick up food. Realising this immediate need, Marquette corps officers Aux-Captains Doug and Kim Winters and their staff came up with a solution. They offered on local TV and other media to deliver all of the food pantry baskets directly to clients’ homes. This was quite an offer, since they average more than 300 baskets each month and their service area spans more than 3,400 square miles!

‘They offered on local TV and other media to deliver all of the food pantry baskets directly to clients’ homes’ 10 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

‘This bold step allowed The Salvation Army to be a little more personal in what had become a very impersonal environment,’ noted Aux-Captain Doug. ‘Since our family store had to close temporarily, our staff there were able to help with food delivery, as well as cooking meals and packing food pantry boxes.’ Also during this time a group of people was discovered, mostly elderly and generally living in outlying areas, who even in non-COVID times did not have access to the food pantry. Even with public transportation, they simply were too frail or incapacitated to carry the food home. These individuals now have food delivered each month, a service that will continue even now the pantry has reopened as a non-contact facility. The corps still serves about 40 clients each month with free delivery. With food from donations and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the corps is serving on average 85 meals per day, and ‘to-go’ meals are

delivered to the local homeless shelter. Demonstrating further community support and endorsement, the corps has received three local grants to help defer the cost of disposable foam containers and plasticware. Aux-Captain Doug adds: ‘The community has even started a grassroots effort to deliver lunches to neighbours and shut-ins, almost doubling the number of daily meals we now serve.’ Seeing the face of hunger has spurred the officers and staff to respond in effective ways of sharing the love of Christ, and these efforts are being recognised by and responded to by the local community. Through great suffering may come better ways of working and long-lasting partnerships.

Based on an online report from salarmycentral.org

T IROTNHAELM E C OI N UT NETRRNYAO

Masked up and

ready to serve in

blic

the Czech Repu

Frontline heroes The personal faces of a global response From the very earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Salvation Army has been working to help people all over the world to stay safe and well. Often, of course, this has led to Salvationists, employees and volunteers ‘walking where angels fear to tread’; stepping into places where infections are rampant or where maintaining a high level of hygiene is particularly difficult.

Getting ready to distribute meals in The Bahamas

These people have been recognised through more than 200 social media posts from the International Development and Emergency Services Twitter account (@IHQ-ReliefDev), using the hashtag #FrontlineHeroes. There are too many to show them all here, but these pages bear testament to a literal Army of people who are prepared to step out of the safety of their homes and buildings to offer life-saving help, assistance, love and prayers to members of their communities.

Above: providing COVID-19 support during flooding in Mexico Right: packing food in the Turks and Caicos Islands

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

CO I NUTNETRRNYA O T IRO T NH A EL M E Far left: making sure that children are included and cared for in Singapore Left: providing food items to people who have lost their income in the Republic of Congo

hing in Madagascar

Promoting hygiene and handwas

Physically distanced but still close to the people they serve in The Netherlands

12 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

C OI U Y AOTRI OTNHAE LM E NN TT ERN Providing packed meals to homeless people in the USA

Caring for elderly people in Hong Kong

Looking after patients in a Salvation Army hospita l in India

Promoting hygiene and handwashing in Romania

Providing food items to people who have lost their income in Honduras J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

I NUTNETRRNYA O T IRO T NH A EL M E CO

Above: ensuring that medical and non-medical key workers have everything they need in Zimbabwe Left: caring for elderly people in France Below: promoting hygiene and handwashing in Mozambique

in Costa Rica and serving food Above: cooking in need in Taiwan d food for people income in Finlan Below: preparing o have lost their wh le op pe to iding food items Below right: prov

SOCIAL SUPPORT

NORWAY

OR many people who are struggling with their lives, The Salvation Army's Varmestua in Ålesund, Norway, is a regular meeting point. Varmestua means ‘warm room’, and – in a town where average temperatures reach no higher than 8C (46F) for six months of the year – it provides a vitally important service. ‘Every day I come here is a good day,’ is a comment that pleases Åse Berg Grønvik, who is in charge of the facility. For around 30 years, ‘Stua’ has been a welcome place for those struggling with addictions, mental health problems or other challenges, and is filled with people who want social fellowship. Every weekday between half past eight in the morning and three in the afternoon, breakfast, dinner and pleasant fellowship are on offer. A symbolic sum is paid for the dinner, but food donations from the shops in the area and other contributors are greatly appreciated. Above: a warm welcome to Varmestua

Warmth for body and soul by Randi Bjelland Photos by Kristianne Marøy

The latest delivery came from three Norwegian coastal liners, which are not able to sail because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘So now,’ explains Åse, ‘we have plenty of crispbreads, biscuits and miscellaneous dry goods.’ At the centre, people can drop by to get a lunch bag, or some dry goods that are left out in large baskets, for free. Åse sees that Varmestua means a lot to the local community and to the individuals who might come by. ‘Varmestua means everything to me,’ some say, or ‘The warm room is like a second home.’ There are many who have received help there. For some, this is the only social gathering place they have. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in spring 2020, Varmestua was

ordered to close. Åse and the employees had to make a difficult assessment. Ordinary operations were closed, but if strict infection control measures were followed, an individual was allowed to stop by for half an hour, just to have a coffee and a chat. ‘We did it like this because we saw that there were some who were having a very hard time,’ explains Åse. ‘They burst into tears when they lost this opportunity.’ Suddenly, Åse noticed that many new people were making contact. Several of them were furloughed or had lost their jobs. For the first time in their lives, many needed to ask for food. Åse and her team decided that, if people couldn’t come to Varmestua, then Varmestua would go to the people! J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

NORWAY

Above: hearty meals are part of the offering; right: an opportunity to make music and have fun; opposite page, top: the waterfront at Ålesund; bottom: the way in to Varmestua is well signposted

‘We drove out dinner three days a week to more than 3,000 people,’ she explains. ‘Some of our regular visitors came and picked up dinner and went home and ate. Home nursing staff also came and fetched food for patients. They still come and fetch food for some even since we were able to reopen.’ When the ordinary operation was closed, Åse had trained a team of employees who were ready to take over if anyone should be infected and everyone who worked at Varmestua then had to be quarantined. Now, however, the facility is fully functioning again, although with appropriate safety measures in place. ‘We have removed some seats so that we keep our distance from each other,’ explains Åse, ‘and we eat in turns if needed.’ She has seen that people struggled when they realised they were going to have to live with restrictions for a long time. Especially before Christmas, she admits, people were uneasy. Several of the regular guests tend to celebrate Christmas at Varmestua but, because of the space, the normal centre was too small to hold Christmas celebrations safely. Even finding a larger venue for Christmas didn’t completely solve the problem. Åse explains: ‘The fact that people were uncertain about where the Christmas celebration would take place, and whether it was a celebration at all, made people uneasy. Fortunately, this was arranged so that we had a dignified Christmas celebration.’ At the heart of the issue is that it is more than food that draws people to

Varmestua. Great emphasis is placed on the environment also being warm – both physically and metaphorically. To achieve this, Åse has several employees and about 30 volunteers who, in various ways, make this a good place to be. ‘We could not have run Varmestua in the way we do today without volunteers or helpers,’ says Åse. ‘Not everyone signs a contract, but they come by and help with things such as peeling potatoes.’ She enjoys the variety that her role provides. ‘When I get tired of sitting in the office, I can go down and play some cards. Maybe someone sits down at the piano, and then we sing a little. Some of those who come are talented musicians. There are many nice people here who have plenty of knowledge about a lot of things.’ Varmestua offers all sorts of services, including a singalong, which is held alternately at Varmestua and at the nearby Salvation Army corps (church). For many,

‘Great emphasis is placed on the environment being warm – both physically and metaphorically’ 16 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

this is a time of the week when they can choose well-known and beloved favourite songs. Paint Nights is a programme for women who feel challenges in everyday life. There is also Street Football twice a week, which some of Varmestua’s users participate in. Trips to Vesleheimen, which is the former summer residence of a Salvation Army orphanage, are also a welcome distraction. Varmestua is a warm place to be, but Åse sees that many also need a ‘place to do’. ‘If society had had an offer in the form of activities or jobs for some of those who struggle in society,’ she says, ‘then we might have fewer people who visit us and similar places.’ She is pleased that The Salvation Army in Ålesund is now offering a programme called Stedet – literally ‘The Place’. Initially, activities such as carpentry and sewing are being offered twice a week, providing opportunities for people to join together and learn a useful skill. The street football team is now housed in the same building. ‘We think it is important that people have activities,’ says Åse. ‘There is a lot of passivity among our people, and we hope

NORWAY

that many get their minds off drugs or other problems when they are at Stedet. The offer is of course voluntary, but we hope that some of our users want to join. As well as that, there may be some who do not go to Varmestua who may want to use this new facility.’ Marie Eriksen is one of the volunteers who make the wheels turn. She volunteered this spring when she saw that Varmestua was closed and that food was instead delivered to those who needed it. ‘Since then I have stayed here,’ she says, admitting: ‘I have grown attached to Varmestua!’ Marie participates in most things that happen at the facility. She cooks, washes, picks up goods and has excellent contact with service users. Conversations often begin during the breakfast preparations where people drop by. If there are quiet moments, she likes to sit down in the living room with some knitting. ‘There's a lot of laughter here,’ she adds. ‘We have a lot of fun!’ When Varmestua reopened after being closed due to the coronavirus, Marie saw a lot of desperation among those who normally came to the centre. ‘People had been alone a lot,’ she says.

‘Some had mixed different drugs, many had gone into a depression.’ For many, loneliness is the heaviest burden to bear. She is afraid of what might happen if Varmestua has to close again. ‘It means so much to many to come here and have a meal and someone to talk to,’ she says. ‘There are such nice people coming here. Many people struggle quite a lot, but still give so much of themselves.’ As a volunteer, Marie gives of herself but also receives much in return. ‘To see someone who is struggling a lot gradually open up and begin to find his way back to himself – it is just as big every time. Those who struggle with intoxication have an illness. It’s not just something you can put down. ‘At times, I see that things go very badly with some. When I no longer see the personality of a human being, it is the disease that has taken over. This happens especially in periods when people have been alone a lot. But then suddenly it turns around.’ Whatever a person’s background or struggles, it is important to be seen, says Marie, explaining: ‘There is one who is very shy. I’m starting to talk to him. Every

time I smile at him now, he opens his eyes and smiles with his whole face. It’s so great to see!’ Varmestua offers far more than a warm place to eat and chat – important though those parts are. The centre also considers what people do when addictions or other illness control their lives, their finances are bad, and they are repeatedly refused financial support and healthcare. Where can they go when the electricity is turned off, or they lose their apartment? Sociologist Kristine Hurlen is both an environmental worker at ‘Stua’ and seeks out people where they are. She helps with tasks such as filling out applications, submitting complaints, accompanying a person to the doctor, or making sure that everyone gets the rights they are entitled to. Unfortunately, she sees that some end up ‘between two chairs’ when it comes to receiving state assistance. ‘If you are thrown from one offer to another,’ she says, ‘you may not have enough resources to follow up the rejections. For example, I might help someone who has been denied both psychiatry and drug treatment. One programme argues there is too much intoxication in the picture to be able to J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

NORWAY

Åse Berg Grønvik (right) spends time with a volunteer

offer psychiatric treatment, while the other believes there are too many mental challenges to be able to offer addiction treatment. Then I have to get in touch with the right people and try to help.’ She sees that people who end up being bounced between different departments and services can lose confidence in those who will help them. ‘Through Varmestua we are in a unique position to help,’ says Kristine. ‘We see many of the users every day. Over time, a relationship is built that makes people have a completely different trust in us than they have in the rest of the support system. We see the whole in the problem, and people are more open when we come up with proposals for changes because they trust us.’ Both the service users and the support staff appreciate that she joins meetings. The people who ask for help relax more because they know that Kristine notes and understands everything that is said and follows up. Kristine sees this as being a great use of the relationships made at Varmestua. ‘In

‘This is the Varmestua way – when you start to feel safe and included, you become open to receive more help’ 18 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

addition to Varmestua being a good place to be,’ she says, ‘we want to be able to use the environment to motivate people so they want to set new goals. It could be becoming drug-free, getting a job or becoming more active. Then we have to follow them a bit on the road and show we are there.’ She adds: ‘It seems that the system is becoming more and more complicated. Many feel a greater distance from help. The offices are larger, you do not necessarily know your own caseworker. ‘It is a difficult starting point when you want to begin a positive process. The first step to change is difficult to take. The first phone call to the creditor; filling out the important application; getting the papers you need.’ And sometimes the system itself has failings, with people slipping between the cracks if they move address, for instance. This is where the long-term relationships through Varmestua pay off. ‘We have built up a very good collaboration with many caseworkers,’ says Kristine. ‘The job becomes easier as time goes on, the path to help becomes shorter.’ It’s very clear that the COVID-19 pandemic means that even more people than usual are struggling with their lives. Varmestua has engaged in a lot of outreach work to address this. When the facility was closed, staff met people in an office, at home, or the meeting was held while they went for a walk. Kristine says that, because many agencies and offices have been closed,

‘there has been an even greater need for our services, including tasks that we did not need to help people with before, such as printing application documents. There are also several people who make contact – first and foremost for food and talk. There are many who barely managed on their own, but then the pandemic became the drop that made the cup overflow.’ It is often in a confidential conversation in the corner of the sofa, through laughter and small talk around the dining table, or during relaxing games, that the change in the individual starts. This is the Varmestua way – when you start to feel safe and included, you become open to receive more help. ‘For me,’ says Kristine, ‘it means a lot to see that you can mean something to others. If you hear that you have saved the day for someone, it gives you enormous strength to continue. I meet so many nice people every day, both colleagues and those we help. When a person shares his innermost thoughts with me … I am honoured to be shown that trust. ‘It is so fantastic to see that Varmestua can make a difference and contribute to positive growth in a person's life. It is an honour to be a part of it!’

Article written for The Salvation Army’s Krigsropet publication. With thanks to Andrew Hannevik for assistance with translation

INFORMATION

INTERNATIONAL

Beating COVID

– a message of hope, safety and assurance WITH COVID-19 dominating the world from early 2020, The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) has been working to resource its people who are engaged in practical and spiritual ministry around the world. The COVID-19 Task Force, which oversees the sharing of financial resources to address the issues that have arisen through the pandemic – particularly in the developing world – identified in early 2021 that there were reports of people being concerned about getting vaccinated against COVID. Some of these concerns, it was realised, arose from cultural approaches to vaccination and health provision, with people in some parts of the world having worries about being guinea pigs for wealthier countries. Other issues include people being influenced by scare stories shared on social media. Whatever the reasons for thinking otherwise, the scientific consensus now is that widespread vaccination – an equitable worldwide vaccine programme, with doses being made available irrespective of wealth – is the only way in which the pandemic can be suppressed and, eventually, stopped. With this in mind, it was seen to be important that official promotional materials to advocate vaccination be created by The Salvation Army and distributed to Salvationists, employees, volunteers, friends and beneficiaries

Urdu

Kiswahili

Portuguese Hindi

worldwide. These are intended to be displayed alongside government information, always applied in the light of local COVID regulations. A group from the IHQ Communications Section worked on the project with All the World designer Berni Georges, coming up with a clear and simple poster that reminded people to keep doing the things that would stop the community spread of COVID-19 while also encouraging them to get vaccinated when the opportunity arose. The English-language version included a simple rhyme to make the message even more memorable, with the overall theme

‘The scientific consensus now is that widespread vaccination ... is the only way in which the pandemic can be stopped’

being that, if everyone does their part, together we can beat COVID! Colonel Philomina Oklah (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, Uganda Territory) wrote to say thank you for the ‘posters and information given to us. We are distributing to our centres and giving more education to all the communities we are working with.’ From Pakistan, Territorial Commander Colonel Geoff Webb added that a summary of the territory’s COVID-safe policy had been translated into Urdu and ‘included the excellent poster produced at IHQ’. At the time of writing, the poster has been translated into 10 languages, with more translations being prepared. As it is shared further and further, this clear message of hope, safety and assurance is now reaching churches, institutions and communities around the world, bringing the end of COVID-19 ever closer.

To download the poster in a variety of languages, go to sar.my/beatcovid19 Czech

French

Spanish Slovak J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

PASTORAL CARE

AUSTRALIA

Promoted to Glory, partnered in celebration by Jessica Morris The Salvation Army’s international fellowship enables connections to be made across thousands of miles, providing comfort in a time of grief

HE world may have seemed smaller in light of a global pandemic but, with travel restrictions, on many occasions it has never been harder to say farewell to the people we love. For some of us, this has led to funerals or memorial services being attended online because we can’t travel across whichever country we live in. But for Leanne Wong, a Salvation Army

employee in Melbourne, Australia, these restrictions took on a whole new meaning when her mother-in-law died – ‘promoted to Glory’ in Salvation Army terminology – at the age of 86 in New York City, USA, which at that point was a COVID-19 hotspot. With family members all overseas, Leanne looked to her local community for support. As a Salvation Army relationship manager for the multicultural community in Melbourne, she has developed strong

‘Even amid international lockdown, social distancing and having to wear a mask, it was possible to show the tangible love of Christ’ 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

relationships with her team. So when she notified her line manager, Major Bruce Harmer, about the loss, she received more than just condolences and a flower arrangement. ‘Bruce straight away arranged flowers to send to my house,’ she recalls. ‘When I thanked him, he asked if I would like to have someone from The Salvation Army in New York representing my family to attend [the funeral]. ‘This was a lovely idea, but I did not expect it could happen. There were only three working days left to find someone available in New York, which was also under a critical situation.’ One of the strengths of a global Salvation Army is that it is also a global community. Despite the shortness of time, Bruce arranged for Major Ricki Ki, corps officer (minister) at Bensonhurst Corps in Brooklyn, New York City, to

AUSTRALIA

Opposite page: Major Ricki Ki attends the funeral in New York, USA, on behalf of Leanne Wong, a Salvation Army employee in Australia; Left: Leanne with her manager, Major Bruce Harmer

attend the funeral. It showed that even amid international lockdown, social distancing and having to wear a mask, it was possible to show the tangible love of Christ. ‘My relatives in New York felt honoured to have The Salvation Army representative with them to show support and also demonstrate a real-life testimony to “leave no one in need”, even though

we are thousands of miles apart,’ says Leanne. ‘We are blessed by the kindness of two officers who have exercised The Salvation Army’s value of “Caring for People” with compassion during such tough times.’ Major Bruce was able to connect Leanne’s family with Ricki due to his contact with Colonel Richard Munn, Co-Director of the Salvation Army’s

International Social Justice Commission in New York, who had previously held an appointment in Australia. He says the quick connection revealed how the global Salvation Army can come together, especially during the COVID19 pandemic. ‘We are a family held together by our shared values and shared beliefs. Leanne is part of that global family and it was just such a natural action to reach out to our brothers and sisters in New York in support of Leanne and her daughter,’ says the major. ‘The ministry of presence, perfectly delivered by Major Ricki Ki in support of Leanne, was just a glimpse of the many acts of kindness delivered by Salvationists living out their ministry in more than 130 countries. ‘There might be restrictions on our travel due to the global pandemic, yet it was possible to support Leanne through Colonel Richard Munn and Major Ricki Ki. I’m so thankful that we have a healthy culture of service woven into the tapestry of Salvationism wherever we serve around the world.’ Originally published online at others.org.au

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

WHAT IS THE SALVATION ARMY? J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Playing by royal appointment Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, thanked The Salvation Army for its front line work during the COVID-19 pandemic while listening to a Salvation Army band play carols in a special event at Windsor Castle, near London. The Queen was accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and The Princess Royal for the occasion, which recognised the service given during the pandemic by charity and key workers. Commissioner Anthony Cotterill (Territorial Commander, United Kingdom Territory with the

Republic of Ireland) said afterwards: ‘It was an honour to meet Her Majesty on behalf of The Salvation Army and as a representative of all voluntary organisations who have done so much incredible service throughout the pandemic … ‘Salvation Army volunteers, officers, members and employees have worked tirelessly since March, from providing food parcels for hungry

families, to helping rough sleepers keep warm, to providing vital doorstep friendship for the isolated – they have been there no matter what. The Salvation Army has innovated and adapted to ensure our front line of support has been there for those who need us.’

items from friends or family members. Therefore, The Salvation Army provides a welcome kit comprising mineral water, a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, sanitiser, a face mask and an energy drink. Hot tea and nutritious food – such as soup, boiled eggs and cookies – are provided to each in-patient three times a day. Every patient has access to purified water and an electric kettle. During their stay at the hospital, efforts are made to care for patients’ mental health. Team members provide opportunities for conversation with every patient, to mitigate the emotional effects of isolation and social distancing.

A warm welcome

Salvation Army hospitals in India – adapted its procedures in order to meet the needs of more than 3,200 patients who have presented with coronavirus symptoms since March 2020.

Welcome packs are taking some of the pressure off patients and their families at a Salvation Army hospital in India. Evangeline Booth Hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – one of five large

Many of the patients attending Evangeline Booth Hospital are already considered to be vulnerable individuals. In order to ensure biosecurity, patients are not able to receive food or other

INDIA

22 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2021

Although the Evangeline Booth Hospital was already highly regarded in the area, its response to the pandemic has been particularly praised by local people. In a community where many different faiths are practised, The Salvation Army’s team has been described as ‘angels of God’, with extensive coverage and testimony from recovering patients featuring in regional newspapers and TV news programmes. Many COVID-19 patients have gone on to fundraise for the clinic amongst their own business and community contacts. This in turn ensures that the provision of diligent service and care continues to be offered – free of charge – to all who need it, without discrimination.

SNAPSHOTS

Save the date Regular readers may have noticed that, because this January–March issue is being published later than usual, the back-page calendar is not in its normal place. However, it is still available to download and print from home at

https://sar.my/atw2021calendar Enjoy!

USA

High, wide and handy Salvation Army Red Kettles – a familiar sight in the lead-up to Christmas across the USA and elsewhere – were badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with ‘stay-at-home’ orders in place in some areas and people simply not going out as much. At the same time, the number of people needing assistance grew significantly. In Greater New York alone, The Salvation Army provided more than 6.3 million meals to those in need between March and December. To raise awareness of this increase in need and decrease in income, the biggest-ever

fundraising Red Kettle was set up in New York’s internationally famous Times Square. The giant Red Kettle, which was seven foot six inches (2.2 metres) high, hung from a stand measuring 32 feet tall and 16 feet wide (9.75m by 4.88m). The eye-catching design included built-in LED lights that illuminate and sparkle, and offered interactivity with a text-to-donate feature that triggered lights and ringing bell sounds which are synonymous with Red Kettle collections in the USA. The kettle was staffed by 24-hour security and local Salvation Army officers, who also manned a traditional kettle for cash donations and to answer questions. All activity around the kettle strictly adhered to New York City’s prevailing COVID-19 safety regulations.

INTERNATIONAL

A year of surprises The Salvation Army Year Book, an annual publication that compiles The Salvation Army’s news and statistics, this year has a particular focus on COVID-19. General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (World President of Women’s Ministries) say in the foreword that the 384-page 2021 Year Book is ‘a testament to the time in which it is written’. They add: ‘You will catch glimpses of the Army in the midst of COVID-19... Our hope is that history will record this time of COVID-19 as both a challenge and an opportunity. It should also record a narrative that captures courage, creativity and conviction, enabling a fortitude that results in sacrificial service.’ From distributing live chickens in Angola to preparing textile facemasks in France or arranging teddy bear hunts in Norway, detailed reports and an expanded photo selection capture the

various and innovative ways the Army around the world is serving communities during the pandemic. The General adds: ‘Even during the pandemic, doors have opened and opportunities have come. God does the impossible and continues to surprise us.’ Major Angela Strickland, Year Book Editor, says: ‘I am honoured to share these pages that will hopefully serve as a reminder of the many lives altered in the path of the COVID-19 pandemic. But most importantly, I hope the book

will provide a glimpse of hope that God provides for a better tomorrow.’ The e-book is available on Kindle and Kobo devices and apps (available for download on most smartphones), and the print version is now available from most Salvation Army trade stores. For the e-book visit: sar.my/yearbook2021kindle and sar.my/yearbook2021kobo

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2021 | ALL THE WORLD |

TOGETHER

WE CAN BEAT

Keep hands

Clean

Leave space

Between

Wash and make yourselves clean

Love your neighbour as yourself

Mask for

Get the

Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

(Isaiah 1:16)

(Matthew 22:39)

Hygiene Vaccine (Philippians 2:4)

(1 John 4:18)

Based on the information poster now in use around the world - see page 19 for more details and go to sar.my/beatcovid19 to download the original poster in a variety of languages

Download this poster from sar.my/atwbeatcovid19

Scripture quotations are from the New International Version and Good News Translation

C VID-19