All The World (July-September 2017) by Salvation Army IHQ

Food for thought LADEN WITH SUPPLIES IN CYCLONE-HIT MOZAMBIQUE Mobilising out into the WORLD The UK welcomes REFUGEES VOL 55 NO 3

KENYA gets ready for elections When the WORLD comes to us! JULYâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;SEPTEMBER 2017

CONTENTS

JULY–SEPTEMBER 2017

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

UPFRONT From the Editor

UNITED KINGDOM Welcoming refugees

HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

UNITED KINGDOM The world on the doorstep

MOZAMBIQUE Cyclone response

KENYA Ready for anything

THE WHOLE WORLD More Mobilising

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

10 12 14 20 11 20

Front cover photo by Rute Venancio Manjate

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Embracing in and reaching out I’VE explained before that I don’t theme many issues of All the World. The Salvation Army’s ministry is so varied that I’d be sure to miss something important and I’m always concerned that – being published only four times a year – if I choose a theme that some readers don’t like I’ll lose them for a whole six months! The flipside to not theming issues intentionally is the remarkable number of times when a theme emerges anyway! It’s almost like a higher power is keeping an eye on things (not just the General!), and it’s happened with this issue as clearly as I can remember it ever happening before. If I gave this issue a title, it would be ‘Inside Out’. Every article clearly describes a situation where The Salvation Army goes out into the community or where the community – local or worldwide – comes to the Army. The first two feature articles are both from the United Kingdom, where The Salvation Army was born and from where it spread out into – so far – 128 countries. Both show how the Army in the UK is providing a place of safety and comfort for people from around the world – a refugee

family from Syria being offered a new life in Raynes Park and people from a variety of countries finding a welcome in Luton. So those are the stories of people finding help ‘inside’ the Army. The others show how The Salvation Army is going ‘out’ into the world. In Mozambique, The Salvation Army is helping people to recover from a cyclone and, in Kenya, Salvationists are preparing emergency plans should the upcoming elections lead to violence, as has happened before. And then, of course, there is the Whole World Mobilising initiative, which is encouraging Salvationists to get out into their communities. As I sit here in central London, just two days after a terrorist attack took place less than a mile from my desk, and two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester, I read the stories of love and care being offered across community, country and religious

Kevin Sims, Editor

UP FRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

boundaries and believe more strongly than ever that this world needs God’s love. But more than this, it needs his love to be shown extravagantly by his followers. The words of former General John Gowans, featured on the second floor here at International Headquarters, have perhaps never been more relevant: ‘They shall come from the east, they shall come from the west, and sit down in the Kingdom of God ... From every tribe and every race, all men as brothers shall embrace.’ As misguided people try to enforce division and hatred, we should be challenged to turn this troubled world upside down – or inside out – by offering the warmest of welcomes to people who come to us with various needs, and by reaching out to hurting people with words and actions that bring hope and demonstrate only love.

‘We should be challenged to turn this troubled world upside down – or inside out’

EDITOR Kevin Sims

FOUNDER William Booth

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

GENERAL André Cox

EDITORIAL OFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Martin Gossauer

Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101

Published by André Cox, General of The Salvation Army

Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

REFUGEES

UNITED KINGDOM

A tale of purity and transformation How taking in a refugee family has given new purpose to a worshipping community

by Major Nick Coke

uddling together at the arrivals gate at Gatwick Airport, we were feeling a little nervous. The day had been long coming. Eighteen months of theological reflection, preparation and planning had gone into this moment. Five of us were there – four members of our corps (church) resettlement team and our interpreter. Clutching a banner with ‘welcome’ emblazoned across it in Arabic and three teddy bears we stared eagerly through the miniscule windows of the automatic doors at arrivals for our first glimpse of the people the corps affectionately calls ‘our family’.

At this point they were still simply names on a piece of paper – five Syrian refugees, identified by the British Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for

Nick and Kerry (centre) wait for their Syrian family with members of Raynes Park Corps at Gatwick Airport

Refugees (UNHCR) as being particularly vulnerable in the refugee camps of Lebanon, and now being given sanctuary in the UK as part of the Home Office’s Syrian Resettlement Scheme. Suddenly the doors swung open and they emerged into the bright lights of the arrival hall, grappling with all their worldly possessions in a handful of small suitcases. Identifying their name on the card we were holding up, they made their way over to us. In that instant we encountered them for the first time not as statistics but living, breathing human beings with names spoken out loud, handshakes and nervous smiles. In retrospect it’s hard to put into words the emotions of the rest of the day. There were tears and laughter, joy and pain, as well as much comical cross-cultural hand gesturing! As we spilled out of the taxi and across the threshold into their new home, the mother of the family began to repeat over and over again ‘praise God, praise God!’ in her mother tongue. They were exactly the right words for the moment. Let me rewind to 2 September 2015. This was the day that the tragic image of the body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi (sometimes spelled Aylan), washed up on a Turkish beach, found its way into newspapers and social media feeds across

the world. In a stroke it transformed the public narrative on refugees. Four days later, my wife (Kerry) and I were installed as the new leaders of Raynes Park Corps in west London. When the opportunity came for us to share our first public words we felt compelled to remove the focus from our comfortable surroundings and bring our new congregation together in prayer for those fleeing war and conflict. We reminded ourselves that the Bible is brimming over with the stories of refugees, from Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, the children of Israel, Esther, Jeremiah, Daniel

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Left: Nick (right) with others at a refugee rally; above: backpacks containing items for refugee children being loaded up to go to Athens, Greece; right: a young member of Raynes Park Corps with toys she and corps members had collected for refugee children in Athens

and many more all the way to Mary, Joseph, members of the Early Church and, of course, Jesus Christ himself. In that moment the corps began the journey to live up to Salvation Army Founder William Booth’s famous challenge to ‘do something’. We began with a practical response. We raised money, collected clothes and food and sent them off to where they could be used. Mya, an eight-year-old girl in our congregation, challenged us one Sunday morning to help her make up backpacks for child refugees who arrived off the boats with nothing. She rallied us and, within a couple of months, 30 backpacks, stuffed with toys, basic clothes and a few toiletries arrived in Athens to be handed out to children by Salvation Army volunteers. This was a start, but we felt there was something more costly expected of us. We read reports of the tremendous work that

our Salvation Army brothers and sisters were involved with in Greece, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and other European nations and felt ashamed that our country appeared to be doing so little. Being an island, Britain was insulated from the million refugees who made their way across the Mediterranean and into mainland Europe during 2015. As we reflected further we realised that this was as much about justice as it was about mercy. Towards the end of that year, I decided to go and see for myself the extent of what was happening across the water Early one morning I left London with a group of faith leaders and made the short journey from my home to the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais, France. As I entered the site I couldn’t believe my eyes. This small patch of wasteland, sandwiched between a huge factory and

a major road, was home to around 10,000 people living in makeshift shelters and tents. Young children played in the mud with no shoes, young women looked lost and vulnerable. We heard terrible stories of human traffickers preying on those who had run out of money and heart-rending accounts of what had forced these people from their homelands. J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Despite their hardship I discovered great dignity and spirit among those I spoke with and was warmly welcomed into their ‘homes’ to share a cup of chai. Late that evening I slipped into my warm, comfortable bed back home. I lay awake for hours. I felt the full flush of anger towards those who would bring such devastation upon others, those who would take advantage of such vulnerability and those who would turn their backs on such suffering when they had the means to help. In the darkness I prayed for wisdom, for clarity of purpose and for a way to do something. Shortly after the visit to Calais we heard about something called ‘community sponsorship’. Not yet allowed in the UK, it was a scheme Canada had pioneered in the 1970s which permitted community and faith organisations to sponsor a refugee family by bringing them to the host country and supporting them through the resettlement process. To date 288,000 refugees have been resettled in Canada this way, the majority through churches and faith groups, including The Salvation Army. We brought the concept to our corps leadership team and discussed whether exploring such a model through our corps might be a right and realistic path for us to pursue. We unanimously agreed that although there were plenty of unknowns we would step out in faith and begin by talking with the government about the introduction of a British version of the scheme. In January 2016 we joined friends from three other charities – Citizens UK, Caritas and For Refugees – in meeting government officials at the UK Home Office. From the outset there was a warmth and willingness to work with us. During the following months we met with civil servants on several occasions to co-design the programme. It was with great joy, then, and with huge thanks and praise to God that we were able to celebrate when Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced in July 2016 that ‘Full Community Sponsorship’ was now open to applications. Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby (the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion) declared his intention to house the first family at his home in Lambeth Palace. We had successfully reached out, built a relationship with the government and

Above: Major Paul Kingscott (speaking) and Nick represent The Salvation Army at an event outside the Home Office to mark the anniversary of the death of Alan Kurdi; right: a chart created by a corps member to explain British money

negotiated a change in the law. Now was the time for us in Raynes Park to go one step further and put our words into action! The responsibility for a group wanting to sponsor a family is quite heavy. It includes finding housing for two years, raising money to sustain the family until benefits are received, organising English lessons, setting up bank accounts, registering the members with the doctor, dentist, schools, and identifying interpreters. All this requires a dedicated team with a blend of skills. Over several months the corps put this together step by step, identifying particular expertise within the congregation and connecting with others in our community to plug any gaps. By late autumn we had built our team, received backing and helpful support from Merton Council, put together a resettlement plan and submitted our application. The week before Christmas we got the nod from the Home Office. We were to be the third group in the country to receive a family through community sponsorship. Early 2017 involved a round of training, cross-cultural orientation and the excitement of the whole corps community coming together to clean, garden and furnish what would be our family’s home. Taking our worship out of the hall one

Sunday morning, we met at the house and made our prayers through mopping, bedmaking, toilet cleaning and weeding. On 28 February our journey towards sponsorship was complete as our family emerged into the airport arrivals hall. As a corps we already felt as though we had been on a transformational journey. We had collaborated with others to bring about a change in the law that brought refugee resettlement into the hands of ordinary people and communities. We had found a way to do something when initially we’d felt helpless. We didn’t consider ourselves experts but we had managed to put into place a robust resettlement plan. Mostly, we felt completely humbled by the opportunity God had given us and his cascading grace flowing through our community. Nearly three months on and we have come to know our family far better. We have eaten together (lots!), laughed together, cried together, prayed together and faced challenges together. Settling into an entirely

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Far left: Nick speaks about welcoming refugees outside Parliament; left: a meal prepared for corps members by their adopted family

‘A young Muslim man approached me with tears in his eyes. ”I have been involved in refugee work for many years ... there was something about your story that moved me“ ’

new country with all its strange customs and cultural differences is a slow and ponderous process. There are good days and there are difficult days. Good days, such as the day the two older children started school. They were up at 4.30am, fully dressed in their uniforms and ready to go even though it was four hours too early! They hadn’t been to school for four years, after all. Difficult days, however, include when they hear of another family member killed or gone missing in the war, or they speak with relatives on Skype and realise how far away they are. The affect the sponsorship has had on the corps and wider community has been profound. Several members have found their sense of purpose energised and renewed. The home the family has made for itself can sometimes feel like ‘holy ground’. It’s as though the willingness of very different people to make themselves vulnerable and reach out to each other has opened up a channel of grace for the Holy Spirit to inhabit. Members of the corps team on return from visits will regularly testify to what God has done that day. Beyond the corps we have discovered and nurtured a whole

new set of relationships. The school that has worked so hard to receive the children; the local shopkeepers who have gone out of their way to help; the charity we partner with for English classes; and the local council which has pledged its help and support. What we have learned is that, when given the opportunity, there are many, many people ready to demonstrate care and support. This is not always the story the newspapers tell and it cuts across the apparently preferred narrative that people fear outsiders and that refugees are a ‘problem’. Inspired by our experience we have increasingly told our story. Invitations by those interested in community sponsorship have come flooding in. Up to 30 groups have now made their own applications and a number of other UK corps are exploring it for themselves. I have found myself in front of large audiences simply telling the story of how a group of committed Salvationists felt called to ‘do something’. On one occasion a young Muslim man approached me afterwards with tears in his eyes. ‘I have been involved in refugee work

for many years,’ he said. ‘I have seen a lot of what is happening around the world, but there was something about your story that moved me. There is a purity to what you are doing.’ For those of us in Raynes Park, however, we are sure of one thing – it is we who are being transformed. Whatever we have given we have received from ‘our family’ tenfold. We have learned so much from their resilience, generosity, spirit and love. We have been taken to new places we would never have gone without them. In the words of one of the most inspirational women I’ve ever met: ‘Praise God, praise God!’

Major Nick Coke is corps officer at Raynes Park Corps and Territorial Refugee Response Coordinator for the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland A shorter version of this article appeared in Salvationist, published by the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

HOME AND AWAY

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

COMMISSIONER CHARLES SWANSBURY is a British Salvation Army officer currently serving (for the third time) at International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, UK

HOME

What is your role in The Salvation Army? I have, for the past three years, been the International Secretary for Programme Resources at IHQ, which is one of the three ‘functional’ departments within the building. This covers communications, development services, emergency services, health services, impact measurement, mission resources, and schools. Actually, it’s the best responsibility in the Army because it is all about engaging in mission and service, and there is a passionate and committed team of people making this happen. What would be your typical day? Inevitably I spend a good part of every day attending meetings – I am a member of numerous IHQ boards, committees and councils. I attend to emails and try to be as supportive as possible to each of the sections. I also make time to walk around the department and find out what staff are working on and how they are doing. If possible I try to keep my desk as clear as possible, on the basis that if there’s a piece of paper on my desk then someone else might not be able to do their job properly! How did you meet The Salvation Army? I came into the world as part of a Salvation Army family. My father’s parents were officers and my parents are officers, so it was inevitable and a privilege that I grew up within a Christian family. However, remaining within the Army and, especially, becoming an officer myself was a deliberate choice based on a personal experience and calling. Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? One of my earlier claims to fame was that 50 years ago I climbed Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa – along with my elder brother and dad. Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? My heroes of the faith are the many loyal Salvationists I’ve met over the years who have served in a local capacity for 30, 40 or 50-plus years. We officers come and go, but where would we be without loyal, local Salvationists? What is your favourite Bible verse? My personal verse is 1 Timothy 6:11: ‘But as for you, strive for godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.’ I can’t say I have achieved any of those qualities, but they are always an aim and constant ambition. What is your favourite Salvation Army song? I have many. For depth and history I admire Luther’s ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’ and as a former civil engineer I am often moved when thinking of the words of Isaac Watts’s hymn ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’. How do you think that working at IHQ differs from working elsewhere? IHQ is somewhat akin to the Vatican City in that those serving there – even officers from the UK, like me – are in

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effect on international service. Working at IHQ reminds me of the internationalism of the Army and how many people from different nations and cultures can serve together. It’s a great place to be. What do you like most about the UK? The UK is my home, and I would not choose to live elsewhere – even though it doesn’t make the top 10 best countries in the world in which to live! The more I travel the more I value having a British passport – it’s something that those from the UK who have never travelled rarely appreciate. What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in the UK? My wife and I have been privileged to live and serve in southern and west Africa, so we have experienced something of the culture of these lands. I think in the UK we could learn from the sense of community of African culture, of family responsibility and loyalty. However, the UK is very multicultural, so in many ways the influences of different cultures exist right on our doorstep. If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? When our younger granddaughter was about seven years of age she exclaimed one day that if she ever became General she would rename the Army ‘The Love Senders!’ That sounded great to us. However, to implement change is very challenging, so perhaps the first thing needing to be changed is me! What skills do you use most in your work? When I was a teenager I wanted to become a civil engineer, and trained to achieve that ambition. However, upon becoming an officer I thought I had left that qualification behind. But since that time I have worked in property, projects and development, plus spent some time in editorial work – all of which has provided me with building blocks of experience that have somehow equipped me for my present responsibility. None of this was intentional or deliberate, but somehow God used that which had been placed unreservedly into his hands. How would you like to be remembered? As someone who encouraged and enabled others to achieve their full potential. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? At its best, the Army is a powerful and respected movement capable of achieving more than we can ever ask for or imagine. The work of the Programme Resources Department, and the committed work of each member of the team, is representative of that ‘specialness’ of which I’m proud to be part.

away

ESTER ELLEN NELSON Originally from Iceland, Ester Ellen Nelson currently works at International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, UK

What is your role in The Salvation Army? I am honoured to be the project manager leading an international team for The Whole World Mobilising (TWWM) initiative. What would be your typical day? There’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ day in my life – and I’m happy to report that this hasn’t changed since moving to London!

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? If I have to pick, I’ll choose two: 1. Pastor Dan. I’d been a ‘seeker’ for years, having told my nonbelieving parents at the age of seven that I needed to go to church to learn about Jesus. But I learned early on that asking questions was frowned upon. Then, some time before the age of 30, I met and ‘interviewed’ Pastor Dan to see if we (my young sons and I) would choose his church for their education. He wasn’t irritated or flustered by any of my questions, and instead encouraged me to ask more. We all grew because of Pastor Dan’s patience and his sermons. 2. Commissioner Rosalie Peddle [Ester’s boss at IHQ]. I feel as though I’ve known her for years. She is patient with my wild ideas and gives me just enough guidance and instruction, then entrusts me with the task ahead. I thank God for her every day.

&AWAY

What is your favourite Bible verse? For many years I was riddled with anxiety. Then the following Scriptures came to me in seemingly random ways. ‘The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm’ (Exodus 14:14 New Living Translation); ‘Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life’ (Philippians 4:6-7 The Message). I need these Scriptures still. What haven’t I needed for a long time? Anxiety medication! What do you like most about the UK (and IHQ)? UK: The weather! A number of people think that’s insane. But truly, it’s all relative. As my little girl says: ‘It’s ALWAYS good weather in London, mamma!’ IHQ: The IHQ family, without question. How do you think that working in the UK differs from Iceland? The pace. In Iceland, we have a saying: ‘Þetta reddast’, meaning, ‘Relaaaaaax. Everything works out!’ But sometimes the lack of initiative or sense of urgency can be frustrating. On the flip side, in London the commute to anywhere takes a crazy-long time. And the amount of cranky and passive-aggressive people rushing here and there always surprises me. What particular challenges does The Salvation Army face at IHQ? Transitioning to the 21st century. Say hello to the Mobilising app and website – we’re doing our bit to help with that! What do you miss most about Iceland? My daughter. Period.

&AWAY

How did you meet The Salvation Army? I don’t ever remember not knowing The Salvation Army. But I didn’t know the Army came from a Christian background. I didn’t know the ‘works’ were part of living out one’s faith. One of the first questions I asked my corps officer (minister) when I became an adherent member was: ‘Why on Earth don’t we tell people WHY we are doing what we are doing?’ I’m not ashamed! Let’s tell people! The best part of all of this was that God took me seriously, and here I am, responsible for a bit of that, all over the world. Simply amazing!

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? Recently I found this little gem from well over 100 years ago that made me giggle and nod my head in agreement: ‘I think probably most of our difficulty at present in this country arises from this multiplicity of details and the infinite red tape ... To my mind it is one of the paradoxes of history how [General William Booth], with his free, large spirit which refuses to be bound by the mild rules of a Methodist conference, could have developed a system which binds men hand and foot with red tape’ (from Dearest Lily, a selection of Samuel Logan Brengle correspondence edited and arranged by William Clark). So I’d cut out protocol/red tape. If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why? Hawaii, of course. Volcanic islands with sunshine? What could be better? What skills do you use most in your work? Communication and creativity. What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more? Maybe if I could spend more time sketching that would be a plus. How would you like to be remembered? I hope I will be remembered as someone who lived out their faith – and someone who was a friend to God. To me, that is the greatest honour. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? ‘And if a penniless bum crawls in with his shabby clothes and a stench fills the room, don’t look away or pretend you didn’t notice – offer him a seat up front, next to you ... My dear brothers and sisters, listen: God has picked the poor of this world to become unfathomably rich in faith and ultimately to inherit the Kingdom, which he has pledged to those who love him’ (James 2:2, 5 VOICE). This was why William and Catherine Booth’s Salvation Army was born! And 152 years later, you can find us in 128 countries. These things, to me, make The Salvation Army special: living out the Word and Jesus’ example of how to reach hearts. Always remembering that, while The Salvation Army is special, the focus is on bringing glory to God, and on growing the Kingdom, not The Salvation Army itself.

&AWAY

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COMMUNITY

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Loving by Stephen Poxon

‘Mahomet cald the Hill to come to him. And when the Hill stood still, he was neuer a whit abashed, but said; If the Hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet wil go to the Hill.’ Francis Bacon (Essays, 1625)

‘There was no question as to the need for, or the relevance of, social work in the Army’s programme. That the end-objective of all such social service is the redemption of the total man was unarguably accepted. The ability of the Holy Spirit to use both the evangelical and social activity of Salvationists was repeatedly emphasised ...’ General Arnold Brown (from his autobiography, The Gate and The Light, 1984)

FRANCIS BACON’S words are now almost universally recited as ‘If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain’ (or something similar), meaning, of course, that if one’s will does not prevail, then it’s not usually a bad idea to submit to an alternative. General Brown’s words require no explanation, but they come quite beautifully into their own – and blend superbly with the sentiments the essayist penned some three-and-a-half centuries earlier – when the spotlight falls upon the ‘All the world’ ministry of Luton Corps (church) in the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland. General Brown was referring to a standard Salvationist truth, but when such a truth is linked with Francis Bacon’s conclusion, then even an old-established tenet of Salvationism is made to shine more clearly. The Salvation Army – by and large – is nothing if not adaptable, with an impressive history of what we might call ‘Baconism’; that happy knack of existing as a

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the world from Luton movement with a backbone of God-given malleability. Examples of holy bendiness are plentiful, globally, but rarely more so than in the English town of Luton where, it seems, the world beats a multi-directional path to the door on a regular basis. May I invite you to join with me as together we shine a light on a typical day at the Salvation Army hall?: A Texan sits chatting to a visitor from Ukraine at the same table as an Egyptian missionary to England organises English lessons for Arabs, Romanians, Indians and someone from Lebanon. Meanwhile, Arabic New Testaments are made available, free of charge, as are apps whereby the old, old story can be downloaded by the hi-tech hungry. This multicultural roadshow is all wonderfully supported by the provision of a range of lip-smacking, nostril-teasing delicacies featuring ingredients emanating originally from Bible lands and thereabouts. A menu of exotic aromas fills the cafe area and at least five languages permeate the international atmosphere. Quite separately (but not separately at all, really, if Mr Bacon and General Brown have it right), the home league women’s meeting of Luton Corps has undertaken a fundraising project for Salvation Army sand dam projects in Kenya. Returning the compliment of a continent, out of Africa have come the 30 or so members of Luton’s regular Sunday congregation who hail from Zimbabwe (and whose humbling chief desire in life, incidentally, is to pray for the salvation of President Mugabe) to sing the praises of our intercontinental God in Shona and English, enriching sung worship delightfully. Providentially, the corps sits directly opposite the University of Bedfordshire, which hosts more than 24,000 students over three campuses. So there are students from more than 100 countries, many of whom study just a half-hearted stone’s throw from The Salvation Army! What opportunities abound!

As if that harvest field were not already ripe enough, London Luton Airport provides an influx of visitors from Bulgaria, Poland, Albania and Greece, not to mention seasonal travellers en route from Ireland; most in need of food, clothing or nappies (or all three). Others are fleeing gangs, a few seeking accommodation, and a number of brave souls ask for help translating CVs – known as resumés outside the UK – in the hope of finding employment. One of my finest moments as a Salvationist was the entire morning I spent translating a CV from Russian to English on behalf of an immigrant motor mechanic (at least I think he was Russian, and I’m fairly certain he was a mechanic), whom I hope soon found work. Oh, and here comes the chap of West Indian origin who makes himself known from time to time, and who is unfailingly treated to vast quantities of grace as he grapples with his addictions on the premises. I wrote a poem about him and some of his friends, and nearly cried as I penned the lines. God bless Luton Corps as it embraces broken, vulnerable humanity. We are all travelling through one another’s countries, seeking our common home in God.

Stephen Poxon is a Salvationist writer

‘A menu of exotic aromas fills the cafe area and at least five languages permeate the international atmosphere’ J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

EMERGENCY

MOZAMBIQUE

A common goal by Captain Heather Rossouw

HE Salvation Army in Mozambique has been assisting people affected by Cyclone Dineo, which wreaked havoc across the province of Inhambane in the south of the country from mid-February. Strong winds and heavy rain took down power lines and trees, destroying some houses and ripping roofs off others. Hospitals and schools have also been affected, with classes suspended throughout Inhambane. At the time of writing (mid-May) the cities and villages of Zavala, Inharrime, Jangamo, Maxixe, Homoine, Morrumbene, Massinga and Funhalouro were still without electricity. The mobile phone network was also affected, meaning that communication was very limited. Massinga, Jangamo, Morrumbene, Zavala, Inharrime and Homoíne seem to be the most-affected districts, with winds of 170 kilometres per hour recorded. The provincial government estimated that more than 650,000 people were affected, with nine people losing their 12 | ALL THE WORLD |

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lives. The government created four teams, each of which will oversee a specific area of the response: planning and information, rapid assessment, logistics and shelter. The initial priorities were for tarpaulins (to create temporary shelters), big tents for schools and hospitals, food assistance, household kits and water purification supplies. The Salvation Army has been working closely with the authorities, and deployed a team to assist affected families. Local Salvationists were joined by two International Emergency Services deployees – Lieut-Colonel Comfort Adepoju (Nigeria Territory) and me – to implement the distribution of food items to four districts that had been identified as being in particular need by local government. We were mostly based in Maputo, the capital city, but travelled to Inhambane at least once a week. To give you an

Heather (far side of circle) prays with local Salvationists and volunteers

idea of the difficulty in getting to the affected region, the journey was only 450 kilometres but took at least seven hours by car. Each family received 50 kilograms of maize meal, 10kg rice, 5 litres of oil,1kg salt, 4kg beans and 5kg sugar. Families with babies aged between 6 and 18 months also recived an additional 2kg of Cerelac cereal powder. The first few days after arriving in Maputo were spent doing price comparison of the food items that were needed for the distributions. These were organised at three locations in and around Inhambane – south (117 families and 120 babies), rural (130 families, 152 babies) and central (120 families, 127 babies). Further distributions in Maxixe supplied

‘It is truly a humbling experience to be able to serve, no matter how far I am from home’

MOZAMBIQUE

Left: distributing food packs

food packs to 113 families and 85 babies then 330 families and 330 babies. I have been deployed on an emergency response on three previous occasions, but they could only partly prepare me for what I faced in Mozambique. Each deployment is unique. Each has its own challenges and yet one walks away with so much more knowledge. My local contact was Major Dyson Chifudzeni, a Malawian officer who is Projects and Property Officer in Mozambique. I am South African and Comfort is Nigerian, so it’s not hard to

Damaris Frick, from The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services, visited one of the communities that had received food from The Salvation Army. She recalls one of the families she met: We arrived at a compound belonging to two elderly sisters to find the older sister lying on the floor, looking – to our eyes – not far from death. ‘It’s malaria,’ she told us. The sisters were among the families that had received relief food from The Salvation Army some weeks previously, and we wanted to see how they were doing and if they had other needs. We listened as they talked about their lives; about the

imagine the fun we had trying to speak to each other! However, language barriers were quickly broken and we had a job to do – to help people who were in distress. Some things are the same on every deployment. I’m always aware, for instance, that we can do nothing without the generous support of donors around the world. Another constant is the sense that it is truly a humbling experience to be able to serve, no matter how far I am from home or how much I am taken out of my comfort zone. I kept reminding myself

cyclone that had recently hit their country and destroyed their house; about the crops they had lost in their fields and how they had started to prepare the land for planting again; and about the food they had received, which was still sustaining them several weeks later. They told us they are taking care of their nephew, whose father (their brother) had died several years ago. To make things even more difficult for the sisters, the boy is disabled.

of my favourite verse of Scripture – Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ I have discovered that, even in the most desperate of situations, people always want to learn and are willing to help. One of the things I really enjoyed in Mozambique was facilitating training for volunteers, teaching officers and corps members how to handle a distribution. Much fun was had but, at the end of the day, we joined hands and connected with each other in prayer, committing the work back to God. The closeness with local Salvationists was strengthened when, between the deadlines, we were able to join the Sunday worship at a local corps. It was good to be reminded that, no matter who we are or where we are from, we serve the same God and have the same common goal – to save souls, grow saints and to serve suffering humanity.

Captain Heather Rossouw is Territorial Emergency Services Director in The Salvation Army’s Southern Africa Territory

earlier looked like she was close to death suddenly leapt up and started dancing, singing: ‘Jesus is here! Jesus is here!’ I don’t think the malaria had gone, but I do believe that Jesus was there – he was present through people who were caring for each other and sharing a prayer.

They brought him out to meet us and asked the Salvation Army pastor to pray for them, which she did. As she prayed, the most astonishing thing happened. The sister who had

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

Photo: Community Albums

RISK REDUCTION

KENYA

Better prepared

IKE many churches, charities and non-governmental organisations, The Salvation Army was caught by surprise when violence broke out across Kenya following national elections in 2007. Seemingly out of nothing, approximately 1,300 people were killed and 600,000 displaced. Despite being caught off-guard, Salvation Army personnel – employees, soldiers, officers and friends – did what they could, opening the gates of their compounds for people looking for shelter and safety. They assisted in camps that were set up for people displaced by the violence and worked with the Red Cross and other groups. In the run-up to the next elections in 2013, preparations were put in place to deal with the outcome of renewed unrest. Supported by International Emergency Services, a ‘conflict preparedness’ workshop took place in Nairobi. Delegates explored the root causes of past problems – including inter-tribe difficulties – and identified the locations with a high potential for conflict. They analysed local capacities for protection,

by Damaris Frick and Elise Belcher described the relationships between groups in the weeks leading up to the coming elections and created emergency checklists for families, communities and institutions. In addition to preparing and equipping 20 locations in hotspot areas for the potential sheltering of people fleeing from violence, many excellent peace-promotion initiatives took place. Nairobi Central Corps Band, for instance, led a march for peace that finished with a rally, organised by several organisations, to promote peace. More than a million people were estimated to be on the streets that day! Local initiatives included smaller peace marches with banners and the distribution of preparedness checklists. Throughout, The Salvation Army worked in collaboration with other stakeholders and became an active member at coordination meetings. When the request was made for ‘safe centres’ to be prepared in various slum areas, The

‘It was powerful to see people who could be divided by territorial or tribal lines praying for peace together’ 14 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Above: a Muslim girl who was invited to participate in the ‘song for peace’ records a solo part

Salvation Army was the only organisation able to offer support, with corps (church) halls turned into coordination hubs for safe shelter and planned distribution points. As it transpired, they were not needed in 2013 because the election was largely peaceful, but the threat of violent protests remained. As a result of The Salvation Army’s good work and coordination during the build-up to the election, it was then asked to take on psychosocial and practical support responsibilities after the Westgate shopping mall attack in 2013 and the Garissa college attack in 2015. This year in August there will be elections again and The Salvation Army in both Kenyan territories (Kenya East and Kenya West), supported by International Emergency Services and International Development Services, is planning to take efforts even further. A workshop attended by 50 delegates from all across Kenya considered the

Photo: Community Albums

KENYA

Left: a young boy mobilises his community to promote peace, as part of ongoing preelection peace-building activities; above: Salvation Army officers from different territories and tribes pray for each other

lessons that had been learned from the previous years. In one session discussions centred around how tribalism, biases and prejudices contributed to conflict, with delegates learning together that they – and people in their communities – actively have to choose not to let these differences trigger conflict, but to work together to build peace. At the end of the day people were asked to write a peace prayer or poem which they then read to someone from a different tribe. It was powerful to see people who could be divided by territorial or tribal lines praying together for peace in their country and speaking peace over each other. As in 2013, the territories are preparing safe locations in potential hotspot areas but the wider peace-building efforts have been increased significantly. The initial results have been extremely exciting and positive, as communities are joining with The Salvation Army

to promote unity. A ‘song for peace’, written by children across the country, uses different tribal languages, and has contributions from children who are blind, others who live on the streets, some who are Muslims, some at school, some living without families – all to show through words and music that ‘everyone is somebody’ and ‘Kenya is home’. The song and its accompanying video deliver a powerful message of peace and unity from the youngest members of society. Look out for the final music video on Salvation Army social media. This peace-building initiative has been supported by a partner organisation, Community Albums (www.communityalbums.com). Other activities include school competitions, sports activities, peace messages on car stickers and banners, sermons, Bible studies and marches. The elections in 2007 left Kenyans traumatised, shocked and ashamed. And

the rest of the world was amazed that something like this could happen in what seems to be (and is) a beautiful tourist destination populated by lovely, warm, kind people (they are!). Nobody knows for certain what this year’s elections might bring. People are worried and there have been signs of violence already. But others also express hope. The Salvation Army is not content to just hope and wait, praying that all will be well (although it will certainly surround the whole situation with prayer). More than that, it is actively setting an example and pointing the way to peace.

Damaris Frick is Field Officer for The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services; Elise Belcher is Community Development Coordinator (Africa) for International Development Services J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

COMIN G SOON

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‘ALL ABOUT JESUS, DOWN TO EARTH AND STRAIGHT TO THE HEART!’ GENERAL ANDRÉ COX 16 | ALL THE WORLD |

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MORE ONE ARMY BOOKS

In the Master’s Hands, by Robert Street, gives clear, welcome and positive explanationof the Army’s understanding of sacramental living. My Life in God’s Hands, by Nick Coke, is just the right book to put into the hands of young people wanting to give their lives to God.

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J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

MOBILISING

THE WHOLE WORLD 1

A whole world of mobilising

Compiled by Laura Booth

MORE than six months into the Whole World Mobilising campaign, Salvationists around the world are zealously mobilising, reaching out to their communities and taking Jesus to the streets. This was particularly evident during the ‘Mobilise: Go Children and Youth!’ weekend in March, when thousands of young people around the world united in prayer, took the lead at their corps (churches) and reached out in new and creative ways. Here are some great examples of how Salvationists and friends have been inspired through The Whole World Mobilising to do something new:

free meal and prayer. Throughout the weekend we broke through the four walls of our churches and took Jesus to the streets; it was a great time for The Salvation Army in New Jersey. (Photo 3)

MIDDLE EAST REGION By Andrew Davis (Kuwait Corps)

As The Salvation Army has stepped into 2017 with the theme The Whole World Mobilising – Go Forward!, I have spent time thinking about what it means to mobilise. To me, mobilising is reaching out to people and sharing the grace, love, care and wisdom that we have received from God. In the Middle East, options to mobilise and go forward are scarce. Therefore, (Photos 1 and 2) corps members met at the officers’ USA EASTERN TERRITORY residence to brainstorm and explore By Jerome Green the possibilities of spreading the message of Christ. A common idea The New Jersey Division hosted a shared by all of us, although strange at divisional mission rally, with Salvationists first, was to do brass band outreach. from 25 corps meeting in three different A brass band in the Middle East is regions. Salvationists in the northern not at all common among the locals, but we’re hoping that conversations region held a street march and took will be started through the common flags onto the street, singing and interest of music so we can gain more praying and creating a spectacle of influence with people and continue to infectious joy! In the central region, move forward as an army for God. Salvationists mobilised in one of the most economically distressed areas of New Jersey. They walked the streets, (Photo 4) cleaning as they went, before taking a MALAWI TERRITORY band to a well-known corner to bring By Emmanuel Mwale (Lilongwe Corps) music to the streets. Prayers were lifted and new contacts were made. A Salvationists in Malawi are ready to second group went and prayed over ‘do something’ – in the words of The a potential new site for a corps. In the Salvation Army’s Founder, William southern region, Salvationists held Booth – to reach suffering souls and a barbecue at a Ray and Joan Kroc be part of the community, following centre and invited the community for a General André Cox’s call to mobilise. 18 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Our Territorial Commander, Colonel Moses Wandulu, has instructed everyone to make the sound be known in all corners of Malawi and bring revival, and mobilisation has kicked in with a bang! Salvationists are reaching out to people and meeting their physical and spiritual needs through outreach meetings, open-air meetings and social activities. The youth and children’s weekend in March reminded us of the great mission

THE WHOLE WORLD

wpassers-by. We went from street to street picking up garbage. It was a fun-filled experience for all the young people who took part. The youth weekend brought a better understanding in my heart about what it truly means to mobilise together.

(Photos 7 and 8)

INDIA SOUTH EASTERN TERRITORY By I. Christopher (IT coordinator, THQ) Many people travelling in our region were affected by hot weather, and at times the temperature reached more than 41 degrees Celsius. Therefore, Salvationists decided to mobilise and meet people’s practical needs. We set up buttermilk and water stalls around the town. In India, the consumption of buttermilk has two major benefits: cooling and improved digestion. With the Mobilising flag on display and a sea of friendly smiles, more than 2,500 locals received bottles of water and buttermilk. This simple act of generosity, asking for nothing in return, proclaimed the love of Jesus loud and clear.

started by the Founder. The Central Division went flat out to evangelise. Led by Divisional Commander Captain Luke Msikita, youth in the division reached out to more than 300 young people with messages of hope. The youth evangelised to their counterparts and assured them that Jesus is the only real hope. It was a great weekend, with tug-of-war games, sweeping the main market and evangelising through preaching, gospel dances, timbrels and a brass band. Mobilisation has brought such a huge change to The Salvation Army in Malawi, so much so that we expect it to grow to new heights and penetrate all areas in the territory. We look forward to celebrating with the General when he visits our territory in September. Together we will celebrate that Jesus is our only real hope!

(Photos 5 and 6)

CARIBBEAN TERRITORY By Zoraida Bacchus (Georgetown Citadel, Guyana Division) At my corps, we believe in sharing the Word of God in many ways so that we can mobilise with others around us. During the ‘Mobilise: Go Children and Youth!’ weekend we rallied in the streets, listened to the concerns of the homeless and spread the gospel by sharing tracts, brochures and pamphlets. It was an amazing experience for all of us as we embraced the task and put smiles on the faces of the many who appreciated our kind efforts and concerns. Sharing the brochures and pamphlets helped us to give a small portion of God’s deepest love to those who needed to be heard, seen and understood. The next day, we cleaned up our neighbourhood and talked to

To read more inspiring stories like these, head to the Whole World Mobilising blog at https:// mobilising.salvationarmy.org/#!/ blog or download the app from the Apple or Google Play stores

Laura Booth is the Whole World Mobilising Content Producer (Europe and Africa), based at International Headquarters in London J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2017 | ALL THE WORLD |

COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Stand up and pray In preparation for The Salvation Army’s Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking, which will be marked around the world on Sunday 24 September, some new resources have been made available on the international website, www.salvationarmy.org. A variety of striking posters featuring this year’s theme, ‘Stand Up for Justice’, have been created by All the World designer Berni Georges and are available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. A version of the poster without words allows for further translations to be created locally. The back page of this issue of All the World celebrates the day of prayer’s 10th anniversary. It features this year’s poster alongside images that have been used to promote the initiative during the decade since General Shaw Clifton first called the worldwide Salvation Army to prayer for victims of trafficking.

The 2017 resources – including posters, a Bible study, sermon outlines, prayers, videos and materials for children – are available from http://sar.my/aht

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION

Here come the goals

‘The report works through each of the MDGs in turn’

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Long-time readers of All the World may feel a sense of déjà vu when looking though Building a Just World, produced by The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission. That’s because the 72-page report, which shows The Salvation Army’s contribution to the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals, uses photos and stories published in All the World from 2000 to 2015. The UN website says: ‘The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/Aids and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanised unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.’

Building a Just World explains the part played by the international Salvation Army in reaching those goals, as it continues to uphold its mission to ‘meet human needs in [Jesus’] name without discrimination’. The report works through each of the MDGs in turn, revealing The Salvation Army’s response and approach to the differing challenges. General André Cox, in his foreword, states that ending poverty is a ‘moral and spiritual imperative’. He says the report reveals ‘the breadth and scope of The Salvation Army’s work’ and ‘briefly explains why we do it’. The full text of Building a Just World, along with an appendix that explains the research methodology, can be found at www.salvationarmy.org/isjc/mdg

SNAPSHOTS

SRI LANKA

Hands-on leadership The Salvation Army’s international leaders, General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries) take part in a variety of events during their visits to Salvation Army territories and commands worldwide, but a recent visit to Sri Lanka provided the opportunity for something unusual. The General played a hands-on role in a disaster response, bringing practical assistance to victims of the disaster and encouragement to relief workers, including police, military and medical personnel. After a 90-metre high waste dump in Colombo collapsed on Good Friday 2017, destroying 145 homes and killing at least 32 people, The Salvation Army was soon on the scene to provide food and spiritual support. The General and Commissioner Cox visited both the disaster site and a local school that had become a temporary shelter for approximately 200 people. They moved among hundreds of people, bringing their personal greeting and interest to as many as possible. A team of Salvation Army workers was providing food for 550 people and the General joined a team that was distributing

more than 700 pairs of slippers (sandals) to people who had lost everything. Salvation Army officers (ministers) were also on hand to talk with survivors. In an on-site media interview, the General assured survivors of The Salvation Army’s ongoing support. He also encouraged government and humanitarian relief agencies to work together towards solving the problems created by the dump’s collapse.

Message from the Editor: No one likes giving or receiving bad news, so I’ll make this quick – from the next issue, the cost of All the World is going up. I wish it didn’t have to be so, but in recent years International Headquarters has absorbed and subsidised the rising production costs of its regular publications – Revive, All the World and Words of Life. Obviously, this can’t go on forever, so the latest round of print and distribution cost increases has led to an increase in the price to readers. To give it some context, this is only the second price rise in more than 30 years! From the October–December 2017 issue of All the World, the subscription rates – including postage – will rise by £2.40 per year to £8.00 in the UK and by £2.50 to £15.00 for the rest of the world. The cost to UK subscribers who order copies through their local corps (Salvation Army church) will also rise, in this instance by 70 pence to £1.50 per copy. These changes are reflected in the Subscriptions information panel on page three. Incidentally, the best way to bring down printing costs is to increase readership, so perhaps this is a good time to challenge you, the reader, to encourage other people to subscribe.

The General and Commissioner Cox were in Colombo to meet with government ministers, Salvation Army leaders, heads of churches, leaders of other humanitarian organisations and members of The Salvation Army’s newly established National Advisory Board. They also visited Salvation Army residential services in Greater Colombo and spoke at various gatherings.

Could you buy a copy for your local library? Could you give one to your local member of parliament or government representative? The possibilities are endless. Given complete financial freedom, I’d love to make All the World available for free, so that more people can share in the news of how God is using The Salvation Army to change people’s lives. Sadly, that’s not really an option (although if any squillionaires reading this want to provide funding, please let me know!) but I believe that All the World continues to be great value for money. Even the most expensive subscription works out at just over £0.04 (US$0.05) a day, and there’s really not much you can buy for that!