All The World (July-September 2018) by Salvation Army IHQ

Rebuilding lives in ST MAARTEN Sparking new possibilities in the USA ZIMBABWE – healthcare with heart Advocating for refugees in the UK

VOL 56 NO 3

Safe and secure HELPING LANDSLIDE VICTIMS IN BANGLADESH

JULY–SEPTEMBER 2018

CONTENTS

JULY–SEPTEMBER 2018

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

UPFRONT From the Editor

ST MAARTEN Rebuilding homes and lives

HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

USA Welder gives back

BANGLADESH Working with rural landslide victims

ZIMBABWE Medical care and innovation

UNITED KINGDOM Fighting for refugee rights

THE WHOLE WORLD The Mobilising app

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

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Cover photo by Samuel Shearer

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Being Spectacular IF you turn to page 14 of this magazine, you’ll see that I’ve recently been to Zimbabwe, where I helped to run a training conference for Salvation Army communications people from all over Africa. The trip was an eye-opener on many levels. The conference was inspirational and thought-provoking. The delegates were passionate about The Salvation Army’s mission and ministry, but in many cases they are trying to do the impossible, telling the Army’s story for a whole territory or command while also holding other important appointments. This is their reality. They are fulfilling a great number of varied needs – and I have nothing but admiration for them all. As part of the conference we travelled out of Harare to see The Salvation Army’s work at Howard Hospital and Howard High School – two high-class facilities in the heart of rural Zimbabwe. The hospital you can read about in my article, but I also want to share something about the school. I could talk about the facilities, the grounds or the newly-built dormitories but – excellent though these are – we left Howard High School remembering one thing ... the pupils. We had opportunity to speak to one 18-year-old boy (Tanaka), two 18-yearold girls (Ropafadzo and Heather) and a cropped-haired, charismatic 16-year-old girl with the fantastic (and appropriate) name of Spectacular. They all hold positions of responsibility in the school, and Spectacular is also a member of Zimbabwe’s youth parliament.

Should I find myself worrying about the attitude or ability of young people, I need to remember these four students. Obviously intelligent, thoughtful and articulate, they spoke with passion about the privilege they have been given in receiving a good education – but they also recognise the responsibility they have to help others through mentoring and influence. All four say that Howard High School has helped them to fulfil their academic potential but, more than that, it has provided the support to turn them into

‘Howard High School works on each and every quality you need – it touches all of our lives’

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

Kevin Sims, Editor

UPFRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

empowered, compassionate young adults. As Tanaka says, the school ‘doesn’t focus on the academic side only – it also works on character-building’. Spectacular adds: ‘Howard High School works on each and every quality you need – it touches all of our lives.’ These young people are a small sample of what is being produced at just one outstanding school. The girls feel empowered as females, given equal standing with the boys at the school. And all the pupils say the same thing – they are taught to be successful but also to value others and to put God first. They truly believe they have been given the tools to change their country – and I believe them. It can be easy to pay too much attention to the things we can’t do, and to find frustration with our own limitations. The pupils at Howard and the delegates from across Africa gave me a much-needed reminder: God made me for a purpose; it’s up to me to follow his leading and trust that he will back up my work and willingness with his wisdom. So here’s a simple message for me and others – I need to spend less time worrying about what I can’t do and more being the best me that I can be. (And I’ll leave being Spectacular to Spectacular!)

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 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

EMERGENCY

ST MAARTEN

When It Rains… by Majors Henk and Ardi van Hattem

HEN it rains in the Czech Republic people roll their eyes and close their windows. When it rains in the USA, people just don’t go outside. When it rains in the UK, people don’t really notice because ... well, no change there! When it rains on the Caribbean nation of St Maarten, buckets on living room floors fill up, tarpaulins are thrown over sofas and beds, and everyone is reminded of what has been lost. After Hurricane Irma struck St Maarten and many other Caribbean countries in September 2017, The Salvation Army knew it had to respond. First, food and other items were distributed. Then, an assessment was conducted in three main regions of St Maarten, probably the three worst-affected areas, and a project to rebuild the roofs of 100 houses was planned. Another 200 families will also receive household items to replace those that they lost in the hurricane. Across the Caribbean, The Salvation Army – with the assistance of outside donors – has contributed more than US$1 million to relief work. It is currently one of the main non-governmental

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organistion presences on St Maarten working on shelter recovery. Our team – three foreigners working alongside the local Salvation Army – tried to work closely with the local government to assist those in the most need. The are lots of statistics about the response across the Caribbean, but statistics do not paint a complete picture. They do not tell us what it is really like when it rains in St Maarten, this far-away part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands which shares a south Caribbean island with Saint Martin, a French overseas territory. We were deployed in 2018, together with Canadian volunteer Jon Overington, by The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services [Henk arrived in February and Ardi in March]. The thing that jumped out to us upon our arrival was the scale of the devastation. It was still visible everywhere we looked, despite being six months on from the hurricane. Everywhere we went Irma had

Above: trouble in paradise – the beauty of the island is in contrast to the scenes of destruction

left her destructive mark. And not just on the land or the buildings. One woman, Ruth, was struggling to get help in rebuilding her property. She is a tenant and had expected and hoped that her landlord would assist her in rebuilding her home. This, it would seem, was not going to happen. She told us that this is a common problem in St Maarten and so The Salvation Army decided to help her. We discovered during our talk that it was her birthday the next day, but she was in no position to celebrate in any way. It was a wonderful honour to see the look on her face as we arrived with the materials that would assist in the rebuilding of her home – and a birthday cake (chocolate, what else?!). Her neighbours even threw

‘It was a wonderful honour to see the look on her face as we arrived with the materials that would assist in the rebuilding of her home – and a birthday cake’

ST MAARTEN

Photos show Salvation Army team members working with the community to repair and rebuild homes

her a surprise party and are currently helping her in the rebuilding of her roof to better hurricane-proof standards. There is destruction in the Caribbean, this much cannot be denied. There are countless hurdles and obstacles, not least of which being that the government in St Maarten lacks the infrastructure to cope with such high levels of property damage. However, there is also so much hope. The work continues in spite of all this. The people are continuing to be blessed, and not just by the work of The Salvation Army, but also by their friends and neighbours. In the middle of this heartache and destruction, we saw the rebuilding of relationships along with the houses. Mrs Watson, a single mother with a caring eight-year-old son, had been unable to

work for some time because she had to tend for her sick husband. Amazingly, her husband actually left them and – just a few months later – the hurricane struck. Mrs Watson’s home was destroyed, but her mother and sister who live nearby took her in. In the sorrow of losing her home and possessions, she was surprised when her husband made contact. Since then he has been trying to mend their relationship and take an active role in his son’s life. There is still much healing and rebuilding to be done in her family, along with physical rebuilding that The Salvation Army is helping with, but Mrs Watson says there is hope and she has faith that God will provide. By the time you read this, we will be back in the Czech Republic, in our new

appointments. The work in St Maarten will continue and we hope that you will join us in praying that the people of the Caribbean will live strong and healthy lives as they prepare for the 2018 hurricane season. All things are possible through God our Father, so we pray his mercies over the Caribbean in the precarious months ahead. With prayer, maybe this year when it rains in St Maarten it will not bring destruction but instead will nourish the land.

When not on secondment to International Emergency Services, Majors Henk and Ardi van Hattem are Salvation Army officers from The Netherlands currently serving in the Czech Republic J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | 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

MAJOR DAVID WILLIAMSON INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

For the past three years, UK Salvation Army officer Major David Williamson has been Private Secretary to General André Cox, who retires in August. Officially based at International Headquarters in London, the major has spent most of his appointment supporting the General and Commissioner Silvia Cox as they travel the world, offering inspiration and challenge to Salvationists and friends What is your role in The Salvation Army? I am Private Secretary to the General. What would be your typical day? There’s no such thing. A day in this appointment can include emails and letters, making cups of tea, confirming travel arrangements, meeting with VIPs, travelling to different countries, visiting Salvation Army centres, diary planning and attending events.

HOME

How did you meet The Salvation Army? I am Salvation Army born and bred. I was attending meetings even before I was born! Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? From the Bible, probably Paul. Reasons would include his transforming encounter with Christ, his theology, his proclamation of the gospel, his partnering with and mentoring of others In terms of someone I’ve actually met, it would be Lieutenant Li Yao Wen from China, who was promoted to Glory recently at the age of 97. The Cultural Revolution robbed him of his officership and freedom to practise his faith. He was sent away to work on a farm until he retired. When I met him he was 97 and profoundly deaf, but his face literally radiated the glory of God, and his whole demeanour communicated the peace of God. When the General visited him, he had his cadet picture ready to show us and he only asked that we prayed for him. As the General prayed for him, this Godly man gave the Army salute throughout. Despite the cultural and religious situation of his homeland, his faith never wavered and his relationship with God remained intact. He is a genuine hero of the faith. What is your favourite Bible verse? I genuinely don’t have a favourite. I love Scripture – all of it! It is the living, breathing, relevant Word of God and is essential for our theology and practice (as described in The Salvation Army’s first doctrine). What is your favourite Salvation Army song? That’s another difficult question. I wholeheartedly believe in sung worship. There’s no one favourite, but if you pushed me it would have to be something like ‘My Life Must be Christ’s Broken Bread’ (610, The Song Book of The Salvation Army). How do you think that working in the UK – and especially at IHQ – differs from working elsewhere? I’ve only ever worked in the UK, with brief visits to a number of other countries. In terms of The Salvation Army in the UK, we have complete religious freedom, multiple resources at our disposal and a good number of officers and soldiers. In many respects we are well provided for and have all that we need. What we often lack in the UK is a deep faith in

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Major David Williamson is welcomed to Papua New Guinea (above) and with General André Cox in India South Western Territory

God that is lived out in practical ways – we don’t seem to be as actively engaged or passionate about the mission as we used to be. I wonder if our prosperity and materialism distract us from being all that God would have us be. What do you like most about the UK? Having lived in Wales for 11 years, I love that country and it feels like home. The Lake District is particularly beautiful. I also love living in London and all that city life affords. If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? I’d want to see the Junior Soldier Award Scheme and corps cadets [a training and discipleship programme for teenagers] as essential components of Salvation Army discipleship in every territory and command. If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why? Thankfully that’s not my choice. As an officer I have covenanted myself to serve anywhere at any time in any role. What skills do you use most in your work? Administration, confidentiality, pastoring. What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more? Preaching, teaching and mentoring. How would you like to be remembered? It’s not about me, but if I was to be remembered I’d want to be known as someone who loved people and helped them meet with God. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is special in terms of its practical outworking of a deep theology. Our mission statement says we exist to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination. When we live out that dualistic mission it’s powerful and transformative. There are many special things about the Army – our uniform, doctrines, mercy seat, covenanted living as junior/senior soldiers and officers to name just a few. It’s also true that we are an international family – there is something special about going into countries you’ve never been to before but being surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ.

away

MAJOR PETER McGUIGAN Originally from Australia, Major Peter McGuigan currently holds an appointment in The Salvation Army’s Sri Lanka Territory

What is your role in The Salvation Army? I am Communications and Public Relations Secretary for the Sri Lanka Territory.

How did you meet The Salvation Army? My parents are Salvation Army officers, now retired in Sydney, Australia. My journey has been quite different to other ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ of the regiment, enabling me to see issues, problems or the world at large from multiple angles – something I value. Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? People will see my name from time to time in print and on the Internet – in books and alongside feature and opinion articles particularly. I like to go deeper, probing the story that lies beneath, and often reflecting my own story with the stories of others. I have a new book soon to be published – The Leadership of Jesus: Spiritual, Incarnational, Countercultural – that addresses the challenge of leading like Jesus in the context of the 21st century. Look out for it! Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’? Other than Jesus and his towering example, I would point to a Salvation Army officer who always comes to mind when I think of Christlikeness and the character of a Salvationist. The example of Lieut-Colonel Graham Durston – Education Officer during my training in Sydney – was one of a holy life. Humble, but firm in his convictions, and a tremendous expositor and lover of Scripture, Graham was open to how the Spirit might lead – an unpretentious and pastoral man with a balance of perspective that helped shape my life. What is your favourite Bible verse? Micah 6:8. In this one verse you have all the balance you need for effective mission and ministry – act justly, love mercy, walk humbly!

&AWAY

What is your favourite Salvation Army song? There are two actually: ‘Thou Christ of Burning, Cleansing Flame, Send the Fire!’ by William Booth (326, The Song Book of The Salvation Army) and ‘At the Moment of My Weakness’ by John Gowans (316). How do you think that working in Sri Lanka differs from elsewhere? I could list some of those differences (including the traffic conditions!) but let me focus on one thing. Sri Lanka is an island nation in which people’s priorities are different to those of mainland peoples. They value ‘living in the moment’ and you need to be able to live, laugh and cry in that space, enjoying the moment with them. Many things happen at the last minute and even the best-laid plans can change in the blink of an eye. The priority is not on societal organisation but on shared experience. Even the best business deals are done over a cup of tea in a tea lounge, not at a boardroom table or an office meeting room. Also, Sri Lanka is 70 per cent Buddhist, a fact that requires sensitivity, including careful use of language. What do you like most about Sri Lanka? My wife Tara and I have been blessed by the challenge of our roles, engaging with the culture, getting to know the people, and even learning key nuances in language. What do you most miss about Australia? No-stress traffic! If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change? I agree with the current focus on spiritual, missional and organisational renewal and would uphold and give further leadership to that direction. Additionally, I think these next few years will be a time when unexpected windows of opportunity will open to The Salvation Army. One case in point

Major Peter McGuigan meets community members in Sri Lanka

&AWAY

What would be your typical day? I rise early and spend time in contemplation and prayer. Once in the office there are boards, interviews and outside meetings to attend. In between these I spend time on the ‘big-ticket’ items of my portfolio, namely advisory board matters, public awareness campaigns and developing key relationships with media, the business community, non-governmental organisation representatives and other community leaders.

might be North Korea. Certainly, I would be encouraging The Salvation Army in every place to be innovative in finding the local frontiers for our ministry of transformation. We also need to be collaborating more and more with other churches, other faiths, governments and the community at large about eliminating poverty, confronting injustice and halting environmental decline. If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose? Anywhere is fine!

What skills do you use most in your work? Networking has been key, as has communicating in a way that engages and inspires the participation of others. Creativity, writing, bringing people together and a knack for making things happen have also played their part.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more? When I retire (I think it’s 2027), writing books will be my main pastime. I might squeeze out one or two before then, but my main focus over these next years will be on my mission as an active Salvation Army officer, using whatever skills are required. That might mean learning new skills. How would you like to be remembered? It is my hope that the ledger of life will one day show how the majority of people remembered me for something I said or wrote or pictured or acted upon that helped them experience the boundless love of God in Jesus Christ. What’s so special about The Salvation Army? I love our focus on new life for the least, the last and the lost. And perhaps you could add the lonely. I love the fact that we believe nothing is too hard for the super-combination of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – no bleakness in which his light cannot shine, no hopelessness his love cannot break through, no hardness of heart he cannot transform. I love the fact that our personal testimony of transformation is what underpins or gives credibility to our mission – like we carry the fruits of transformation to the world and ask them to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’! I love the oneness of faith and mission that we share as Salvationists worldwide. To read the Sri Lanka Territory’s first ever public annual report, go to https://issuu.com/salvationarmyihq/ docs/2017annualreportsrilanka

&AWAY

ULYY––SM SEON EPPTE TE BEON 2018 ALL THE WORLD | | ALL | ALL | | 77| JJUL TH MM –BE M RR2018 TH 2012 THE THE WORLD WORLD

TRAINING

USA

e r u t u f e t Th h g i r b is by

opez

nL Vivia

HEN young people get together on Friday nights at The Salvation Army in Chico, California, USA, sparks

fly – literally. Visitors are greeted by the unusual sight of five young people wearing safety masks while they learn to weld. This is part of a new group at the corps (Salvation Army church), taught by corps member Pedro Castro, a professional welder. Corps officer Lieutenant Craig Rodriguera says that Pedro really wanted to reach out to young people. ‘Because he was given a second chance,’ he says, ‘he wanted to make sure that kids their age make the best of their first chance or to prevent them from even having to get to a point in life when they get into trouble.’ Pedro is a graduate of The Salvation Army’s adult rehabilitation programme in Chico. After completing the programme, he was selected for a welding apprenticeship. ‘Pedro is a member of our church and he’s always looking for a way to give back,’ explains the lieutenant. ‘Part of his recovery for him is learning how to serve others and wanting to do that, and he really takes that to heart.’ Having dedicated his life to Christ, Pedro wanted to do something to help his corps community. In February, he decided to start the youth welding group to teach kids a useful new skill and serve as their mentor.

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‘Growing up, I didn’t have role models in my life who were there to teach me things for my future or a career,’ says Pedro. ‘I just wanted to be that light or to be the role model that would say, “Hey kid, pick this up and let me show you how to do this before you go out into the world.”’ The class curriculum includes welding basics, primarily with mild steel, but Pedro plans to expand it to include more welding methods and techniques. He also has the kids working on a final welding project to build a bike rack for the new

Chico Corps building which is currently under construction. ‘The class is really about trying to let them know that there are people who want to teach them things, but also to make them understand and know that God puts us in places to go up the ladder and be able to advance, but we have to be willing to listen to what he is putting on our hearts,’ Pedro explains. Lieutenant Rodriguera says the young people are enjoying the experience: ‘It’s so new. They’re kind of just eating it up. Once the kids get hands-on ... it’s a totally

‘The more the kids see, the more confident they are to do something challenging in life’

USA

Photos show Pedro Castro teaching young people to weld

different experience for them as they see that they’re actually creating something.’ Adam, 10, said he likes putting on his mask and getting to ‘stick the stuff together with the metal’. He loves learning from Pedro. ‘He’s the best!’ exclaims Adam. ‘He teaches how to weld stuff, and how to turn the machines on.’ Hillary, Adam’s mother, is grateful her son gets to be part of the welding class. ‘It’s a good opportunity for him to learn something new, and get an idea about what he wants to do when he gets older,’ she says. ‘It’s a way to build his selfesteem up and for him to show himself that, with instruction and a little bit of guidance, he can learn anything.’ Pedro says that if he helps even one student to learn, he will feel like he has accomplished his mission.

And when he sees lessons click with his students, all the glory goes to God, he says, ‘because it reminds me of myself’. He adds: ‘Without God I wouldn’t be able to teach this class.’ Pedro wants the class to open opportunities for the children in the future, as Chico is an agricultural town with a high demand for welders. ‘I came to Chico, had no work experience at all and a company hired me as an apprentice welder. I knew nothing. The kids are doing very well, and it’s making my heart happy to know they are doing as good as they’re doing.’ ‘This is one changed life trying to change other people’s lives,’ says Lieutenant Rodriguera. ‘The more the kids see, the more confident they are to do something challenging in life or to tackle something they may never feel like they can accomplish ... We’re just hoping this opportunity changes how they see their future.’

This article was first published in New Frontier Chronicle, a USA Western Territory periodical (www.newfrontierchronicle.org) J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

EMERGENCY

BANGLADESH

Better together

Uncovering the lie of self-reliance

I’m beginning to realise that adult life is more or less a series of experiences, writes Samuel Shearer, which exist to show you just how little you actually know. From the curiosity of discovering some childhood lessons are myths (I still don’t frown in case the wind makes my face stick that way!) to the realisations that come from our increasing global awareness, we never stop learning. And thank goodness for that. Time, tide and the chaos of modern Western living has given rise to a general attitude of ‘you can only rely on yourself’. It’s a depressing statement, remarkably untenable, and – until recently – I think I actually believed it ...

T around 4am on 12 June 2017, the monsoon rains proved too much for the hillside communities of Rangamati, Bangladesh. Their homes, which stood on bamboo stilts to allow rain water to travel beneath them, were not prepared for the ground to give way in what was the district’s first major landslide in more than 100 years. Rural communities are often the worst hit by monsoons and landslides, mostly because they lack the protective infrastructure inherent in urban areas. Rangamati is no exception. The tranquillity and raw, natural beauty belie the trauma and damage lingering just beneath the soil or at the bottom of each valley. Responding to the call for aid from The Salvation Army’s Bangladesh Command, International Emergency 10 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Services facilitated the sending of money for building supplies – bamboo and sheet metal – that would rebuild the homes of more than 140 families. As part of the team at International Headquarters in London, I was blessed to be included in the monitoring of this project from its inception, although nothing could prepare me for being part of the response itself. Rural Bangladesh is in so many ways a long way from central London! In March 2018 I travelled to Rangamati with Damaris Frick (Deputy Coordinator, International Emergency Services) and members of the local Salvation Army team. We met with two young girls who had lost their home, their parents and their two younger siblings. In June 2017 they had woken to find that suddenly the only world they had ever known was washing away in the darkness.

Their uncle, who lived across the valley, is helping them build a new home with the supplies given by The Salvation Army. Local women are caring for the girls as best as they are able but obviously have families, homes and lives of their own to which they must tend. When asked what their hopes were as they went into the future, the girls were unable to answer. An odd question perhaps, in light of their situation, but it stood as a stark reminder that so much more than just physical property or even human life has been lost in the landslides. Who will provide for these girls now they have no support system? Who will nurture them and see to their mental and emotional recovery? Are there enough measures in place to prevent them from being trafficked? The answers to these questions and many more remain unclear. What is clear is that, despite their bereavement, these girls are not alone. Family and local villagers are helping with the building work while friends and neighbouring families are assisting with food. The community members do not consider this a sadness that happened near them, but instead to them, as a whole. In the next township we encountered a rice-farming community living on the narrow floor of a ravine. We spoke with

BANGLADESH

Opposite page: Damaris Frick (Deputy Coordinator, International Emergency Services) comforts two girls who lost their home; above: a family stands next to their makeshift shelter to watch their new home being built; below: many older Rangamati locals cannot read or write, so they sign for supplies with a thumbprint

one family – made up of Chakma, Aniani and their infant son – who had not only watched their house being destroyed, but also their shop and its contents. In one night they lost their home, their belongings and their livelihood. Chakma spoke of the noise that woke them and the shock of seeing their friends and neighbours running from the avalanche of rocks and trees that were decimating their tranquil village. They barely made it out with their lives and could do nothing more than watch and pray that others made it out alive. Moving on, we met a family that had been affected by the flooding that

followed the landslide. Then we met another whose child was found the next day beneath the rubble of their destroyed home. Then we met with another and another after that. The stories here were much the same as we had heard previously: unrelenting rain, immoveable darkness and avalanches of mud descending on all sides. Livelihoods destroyed, homes lost, lives irrevocably altered. The following day we visited fishing communities in the lake region. Here too the story was familiar. The same profoundly sad script, just with a different cast of players. But in amongst all of this there was something else – something less visible but no less vital: gratitude. It’s a trite observation, perhaps, but trite needn’t mean untrue. In every village, in every home, in every face, there was gratitude. The people we met seemed remarkably content. Standing in the newly-constructed walls of their bamboo houses, they spoke warmly and with gratitude for all they had received in the wake of this monumental loss.

‘The tranquillity and raw, natural beauty belie the trauma and damage lingering just beneath the soil or at the bottom of each valley’

They thanked us for The Salvation Army’s contribution to their new homes and prayed blessing upon us. They spoke endlessly about how many people in the community had stepped up to help and how they themselves were sharing skills and provisions with others whose homes had been destroyed. While we met families in new homes, outside the local children played and there was never a silent moment as friends and family came with materials, food, or simply to peer in at the strangers who were visiting their isolated towns. ‘You can only rely on yourself’, it turns out, was a lie. A bold-faced, brash, and apparently easily disprovable lie. There in a desperate situation, the people of Rangamati had quietly, perhaps even unknowingly, proven that life is richer and more fulfilled when lived in community with others. They were living this way before the landslide and they continue to live this way, apparently unshaken by the disaster that befell them. Which is not to say there is not immense sadness and grief amongst these communities – the pain of loss will always be felt, it will always be present. The real testament to the humanity and resilience on display in Rangamati is that they have not, and will not, allow grief to become an insurmountable obstacle. Instead, they allow it to become part of their collective community life. Grieving as they grow, wounded but not beaten down. More humbling, though, than their attitude to grief and sense of community, their generosity of spirit and their kindness to their fellow friends was that they did absolutely none of this for my benefit. They did not love so I could learn about kindness. They were not generous so I could gaze upon their giving. They were only themselves, a community with issues and pitfalls like any other but committed to learning, growing and rebuilding as one. Nonetheless, I learned. I learned that, despite suggestions from most corners of modern life, we cannot and should not only rely on ourselves. Once again, how little I knew about the world had been exposed to me, and I will never stop being grateful for that.

Samuel Shearer provided administration and communications support to International Emergency Services J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

BANGLADESH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Photos by Samuel Shearer

‘There in a desperate situation, the people of Rangamati had quietly proven that life is richer and more fulfilled when lived in community with others’ Above: parts of Rangamati are only accessible by boat – especially the worst-hit communities Right: Community Development Project Director Victor Mondal with a Rangamati community member Chakma and his young son Far right: bamboo poles bound with bamboo string make strong frames for houses

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BANGLADESH

Left: a Rangamati community member carries wooden planks which are used to build walls

Left: one of the completed homes Below: a young family watches the construction of their new home

Left: raising homes above ground level using stilts is an essential part of ensuring they are flood-proof

J UL Y â&#x20AC;&#x201C; S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

HEALTH

ZIMBABWE

by Kevin Sims

’D been told that April is a good month to visit Zimbabwe, especially for anyone planning on heading away from the cities and into rural Africa. The rainy season is over, so everything is lush and green, and the temperatures are much more kind than in the roasting summer months. This is confirmed as I head out of Harare on a late April morning, along gradually roughening roads into the heart of the country. Tall maize fields hem in our minibus for mile upon mile, interspersed by spectacular views across lakes and small groups of dwellings, usually accompanied by small groups of people selling or cooking by the side of the road. As we move from main roads onto a dirt track, our progress slows and we start to see more traditional thatched huts and fewer brick buildings. This gradual ruralisation makes our next view even more out of place: Howard Hospital’s smart, sleak, modern buildings look no more out of place in the African bush than if an alien spaceship had landed! It’s immediately obvious that this is a place that is cared for. Planted areas and well-kept lawns go beyond what would be expected and give a clear message to patients and visitors that they are both welcomed and valued. Hospital Administrator Major Edmore Zinyowera has been at Howard for three years. He tells us that a Salvation Army hospital has been in this area since 1923 but that the current set of buildings only opened in 2014. The 144-bed facility looks very well cared for. In some ways it barely seems like a hospital, with wide corridors and high ceilings providing a spacious and welcoming environment. There isn’t even the familiar ‘hospital smell’ that can bring about instant feelings of fear and worry! The site, Major Zinyowera explains, covers about 50 acres and includes a training school for 53 nurses. He shows us where the hospital treats its own water and we see generators that kick in to provide power when the main supply fails. They are in operation during our visit.

Treatment for ALL God is at the heart of everything at The Salvation Army’s Howard Hospital There is a constant stream of people arriving at outpatients. We are told that even on Sundays, when the clinic is closed, people will arrive for treatment, sometimes carried by friends and even brought in by wheelbarrow. ‘We are serving our community,’ says the major. ‘No person will go home without receiving assistance.’ That community is not insignificant in size. More than 24,000 people are in the hospital’s catchment area but the immediate area is home to 150,000 people. Just the previous week, life had become even busier. A nurses strike at government hospitals meant people from miles away sought treatment at Howard, placing greater demands on staff and infrastructure. This highlights one of

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the great challenges faced by Major Zinyowera and his team – it’s not easy to support everyone; resources have to come from somewhere. And this is the balance that the major tries to find. Treatment is available irrespective of people’s ability to pay and the fees are kept lower than at other hospitals. But someone needs to fund the running of the facility and the staff, which

ZIMBABWE

Far left: the beautifully-presented entrance to Howard Hospital; left: Major Edmore Zinyowera at his desk; opposite page, bottom: drying mops in the sun; below: Salvation Army and Zimbabwe flags fly side by side

is why Major Zinyowera recognises the importance of funds provided by the international Salvation Army. Even when the government gives extra help (a recent report highlighted the need for extra nurses, so 50 are being provided, some of whom have already arrived) it’s not all good. These new nurses – and their families – will need somewhere to live. This is not simple, especially as Howard is nowhere near a town or city. Training rooms and the old hospital buildings on the neighbouring plot will be used temporarily while new accommodation is built. There are other plans for the old hospital site too, with the possibility of it being renovated and turned into a conference centre. Fundraising programmes already in place include growing fruit and vegetables, rearing chickens and running a tuck shop for patients and visitors. Any funds raised can be used to buy drugs and provide care. The innovation doesn’t end there. Howard Hospital has also put in place a practical measure that is saving lives of mothers and children. A section of the site is given up for pregnant mothers to stay while they wait to give birth. Because of this, up to 85 women don’t have to stay at home –

sometimes several hours’ journey away – and risk having to travel long, difficult journeys while in labour, with the risk that some wouldn’t even make it in time and would have to deliver their own babies by the side of the road. Major Zinyowera says that this is the only such facility in the whole of Mashonaland Central Province. The expectant mothers can wait a month, says the major, though some have stayed for up to six weeks. They have their own vegetable garden and orchard and – for the poorest mothers-to-be – funds are made available to buy food and essentials. ‘We need to make sure they don’t go hungry,’ he adds. Walking round the hospital, we come across sights that would be familiar around the world. In the well-equipped physiotherapy room we hear about the work with children born with club feet whose treatment is providing a new lease

of life. Past the operating theatre and the jam-packed children’s clinic we enter the post-natal ward, where the matron shares how the care provided prepares mothers to look after their newborns. Perhaps surprisingly, what comes across clearly in this place of high-stress situations is the sense of calm – though the peace is often broken by the sound of a baby’s cry or the chatter of small children. Patients relax in the shade along covered walkways that link the wards. A chapel is open to anyone to pray. The testimonies at the Sunday meetings, we are told, are amazing, with patients giving thanks to God for healing and renewed hope. Major Zinyowera didn’t become a Salvation Army officer to be a hospital administrator. But while he may not be leading a church there is no doubt of the spiritual basis that underpins everything that takes place in the institution he runs. The staff and patients are his ‘congregation’, and he recognises that he is doing God’s work: ‘People have to see the Lord,’ he says. ‘Even in an administrator.’ It’s true. People have to see the Lord – even in a hospital.

Kevin Sims is editor of All The World at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

ADVOCACY

UNITED KINGDOM

TOGETHER, we can The Global Interactive Summit on Refugees and Displaced People was an event hosted in London and New York in January 2018, organised by The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission in conjunction with International Headquarters Communications. In session four, ‘Camp and Community-Based Responses’, Captain Naomi Clifton presented a paper that explained the role she and her corps (church) played in helping to bring justice and hope to refugee children. She has shared her story with All the World, explaining how working with others helped to create the influence that was needed to bring local politicians on their side – and also how the need for strong action forced her to be brave even against her natural instincts.

OR a long time I knew about the refugee crisis being played out around the world – and particularly across Europe – but I felt powerless to do anything. But at my daughter’s dedication the issue suddenly became personal for me. There I was, celebrating with friends and family, when someone let me know that one of our corps ladies needed to chat to me. I headed over and she shared Top: taking the message to the town hall; above: Captain Naomi at the online refugee summit

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that she had just heard that her brother’s wife and four children had been killed by a bomb in Syria ... the family was too poor to get out of the country when the civil war came and this was just the latest tragedy to strike. I will never forget that moment when the world-as-it-should-be and the worldas-it-is collided before my eyes. It pushed me into action. Action that went beyond social service; beyond food parcels, baby bank support and friendship that the corps was providing to refugees who had been lucky enough to make it to safety.

I felt compelled to get more involved in the local efforts to work for change through community organising. Ilford Corps was already a member of Redbridge Citizens, which is the local chapter of Citizens UK, a broad-based alliance of churches, schools, mosques and community groups seeking to work for the common good. So I signed up to be part of the Redbridge Citizens refugee welcome team. This was a really important step in our local effort to respond to the plight of unaccompanied refugee children. If we had acted only as The Salvation Army

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make a difference in Ilford we would have had limited influence. But by allying with other groups on areas of common interest, we built power and had more influence with local politicians. In early 2016 there was a growing awareness of the scale and suffering in the huge unofficial refugee camp at Calais known as The Jungle, with particular concern for the hundreds of lone refugee children there who were desperate to come to the UK. This led to the passing in the British Parliament in May 2016 of the Dubs Amendment, a provision in UK law to enable a number of unaccompanied refugee children to come to live safely in the UK, even if they did not have a straightforward family link here. In its final form the legislation did not specify an exact number, rather the number of children would depend on the capacity and willingness of

councils to allocate foster carer places to unaccompanied refugee children arriving via the Dubs scheme. If every local council committed to take five ‘Dubs’ children, 3,000 would be able to come. And so the Redbridge Citizens refugee welcome team made this our goal – to persuade our council to publicly commit to offering five places for Dubs children. Crucial to the approach of community organising is that we don’t just ask people in power to make a change for us, we ask them to make a change with us. And that’s where we began, with an evening to share testimony about the plight of lone child refugees in Europe and to appeal for foster carers to help boost the council’s fostering capacity. But this evening wasn’t just about recruiting foster carers. It was also about getting the issue on the agenda of the person with the power to make the commitment that we wanted –

Above: a young ‘Paddington Bear’ at the Home Office highlights the need to be welcoming; below: a reminder of what God requires from his people

Councillor Jas Athwal, the leader of Redbridge Council. A power analysis taught us that the council officers in the fostering department, who were telling us it was impossible, were not the people with power to set the direction of their budgets. That was the responsibility of the politicians, so we needed to convince the leader of the council.

‘I will never forget that moment when the world-as-itshould-be and the world-as-it-is collided before my eyes. It pushed me into action’ J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

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After hearing from a Syrian woman working with children in The Jungle, we asked Councillor Athwal if he would work with us to resettle children in our borough. He made positive noises but was non-committal. As the summer went on the camp’s demolition became imminent. If the camp was closed, the children that had been identified as eligible for Dubs transfers would be scattered and become even more vulnerable to the lure of people traffickers or desperate attempts to board lorries bound for the UK. National campaigning intensified and so did our local efforts. To help us, we enlisted the assistance of Britain’s favourite ‘refugee child’, Paddington Bear! Beloved across the UK for many years, the story of Paddington, who the books tell us came to London as a stowaway after the destruction of his family home in Peru, has gained an even greater audience in recent years through two hugely popular movies. This approach highlights another core feature of the community organising approach to working for change – where possible, make it fun! So we grabbed facepaints and dressing-up clothes and took ‘Paddington Bear’ round to the Town Hall steps to meet with Councillor Athwal. But this was more than a gimmick. While Paddington Bear is a fictional character, his story is one that many refugee children, arriving from countries destroyed by war, will recognise as their own. Bringing Paddington to the Town Hall steps was an important reminder of the values of compassion and hospitality that British people traditionally hold dear. In the recent film, Paddington’s Aunt Lucy recalls the evacuees of the Second World War, saying: ‘Long ago, people in England sent their children by train with labels around their necks, so they could be taken care of by complete strangers in the countryside where it was safe. They will not have forgotten how to treat a stranger.’ 18 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Top left and above: joining with other groups to raise the profile of the campaign

Again, we shared testimony from those who had seen the horrors of the Calais camp and from someone willing to foster but struggling to get a response to their offer. Sharing testimony is important in community organising because it makes the issue personal and reminds everybody that it is real life. Then came the crucial moment – when we publicly asked Councillor Athwal how many Dubs children he would pledge to bring to Redbridge. This was a specific question and we didn’t want a vague response. We wanted a number – a number which would allow us to hold local and national politicians to account. As the months dragged on into October with still no Dubs transfers made, specific numbers were crucial to putting pressure on national government; we were able to reject the argument that the country did not have fostering

capacity by quoting the total spaces pledged by local authorities. But I’m getting ahead in the story! This numerical pledge was still elusive in Redbridge. The Leader of the Council spoke of his belief that we had a moral obligation to help but would not give a number, saying it was not yet possible to do so. Evaluating whether our action was successful, we admitted that we had not yet got the reaction we wanted. So we decided to dial up the pressure on the Leader of the Council and release a press statement with the headline ‘Athwal says no to Paddington’. Increasing the tension is always a risk. I worried that this would shut the conversation down entirely or that it could affect other campaigns we were working on, both as an alliance and as a corps. But seeking justice demanded

‘We had the joy of seeing 900 lone refugee children arrive at the Home Office’s Lunar House through an expedited process’

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‘Paddington’ makes a request for support; below: Naomi (back right) and other supporters campaign with Lord Dubs

personal spiritual formation for me too – I needed to overcome my natural inclination to play it safe. I knew I needed to have the courage to live with the tension and, to paraphrase The Salvation Army’s ‘Mother’, Catherine Booth, to disturb the present to better the future. Sure enough, within a few hours we received a phone call from the Leader of the Council, who was not particularly happy with the wording of the press release! This allowed us to pressure him further on a specific commitment. A few days later we were encouraged when he joined us at a London-wide action outside the Home Office, calling on the

government to work with councils to bring children to safety. A few months later he joined us there again and publicly committed to provide five places for Dubs children in Redbridge. Most recently, in the May 2018 local elections he made an ongoing commitment to receive children via the Dubs route part of his party’s manifesto for re-election. In late October 2017, as The Jungle camp in Calais was demolished, we had the joy of seeing 900 lone refugee children arrive at the Home Office’s Lunar House through an expedited process. It was wonderful to welcome them and accompany them in their first immigration interview. But after the initial rush, once The Jungle was out of the media spotlight, transfers of refugee children stopped. It was then important to evaluate and to reorganise so we could continue to bring their needs to the attention of the government and the public. In January 2017, for example, we delivered a petition of more than 44,000 signatures to the Prime Minister, demanding

the Dubs route be reinstated. But going back to Redbridge, something I love most about our local campaign is that it involved even very young children in the campaign for justice. A three-yearold girl, dressed up as Paddington, asked the Leader of the Council to ‘please look after the children’ – and three months later, when six refugee children did arrive in the borough, she presented him with his very own Paddington Bear to keep. Rachel Turner in her book Parenting Children for a life of Purpose writes about the importance of children seeing ‘power in the mirror’ – to discover the weight of their influence and be equipped to know how to use it well. Community organising helps us with this aspect of discipleship: it helps young people – and not so young people like myself – to see power in the mirror; to know that we can make a difference in the world where others say it cannot be done. Major Naomi Clifton is corps officer (Salvation Army minister) at Ilford in the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland. To rewatch the Global Summit sessions, go to http://sar.my/refugeesummit J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

THE WHOLE WORLD

MOBILISING

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T has now been more than a year since the launch of The Whole World Mobilising app, but today it’s better and quicker than ever. The outward look hasn’t changed, but huge improvements have been made behind the scenes so it can handle thousands of users around the world. The app includes a prayer portal where you can offer and receive prayers, daily Bible readings and devotions, a space to plan and track activities, the Mobilising blog and links to our social media channels highlighting inspiring stories from around the Army world. Even better? All of this is available for free! Getting started is quick and easy. The app is available for Apple and Android devices. Once it’s downloaded you’ll be prompted to create an account. (The process is very simple and should take less than a minute.) If you have already created an account on our Mobilising website, simply use the same login details. Once you’ve launched the app on your device, you’re greeted by a world map full of pins representing Salvationists and friends mobilising, reading the Bible and praying. Simply use your finger to drag the map to any area or territory you’d like to see. You can even select individual pins from the map to see more about that activity. READ, PRAY, MOBILISE, REACH and CONNECT are the core themes of the app, with the hope being that the provision of spiritual encouragement and resources will bring together mobilised people from around the world. 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

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READ

Romans 10:17 says: ‘Faith comes from hearing the message ... through the word about Christ.’ But we know it isn’t always easy to spend time in Scripture, with busy lives and constant everyday distractions vying for our attention! To help users along their spiritual journey, bite-sized devotions are added to the READ tab every day, allowing people to spend time with the Father and to meditate upon his Word. For the second year in a row, these devotions are taken from Words of Life, The Salvation Army’s daily Bible reading series written by Major Beverly Ivany. Over the coming months the devotions focus on ‘Joy in the Morning’, which explores joy in the Old Testament. Each weekend, there is a focus on various psalms, proverbs and songs. A link to BibleGateway.com on every Scripture reference gives you the option

to explore a passage or book in full. You can also change the language. In short, you are in control and can decide how deep you want to go! You can also share the devotion through social media, Whatsapp, email and the like – and the app keeps track of what you’ve read so you don’t have to. You’ll know where you’ve left off and be encouraged to stay immersed in the Word.

PRAY

Jesus promises us in Matthew 18:19-20 that ‘if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’ No matter what is on your heart and no matter where you are in the world, the Mobilising app provides a safe space where people can share their concerns and pray together.

‘No matter what is on your heart and no matter where you are in the world, the Mobilising app provides a safe space where people can share their concerns and pray together’

THE WHOLE WORLD

Facebook: /mobilising Twitter: @TSAmobilising Instagram: /samobilising App Store: http://sar.my/twwmios Google Play: http://sar.my/twwmandroid Website: www.salvationarmy.org/mobilising Email: mobilising@salvationarmy.org App/web support: twwmhelp@salvationarmy.org

This prayer portal is so special. It’s a dedicated ‘room’ for all of us to come together at any time, regardless of the physical distance between users. When you wake with a situation, person or place on your heart, go to the prayer room and share a prayer. Are you feeling isolated? Add a prayer request. Delicate matters? You can also post anonymously. We are an Army of prayer warriors, here to support each other in everything. In this prayer space, we’ve built an opportunity for you to come alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ and pray with one another, leave responses of encouragement, stand together and hold one another up. The PRAY home page shows the list of prayers added, with a preview of each prayer. You can scroll through to read the preview, and tap to open it in full view. Once inside the prayer, you can simply select ‘I prayed’, or leave a message of encouragement.

MOBILISE

To reach people for God’s Kingdom, we need to accept our mission. We need to be mobilised and ready, at a moment’s notice, to show the love of God! We need to go into our neighbourhoods and show

the world his love. Find a need and fill it. Give water to the thirsty, host a prayer walk, organise a neighbourhood cleanup, get local children together for ball games, organise a march. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! You can add any type of activity to the MOBILISE section, inviting others to join you – or you can search for an activity to join. It doesn’t even have to be an activity in your city or town. You can join a prayer walk happening next week in London, UK, while walking and praying in New Zealand, Brazil or Iceland! And you can upload and share photos of your activity too (but please remember to adhere to safeguarding guidelines – no photos of under-18s without parental agreement). You can also pin your outreach activities to the global map. By tracking your activities within the app, you can inspire the global Army to do likewise in their city.

scale community basis? Not to worry! We publish daily tips to help you get mobilised in your neighbourhood and to reach the unreached. Our tips range from planting ‘faith flags’ in conversations to staging seasonal events in your neighbourhood. Stimulate your creativity with challenging ideas to spark conversation and ministry.

CONNECT

This tab keeps you connected with our Mobilising blog and social media channels. The blog is full of inspiring stories, from personal testimonies and thoughts on contemporary topics to interesting outreach ideas. So, what are you waiting for? Download, sign up and start using the Mobilising app today – and let’s get Spiritfit together!

REACH

James 1:22 challenges us: ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ Do you need help getting started with your outreach, whether on a personal one-to-one level or even on a larger-

Ester Ellen Nelson (project manager), Laura Booth and Rebecca Flint (content producers) form The Whole World Mobilising team, based at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London and in Australia J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

USA

Good things in store for Baltimore THE Salvation Army’s USA Southern Territory made history in March with the opening of a grocery store in Baltimore, Maryland. (As previewed in the April–June 2017 issue of All the World.) Called DMG Foods – from the National Branding Promise, ‘Doing the Most Good’, which is itself based on the words of Commander Evangeline Booth – the store will expand food availability for the local Baltimore community while meeting the immediate needs of its customers and promoting healthy eating. This US$2.2 million project will provide fresh and affordable produce to 1,200 families annually and has already created at least 15 jobs within the community. The 7,000-square-foot store is believed to be the first in the nation to combine social services with a traditional grocery shopping experience. Nutritional guidance, shopping education and meal planning advice will be offered, alongside a workforce development programme which will train at least 50 retail employees per year. DMG Foods customers have access to more

‘Nutritional guidance, shopping education and meal planning advice will be offered’

than 8,000 recipes, which they can add to their online grocery lists, at www.dmgfoods.org. Major Gene A. Hogg, Central Maryland Area Commander, says: ‘We want to encourage the community to prepare and eat meals with their families instead of buying prepared foods.’ DMG Foods was supported in a large part through grants from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, France

Merrick Foundation, BGE, Baltimore Development Corporation and through generous gifts from several private donors. Through The Salvation Army’s partnership with the Maryland Food Bank, many families in need will expand their buying power and have a broader food selection. It also helps that DMG Foods discount rates are five per cent lower than other Baltimore grocers. All customers are eligible to sign up for the Red Shield Club loyalty programme, granting them access to in-house savings and special events. Customers that self-identify as government assistance recipients, via online or kiosk registration, will receive a specific rewards card ID that will enable them to obtain complimentary food items once a month. For more information go to www.dmgfoods.org An episode of Salvation Army Today that covered the grand opening of DMG Foods can be viewed at https://youtu.be/gY3SJhIfZAg?t=2 Look out for an update on DMG Foods in a forthcoming issue of All the World!

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SNAPSHOTS

NORTH AMERICA

A story worth making a song and dance about Native Newfoundlanders refer to people not born on the island as ‘Come From Aways’, which is where the hit musical Come From Away got its name. The travellers who landed in Newfoundland on diverted planes after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 were said to have ‘Come from away’. Written by Canadian husband-and-wife team David Hein and Irene Sankoff, the musical tells the true story of how the town of Gander welcomed almost 7,000 stranded passengers after the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and other targets grounded flights across the world. The passengers – with nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat – received food, clothing, shelter and more from the people of the town and The Salvation Army.

local hockey rink into the world’s largest walk-in refrigerator,’ he said. ‘That sort of example of everyone coming together and making things happen is, I know, what this story is all about.’ The show is still on at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater on Broadway, New York, and has also been performed in Seattle, Washington DC, Toronto, Ontario, Winnipeg and San Diego. It has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Grammy and seven Tony Awards – one of which it won.

Prior to a performance of Come From Away in March 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the work of The Salvation Army and Lieut-Colonel Alf Richardson in assisting the people stranded in Gander. ‘Alf from The Salvation Army thought about it and realised that they could just turn the

THE NETHERLANDS

Undercover commissioner When you’re a territorial leader, people tend to do be at their very best when you visit. How, then, can you genuinely experience the reality and atmosphere of one of your locations? Commissioner Hans van Vliet, leader of The Salvation Army’s The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia Territory, found a way to witness what life was like in one of his centres when – as part of an Undercover Boss Dutch TV show – he went undercover as ‘Willem’, a former chef in its 50s, taking his first steps back to work after recovering from a drinking problem. A full two hours of makeup turned the commissioner into an unrecognisable new character, confirmed by some co-workers who had no idea who their usually familiar colleague was! At the location, a Salvation Army-run kitchen in Amsterdam, ‘Willem’ told his new

colleague Arie that he was a little nervous. But the cheerful employee told the Dutch commissioner not to worry a thing, saying: ‘There are only relaxed persons around here, so you will be fine.’ Afterwards Arie opened up to ‘Willem’ and told his own inspiring story of transformation. At the end of the day ‘Willem’ returned to being Commissioner Hans van Vliet and entered the kitchen – now dressed in uniform

– with a camera crew. Arie was shocked but very amused to discover who he had been working alongside! Commissioner van Vliet was pleased with his experience, and delighted that he witnessed the same Salvation Army as a ‘nobody’ as he did as a significant ‘somebody’. ‘This is what we do it for,’ he said. ‘Helping people who are facing setbacks. It is great seeing how well it works here.’

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2018 | ALL THE WORLD |

I DREAM of a committed, effective and joyful Army, rooted and confident in the Word of God and on its knees. I DREAM of an Army that truly reflects the mind of Jesus in our commitment to the poor and the marginalised. I DREAM of an Army that practises what it preaches from the top leadership down, an Army that is a visible and living example of Kingdom values. I DREAM of an Army that values its youth, where our young people feel that they have a voice. I DREAM of an Army with strong, relevant and streamlined administrative structures and a much more effective use of our financial and material resources. I DREAM of an Army where all cultures are equally accepted and celebrated through the spiritual ties that bind us all together. I DREAM of an Army that shuns the dependency culture.

This artwork is available to download from sar.my/atwdream

Since becoming international leader of The Salvation Army in August 2013, General AndrĂŠ Cox has shared his dreams for the Army. Now, as he enters retirement after five years, during which he has visited every Salvation Army territory, he says he is overjoyed to see his dreams coming true.

This artwork was first published in All the World, The Salvation Army’s international magazine – www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

Since becoming international leader of The Salvation Army in August 2013, General André Cox has shared his dreams for the Army. Now, as he enters retirement after five years, during which he has visited every Salvation Army territory, he says he is overjoyed to see his dreams coming true.