All the World (July-September 2019)

Love and care The Salvation Army in Romania treats everyone with dignity and respect

MOZAMBIQUE cyclone response Health, hope and hygiene in DRC SNAPSHOTS – a very Kiwi offering

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 JULY–SEPTEMBER 2019

VOL 57 48 NO 3 4

Helping AUSTRALIA’s flood victims

CONTENTS

JULY–SEPTEMBER 2019

04

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

03

UPFRONT From the Editor

04

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Fighting Ebola with training and hygiene

06

HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

08

MOZAMBIQUE Responding to Cyclone Idai

10

ROMANIA A growing and caring Army

16

STEWARDSHIP Climate crisis – facing up to the truth

19

AUSTRALIA Memories from a flooded town

22

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

08

16

10

20

19

22

Cover photo by David Giles

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Much to live up to IN my first-ever All the World editorial, written in May 1999 for the July issue, I had ‘change’ on my mind. Everything, it seemed, was changing. As well as my taking on a new role, a new Salvation Army General had just been elected, religious tensions were high in Pakistan, refugees from war were in need of care and The Salvation Army was growing in eastern Europe.

Looking back at the thoughts I shared, I could pretty much reprint the whole thing again – so perhaps change is, ironically, the only thing not to change!

Twenty years ago my life was very different. For a start, I had two grandparents and no children. Now, it’s the other way round.

My Gran and my eldest son have been on my mind recently. My Gran because of the article about The Salvation Army’s work in Romania, and my son because the little blonde dot who came into our lives more than 18 years ago is now a BIG blonde streak who is finishing school and will soon be leaving home to go to university.

The story of The Salvation Army’s work in Romania is inspiring. Twenty years ago, the first exploratory steps were being taken, but today the ministry in five centres benefits thousands of people. My Gran, Auxiliary-Captain Mrs Muriel Sims – who decided in her 60s that she

would dedicate her life to the people of Romania – was a great support to Romania’s Salvation Army pioneers.

Captain Roxy Sandu – now one of the regional leaders in Romania – says that Gran ‘really blessed Romania with her presence and care. She made parcels and sent them to corps (churches) and raised money for Christmas meals. She gave me an English Bible when I was in training and several books to support me in doing my lessons in English.’ [Roxy was the first Romanian-born cadet, but was trained in Russia, where most of the literature was only available in Russian.]

Below: Roxy Cocu (now Sandu) and Auxiliary-Captain Mrs Muriel Sims at the five-year anniversary celebration of The Salvation Army in Romania

‘Gran ”really blessed Romania with her presence and care“’

EDITOR Kevin Sims

GENERAL Brian Peddle

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

Published by Brian Peddle, General of The Salvation Army

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

Kevin Sims, Editor

UPFRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

She describes Gran as ‘a fighter for God’s Kingdom’. That’s a pretty good way to be remembered!

Gran would be so proud of the work currently being carried out in Romania.

Schoolchildren are being fed and cared for, the gospel message is being shared and people of all ages are being given opportunities to have a sense of self-worth.

She would also, I know, be proud of my son, Noah.

When he finished school, one of the teachers gave him a mug as a thank-you for his hard work and the way he has given so much of himself as a student leader. On it was written: ‘Noah Sims ... infectious smile, HUGE heart’.

How amazing that he was recognised not for his academic ability but for his warmth, compassion and tenacity. Nothing could have made me happier.

Just as a new Salvation Army opening has a lot to live up to because of the movement’s history and reputation, so I now find myself with a lot to live up to when I compare myself to Gran – or Noah.

In the end, I’d be more than happy to end up as a mix of both – a fighter for God like Gran, infectious smile like Noah ... and the HUGE heart that could easily describe both of them.

As our world continues to go through often-bewildering changes, I would suggest that fighting for God, spreading joy and caring selflessly are constants that are needed more than ever.

© The General of The Salvation Army 2019

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd The Salvation Army International Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1000566) whose sole trustee is The Salvation Army International Trustee Company, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (no. 02538134) at 101 Queen Victoria Street, London ECV4 4EH

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

3

HEALTH

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Saving lives with clean hands

by Major Joan Gibson

W

HAT comes to mind when someone says Ebola? When I first became involved with The Salvation Army’s Ebola Prevention Project my thoughts were of health staff in what looked like space suits, caring for people with a deadly virus at more than arm’s length.

What I discovered is that, despite Ebola being such a deadly disease, the most effective prevention strategy is very simple and easy – it’s handwashing!

The prevention project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) targets three quite different groups: religious communities, schools and health clinics. It mainly offers education on handwashing and the recognition of early symptoms.

I consider myself a frequent hand washer, but I have never washed my hands so frequently as I did in Goma, and I certainly don’t usually use highly chlorinated water! Also, I am certain I had my temperature checked more while in Goma than I have had in my entire life!

At the entrance to every building, and at strategic points along the road, I would find myself having my temperature recorded and be instructed to wash my hands. No one is exempt.

On mentioning that I was on my way to DRC, the comment frequently was: ‘Isn’t that where there is Ebola?’ (actually meaning ‘why are you going somewhere so deadly?’). To some extent they were right. Since this outbreak started in August 2018, the 10th of its kind in DRC, well over 1,100 people have been infected and more than 750 have died. With more than half of those infected dying, our message of prevention is one that brings hope.

The programme is being administered

‘Despite Ebola being such a deadly disease, the most effective prevention strategy is very simple and easy – it’s handwashing!’

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Above: learning good hand-washing techniques; below: disinfecting a worker in protective clothing

by a three-person team – Mr Baganda (the project manager), Sarah (a nurse from The Salvation Army’s clinic) and Captain Bangala (the local church leader).

In less than three months, this small but mighty team has managed to carry out a ‘Train the Trainers’ course for 12 religious leaders, 32 teachers/headmasters and 10 heads of clinics. Each of these people have trained a further 10, making an unbelievable total of 594 so far!

All this was only possible because the Salvation Army worked hand in hand with the Ministry of Health. I felt very proud of

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Below: teaching schoolchildren about good hygiene; right: temperature measurement is an important part of detection

our little team when we visited Dr Janvier Kubuja, the Provincial Medical Director for the area, as he considered our project to be extremely important and praised the local team for its close collaboration with the health authorities.

This simple but effective project targeted people who are looked up to and trusted. The first group were the religious leaders from different sects and denominations.

Ebola isn’t selective, so we had to be as inclusive as possible. The leaders we worked with are the people whose presence is sought when relatives are sick or dying, so now they can pass on the message of how carers can protect themselves. They are also often present at big gatherings like weddings, which we witnessed first-hand when we visited one of the pastors who did the Train the Trainers course. It wasn’t an invitation letter that allowed entry, instead it was having gone through the appropriate hand-washing exercise.

It was interesting to watch the struggle towards bringing in a new culture of greater hygiene. The Congolese are very friendly people and greetings are very important and intimate. There’s a hug and then lots of cheek to cheek contact. To reduce this to just the recommended tap of elbows is an uphill struggle, but I hope

the new approach will take hold before Ebola can.

Like many other things, when people don’t understand something they can believe untrue or exaggerated stories. For Ebola, rumours have spread that it is just a means for agencies to gain financial benefits. The religious leaders we worked with are gradually helping their congregations to understand that Ebola is real, learn the early warning signs of a high temperature and headaches, and seek treatment early, as this brings a greater chance of survival.

Teachers are another trusted group. At some point we have all gone home from school to share a piece of information with: ‘My teacher says ...’!

Using children to relay health education messages to the adult population is very effective. The number of people these children will save will never be fully known.

On visiting one school we saw even the youngest children spontaneously washing their hands, unlike adults who need prompting! These children could show up many adults when it comes to hand-washing technique – remembering to wash the backs of the hands, then the fronts and then in between their fingers.

The headteacher in one of the schools was very enthusiastic and was looking

forward to receiving a thermometer, also part of the project, so they could detect any child at risk before they enter the school. The teacher said that they had already transferred a couple of suspected cases to a triage centre, which was very impressive.

The training for nurses was more intense and lasted for five days per course, rather than just the two days for teachers and religious leaders. They were instructed in how to use flowcharts to identify those requiring quarantine in the triage centre and learned how to use protective clothing.

When the project started the idea had been that the 110 clinics, like the schools and worship buildings, would receive a water tank and a laser thermometer, with the addition of one set of protective clothing. This, however, had to change due to the increased threat level. The Ministry of Health has now requested The Salvation Army to fully equip 10 clinics, identified by them, where we will construct a triage centre and supply enough protective clothing for all staff.

Like Dr Kubuja, I believe this programme began at just the right time, while Ebola was still 450 kilometres from Goma. The hope is that when Ebola reaches the city, this project will have provided large numbers of potential victims with the preventive strategies needed to keep safe.

I am back home in the UK now, safe and well – but our colleagues in Goma continue to fight on.

Major Joan Gibson is International Health Services Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

5

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

LIEUT-COLONEL VERÔNICA DANIELSON

Lieut-Colonel Verônica Danielson works for The Salvation Army in her country of birth, Brazil What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am the Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries in the Brazil Territory.

What would be your typical day?

I start at 6am with my time of devotions. About 8.15 I start my working day at the office, attending not only to Women’s Ministries matters, but also being available to talk to people and help with some matters related to the leadership of the territory. My working day (in the office) ends between 5 and 6pm.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

I was born into The Salvation Army and I have been a Salvationist since my childhood.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

I will not call him a ‘hero of the faith’, but since I read Henri Nouwen for the first time, in 1998, I was so impressed, challenged and blessed by his writings that, since then, he became a kind of mentor to me through his books.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

One of my favourite Bible verses is Isaiah 30:15: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength’.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

It is not easy to choose one, because I have many songs I would call ‘my favourites’, but one that I sang recently and that I really like is ‘His Provision’, by John Gowans and Ivor Bosanko (316, The Song Book of The Salvation Army).

that Brazilians would be more ‘straight to the point’ when having to make decisions.

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

I never thought about working anywhere else, because I see so many needs in Brazil and, as The Salvation Army, we are so small in this country. So, since I was called by God to be a Salvation Army officer, it was clear to me that it was here that he wanted me to serve. On the other hand, my life is in his hands, and – as his servant – I am willing to obey him.

What skills do you use most in your work?

Presently, my linguistic and writing skills (in Portuguese), as well as listening to people and trying to help them.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

My gift of teaching.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who showed the love of Jesus and was a blessing to others.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

For me it’s the fact that we believe that the most powerful approach to show the love of Jesus and to preach the gospel is in a practical way. Our story is also amazing!

How do you think that working in Brazil differs from working elsewhere?

Brazil is a multicultural and continent-sized country, so, although the only language spoken in the whole country is Portuguese (with its regionalisms, of course), each of the five geopolitical regions into which the country is divided has its own characteristics. It is as if you have many countries within one huge country. So, it is possible that even a Brazilian officer will find it very difficult to adapt in a different region of the country than his or her own and sometimes will not adapt at all.

What do you like most about Brazil?

The wonderful and exuberant landscape with its huge diversity (beaches, mountains, forests, countryside…) and the fact that – in spite of the difficulties and challenges – in general, Brazilians are a happy people who keep hope.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in Brazil?

I would like Brazil as a country and Brazilians to be more straightforward in dealing with different matters. In other words, that Brazil would be a less bureaucratic country and

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Photos show Lieut-Colonel Verônica Danielson preaching

&

away

COMMISSIONER PETER WALKER Born in the UK and brought up in Australia, since August 2015, Commissioner Peter Walker has worked in The Salvation Army’s Indonesia Territory

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am Territorial Commander – effectively the spiritual head – of The Salvation Army church in Indonesia.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

My parents were Salvationists in the UK, and I was dedicated to God at Leigh-on-Sea Corps (church) in Essex. We emigrated to western Australia when I was a boy, where I attended the local corps at Midland. I married a lovely Salvation Army girl, and so I have known the Army all my life.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

I have many heroes. Jesus is my biblical favourite, but I also love studying the life of Paul. For me, Paul is an example of someone whose life was totally transformed by Christ, who then goes on to endure all kinds of opposition within and without the Church but keeps going because he is so committed to the mission of the gospel. At the same time, his letters reveal a depth of teaching and spiritual truth that we can spend a lifetime exploring as we seek to become more and more like Christ.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (New International Version).

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

‘I’ll stand for Christ’ (960, The Song Book of The Salvation Army).

&AWAY

How do you think that working in Indonesia differs from working elsewhere?

The Salvation Army in Indonesia is unique primarily because of the culture and the history. Although the Army is present in cities throughout the country, the heartland of the Army is in rural villages in Central Sulawesi. There, entire communities identify as Salvationists. Often the corps building is the largest structure in the village, and serves as the heart of the community. Army meetings are enhanced by traditional music, bamboo bands, beautiful dance and timbrel groups. Officers are an integral part of daily life, blessing the planting of crops and dedicating the harvest. In more remote areas, often the officer serves as a kind of informal nurse and teacher as well. Indonesia also suffers from more natural disasters than almost any place on earth; earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding, tsunamis are just a ‘normal’ part of life here.

What do you like most about Indonesia?

The people. Indonesian people are generally not well off in worldly terms, but they are very warm and welcoming and they love being together and sharing meals and fellowship. They also love to sing.

I will miss the beautiful singing – full-voice, beautiful harmony, and with great joy. We have made some lovely friends here, and we will miss them [the commissioner returns to Australia on 1 July].

What do you miss most about Australia?

What we have missed the most is time with our family. Fortunately, these days with social media and video calls we have been able to keep in touch, but it is not quite the same as being there.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in Indonesia?

Indonesia as a nation faces many challenges, yet I can see growth and development taking place all over, so I am reluctant to suggest that anything should be superimposed from outside.

Perhaps if there was one thing I could ‘import’ from my own culture, it would be better traffic control – the vehicle traffic in Bandung where I live and in Jakarta is impossible!

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

Not so much a change, but a greater emphasis on youth and making the Army more relevant for the next generation.

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

I have sometimes thought I would like to serve in the UK, to explore something of my own roots and also to understand the challenges of that territory and Europe more generally.

&AWAY

What would be your typical day?

My work is mostly administrative, based at territorial headquarters (THQ) in Bandung. I start each day around 7am, and at 7.30 we have a prayer meeting at THQ with all staff for half an hour. We tend to spend at least one week a month out of the office, visiting some region of Indonesia (which is a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands!).

What skills do you use most in your work?

Communication, in all its forms, is a key skill for leaders. So too is the ability to chair a meeting or discussion and bring out different thoughts and points of view, and to reach an accepted consensus among a group. In recent years I have been very conscious that even board meetings can be teaching opportunities, and so I am careful to explain the rationale behind any decisions that I take. It can be quite daunting to realise that consciously or unconsciously other officers or leaders may model themselves on the way we conduct ourselves.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

I have missed playing in a Salvation Army brass band!

How would you like to be remembered?

As a good and humble person, who loved the Lord, loved his wife and family, and did his best to serve God, the Army and the community.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

I love The Salvation Army. As a young person growing up from a very humble background, it was at the Army that I was introduced to Jesus by beautiful, godly people. I love the fact that my wife and I have been able to share together in ministry over the years. It is the Army that embraces the two-fold ministry of sharing the love of God on the one hand, while also demonstrating that love by showing practical care for people in times of need. The Army is far from perfect. I hope we never lose the emphasis that we are a vital part of God’s Church, charged with sharing the gospel of Jesus, and that the good works we do, we do them with that purpose in mind.

&AWAY

UL –SSETH EPPTE BE 2019 ALLTHE THEWORLD WORLD | | J JUL M YY–ON –TE M MM ON BE TH RR2019 2012 | | ALL

77

EMERGENCY

MOZAMBIQUE

God is with us

by Captain Heather Rossouw

I

was sitting in my lounge, watching the news about the cyclone that had just happened in Mozambique and my heart hurt for this already-poor country. It had been only just over two years before that I had served in the country as a deployee for The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services, assisting the Mozambique Territory with the response to Cyclone Dineo. I was relieved to know it was not the same area that had been affected, but broken knowing that so much damage had been done to this country again, with more people affected.

I was not expecting a call to be deployed back to Mozambique but, when it came, I did not hesitate to pack up and go. I have multi appointments in my home territory, but knew I could keep up with what needed to be done. So, off to Mozambique I went.

To give this some background, in March 2019 Tropical Cyclone Idai pummelled across south-eastern Africa, becoming one of the deadliest storms ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. The storm 8 | ALL THE WORLD |

JU LY–SEPTEM BER 2019

caused catastrophic flooding, landslides and large numbers of casualties across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

One of the most affected areas was Beira, Mozambique’s second-largest port city of 530,000 people, where the cyclone made landfall on 14 March.

The storm ‘destroyed 90 per cent’ of Beira, according to an initial assessment by a team from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. As of 20 March, an estimated one million people were without electricity.

By the second week of April, the official death toll caused by Cyclone Idai stood at 602 people, with more than 1,600 people injured, according to the government. Many people were displaced, and communicable diseases were on the rise. Of particular concern

were cholera and malaria. An oral vaccination campaign reached more than 800,000 people by early April.

Life was interrupted for people of all ages, with many schools too badly damaged to reopen and others used as shelters for displaced people.

Humanitarian partners called for any relocations out of schools or elsewhere to be safe, dignified and voluntary.

I arrived on Tuesday 23 April to stay over in Maputo for a night and then catch another flight to Beira the next day. As stated, I had taken part in a cyclone response before, so thought I knew what I was about to face. However, when I was met by the divisional commander and Major Dyson (Projects and Property Officer) the brutal reality of the cyclone that impacted Beira hit home hard.

As we drove to divisional headquarters, I could see how roofs had been ripped from houses, and how what were once mud houses had been flattened.

The Salvation Army in Mozambique had already executed three rapid responses of food items to three different communities of 500 families each. Let

‘They were just getting on with rebuilding their homes out of whatever materials they could find, making the best of a very difficult situation’

MOZAMBIQUE

Opposite page: worship at Pioneiros Corps, which was badly damaged by the cyclone; above left: Antonio and Ana, with baby Cyclone, outside their makeshift shelter; left: Heather shares with a group of locals; above: Anora Jose Alfredo, whose husband was kiiled when their house collapsed

me add that this response would not be possible without the help of donors coming alongside to support us.

Two days later I went out to look at the community where food distributions had taken place. Amazingly, life appeared to be carrying on as per usual!

Bicycles were being pushed along the sand road, loaded with heaps of branches and tree stumps. Houses were being rebuilt. I find the people to be very creative. They were just getting on with rebuilding their homes out of whatever materials they could find, making the best of a very difficult situation.

I am so in awe of their ability to pick themselves up and keep going.

There have been many high and low points in this cyclone response so far, but two particular stories stand out.

Antonio and Ana had more reason than most to be fearful of the cyclone.

Ana was pregnant, and actually went into labour as the storms were battering their home. She tried to find a place to hide but could not find anywhere, meaning that her baby was born in an open field while their house was being destroyed.

When I visited the site, the family had built a small shelter – so small that they had to kneel and crawl to get inside. They also built a small water hole.

The Salvation Army team had visited the family, taking some baby goods. Ana and Antonio were so relieved that the baby had been born healthy, even in dire conditions, that they named their baby Cyclone Antonio!

From a story of new life to one about death.

Anora Jose Alfredo and her husband were asleep in their mud house when the cyclone hit. As happened to many mud houses, the storm caused their home to collapse. Anora managed to escape, but though she could hear her husband, she could not see him. He had been trapped under the collapsed house.

She reached out to community members to help her and they found her husband under the house, but later that day he died from his injuries. She now has to start a life on her own and rebuild her house.

These are typical of the people The Salvation Army is helping – people

who had little before, but who now have nothing.

In the first week after I arrived in Mozambique we were blessed to continue serving another community of 500 families with non-food items. Each family received a mosquito net, three blankets, a set of pots, a set of plates, a set of mugs, water purification liquid, laundry soap and bath soap. The community had not received any form of goods as it is away from the city centre and the roads have been hit quite badly by the cyclone.

On a personal note, this has once again been such a humbling experience. It has taught me to be grateful and thankful for what I have.

On Sunday I worshipped at Pioneiros Corps (Salvation Army church), which was badly affected by the cyclone.

The roof was ripped off and windows had been broken on impact by the strong winds.

It was humbling to see the corps folk come together to worship in the building, and to hear the divisional commander in his Bible message remind them of Psalm 27:3-6: ‘This is the house of the Lord, he has protected us, we glorify him in everything, in every situation.’

These corps members came to the meeting in a wrecked building, praising God. They are the same people who give up their time to assist other community members in need. How selfless! They do not stand asking for handouts but continue to work alongside us and assisting. What a blessing to be part of this worldwide organisation – The Salvation Army.

I was invited to offer the benediction and I shared these song words with them: ‘God is with us all the time, in the morning when joybells chime, in the evening when lights are low, our God is with us everywhere we go’ (1028, The Song Book of The Salvation Army).

This is a perfect promise – God is with us all the time. It is a good reminder that, as baby Cyclone will no doubt be taught, no matter how tough the storm we face, God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Captain Heather Rossouw is Administrator at Mountain Lodge Psychiatric Centre and Territorial Statistician and Emergency Services Director in The Salvation Army’s Southern Africa Territory J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

9

MINISTRY

ROMANIA

I

CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ The words are heartfelt and soul-piercing.

Urgent, even. It’s Sunday, but this is no dry Bible reading from a dusty church lectern. It is much more ‘real’.

It’s authentic.

Around me in an all-purpose living/ kitchen/bedroom are the five children and one grandchild of the person speaking those words from Philippians 4:13. Her name is Valerica. Since her husband died five years ago, she’s been solely responsible for bringing up her children, and now helps to raise the newborn baby of her eldest daughter.

They all live in this ramshackle oneroom dwelling on the outskirts of Craiova, in southern Romania, where they share two beds, one lightbulb and an open stove which is used for both cooking and keeping warm. Life is, by any standards, tough.

Valerica has frequently had to make ends meet by collecting hundreds of plastic bottles to sell on to a wholesale recycler for a few lei (the Romanian

Large helpings of love and care

by David Giles currency). It’s exhausting and dirty work. ‘But of course I do this to keep my children in school,’ she tells me. ‘It’s important that they receive an education.’

The family dynamic is loving and respectful. The younger children play happily with an old bit of wood in the yard as mum and the older children spend time chatting and laughing with The Salvation Army’s local corps officer (church minister).

So how does The Salvation Army in Romania help a family like this? ‘Today, we’ve been able to bring a few groceries,’

‘The teachers eat on the same tables as the children, and take a genuine interest in their family life and day-to-day successes and trials’ 10 | ALL THE WORLD |

JULY–SEPTEM BER 2019

says Captain Alex. But it’s not a one-way street. ‘Valerica is an active participant in our corps community,’ he continues. ‘She has a long walk and an unreliable bus service to get to us, but she is a regular worshipper on Sundays and helps out at other times during the week.’

Craiova Corps, like the other Salvation Army centres in Romania, has a laundry, washing area and showers available to help families like Valerica’s who do not have bathroom facilities of their own.

It also has a regular food distribution ministry at the nearby railway station, which acts as a hub for many of the city’s homeless community.

As The Salvation Army’s minibus pulls on to the station forecourt, a number of men and women are waiting expectantly.

I’m struck by the diverse age range

ROMANIA

Opposite page: Valerica – who serves in and is helped by The Salvation Army in Craiova – with her children; left: a soup run at Craiova railway station; below: chopping tomatoes at a cookery class in Ploieşti

represented – the youngest boy cannot be older than 12 or 13. After forming an orderly queue, they are soon receiving a hearty meal of vegetable soup and fresh, filling bread. They’re served by younger members of the corps, who volunteer several times a week.

There’s a brief verbal outburst. ‘You can’t bring that here!’ shouts one of the recipients to another, gesticulating towards a half-consumed can of beer.

The chided gentleman utters fulsome profanities in response. ‘You can’t say that here!’ he’s firmly told by several others in the line.

The situation is quickly diffused. There is deep respect for The Salvation Army’s ethos and beliefs, and grace is said before consuming the meal together.

There is camaraderie and banter. For a short while, the difficulties of such a challenging way of life are temporarily put aside. This could be a meal being enjoyed by a group of friends anywhere, were it not for the dirt-stained hands that betray their own silent story.

In Ploie ti, I meet two of the founding officers of The Salvation Army in Romania, Captains Eugenia and Gheorghe Roman. Their zeal for sharing the gospel and meeting identified needs in their community is undiminished, and there’s an extensive programme of activities taking place every day at the corps’ Geneza Centre [Genesis Centre].

This requires military precision to coordinate the personnel and facilities – a challenge the captains rise to well.

Firstly, community members start arriving to wash their clothes and book a slot in the showers. A woman arrives for a haircut – a service frequently offered here. Meanwhile, tables are being set up under a canvas covering outside. A small army of volunteers is laying out second-hand clothing, shoes and toys for sale. There are no price tags – people are encouraged to pay what they can, rather than it being a giveaway. ‘It helps engender a sense of dignity,’ explains Captain Eugenia, ‘but nobody in need will go without.’

I’m introduced to one of the volunteers, who is busy sorting out some of the sacks of donated clothing into logicallygrouped piles for men, women, children, etc. He also happens to be homeless.

This is not a ‘them and us’ venture.

Everyone mucks in. In fact, says Captain Eugenia, ‘Vasile is one of our best advocates ... he knows all the homeless people in Ploie ti and will tell them what The Salvation Army can help them with.

I think they are surprised!’

Vasile has recently become a Christian

and is studying to become a Salvation Army soldier.

Soon, children are flocking in through the gate. It’s common for children in Romania to attend school only for half a day, which leaves parents with something of a dilemma in occupying them safely for the remainder of the afternoon.

The Salvation Army offers an afterschool provision which sees the students continuing in their learning with trained teachers. Today they’re studying Romanian, computing and – somewhat less popularly – mathematics! But before that, there’s a two-course lunch to tuck in to. The teachers eat on the same tables as the children, and take a genuine interest in their family life and day-to-day successes and trials.

This afternoon, there’s the bonus of a cookery class too. While arming 25 hairnet-clad schoolchildren with sharp knives may seem like madness, they respond impressively to the challenge of chopping cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes and quite possibly the largest radishes known to agriculture!

After adding a dash of salt, vinegar and oil (and, as far as I can gauge, no fingers ...), they devour what has become a delicious bowl of salad with unbridled enthusiasm. It’s educative, it’s nutritious and it’s a whole lot of fun!

And while the children are dissecting vegetables, another aspect of The Salvation Army’s work here is unfolding in a quiet room nearby. A local woman is receiving some financial counselling, helping her to budget her limited income more effectively and ensure that she can pay her bills on time.

Back in the capital, Bucharest, the following day, younger children are gathering for a fun-packed morning of games, action songs, storytelling and crafts, all based on the Easter story.

The event culminates with a frenetic hunt for chocolate eggs and a pizza party together. The joy on the faces of the youngsters is something to behold.

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11

ROMANIA

Photos by David Giles and Dave Haas

Working hard at an after-school club run by The Salvation Army in Bacău

‘For its anniversary, The Salvation Army in Romania has adopted the motto Dragoste i Grija (‘love and care’).

This, then, is how The Salvation Army here is growing’

Children learn to cook healthy food at Ploieşti Corps

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ROMANIA

Hairdressing ministry in Ploieşti A lively all-age men’s rally at Rucăr

Regional leader Captain Roxy Sandu, the first Romanian-born Salvation Army officer, shares from God’s Word

Bible study in Ploieşti

A member of the EMAS team in Bucharest offers a hot drink to a homeless man

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ROMANIA

Right: a pop-up thrift store in Ploieşti

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Meanwhile, the parents are in an upper room learning more about the difficult subject of human trafficking, in a session led with calm sensitivity by regional leader Captain Roxy Sandu – the first Romanian-born Salvation Army officer.

One of the challenges of the Romanian economy is that many educated people leave the country to take up more lucrative employment elsewhere in the European Union. This migration of skills has inadvertently created an environment where unsuspecting workers hoping for a better income can be lured by too-goodto-be-true job offers from unscrupulous individuals often working for organised crime syndicates.

Without due diligence this can mean that people are tricked into taking up positions abroad in which the pay and conditions are far removed from what has been promised, or in its worst forms having their freedom curtailed in a form of modern-day slavery.

The Salvation Army here, and across Europe, is stepping up efforts to raise awareness of this problem and equip people with the skills required to avoid being ensnared.

Ministry to students is also important here. During the afternoon, tutors are available for core subjects as well as music lessons. The evening continues with a small group who meet regularly to discuss the Bible’s perspective on contemporary issues, pray for each other and – of course – eat pizza.

The city’s EMAS team (Echipa Mobila Armata Salv rii – Salvation Army Mobile Team) is also deployed this evening, providing a welcome connection with some of the 5,000-plus people who live on the city’s streets. The EMAS project seeks to meet their most acute needs – soup, hot drinks and basic medical treatment. The team also benefits from a number of social workers to assist with accessing complementary services.

Several hours’ drive away in Bac u, The Salvation Army’s newest corps in Romania has invited me to attend an evening gathering at the local municipal library. The charismatic Captain Nicu has struck up a relationship with a student group at the nearby college.

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settle in with a drink and some very fine Romanian chocolates, which – purely for the purposes of accuracy in this article – I ‘researched’ repeatedly.

A very mellow evening progresses, on the topic of ‘fears’. It’s a cringefree gathering – nobody is asked to do anything they’re not comfortable with.

Enthralled, I watch the young people try to beat a carefully designed ‘minefield’ by negotiating a grid formed of coloured paper in the right sequence.

There is great teamwork in evidence as the teams get closer and closer to solving the problem. (And howls of derision when someone – which would in another context be me – gets it spectacularly wrong!)

There are several punchy short talks, mainly delivered by the young people themselves, all pointing towards a God who ‘casts out fear’ (John 4:18). There is discussion in smaller groups and an opportunity, for those who wish, to pray. The group is in its early days, says Captain Nicu, but the response – and the growth – has been positive.

Ia i, close to the border with Moldova, is the only city in Romania with two Salvation Army centres. When we arrive at the corps hall early in the morning, breakfast is being served and several of the local homeless people are making use of the centre’s washing and laundry services.

It’s situated in a part of the city where the signs of urban decay and a troubled economy are stark. The high-density Soviet-era housing blocks are graffitistrewn, and broken beer bottles dot the crumbling stairwells.

The Salvation Army’s clothing recycling bin here has been the victim of theft previously. ‘Now we just empty it more frequently,’ says Captain Lilia.

‘Someone once saw somebody lower a small child in to take some garments. My feeling is that if they need the clothing that badly, they should have it!’

But since the exterior of the corps building was repainted, a renewed respect for the church has developed in the local community. ‘People know they can come here for a meal, for advice, for companionship, for a chat – just to be. We are here for the people,’ she says. Church attendance is steadily increasing, and it is some of the most vulnerable members of the community that are making up those numbers.

Across town at The Salvation Army’s Geneza Centre, the after-school programme is a valued provision, and the time of learning, games, food and artistic activities is well under way when I arrive.

The quality of the teaching – which has a particular awareness of the needs of children on the autistic spectrum – is notable, as is the one-to-one attention diligently provided by the small staff team.

‘People know they can come here for a meal, for advice, for companionship, for a chat – just to be. We are here for the people’

ROMANIA

Left: Captain Nicu oversees an after-school club in Bacău; below: Anabela (16) leads worship at Craiova Corps and is active in serving her community; bottom: team building and fellowship at a student evening run by The Salvation Army at Bacău Library

‘Art is a great way for children with communication difficulties to express themselves,’ the teacher explains. The standard of the child-made objets d’art exhibited in glass-fronted display cases is testament to the way in which pupils here are being encouraged to fulfil their potential.

The final leg of my journey around Romania takes me through the wild and beautiful Transylvanian mountains and forests to a rustic but comfortable pensiuni off the beaten track near the small market town of Ruc r. I’m here for a men’s retreat, marking 20 years of Salvation Army ministry in Romania.

Regional leader Captain Ionu Sandu takes time out from his barbecue-fanning duties to describe why it’s important to hold this kind of gathering.

‘The Salvation Army here is small, but spread out [geographically],’ he tells

me. ‘It’s a great encouragement to the men – and we have similar events for women, children and young people – to get together, to feel part of something bigger, to share with each other, and to worship together.

‘And,’ he says, with a twinkle in his eye and a glance towards the sausages sizzling nearby, ‘it’s great fun!’

He’s right. The fun includes opportunities to try archery and – inevitably when a group of European men get together – football. There is much laughing, joking and reminiscing over meals. But there is a closeness and a compassion which is commendable.

I’m touched by the way the men here take time to welcome me – a foreigner speaking little of their language. I am included. I am valued. And that seems to be a consistent feature. Everyone is involved.

‘We don’t invite outside speakers,’ continues Captain Ionu . ‘We need to build up and encourage our young people to become capable and competent preachers of the gospel and inspire them to hold the responsibility for growing The Salvation Army in Romania further.

We ask them to lead worship, bring the Bible messages and look after each other pastorally.’

And they do it well. The attention to detail of adding a T-shirt to the goodie bag so that the less financially well-off members of the group have an extra item of clothing to wear is not unnoticed.

The times of worship are passionate and exuberant, and the late-night jam sessions are inclusive but demonstrate great talent.

Most tellingly, during the weekend, two of the attendees are moved by the Holy Spirit to commit to full-time service in The Salvation Army.

For its anniversary, The Salvation Army in Romania has adopted the motto Dragoste i Grija (‘love and care’). This, then, is how The Salvation Army here is growing. Not quickly or chaotically, but lovingly and carefully. Valuing people and treating them with dignity.

With these virtues, the next 20 years hold great promise.

David Giles is Communications Manager at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

15

CLIMATE CHANGE

STEWARDSHIP

Fanning the wind

of change

by Major Heather Poxon

W

e will do our homework, when you do yours!’ So cry the children on their worldwide ‘climate strike’.

The challenge was taken up

by Rev Rachael Marsh at the 4th United Nations (UN) Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this year. ‘We might think of politicians standing outside with their finger licked and pointing up to feel the direction of the wind,’ she said. ‘Ours is not to change their minds, ours is to change the direction of the wind.’

Is the direction of the wind changing?

Whether we like it or hate it, the subject of climate change is not going to disappear. Agree or disagree with the protesters, the matter is there for discussion and action. This is no longer the lone cry of the tree-hugging campaigner; governments are changing policies and making new laws; scientists, farmers and industries are completely overhauling their focus, systems and production.

The Paris ‘Conference of the Parties‘ (COP) in 2015, with its

significant commitment by 174 countries to tackle global warming, and the Sustainable Development Goals which all UN member states have signed up to, indicate the seriousness with which we are now looking at what kind of homework we need to be doing!

It may just be dawning on us that we are heading for some kind of trouble.

In hindsight, I grew up with a keen awareness of waste, or rather, the importance of using everything well. So, I would eat all the food on my plate, I would leave the bath water for my younger sister (or vice versa!), turn the lights off in a room that wasn’t being used etc.

When wild honey is harvested, there should always be some left for the bees so they survive. Where natural sponge is harvested, the base should always be left so it can grow again. We have a balanced ecosystem where we share, give and take, and then we mutually benefit. If we take too much, the balance is lost and it takes a while to find itself again ... if it ever does.

Sixty-two countries have banned the use of plastic bags, Kenya has banned the commercial production

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STEWARDSHIP

of charcoal, an increasing number of forests are being protected, and solar and wind energy are competitively taking the place of fossil fuels. Congestion charges mean that previously busy city streets are quiet and clean and in some countries carbon emissions have actually shown a reduction.

Schools and businesses are becoming eco-friendly, and we are becoming more conscientious consumers – being aware of the source of our food and other products.

Churches too are acting on the wind of change, recognising God’s call to look after the planet.

Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, recently told a gathering in St Paul’s Cathedral: ‘We seem to be in a society where competition means destroying the other in order to get ahead. However, it is when our neighbour flourishes that we flourish and when we flourish our neighbour flourishes.’

Commissioner Christine MacMillan, former director of The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission, wrote: ‘Our neighbour is whoever comes within our sphere of influence.’

So, when it comes to our use of today’s finite resources, wherever in the world we live, our neighbour is in Bangladesh and Mexico and Indonesia, because they experience the result of our action. Our neighbour is also the generations that will follow us into the world.

The direction of the wind is changing, for sure, but there is still some way to go.

• Average temperatures have

been higher in the past four years than ever recorded • We waste one third of the food we produce • Two billion people are malnourished • Two billion people are obese

• The significant loss of

biodiversity is drastically affecting food production all over the world.

The above are just a few of the warning signs which point to increased conflict, drought and floods and a rapidly increasing gap between the rich and the poor.

The UN conference in Nairobi, which I attended on behalf of The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters, was rather overwhelming to start with.

I was just one of more than 5,000 people from all over the world who gathered to listen and learn from each other and make some binding resolutions around climate change (and – before someone points it out – I know that the flights added to carbon emissions!).

The first day was something of a cerebral fog for me as I tried to make sense of the UN terminology and work out where I was permitted to go (or not!). Then the fog started to lift, and I greedily absorbed the information, science and experiences of people from almost every walk of life.

Here was a space where government officials and scientists could hear first-hand about the realities of a farmer in Mozambique and the impact of climate change on her land. Climate financiers met with scientists to work out how to make technology applicable and affordable. Churches and faith groups were affirmed in their theology about God’s call on us to be stewards of our shared home – not abusing or exploiting it.

There was a great sense of hope.

Of possibilities. Of productive networking.

For me, there was a realisation that The Salvation Army is already at work in this sphere in so many places and that it is uniquely placed to do even more to change the direction of the wind!

So what are we doing already?

If The Salvation Army where you live is using solar, wind or water

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STEWARDSHIP

‘We must join forces to make a difference to the millions who are being burdened with the effects of climate change’ power, briquettes or fuel-saving stoves, you are reducing the amount of carbon emissions which are the main cause of global warming. If your church is buying fairly-traded products where farmers are being supported with environmental projects, you are making a difference.

If you are buying locally-produced fruit and vegetables, if your school is planting trees, and recycling what you use, if your farmers are practising conservation agriculture, protecting the forests and keeping bees and caterpillars, you are stewarding the earth well.

But how can we do more? The Salvation Army (and the Church at large) is uniquely positioned. We are in every layer of society and, in 131 countries around the world, we have a mandate to care for the poor and marginalised, and a clear theological direction to care for the earth. We are in communities for the long run, we rally behind a cause when we believe in it and we are called to love our neighbour!

How about a simple framework to help us think through what we are doing and what we can do – in our homes, our communities and our churches?

C – CONSUMPTION Can we reduce the amount of food we waste? Do we buy locally-grown produce?

Do we support fairly traded industries?

Is our procurement environmentally friendly or is it causing more damage?

Can we reduce the amount of single-use plastic?

R – RECYCLING AND REUSING Do we use recycled paper? Print on both sides? Reuse our bags and bottles etc?

E – EDUCATE How can we best share environmental information with our communities, schools and churches?

A – ADVOCATE Find out about the commitments that your governments have made and support them. Join coalitions which hold our leaders accountable to their promises.

T – TRANSPORT Is the transport we use producing the least carbon possible? Do we take the car when we can walk or cycle?

O – OFFSETTING CARBON If you need to fly, are you offsetting the carbon produced by your flight? Can you support reforestation projects or plant your own trees?

R – RENEWABLE ENERGY Are you using renewable energy? Are you using wood, charcoal or other fossil fuels instead of solar, wind or other renewable alternatives?

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In the UK, where I currently live, this February was the hottest since records began. Ice cream vans came out at the seaside in what seemed to be a warmly welcomed and unexpected heatwave – while wildfires burned on the usually wet and chilly Yorkshire moors. In the same month, the UN released terrifying research on the global decline of biodiversity and its implications for future food supply.

In March, a whale that washed up in the Philippines was found to have died of hunger where its stomach was filled with dozens of plastic sacks. In Southern Africa the monster Cyclone Idai combined with deforestation to produce largescale death and destruction by flooding. Meanwhile, back in the UK, new research suggested that the government figure of 40,000 premature deaths a year from air pollution is a considerable underestimate.

Piece these news fragments together and they quickly form a picture of environmental destruction accelerating on nearly every front. How are we meant to respond?

We are an Army and we have a responsibility to fight injustice. We can put this off no longer. We must join forces to make a difference to the millions who are being burdened with the effects of climate change. People are dying – we have to work together to look after this planet, as God intended.

Major Heather Poxon is International Development Officer at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

AUSTRALIA

EMERGENCY

On the road to recovery

By Simone Worthing and Lauren Martin

I

N January 2019, the North Queensland city of Townsville experienced a greater than ‘once in 500 years’ event, as significant and prolonged monsoonal rains led to extensive flooding and loss of property in the city and its surrounds. Six people lost their lives as a result of the floods, and experts estimate that up to 300,000 cattle died.

Salvation Army Emergency Services crews, Recovery Services teams and Red Shield Defence Services representatives were on the ground in Townsville, helping to cater for those in evacuation centres, providing immediate financial

Above: offering comfort to a Townsville resident

assistance, and giving emotional and spiritual support.

Thousands of people were impacted.

Recovery work and the rebuilding of houses, businesses and lives, will continue for the long haul.

Others magazine spoke to women directly impacted by this event. Two of their stories are shared here – one from a Salvationist and another responding to positive memories of The Salvation Army in post-war Europe.

Robyn Lewis – Proud to be a Salvo

Robyn Lewis, The Salvation Army’s Fundraising and Public Relations Manager for North Queensland, and her two boys, aged 13 and 16, had been without power and sewerage for six days, couldn’t leave their house for four

days due to rising floodwaters and were feeling ‘a bit stressed and frayed’.

‘We were just praying for everyone, and for the rain to stop,’ says Robyn.

The military arrived on Tuesday 5 February to evacuate Robyn, her boys and other families in the street and surrounding neighbourhood – one of the worst affected in the city.

‘It hit me when I saw the water flowing down my street as I stepped towards the Army truck, and one of the soldiers grabbed me to stop me from falling,’ says Robyn. ‘I knew then how dangerous the situation was.’

Robyn and her family were taken to the YWAM evacuation centre in the city and waited for family to pick them up.

She says it was sad that The Salvation Army wasn’t in her shelter, adding: ‘All I wanted was to see the [red] shield, the uniform, and a Salvo [Salvationist]. And I wasn’t the only one!

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Above: Robyn – pictured with her boys Lachlan (top) and Mitchell – was disappointed that her shelter didn’t have a Salvation Army presence, but she has felt the support of her ‘Salvo’ family; above right: Andja (middle), whose help from The Salvation Army brought back memories of her younger days, with her daughter, Simona, and husband, John; right: members of the emergency services appreciate The Salvation Army’s assistance

‘It was strange to see a disaster from the other side, and not be the one helping.

I’d had three days of no sleep, the sole responsibility of my children, no hot shower, little food and high anxiety. I was looking for that comfort, that person, who would just sit and make sure I was okay.’

Through her experience, she learned how hard it was to ask for help and to say when she was not okay.

‘I’ve had Salvos encouraging me, checking up on me, sending assistance and taking care of my needs. We really are part of a big family. It makes you proud to be a Salvo.

‘There are a lot of people out there looking for connection and a community like ours, and this is what disasters like this really highlight. We have the opportunity

to respond, especially to those who have lost everything.’

Robyn lost most of her furniture, household items and personal belongings, but will be able to replace most of it.

Others will need ongoing help from The Salvation Army.

She concludes: ‘I am proud that The Salvation Army will be at the heart of the community as it recovers.’

Andja Rudics – Reliving memories of Salvation Army support As the monsoonal rain continued to drench Townsville, Andja, her husband John and their daughter Simona knew they had to evacuate. The water surging down their street and rising into the

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houses would soon prevent them leaving if they didn’t go when they did.

‘I didn’t want to evacuate, but I knew we had to,’ explains Andja. ‘I knew we could go and stay with friends, but I didn’t want to do that either.

‘Then I heard that The Salvation Army was running the kitchen at the Heatley School evacuation centre, and helping people there, and I knew that’s where I wanted to be.’

Andja was born in a small village near the town of Split, Yugoslavia [now Croatia], in 1951. Her parents separated when she was very young, and she lived with her mother and sister.

AUSTRALIA

Below: a Salvation Army worker preparing food; bottom: this Red Shield Defence Services vehicle was ideal for reaching flooded areas

‘We didn’t have much at all in Yugoslavia, as it was then, at that time,’ Andja explained. ‘I didn’t really notice it much until I started school. We didn’t have much food and few clothes to wear.

‘I remember The Salvation Army there – a kind man who invited families who didn’t have much to come to a building and choose all the clothing they needed, in different sizes.

‘I was only seven, but I have never forgotten that kindness in a terrible time and how happy I felt to have clothes.’

Andja and her family spent a couple of days in the evacuation centre in Townsville, waiting for the rain to

stop and the water to subside so they could return to their house and assess the damage.

‘People here were giving me clothes and I was taken back to that time as a child,’ she says. ‘It really hit me then, just what had happened, and I couldn’t stop crying.

‘I just can’t thank The Salvation Army and the other agencies enough, for all they have done. We have been brought down by this flooding, but we will rise up and I think everyone will be okay.

‘I really believe God has something to do with this. He has seen us all through so much and he will see us through this.

We now have to help each other, and people are doing that.’

Andja, John and Simona have cleaned their property, thrown out piles of damaged furniture and personal items. They are slowly rebuilding their lives and, like The Salvation Army, they are helping others to do the same.

Adapted from an article in The Salvation Army’s Others publication. The original report, including the story of another Salvationist from Townsville, can be found on the Others website: others.org.au J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

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COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

NEW ZEALAND

A timeless offering RELEASED in April 2019 to coincide with New Zealand Music Month, the album Offering – featuring traditional hymns interpreted by modern artists – is proving popular with New Zealanders and is an incredible gift to The Salvation Army, which will directly benefit from its success. Described as ‘the artists of our time presenting the music of all time’, the album spent its first five weeks after release in the top five of the official New Zealand album chart – with a peak position of number two.

Released by Thom Productions and Sony, Offering features 15 well-loved New Zealand recording artists including Stan Walker, Dave Dobbyn and Sol3 Mio. International listeners may recognise the voice of Kimbra, who featured on Gotye’s 2011-12 worldwide number one ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’.

Each hymn was also interpreted by a prominent New Zealand visual artist, including Raymond Ching, Dick Frizzell, Lisa Reihana and Max Gimblett.

Murray Thom got the inspiration for the project 17 years ago and, in 2016, after a conversation with his sister around the dinner table, approached The Salvation Army to see if it would partner with him in the project.

The artists on the album chose their own hymns, paving the way for personal – and often spiritual – journeys. All participants gifted their time and gave up any future royalties associated with Offering and the artwork.

Songs include ‘His Eye is On the Sparrow’, ‘It is Well With My Soul’, ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Whakaaria Mai’ (How Great Thou Art).

Offering has abiding significance for the Army. Not only is its musical heritage at the heart of the vision, but all proceeds from both the album and paintings will go directly to fund The Salvation Army and those most in need.

Top: Stan Walker sings ‘Ma Te Marie’; above: Dick Frizzell’s painting – inspired by ‘Amazing Grace’ – that was used for the album cover; right: Ray Ching (above) and Reuben Paterson (below), with their works inspired by the songs ‘Be Thou My Vision’ and ‘Hei Kona Au Titiro Atu Ai’ respectively

The album is available to purchase through iTunes and on CD, and can also be heard through major streaming sites such as Spotify.

Everyone who buys the CD gets two copies, allowing one to be given away – very much the heart of the project.

For more information, go to www.offering.org (Thanks to Major Shar Davis for this report)

USA

Field of dreams DAVID Beckham may be one of the world’s most famous celebrities, but that didn’t stop him from supporting a new football (soccer) facility at The Salvation Army’s Los Angeles Red Shield Center in California, USA. Funded by the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation, David Beckham, Herbalife Nutrition and AEG, 22 | ALL THE WORLD |

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the David Beckham LA Galaxy Community Field replaces a well-worn field at the centre. The turf field will give 2,000 young people from the underserved Pico Union neighbourhood a safe place to play.

Some of those children were at the opening, where footballs were knocked around on the pristine surface. They were joined by Cozmo, the mascot for the LA Galaxy Major League Soccer team, and eventually David Beckham himself.

‘I stand here in awe of the beauty of this field,’ said Irene Lewis, Executive Director of the youth centre. She thanked the partners whose contributions made the facility possible, many of whom have supported The Salvation Army’s efforts throughout her 28-year tenure. She told David Beckham: ‘It’s individuals like you who are committed to the lives of young people. Individuals who say, “I want to make an investment. I want

Photos by Joy Yi

SNAPSHOTS

to make a change in the lives of children ... especially these kids in Pico Union.”’

‘We have seen the transformation that can happen in the lives of young people as a result of football,’ said USA Western Territorial Commander Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, recalling the impact a makeshift soccer field made in Kenya during his appointment there. ‘I therefore have every confidence that what takes place here will be even more transformational for these young people and for young people for years to come in this community.’

Speaking to the young people who will benefit from the new facilities, David Beckham

NORWAY

Hope, soap, job creation THE Salvation Army in Norway has started an innovative programme to offer people help in accessing the workplace. Såpa, a brand-new car wash in Tønsberg, southern Norway, is a response to the ongoing challenge of how to integrate people back into society after spending

told them: ‘When I was your age, I didn’t have the opportunity of a great field like this. I didn’t have the opportunity of a safe field like this.

You have a real opportunity, but it’s all about your dreams. It’s all about what you want to

do with those dreams, and if you can be polite, be energetic, be committed and be passionate about what you want to do ...

Just believe in those dreams.’

time in prison, rehabilitation or following other periods of social exclusion. It provides training and employment for a number of staff who have experienced difficulties in their lives.

The name Såpa – which translates as ‘soap’ – forms a clear link to the motto with which The Salvation Army is associated in Norway: ‘suppe, såpe, frelse’ [soup, soap, salvation]. True to this holistic approach, Såpa seeks to provide an opportunity for people to engage in meaningful work, regardless of their past situations or their current mental or physical health.

Henning Wick, who had been in and out of rehab and jail for 20 years, is in charge of the day-to-day running of Såpa. He controls the pressure washer with precision and checks every car personally before it is driven off.

Alongside the responsibility of the everyday running of the place, Henning is also an important role model for the other employees.

‘The only thing I demand of the others is that they don’t show up to work while under the

influence of drugs or alcohol,’ he says. ‘If they happen to have a bad day, I send them home – but they are always welcome back. I, for one, understand the importance of a second chance.’

The Salvation Army in Norway is constantly looking for new ways of developing its work training programmes. Job training is a big part of the Salvation Army remedy for tackling social exclusion and poverty in Norway. Fretex, a fullyowned subsidiary of The Salvation Army, has become the biggest job training company in the country.

‘I highly recommend Såpa,’ says the Mayor of Tønsberg, Petter Berg. ‘I had the opportunity to test the facility and have my own car washed, and the result was wonderful. The Salvation Army is a respected organisation in our community and I am impressed by how they manage to create meaningful lives for people through work and activities.'

From a report by Geir Smith-Solevåg

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The unquenchable flame Why would you say I am ‘too young’?

No one says food is ‘too fresh’, News ‘too current’, Grass ‘too green’!

How, then, can I be ‘too young’?

Too young to understand?

Too young to lead?

Too inexperienced in the ways of life and faith?

Youth is my gift; my brightly-burning sword of the Spirit.

Where others become jaded, worn, dulled and cynical, I brim with energy, shiny optimism, hope!

Not for me a comfy chair in my Father’s house.

Guided by his Spirit I run with my faith: To the streets; To my friends; To my neighbours; To people I am yet to learn to avoid or fear.

Where you say ‘It won’t work’, I say ‘Let’s try it!’

When you say ‘But how?’ I say ‘Why not?’

You may be too busy, but I’m ready to go – Ready to shine my bright light into the dark corners of this world.

I appear to be small, but my mustard-seed faith can move mountains.

So please, embrace my God-given shiny newness, Listen to my fresh ideas and accept my willing spirit.

Let me lead, even as I learn ...

But never, ever tell me I am ‘too young’.

by Kevin Sims

Sixteen-year-old Anabela is the worship leader at Craiova Corps (Salvation Army church) in Romania and plays an active role in community outreach ministry. Having met Anabela in Romania, David Giles (Communications Manager, International Headquarters) described her as ‘The Salvation Army’s Greta Thunberg’ – comparing her with the 16-year-old Swedish student who mobilised more than 1.6 million young people around the world to protest about the lack of action being taken to fight climate change.

This poem was inspired by Anabela but also by Greta and the growing wave of young people worldwide who are stepping up and raising their voices in protest at society’s injustices.

This artwork is available to download from http://sar.my/atw127countries

Download this page as a poster from sar.my/unquenchableflame