Revive (July 2013)

VOL 5 NO 3

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2013

Living when life is

TOUGH FACING UP TO INJUSTICE AGAINST WOMEN IN PAKISTAN

GOD IS OUR BURDEN BEARER GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE BEING A FEMALE officer in a Muslim country E Q U I P P I N G

W O M E N

F O R

M I N I S T R Y

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M I S S I O N

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Reflections of a Former Atheist

Holy Living:

From atheist to Christ-follower

The Mindset of Jesus

by Glen Doss

by Herbert Luhn

Glen Doss rejected Christ as a teen and turned to atheism, a mindset that ruled his life for decades. At the age of 39, in a deep personal crisis, he accepted Christ and some time later the call to become a Salvation Army officer. In this recent book he reflects on his life in the light of God’s Word.

Described by the author as the result of insights gained during a lifetime of seeking after holiness, Herbert Luhn’s book Holy Living: The Mindset of Jesus presents a practical and wellconsidered handbook in the contemporary quest for authentic Christian living. Grappling with the age-old problem of living a holy life in a secular world, Luhn draws on his own struggle for holiness constantly thwarted by the overwhelming and unrelenting reality of a self-seeking human nature.

This is the best book I have read for some time and it moved me to tears time and time again. Glen Doss writes brilliantly and so honestly that readers whether atheist or believer, sinner or saint, will recognise themselves in it. The book is almost a textbook about transformation set in a Salvationist context of integrated mission. This personal chronicle is a strong Bible commentary on the selected Bible texts in each chapter.

Reflections of a Former Atheist can be a great aid to anybody wondering about the relevance of the gospel today or a tool on how to share their faith in a secular world. It can also be an immense help for Salvationists who have grown up in the Army without a dramatic conversion experience, enabling them to appreciate and understand God’s work of grace in us, as well as the need for continual transformation.

This is a book that every Salvationist should read and share with others.

As seekers of holiness, we are called to reject the world’s values (which Luhn loosely identifies as pleasure, possessions and position) and instead adopt a changed value system as we strive to be like Jesus – not primarily in duplicating his actions, but in replicating his focus. Jesus lived to glorify God, to do his will and be a blessing to others; his mind was set on the things of God. Similarly, Luhn contends, our holiness is contingent on having chosen the right mindset.

In 16 bite-sized chapters the writer encourages sincere seekers to persevere in their quest for holy living. Each chapter ends with a set of questions or discussion starters, collated to form a study guide at the end of the book.

Written by someone with many years’ experience of spiritual leadership, this is a very readable book and the study guide could be a useful tool for personal reflection and for leaders of

Commissioner Eva Marseille MISSION RESOURCES SECRETARY AND ZONAL SECRETARY FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES (SPEA) INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

AVAILABLE AT: www.amazon.co.uk or your nearest Salvation Army Supplies or Trade

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Major Pat Brown INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS CHAPLAIN

AVAILABLE AT: www.amazon.co.uk or your nearest Salvation Army Supplies or Trade

inside

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FEATURES 05 A dangerous place to be a woman

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

09 Only by God’s grace

11 God is our burden bearer BIBLE STUDY

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2013

revive@salvationarmy.org

19 Finding the lost coin SOCIAL ISSUES

IN EVERY ISSUE 02 Book reviews 04

05

14

Editorial

14 Eastern promise MY STORY

COLUMNS

18 The Prayer House

10 I am not amused LEADERSHIP

21 Resources 23 Coming events/iQuote

17 Break the silence, stop the violence SPIRITUAL LIFE

Front cover: Photo by Tom Godec Back cover: Annual Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking, design by Berni Georges All Bible quotations throughout this edition of Revive are from the New International Version 2011 unless stated otherwise TM - The Message, GW - God’s Word, NASB - New American Standard Bible, NKSV - New King James Version, KJV - King James Version, GNB - Good News Bible, NLT - New Living Translation, SASB - The Song Book of The Salvation Army

A resource magazine for women in ministry and mission Publisher: Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries Editor-in-Chief, IHQ: Major Sandra Welch Editor: Major Sandra Welch Designer: Berni Georges © Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army, 2013 Founders of The Salvation Army: William and Catherine Booth Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

Contact email address: revive@salvationarmy.org

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

Articles on any subject of interest to women in ministry are welcomed by the editor. To send an article, write to revive@salvationarmy.org Subscription details at: http://sar.my/revsubu (Revive subscription UK) http://sar.my/revsubo (Revive subscription overseas)

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editorial

Living when life is tough Major Sandra Welch EDITOR

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he British newspaper The Daily Telegraph recently ran an article about the ‘No More Abuse’ campaign in Saudi Arabia which highlights domestic violence. It pictured a woman dressed in a niqab, showing her bruised eye, with a thought-provoking message: ‘Some things can’t be covered.’

Seventy per cent of women throughout the world experience violence in their lifetime.

It is a disturbing statistic!

Violent behaviour against women is an everyday occurrence and is not restricted to particular cultures, countries or regions.

‘Violent behaviour against women is an everyday occurrence and is not restricted to particular cultures, countries or regions’

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It takes various forms, such as domestic abuse, honour killing, trafficking and sexual violence to name a few. The root cause of this violence is the continual discrimination against women.

The recent escape of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who had been held captive at a home in Cleveland, USA for a decade, demonstrates that violence against women not only affects the victim, but also has repercussions for families and communities.

These young women had been subjected to rape and abuse in that time, and yet were determined to escape – and to live.

‘Living When Life is Tough’ is the theme for this edition of Revive and our articles provide insight into situations where women are marginalised, live with discrimination and experience violence.

I pray that as you read this magazine you will become vigilant to the plight of people in your communities and inspired to stand up for and serve the marginalised.

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A dangerous place to be

a woman

Samantha Godec highlights inequality and injustice in Pakistan Photos by Tom Godec

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omen and girls constitute nearly half the world’s population. It seems a contradiction in terms that this huge cohort of humanity could be considered marginalised, and yet that is the experience of many of our sisters around the world who suffer for their gender. ‘Gender-based violence’ is a relatively contemporary term describing abuse that is perpetrated against women and girls because of their subordinate status in society. This type of violence, which manifests itself in physical, psychological and spiritual terms, is remarkably prevalent.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen claims that two million girls ‘disappear’ due to lethal gender discrimination

every year. Global analyses suggest that more girls are killed in ‘gendercide’ in any one decade than those who were killed in the genocides of the 20th century. Research also indicates that more girls were killed in the past 50 years, because they were girls, than men killed in all the wars in the 20th century.

The war against women is perhaps the most silent and protracted war of all; the battleground is often behind closed doors, the weapons take the form of cultural practices, restrictive laws, entrenched attitudes.

There are very few places on earth where this type of abuse is more prevalent than in Pakistan. Assumed by gender experts to be the third most dangerous country for women, Pakistan Revive 5

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endures prolific incidents of ‘honour’ killings, acid attacks, child marriages and domestic violence. Nearly two thirds of women in Pakistan suffer from gender-based violence. Rarely are they afforded justice, and this situation penetrates both ‘public’ and ‘private’ spheres, the lower and upper classes. Few are untouched.

The continuum of violence begins from birth, in a society where sons are preferred, and can end in death for those who bring ‘dishonour’.

In September 2012 I travelled with my husband (a professional photographer) to view some of The Salvation Army’s work in Pakistan. For a short time we were welcomed into the Pakistanis’ world, showers of rose petals and garlands bestowing generous hospitality. As we visited many women involved in Salvation Army projects, I wanted to understand her world, to know how each woman experienced and understood life in the context of her complex identity.

I had the privilege of meeting hundreds of women, but I spent intimate time with just a handful, some of whom had the courage to share their hurts and their hopes with me – a stranger, yet a sister. For many of those I spoke with, being a woman is a dangerous status. Their vulnerability is rooted in their gender, but it is compounded further by their poverty and, for some, their minority faith. Poor Christian women experience particular difficulty as these elements of their identity weave together to create a web of oppression.

The main perpetrators are men, but also the institutions, practices and patriarchal norms that perpetuate the inequality.

Perhaps most difficult to comprehend is the fact that women are 6 Revive

often complicit in the subjugation of other women. One of the prime examples of this is the dominance of the mother-in-law in the home, which can often give rise to abuse of daughters-in-law.

One Sunday evening in Lahore I had tea with a young lawyer named Mary, who recently acted as an advocate on the legal panel for Rimsha Masih. A poor Christian girl living in the slums of Islamabad, Rimsha was found in possession of burnt pages of the Qur’an – an offence under Pakistani law. Under pressure from the mob, the police arrested Rimsha. Astonishingly, the judge granted bail for Rimsha, despite the offence being ‘non-bailable’.

Mary explained that the blasphemy laws were enacted in 1985

by Pakistan’s former military dictator, as part of a process of Islamisation. Section 295B, under which Rimsha was charged, makes the desecration of the Qur’an an offence punishable by life imprisonment. Whilst in law only the State can bring a case against an accused, in practice the police bow to public pressure and register cases filed by individuals. This means that cries of ‘Blasphemy!’ can be uttered by anyone, with potentially fatal consequences for the accused, offering an avenue for exploiting minority faiths.

Mary told how extremist pressure upon the executive and the judiciary prevents any meaningful discussion of legal reform, but meanwhile many Pakistani people oppose these oft-abused laws.

In November, the case against Rimsha was quashed – representing the first blasphemy case in judicial history to be quashed by the Honourable High Court at this stage.

As we talked about the legal challenges Mary faces as a women’s rights advocate, she was explicit about the status of

feature Mary, a lawyer who is campaigning for women’s rights

‘Some girls live in fear of execution if they contravene the social expectations of their family’

women in society.

‘If you’re a woman, that is your first disqualification to being human,’ she said.

Disqualified, from the moment of conception, and destined for inequality. From birth, a woman’s subordination manifests itself in multiple forms of psychological and physical ill-treatment: restricted access to education, early and forced marriages, domestic violence.

At the extreme end of the continuum, practices such as swara persist, whereby girls are given in marriage as an offering to settle a dispute, most common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab. Some girls live in fear of execution if they contravene the social expectations of their family. In 2011, there were 943 reported ‘honour’ killings of women deemed to have dishonoured their families. Many executions are disguised as accidents or suicides. Acid attacks are also common, with over 100 reported incidents every year.

A survey undertaken by the Government of Pakistan and the UN Development Programme found that from the 66 per cent of women who experienced violence, only three per cent contacted the police and just two per cent of cases progressed to

prosecution. Impunity prevails. In the light of this, I ask myself whether there is a human rights violation more entrenched, more pervasive, than violence against women and girls?

Against the backdrop of rats and refuse in Islamabad’s slums, I met Shobna, a beautiful, dainty figure, draped in a headscarf that shaped her soft features. Last spring, a professor teaching at her university made the decision to take Shobna as his wife. Superior in his status, he wielded his influence with little trouble, making threats that frightened her into submission.

Shobna was taken to court for the necessary marriage arrangements to be made, and following her graduation she was to become the professor’s wife. Shobna did not fully understand what happened that day; she knew she had been bequeathed without true consent, but felt powerless to protest and too frightened to tell her family.

In the summer, the professor arrived at her home with an entourage of police to enforce the ‘marriage’. Shobna locked herself in the bathroom. Her mother, Esther, and grandmother were beaten as they pleaded for their child, but they still refused to hand her over that night.

In fear for her daughter’s future, Esther turned to The Salvation Army, which intervened to provide protection and guidance.

Captains Imran Ali Sabir and Nighat Imran, divisional leaders in Islamabad, played a vital role in securing Shobna’s freedom. They Revive 7

feature ‘A programme is being set up to educate around 3,000 women and girls about their legal rights’

rehoused the family, solicited the assistance of the Minister for Minorities, instructed a lawyer and initiated court proceedings to file for an annulment of the marriage. Shobna didn’t attend court for fear she would be kidnapped. Instead, Captain Nighat went as her representative. Thankfully, the court found in her favour and the marriage was annulled.

In theory, Shobna is free, but the repercussions of her experience are enslaving. She no longer leaves the house for fear of being captured. In her community, she is shamed and seen as ‘unmarriageable’, such is the power of so-called ‘dishonour’.

When I sat with her in her home and asked what her dreams are for the future, she responded that she no longer has any. She said she is too sad to think of such things, struggling to see a future for herself. In this community, ‘unmarriageability’ is seemingly synonymous with a life-sentence.

The actions of her professor have brought much hardship to this family. Whilst they still bear the scars of the physical abuse – the grandmother showed me her scarred arm and described her loss of hearing after being hit around the head – the emotional and social wounds will be immensely more difficult to heal.

Among the hurting I also saw the hope that The Salvation Army is bringing to marginalised and disenfranchised

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communities. A programme is being set up to educate around 3,000 women and girls about their legal rights, means of enforcement and access to justice.

Whilst Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in Pakistan, Colonel Marguerite Ward was at the forefront of developing this new programme and is convinced that The Salvation Army must be proactive in this area: ‘The daily plight of women in Pakistan is painful to hear, see and read. However, the women we work with are constantly expressing their new-found ability to speak out about their situations and exploring ways to address them.

This gives us hope that other women can join us in reaching this same place that allows them to gain strength.’

I think of young Malala Yousafzai from Swat Valley, who last October was shot in the head by the Taliban for demanding that Pakistani girls have the right to education. In this region of Pakistan, over 100 girls’ schools have been attacked by militants to enforce their ban on girls’ education beyond primary school.

How then can I, with all my freedom and privilege, stay silent whilst my fellow sisters are fighting for the right to speak and be heard? I take courage from God’s Word which tells us: ‘If God is for us, who can be against us? … [For] we are more than conquerors through him who loved us’ (Romans 8:31, 37).

I extend a challenge to you: how will you use your voice – your powerful, beautiful voice – on behalf of the voiceless?

I long for the day when women and girls are restored to their rightful place as equals in the family, within their communities, and on the world stage. Until then, let us uphold the call to arms from William Booth – while women weep, we will fight!

To find out more about SAID UK, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/ID

Samantha Godec PROGRAMME ADVISER ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE FOR SALVATION ARMY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNITED KINGDOM TERRITORy with the republic of ireland

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A PHOTO JOURNEY THROUGH PAKISTAN ‘If you’re a woman, that is your first disqualification to being human’ The difficulties of being a woman in Pakistan are vividly brought to life by Samantha and Tom Godec in this beautiful book of reports and photos Money raised from the sale of the book will be used to support The Salvation Army’s women’s advocacy programmes in Pakistan.

For more information go to: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/disqualified

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only by

God’s grace Christine Webb tells how women in Papua New Guinea dealt with tribal horrors

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t seems the world would like to silence the Christian Church and declare it to be out of date and irrelevant; then, just when no one is expecting it, God breaks in with a show of such grace that it cannot be anything that a human being could do on their own. For instance, in the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee people who had watched loved-ones tortured and killed were able to forgive and love those who had done the dreadful deed. In Northern Ireland, Gordon Wilson, bravely forgiving those who had killed his beloved 20-year-old daughter in the 1987 Enniskillen bombing, spoke to a gasping world about what God could do.

When such grace is shown, people stop and look and listen then ask how people can do such an unwarranted thing. And the answer is: ‘Only by God’s grace.’

Papua New Guinea is made up of around 900 tribal villages, and everyone belongs to a village.

The tribe takes united responsibility to bring up a child; adults provide food and protection; and the elderly, when their productivity has ended, are cared for and respected by everyone. The tribe expects cooperation and loyalty. And when trouble comes, all who are strong and able are expected to fight for all that they hold dear.

Tribal warfare was new to me but I have driven through villages that have been burnt to the ground and I have heard stories of atrocities carried out when conflicts take place. I have heard our officers speak of the risks they suffer when such outbreaks occur.

In September 2011 one such conflict started near one of our divisional headquarters. We have

‘They found severed limbs and placed them with the bodies they belonged to’

a health workers’ college there, also our SALT college (Salvation Army Leadership Training college), a corps and a school. At first the market was closed, then all the shops. There was no bank and food supplies became scarce. Most people kept out of the town as each day young men were being killed because of tribal allegiance. Their mutilated bodies and severed limbs were thrown into the river or left on the roads. ‘An eye for an eye’ was never more real.

Then at dusk a work of grace began. Home League women from Kainantu Corps went onto the streets and waded into the river to collect the bodies and wash them. They found severed limbs and placed them with the bodies they belonged to, then carried them to the mortuary and prepared them for burial. Brave, brave women who could have been caught in the crossfire themselves.

They said not a word but by their actions told the world that all people are important; they matter and have a value – and no one should be left on a roadside discarded and unwanted. The grace of God spoke into this violent situation and, in time, peace returned to Kainantu.

I thank God for our Christian women who performed this loving service for all bodies, whatever tribe they came from, and did so with respect and humility. I am so proud of their bravery and courage. I honour them for their willingness to do a task that had not been requested, and did it for no reward. But by their actions they showed again what God is like and what strength he can give to everyone.

Colonel Christine Webb TERRITORIAL PRESIDENT OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES, PAPUA NEW GUINEA territory

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leadership ave you ever seen a Punch and Judy puppet show?

Punch – a brutish bully of a man, aptly named – shouts and argues and frequently hits his wife, Judy. She in turn takes out her hurts and frustrations on their baby, bashing the child onto a wooden counter or throwing it against the wall. The policeman arrives but is powerless to help, while the audience (mainly children, encouraged by their adult carers) continues to laugh and cheer. It’s popular European puppetry at its finest, dating back hundreds of years.

I have to say, I’ve never quite understood the whole concept of Punch and Judy – or found it amusing. The subject of violence isn’t funny. But dare I suggest that for many years we have sat on the sidelines and watched violence infiltrate our lives, our homes and our world, feeling powerless against it. We may even have been strangely entertained by the horrific stories and accounts of violence reported around the world.

Even as I write, in the UK our breakfast TV has reported that an Afghan girl is featured on a controversial Time magazine cover. Aisha had run away from an abusive husband, only to be caught by the Taliban who cut off her nose and ears as punishment.* This was reported as thousands of viewers ate their breakfast and got their children ready for school.

n t o nd a s e a hav lines lence ’ e e ‘w sid vio lives the tched our wa iltrate inf

My first appointment as a Salvation Army officer involved street work with the ‘Midnight Patrol’ in London, coming alongside runaways, victims of violence, call girls, street kids and tramps. Violence was a way of life but I never felt threatened. Yet, when I have been ministering in corps in an affluent community I have occasionally been the victim of premeditated, wellarticulated, soul-destroying verbal abuse from church members.

Unashamedly violent in nature – and, yes, I still bear the scars.

We need to recognise that violence at any level – in our churches, our homes, our communities or our world – is never acceptable. Jesus comments on people who harm others when he says, ‘… it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’ (Matthew 18:6). I understand that he is speaking figuratively, but I also hear his gut feeling.

As spiritual leaders are we powerless against violence?

Is there a hope? There is! We know it, Christ lived it, and as Martin Luther King Jr puts it: ‘Somewhere somebody must have some sense. We must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.’** Let’s walk worthy, breaking the chain of violence – however and wherever we can. May God himself inspire us personally (perhaps in situations that only he and we are aware of), and within our ministry let’s not only learn but also begin to sing a different ‘song of peace’: ‘We must fix our visions not merely on the negative expulsion of war [violence], but upon the positive affirmation of peace. We must see that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war. In short, we must shift the arms race into a “peace race”.’** * Aisha has since been rescued and safe-housed in America and plastic surgery and relevant counselling are being provided ** Quotes from Strength to Love, a collection of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr

Columnist for 2013 Major Val Mylechreest Adult and Family Ministries Officer Evangelism Department United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland

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by Pamela Shiridzinodya

bible study

God is our...

ing heavenly u matter a lot to your lov Yo and unt mo es hen troubl feel about any Father, despite how you d’s Go , ses rea inc pain ng through. situation that you are goi l fee es etim som en ldr chi ments when you that they’ve been left to Reflection: Think of mo • this e lik t fel e hav I ne. e for you. How alo car fight the battle felt that God did not no ugh tho as m see ly God does can ual It act t several times. did you realise tha ing or not; fer suf are we er eth wh one cares care? fail. And indeed, whether we succeed or we nts of anguish we seem more than in the most intense mome Sometimes our burdens p. hel an hum unable to move may be almost beyond we can bear and we are of ion ect ers int ak ble s thi and downs, its David stands at forward. Life has its ups the rd, Lo the s ard tow nts e or another, life’s road and poi highs and lows. At one tim the to ise pra es giv He . trial. Even rer ere great burden bea every person faces a sev ly bears dai o wh r, iou rous countries Sav spe our d pro Lord, ‘to Go Christians in the most we can take So .

19) tribulations, 68: and alm gs (Ps tin s’ tes our burden cannot escape the e, sur the by d t are common to comfort and be encourage the pains and pressures tha he eed Ind es. car d undeniable truth that Go us all. y given in this e of is recorded does; the promise is clearl One thing we can be sur on iety anx r you all st It is King David’s wonderful verse: ‘Ca in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13.

5:7). er Pet (1 ’ you for es car him because he

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Burden

Bearer Revive Revive 11 11

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prayer – but here (using different Bible verses) is my own praise prayer which we could to thank God for who he is and what he does for us when we are burdened: Our God is able to lift us up because his greatness is unfathomable; He does mighty acts across all generations.

He is full of glorious splendour and majesty; He does wonderful and might works.

He is righteous, and his righteousness is beyond our understanding.

He is gracious, compassionate, patient and loving; He rules over an everlasting Kingdom.

He is the source of all our daily needs: He remains near to those who call on him, He is a present helper in times of need, He hears our cries and saves.

He is our rock and salvation, He is Jehovah-jireh – the Provider.

What a miracle that God understands all our needs! We should depend upon him as our Master. Jesus encourages us to go to him when we are heavily laden and he will

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‘I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you’

give us rest (Matthew 11:28). He is our all in all and the provider of all our needs.

We recall how God provided for Abraham when he sacrificed for him (Genesis 22: 1-14). And, like the psalmist, we would each say: ‘My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2).

Despite what we go through, let’s learn to depend upon God who is our burden bearer.

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

(SASB 645) We need to continue trusting that God will meet us at our own point of need. He will help us to lift up all our burdens to him because he is able to bear them.

• Reflection: How have burdens affected your faith in God?

Isn’t it wonderful that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and that our God has power to create, provision to sustain and offers his presence to help? We can describe him as the prophet does in verse 4 of Isaiah 46: ‘I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.’

We must trust that God is almighty and all-powerful, who cares for each of us personally. There is none to compare with him. Even the strongest people get tired at times, but our God – his power and strength – never diminishes. He is never tired or too busy to help and listen. He is always awake to carry our burdens.

We must be confident that our God knows our situation no matter how desperate it might be – because he cares for us and he is our burden bearer.

Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil he doth richly repay . . .

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. (SASB 397 v3)

bible study

ng In his epistle James says that ‘the testi (1:3 ’ ance ever of your faith develops pers NIV 1984). Trials sometimes serve no other purpose than to make us tougher. a So, every day that we may be carrying we than ger stron bit little a e burden, we’r sure were the day before. One thing I am l – is anue of is that in any trial God – Emm e thos ugh thro always with us to see us pull hardships.

All praise and glory be to God’s p with wonderful love! He is willing to wee us help to y read is and p those who wee us. for y heav too are that gs thin carry the that e grac his to g rdin acco is this And all h was demonstrated through Christ’s deat on the Cross.

are but Our heavenly Father knows that we to gth stren us give to able is dust and he the is that know can We ens. burd bear our all-sufficient one.

Are we weak and heavy laden?

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge: Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer; , In his arms he’ll take and shield thee e.

Thou wilt find a solace ther (SASB 645 v3)

Prayer I worship you, my God. You are above everything. I thank you because you answer my prayers. There is none like you, my God – you are unique. You are alive and able to do mighty deeds for those who love you.You alone are worthy to receive glory and honour and power.

You alone are God. Father, I thank you that you are our all-sufficient burden bearer. I rest the full weight of my burdens upon your strong shoulders. Thank you, Lord, because it is our privilege to take everything to you in prayer. In Jesus’ name.

Captain Pamela Shiridzinodya

Amen

PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER AND TERRITORIAL PRESIDENT OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES, ZAMBIA TERRITORY

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my story

n eastern promise

A woman’s perspective on officership in a Muslim country

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by Tracy Bearcroft

ow did this extraordinary journey begin? My husband Mark and I had just arrived back from our annual furlough in Europe and there was an urgent summons from the Personnel Secretary at UK Territorial Headquarters. He asked if there was any reason why we could not take up an overseas appointment . . . in Dubai! To say it was a shock is an understatement.

After that initial reaction we talked about it, discussed it with our children and decided that if that was where God was leading us, who were we to disregard his wishes. So after a few anxious months waiting for the official letter of confirmation and serving for a time at Brighton Congress Hall Corps, we departed for the Middle East on 9 January 2012.

The first few months

We went to live in Sharjah, which is next to Dubai and probably the most conservative of all the emirates. I will never forget waking up on our first morning to the ‘call to prayer’ at 5.45 after – Peace 14 Revive

– Love

only a few hours’ sleep. I soon realised that the ‘call to prayer’ was to become a very familiar part of my life.

Our first month was taken up with the visa process for Mark, and I very quickly discovered how differently women are treated. During the complicated document procedure it became immediately clear that men come first. In fact, when we went for Mark’s retina and finger print scan I could not stay with him. A guard at the hospital ushered me into a women-only zone, where I had to wait in a screened off area until he had finished.

That was my first experience of how women are regarded. Mark is my sponsor here and on my visa it reads ‘housewife’ – which has often made us laugh. When I leave the country Mark even gets a text asking whether it is okay with him or shall they stop me and have me detained! We may joke about it but the implications for women if they are trying to get away from a bad relationship are serious. When a woman is married her husband has total control over every aspect of her life.

The Salvation Army is not a registered charity in the United Arab Emirates and

my story ‘When a woman is married her husband has total control over every aspect of her life’ consequently there are legal ramifications for our property, car, etc, that do not exist in other Army appointments we’ve held.

Everything has to be in Mark’s name – the car, the apartment lease, the bank account – and this has significant implications on personal liberty.

In this country you are not allowed to be in unauthorised debt. Should you write a cheque and there are insufficient funds to cover it, you will be put in jail.

You might think I am exaggerating but the British Consul assures me that the majority of foreigners in jail here is because of money problems. Our funding comes from International Headquarters in London and, when in our first month the rent had to be paid and the bank transfer was late, we were ready to jump on a plane and leave!

Fitting in

As a woman living in Sharjah I am very conscious of ‘fitting in’ and so, whenever we leave the apartment I am careful to conform to the dress culture. It would be disrespectful to have my shoulders uncovered and my legs above the knee visible. I have got used to it now but I was quite anxious during our first few months.

Holding hands and showing affection for each other in public is also discouraged. Generally the rule is if it would cause offence or embarrassment – don’t do it! During our first months we had to make a conscious effort not to hold hands when walking in the shopping malls or on the street. However, you get used to it – although it’s a funny thing having to stop yourself from giving your husband a peck on the cheek when you want to!

I do drive the car here but have to say driving is not for the faint-hearted. Every day there is some sort of traffic difficulty; we call it ‘avoidance technique’. If you can get through the day without hitting something or being hit, you have done well!

Ramadan

Every year all Muslims are required to observe a four-week period of fasting, prayer and reflection. From sunrise to sunset during Ramadan there is no eating or drinking allowed – not even water!

These rules apply to all foreigners living here and are strictly enforced by the police.

As you can imagine, it is a difficult month and when it falls during the hottest time of the year there is great hardship for many of the workers. Those employed in construction and other physical jobs suffer greatly during this period. Working in full sun and temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius without being able to take a drink when you want would tax any of us for one day let alone four weeks!

I felt like a caged animal as I spent most of the time indoors during this period.

But I relieved the tension by embarking on a personal retreat. I used a book I had picked up at officers’ councils many years ago – Heaven and Earth: A personal retreat programme by Brother Ramon. It proved to be very helpful during this time of enforced confinement.

I also felt a sense of spiritual awareness with those around me who were praying and seeking enlightenment. The call to prayer happens five times a day, and particularly during Ramadan you are very conscious of a quietness and sense of contemplation perhaps not evident during the rest of the year. Generally, the Muslims who live around us are fine examples of people living out a faith that is central to their lives.

My ministry

I know my visa states that I am just a ‘housewife’ but, just as we always have during our officership, Mark and I share everything in ministering to our congregations. Here, they are mainly Salvationists from India and at present there are nine fellowships worshipping in

Revive 15

my story

four different countries in the Middle East Region.

We are based in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and our meetings here are on Friday mornings – at 8.15 in Abu Dhabi and 6.15 in Sharjah. In November we opened another fellowship in Dubai, in the Norwegian Seamen’s Mission, and this meeting is entirely in English. Also there are house fellowships in Al Bahraimi and Sohar in Oman, plus another two large groups in Muscat and Salalah.

There is also groups in Bahrain and Kuwait, where Majors Stewart and Heather Grinsted are based. So between the four of us we cover all of the above locations.

Needless to say it is a challenge to get around to all our centres, but we try to visit an unofficered centre once a month. My passport is filling up fast!

Would I say that my ministry is on an equal footing with Mark’s? Probably not, because you learn very quickly when you arrive here that it is ‘a man’s world’. I see this also reflected in the Indian culture. But what I would say is that during our time here our relationship as a team has become stronger. Mark may be ‘in charge’ but I am just as important behind the scenes, so to speak.

It has also been my privilege to talk to and pray with Muslim women I have met at some of the hospitals that Salvationists work in. It is forbidden by law to proselytise or evangelise here and we would be arrested if we were caught doing so. However, there are already many Christians here in the UAE and there is ample opportunity to bring many back to faith. Being a woman is not a barrier to sharing your faith.

We have always felt comfortable wearing our Salvation Army uniforms here as the Muslims are always interested in our faith and offer us due respect. What they struggle to understand is how people can live without any faith.

balanced region and whilst our Christianity is accepted while we run a church for expatriates, our expansion to fulfill other mission objectives are difficult for our hosts to understand. Arab culture relies on relationships and these have to be built between us and the authorities – and at present things are moving very slowly.

It is helpful that Mark attends Sheikh Nahayan’s majlis [parliament]. This is only for men, as per the culture here, and I have to accept that very quickly or else risk becoming very frustrated by the inequality of it all. In the Arab world women are not seen as second-class citizens; rather they are put on a pedestal and sheltered from everything that would take away from the ideals laid out in the Qur’an. It may seem like subservience to expatriates but it is Muslim culture and you have to respect that.

Changes are happening in the UAE – especially for women – and there are definitely more opportunities here than elsewhere in the Middle East. As a white Western women I have never been treated with anything other than respect and kindness.

Personally, I find Friday mornings a continuing challenge and wonder. At Abu Dhabi we worship in St Andrew’s Anglican Compound, and this is shared by many other expressions of the Christian faith – Syrian Orthodox, evangelical Tamil congregations, Martoma, to name a few.

The wonder comes when I hear all these expressions of faith together and the call to prayer in the background from the large Mosque on the corner of our street.

It all combines to make me appreciate how fortunate I am to be a part of such an outpouring of faith. But I realise that much more could be accomplished given the right circumstances. It’s all in God’s hands – or as they say here, Insha’Allah!

Future outlook

For The Salvation Army to become officially recognised as the unique organisation that it is would be a great achievement. However, I feel we are hindered by our name in this delicately

16 Revive

Major Tracy Bearcroft ASSISTANT REGIONAL OFFICER MIDDLE EAST REGION

spiritual life

Colonel Prerma Varughese Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries Zimbabwe Territory

Columnist for 2013

e h t k

a e r b

he t p

o t s

V

iolence is the use of force to injure or wrong someone. It takes different forms-sexual, verbal and emotional abuse; blaming each other; abusing children; having power and control over people and money; threatening and ostracising people.

The reason for violence, for some, is the releasing of pent-up frustrations; for others it can be to gain a quick end to a disagreement instead of finding a peaceful, lasting solution.

People may use violence because they feel vulnerable when they negotiate a solution. The victims are men, most probably women and often children.

The effects of violence are numerous: lack of a sense of self worth; mental health problems like anxiety, depression; difficulty eating and sleeping; harmful and reckless behaviour; serious pain and injuries; sexual health problems and in women miscarriages from being beaten during pregnancy. Boys may copy their fathers in displaying aggressive actions, while girls could resort to destructive behaviour or experience nightmares, fear and even physical illness. Violence within communities hinders peace and development; it brings disorder, and moral and social degradation.

The Bible makes it very clear that God abhors violence and hatred (see Genesis 6:11-13; Malachi 2:16). He instructs us to avoid and to turn from it: ‘Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right’ (Ezekiel 45:9b). Jesus pronounced a specific blessing on those who bring an end to violence, saying, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Matthew 5:9). We are called on to meet violence with peace (Romans 12:17-21), the sword with forgiveness, evil with good (Luke 6:27-31) and wrath with love.

Jesus and the apostles modelled non-violence by not retaliating when they suffered violence (1 Peter 2:20-24).

Jesus demonstrated God’s power over human circumstances.

He knew that violence is sinful and evil. Christians are called to imitate Jesus.

The first step we need to take for any changes to be made in violent attitudes and actions is to break the silence. By that I mean we have to speak out – in our homes, and in church and community gatherings. Find men and women who believe that violence is wrong and talk to them about it on the basis of Scripture. And it should be an individual and a collective efforts – it should be inclusive. It is not wise that women should exclude men from discussions, for they are also part of the solution.

‘Violence within communities hinders peace and Development’

Efforts to stop violence should start in our homes because: Home is the first school and mother is the first teacher, Parents are the builder of children’s characters and minds.

(Mazid S. Kazi, Indian poet) It is our Christian responsibility to teach our children to respect and accept each other, to treat them equally. We have to raise our children to lead non-violent lives. We need to work for change by helping others to find peaceful ways to solve problems.

Break the silence and stop the violence – and this should begin with us. It is time that the world comes together and looks for means and ways to put an end to domestic and all other types of violence. As Christians, let’s join our hands together to build a violence-free world. Through God’s love and grace it is possible.

Revive 17

THE

prayer

HOUSE ‘They all joined together constantly in prayer’ (Acts 1:14)

M

y friend Margaret Silf travels the world in her work as a retreat director and speaker on Christian spirituality and prayer.

She has written many books that have encouraged people to develop their relationship with God. Listening to her teaching on several occasions at retreat centres in England and Ireland has been a transformative process for me. Group talks were followed by time alone with God and his Word in silence, often in beautiful woodland or coastal surroundings. This means of grace has led to repentance, cleansing and healing. Prayerful reflection was an opportunity for discerning God’s direction at times of transition.

Decisions and plans of action were noted, although journal entries from those days also remind me of deep concerns and fears I struggled

Lead me to the Rock

by Jayne Roberts

18 Revive

‘Prayer can be a refuge from distress and problems but it is also preparation for what follows’ with. There are prayers and poems overflowing with joy and thankfulness, written as I experienced God’s touch on my heart and mind. I also recorded the needs of many other people, bringing them to the Lord.

I prayed with the psalmist: ‘Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe’ (Psalm 61:2, 3).

One day as I prayed I imagined a desert scenario through which I walked with the Lord to a high place – the rock of safety and peace. I gained a new perspective through the privilege of waiting in the Lord’s presence.

When Charles Spurgeon preached on Psalm 37:7 – ‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him’– he commented that when we rest in the Lord, ‘God does not merely cure the evil in us, but he confers unspeakable good!

He takes away the disfiguring wound, but he imparts, also, comeliness and beauty.’

Yet we cannot remain forever in the ‘strong tower’ of imaginative prayer, on retreat. God has taught me very clearly that silence and stillness are not an end in themselves. Prayer can be a refuge from distress and problems but it is also preparation for what follows, as contemplation is integrated with action.

Joshua 3:5 has often come to mind: ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’

Consecration – dedicating ourselves to God’s service – may take place during distinct times set aside for prayer but surely it is also our ‘default setting’ in daily life. As Brother Lawrence wrote in the 17th century: ‘We are equally bound to be one with God by what we do in times of action as by the time of prayer at its special hour.’

Margaret Silf illustrated this beautifully when recalling a visit to the home of a friend in a black township in South

Africa. It was a Thursday afternoon and as they waited for her friend’s mother to return Margaret was told that it was the day the women of the township go to prayer. A large part of the day was spent visiting and praying with sick people or the bereaved or those who have had experienced any kind of trouble. For many of the women this was traditionally their day off – and they spent it in prayer, actively serving others.

Isaiah 32:2-3 outlines the way that those who have experienced the presence of God as their rock and refuge can become leaders who minister to others: ‘Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a place to hide from storms. They will be like streams flowing in a desert, like the shadow of a giant rock in a barren land. Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people’ (GNB).

I praise God that many times he has led me to a place where I have found refuge and a breathing space from the pressures of my family and Salvation Army responsibilities. I thank him for gently leading me on a pathway to deeper prayer and for the gift of discernment in an active life of service to others. I pray I may be a leader whom God equips to be a rock for others.

Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts EDITOR OF THE YEAR BOOK INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

social issues

Celebrate finding the lost coin

by Margaret Stafford

T

he level of violence in crimes committed mainly against women has reached horrendous levels in South Africa.

Recently a 16-year-old girl was brutally raped; every bone in her body was broken, her stomach was slit open and she was left to die. Violence of this nature defies human understanding and makes us realise again that we live in a fallen world. But it’s more than a fallen world now – it’s a world that seems to be desensitised to the extreme. The Millennium Goals of the United Nations included the eradication of extreme poverty. In today’s world, that would need an entire mind shift – something not many people are prepared to do.

When Jesus told the stories of lost things (Luke 15) he made sure the listener understood that the 99, nine or one not lost were also important to him. He counted them, he loved them – but the one that moved him to action was the lost one. It was the recovery of the lost sheep, coin and son that prompted a search and a celebration.

There are so many people whom we would classify as being lost. Someone defined a prostitute as ‘the world’s most silent, dispossessed and nameless of women’. Not many would interest themselves in a young person who wilfully chooses prostitution as a way of life, but I have never met a sex worker who has actually told me this was her chosen profession. The girls I speak to have lost their way in life. Some have had this way of life forced on them due to life’s circumstances, hurts, or boyfriends whose abusive behaviour put them on the street.

‘She hated the world, she hated her life – and she hated Christians’ Revive 19

social issues

‘Jennifer lost her virginity at 11– to her stepfather. At school she discovered that sex was a great tooL’ One young woman, Anne,* was forced into prostitution at the tender age of 10 by her own parents. They had drug and alcohol dependencies and both Anne and her sister sold their bodies so that their parents’ habits could be satisfied. At 38 Anne was a mess, having had all her children taken away from her. She was in a constant state of drunken anger. She hated the world, she hated her life – and she hated Christians.

Jennifer lost her virginity at 11 – to her stepfather. At school she discovered that sex was a great tool. She soon found that she was the most popular girl in school. By 13 Jennifer found school was boring and so left to live on the streets. But she needed heroin to stay on the tough streets. She was young and pretty, and so customers were never in short supply. Jennifer is now 16, has had three abortions, and life is hard.

Her little sister (13) is now working with her on the streets of Pretoria.

Glenda came to South Africa from Mozambique, having been offered a job in a restaurant in Seapoint, Cape Town. When she arrived she was taken to a house and told she would be a prostitute. She resisted and was raped, starved, even beaten until 20 Revive

she was afraid enough to work the streets.

A brothel owner said: ‘There are situations where you have to force girls by using rape, abuse or torture. When she begins to fear for her life, she stops resisting and starts working…’.

Domestic violence and violence against children in my country is completely out of hand and human trafficking has increased, despite efforts by the police to address the situation. As a body of believers it is time for Salvationists to speak up and do something.

In 2012 the South African Police Services issued some startling statistics.

South Africa recorded:

• 906 children murdered; • 786 cases of attempted murder of children;

• 28,128 cases of sexual assault against children.

These statistics of violence against children have got to move us to action.

The government of South Africa is calling for the country’s moral standards to be raised, asking men to stand up and say rape is wrong, and to stop the abuse.

The Church is saying the hearts of people are too wicked to bring about change of this nature. They must have a ‘heart transplant’: people need to allow God to remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh that will feel for humankind.

I love the fact that in the Army we see a human need and we do everything we can to meet that need. We see lost girls – and in some cases, boys too – on the streets of our cities and something deep within us cries out, ‘Do something!’ Where there is a need may The Salvation Army always be ready to meet that need.

When I feel defeated by the level of violence against vulnerable groups in my country, words from Fanny Crosby’s song ‘Rescue the Perishing’ come to mind.

She wrote: Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness, Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

(SASB 691 v 3) My prayer for South Africa is that I will be used to ‘rescue the perishing’ no matter where they are or what they’re doing; that I may always be counting the saved and seeking the lost. Both are precious to God and both will be accounted for one day.

It’s all about my calling to challenge the status quo; to say, ‘I dare to be different’ and to go in where angels fear to tread – because that’s where the lost ones are. * Real names have been witheld

Major Margaret Stafford Coordinator for the Anti Human Trafficking Board Southern Africa territory

Trafficking

a personal prayer guide Remembering the Victims:

Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.

– Leviticus 19:29 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink. – Joel 3:3

God’s Purposes

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

resources God’s Word speaks clearly on issues of human trafficking and exploitation. Read the following Scriptures prayerfully, and spend time in prayer about the subjects suggested here.

Considering the Traffickers and Exploiters:

Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies.

He says to himself, ‘Nothing will ever shake me.’ He swears, ‘No one will ever do me harm.’ His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.

He says to himself, ‘God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.’ Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. – Isaiah 61:1-3

Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’? But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

. . . to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. – Isaiah 58:6

Life and Liberty through Christ

L e t ’ s

Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.– Psalm 10

[Jesus said] ‘If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’ – John 8:36 NKJV

p r ay

Rescue and Restoration Pray for the rescue and restoration of the countless number of people who have become victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation; and for the following: an end to their exploitation and sexual abuse; safe and secure shelters to provide for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs; loving support workers to provide comfort and a sense of family; training and education opportunities to provide survivors of exploitation with productive livelihoods.

• • • •

Breakdown of the Sex Industry Pray for the breakdown of the sex industry, the existence of which fuels trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of persons; and for the following: the demise of the pornography industry; the closure of brothels, strip clubs, massage parlours and other socalled ‘sexually orientated businesses’; strong law enforcement efforts worldwide to enforce obscenity laws, fight corruption, as well as to arrest/convict pimps, traffickers and ‘clients’ in the sex trade.

• •

Reduction of Demand Pray for efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex, including the following: the defeat of attempts to legalise prostitution around the world; a repeal of laws which have legalised prostitution in such countries as The Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand and parts of Australia; the development and success of ministries which are helping people plagued by sexual addictions;

• • •

• that God convicts the hearts of traffickers, pimps and their ‘clients’, and that they allow Christ to transform their lives;

Development Pray for the development of impoverished nations: that the people in those countries may know a decent standard of living, have meaningful education and employment opportunities, and so escape the desperate circumstances that make them vulnerable to trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

World Leaders Pray for world leaders: that they will confront trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation by dedicating their time, energy and national resources to eradicating it.

The Church Pray for the Church and its response to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, including: that more Christian workers can establish and administer programmes for the prevention of trafficking, and provide increased recovery and restoration services for survivors of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation; an increased networking and cooperation among Christian groups working to alleviate these evils; that courage, fortitude and vision will enable Christians to address this issue.

• • •

Material prepared by Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking. USA National Headquarters. For more information go to www.iast.net Revive 21

resources

15-44

are at greater risk Women aged from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents and malaria

20%

of women are victims of rape or attempted rape

A brutal practice where her husband or in-laws kill a woman because her family cannot meet the dowry

Approximately ½ to 2m people are trafficked annually. Women and girls account for 80% of detected victims

Violence during pregnancy has serious consequences for mother and child.

Female infanticide, prenatal sex selection and systematic neglect of baby girls is widespread in South and East Asia, North Africa and the Middle East 22 Revive

Why not give a friend or loved one a daily dose of inspiration by buying a year’s subscription to Words of Life, The Salvation Army’s daily devotional series?

Writer Major Beverly Ivany explains that the September-December 2013 issue carries forward the theme of ‘hope’ by ‘looking specifically at Christ in us – our “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

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We must be a Salvation Army that honours the Lord by being pure and holy, free of prejudices and open to all humanity.

GENERAL LINDA BOND

The Salvation Army spends a lot of time rescuing people. We rescue them from the streets. We rescue them from the hands of abusers. We rescue them from abandonment.

We rescue them from hunger and poverty. We rescue them from homelessness. And it’s a wonderful ministry we have. We must never stop rescuing people.

Fear destroys peace of mind and robs life of love, rest and beauty.

FLORENCE BOOTH

LIEUT-COLONEL MARIEKE VENTER

Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the true feelings of immigrants behind their smiles.

How can Christians help fix a broken world?

They can do so by living holy lives in an unholy world.

MAJOR EVELYN GOSTELI-PORRET

COMMISSIONER KAY F. RADER

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