Revive (July 2015) by Salvation Army IHQ

VOL 7 NO 3

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2015

FINDING HEALING in a hurting world THE WORSHIP TENSION

THE POWER of little things

NEEDED AND

valuable

SHARING CHRIST,

Loving People

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

M I S S I O N

inside

Sharing CHRIST, loving PEOPLE

04 Finding healing in a hurting world 08 The power of healing 10 Sharing Christ, loving people

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2015

revive@salvationarmy.org

BIBLE STUDY

14 The Lord is my Shepherd MY STORY 16 Needed and valuable MY STORY

My new family SOCIAL ISSUES

COLUMNS

IN EVERY ISSUE

07 The worship tension LEADERSHIP

03 Editorial

13 The power of little things SPIRITUAL LIFE

20 The Prayer House

Front cover: Photo of Captain Alice Jose 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

Articles on any subject of interest to women in ministry are welcomed by the editor. To send an article, write to revive@salvationarmy.org

A resource magazine for women in ministry and mission Publisher: Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries Editor: Major Deslea Maxwell Editorial assistance: Paul Mortlock and Kevin Sims Designer: Berni Georges © André Cox, General of The Salvation Army, 2015 Founders of The Salvation Army: William and Catherine Booth Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

Contact email address: revive@salvationarmy.org

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

Subscription details at:

http://sar.my/revsubu (Revive subscription UK)

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from the editor

‘They need you … they need me …

they need Christ’ John Gowans

Major Deslea Maxwell EDITOR

find people fascinating. I love to study their faces, to watch for reactions to different situations and to try to find out what makes them tick. Every morning as I journey into the city by train, I find myself studying the faces of my fellow commuters. Some faces are now very familiar as we see each other every morning, and at times we may even acknowledge the other’s presence with a nod or a smile, but in the main we take our journey in silence, with heads buried in either newspapers, books or electronic devices. However, as I look at my fellow commuters, I sometimes find myself wondering what kind of people they are – what they might find important or necessary for life. I begin to wonder what they might be experiencing or what they might encounter that day. Will

they get the promotion or the pay rise they have been hoping for, or will they be made redundant by the end of the day? And what about their home life? Do they have people who love and care for them, or are their friendships or marriages in crisis and their children a concern? Life has taught me that often we can look good on the outside, but in reality things are very different on the inside. Depending on what we experience in our every day, a packed commuter train can be a very lonely place. Through God’s presence in my life, because of the calling I have received and because of the things I have experienced, people matter to me – far more than things, far more than accomplishments. And I am encouraged through the articles included in this issue of Revive that that is the case for The Salvation Army as an organisation. Contained within these pages are some wonderful stories of transformation and restoration. Stories of people who have, through the circumstances of life, found themselves in difficult situations and places that they would never have envisaged. But through the work of dedicated people of God, the Lord has brought, and continues to bring, healing to their lives. For some, it is the first time they have found real love and acceptance. I stand in awe of people who, through spiritual eyes, see the need and become the hands and feet of Jesus. As you read the stories of lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ, my prayer is that you will be challenged and encouraged and that you will thank the Lord for Salvationists all around the world who, through their love for Christ, have answered his call and are ministering in his name and through his power.

‘Often we can look good on the outside, but in reality things are very different on the inside’

Revive 3

feature

healing

Finding

in a

hurting world Alice Jose

ith the coming of Jesus, God shared his love with the world. Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was foretold and through his life, he has provided salvation for all humankind. As his children we have been called to share his love with others. In the New Testament, the words partnership, fellowship, communion and sharing, come from the root word ‘Koinonia’ which means ‘shared in common’, particularly stressing participating in something – either work, suffering or worship. Sharing Christ is not only our responsibility but is the privilege of all believers.

Sharing Christ

As we share Christ daily we become his witnesses and bring honour and glory to him. ‘By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples’ (John 15:8 RSV). God wants us to witness to others because of the benefits he offers to those who receive Christ.

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When people accept Christ as their personal Saviour, they become children of God, their bodies become the temple of God and their sins are forgiven. Through our sharing, and their acceptance of his free gift of salvation, they come to experience the peace and love of God and begin to live in accordance with his direction and purpose for their lives. They experience the power of God and have the assurance of eternal life. If someone has experienced the love of the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves, they want to share what he has done for them and introduce him to others. Jesus revealed his compassion by showing himself as a friend of the outcast. John 3:16 declares the saving activity of Jesus and his demonstration of God’s love – a love that is for everyone. Jesus commands us to share our faith. He says: ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19 KJV) and ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit’ (John 15:16). Sadly, those without faith in Christ are lost and need us to share his message. Jesus says: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6). Our personal faith in Christ is important in our Christian living, and our responsibility is to share Christ with others. ‘There is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). As Christians who follow the path of Jesus and live according to the will and purpose of Christ, we should show the divine love of Jesus through our attitude, actions and reactions. Christ calls us to love ceaselessly and selflessly. The only true force of compassion, strength and love is God himself. If we embrace and rely completely on his love and forgiveness for us, we can then draw from that infinite provision and begin to love others more fervently and sincerely. Paul says: ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32). When you feel the need to keep your love from someone, remember the abundance of grace that is

available to you through Jesus. He is the reason we can love deeply, joyfully and freely. Christ has taught us to treat everyone with respect and to view each person through his understanding and compassion. We are the children of Christ and his example and transforming power in our lives will equip us to love as he loved.

Loving others

Sometimes our calling as Christians requires us to deal with difficult people or situations. As Christians how do we cope with those situations? How do we cope with difficult people? Are we supposed to force or fake a laugh, while inside we are crying and wanting to run away? How do we deal with negative emotions which boil just beneath the surface? To put it simply, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength, compassion and patience. We are not alone, for our loving Saviour is with us and the Scriptures are a treasure of practical advice about how to overcome such difficulties. When we look closely at God’s Word, we can see that the wisdom it provides, is indeed relevant to our lives. When we endeaavour to extend love to others, it is always possible to establish common ground despite our differences. By doing so we are exhibiting the depth of our love for God. God is the creator of the universe and is the Father of everyone. He knows our circumstances. He knows that sin separates us from himself and he has made a plan to reunite us to himself – to heal the broken relationship.

Our God heals

When we share the love of Christ with others, he uses us to help bring healing and wholeness. Healing means the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. This can be a restoration in the body or of the mind. The psalmist tells us that God is the one who ‘heals all your diseases’ (Psalm 103:3). It needs to be acknowledged that sometimes God heals in order to teach a spiritual truth. When we look at what is happening in the world today we become aware that we are living in a hurting world – a world which needs us to share Christ’s love and compassion.

‘Christ has taught us to treat everyone with respect and to view each person through his understanding and compassion’ Revive 5

feature

Captain Alice Jose with fellow officers ministering to the women within their communities

‘When we share the love of Christ with others, he uses us to help bring healing and wholeness’

Suffering and disease in the Bible are closely related to questions of the origin and the nature of evil. Particularly in the Old Testament the nations that obeyed God were promised freedom from disease, but if they were disobedient they would be afflicted. Disease and suffering were seen as effects of disobedience on an individual or nation. Today God may allow us to encounter difficulties but he often uses them to help bring about spiritual restoration and healing. Our loving God is always ready to listen to our cry and provide a remedy. In Exodus 3:7 God said: ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’ God heard them crying out. Whenever we go through difficulties and suffering, our Lord is able to help us. Healing was a very important aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry. When a demon-possessed man – a man who nobody else accepted – approached Jesus he healed him by casting out the evil spirits from the man’s body (Luke 8:26-35). When Jesus was in Jericho, blind Bartimaeus, sitting on the roadside, cried out to him for mercy. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see’ and Jesus healed him (Mark 10:51). The woman who had been subject to 6 Revive

bleeding for 12 years felt the healing touch of Christ upon her life (Matthew 9:20-22). We are blessed because our Lord is powerful and can heal physically, spiritually as well as heal a broken heart and life. If we abide in Christ we can experience the active presence of God’s loving care and compassion. As we surrender ourselves to Jesus and abide in him, he will love others through us. His love heals our hurts and supplies the strength we need to keep going. We, as the army of God – his children – have a responsibility to share our loving Christ through our words and actions. May God help us to continue to serve him through serving suffering humanity and through us sharing God’s love to others, so that he can use us to help bring healing to a broken world.

Captain Alice Jose territorial women’s development officer india south western territory

leadership

The worship

tension

efore I was a Salvation Army officer I was a school teacher. I tried to fashion myself after the greatest teacher I’d ever had – the indomitable, intelligent and somewhat intimidating – Miss Landfear. She had taught one of my high school English classes, and I revered her. She was brilliant and as cool as a cucumber. She was elegant and graceful. I wanted to be just like her. After I had been teaching a few years, I encountered Miss Landfear on an airplane. We managed to finagle things so we could sit by each other. But it was a somewhat uncomfortable experience for me. She had been recently engaged, and she chatted as excitedly as a schoolgirl about her love life. Then she told me that when she taught my classmates and me, she didn’t always feel prepared. Some days, she said, she was just a step ahead of us. I was shocked. I had thought she knew everything about Shakespeare and Faulkner and John Donne.

‘How do we respond to a God who is at once so unattainable and yet as close as our own breath?’ If I’d met Miss Landfear that day for the very first time, I would have simply found her charming. Instead, the whole scenario was confusing. When I was a teen and she was an adult, her position of authority in my life kept her at arm’s length. Now that we were both adults, she spoke to me as a friend. It was a privilege, but it was unsettling as well. I wasn’t sure how a hero of mine could also be my pal. Have you ever experienced a similar discomfort or uncertainty when it comes to God? To worship God is an extraordinary and complicated thing. He is the eternal Lord of everything that exists, mightier than we can even begin to imagine. He is holier than we could ever express, or even understand. And yet he invites us into an intimate relationship. He gives us access to his throne room through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). He calls us his children (1 John 3:1). Sometimes he seems so great that we, like the Jews, dare not even utter his name. Other times, he is Abba, Papa, Dad. Imagine the further complication of walking on earth beside him, when he dwelt among people. The disciples weren’t clear as

to how to worship Jesus. Until the Resurrection, they weren’t really even sure who he was. Even Peter’s claim, ‘you are the Christ, the son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16) didn’t necessarily mean Peter understood that Jesus was deity. There were moments of insight, as when Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-11). Although Peter’s idea to build shelters was an inappropriate response to what he witnessed, he seemed to understand at that point that Christ was someone other-worldly. But there were times when the disciples would try to correct Jesus or even rebuke him (Mark 8:32, for example). Obviously, at such times they were utterly ignorant as to his glory. Had I been a follower of Jesus at that time, I am sure I would not have been clever enough to truly understand that the man who ate and laughed with me, who got dirty sometimes and maybe even snored, was actually incarnate God. And even if I did understand that, I would not have been sure how to worship him – the one who was human like me, yet stilled the waters with his words. How do we respond to a God who is at once so unattainable and yet as close as our own breath? How do we live and worship within this tension? There is great freedom for us, and we should embrace it. When we need a father, he is Abba. When we stand marvelling at the expanse of the sea or the peaks of a mountain range, he is Almighty God. He comes to us in extremes – not just as a parent, but a daddy. Not just as one who creates and rules, but as the Lord of all. And whether we run into his arms or fall on our knees before him, our approach is received in love. It is astonishing and wonderful that God offers us this kind of flexibility. But then, he made us. He understands what complex beings we are. He knows that we have the sense to stand in awe, but that we also have the need to feel lovingly cared for. Knowing we are designed purposefully, our varied responses are what he intended. So today, allow yourself to be wrapped up in his arms of love.

Columnist for 2015 Major Amy Reardon CORPS OFFICER, SEATTLE TEMPLE USA WESTERN TERRITORY

Revive 7

The

feature

uman trafficking is a worldwide problem. It affects thousands of people around the world. Traffickers deceive women, men, teenagers, boys and girls from all corners of the globe and subject them to the loss of human dignity and daily exploitation. Although the most well-known form of human trafficking is sexual mistreatment, hundreds of thousands of victims are also subjects of trafficking in the areas of forced labour, as domestic servants, child beggars or for organ harvesting. Experts say that physical and psychological violence exerted over victims of human trafficking can cause depression, insomnia, paranoia, a sense of helplessness and low self-esteem, thoughts of and attempts at suicide, selfharming, disease and, in many cases, death.

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power of

feature

Ileana Jiménez de Calvo

HEALING

The creation of laws which protect victims of human trafficking, along with support programmes, reintegration assistance to reconstruct victims’ lives, medical and psychological attention, legal aid, and job training, are all excellent initiatives, but we cannot omit restoration for victims. In Mark 5:24-34 we read the story of a woman who had been sick for 12 years. The Bible clearly says that she had suffered much and sought help from many doctors. She spent all she had, but even so, nothing changed. Verse 26 says: ‘Yet instead of getting better she grew worse.’ In this story we see a lonely, desperate and tired woman who probably felt powerless and without hope because of her situation.

Sickness

‘And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years’ (v 25). Her physical health was affected because of haemorrhaging. It was as if her life was slowly fading away. With the loss of blood she felt weak, dependent on the help of others and anguished from constantly feeling physically unwell.

Medical Treatment

‘She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors’ (v 26). Let’s imagine what she had to suffer at the hands of doctors in a time when medicine and treatment was not as advanced as it is today. The doctors did not find a cure for her sickness and ended up declaring her terminally ill. Her situation was exasperating, without any possible human solution.

Economic Issues

‘She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse’ (v 26). Trying to find a solution to her illness, the woman spent all the money she had. She probably also sold all she had of worth in order to pay the doctors, but still did not find a solution to her problem. She was sick and bankrupt.

Psychological Problems

She had suffered so much, not only physically but also spiritually. In those days a person with a flow of blood was considered impure and, consequently, unable to participate in religious activities. Furthermore, she was unable to have normal relationships with others – even her family members – since anyone who made contact with her was considered impure and had to subject himself or herself to the purification ritual. This gives us an idea of the loneliness and sadness that she would have experienced. She spent 12 years without being able to go to a synagogue, not being able to hug those she loved or receive love and appreciation from them. What amazes me about this story is that with all this woman had lived through – the pain, suffering, anguish and loneliness – she took a risk for one simple reason: she heard about Jesus and her faith rose up within her. Her faith gave her the strength necessary to make her way through the crowd of people to reach him. ‘When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch

‘She had suffered so much, not only physically but also spiritually’

his clothes, I will be healed”’ (vv 27-28). Her faith made her overcome all obstacles. ‘Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realised that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”’ (vv 29-30). The woman made a moving confession that wonderfully combined humility and frankness regarding her need, her gratitude and adoration for Jesus in light of what he had done in her life. The Lord encouraged her and confirmed her healing with loving words: ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering’ (v 34). Our God heals! But we need to talk to others about Jesus. We need to testify about what he has done in our lives, and live so that people will believe in him, receive salvation, and be healed from the suffering that once overwhelmed their lives. The Lord took an interest in this woman just as he takes an interest in all those who suffer today. No matter what the illness, Jesus Christ has good news for you. Jesus wants to heal your broken heart and give you freedom from your captivity and oppression.

Major Ileana Jiménez de Calvo

TERRITORIAL SECRETARY FOR PERSONNEL SOUTH AMERICA EAST TERRITORY

Revive 9

bible study

Emelia Asante Appiah

Sharing loving

haring is a universal concept that relates to people and their common interests. People can share ideas, work, information, news or objects. For the Christian, sharing Christ is a biblical imperative that is based on our faith and our beliefs. We believe, that when we share Christ with others, we are fulfilling the great commission (see Matthew 28:19). We focus on everyone, irrespective of position, race, tribe or colour. Sadly today, social class distinctions, racial tensions and religious discriminations are evident. Add to this people who are political and/or economic refugees and, for some, this renders them silent and without hope. We have people in the world today who have more than they need. And then

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there are those who are far less privileged – who basically see themselves surviving life only by the grace of God. Love in the eyes of the world has lost its real value and no longer appears Christ-centred. In a world that is suffering, we, as God’s people, need to love others and promote peace in order to add value and worth to their lives. As his people, we not only have an obligation to share Christ with the world but, as he has impacted our own lives with his grace and mercy, we will want others to share in his goodness. Christ is the Word of God ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (John 1:1). Christ is the light of the world. ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will

have the light of life’ (John 8:12). Christ is the bread of life and the life-giving water. ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ (John 6:35). Christ is love, and everything he did while on this earth was done because of love. The shared nature of Christ makes it possible for souls to secure redemption, be reconciled to God and obtain eternal life. Sharing Christ is the surest means by which the world can enjoy lasting peace and hope for all. Christ – sharing the Word Sharing Christ is what we have been called to do. It is our divine mandate. Our role as Christians is to share the message of Christ with the world and point them to God’s Word. When we

bible study

Christ, people

share Christ with others, they begin to understand that God is ‘the only proper object of religious worship’ as made clear in the Army’s second doctrine and that everything and everyone else is of secondary importance. God is sovereign and he can heal all wounds. He can bind us together as one. Sharing Christ with others, and relying on the promptings of the Holy Spirit, opens the way for them to see themselves in the light of God’s standard for humankind and gives them the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God their maker and assess their own spiritual walk in the light of his Word and promptings. Jesus is the one who brings about transformation and renewal. In 1 Peter 1:23 we read: ‘For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of

‘In a world that is suffering, we, as God’s people, need to love others and promote peace’

imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.’ Ultimately, the power of the Word can lead to new birth, which produces holy living and gives us the power to fight against Satan. Christ – the light of the world Light is important. Daylight makes it possible for us to be active and allows us to go about our daily tasks unhindered. When it becomes dark and we are in unfamiliar surroundings, we can find ourselves a little fearful of stumbling or falling. A world that is dark needs the presence of Christ, the light of the world. The Bible tells us that God not only created light but that he is light (John 1:9; 9:5). Christ as the light of the world provides us with guidance and direction for our living. He shines into our hearts

and we are able to walk with confidence the way he has illuminated. But of course this means that we have to be willing to step out in faith, to do our part and live as children of light and be light in the world. The words of a chorus come to mind: ‘Take Jesus to all the world, He’ll put things right; Take Jesus to all the world, He’ll put things right. Jesus died for all mankind, So I know that you will find If you take Jesus to all the world, He’ll put things right’. (Chorus 22 SASB). Christ is what the world needs today. He is the solution to the challenges of life. Christ – the bread and water of life In our homes we share the joy of eating and drinking together. We satisfy our hunger with food and quench our thirst with water. Generally speaking, the world

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bible study

may not see itself as being spiritually hungry or thirsty, but as God’s people we can see through the events taking place in our world today that it is indeed craving for something. That something is Christ. The Scriptures remind us that when Christ walked this earth he showed compassion to people. He fed the hungry, he healed the sick, and he showed kindness to the needy. He gave of himself in order to satisfy the needs of the world. ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ (John 6:35). I have heard it said that, ‘a hungry person is an angry person’. Look around you, read the news – our world is full of anger and lacks stability. As Christians, when we go about living our lives and sharing Christ’s love with others we create an atmosphere of love and become his hands in helping to bring about change.

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Christ – the symbol of love Love is amazing. Love is powerful. God’s love was wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ. He was God’s gift to the world. He is the Saviour of the world. And he demonstrated God’s love to a sinful world by giving his own life for ours – that we might be reconciled to our creator God. When we do our part in sharing Christ with a needy world we share his love. We are his people helping others to see their need for him – his grace and forgiveness. Paul said: ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). Our new life in Christ and the way we live should be a witness and a light to everyone we come into contact with each day. ●●What are the characteristics of Christ that

as Christians we need to share with others?

●●How

does a Christian go about sharing the good news? ●●According to the Scriptures, the Word of God is powerful (see Hebrews 4:12). How have you used the Bible in sharing the news of Jesus Christ with others? ●●How would you explain the term ‘dying world’? What relationship does Christ have with such a world? ●●How can we as Christians show Christ’s love to a needy world? ●●What do you think the world would look like if sharing Christ and loving others was an everyday action for Christians?

Captain Emelia Asante Appiah CORPS OFFICER, KOFORIDUA, GHANA TERRITORY

spiritual life

spiritual life feature

Hellen Munde Obimbo EDITOR, THE WAR CRY KENYA WEST TERRITORY

Columnist for 2015

the

power of little things

ecently I was preparing my favourite meal – fish. If I could, I would cook fish every night. Fish stew with spinach, my favourite. I make my fish stew with a bit of a twist. I use onions, green peppers, dhania (coriander), tomatoes, tomato paste and spinach. It’s fabulous – lots of spices and full of flavour. So delicious! As I was putting everything into the bowl, I reached for more ingredients – garlic, royco (spicy beef flavoured seasoning) and salt. I was looking for anything to literally spice it up. I didn’t want to prepare a boring fish stew without adding some of the necessary spices that would give it some zing. I love to cook and when I am cooking I do a lot of thinking. I think about the day I’ve had. I think about my family and friends. I think about office work – what has been achieved, and what is still to be attended to. During this time of cooking and thinking, I began to think about the spices I was adding, especially the salt. If you add too much to a dish it will ruin the food. If you don’t add enough then there isn’t enough flavour in what you are cooking. My thoughts led me to Matthew 5:13: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’ If we are to be the salt of the earth, then we are required to do and be at lot of things. There are many properties of salt besides just adding spice. Salt has the capacity to preserve, heal, flavour, purify, remove stains and repel unwanted pests. Interestingly, salt is just a little grain – tiny and inexpensive – and yet it can be powerful and be used for so many things. How does this little kitchen necessity apply to our lives? Just imagine what a kind word, a grace-giving gesture or a helpful action can do. A small kindness can help to heal and encourage and can be very powerful when someone is going through a difficult time. For the Christian to be the salt of the earth means to add something significant to life – not necessarily something extravagant, but of worth to every situation. It means to live our

‘Salt is just a little grain – tiny and inexpensive – and yet it can be powerful and be used for so many things’ lives striving to enhance each encounter, situation or relationship. It is amazing what can be achieved when we live as salt and share the love of Christ by loving others. As I thought about Matthew 5:13, I realised that as Christians we have been called to no small task. Very often it is the little things that go unnoticed by the human eye, but are noticed in Heaven. Jesus often spoke of the little things that make enormous differences. Things like the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31, 32) and the poor widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44). Our gestures of kindness may not seem significant to us, but they can be very powerful when given over to God and used to bless others. Much like the salt in my fish stew, let us not underestimate the power of little things. Little is much when God is in it. Revive 13

my story Cornelia Zürrer Ritter

The Lord is my Shepherd – even in the Zurich red-light district

he prison door shut with a dull clunk behind me. I was there to visit Elena, a woman from Colombia who had been arrested because her boyfriend was involved in a police investigation. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters … I knew Elena because she worked in the red-light district of Zurich and regularly attended Focal Point, The Salvation Army’s drop-in centre for sex workers, which was open one night a week. One day, Elena stopped by to say farewell, and told me that God had answered her prayers, that she had met a nice Swiss man and was looking for another job. Later, when I met Elena in the street, she introduced me to her boyfriend. I was impressed with him, as he seemed to treat her with affection and respect. In the coming months, Elena took a German course and found a job as a cleaner. From time to time we had contact with each other and I was very happy that she had left her old environment behind and was building a new life for herself. But now, here she was sitting in a jail cell because of her new boyfriend’s involvement in a dubious affair and the fact that she still bore the stigma of being a former prostitute. For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me … When I went to see Elena in prison, I saw not a sad, broken pile of misery, but a strong woman with a positive attitude.

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Although Elena had spent weeks in prison and was worried about her friends and her family, which she could not contact in Colombia, she beamed and said that all was well and that God had wonderfully cared for her. While she was in prison she met another Colombian who joined with her each day for prayer. Whenever either of them felt sad or depressed, they would read the 23rd Psalm together. They knew that God was meeting them in their prison cells and he would lead them through the dark valleys. Again, I could only marvel at Elena’s very strong trust in God. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil … When Elena first came to Focal Point, I immediately noticed that she was open to the ideas and views of others. She came with two Colombian colleagues with whom she shared a room. At Focal Point I saw a young, pretty woman, impeccably dressed and wearing very little make-up. No one would have ever thought that Elena was working as a prostitute. She became a regular visitor to our drop-in centre. Over time, I learned that back in Colombia Elena had become a mother at a very young age but could not find work and had very little job prospects. Elena dreamed of having a family and a normal life, but the father of her child had left before their daughter’s birth and did not pay any child support. As best she could, Elena kept her head above water.

my story

Cornelia meeting with one of the clients at the rehabilitation centre

One of the rooms at the rehabilitation centre

‘Elena suffered greatly. She repeatedly expressed her desire for another life, for another job’

As the situation became more difficult, she emigrated to Spain. With a heavy heart she left her little daughter in the care of her mother. On her own, she managed to make a living. In the summer she worked as a harvester and in the winter she worked in the hospitality industry. For several years she provided for herself, her mother and her daughter. With the money she earned, she was able to travel to Colombia twice a year to see her family. However, because of the severe economic crisis in Spain, her work became spasmodic. Again she was left with nothing. She heard from Colombian friends that she could earn a lot of money in Zurich. All she knew about Switzerland was what she had seen on the television – it looked beautiful. Sadly, the promises made to Elena along her journey turned out to be false. She never dreamed she would end up in prostitution. Elena suffered greatly. She repeatedly expressed her desire for another life, for another job. Elena found the hope she was looking for when she became a member of our Bible study group. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake … Elena was one of the first participants in our Bible study group for women in the sex trade. We would meet together twice a month to read the Bible and pray. These studies became an important anchor point in the women’s lives. Elena had visited a Colombian Catholic Church in the past,

but the studies at The Salvation Army centre helped the Bible come alive to her, especially the Psalms. Psalm 23 became her ‘go to’ passage when times were tough. Her trust in Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who accompanied her through the dark valleys and supplied everything she needed, helped her out of prostitution – something that she had wanted for so long. Now the Good Shepherd was in prison with her, to comfort and guide her through that difficult time. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I was very relieved when Elena only spent a few months in jail. She is now planning on bringing her daughter from Colombia to Switzerland. Recently a friend of Elena’s brought us her greetings. She said: ‘She is doing very well and each time we meet together we conclude the visit by praying together the 23rd Psalm.’

Cornelia Zürrer Ritter ZURICH CENTRAL CORPS SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY TERRITORY

Revive 15

my story

Needed

Janneke Rozema

‘I

have learned that I am needed and I am valuable’, said Marie Bernhardtova, an adherent member at Ostrava Corps (church), Czech Republic, where she works as a volunteer in the community centre. Marie and her younger sister grew up in a Catholic family in the industrial city of Ostrava where they regularly attended church. Although Marie’s father was by trade a mining engineer, he always had other jobs. Marie was, in her younger years, greatly affected by the passing of her grandfathers during the Second World War. Marie’s dream as a youngster was to become a teacher or psychologist. Sadly she was not accepted for either discipline – not because of a lack of ability but because she was a Christian. Therefore she was forced to work in the technical industry. At the age of 18, she fell deeply in love and married a wonderful young man. However, she could not foresee the consequences of this decision.

valuable

In the early years of her marriage she continued to go to church but, after giving birth to a son, she was no longer allowed to attend, as her husband did not want his son coming under the influence of Christianity, nor did he want his career or his political status questioned because his family attended church. So with only her mother present, her son was secretly baptised. Over the years, sadly, her faith faded more and more into the background. In general, the marriage was not bad, but after 20 years, her husband chose to live with another woman. They divorced and from that moment Marie’s life began a downward spiral. After her divorce she lived for a while with her parents before finally obtaining a small apartment. During this time she became an alcoholic, made friends with the wrong people and took out high interest loans that she could not repay. All of this brought her to the lowest point in her life. With all her belongings being taken away, she ended up on

‘With all her belongings being taken away, she ended up on the streets’

16 Revive

my story

Maria with her corps officers Captain Frieda Hanouwer (left) and Major Janneke Rozema (right)

the streets. For three long, dreadful, cold and fearful nights, she slept at the railway station, very much alone, without money or belongings. It was at the railway station she heard about The Salvation Army and found shelter in its hostel for women in Ostrava. Although she had a bed and a roof over her head, it took time for her to recover. Marie explains: ‘After some months I went to a Bible study in the hostel that was led by the corps officers. There, not only my mind and body found rest, but my soul found rest in God. He had not forgotten me.’ Marie is now living in a new apartment. She started with only a bed and a chair, but over the past year she has been able

to obtain more furniture, making her apartment a warm and welcoming home. At Easter 2014 Marie became an adherent member of The Salvation Army at Ostrava Corps. Alcohol and bad friends still try to draw her back to her old life, but she says, ‘In the Lord I am strong. I will keep the door of my life and house closed to the bad influences.’ Today, Marie’s motto is ‘heart to God, hand to people’.

Major Janneke Rozema corps officer, ostrava the netherlands and czech republic territory

Revive 17

social issues

My new family Jolene Hodder

Every family has a story to tell. Let me tell you ours …

ast year, I innocently asked an employee at The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters in the Kenya West Territory if he could introduce me to some of the prostitutes around Kakamega. The Salvation Army had just started an outreach programme for street boys and I thought perhaps we should try to reach out to young girls as well. Little did we know that an informal meeting in a local hotel would lead to a programme that is changing the lives of so many women. Indeed, little did I know how much these women would change me. After making preliminary contacts, the day finally came when more than

50 women trusted us enough to come to our headquarters for an information meeting. Timidly they walked up to the gate, not quite convinced that the guard would let them pass. Once on the compound, they were invited to enter the corps (church) hall, something that most churches here forbid practising prostitutes to do. After introductions, I approached each woman, threw my arms around her, and whispered, ‘we love you’. Some of the women were as hard as nails, stiffening as I tried to touch them. Others melted into my arms. Many of the women came to the Army hoping to leave with money, food, or other gifts, but we told them, in no

uncertain terms, that we had nothing to offer them other than unconditional love and a church home. As we got to know them over the next few months, their various tribal customs, their stories, their skills, and their dreams for the future began to emerge, and something wonderful happened. We became a family. Janet Bukaya, 53 years of age, grew up desperately poor in a tiny village. Having seen so many people die around her, she dreamed that one day she would be a nurse, saving lives. But unable to afford to go to school, she dropped out at primary level. She later married, but her husband died of malaria leaving her with

‘I have heard it said that a true relationship is two imperfect people refusing to give up on each other’ 18 Revive

Photographs by Arnold Kipchoge

social issues

Opposite page: Commissioner Jolene Hodder and Consolate Achieng embracing outside the Perfect Hair Salon; above and top right: officers from the Women’s Ministries Department, engage with the women from the outreach programme; right: Consolate Achieng working on a young clients hair

seven small children to support. Both her parents were dead, and her brothers and sisters offered no support. When she took to the streets in order to make some money to feed her children, her extended family disowned her as well. After being brutally assaulted by a client one night and left for dead, a neighbour took Janet to the hospital. She had been badly shaken, but as she saw it, she still had no choice but to return to the streets. When Janet heard that other prostitutes were going to The Salvation Army, she followed along, thinking that she might go home with some money. But while she didn’t get material support from the Army that day, she was surprised to be offered a message of hope instead of condemnation. It is that love that keeps bringing her back. It is that hope that has helped her start a small business selling tea and chapatis. And ultimately, it is Christ that has renewed her dreams for the future. Consolate Achieng, 40 years of age, grew up as a Catholic in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. She was a bright child who dreamed of becoming a news reporter. But soon after marriage, her husband started beating her, and eventually she

fled with her children to the streets of Kakamega. In order to survive and provide for her children, she sold her body. But in doing so she gave up so much more – her family disowned her. Her friends turned their backs on her, and she began living a life of unspeakable shame. Desperate to keep her ‘profession’ a secret from her beautiful children, lies became a way of life. Used and abused by her clients, life took its toll on Consolate. When she heard that The Salvation Army had started a programme for the street boys, and that they were being transformed from their bad behaviour, she thought by attending the meetings she too could be transformed. Perhaps with a little help she could become the woman she once dreamt of becoming. She felt a little uneasy sitting in a church hall, but she listened to every word of the presentation given by the officers. It wasn’t what she expected. Today Consolate not only owns her own hair salon but also is the market manager for her community. She has found her hope in Christ, and has found a family at the Army. I have heard it said that a true relationship is two imperfect people

refusing to give up on each other. We are all sinners in need of grace. And we need each other. So I’m proud to call these women my sisters. These new friends are brutally honest and wise beyond their years. Each one has a voice that is worth hearing. So yes, we are showing them a way out of prostitution, and we are teaching them to celebrate who they are in Christ, but I am learning so much more from them. They are teaching me how to love like Christ. They are teaching me how to hold fast to my convictions, while at the same time showing grace. They are teaching me to be bold in sharing the gospel, but to be patient as the Holy Spirit works in the lives of those I have been called to serve. When it comes down to it, we are all God’s children. It is only when we stop, listen and embrace each other that we become the true family of God.

Commissioner Jolene Hodder

TERRITORIAL PRESIDENT OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES KENYA WEST TERRITORY

Revive 19

THE

prayer

HOUSE

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

My unexpected Christine Lucas

n June of 2013 my husband Graeme and I were excitedly looking forward to a holiday we had planned to take in the following September and were just about to make the final payment. Graeme had been having a great deal of pain in his back and, being a doctor himself, felt that something wasn’t quite right. After tests and x-rays it was discovered he had fractures in his sacrum. The sacrum is a bone at the base of the spine which does not fracture easily. One thing that could cause fractures of this type would be multiple myeloma or bone marrow cancer. After a further series of tests, it was confirmed that this was exactly what Graeme had. Of course he had to start treatment, including chemotherapy, straight away. The other thing we had to do straight away was cancel our much-anticipated holiday. When it became known that Graeme was suffering from an

20 Revive

incurable cancer, Christians and nonChristians alike were saying: ‘Why you?’ Graeme would always respond: ‘Why not me?’ Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people – that’s life. We have to deal with what life throws at us. We rely on God to help us cope with the bad things in life – not take them away. Since the diagnosis, so many people have said to me that they were praying not for remission for Graeme but that God would cure his cancer. I have never thought to pray for God to cure Graeme’s cancer – because at the moment there is no cure. What there is, is effective treatment to bring his cancer into remission – and that’s what I prayed for. If we want a cure for myeloma or any other incurable disease, I feel our prayer should be that God would work

through those in the field of scientific and medical research, to affect that cure, so that everyone with the condition has the chance of a cure. I firmly believe that we need to be realistic when we pray to God, and praying that God would cure an incurable cancer because we happen to know the sufferer is not being realistic. I like the saying ‘Prayer doesn’t change God, prayer changes us’, and I do take that to heart in my present circumstance. God is not going to change Graeme’s diagnosis, but I pray that he will change us, including our two sons, into people who have the strength to cope with what lies ahead for us. So, what does lie ahead for us? Does anybody know what lies ahead of them? We have the certainty that Graeme will go in and out of remission. During his remission periods, like now, we

‘Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people – that’s life’

prayer house

journey

endeavour to live a normal life – doing the things we like to do, working on our ‘bucket list’. One day, the pathology reports will come back and we will know that the remission is over. What will we do then? Well, what we won’t do is blame God. We won’t cry out to him to take this away from us, and we won’t ask ‘Why us?’ We will thank him for the period of remission, and we will once again ask him for the strength to cope with what lies ahead. I’ve had to face a lot of things since Graeme’s diagnosis – things I’ve never had to face before – like phoning for an ambulance a number of times a night, or flying to Sydney to be with him after he was transferred to one of the major hospitals. I’ve also had to come to terms with the fact that I am more than likely going to spend more years of my life on my own than I would otherwise have had to – we won’t be spending our ‘old age’ together. I try not to think too far into the future. However, I do need to

have things to look forward to. And so we are trying to plan our next ‘bucket list’ trip, with the clear knowledge that we may need to shelve the idea before it actually happens. We have our son’s wedding in early 2016, and I will be earnestly praying that – even if Graeme isn’t in remission – he will be well enough to attend. Graeme has a very good attitude to his situation and my attitude needs to match. I know that, with God’s help, it will.

Christine Lucas

PORT MACQUARIE CORPS AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY

Revive 21

35 per cent

Worldwide, more than

of women worldwide

700 million women alive today were married as children (below 18 years of age). More than one in three (some 250 million) were married before 15

have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence

More often Than not, cases of violence against women go

unreported

Child brides

More than

133 million

girls and women

have experienced some form of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the harmful practice is most common

are often unable to effectively negotiate safer sex, leaving themselves vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, along with early pregnancy. Women and girls represent

55 per cent

of the estimated

20.9 million

PAINFUL

Exploitation of womEn and children

victims of forced labour worldwide, and 98 per cent of the estimated 4.5 million forced into sexual exploitation.

The annual cost of intimate partner violence has been calculated at 5.8 billion in the United States and 22.9 billion in England and Wales. And in Australia the estimated cost of violence against women and children is 13.6 billion per year

Child pornography is one of the fastEST growing industries on the Internet

In the United Kingdom alone, at least 44,000 primary school children and 473,000 children between the age of 6 and 17 have accessed adult websites, mostly offshore in December 2014 from a home computer.

Current research suggests that exposure to pornography can prompt children to act out sexually against younger and smaller children Statistics from: World Health Organization, Global and Regional Estimates of Violence against Women; UNODC Global Study on Homicide: 2013; Violence against women: an EU-wide survey, European Union, 2014; UNICEF, Hidden in Plain Sight: A Statistical Analysis of Violence against Children; UNICEF, Genital Mutilation/Cutting: What might the future hold; International Labour Organization, 2012; Enough is Enough 22Female Revive

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WE WILL NO T BE SIL NT

Isaiah 42:22 (NIV )

Annual Day of prayer for

vIctims of human trafficking Sunday 27 September 2015