Revive (July 2016)

VOL 8 NO 3

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2016

FINDING HOME LYDIA’S STORY

Be a voice for the

VOICELESS SPEAK OUT – GIVE HOPE FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

God sees

SEEING AS

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

inside

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Seeing as God sees

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04 Don’t turn a blind eye 08 Beyond the human heart

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2016

revive@salvationarmy.org

11 Seeing with compassion BIBLE STUDY 16 Speak out – give hope SOCIAL ISSUES 18 Finding home MY STORY 20 Embrace RESOURCE

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COLUMNS

IN EVERY ISSUE

07 Caring for the fragile LEADERSHIP

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10 Be a voice for the voiceless SPIRITUAL LIFE

Editorial

15 The Prayer House

22 18

23 Book review

Front cover: Photo by Leovinzer Posadas 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 MSG - 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 Design: Berni Georges and Jooles Tostevin © André Cox, General of The Salvation Army, 2016 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)

http://sar.my/revsubo (Revive subscription overseas)

from the editor

‘See as God sees’ Major Deslea Maxwell EDITOR

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phesians chapter 5 verse 10 says: ‘Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it’ (MSG).

I’m a planner. I project manage. I like to set goals. I use a ‘to-do’ list. To be honest, I become very annoyed with myself, if for some reason, I miss a deadline. To be on time and in control is a part of my personality that is strong and invades every area of my life, including my devotional life.

Many years ago I began keeping a spiritual life prayer journal. It not only keeps me on track with my reading plan but also, as I look back over the years, I can see the way in which the Lord has been leading and challenging me and allows me to see the way I have grown spiritually.

At the beginning of each year, I ask the Lord to show me what he wants me to focus on for the months ahead. At the beginning of 2016 the Lord challenged me to pray: ‘Lord, give me eyes to see things [and people] as you see them.’

Admittedly, we all have a distorted view of things. We see life through many filters – our upbringing, lifestyle, culture, political and social views and our experiences, just to name a few.

One of the passages of Scripture that I have been drawn to over the past months has been Jesus’ encounter with the woman of Samaria recorded in the fourth chapter of John.

In this passage I see the penetrating eyes of Jesus look directly into the heart of this woman and, being aware of her need but allowing her to acknowledge it, he dares to meet her at her point of need, in spite of the many cultural issues surrounding their encounter. In reading through these verses again just recently, my eyes were drawn to verses 31-33 when the disciples, after buying food, returned to the well to meet up again with Jesus. ‘His disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”’ Despite being with Jesus every day, and despite his daily teachings, the disciples

failed to see through spiritual eyes. They were spiritually blind.

They were busy – actively engaged in ministry – but failed to see things as Jesus saw them.

So many of us are busy, both in our personal lives and in our ministry. If we don’t see things the way God sees them then it will be difficult to live our lives or conduct our ministry in a way that is pleasing to and effective for him. Our daily prayer should be: ‘Lord, help me to “figure out” what will please you, and then help me to do it.’

In order to determine what pleases God, we must have a right view of God as revealed through his Word, seen in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, and confirmed by his Holy Spirit. If I have a right view of God then the filter through which I see others and myself, my circumstances and theirs, will become clearer. Only then will I be able to understand what truly pleases him.

Throughout the pages of this issue of Revive, there are stories of women engaged in ministry – women who feel called by God to serve those who have been the victims of domestic violence or human trafficking and who endeavour to see others, both victim and perpetrator, through God’s eyes and love them his way.

May God open the eyes of each of us to see what God sees – hope, opportunities and potential.

‘ … Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like you have loved me Break my heart for what breaks yours Everything I am for your Kingdom’s cause As I walk from earth into eternity.’

Hosanna by Brooke Fraser

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oppressed 4 Revive

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Kediemetse Lenah Jwili

‘You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know’ William Wilberforce

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iving in post-apartheid South Africa it is easier to understand the hope behind words like ‘We expect a bright tomorrow, All will be well’ (SASB 278 v 3).

Hope is sometimes difficult to see when you’re hurting or oppressed. But through it all we know that God did not give up on us. In spite of the disobedience of our first parents to God’s command, God made a plan and ‘gave his only begotten Son’ (John 3:16 KJV) as a ransom to redeem us.

The children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land continuously rebelled and complained but, again, God in his mercy did not give up on them – he saw them through.

God intervenes in impossible situations: When the children of Israel finally escaped from Egypt, God led them across the desert along a route which was thought to be impossible – through the Red Sea. Pharaoh, realising that the Israelites had gone, sent his

army after them in order to bring them back. So with Pharaoh’s army closing in behind them and the Red Sea in front of them, the people realised they were trapped. You can imagine what they went through – fear crept in. They realised if they stayed on shore they would be killed

by Pharaoh’s army, and if they forged into the sea they would drown. The Bible says that during that time the Israelites wandered around in confusion, crying out in terror. There was the absence of hope.

When we are afraid we do what comes naturally. In this situation the children of Israel complained (Exodus 14:11-12). Their leader, Moses, saw the desperation of the people and cried out to God. Then he saw what appeared impossible and said to the people: ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:13-14).

God instructed Moses to act.

Prayer + Action

Remember, don’t try to pray a challenge away without taking any initiative or action. Moses prayed to God and then he acted and the people saw the deliverance of the Lord.

‘Hope is sometimes difficult to see when you’re hurting or oppressed’

Today we see many injustices within our communities and at times we turn a blind eye. We may not be chased by an army, but we still feel trapped. As Christians we need to adopt a positive attitude, similar to that displayed by Moses, and encourage those who are trapped due to the social injustice around them, encouraging them to stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring.

The issue of human trafficking is recognised worldwide as an abhorrent evil that is found in all cultures and societies. Sadly, it is a very sophisticated operation with complex issues not confined just to women and children.

In South Africa girls are kidnapped in broad daylight from schools, shopping malls and taxi ranks. They are frequently gang-raped then forced into prostitution and drug abuse. It is not easy to escape as the girls are beaten and held captive, and sometimes killed. After they have been recruited the girls are often persuaded to invite their sisters and friends into prostitution, and on occasions, parents, due to unemployment, financial issues and/or dysfunctional relationships, force their children to sell sex from home.

It is a recorded fact that some communities know of child prostitution but justify it as a ‘necessary evil’ (Trafficking in Children in the Western Cape Province by Molo Songololo).

South Africans constitute the largest number of victims of human trafficking and their country is a source, transit, and destination point for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking. Children and young women are the most vulnerable mainly being recruited from poor rural areas to urban centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein.

Girls are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude and boys are forced Revive 5

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Will you do your part and keep hope alive?

Will you make a difference in someone else’s life?

to work as street vendors and beggers, in food service, criminal activities and agriculture. Large numbers of children, including those with disabilities, are exploited into forced begging. The tradition of ‘ukuthwala’ (kidnapping a girl or a young woman by a man and his friends or peers to compel the girl or young woman’s family to endorse marriage) is practised in some remote villages in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, leaving girls vulnerable to forced labour and sex slavery.

Whilst women and girls from Brazil, Eastern Europe, the Far East, South East Asia and neighbouring African countries are recruited for legitimate work in South Africa, they are sometimes subjected to forced prostitution, domestic servitude or forced labour in the service sector or taken to Europe for similar purposes.

Foreign and South African lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are subjected to sex trafficking also.

Traffickers lure recruits from rural areas to the cities with expensive gifts, money and empty promises that they will have a better life and be able to support their families living in poverty.

When reality strikes, the failure to deliver these promises is horrific to those being trafficked, stripping them of their dignity and denying their human rights.

As much as we are overwhelmed by this injustice and evil crime, we should remember there is hope of victory. In the three years of his earthly ministry, Jesus made drastic differences to the lives of many people he encountered, giving 6 Revive

worthiness, but because God – being the very definition of love – could do no less.

He told us to live simply, give generously and to love unconditionally.

Will you do your part and keep hope alive? Will you make a difference in someone else’s life?

Proverbs 31:8 says: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’

This is an urgent privilege and responsibility given to us as part of the Church. We need to clearly speak the truth in love. We need to love back to life those who are hurting.

hope to the hopeless and freedom to the captives. He healed the sick, fed the poor, ministered to the broken-hearted, cast out evil spirits, and lives were changed.

Prostitutes, politicians, beggars and kings were all the same to him and equally deserving of love, not because of their

Shared story

‘Most people don’t understand why we stay with a pimp. Many of us have been exploited by our peers, society and often by the people that we trust. When we’re the most vulnerable, pimps attack, promising us stability, family life and a future. They reel us in. Our pimp becomes our father and our boyfriend until we see what he

Major Kediemetse Lenah Jwili divisional commander southern africa territory

really wants, then he intimidates us and reminds us constantly about the consequences if we leave.

Most tell us that they’ll find and kill us, no matter where we go.

We are afraid of being AFRAID. Resources are limited and many of us do not see a way out.’

Anonymous – www.gems-girls.org

leadership

Caring for the

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rowing up, I didn’t know anything about human trafficking. When I went to school I slowly became aware of it through reading and hearing stories, but generally in those days in Papua New Guinea, human trafficking was not something I knew very much about. If it was happening, it was acknowledged to be either cultural or compensation based.

Seven beautiful girls from the same village belonged to a dance group which was often hired to perform at different cultural events. In July 2015 the group was asked to travel to Mount Hagan in the highlands to perform at a hotel. The hotel manager was prepared to pay their airfares if they would perform for the guests for one week.

‘If the girls refused, he would pull out his gun and bush knife to threaten them’ On arrival in Mount Hagan, the girls received a warm welcome and began their performances that evening. However, instead of going home at the end of the week, the girls were forced to stay and were put to work in the hotel. They were expected to work day and night, without food or rest, for very little money.

The manager then took one girl at a time and drove them 115 kilometres to Goroka, where he forced them to ‘entertain’ the customers. If the girls refused, he would pull out his gun and bush knife to threaten them, kicking them back into the bedroom. The girls were so frightened. They had very little

food, found it difficult to sleep and didn’t know what would happen to them.

One week later there was no sign of the girls anywhere.

Their parents started to worry and began looking for them.

They went to the local Salvation Army centre and spoke with the officer (minister) who investigated the situation and learned that the girls were back in Mount Hagan. In turn, he made contact with The Salvation Army officer in Mount Hagan and the International Organisation for Migration, and eventually the girls were returned home at the end of August.

Upon their arrival at Port Moresby’s Jackson airport, I met the girls and took them to House of Hope where they were given accommodation, counselling and a medical check-up while the police investigated the situation. Once the investigation was complete and it was confirmed that the girls were in good health, they were resettled in their village where the local corps officer continued to care for them.

Although we may not be aware of it, God sees everything – the visible and invisible. There are things that happen to people that no one else but God sees or understands. People may appear normal on the outside, but on the inside they may be scared and fragile due to the circumstances of life.

While these girls were being trafficked God saw them, intervened and brought them home.

Praise the Lord for all his goodness!

Columnist for 2016

Major Ridia Nenewa manager, house of hope papua new guinea territory

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Pilar Meyer Dunning

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first learned about human trafficking in 2006 when I attended The Salvation Army’s International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking. At the time I was at college studying social work and was mainly interested in learning about social justice within the context of the Church and Christianity.

Like many, the violence, abuse and psychological trauma often endured by survivors of human trafficking at the hands of their traffickers evoked a response that overwhelmed me, prompting me to do something. Many of these survivors are women and children – daughters, mothers, sisters and cousins.

My first response was to do something small, so I hosted an event offering information and an opportunity to pray for the victims at my local corps (church) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It was not an event that was well attended, but the few present were engaged.

The more I learned about human trafficking, the more confident I felt about supporting fair trade initiatives and advocating for the elimination of abuse towards women.

Looking back, I see this as a seed taking root, one that would launch my life on a different path than I had ever imagined, all traced back to that sincere response of my heart.

After graduating with my degree in social work, The Salvation Army USA Central Territory started a new antihuman trafficking programme in Chicago, Illinois. The programme was to provide services to survivors of human trafficking, educating the community and doing outreach to identify victims. I applied for the position, and within a few weeks felt the conviction that it was something I had to do. God moved in my heart and the heart of my new husband, and with confidence we moved to Chicago – that was almost 10 years ago. I’d love to end here and say something quippy like, ‘and the rest is history’, but the Lord didn’t work that way in my life, or perhaps I didn’t allow him to work that way in my life.

Most of my days were filled with stories of trauma, sadness and despair. As a young married woman I found myself being overwhelmed by these stories of sexual violence and burdened by the evil in the world. I decided to change departments within my agency, obtain an advanced degree and do something different while still maintaining awareness about human trafficking – just removed from the direct service. For the next few years I worked with marginalised populations through The Salvation Army’s work with seniors, and eventually transferred my employment completely outside of The Salvation Army to work with children suffering from chronic cardiac conditions.

Again, the Lord intervened and had other plans for my life. A year after working at a children’s hospital, my former supervisor contacted me to discuss the possibility of returning to lead the programme that I helped commence many years before. It was at that moment I felt the tugging of the Lord on 8 Revive

Beyond the

human heart

my heart to return to anti-human trafficking work. I spent time praying and reflecting on the changes I needed in my own life before returning to the work that once led me to a place of darkness.

Living and working in the anti-trafficking movement – offering support to those who have been trafficked – demands that I am rooted in something more powerful than my wellintentioned actions. Seeing what God sees within the context of human trafficking goes beyond the possibility that my human heart and mind can comprehend. My most recent reminder of this came through encountering a passage of Scripture from Ephesians 3:14-19: ‘For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ Three times over the course of a month this Scripture was spoken into my life. The most meaningful, however, came through a chapel service led by members of the North American Anti-Trafficking Council. The Scripture, reflected within the context of human trafficking says there are things that humanity has deemed ‘impossible’ or ‘unattainable’,

‘These stories are scarring, but these scars are precious to me’

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such as the complete elimination of exploitation of women and girls.

However, our God sees the possibility of complete restoration, reconciliation and redemption. Belief that God is able to do ‘immeasurably more’ is not only a source of strength for me, but is translated into the lives of the survivors that nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.

I attended an event where the speaker – a sojourner in the anti-trafficking movement – said: ‘These stories are scarring, but these scars are precious to me’. This statement resonated within my soul so severely that my eyes brimmed with tears and I held my breath. This compassion is painful; it causes me grief and troubled thoughts that I must bring to the Lord. I believe it’s the way that God sees survivors of human trafficking. They are people created in his image being abused and exploited in ways that break his heart more than humanity can possibly understand. They are his people. They are precious. They are his scars.

Pilar Meyer Dunning program manager, stop-it usa central territory

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Major Vanlalnungi Thiak

divisional director of women’s ministries central north division, india eastern territory

Columnist for 2016

Be a voice for the

voiceless

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n October 2015, the corps officer (minster) of Bazar Corps (church) called me and said: ‘Major, if you can spare the time, please come to the police station with me. I need to talk to the officer-in-charge.’ Leaving behind what I was doing, I hurried off.

It transpired that the caretaker of a nearby farm had quarrelled with his wife. The scene turned violent and the wife and their one-year-old daughter were both injured, resulting in them being admitted to hospital. As is the custom when loved ones are in hospital, the eldest child – another daughter, aged only seven – had to provide for them, but unfortunately she fell ill with a fever, so the two remaining daughters – aged just four and five – had to be placed in the care of the Mizo Women’s Association.

The league of mercy visitation team at Bazar Corps also took an interest in the family and the mother told them that a family friend, who deceived her seven-year-old into thinking that he would accompany her to purchase the medication needed by her while in hospital, had abducted her. Even though the mother reported the incident to the police, initially no notice

Top right: Major Vanlalnungi speaking with the police. Above and right: Children at The Salvation Army Motherless Babies Home

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of her complaint was taken, so the league of mercy workers took the initiative and contacted the authorities. The horrific news quickly circulated in local newspapers, on television stations and to community leaders. After an intensive search, the Mizoram Police found the girl in a neighbouring state, 210 kilometres away. It was later learned that she had been molested and was in the process of being trafficked when found.

When the mother was released from hospital, the league of mercy workers, accompanied by members from the Mizo Women’s Association, took her to the child welfare office where it was decided that the three younger children should be cared for at The Salvation Army’s Motherless Babies’ Home. Because the older daughter needed special care she was taken to the Centre for Peace and Development Transitional Children’s Home and the mother was taken into a centre run by the government’s social welfare department, where she would be protected and cared for in a loving and peaceful environment.

Fortunately this story has a happy ending, but sadly in the world today many women and children are being threatened, abducted and damaged in order for others to make money or satisfy fleshly desires.

In 1 Corinthians 6:13 we read: ‘The body … is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.’ Sadly there are many who are sold into slavery through deception and intimidation. Oh! how they need the Redeemer.

Do you choose to passively sit silent, or will you be a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for those who do not have one, and a bright ray of hope for those who are utterly hopeless?

There are people hurting in the world out there.

They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

There are children crying and no one to care.

They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

And they’ll go on hurting in the world out there, And they’ll go on dying, drowning in despair, And they’ll go on crying, that’s unless we care!

They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

(SASB 935 v 1)

every thing looks the same

bible study

Seeingwithcompassion Yvonne Joan Devadas

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hen I was at university, I took a terrestrial ecology module. I learned how different organisms interact to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Coming from Singapore – which is known for being a green city – I would venture into the tropical forest feeling a little bored because everything around me was green and every plant looked the same. But it wasn’t until I finished the university module that I started to look at the forest in a different way. There was so much going on beneath its calm green façade that I had never noticed before. It was as if I was seeing the forest the way God sees it – through its creator’s eyes. If we projected that idea onto people and asked ourselves if we see them as God

knows them to be, I wonder if we would be surprised to learn that they are more than what we assumed them to be?

How does God see us?

Perhaps the first thing to note before we try to see others as God sees them, is to understand how God sees all humankind. The only way to know God’s perspective is by looking into his Word. ●●

The Bible tells us that we are constantly on God’s mind. His thoughts towards us are not only precious, but are as numerous as the sands of the seashore. ‘How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you’ (Psalm 139:17Revive 11

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18). It’s like having a newborn baby come into the family – your mind is constantly on the child. That’s how God is with us. We are always on his mind and he has our best interests at heart.

He is a God who takes pleasure in providing us with good things.

Matthew 6:25-32 reminds us of God’s provision. If he can feed the birds of the air and clothe the grass of the field so beautifully, how much more will he provide for us – his children?

God’s graciousness in giving is again reflected in what Paul wrote in Romans 8:32: ‘He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’

Pastor Judah Smith points out in his book Jesus is___. that when God looks at us he sees Jesus. We can hurt and grieve God by our actions but his

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wrath against sin was taken away by Jesus’ death. God no longer looks at our sin when we accept Jesus as our Saviour. When Jesus was baptised, God said: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ (Luke 3:22). God is pleased with us just as he is with his own son. ‘This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus’ (1 John 4:17). What a thought – when God sees us, he sees Jesus!

God-lenses

It is easy to show care and concern for the ones we love, such as family and friends, but what about people who are

not so easy to love? Do we judge them?

Do we find it hard to see any hope in and for them?

There will be times we come into contact with people who need help because they find themselves in unfortunate situations due to wrong choices. Sadly, some people will be prejudiced against them because of those choices and see their situation as hopeless and bleak, as they see no hope of a future for them. They may even be seen as people who get in the way of our own lives. However, we need to remember to see them through the eyes of God – with compassion – for God thinks about them all the time and he wants to give them good things. God

‘It is easy to show care and concern for the ones we love ... but what about people who are not so easy to love? Do we judge them?’

bible study

loves unconditionally and sent his son to die for all people – everyone has worth in God’s eyes.

replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family”’ (vv 14-15).

In chapters 7 and 8 we see God allowing Gideon to use only 300 men to battle against 135,000 Midianites so that God’s power could be exhibited in the victory. God called Gideon a ‘mighty warrior’ (6:12) and led him and the Israelites to victory. Gideon considered himself a ‘nobody’ in his community – his family was the weakest in his tribe and he was the least in his family. What do we learn from Gideon? We learn to focus on what God sees and what his power can do, rather than what others say we are or capable of achieving.

Seeing Potential

There are many examples in the Bible of individuals who went ‘from zero to hero’ because of God’s transforming power in their lives. The common thread through all their stories is that God saw their worth. ●●

Gideon In Judges chapter 6, God raised Gideon to lead the Israelites. Israel had been sinning and turning to false gods, so God had given them into the hands of the Midianites. The Midianites attacked Israel, took their crops and destroyed everything. This continued for seven years until God came to Gideon and said: ‘“Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon

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Jephthah Jephthah is an unsung hero. In Judges chapter 10 we see Israel forsaking the Lord, in distress because of their disobedience and deciding to turn back to God after sinning against him:

‘But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now”’ (v 15). Jephthah, also a mighty warrior (11:1), was willing to fight to bring victory to Israel. However, being the son of a prostitute, he was driven out of his father’s house and rejected by society. Despite Jephthah’s background and situation, God was still able to work through him and use him. God saw something in Jephthah that others could not see. God has a way of taking the rejects and making use of them. In God’s eyes everyone has worth.

Seeing Need

In The Salvation Army we sing: ‘To be like Jesus! This hope possesses me, In every thought and deed, This is my aim, my creed; To be like Jesus! This hope possesses me, His Spirit helping me, Like him I’ll be’ (SASB 328). Being like Jesus Revive 13

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Question

s

When we look at people, both those we love and our acquaintances, do we show true Christian love, despite their failings?

Reach out Reach out ininLove Love ...... should be the goal of every Christian while here on earth – to pursue the character of Christ.

If we look at the life and ministry of Jesus we notice that people always came first – not rules, regulations or societal conventions but people. Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of the crippled woman who sat in the synagogue. When Jesus saw her he called her forward, put hands on her and healed her. It didn’t matter whether Jesus was in the middle of preaching or that it was the Sabbath, he wanted to set her free from her infirmity (v 12).

When we read in Matthew chapter 8 of the man with leprosy who asked Jesus to cleanse him, the Master reached out his hand, touched him and healed him.

Jesus wasn’t afraid of what others thought

or said, because people always came first.

If we are to connect people to Christ we need to mirror his character and reach out to others, regardless of who they are or their circumstances. We need to see the same hope within them that Christ sees.

Heart to God, Hand to Man

Reaching out in love should be the priority for those who call themselves children of God: ‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). However, we need to acknowledge that we are only human, and seeing the opportunities in people through love doesn’t always come easily. Our love for people cannot come from determination – God has to impart true, unconditional love to us. The love

‘Our love for people cannot come from determination – God has to impart true, unconditional love to us’ 14 Revive

Have you ever doubted someone’s worth because of their past?

What is your first thought when you meet someone who doesn’t seem to exhibit potential or whose future seems bleak?

Do you pray for others to be the best they can be – to be all that God intends them to be?

Do you see yourself as someone who helps others reach their potential and gives hope?

we show others indicates our level of love for God. If we fail to love vertically (heart to God), we may conclude there’s a problem in our horizontal relationships (hand to man). We love those around us by pursuing what’s best for them.

We need to develop the capacity to see people not as they are, but what they can become. Our vision, and ultimately our actions, must be fuelled by God’s love and compassion, with the results being as simple as listening, encouraging, providing opportunities or praying.

It’s time to ask for a vision that helps us see the need and potential in individuals. It’s time to see with compassion. It’s time to see as God sees.

Yvonne Joan Devadas social justice research and development coordinator singapore, malaysia and myanmar territory

HEART MIND WILL

Praying God’s Way

prayer

THE

100%

HOUSE

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

Nancy Roberts

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ust what is God’s way? Jesus made it seem so simple when he taught his disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4). This prayer, known as The Lord’s Prayer, has since become the model of prayer around the world for all Christians. It is the prayer that binds Christians together. Each part of the prayer is important and needs to be included or exemplified in our personal prayers as we come before our maker, helping us to open our eyes and our hearts, firstly, to give him the honour and glory he is due, and to open the way to

‘This kind of praying involves the total person’ bring our personal needs and desires, as well as our hurts, to him. Having taken care of ourselves – being made right before him – we pray for others and the needs of our world.

This kind of praying involves the total person – the total personality – the heart, mind and will. Each part is as important as the other. Prayer cannot be merely intellectual or emotional – to be truly and wholly helpful it must be balanced.

Balanced prayer produces satisfaction within the one praying – having spent time with God – having entered into his

secret chamber. It brings the satisfaction of having spoken directly with God, knowing he has heard and, of equal importance, understands. He has given us his full attention and we feel we are more than just human beings he created and left on earth to fend for ourselves – we are indeed his children and he is our Abba Father. The Lord desires and deserves our total, full attention, and he gives that to us as well.

Praying then leads us into the consciousness of his continual presence.

Brother Lawrence spoke of this kind of praying as a ‘habitual, silent, and secret conversation with God’. For we see and feel him throughout our day as we move about in our world.

Not only do introverts and extroverts see and experience God differently, but when mixing into those two personality types the attributes of thought, feeling, sensation and intuition, you build yet another dimension. Each of us possesses all these attributes in varying degrees, some being more highly developed than others. There are individuals who are deep thinkers, some who are sensitive, some with high feelings or emotions, and some who are intuitive and able to see things beyond what others might see or understand. We are all unique (Psalm 139:14).

Intuitive people think beyond the surface and often put forward ideas that are profound. We think of them as being

given the realities of the spiritual realm.

The gospel writer John fits well into this category.

Whatever your personality or the depth of the attributes you have been given, it is important to work at developing them all, which will result in a deeper personal relationship and understanding of God. Your prayers will become more balanced and more like those Jesus himself prayed.

Begin by praying for concrete needs, taking time to read and meditate on his words. Form your prayers around the example Jesus gave his disciples and by praying at all times and in all situations (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

Praying as Jesus taught will help you to better know him, to know yourself, to know others and their needs, and to set your daily living in the direction God would choose.

Hope and possibilities for a better world begin with God at work in you.

Pray!

Commissioner Nancy Roberts LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN USA CENTRAL TERRITORY

Revive 15

S

social issues

p

eak Estelle Blake

e v i g – t ou

C

atherine Booth, known as ‘The Army Mother’, said, ‘I know not what he is going to do with me, but I have given myself entirely into his hands’. As a young cadet (trainee Salvation Army officer), I signed a covenant to serve where I was needed but I never expected I would find myself on this journey of service.

After more than 20 years of officership (ministry), 11 of those in the red-light district of London, I am currently serving in the Italy and Greece Command as the anti-human trafficking coordinator, helping corps (churches) and centres to establish programmes in order to reach out to men and women in prostitution.

It’s amazing what happens when you give yourself entirely to God. It doesn’t mean that it’s always easy, but God has a way of turning your passion into his ministry. I suppose the hardest part for Christians is to begin to see where we live and work as a mission field.

In January 2015, Rome Corps began reaching out to people in prostitution. It was not a spur of the moment idea but

a situation that had been prayed about and researched over a period of time. We clambered into our red van and off we went.

It was with courage that we stepped out of the van into a dark car park and there met people who would soon become friendly faces. What could we offer to these people standing in front of us? What would they think of these Christians who came to say hello?

Over the past 12 months the invisible faces from our research became names.

We have been able to share laughter, joy, tears and hugs, and especially the gospel of Jesus – the hope of the world.

In December 2015, we took the opportunity to share the reality of Christmas with ‘our’ people. We sang of Jesus with our new-found friends, and to see a group of more than 20 women praying together before returning to ‘business as usual’ reminded me that even in the darkest of situations we can ‘be’ Jesus.

With 95 per cent of those we meet coming from the transgender community they expect nothing but condemnation. When questioning

‘We have been able to share laughter, joy, tears and hugs’ 16 Revive

social issues

While women weep as their child is taken away to be sold into prostitution, I’ll fight.

While little children go hungry harvesting my coffee and tea, I’ll fight.

While men are tricked into forced labour as they are now, I’ll fight.

While there is a trafficker who preys on the poor and vulnerable anywhere in this world, I’ll fight.

While there is a poor lost girl who is working in a basement enslaved to clean and cook, I’ll fight.

While there remains one victim of human trafficking and slavery, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end! why the church comes to meet them, I respond with: ‘When was the last time you went to church?’ The answer is always the same: ‘Many years ago, because I am not accepted in church.’ My reply is: ‘Well here we are, the church, to tell you that you are loved and precious to God.’ The response is disarming as we meet our people under a street lamp.

Whatever the weather or the day – we see hope.

Part of my role means that I am involved in The Salvation Army’s European Network for Anti-Human Trafficking and just recently I had the privilege to deliver training in this area in Warsaw, Poland. What satisfaction there was to see homeless men realising they are experts when you explain the issues of human trafficking. It was amazing to see a man realise that he can do more because he now has the words and knowledge to explain the issues to other

homeless people, who are often invisible.

And the sense of achievement when a children’s worker casually mentions in conversation after training that she recognised the situation being played out at a children’s club just days before.

What a privilege to watch people being empowered and seeing signs of hope for a change.

In July 2015 I attended The Salvation Army’s International Strategy Task Force meeting for anti-human trafficking, which gave an opportunity for the participants to work as a united Army and see the aim of One Army, One Mission, One Message becoming a reality. Under the guidance and direction of Lieut-Colonel Eirwen Pallant (Deputy Director, International Social Justice Commission), I believe we will see The Salvation Army leading the way, and watch as others choose to join the fight.

This is not a new initiative for the Army

as it has been involved historically for many years, campaigning as early as 1885 in the fight against the child sex trade of London. More than 130 years later Salvationists are still involved.

The Salvation Army Founder, General William Booth, said: ‘I’ll fight to the very end.’

Recently I have been rereading the book Stopping the Traffick: A Christian Response to Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking (Regnum Books International, 2014). In it Kevin Bales states: ‘If we make the decision and apply ourselves, slavery could be gone in twenty-five years.’ That means I have 20-plus years to go. I want the estimated 29 million slaves to have freedom before then, and I believe it can happen. In every impossible situation we have a God who specialises in making things possible.

The Bible reminds us clearly that, ‘nothing will be impossible with God’ (Luke 1:37 ESV).

This year the theme for the antihuman trafficking day of prayer is ‘Speak Out – Give Hope!’ When we have the courage to speak out and share the news of salvation through Jesus Christ – the hope of the world – nothing is impossible. Slavery will be abolished.

In a world of shifting values people will be empowered to see their value.

Opportunities for ministry and action arise because of empowerment, and we will see a change.

William Booth, in what is reputed to be his last public address in the Royal Albert Hall, London, in May 1912, stated that he would fight to bring justice to those in need. Above is a modern-day adaptation of his ‘I’ll Fight’ speech.

Major Estelle Blake anti-human trafficking coordinator italy and greece command

Revive 17

my story

Finding Home lydia’s Story

Heather Grinsted

M

y name is Lydia and I am 19 years of age. My father died when I was five years old and my family are poor. I grew up in Uganda feeling lonely and was frequently told I was worthless and ugly. My life had been a living hell and I was so full of hate. But now I am one of the daughters of The Salvation Army’s Booth House* in Kuwait.

After a man came to our market and told me about jobs in Kuwait, I decided to go there so that I could earn enough money to support my family and pay for college tuition. My family paid an agent UGX2.5 million (US$725) and, along with three other girls, I travelled to Kuwait to work in a hotel for KWD100 (US$330) a month.

When we arrived at Kuwait airport an agent took our passports and I was told that instead I would be working as a housemaid. Despite refusing to do so, the agent took me to a house where there was a family of five children, and a mama (mother) and baba (father) who became my employers. I was expected to work from 5am until 1am the next morning. This happened day after day.

The mama often shouted at me and beat me, giving me food only once a day. When I asked for my salary, baba told me that 18 Revive

because he had paid a lot of money to the agent he would not be giving me my salary. I wanted to leave, but baba had my passport. He eventually said he would let me go and return my passport if I gave him KWD300 (US$990). I called the agency but they told me not to go to them for help. Despite the fact I had no money and baba still had my passport and wouldn’t give it to me unless I paid him the money, I decided to run away. I left the house very early one morning and a taxi driver took me to The Salvation Army’s Booth House.

Deciding to go to Kuwait was a big mistake. I encountered only disappointment and feelings of inferiority that made me feel worthless, dirty and totally useless. I used to say that I wanted to go to sleep and never wake up again, but I don’t say that any more. Things began to change.

The Lord is good. The Salvation Army’s leaders in Kuwait, Majors Stewart and Heather Grinsted, who have been like

‘The mama often shouted at me and beat me, giving me food only once a day’

my story

parents to me, told me that I had to forgive. It was not easy but I prayed, and by God’s help I have forgiven everybody who has hurt me. I am now happy and my heart is free.

During my time in Kuwait my mother was very ill but I thank God that through prayer she has been healed. The Salvation Army fought hard to get me home to Uganda without asking for anything in return. They have met my needs and given me a comfortable place to live. Before I came to Booth House I was suffering, I had lost all hope, and was shy and lonely, but I thank God for The Salvation Army because it has changed my life.

I thank God for everyone at Booth House. They have been so good to me – giving me a home full of life, love and wisdom.

I pray that God will continue to bless the workers and the ministry undertaken at the centre.

It’s amazing how God works. If there is one thing I am sure of, it’s that God watches over and protects those who trust in him.

*Booth House is a Salvation Army shelter that opened its doors in July 2009.

At least two thirds of the population in Kuwait are migrant workers. The only way they can receive visas is through sponsors. Some people treat domestic workers like members of their family, but sometimes the worker has been lured into the job under coercion or false pretence by unscrupulous agents and is subsequently mistreated. The majority of women originally come from villages in rural parts of their countries. To go from cleaning a village home to cleaning a four-storey house, as well as looking after several children and cooking meals, is far beyond their expectations and abilities.

Every year hundreds of housemaids flee to their embassies, seeking relief from non-payment of wages, working long hours, lack of food, captivity, isolation and violent physical and sexual abuse. But as more women

Lydia wrote her story while she was staying at Booth House.

She has now returned to Uganda and has been sponsored by a personal donor to study for a business degree at university.

She is the first member of her family to go to university and wants to use her qualification to assist other women in Uganda to stay and work in their home country.

Major Heather Grinsted regional president of women’s ministries middle east region

come from countries without embassies in Kuwait, The Salvation Army spends time advocating for the women at Booth House with agencies, sponsors and government ministries.

While living at Booth House, women have the opportunity to come under the influence of the gospel through worship services, prayers (with voluntary attendance) and the pastoral care of Christian staff. It welcomes women without discriminating on the grounds of race, religion or circumstance and seeks to repatriate them with the assistance of government support. The women’s basic needs are met and staff and volunteers have created a schedule of programmes to equip and enhance the women’s skills, including languages, domestic skills, crafts and sewing, basic computing, nutrition and aerobics.

Revive 19

resource

Sarah Micula

M

‘

y family and I have been coming to this corps for six years – and I still don’t feel embraced. I feel like an outsider looking in.’

This vulnerable admission from a fellow corps (church) member broke my heart.

It also confirmed to me that there is a great need for deeper connections within the Church. That isn’t a new need or a revolutionary thought, it’s an ongoing need the Church has been working through since its beginning. But what can we do to bring healing, unity and a sense of being known in our churches?

The Salvation Army is not the only church asking these questions. After witnessing other organisations creating small groups focused on knowing each other better with purpose, the USA

Central Territory’s Women’s Ministries Department knew this was a movement we needed to be a part of, and my friend’s statement and choice of words cemented the vision. We need to learn how to embrace each other by creating a space in which we feel we are being heard, valued and known.

Officially launched in February 2015, Embrace is a focus group option with a simple vision to bring together women in groups of six to eight within a corps community (and beyond), to encourage purposeful conversations about life and Jesus, and to build friendship and sisterhood within the Body of Christ. Embrace groups meet once a month for up to two hours at a time on a day that works best for each group. The format is to share a meal (or coffee and tea) in each other’s homes

‘I was struck by the women’s hospitality towards us and by their commitment to the group’ 20 Revive

and engage in a guided discussion, with questions provided, to help open the doors of sharing and vulnerability – creating true sisterhood.

Embrace is a simple concept, yet it creates many questions. In my opinion, the confusion is due to the existing format of women’s ministries or home league gatherings, where there is a set programme with themed decorations, plastic tablecloths, giveaways and food. I once received an email with the question: ‘What is the programme?’ The questions and conversation generated when the women meet create the programme!

The long-standing format for programming is still relevant to many corps, but there are women craving meaningful conversations that they don’t always experience at a traditionally programmed meeting.

I grew up as the granddaughter of a faithful home league member with a perfect attendance record, and I have great respect for what the home league has been for countless women around

resource The Lakeview Embrace group meet at the College for Officer Training in Chicago, USA. Below: Embrace encompasses all age groups as women gather for fellowship and spiritual refreshment.

the world. For my grandma it was community, friendship, entertainment, service and belonging. Her commitment to and testimony about the home league’s impact on her life influenced me even at a young age.

When I was a teenager at summer camps, my girlfriends and I would remain in the dining hall after lunch, grab a cup of tea and talk. We called it home league. Mind you, I had never been to a home league meeting, but this is what I thought it might look like. Some of our best conversations happened in those moments. Whether it was obvious or not, we knew that

home league was a programme that gathered women together, and we were experiencing it on our own terms.

I never attended a home league meeting with my grandmother, but she showed me the impact this group of women had on her.

In 2007, on the other side of the world, I experienced a home league meeting for the first time during a six-week mission trip to Northern Kwa Zulu/Natal Division in the Southern Africa Territory. I was struck by the women’s hospitality towards us and by their commitment to the group. They wore unique red home league uniforms with matching berets and despite being well advanced in years they walked long distances to join together in fellowship – refusing to miss meeting together.

The home league in Khambi met in each other’s homes. They sang, talked, prayed and enjoyed tea and biscuits and, in the midst of it all, displayed a way to do ‘church’ in an intentional and meaningful way. We also accompanied them on longdistance walks to conduct visitation and to see the foundations of their new corps building. The building was in the first stages of construction, but they were so proud of what they were helping to establish. Through their commitment and love for each other they were

building more than a new church facility.

Moments like this are etched in my mind. The way you live and love people within your community will influence those who are watching from the perimeters.

My friend’s admission about not feeling embraced was a light-bulb moment for me. It connected the dots and I realised that God uses the experiences and moments we witness to form the desire and calling he has for us.

He uses them to give us a passion and purpose in order to serve him. He uses them to break our hearts.

My grandma showed me that women gathering in The Salvation Army gave her community and purpose, and the women of Khambi showed me tangible ways to live it out. And as you might guess, not only did my friend’s disclosure capture my heart, so did the word ‘embrace’.

From these experiences and moments of exposure I wanted to be a part of carrying on the legacy of home league and women’s ministries. Embrace is a way to keep moving forward, to propel the momentum created by our grandmothers and mothers – the momentum that has been practised for years through women gathering together – loving when it’s easy, loving when it’s hard – and showing up for each other.

Start your Embrace group today. Visit www.uscwomensministries.com/ Embrace/ for more information, and to sign up to lead an Embrace group.

Sarah Micula programme specialist – women’s ministries department usa central territory

Revive 21

‘What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring.

Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.’

‘If you believe in an unseen Christ, you will believe in the unseen Christlike potential of others.’

Anthony Burgess (English writer and composer)

‘Faith is a way of looking at the world from God’s perspective.’

Rick Warren (Evangelical Pastor and author)

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE John Lubbock (Banker, politician, philanthropist and scientist)

‘The world sees only what you do. God sees why you do it.’

‘We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.’

Anon

Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

‘Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming.’

resource

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German writer and statesman)

Joyfully His

Women’s Ministries 2016 Twelve new Bible studies for 2016 have been prepared and written by women of all ages, representing The Salvation Army worldwide.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY NOW AT:

Available in English, French Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian and Swedish

www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/biblestudyjoyfullyhis

22 Revive

‘Even when everyone else sees our faults, God still sees our possibilities.’

Anon

A devotional Study in Hebrews

By Amy Reardon Major Reardon thoughtfully guides readers through 30 days of in-depth devotions, unpacking and discovering the heart of the epistle to Hebrews.

Holiness Revealed is an excellent resource designed for personal or group Bible study, providing engaging prose for daily soul care rather than merely busy-work Bible assignments.

The biblically relevant devotional helps Scriptures transform contemporary disciples’ minds and hearts by revealing the power of the new covenant and its guarantor, the perfect priest Jesus Christ.

www.amazon.co.uk Also available as an ebook at the above address

subscriptions

UK £8.50 Or email: subscriptions@sp-s.co.uk

Or email: subscriptions@sp-s.co.uk

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review

Holiness Revealed

SPEAK UT give hope!

Annual Day of prayer for

vIctims of human-trafficking Sunday 25 September 2016