CONTENTS
A MINISTRY OF HEALING THURSDAY at 8 pm is no longer the time when I sit down with my fellow musicians for band practice. Instead, I’m standing on my doorstep joining with others in the street and thousands across the UK to applaud NHS staff and other key workers who are putting themselves at risk to heal, help and support others. It’s been wonderful to see the commitment and co-operation of so many people: medical and support staff, including retired and former doctors and nurses who have returned to the NHS, care workers, pharmacists, supermarket staff and many more. There are also the 750,000 volunteers who have offered to support vulnerable people by delivering medicines, driving them to medical appointments and ringing them for regular chats. No doubt there are Salvationists and others linked to the Army among those who are responding in all these ways. The pandemic means that health and healing are foremost in everyone’s thinking. But people are more than physical beings – we are body, mind and spirit, and true healing encompasses all these things. ‘Healed and made whole’ is the theme of General Brian Peddle’s Easter message on pages 4 and 5. He says: ‘On Easter Day we rise to new life in Christ – the new life is eternal life, it encapsulates victory over sin and death, it includes our healing and wholeness, it is a life of deep peace.’ The disciple Peter experienced a kind of healing as the risen Jesus met him by the Sea of Galilee and gave him a fresh start. Commissioner Robert Street reflects on this encounter on pages 14 and 15. John Banks is a modern-day disciple who, like Peter, found his relationship with Jesus healed through the forgiveness of past sins. He shares his testimony on page 21. In recent years the issue of mental health has received a lot of attention, and at this time of increased isolation and stress it is an even greater concern. A media quote on page 2 describes some newly published Church of England reflections on mental health. The booklet includes practical suggestions to help people care for their mental health, as well as advice on prayer and biblical meditation. On the evening of the first Easter Day the disciples were in isolation, ‘with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders’ ( John 20:19). Jesus came to them, greeted them with ‘Peace be with you!’ and commissioned them: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (v21). As the Father had sent Jesus to bring healing of body, mind and spirit, so Jesus was sending the disciples to continue that ministry. We are included in that commission. Even if we are not qualified or able to respond in the way that others are, we can all have a ministry of healing. It may be just a comforting word or a listening ear over the phone, but it is Christlike service – and it will surely receive the applause of Heaven. O Lord, whose human hands were quick To feed the hungry, heal the sick, Who love by loving deed expressed, Help me to comfort the distressed. (SASB 1003)
COVER DESIGN Hannah Holden POETRY Stephen Pearson
Quotes from the media
2
General’s Easter message 4 and 5 News
6 to 8
Prayer pointers
8
Diary of self-isolation Just keep swimming! Week 2
9
by Major Karen Sandford
News feature Army provides help across Americas and Caribbean 10 and 11 Serving in a crisis Food banks
12 and 13
by Shanelle Manderson
Easter reflection 14 and 15 Head, hands and feet: Follow me – again! by Commissioner Robert Street
Feature Celebrating Easter Nigerian style
16
by Major Godspower Anozie
Reflection Who removed the nails?
17
by Brian Lewis
CD review No Greater Love
17
reviewed by Nick Hampton
Bible study Go and meet him!
18 and 19
by Major Martin Hill
Through the week with Salvationist
18 and 19
by Major Freda Benneyworth
New commitments
20
Testimony 21 ‘My past sins have been forgiven’ by John Banks
From the Editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
Announcements
22 and 23
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS Scripture quotations in Salvationist are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
Salvationist 11 April 2020
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