Quotes from the media

NUMBER OF PEOPLE SLEEPING ROUGH IN LONDON UP 24% IN A YEAR

The number of people sleeping rough in London has jumped 24 per cent in the past year, according to an official count, meaning more than 3,600 people slept on the capital’s streets between June and September.

More than half were found sleeping rough for the first time by outreach teams – 35 per cent more than the same time last year – as street homelessness in London heads back towards pre-pandemic levels, with mattresses, tents and cardboard shelters again filling doorways and alleys.

Rising private rents, increasing evictions and a reluctance to leave temporary shelters and move into permanent housing because of fears of unaffordable energy bills have been cited as driving factors by homelessness campaigners…

A total of 481 people are now deemed to be living on the streets full-time – up from 264 at the start of the pandemic, when hotels were used as hostels, and an increase of 17 per cent on the previous three months…

‘We are starting to see the serious effects of the deepening cost of living crisis on the streets and in our services, and as we head into the winter it’s very likely that, without help, many people who are just about scraping by will no longer be able to manage,’ said Petra Salva, the director of rough sleeping at St Mungo’s…

Half of London’s rough sleepers are UK citizens, while the largest foreign populations are from Romania and Poland. The majority are between 36 and 55 years old; half have mental health problems; and a third need help with drugs and drinking.

The Guardian

PROTESTANT PASTOR IS FIRST CHRISTIAN CLERGY IMPRISONED ON CHARGES OF SEDITION IN HONG KONG

A judge in Hong Kong sentenced a 59-year-old Protestant pastor to more than one year in prison for sedition, making him the first Christian clergy in the city to be convicted under the … national security law that mainland China imposed two years ago…

The pastor’s sentencing came days after the Roman Catholic Church renewed a scrutinised agreement with the People’s Republic of China over the appointment of bishops despite the Communist government’s continued restrictions on religious freedom…

In 1997, China had agreed to a ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement to allow certain freedoms for Hong Kong…

Critics contend the security law undercuts the promised autonomy.

Christian Today

WARNING 50,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES COULD BE HOMELESS BY NEXT YEAR, ESTIMATES SHOW

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees who fled to the UK for safety … may find themselves homeless by next year.

The government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which provides Ukrainian refugees with a host home for a minimum of six months, is about to run out – leaving many refugees without a place to stay.

One estimate predicts that 50,000 Ukrainian refugees will be homeless by next year, with many already living in temporary accommodation for up to six months as [they] wait for social housing to become available.

The Local Government Association said it is ‘deeply concerned’ about the growing number of Ukrainians presenting as homeless to their council…

More than 83,000 refugees have arrived on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

ITV News

CHRISTIANS URGED TO PRAY FOR THE MEDIA AS 59 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN 2022 ALONE AND 524 IMPRISONED

Christians are being urged to pray for the media and those who work in it.

The call, by Christians in Media, comes as 49 journalists and media workers have been killed this year alone and 524 are currently in prison.

A global index compiled by Reporters without Borders shows North Korea, Eritrea and Iran as having the worst records on press freedom, with China also near the foot of the table.

The call for prayer also comes at a time when trust in many news sources is at historically low levels, and fake news and disinformation are major concerns worldwide.

Premier

SALVATIONIST

salvationist.org.uk/magazine Issue No 1884

EDITOR Major Mal Davies

MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, George Tanton, Lyn Woods, Major Margaret Bovey

ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips

PROOFREADER Chris Horne

Published weekly by The Salvation Army and printed on paper from sustainable sources by CKN Print, Northampton. © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. ISSN 2516-5909.

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All you need is…

I RECALL an anecdote about a man who boasted that he’d used the same axe for 24 years … and he’d only ever had to change the handle twice and the axe head three times! So many things just don’t seem to last as long as they used to. We live in a disposable society – buy cheap and, if it breaks, just throw it away and buy a new one.

How many kettles have you owned? How many toasters? How many lawnmowers? How many irons? How many hairdryers? How many tennis rackets?

Things break, rust, age, stretch, lose colour, collapse, get stuck and fail. What are the things you’ve owned the longest? We can hold on to books or paintings or even some furniture for decades, but when it comes to items we use regularly, very little lasts.

Maybe that’s why this week’s Bible study, on pages 14 and 15, hit me like a breath of fresh air. Captain Rob Westwood-Payne reflects on Psalm 143 and the unfailing love of God. In light of all I’ve said above, just think about that for a moment: the unfailing love of God. Unfailing.

Captain Rob writes: ‘We discover that God’s unfailing love transforms us. As we live in relationship with our unfailing, loving God, we slowly realise he hears our prayers, takes our concerns seriously and provides for our needs.’

Other articles in this issue show how God loves us and how we – as a Salvation Army – have attempted to show that love to others. On pages 10 and 11, George Tanton uncovers some Army history as he explores how British Salvationists assisted German prisoners of war during the Second World War. He quotes the Dover Express, which reported in 1947: ‘The Salvation Army all over the country, have taken upon themselves the job of brightening the lives of these prisoners of war.’

Also on a military theme, on page 9, Colonels Martha and Michael Pressland tell Lyn Woods about their work supporting British military forces in Germany in the 1980s, offering practical, emotional and spiritual support.

After talking about their roles and duties, Colonel Michael says: ‘The appointment was so mixed and varied and yet so fulfilling.’

Showing love to others doesn’t have to involve the military or overseas service, it can happen right here in our corps and programmes.

On pages 12 and 13, four members of Enabled talk about the importance of making Christmas an inclusive time for all. Diane Gorman says something as simple as making font sizes bigger on PowerPoint presentations can help some people with poor eyesight to sing along, while Divisional Envoys Mandy and Tristan Lanceley mention that being prepared to move seats can make wheelchair users feel more welcome.

Unfailing love was clearly evident in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32) and that is the focus of the book Watching the Wayward, reviewed on page 16. Wendy Gorton Hill provides us with a collection of poems and psalms – all prayers, in a way – on the experience of having a child turn away from faith. It’s a book many readers may find helpful.

Throughout this issue, if you look closely enough, you will see reflections, glimpses and even bright spotlights on God’s unfailing love. A love we can – if we choose – reflect in our world.

Let’s all try to love God and love others with an unfailing love. It may be aspirational but, with the Spirit’s help, it’s attainable.

CONTENTS

Quotes from the media 2

News 4 to 6

Prayer matters 6

News feature 7

Together in unity at the Intercultural Mission Conference

by Major Jonny Smith

Preview 8

Shalom

by Austen Hardwick

Interview 9

‘It was enriching’

Colonels Martha and Michael Pressland talk to Lyn Woods

Feature 10 and 11

Ambassadors of goodwill

by George Tanton

Feature 12 and 13

Celebrating Christmas together

by Lyn Woods

Bible study 14 and 15

Unfailing love

by Captain Rob Westwood-Payne

Through the week with Salvationist 14 and 15

by Lieut-Colonel Brenda Oakley

Reviews 16

Watching the Wayward

reviewed by Rebecca Goldsmith

Sacred Risk

reviewed by Major Mal Davies

New commitments 17

Announcements 18

Adverts 19

The Salvation Army and me 20

featuring Di Bennett

MAJOR MAL DAVIES

Editor Salvationist

SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS

Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated

MODERN SLAVERY

Royal guest visits music therapy session

UK

PRINCESS Eugenie of York and Julia de Boinville, co-founders of The Anti-Slavery Collective, joined survivors of modern slavery supported by The Salvation Army at a music therapy session.

After taking part in a warm-up, the guests enjoyed an informal performance of songs by the group of men and women who have been sharing together through music weekly, under the leadership of specialist support worker Nigel Long.

Princess Eugenie and Julia chatted to survivors and support workers and heard about the positive impact the sessions were having. Two of the singers introduced their favourite song, Abba’s ‘I Have a Dream’, and explained why it was so important to them.

The Army and its partners have helped more than 18,000 survivors to rebuild their lives in the past 11 years across England and Wales, as part of the government’s Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. Jenny Thompson oversees the Army’s London Outreach Service and its team of specialist support workers who work with survivors of modern slavery.

She said: ‘This particular corps has been hosting this music session for almost a year now. These sessions are about so much more than music and singing skills. They are about building confidence and giving survivors space to have fun and share with each other, at the same time as getting support from our team.’

The group plan to share their musical talents by performing at care homes and to other groups in the community. – AR

MUSIC COMMUNITY

WOODBRIDGE Four colleagues from the East of England Co-op spent time at the food bank, assisting volunteers with unpacking donations, filling shelves and supporting service users. Their visit helped them gain an insight into the important role the food bank plays in the community. They are pictured with food bank manager Tanya Hill. – AH

INTERNATIONAL

Hadleigh Farm Yarncrafters crochet and knit more than 40 hats for young refugees in Calais

EVENT

The bandmasters of Eccleston Brass Band and Blackburn Band add a personal item to a concert that raised over £1,000 for children in Ukraine HENDON The Knit and Natter group celebrated its fifth anniversary. The group meets twice a month and welcomes everyone. They knit for charitable concerns including hats and vests for African babies, knee blankets for residents in care homes, twiddlemuffs for people living with dementia, bonding squares for mums and their newborns in incubators and hats for premature babies. Numbers are picking up since the Covid-19 lockdowns and 30 people attended the anniversary, along with the manager of Lansdowne care home, two additional carers and three residents. The group is grateful to John Lewis and Partners for the use of its facilities. – MS

COMMUNITY

ANNIVERSARY

KILMARNOCK Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main and Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main led a weekend celebrating 140 years of The Salvation Army in the town. Provost of East Ayrshire council Jim Todd attended Saturday evening’s music celebration event, where Colonel Paul recalled the happy time he spent in the singing company as a child, when his parents were the corps officers. – EF

ANNIVERSARY

DARLINGTON The corps celebrated 143 years of witness and worship. Celebrations began on Saturday with an afternoon tea, followed by a music festival with North Shields Songsters and a combined band of North Shields, Darlington and friends. On Sunday afternoon, 75 people shared in singing, crafting, Bible message and food in Messy Church, with the theme of Salt and Light. It was a great weekend celebrating the faithfulness of God. – SM

EVENT

MERTHYR TYDFIL The young and not so young gathered for a Light Party themed He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. They enjoyed craft tables, chorus singing and a Bible message from Cadet Paul Sass. – LB BOGNOR REGIS As part of the Sunday programme, corps folk met in four locations away from the hall as a ‘scattered church’. Each group explored the topic of prayer. Some shared conversation and prayer over a breakfast on the beach at sunrise, while others gathered at a coffee shop and another group enjoyed a seaside brunch and discussion. Some members carried out litter-picking in a park before sharing in the prepared conversation starters. Scattered church encourages the corps to consider how to ‘be in church’ but away from the hall, while giving them the tools to hold faith conversations with people they meet in their daily lives. Other scattered church activities this year have included dog walking, paddle boarding, countryside walks and helping to clear gardens for those struggling. – AH

MUSIC

CHIPPENHAM Former band members and friends from Cirencester, Trowbridge and Swindon Gorse Hill joined the corps for a band reunion weekend. Musical Editorial Manager Andrew Blyth (THQ) led an afternoon of teaching and, after their music-making, the band were joined by corps members and friends for a buffet tea, where many acquaintances were renewed. The afternoon concluded with band performances of ‘The Front Line’, ‘Jubilee Day’ and ‘To Seek and Know’. On Sunday morning Andrew led worship, challenging the congregation to think about community. – JD

LIFEHOUSE

SUNDERLAND MONKWEARMOUTH Swan Lodge Lifehouse chaplain Julie Judson collected a donation of 33 new sleeping bags and more than a dozen bags full of tinned food from the corps as part of its commitment to supporting partnership in local mission. The Lifehouse provides food supplies and sleeping bags for people unable or unwilling to access emergency hostel accommodation in the city. – DM-A

COMMUNITY

SOUTHPORT The corps is providing energy top-ups on pre-payment cards to vulnerable members of the community in a bid to help people ride out the cost of living crisis over the winter months. Corps officer Captain Alison Hutchings said: ‘We can’t fix everything, but our hope is that we can make a difference. Handing out top-ups isn’t going to help in the long run, and it is important that we also work with clients and partner organisations to get people the help they need, including debt, benefits, employment or budgeting advice.’ – AR