MODERN SLAVERY

Army urges Lords to protect victims’ rights

UK

THE Salvation Army has urged the House of Lords to protect victims of modern slavery from a bill designed to tackle illegal immigration.

The Army is ‘greatly concerned’ that the Illegal Migration Bill passed through the House of Commons while still containing provisions that will entrap the victims of modern slavery.

As the bill currently stands, it will be almost impossible for people being forced to work by criminal gangs to get help and break free from their captors.

Major Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery said: ‘Without major amendments, this bill will have the unintended consequence of undermining the rights of survivors of modern slavery and make it harder for genuine victims to access support through the existing systems.

‘While we have serious concerns around the bill as a whole, our position as holder of the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract gives us a unique insight into the potentially devastating impact this bill will have on victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.

‘It is essential that genuine victims of modern slavery are not refused the right to seek our help.

‘We are yet to see evidence showing that the modern slavery system is being widely exploited. We must not undermine our world-leading system as part of the government’s efforts to tackle illegal immigration. We also have concerns about the lack of scrutiny throughout the bill’s passage through the House of Commons, for instance the government is yet to publish an assessment detailing the bill’s expected impact.

‘It is vital that such a consequential bill is accompanied with comprehensive evidence to allow for proper consideration and debate.’ – AR

Event

New hall, new opportunities PLYMOUTH BARBICAN

THE newly leased premises in the Barbican area of Plymouth officially opened, with the ribbon cut by corps member Anthony Otter and the lord mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Sue Dann.

The weekend began with a Jam club party on Friday evening. At the official opening and dedication on Saturday, Secretary for Business Administration Lieut-Colonel Alan Read encouraged the corps to seek God through Psalm 127:1. Sunday worship was led by divisional leaders Majors Steve and Mandy White, who encouraged the corps to seize the door of opportunity.

Also in attendance were deputy lord mayor, Councillor Chris Penberthy, and Luke Pollard MP. – GJ

OUTREACH

SALE A concert by the New York Staff Band began with a traditional festival repertoire, with all music written exclusively for the group. After an interval ‘The Creation Story’ used visual media, spoken word, narration by LieutColonel Richard Munn and a mixture of popular Christian and secular songs. The immersive worship experience was followed by a choral benediction of ‘Rock of Ages’, which left the audience visibly moved. – BW

EXETER TEMPLE The community team produced ‘little bags of hope’ to build more connections between the corps community work and ministry. Each bag contained an Easter egg, a handmade card from children at a nearby school, a flyer with the lyrics to ‘Because He Lives’ (SASB 219), details of Easter and weekly activities and an Employment Plus flyer. This project was possible thanks to the contributions of about 110 people, 90 of whom were children. The bags were distributed to friends at the Salvation Army Housing Association, the community meal and Employment Plus Local. – JW

Colonel Paul Main and Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main led Good Friday and Easter Day meetings. On Good Friday the band and corps members joined other churches for open-air witness in the high street. Colonel Jenine challenged the many listeners to consider what the cross, representing forgiveness, freedom and hope, could mean in their lives. Colonel Paul led the early morning Easter Day meeting in Forbury Gardens with other churches before breakfast at the hall and a large celebration meeting. – BM

SALE During the Easter Day meeting the community choir enthusiastically declared, ‘Alleluia, Jesus Is Alive!’ At the conclusion of the meeting the whole congregation gathered outside to sing ‘In Christ Alone’, which brought neighbours outside to see what was happening. They were invited to share refreshments to celebrate the joy of Easter. – AM

SHERINGHAM Visitors heard the message of the Christ of Calvary at an open-air service on Good Friday morning. On Easter Day members of the congregation transformed a plain wooden cross in the hall through offerings of multicoloured flowers. The band and songsters added to the celebrations with their ministry. – MG

MAIDSTONE After reflecting at prayer stations during Holy Week, corps members responded to Jesus’ crucifixion by dipping a finger in red paint on Good Friday and putting their mark of love on the cross in the hall. On Holy Saturday, a walk led by Matt Clifton and Hannah guided corps members on the ancient Pilgrims’ Way between Hollingbourne and Charing in Kent. Easter Day was a celebration of Jesus being fully alive, with everyone invited to put a colourful paint mark on the cross as a sign of wanting to be fully alive in Jesus. In the afternoon the Walking on Water Group enjoyed an Easter egg hunt on the lake in Mote Park. Participants on paddleboards and pedalos had to find nine rubber ducks to make the Easter phrase ‘he is risen’. – GP

FAKENHAM Children enjoyed Palm Sunday-themed crafts at a Saturday family fun day, with worship led by Ruth Woodhouse. On Palm Sunday corps folk waved flags and sang ‘Hosanna in the Highest’. The Easter weekend began with the local churches joining together for a walk of witness, before hot cross buns at the hall and a meditation led by corps leader Territorial Envoy Alison Parker and her husband, Peter. On Easter Day, a sunrise service on Bullock Hills preceded breakfast at the hall and joyful worship with members of Fakenham Baptist Church. The hall was decorated with donated daffodils, which were distributed to those absent due to ill health. – AP

STAPLE HILL Holy Week events included an evening of Easter music from the band and songsters, with many of the large congregation attending for the first time. A Passover meal on Thursday included an explanation of its rituals and traditions. After Good Friday worship, the band held a short open-air meeting, where hot cross buns and Easter gifts were handed out. A capacity congregation gathered for Easter Day morning worship, after which the band marched to the park and presented an Easter concert to several hundred people. – VW

SUSAN Mahoney was welcomed as an adherent by corps officer Major Christine McCutcheon. Susan gave her testimony and spoke of how losing her father had been difficult and how she missed him, and how this led her to coming back to the Army and accepting Jesus as her saviour. – KR

Newcastle City Temple

RYAN, Roshelle, Luke, Cain and Katie were delighted to be the first junior soldiers to be enrolled in the new hall by corps officer Major Liz Hancock. Their enrolment service included a presentation of ‘Jesus Loves Me’ by the band. The children are pictured with Major Liz and YPSM Joy Sutton. – BI

Kettering Citadel

ELLA Clark was enrolled as a soldier by corps officer Major Nigel Govier. Ella gave a delightful testimony in front of family and friends, telling of how she had been dedicated to God as a baby, enrolled as a junior soldier in 2014 and enjoyed opportunities to learn about being a Christian and Salvationist. ‘I thank everyone who has influenced me, especially Nanna, and God is with me in everything,’ she said. Proverbs 3:6 was echoed in her sung testimony, ‘All the Way My Saviour Leads Me’. – NG

HARRY was enrolled as a junior soldier by corps officer Major Catherine Wyles. Harry read the Junior Soldier’s Promise prior to signing it. Harry attends Jam club and is always happy to take part in Sunday worship. – DSM

Street

SEVEN-year-old Noah was enrolled as a junior soldier by Territorial Youth and Children’s Secretary Major Helen Schofield. They are pictured with Noah’s parents, corps leader Territorial Envoy Louise and Cadet John. – JM

Feltham

JOAN Longhurst was welcomed as an adherent by corps officer Lieutenant James Pegg. Joan initially came to the corps through Cameo and soon felt at home. She started joining in worship a couple of years ago and decided that the time was right to make the corps her church home. – JB

Announcements

Army People Engagements

Appointed

Effective 27 April

CAPTAIN CHRISTINE BAKER, Torbay Cluster – Torquay

TERRITORIAL ENVOY MATTHEW BRAKE, Torbay Cluster – Paignton

MAJOR IAN MOUNTFORD, change of designation and hours, Territorial Mission Officer, Mission Service (2 days a week) and Chelmsford

CAPTAIN GRAEME SMITH, additional appointment, Divisional Candidates Officer, South East Division

Effective 28 April

CAPTAIN BERRI McKENNA, additional appointment, PT Chaplain to Wormwood Scrubs (1 day per week)

Effective 29 June

CAPTAIN ANNETTE WICKS, additional appointment, Practitioner Tutor, William Booth College (28 days per annum)

Effective 13 July

MAJOR JAMES ELLIOT, Regional Learning and Development Support Officer – Scotland

Wedding anniversaries

Golden (50 years)

ALAN AND CATHERINE OLVER, Oakengates, on 19 May

Retired officers’ birthdays

MAJOR GEORGINA THOMPSON, 90 on 26 May

MAJOR MARY BISHOP, 80 on 27 May

LIEUT-COLONEL MYRA LAMBERT-GORWYN, 90 on 27 May

Promoted to Glory

JOHN GRASSHAM, Sale

BANDSMAN RAYMOND SMITH, Stotfold, on 17 April

BERYL SMITH, Stotfold, on 22 April

Bereaved

MAJOR ELSIE GRASSHAM of her brother John Grassham

BANDSWOMAN/SONGSTER PAMELA SMITH, Stotfold, of her husband Bandsman Raymond Smith

ETHEL CLARKE, Stotfold, of her sister Beryl Smith

Official Gazette

Retirements from active service

Effective 1 May

MAJOR SUSAN HEWARD (NÉE JONES) out of Maidenhead in 1982 and last appointment Gloucester

MAJOR CAROLE LOVERIDGE out of Tipton in 1990 and last appointment Oakengates

COMMISSIONER ANTHONY COTTERILL Territorial Commander

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner

Rosalie Peddle

Sat 20 May Central Hall Westminster (Welcome to the High Council and farewell to General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle)

Chief of the Staff Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham

Thu 18 May Sunbury Court (High Council members welcomed)

Sat 20 May Central Hall Westminster (Welcome to the High Council and farewell to General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle)

Mon 22 May – Date TBC Sunbury Court (High Council)

Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill and Commissioner Gillian Cotterill

Thu 18 May Sunbury Court (High Council members welcomed)

Sat 20 May Central Hall Westminster (Welcome to the High Council and farewell to General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle)

Mon 22 May – Date TBC Sunbury Court (High Council)

Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main and Colonel Jenine Main

Sat 13 May – Sun 14 May Kettering Citadel

Sat 20 May Central Hall Westminster (Welcome to the High Council and farewell to General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle)

Thu 25 May – Fri 26 May Launde Abbey (Going Deeper)*

* Colonel Jenine Main only

Notices

Thy Kingdom Come

This global ecumenical prayer movement runs from Ascension to Pentecost (18 to 28 May), inviting Christians to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. Take part and download a free prayer journal with contributors including Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill from thykingdomcome.global

International Day of Families

Resources to help you and your congregation explore the human familial relationships and the divine around International Day of Families (15 May) are available from Family Ministries on salvationist.org.uk

New Pentecost resources

A range of resources are available to help celebrate the birth of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost (28 May), including resources for ministry with families and schools, and ideas to support corporate worship. Download them on salvationist.org.uk

Sounds

The All Terrain Podcast

Phil Wall joins host Jo Taylor for this month’s hypothetical hike. In 1990 Phil began working for The Salvation Army and launched the UK Mission Team that he led for the next decade. Listen and get accompanying sketch notes and a blog article with small group questions at salvationist.org.uk Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and PodBean

WELLINGBOROUGH, SALEM LANE NN8 4JT

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November

International Staff Songsters

Further details from songsterleader@gmail.com

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