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IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T LOOK RIGHT…

In his final article before returning to the United States, Lieut-Colonel David Kelly urges us to ‘do something’

JUST 15 months ago my wife, Naomi, and I arrived in the UK on a Thursday morning after an overnight flight from the US. On Friday morning we walked to the train, suitcases in hand, to begin our trip to Harrogate for territorial officers councils. Our journey began with the automated announcement: ‘If you see something that doesn’t look right, say something.’ I may not be the best person to receive such advice! Yet there is so much more here that looks right than wrong.

We have seen and heard a choir made up of men and women from some of our homelessness programmes singing beautifully about their transformed lives – and it sure looks right to me.

We have watched corps officers minister faithfully to their congregations in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Their sacrificial ministry has inspired us – and it sure looks right to me.

In dozens and dozens of unofficered corps, local officers and other soldiers have stepped up and given wonderful service to keep their corps going – and it sure looks right to me.

We know of those who have quietly picked up broken men and women who have been trafficked, and transported them to a safe house for care and support – and it sure looks right to me.

We have been in the homes of divisional leaders as they talked about how proud they are of their officers and corps members – and it sure looks right to me.

We have watched as people have knelt at the mercy seat in corps, divisional retreats, youth events and a congress – and it sure looks right to me.

We have heard countless stories of employees across the territory, in direct service and support roles, giving of themselves and enhancing and increasing our service to suffering humanity – and it sure looks right to me.

We have observed soldiers of all ages worshipping together, building community and facing outwards to welcome new people – and it sure looks right to me.

So much is great about this territory; I wish you would celebrate it more. The future may not look exactly like the past but the future can be great in its own way; indeed, it already is.

The advice on the train that morning, and just about every morning since: ‘If you see something that doesn’t look right, say something,’ may be great advice about train security but it is terrible advice for a movement like ours that is committed to changing the world.

If you see something that doesn’t look right, please don’t say something – do something!

If you know there are too few young people in your corps, please don’t tell your corps officer; trust me, they know already. Do something. Develop new, welcoming programmes for young people. Welcome them warmly when they come. Tolerate the fact that they might worship differently from you. Cheer them on as they explore leadership roles, even if it isn’t done the way it has always been done.

If you’ve seen that we are short of officers and have too few candidates, please don’t say something – do something. Model a joyful spirit of service, celebrate how God is at work, prepare yourself for what God has in store – and make yourself available.

If you think your corps is too inward-facing and it doesn’t look right, don’t say something – do something. Be the illustration of what connecting with others might look like. Consider what programmes might engage the community more, and go for it! Take a look at the outside of the building and, if necessary, make it more welcoming. Tell your friends and neighbours about your own journey of faith, not just through words but also through hospitality and kindness.

If you have noticed that the mercy seat is no longer used in your corps, and it doesn’t look right, don’t say something – do something. Make it a place where you meet with God; use it as a quiet place to pray for your corps, for your neighbours, for the Army, for yourself. It may only take one person at a corps who begins to pray to change the entire culture of worship there. If you think it doesn’t look right – do something. Be that person who begins the change you seek.

I know you love the amazing heritage that is yours, and you have every right to be proud. But love the future, too, and all that God has in store for the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland. We will cheer you on from a distance as God continues to transform lives and communities through his Spirit at work in you.

Naomi joins me in wishing God’s rich blessing on this territory. O This article also appears on facebook. com/SalvationistOnline where you can ‘join the conversation’ LIEUT-COLONEL KELLY IS SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS, THQ ‘‘ So much is great about this territory; I wish you would celebrate it more. The future may not look exactly like the past but the future can be great in its own way; indeed, it already is

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A MINISTRY OF PRESENCE AND SERVICE

IHAVE been a chaplain for a little over three years, and can say absolutely that this is where God has placed me. For me, chaplaincy is a presence ministry: simply by ‘being’ we are reaching the people we serve.

There was a time, even within The Salvation Army, when chaplaincy was misunderstood, and maybe today some of that misunderstanding still exists. In order to be effective in the role of a chaplain we have to develop relationships, not just with service users but with staff members too, because otherwise we would simply not be able to reach people on a level where we can support them. It doesn’t matter if they say they don’t have a faith, because they come to realise that by showing we care and by showing an interest in them – in who they are, what they do and what they like – we are in fact showing them Jesus.

From the avid believer to the selfprofessed atheist, I pray that I have been what they have needed me to be in their darkest hour.

In my first week a resident told me he wouldn’t ever speak to me because he was an atheist, but he would say hello. I simply replied that that was fine and a good place to start. Then a couple of days later he had a complete meltdown in the laundry room and asked to see me. There has been another occasion when I simply sat in the dining room and waited. Gradually, one by one, residents came in and, before I knew it, there were 15 people sitting there. The conversations were colourful; then, out of the blue, I was asked: ‘Hey Rach, did Jesus ever lose his temper?’ An amazing conversation then took place. This is the way I build relationships with staff and residents,

Rachel Robinson is one of a handful of non-officer chaplains in The Salvation Army’s homelessness services; she tells us about her work and experiences at Lyndon House, Ipswich

placing myself in the moment, ready and available.

Alongside the more practical aspects of my role there is, of course, paperwork. I have to fill out quarterly reports, which evidence how effective we are and inform DHQ, through our mission focus group, and THQ about what is going on in the centre. Management meetings are confidential but we discuss aspects of

the running of the centre and any concerns we may have, and business board meetings cover the financial side of running the centre, making sure we are in budget, etc.

There is no typical day for me as a chaplain – I never know what I am walking into when I arrive at the centre. But generally we start with centre prayers; then the day is divided into various activities, such as a fellowship