15 minute read
Quotes from the media
WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME HOMELESS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON THAN MEN, ANALYSIS SHOWS
Once women have been released into homelessness, they are often more vulnerable than men due to factors such as domestic abuse or sexual exploitation, campaigners have said.
It comes as an independent report into HMP Bronzefield – the largest women’s prison in the UK – found that 65 per cent of women were being released without safe and sustainable accommodation to go to.
According to Ministry of Justice statistics, 12.8 per cent of women who were released from prison ended up either homeless or rough sleeping in the year 2020/21, compared with just 11.8 per cent of men. But an independent report from women’s institution HMP Foston Hall found that 20 per cent of women were released without a home to go to.
Dr Jenny Earle, from the Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison initiative, said that vulnerable women who are released from prison into homelessness are ‘set up for failure’.
‘Given [the] strong links between being released into homelessness and reoffending, it’s madness that the government hasn’t done more to improve housing support on release’…
Dr Earle said the government needs to use a ‘slightly different approach’ for resettling women in society than [it does] for men because women are subject to gendered vulnerabilities…
Transitional accommodation services, such as hostels, are oriented towards men rather than women. Although women-only hostels do exist, there are not enough, she said.
i News
CHRISTIAN CHARITY CHRISTIAN CHARITY URGES GOVERNMENT TO BACK GAMBLING LEVY TO HELP MOST VULNERABLE
Christian charity Care says the UK government will fail in its duty of care, if it does not back a statutory levy on betting companies…
Ross Hendry, CEO of Care, a social policy charity that leads campaigning for betting reform at Westminster, said: ‘Gambling related harm has a huge impact on people’s lives, resulting in debt, depression, alcoholism, homelessness and even suicide.
‘On average, one person commits suicide every single day as a result of gambling harm. Yet legislation remains out-of-date, and regulation remains lax…
Premier
SKATEBOARD HERO OF LONDON BRIDGE ATTACK LONDON BRIDGE ATTACK ON COURSE TO BE MADE SAINT
Relatives of Ignacio Echeverría, the ‘skateboard hero’ of the 2017 London Bridge terrorist attacks, are receiving support from the Catholic Church to launch an official campaign to make him a saint.
His family have announced that they are working with the church to open a process of canonisation for the former banker, who used his skateboard to save the lives of two people who were being attacked by terrorists.
The push for sainthood was in part inspired by words expressed by the Pope shortly after the attacks…
Echeverría has already been recognised with several posthumous honours for his bravery.
The Times
CHRISTIAN CLIMATE ACTIVISTS ARE MISSIONARIES, BISHOPS ARE TOLD
The Church of England should see climate activism as an aspect of mission and stand in solidarity with protesters, an open letter … argues.
Twenty clergy are among the 79 signatories to the letter, which was sent to the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham Usher, in his capacity as the C of E’s lead bishop on the environment.
The letter, which is endorsed by the campaigning group Green Christian, notes that the C of E’s fifth ‘mark of mission’ is ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the Earth’…
Several C of E priests have been arrested for their part in climate protests.
Church Times
SALVATIONIST SALVATIONIST
salvationist.org.uk/media/magazine Issue No 1863
EDITOR EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
MANAGINGEDITOR MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford
EDITORIALASSISTANTS EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, George Tanton, Lyn Woods, Major Margaret Bovey
ARTDIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden
GRAPHICDESIGNERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips
PROOFREADER 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.
CONTACTUS CONTACT US
020 7367 4890 (main) / 020 7367 4901 (editor) salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk
ADVERTISING ADVERTISING
advertising@salvationarmy.org.uk
DISTRIBUTIONANDSUBSCRIPTIONS DISTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (Periodicals), 66–78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough NN8 2QH 01933 445445 / subscriptions@satcol.org
@SalvationistOnline @SalvationistUK
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. FOUNDER FOUNDER William Booth
GENERAL GENERAL Brian Peddle
TERRITORIALCOMMANDER TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFANDPUBLISHINGSECRETARY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY
Major Mal Davies
TERRITORIALHEADQUARTERS TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS
101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN 0845 634 0101
LIVING WITH GOD-LED PURPOSE
I READ last week that Rick Warren, the American pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Church, is retiring as leader of Saddleback Community Church in California. Whenever I hear the words ‘purpose-driven’ I remember the story of an Israeli tour guide who was explaining to a coach full of tourists how shepherds in the Middle East would always go ahead of their flock rather than driving them from behind. Suddenly a passenger called out, ‘Look, there’s a flock of sheep on that hillside, and the shepherd is driving them from behind.’ The tour guide peered through the window, then announced: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, that is not the shepherd, that is the butcher!’
Rick Warren also understood that being driven can be a negative thing. In The Purpose Driven Church, he wrote: ‘Every church is driven by something,’ and suggested tradition, personality, finances, programmes, buildings or events as examples. These aren’t bad in themselves but they shouldn’t drive a church, he said. Instead, a church needs to define why it exists and allow that purpose to direct everything that happens. Members must discern ‘how God desires to use them’ – then their church will be God-led and purpose-driven.
Two articles in this week’s Salvationist highlight ministry that is God-led and purpose-driven. In the next in our series on pioneering ministries, Ryan Wileman tells us about the Army fresh expression on the Westfield estate in Sheffield. He began work there as a community mission facilitator, getting involved with local people so that he could ‘see what God was doing and join in’. Ryan describes this as missio Dei, a Latin term meaning ‘mission of God’. Instead of allowing preconceived ideas to drive the work, he took time to engage with people, listen and understand how God was already at work on the estate. Being God-led has helped him define his purpose and is bearing fruit.
Fresh Expressions Leader Major Lynne Clifton gives an example of a similar approach in her work on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. In November 2020, during a Covid-19 lockdown, she was part of a community forum that discussed the role of food banks and how families could be given long-term, holistic support. That led to the Sheppey Support Bus project. She says, ‘We see our service through the Sheppey Support Bus as part of God’s mission in our community. We are privileged to join in with all that God is doing.’
If churches can be driven by harmful forces, so can individuals. In another of her ‘Stories of transformation’, Major Rosemary Dawson writes about Simon Pinchbeck, who said, ‘Money became my god.’ This obsession destroyed his career in the police force, but his life was turned around by the love of Jesus.
Any one of us can be compelled by forces and influences that harm us, sometimes described as ‘the world, the flesh and the Devil’. But Christians are expected to respond to a different influence, the voice of Jesus. He referred to himself as the ‘good shepherd’ who ‘calls his own sheep by name and leads them out’ (John 10:3). By following him we find our purpose in life – and in doing that, we discover the truth of his promise: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10).
LIEUT-COLONEL JONATHAN ROBERTS
Editor Salvationist
CONTENTS
Quotes from the media 2
News 4 to 9
Prayer matters 9
Pioneering ministry 10 and 11
Missio Dei
Ryan Wileman talks to Simon Hope
Feature 12 to 14 Helping tight budgets stretch further
by Melita Day-Lewis
Stories of transformation 15
Simon Pinchbeck: A complete turn around
by Major Rosemary Dawson
Bible study 16 and 17
Sin, confession and repentance
by Major Cliff Allchin
Through the week with Salvationist 16 and 17
by Lieut-Colonel Brenda Oakley
Reflection 18
Finding joy
by Brian Colley
Reflection 18
In conversation
by Major John Waters
New commitments 19
Book review 20
Wings of Faith
reviewed by Commissioner Keith Banks
Read with us 20
Called to Be a Soldier: Chapter 7
Adverts 21
Announcements 22 and 23
Quiz 24
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
INTERNATIONAL
Salvation Army responds to elementary school shooting
TEXAS
FOLLOWING a fatal mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School, The Salvation Army of San Antonio has been providing much-needed support in the city of Uvalde. The attack saw 21 fatalities and at least 17 more people injured. Among those killed were 19 elementary school students aged nine and ten.
In the wake of this tragedy the Army’s incident commander, Major Carolynn Webb, mobilised the San Antonio canteen, which was positioned at the school’s Incident Command Post. Once set up, the crew served sandwiches, snacks, coffee and cold drinks to the first responders.
The Salvation Army has partnered with a local family resource centre, where three officers, who are emotional and spiritual care specialists, are providing direct personal support to families.
Another Salvation Army res ponse is a colla boration with Canines for Christ, an organ isation that works with responders to provide enhanced supportive care through specialist workers and therapy dogs. Due to this partnership an additional six Salvation Army teams are providing emotional support to those affected, with three teams stationed at the family resource centre and three teams on site at the school.
Major Carolynn and her team continue to have a presence in Uvalde, co-ordinating with local and state emergency management to provide the best possible support. – AR
Corps press representatives can send news to salvationist@ salvationarmy.org.uk. Good quality pictures may be included. MUSIC
Blackburn Band play at East Lancashire Cricket Club for a Jubilee celebration
PRESENTATION
LONDONDERRY Mamie Moore’s 56 years of service as timbrel group leader were celebrated. Corps members are grateful for her faithful service and the influence she has had on many children and adults over the years. To the delight of the congregation, Anne and Esther played timbrels to ‘Star Lake’, which Mamie taught them when they were just 10 years old. – JM
ECUMENICAL
9,795
survivors of trafficking supported internationally
SEE PAGE 6
125
years of corps ministry
SEE PAGE 6
21
children attend new Messy Church
SEE PAGE 7
£2,042
raised for hospice
SEE PAGE 7
SHOEBURYNESS Majors David and Sarah Evans (THQ) led a united church service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Taking the theme What Does Unity Mean for Us as Churches?, the service saw many members of churches within the Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay area gather for worship and fellowship. Majors David and Sarah were presented with the book Humble Church to mark the occasion. – RD/CD
ANNIVERSARY MUSIC
MALTBY The Yorkshire Fellowship Band helped raise funds for Cancer Research in celebration of the 109th corps anniversary. A Saturday concert raised more than £600 for the charity, which is close to the hearts of many people in the corps. Divisional Mission Enablers Majors Carolyn and Paul Wilson led Sunday worship and challenged everyone present to continue ‘building together in love’, inspired by Ephesians 4:16. After morning worship, Maltby Band shared ministry outside the hall and gave out copies of Kids Alive! to local children. – LM
PRESENTATION
Concert raises funds for Ukraine
FAKENHAM
FAKENHAM Fellowship Band’s first concert since December 2019 raised more than £1,000 for The Salvation Army’s humanitarian aid in Ukraine and eastern Europe.
Held in the parish church with an appreciative congregation, the building was bathed in blue and yellow lights to symbolise the Ukrainian flag. The programme included ‘Under Two Flags’, ‘Celebration’ and ‘The Light of the World’. Daryle Taylor presented the trombone solo ‘There Will Be God’ and corps officer Captain Gemma Allen played the flute solo ‘A Little Night Music’.
Divisional Area Officer Major Michelle Wheeler spoke about the work The Salvation Army is doing in Ukraine and neighbouring countries and the concert concluded with Norman Bearcroft’s stirring march ‘Temple 85’. – AA
EVENT
Sunderland Millfield corps officer Major Linda Billard and Songster Leader Andrew Mair present long-service awards to Songsters Joy Laing (54 years), Mike Smith (52 years) and Margaret Frost (70 years)
EVENT
Corps members at Ipswich Citadel hold a build-your-owncrown tea party at their Jubilee celebrations
EVENT
Twenty members of the Carlisle Corps New Beginnings Fellowship Group begin Platinum Jubilee celebrations with a tea party
ANTI-TRAFFICKING
New report offers glimpses of the Army’s global impact
NEW YORK
THE Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Com mission (ISJC) in New York City has launched a landmark report on its global response to modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT). Everyone Everywhere outlines progress towards achieving a strong and sustainable MSHT response in every Salvation Army territory, command and region.
The 42-page report includes a letter of gratitude from the International Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response Council.
The report celebrates and acknowledges how many people around the world are making a difference, while addressing MSHT within their communities. A key impact outlined in the report showcases how The Salvation Army supported 9,795 survivors in 2021 – a 70.7 per cent increase since 2020.
The report also provides an update on the Army’s focus to further expand survivor inclusion and engagement around the world.
Another key indicator of progress highlighted in the report is how 100 per cent of territories who reported to the ISJC at the end of the year are active in prayer, while 94 per cent are active in raising awareness and prevention efforts.
The report highlights four main global goals: strengthening systems, growing leaders, educating and equipping, and mobilising to respond holistically.
There are 117 territorial or national contact persons around the world who lead and co-ordinate responses within their territory or country.
The focus of the year was to make sure everyone was aware of the resources and translations available for non-English speaking individuals and communities. The Global Resource Library was launched as a centralised and accessible hub for all MSHT response resources. Sixtyfive per cent of territories who responded have completed the action plan and intend to implement it.
Everyone Everywhere provides readers with highlights of actions undertaken through the year to address a range of focus areas, including prayer, prevention, participation, protection, partnership, prosecution and policy.
‘From corps officers in the Uganda Territory practising restorative justice by providing counselling sessions to offenders of MSHT, to the Sweden and Latvia Territory assisting with Sweden’s largest case of human exploitation in modern-day history, The Salvation Army has a unique role in partnering with God and others to help make justice, freedom and shalom a reality in the communities we are a part of,’ said Priscilla Santos, international MSHT response co-ordinator. ‘While no one can end MSHT alone, everyone everywhere can do something. And together, we’re getting closer every day.’ Everyone Everywhere is available to download from salvationarmy.org/isjc. – AR
FUNDRAISING
CLOWNE The fellowship hosted a hugely successful Spring Fair, raising more than £552 for corps activities through the sale of donated and crafted items as well as baked goods. More than 60 people attended, including non-Army folk. The day proved to be a superb means of outreach. – GH ANNIVERSARY
125 years of fellowship and faith
WILLIAMSTOWN
A PACKED hall brought a sense of normality to the 125th corps anniversary meeting led by Majors David and Michele Emery. It was also David’s last official duty as an active officer before entering retirement from his appointment as chaplain to the Welsh Assembly. David linked up with the corps at an early age and grew up in its fellowship alongside Michele. They both supported the corps over the past 18 months while it was unofficered.
During the meeting, the past work of the corps was celebrated, and testimonies were given by retired YPSM Margaret Jones, CS Edward Beach and CT Beryl James. An excerpt was read from Captain Thomas Cadwaladr Parry’s The Old Glory Shop, a history of the corps from 1897 to 1951: ‘The corps cannot live upon its history. It may be inspired by it, but it must live in the present day and believe that the God of those early battles is the God of today… Sin may not display itself just as it did in the time of the Army’s beginnings, but it is as real and widespread as ever it was and we must continue to attack it.’ Pictured are Majors David and Michele with gifts presented by the corps as tokens of gratitude. – EB
COMMUNITY
BRISTOL SOUTH The hall doors were opened to the community and corps members to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. They enjoyed crafts, cream teas and special Jubilee hot chocolate, while corps folk had meaningful conversations with families from the community. The band joined people from Filwood Community Centre at the market to take part in music ministry. – RC
