MUSIC AND DANCE WORKSHOPS REP THEATRE THE International Staff Songsters workshop, led by Staff Songster Leader Dorothy Nancekievill, began with a collective rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’. The joyful singing of ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’ prompted Dorothy to explain that the song holds particular relevance to the ISS’s prison ministry. ‘Whatever people’s situations,’ she said, ‘God has the world in his hands.’ – GT LATER that afternoon Jess Seabridge (Birmingham Citadel) led a dance workshop with 24 young people aged 6 to 18. They enthusiastically practised a routine that was to be performed with the International Staff Band and a group doing stomp in Sunday’s All Together afternoon meeting. – JR LEARNING TO LEAD WORSHIP ICC HALL 3 ‘WHAT does it mean to be a Maca leader?’ asked the Maca team in their Join the Crescendo seminar. It introduced the five fundamental principles of being a worship leader – spiritual enrichment, pastoral skills, empowering leadership, artistic priorities and rehearsal delivery. Those gathered identified practical ways to develop their ministry based on these before the Maca team encouraged them to compare their priorities with those of the people they lead and those of God. After plugging further resources available at salvationist.org.uk/maca the team reminded everyone that they value all Maca leaders, both gathered and scattered. – SH
Ivonne Garcia
PLAYING FOR THE LORD BRINDLEYPLACE A SERIES of Salvation Army buskers brought joy to passers-by. Guitarist Ivonne Garcia (Bromley Temple) brought a cover of ‘Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)’. Johnny Searle (Boscombe) drew onlookers with ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’. Bethany Grimshaw (Norwich Citadel) sang ‘The Rose’, amalgamating it with lyrics from ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ (SASB 795). Ten-year-old guitarist Zac HightonNichols (Oldbury) moved the crowd with Tim Hughes’s ‘Beautiful One’, before Bethany Henderson (Clydebank) brought the music outreach to a close. Alongside the busking, energetic sports ministry saw young people playing volleyball and football, while water bottles and wristbands were handed out. – SH
INCLUSION AND EQUALITY ICC HALL 3 THE Moral and Social Issues Council hosted a discussion about racial inclusion within the Church. Moderated by Assistant Principal Captain Althea Bawden (WBC), it included Bishop Joe Aldred from the Church of God of Prophecy, RIWG member Raj Gill (Guildford), Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main, CSM Cloud Tembo (Milton Keynes), Intercultural Mission Enabler Major Jonny Smith (THQ) and Equality and Diversity Manager Jennifer Laurent-Smart (THQ). ‘The big issue is how power is applied,’ observed Bishop Joe, while Jennifer highlighted the ‘invisible barriers’ that can leave the Army fragmented despite its diverse membership. ‘Who are the people we allow in and how far do we allow them to come?’ she asked. The overriding message was one of intentional relationships with each other as fully-fledged humans, all equally made in God’s image, to better appreciate each other’s contributions to the Army and the Church. The RIWG lanched two initiatives alongside the panel: a Welcoming and Belonging Survey and a local volunteer role of Inclusion Mission Advocate. You can read in full detail about these in the 30 July issue of Salvationist, or email racial.inclusion@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information. – IR
STRONGER TOGETHER ICC HALL 3 MAJOR David Evans challenged delegates to consider ecumenism in their local contexts. He emphasised that working with churches of other denominations or faiths helps to pool resources and increase the combined group’s capacity to meet community needs, reminding everyone that differing theology should not stop people working together. Highlighting covenantal relationships that are helping corps to grow, he warned against neglecting ecumenical teamwork and then encouraged officers and members to consider becoming a denominational ecumenical officer in their area. He left the group contemplating John 17:20 and 21. – SH
Salvationist 23 July 2022
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