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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

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

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

Congress calls delegates to live out God’s love

ICC HALL 1

THREE sessions of thanksgiving and praise reminded all present that if God can do immeasurable things through one person, he can do even more when people are united together, reports Managing Editor Ivan Radford.

Charlie Green and Taffy Bizure led the first session of Together in Worship, which showcased young people from across the territory. Dance Fit Tots, which helps parents and toddlers to learn, pray and get fit together, led the congregation in ‘Praise Train’ and ‘God’s Rainbow’, with young member Grace excitedly running around the platform.

That excitement fuelled the first hour, as Una Voce sang the stirring ‘Jesus, What a Saviour’ and cheerful ‘Sing for Joy’, and Birmingham Citadel YP Band brought the playful ‘Ma-(cha-cha)-jesty’.

Charlie and Taffy invited people to come and write a message on a prayer graffiti wall, and Ivonne Garcia (Bromley Temple) sang ‘Goodness of God’, backed by Una Voce, while members of the YP band dashed to the front to graffiti their messages.

Throughout the evening Territorial Communications Officer Captain Jo Moir presented a string of live video interviews, including some with the cadets who would shortly be commissioned. She started by speaking to some of the team from Aston 614 youth centre, who testified about their passion for making a safe and welcoming world where young people can be themselves.

One 15-year-old making an impact by doing just that is Niamh (Regent Hall), who delivered an address based on Micah 6:8. She talked about her work as a member of Southwark youth parliament and encouraged the congregation to ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly’. ‘If we all act justly,’ she challenged, ‘how can racism, sexism and other discrimination exist?’

The YP band united with Una Voce, Dance Fit Tots, Ivonne, Niamh, Charlie and Taffy for the upbeat finale, ‘The Way It’s Gonna Be’.

The staccato precision of the ISB’s ‘Christ Is All’ marked a change in tone for the

The TC and the African Praise Fellowship

second session, led by Reuben Dykes and Vanessa Nsilu. But there was no change in energy, as the ISS brought ‘Make a Joyful Noise’ and ‘On the Rock I Stand’.

Sandra Atkinson (Gateshead) opened a time of prayer, accompanied by the ISS singing ‘Just Where He Needs Me’, before the African Praise Fellowship were welcomed onto the stage to be recognised as an official music group of the UKI Territory.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill presented them with a certificate, and the Fellowship – comprising

people from corps and groups across the territory – partnered the ISS and ISB to lead a rousing rendition of ‘O Boundless Salvation’, complete with dancing, timbrelplaying and cheers and yells of ‘hallelujah’ from the audience.

‘The African Praise Fellowship sure know how to praise,’ proclaimed Commissioner Anthony and the group, led by Timothy Ngwenya, proved that again when they returned to the stage later for new song ‘Kunoshamisa Ikoko’ (‘It’s Amazing There in Heaven’) alongside the ISB and ISS.

A more meditative mood was ushered in by the ISB’s ‘Deus Solus’ and Territorial Leader for Leader Development Commissioner Gillian Cotterill concluded the hour with a thought inspired by Psalm 100.She reminded everyone present that ‘God and God alone’ created all things and celebrated how he invites humans to be coworkers in his mission of reconciling and restoring the world.

‘These are far from easy times,’ she said, ‘but these are days of great opportunity for the Army. There is a call upon our lives to rise up in compassion and boldness for such a time as this.’

Gospel Explosion brought Congress to an animated close in a third session – led by Cadets Adam and Karen Barber – that was bursting with music, quick-fire testimonies and confetti cannons.

Gospel Explosion led the congregation in ‘You Are God Alone’, ‘Trading My Sorrows’ and ‘You Are Good’, with the Maca Dance group joining them for a moving performance of ‘What a Wonderful World’.

Lizzie Kitchenside (Addlestone) shared the final thought of the night via video, unpacking Genesis 1:16 and what it teaches about caring for creation. She warned that

There is a call upon our lives to rise up in compassion and boldness