EXPLAINED

Karl Westwood

Bromley Temple

John Barker (Beccles) explains how a new friendship at work introduced him to Jesus

Soldiership

Home league

THE home league is an expression of women’s ministries that exists around the world. It was founded by Florence Booth in 1907, understanding that women had a significant influence within the home and their friendship groups. Traditionally, it is a group for women to meet for worship, education, fellowship and service.

While the home league is for all women connected to a corps, groups usually meet during the week, when working women can struggle to attend – this is where the perception that the home league is for older women stems from. Some corps also have a home league fellowship, which enables all women to connect in different ways, such as house groups or social events.

Women’s ministries, including the home league, forms part of the responsibility of the Family Ministries Department at THQ. The World President of Women’s Ministries at IHQ promotes a world view of women’s ministries across all territories. The home league has historically provided highly fertile ground for connecting with new people. However, some groups have seen a decline in numbers due to ageing congregations.

Today many groups are reimagining women’s ministries. While some believe the traditional home league is a thing of the past, others point to flourishing groups. Some corps are forming groups under new names, such as Let’s Connect, that maintain the home league’s core values and mission. Others are reclaiming the term by reinventing it as a cuttingedge community that meets specific needs in 2023.

Whether it’s a running group, book club or traditional meeting, the home league’s vital role is alive and well.

Is God calling you to reimagine women’s ministries?

Speak to your corps officer or email familyministries@salvationarmy.org.uk

IT was 1984 and I was living in Nottingham with my wife, Sandra, and my son, Bradleigh. We received a phone call from Sandra’s father, who was a watchmaker living in Suffolk, asking if we would like to move there, learn clockmaking and the jewellery business and become his partner. So, off to Suffolk we all went.

I started my training but found Beccles to be quiet and I missed my friends back in Nottingham, so I joined Suffolk Constabulary as a special constable.

And so my journey to faith began. My sergeant was a man named Bram Bryant and he took me under his wing. As we walked the streets together in the small hours, he told me he was in The Salvation Army and that he loved the Lord. This went on for a few years and we became great friends.

‘Would you like to come to a carol concert at the Army?’ he offered. I jumped at it for some reason. We went and we enjoyed it so much that Sandra left the church she was attending and we settled into Beccles Corps. One we settled into Beccles One Sunday morning I was drawn to the mercy seat with Bram, because I wanted God, and we prayed a prayer. I felt nothing and, as I returned to my seat, one of the officers said: ‘You’re not saved.’ Confused or what!

The following Sunday arrived. The bedroom door opened and my wife threw me a book k and said: ‘It’s time you finished it!’ The book was titled Is Anyyone There? by David Watson. ?

As soon as I started to read, the room filled with love and light and I burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably. It was 6 March 1988 and I’d met with Jesus and was saved.

I became a new person, so much so that I instantly stopped swearing, smoking and drinking, which I did often. The following Wednesday, I was tearful in our shop when the door opened and in came an elderly woman with her daughter. The woman said: ‘We just had to come in here to tell you, you’ve been given a Spirit, he’s good and will never leave you.’ With that, they left, and I was filled with the Holy Spirit there and then. I had never seen the woman before, and I never saw her again.

My wife and I joined The Salvation Army and became soldiers. Is there anybody there? Sure – his name is Jesus and the rest, as they say, is history.

Have you got a testimony to share? We’d love to hear your faith journey! Get in touch at salvationist@ salvationarmy.org.uk