Salvationist 29 January 2022

70p / 29 January 2022

For everyone linked to The Salvation Army

SALVATIONIST MISSION FLOURISHING HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

HOW DO WE RECEIVE JOY? PAGES 10 AND 11

QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA

FOLLOW THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL’S LEAD AND CREATE BETTER HOUSING, SAYS WELBY The Archbishop of Canterbury has praised a community housing development on Duchy of Cornwall land at Nansledan, in Newquay. The project was devised by Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, to pioneer best housing practice...

Nansledan is a community of about 4,000 homes, with employment space for a similar number of jobs, integrated within the development so that local goods and services can be accessed within a five-minute walk of every home. Almost one third is affordable housing, which is indistinguishable from open market homes. The development also incorporates community facilities, including a primary school, nursery, play areas and green space...

Archbishop Welby said that it had been wonderful to see not just new housing ‘but homes that provide jobs, build strong community and work in harmony with the natural environment’.

‘Where we live is so vital to our health, wellbeing, opportunities and flourishing... I hope the Church can be inspired by what’s been achieved at Nansledan, and use its land and resources to build homes that encourage neighbourliness, commitment to place and sustainable futures.’

Church Times

DIVERSITY IS ‘POSITIVE GIFT’ SAYS CHRISTIANS AWARE CONFERENCE

SCOTTISH GOV APPOINTS FIRST NATIONAL ADVISER ON SPIRITUAL CARE

Diversity is a ‘positive gift’ to be welcomed, delegates at a Christians Aware conference on the issue were told...

The educational and religious charity ... works with other faiths and the secular world on the promotion of justice and peace.

Conference chair, Bishop John Perumbalath of Bradwell ... called for humility in engagement with other faiths in order to transcend religious divisions.

‘We live in a world where diversity is a problem to be solved rather than an issue to embrace as a positive gift,’ he said. He called for a move beyond dialogue and to work together on issues of the common good...

Professor Anthony Reddie, director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, and a leading black theology scholar, addressed transcending cultural divisions and called on the gathering to face the issue of racism in Britain.

The Scottish government has appointed its first national adviser and operational lead on spiritual care.

Mark Evans will be responsible for ... the development of spiritual care policies as well as making sure the same standards of spiritual care are followed in all national health boards.

He currently works as strategic lead for spiritual care and bereavement at NHS Fife and is the head of the Diaconate Council of the Church of Scotland...

[Evans] said his main priority is to develop a national strategy and policy for spiritual care and health care chaplaincy for NHS Scotland ... [that] ‘will cover everything from recruitment to education, to training to service delivery’.

He also said he wants to work on ‘setting up ... a multidisciplinary national board made up from key stakeholders, which will give operational and strategic oversight to development of spiritual care in NHS Scotland’.

The Tablet

Premier

BORDERS BILL WILL MAKE ASYLUM SYSTEM ‘MORE COMPLICATED AND CUMBERSOME’ The UK’s asylum system will become less, not more fair under proposed legislation, the Bishop of Durham has warned.

Speaking in the Lords, Bishop Paul Butler said he supported the aims of the Nationality and Borders Bill in seeking to stop criminal gangs and increase fairness in the asylum system but said that in its current form, the legislation would have the opposite effect...

‘It will make the asylum system more complicated and cumbersome, be less fair, provide fewer safe routes and be more expensive.’

The bishop said there was ‘no evidence’ to support the assumption that fewer people would attempt to come to the UK if the system is made harder.

Christian Today

SALVATIONIST salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist Issue No 1843

CONTACT US 020 7367 4890 (main) / 020 7367 4901 (editor) salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk

EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

ADVERTISING advertising@salvationarmy.org.uk

MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, Melita Day-Lewis, Major Margaret Bovey ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips 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.

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Salvationist 29 January 2022

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 William Booth GENERAL Brian Peddle TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Commissioner Anthony Cotterill EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY Major Mal Davies TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN 0845 634 0101

SHARING THE JOY

CONTENTS Quotes from the media

2 4 to 7

News

A STUDY among older people in Japan has been looking at the health benefits of laughing with other people. Researchers asked more than 12,500 people aged 65 or older to indicate how often they laughed and whether they did it on their own or with others. Their health was then monitored over a six-year period. Previous research has shown that laughter is good for our health, but this study revealed that regularly laughing with friends and family is even better. Commenting on the Japanese research, Professor Sophie Scott of University College London told The Times: ‘It seems that there is something about sharing laughter that really is very, very beneficial.’

While laughter can be a superficial thing, it can also be an expression of deeper joy.

For instance, Francis of Assisi was known for his sense of humour as well as his spirituality, and John Bunyan, who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, was said to laugh too loudly. Joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit, can be expressed in uproarious laughter as well as a deep sense of contentment and peace.

‘How do we receive joy?’ is the third question explored in Matt Little’s series of articles based on The All Terrain Podcast. He looks at how guests on the podcast have answered it. Dr Krish Kandiah, for example, says relationships are an important way of receiving joy, a response that ties in with that Japanese research. Matt relates this to the experience of the early Church in Ephesus and to today’s Salvation Army. He highlights General Brian Peddle’s response when asked if there is still joy in The Salvation Army: ‘I would say unequivocally yes!’ And the General gives examples of the joy he has seen in the Army around the world.

Relationships may be a significant factor in receiving and expressing joy, but they can also be difficult. In her Bible study Major Liz Chape considers some of the challenges as she looks at the call to ‘love one another’ (1 John 3:11). ‘Why do we find some people easier to love than others?’ is one of the questions she asks us to think about. She says that Jesus’ love for us is the example to follow when it comes to loving others.

Relating to others is at the heart of making mission flourish, suggests Lieutenant Wan Gi Lee. He shows how one-to-one connections with people in his corps at St Albans have helped them discover their potential for serving God and how links with another organisation have enabled the corps to reach out to people in the community.

No doubt there have been challenges, but also much joy.

As part of our series on chaplaincy in diverse settings, Territorial Envoy Lynette Skutt gives insights into her role as a community chaplain in Liverpool. There are many people who miss the opportunity to share joy because they are alone, so an important part of Lynette’s role is to connect with others and help overcome their isolation and loneliness. This took on extra significance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

If joy is found in relationships, then there is a task for us when we become aware of people who are on their own. We can reach out in love and share joy. It might even involve a bit of laughter, which is bound to do them – and us – a lot of good.

Prayer matters

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On my bookshelf Inspiring and informative

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by Lyn Woods

Feature Connecting the community

by Shanelle Manderson

All Terrain questions How do we receive joy?

10 and 11

by Matt Little

Viewpoint How do we make local mission flourish?

12 and 13

by Lieutenant Wan Gi Lee

Reflection Living with Covid-19

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by Major Mel Jones

Viewpoint 15 Have we lost something precious?

by Bandmaster Adrian Lyons

Bible study How deep is your love?

16 and 17

by Major Liz Chape

Through the week with 16 and 17 Salvationist

by Major Howard Webber

New commitments

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Testimony 19 ‘There is nothing the Lord cannot do!’

by Jim Gillard

Territorial structure update

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Adverts

21 and 23

Announcements

22 and 23

Fundraising Mount Toubkal Trek

From the editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

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SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS Scripture quotations in Salvationist are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated

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NEWS

Editor's note: Events reported were held in accordance with Army safety guidance at the time.

PRESENTATION

Salvationists recognised in new year honours UK THE work of The Salvation Army during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised in the new year’s honours list, and several Salvationists have been honoured for their charitable work.

S e c r e t a r y for C om munications Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant was appointed MBE in recognition of The Salvation Army’s work across the United Kingdom during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Julius Wolff-Ingham, the territory’s head of marketing and fundraising was appointed OBE for services to charitable fundraising. As well as his role within the Army, Julius is a trustee of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory and the Southbank Sinfonia Foundation and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Kim Rogers, a family worker at Oldham Fitton Hill, was awarded the British Empire Medal for her work with Reel CIC, which provides activities designed to empower people to find their purposeful life. This year, Reel CIC collaborated with the corps to set up the Meet,

Cook and Eat Project, which helped encourage people to cook healthy meals while staying connected.

Margaret Sidell (Barton-uponHumber), who has led the corps food bank for the past 12 years, was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to the community, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Russell Rook was appointed OBE for services to social action over many years, including his time working for The Salvation Army. Most recently as founding partner for the Good Faith Partnership, Russell supported corps and other churches through the YourNeighbour initiative.

Phil and Wendy Wall, founders of WeSeeHope, were each appointed MBE. The couple founded the international development charity in 2000 and have helped more than 675,000 vulnerable children in southern and eastern Africa with community-led programmes. Their interest in supporting children in Africa was partly sparked by a visit to a Salvation Army orphanage in Johannesburg.

Chris Hickford, who soldiers at Raynes Park with Russell, Phil and Wendy, was appointed MBE in recognition of his work with vulnerable young people. Chris is the founder and chief executive of the Surrey-based Eikon Charity and has dedicated his life to children and young people since his first volunteer youth worker role in the mid-1980s. – AR

Guisborough Band hold their annual Carols around the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve 4

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Toys and Tins appeal expands reach NORFOLK THE Toys and Tins Appeal generated help for 20 per cent more families in 2021 than in the previous year.

For the past three decades, the appeal has helped vulnerable children and families in Norfolk who might otherwise go without during the festive season. Members of the public donate gifts, food and toys, which are then packed and distributed by Army volunteers.

As well as physical donations, more than £5,000 was donated via a JustGiving page. Supporters could also buy gifts on an Amazon wishlist.

Figures for 2021 reveal nearly 2,500 families across Norfolk were helped and more than 4,000 children had a gift to open on Christmas morning.

Divisional Commander Major Howard Russell wanted volunteers and those who donated to know that their efforts made a massive difference to many lives.

He said: ‘I’m sure most people will agree that when giving a gift, seeing the excitement, joy – perhaps even the tears – that someone cared for them is the greatest gift of all. I thank God for you all and pray God’s blessing on you for the year ahead.’

Major Rosemarie Williams, appeal co-ordinator, said working with the Toys and Tins team was a real privilege.

She added: ‘We thank God for allowing us to play just a small part.’ – AR

BRIGHTON CONGRESS HALL Corps officer Captain Kate Gregory suggested the band play outside the corps café and invited customers to sing along. Some went out to the street with carol sheets and requested favourite carols, and motorists stopping for traffic lights across the road cheered. – BW

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Birmingham Citadel Band bring joy to the city centre SHOEBURYNESS To launch the toy appeal, the corps held an outdoor carol service in the car park with the help of Friars Primary School choir. More than 100 people gathered to donate toys to the appeal and heard the message that Jesus came for everyone. – RD

HAYLE The corps teamed up with Hayle Rugby Club to provide a community Christmas lunch for vulnerable and older people and those who live on their own. Volunteers associated with the club, including three chefs, helped make the day a happy occasion of fellowship and fun. The meal was preceded by a carol service accompanied by Redruth Band. – CL

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WATERBEACH The Christmas Eve carol service on the village green was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, newly commissioned Deputy Bandmaster Dot Condon-Howard and the former deputy bandmaster, Keith Taylor, witnessed through music and brought some Christmas cheer by playing carols in Keith’s garden.

People stopped, listened, shared in conversation and commented on how much they enjoyed the carols. – SW

GATESHEAD The corps held a Breakfast with Mrs Claus, supported by the supermarket Aldi. The event brought together families from the community, alongside the Little Treasures toddler group, for the first time. – AH BIRMINGHAM CITADEL In partnership with Oldbury church and Aston 614 youth centre, approximately 450 food parcels were provided shortly before Christmas. These were complemented by 1,000 toy parcels. The goods were distributed through social services agencies, family support teams, the police, GP surgeries, health visitors, schools, hostels and safe houses. – AR SOUTHAMPTON SHOLING The annual Festival of Trees and Father Christmas grotto events took place on two Saturdays in December, with 286 youngsters attending with their families. On Christmas Eve corps folk and the community gathered to sing carols in the hall. On Christmas Day, Community Secretary Jan Davey organised the preparation and delivery of 30 meals to people in need.

The band also carolled around the area, visiting care homes where two corps members reside and playing outside the homes of members, including those unable to attend worship and one who had been released from the hospice for a few hours. Local knowledge guided the band to the home of an older woman with terminal cancer, where they played ‘Away in a Manger’, before singing the last verse and saying a prayer. – BE Salvationist 29 January 2022

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NEWS

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SWINDON CITADEL The first of two successful new events was a neighbourhood carol singalong organised by Corps Sergeant-Major Jane Carter, which attracted roughly 80 residents. The cancellation of the annual community carol service due to Covid-19 led to the second new event: the band shared the message of Christmas with pedestrians and drivers passing by the hall. Following the Christmas Day morning meeting the band completed its December engagements with its traditional visit to Great Western Hospital. – KS

MEETING

WATERBEACH Home League Secretary Miriam Day raised £1,500 by selling her baked goods to people in the village during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has enabled the corps to get a much-needed new dishwasher.

– SW BLACKPOOL CITADEL The corps provided a record number of children with Christmas presents in December, giving welcome relief to struggling families. More than 2,000 children had a Christmas to remember thanks to generous donations from the community to the present appeal.

This was up from 2020’s figure of 1,700, as more families were pushed into poverty due to job losses, reduced income and the rising cost of living. The number of referrals in 2021 almost tripled compared to that of the pre-pandemic Christmas of 2019 when 750 children were supported. – AR 6

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WELLING Corps folk celebrated Covenant Sunday by creating a prayer tree decorated with the names of people connected to the corps. The tree will be a focal point for prayers in the coming year and the corps folk believe they will see the tree grow as their worshipping community expands. A new round of soldiership classes started for people who joined the corps last year. – KS

CHRISTMAS

SELBY Crowds gathered in the car park for an open-air Christingle, sharing in carols, readings and hot soup. The service was led by corps officers Captains Jeremy and Wendy Ferguson-Smith and included an explanation of the Christingle and how it reflects God’s love for the world in the gift of Jesus. Knitted angels, created by members of the weekly craft and chatter group, were distributed across the estate. – RK

STAPLE HILL Members of the luncheon and friendship clubs met together for a carol service and a Christmas meal, which included a Christmas message shared by corps officer Major Colin Hylton-Jones. The rest of the Christmas programme took place outdoors, due to Covid19 restrictions. The band visited corps folk to play music outside their homes. The corps carol service took place in a nearby shopping centre and, on Christmas Eve, about 350 people from the community joined corps folk for carols at the Christmas tree in the precinct. – VS

GOODNESS OF GOD

by Assistant Director of Music and Creative Arts (Contemporary Music/Song) Nik King SATURDAY 29 JANUARY Each prayer in this section is based on a portion of the lyrics for the Bethel Music song ‘Goodness of God’. ‘I love your voice, you have led me through the fire,/ And in darkest night you are close like no other.’ Isn’t it a comfort to know that our God is not only going to go through trials with us but protect us too? What an amazing God! ‘When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you’ (Isaiah 43:2 English Standard Version). Thank God for that truth today.

GATESHEAD More than 950 children received substantial toy parcels for Christmas, thanks to the generosity of churches, individuals, small businesses and supermarkets. The parcels were distributed by Kinship Carers and social services. Gifts or vouchers were also given to 257 vulnerable adults in conjunction with the Love Christmas project, 300 selection boxes were distributed and more than 250 food parcels were handed out, as well as more than 50 turkeys donated late on Christmas Eve. Corps folk helped collect and sort food donations, as well as maintain the cleanliness of the hall. – AH

SUNDAY 30 JANUARY ‘I’ve known you as a Father, I’ve known you as a friend.’ There are many names we can call God. What a privilege that we can call on God as our heavenly Father but also our friend! He longs to spend time with us, to share with him and get to know him on a deeper level, just as we would an earthly father or friend. Spend some time sharing with God what is on your heart and mind. Ask for direction and guidance.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

by Territorial Youth and Children’s Secretary Major Helen Schofield MONDAY 31 JANUARY Today take time to thank God for the youth and children’s workers you know – both volunteers and those in paid employment. Take time to name each one before God, praying that they are given all the wisdom they need to lead this generation of young people. Perhaps you could send a message of encouragement, letting them know that you are praying for them.

TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY Think of those children you know – those who are part of your corps family and those who are part of your own family. You may think that you don’t have any children in your corps, and that may well be true. But you do have children to whom you are connected. Bring their names to your corps prayer meetings. Pray for them and talk about both the good and the bad times they experience. Let them know that your corps family care about them and long to support them.

WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY One of the places where our young people spend most of their time is school.

Take time today to pray for your local school, both for the young people who attend and for all those who work there. Perhaps let the school know you are praying for them and ask them for specific requests. Perhaps your corps could adopt a school, working with the PTA to see how best you can support and even be in partnership with them.

THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY Today pray for our older young people, those in their teenage years. Many struggle with their identity. Pray that they know with deep assurance that they are a child of the Beloved. Make sure you speak affirming words of life over them.

CIRENCESTER Despite Covid-19 restrictions, the band fulfilled its carolling schedule, including the corps carol service and services at care homes, which were held outdoors. The band carolled in Cirencester and Tetbury town centres, as well as in nearby villages. On Christmas Eve residents came out to sing despite heavy rain, and the customers of The Drillman's Arms even assembled in the car park to sing carols. – MG

FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY Pray for parents, those who are part of a corps family and those in our communities. Pray that those who love Jesus take time to pray with their children, that talking about Jesus with their children is as natural as breathing.

Pray for those who don’t yet know Jesus, that through the faces of their own children they encounter the risen Jesus. Perhaps think about parents who need some encouragement; it may be someone at the corps or in your street.

Perhaps you could be the encouraging person in their life.

O A PDF of the Prayer Matters booklet is also available to download from salvationarmy.org.uk/resources Salvationist 29 January 2022

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ON MY BOOKSHELF

Inspiring and informative In this second series, more people tell Salvationist about the significance of some of the books on their bookshelf – this week, Lyn Woods (Great Yarmouth) FUELED BY FIRE: BECOMING A WOMAN OF COURAGE, FAITH AND INFLUENCE I FIRST encountered the author Staci Wallace, and her enthusiasm and energy for the life-enhancing truths of the gospel, when I took part in one of her motivational Fueled by Fire online courses during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Her bubbly, vivacious personality and her love for the Lord were infectious.

Wallace is a successful American businesswoman and a woman of strong faith. She empowers other women to resist darkness and evil in today’s world and to rise up with the power of the Holy Spirit to face and win the battles that women face daily.

She shows how they can lead Spirit-led lives of purpose and peace for God. The author is all about spiritual growth, recognising the danger of unrealistic worldly expectations and putting on the armour of God for everyday battle to move confidently into places where women can be of greater influence – and prove that, when women are fuelled by the Holy Spirit, anything is possible!

WIN FROM WITHIN: FINDING YOURSELF BY FACING YOURSELF I HEARD a quote from this book in a Salvation Army meeting I attended a few years ago and it really caught my attention. I decided I wanted to learn more about the author, 8

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American pastor John W Gray III, and how he triumphed over his shortcomings, temptations and failings.

In this Bible-based self-help guide, he gives advice on facing yourself, breaking with bad habits and self-limiting patterns of behaviour and dispelling your inner darkness to become the best version of yourself that God intends you to be.

Having experienced many personal challenges and much trauma in my life, and making some incredibly poor choices, the section on God’s grace really spoke to me. Gray reminds us that God’s grace is not for the perfect but the broken: it saves us and heals us. We don’t have to stay stuck in our worst moments and the struggles of our past do not have to define our future. Amen to that!

This book is one that I return to over and over again.

THE HIDING PLACE / IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE / TRAMP FOR THE LORD AS a young teenager I saw my mother reading the books of Corrie Ten Boom and thought what an unusual name the writer had, but never showed any further interest.

Back then I knew nothing of Corrie Ten Boom’s life story, background or the horrors of living in Nazi-occupied countries during the Second World War. Reading this trilogy as an adult, it is truly inspiring to learn how the author and her

family went to extraordinary lengths to help Jews hide and escape from the Nazis.

I find it both fascinating and encouraging to learn of the way the Lord worked in such difficult times through the lives of ordinary people and families who trusted fully in him.

FIGHTING FATIGUE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING THE SYMPTOMS OF CFS/ME AS a person living with arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, I remain my own worst enemy in pushing myself to my physical limits to feel that I have achieved something, for which I then suffer severely.

My therapist recommended this book to me and it proved really helpful in learning to manage my symptoms, so that I can continue to lead as active a life as possible while living with these incurable and debilitating conditions.

The authors give clear and practical expert advice on managing energy levels for everyday living. They show how to put their advice into practice in order to break the boom-bust energy cycle by setting realistic goals and expectations and learning to accept a new normal.

Although it’s difficult not being able to do what I once took for granted, this book is a useful tool for learning ways of being productive within my current physical limitations, so I can still enjoy a sense of wellbeing and accomplishment.

FEATURE I Chaplaincy in… the community

Connecting the community Continuing a series on Salvation Army chaplaincy in diverse settings, community chaplain Territorial Envoy Lynette Skutt talks to Shanelle Manderson about her work in Liverpool

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OMMUNITIES are built on connections, yet many people live lonely lives. Community chaplains such as Territorial Envoy Lynette Skutt help rebuild those connections by going out to people in their communities, fostering caring relationships, providing spiritual, pastoral and practical support and meeting them in their place and time of need.

Lynette was born and brought up in Liverpool and began her service as a community chaplain more than 15 years ago after the corps she soldiered at closed.

‘I really felt a call to work in my neighbourhood,’ she says. ‘I felt God was telling me to stay and to work in the community, so I did.’

Most community chaplains in the UK work within the prison and probation services, but Lynette is heavily involved in community initiatives, working with community groups and social services and strengthening ecumenical connections.

‘I have done a lot of work with older and vulnerable people over the years,’ adds Lynette. ‘I worked for several years with Liverpool city council at a day Lynette Skutt

centre. I eventually started a Sunday service, which lasted for many years until the centre closed. Then, through connections made by networking, I was invited to a day centre for people with severe dementia, with whom I still work.’

Lynette also works with community groups to combat the isolation and loneliness that some older people can experience.

‘As they’ve known me for many years, they appreciate the spiritual side of what I do, so I run many groups like Cameo,’ says Lynette. ‘At one stage I wanted to meet more older neighbours, so I built up a list and now at Christmas and Easter I put together Good Neighbour parcels to cheer them up. They usually include food and other things, but I’ll always share the message of Christ.’

The scope of Lynette’s work changed significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the lockdowns, she spent a lot of time on her own and had the opportunity to reflect on what it is like to be older and vulnerable.

‘I live by myself,’ she explains, ‘but usually every day is buzzing because I encounter people all the time.

‘The pandemic made me more aware of the pastoral needs of people – those who might appreciate a phone call or somebody to check up on them – and I got to know people a little better.’

Lynette also wanted to keep her prayer group together, so she started a newsletter.

‘Although Zoom has been a great gift during the pandemic, not everyone is IT savvy or can access it, so I started a newsletter. It’s been so successful that I have decided to keep it going. It is a good way of keeping in touch with people.’

Lynette says community chaplaincy is

also an important prayer ministry.

‘I’m constantly being asked to pray for people. As I don’t drive, I walk around everywhere and very often people will stop me and we’ll chat.

‘During the lockdowns I couldn’t meet people in person, but many asked me to put their friends and family on the newsletter’s prayer list. It’s made me aware that pastorally there’s a great need, which I will continue to try and meet.’

Lynette finds that the most rewarding element of chaplaincy is having the opportunity to share with people where they are.

‘Everything I do is rooted in being God’s person where I am,’ she enthuses. ‘I usually take a little cross with me, and I always say wherever I place my cross becomes church in the community.’

She works mainly in the north of the city. People there are grateful for Lynette’s presence and respond favourably.

‘There is a lot of positive stuff,’ she reflects, ‘but there are also frustrations because I’m limited in what I can do with people and what I can do to help them. In those situations I leave it with the Lord and ask for his grace.’

Lynette says that, as long as God gives her the health and strength to continue doing what she does, she will keep going: ‘God is good and he has called me. I’m also incredibly grateful for The Salvation Army, which over the years has caught the vision and enabled me.’

SHANELLE IS A FORMER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT WITH SALVATIONIST Salvationist 29 January 2022

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FEATURE I All Terrain questions

How do we receive joy?

Matt Little continues a monthly series exploring the four questions used in The All Terrain Podcast

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LFONSO Cuarón’s 2006 film, Children of Men, imagines an apocalyptic world where two decades of unexplained human infertility has plunged a despairing world into anarchy. A fragile glimmer of hope arrives in the form of a refugee, Kee, who is discovered to be pregnant. Theo, a civil servant, is tasked with escorting her to safety in secret – no mean feat, particularly when the baby is born prematurely on the journey.

In a film peppered with the sounds of conflict, destruction and human suffering, the final scene stands out. (The following paragraphs contain spoilers for the movie.)

Theo, Kee, the hidden baby and dozens of others are stuck in a block of flats that is being bombed by military forces. The infant is woken by a nearby explosion and starts to cry. Surely the newly discovered child will now be taken, fought over, perhaps killed in envy. Instead, a woman starts singing.

Others bow in awe, make the sign of the cross or smile at the miracle they are witnessing. They clear a path for the three to walk out of the building.

An angry armed soldier bursts into frame – but his fury dissipates as he recognises the wonder of the moment. A ceasefire is called. Instead of war and death, the sounds of new life permeate the chaos. Like a green shoot breaking through frozen, lifeless earth, unexpected joy transforms the moment.

MAKING TIME FOR JOY The first two questions covered in this series relate to change and suffering – two uncomfortable elements of our discipleship journey that most of us would rather avoid.

But the third question seems confusing. Why would anyone have difficulty receiving joy?

Dr Kate Middleton

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‘Children of Men’ is available on DVD and Blu-ray™ from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment UK

Perhaps it’s because so often joy takes us by surprise. As Danielle Strickland suggests in episode 21 of The All Terrain Podcast, ‘We’re so prone to functionality that we can view the interruptions or disruptions in our days as irritations rather than invitations for joy.’

Psychologist Dr Kate Middleton says in episode 17 that we should even seek to make joy a habit. She asks, ‘Do you value and make enough space for the things that will bring you joy – the things that will reliably lift your mood and sustain you even when everything else is really difficult? They could be things like making time for close friendships, losing yourself in worship or simply enjoying a good cup of coffee. For me, biking always brings me joy. It will always lift my mood.’

EXPERIENCING JOY IN RELATIONSHIPS In episode 12 of the podcast, Dr Krish Kandiah claims that ‘relationships are the means through which we experience joy’. This certainly rings true if we consider John’s Gospel, which was written to the Christians in Ephesus and which Dr Alexander John Shaia says addresses the question of how we receive joy.

‘At the end of the 1st century, Ephesus was a major seaport and the fourth largest city in the Greco-Roman world,’ Shaia explains. ‘Both port and capital city, it boasted a culturally diverse and thriving population.’ Amid that diversity,

the church had developed a powerful unity. The Christians had a glimpse of shalom, the Hebrew word that the Old Testament uses to describe the peace, wholeness, unity, harmony, fulfilment, prosperity, fruitfulness and joy that were present in the garden of Eden.

General Brian Peddle, who features in episode 11 of the podcast, has witnessed something of that unity in diversity while visiting The Salvation Army around the world. When host Matt White asks him if there is still joy in The Salvation Army, his face lights up: ‘Oh, dear Lord, you haven’t danced in the Punjab! You haven’t turned up where an earthquake has killed thousands and seen 18,000 Salvationists – as well as all our Muslim friends in the community who we work with – at a service of thanksgiving and heard them sing their song of joy!

‘I’ve been to a safe house where people are being rescued from modern slavery, where I listened to 18-year-old Mary sing a song that told a terrible story. But her tagline was “the best is yet to come”. And I could see in that young Burundian’s face that there was joy.

‘Is there joy in The Salvation Army?

I would say unequivocally yes! And if somebody wanted to argue with me, I’d take them on.’

STAYING OPEN TO JOY Joy can be short-lived. The film scene described earlier continues with everyone watching Theo, Kee and the baby in hushed silence as they emerge

New episodes of The All Terrain Podcast are released on the last Friday of the month on Apple Podcasts, Podbean and Spotify.

Episode 24 is available now and features Mike Pilavachi MBE, the co-founder and leader of Soul Survivor.

Sketch notes and group questions that support each episode can be downloaded from the podcast’s webpage at salvationarmy.org.uk/ youth-and-children. from the building and walk to safety.

But a new explosion abruptly snaps everyone back to reality – and the fighting resumes, just as before. It is clear, however, that Theo has been changed by the encounter and becomes determined to see through his mission of getting the child to safety.

Receiving God’s gift of joy is genuinely life-changing. But if joy often takes us by surprise and is largely experienced through our relationships with others, perhaps the biggest challenge for us in receiving joy is to maintain an openness to others.

In his book, The End of Youth Ministry?, Andrew Root says: ‘Joy … is the communal experience of life coming out of death, which produces union with God and neighbour. It can be an individual experience, but it always takes us into something beyond us.’

Receiving joy requires that we let others in.

MATT WORSHIPS AT SUTTON AND WRITES THE ALL TERRAIN PODCAST SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Salvationist 29 January 2022

11

VIEW POINT

How do we make local mission flourish?

Lieutenant Wan Gi Lee considers the challenge of church growth

I

N recent days I have been observing a debate about church growth and the way forward with great interest. The topic is not new to us at all, but what is striking and different is its bold vision with numerical targets. Last summer the Church of England announced a plan for 10,000 new churches over the next decade. We are in a pandemic that has caused a decrease in attendance at Sunday worship. How, then, could this ambitious vision have been proposed?

We in The Salvation Army are also looking for a way forward in God as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is being made concrete under the slogan ‘local mission flourishing’. Many divisional forums and discussions are taking place, along with prayers for discernment. In navigating this important missional objective, I believe there are things we can reflect on from the Church of England’s project.

CHANGING PERSPECTIVE First, mission flourishing is about a change of perspective, especially on leadership at a local level. There are many corps that have no officers. In those corps, however, there are people with potential and gifts to lead the congregation. We need to recognise them and motivate them to use their gifts for the Kingdom. This change of perspective lies at the heart of the Church of England’s plan for 10,000 new churches, as it suggests a growth model that empowers lay leadership.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE Empowering God’s people in each corps setting is an inevitable task for local mission. For this, I suggest something called ‘personal missional initiative talk’ as a practical way to engage with gifted people. We have been doing this at St Albans Corps over the past year and we are starting to gather its fruits. We have carried out one-to-one talks with people over a coffee, gently pulling out their strengths and gifts in order to bring 12

Salvationist 29 January 2022

their own missional initiatives forward for the corps and the community.

One example is our recently launched Marijuana Addiction Support Group. We started the initiative after talking with a corps member who had struggled greatly with this addiction. As he became free from it by the grace of the Lord, we recognised his wound and compassion as God’s given potential. Following several months of ongoing talks and prayers for discernment, he responded to this initiative and organised the community mission in our corps. It is

God’s economy,’ says Tony Horsfall in Attentive to God. Our personal missional initiative talks are also bearing fruit in homelessness mission, prayer ministry, preaching and ecumenical dialogues, as people in the congregation have responded with what they can offer to God and the community.

Without rediscovering people’s potential, local mission cannot be fruitful.

Officers come and go but empowered people in the corps will still be there. I believe motivating and supporting local leaders through using this kind of

now widely open to all in the community, especially those who are struggling with addiction. The mission is well received and growing.

This is an example of how God uses his people from all walks of life. God used someone’s wound in the past to help them respond to suffering people with greater empathy and compassion.

Gifts and potentials don’t need to be glamorous. The challenge for us is whether we can recognise such wounds as divine gifts so that they can be used for the Kingdom. ‘Nothing is wasted in

personal missional initiative talk is crucial to making local mission flourish.

WIDER PARTNERSHIPS Another important task is to develop wider partnerships with other groups.

During the pandemic the need to care for homeless friends and people in poverty has been growing continually in our community. To respond to this need we prayed for a local partnership and God opened a new door, allowing us to form a good relationship with a homelessness help group.

Over the past year that group’s input has transformed our corps life. Five days a week they cook and serve hot meals for people experiencing homelessness, while corps members provide additional practical and pastoral help. On average, 20 people are served daily. Over the past eight months, about 3,500 evening meals have been provided.

This community mission has brought many people together, from service users to volunteers and prayerful supporters.

Our corps might be small, but our God is not. To make our mission flourish,

we need to actively explore Kingdom partnerships to respond to the needs of vulnerable people.

ONE CHURCH, ONE SPIRIT There is, however, a danger of dichotomy in using the slogan ‘local mission flourishing’. Local mission is part of the holistic mission of God. The ‘you do the mission and we support’ approach is not mutually engaging. Of course, we welcome and appreciate such support but there are things to do at other levels as well.

People don’t see the Church as local.

Their local church is the universal Church. If there is any scandal in the Church it puts many people off and local churches bear the brunt. Local missions cannot flourish without continuous repentance and renewal as a universal Church. We can’t expect people to trust us if we are not willing to confess and address wrongs done in the past and the present.

We can’t expect young people to come to our churches if we don’t address justice issues in our society. If we fail to aspire to be a prophetic voice for God as a Church, then our local mission will be limited in terms of meaningful engagement with wider society and our impact on it.

The apostle Paul writes: ‘There is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all’ (Ephesians 4:4–6). Our local mission should be an expression of this oneness, finding unity in God beyond differences and inequalities in our ever-divided society.

O What

do you think is needed for local mission to flourish? Share your thoughts at transformation@salvationarmy.org.uk

LIEUTENANT LEE IS CORPS OFFICER, ST ALBANS Salvationist 29 January 2022

13

REFLECTION REFL RE FLEC FL ECTI EC TION TI ON

Living with Covid-19 Major Mel Jones considers what we can learn from epidemics of the past

C

HRISTMAS was all planned. My wife, Kath, and I were going to spend the festive season with our youngest grandson. Coronavirus intervened and our plans were put on hold as we awaited the results of our daughter-in-law’s PCR test.

The good news? The test result was negative. The visit went ahead. The bad news? Norovirus struck instead. I was the only person in the household to avoid the unpleasant stomach bug. It was a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons.

Regardless of what other problems we are facing, the coronavirus pandemic is an ever-present, dreary reality for us all. It is the major theme on the news and on radio phone-ins. Like so many others, I just want to get back to a brighter normality.

LIVING WITH EPIDEMICS Epidemics are not a new phenomenon.

One of the most infamous was the Great Plague of 1665–66, which was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England. The fear that gripped the country must have been intense – fear bordering on terror due to ignorance and helplessness in the face of such a devastating illness. The country had limited scientific knowledge and minimal health facilities at that time.

Almost 400 years later, fear remains an understandable response to an epidemic, but it should never be used to manipulate people.

LIVING WITH CHOLERA The Salvation Army was born in the 19th 14

Salvationist 29 January 2022

century – a period that saw several epidemics, including cholera. The first volume of The History of The Salvation Army says: ‘Up to 1865 sewage was emptied directly into the Thames. The 1866 cholera epidemic was caused by contaminated water having been turned into the mains from reservoirs at Old Ford… During the summer there were more than 8,000 deaths in east London from cholera and kindred complaints.’

This was the normality within which the Army, or The Christian Mission as it was called then, ministered.

Several references to cholera can be found in early Christian Mission literature, with some members having cholera – for example brother Clare of Portsmouth – and other members visiting and caring for people with cholera, such as James Flawn of Bethnal Green. This caring and costly ministry was undertaken by Christians of all denominations.

During a cholera epidemic on the Isle of Man in 1864, 15-year-old George Scott Railton lost his mother and father, a Wesleyan Methodist minister. A plaque was placed on the door of the Peel Methodist chapel commemorating their sacrificial service of nursing those who were too poor to afford medical care.

Whether by placing a plaque on a chapel door in the 19th century or clapping on our doorsteps in the 21st century, we do well to recognise those who serve us at great cost to themselves.

‘Friends pray for us’, Arthur Beale of Hackney reported that smallpox had appeared again. A further article titled ‘Friends in Heaven’ stated that smallpox had hurried another Mission convert to Glory.

The Booth family had personal experience of this deadly disease.

In 1876 Lucy, the youngest child of Catherine and William, contracted smallpox together with one of the servants who worked for the family.

Sadly, the servant died.

The 27-year-old Railton visited Lucy in hospital and contracted the disease.

Bramwell Booth stated that Railton was terribly ill and had been given up on by the doctors. He eventually recovered, but his body bore the scars of smallpox.

Serious illness leaves its marks in more ways than one.

LIVING WITH SMALLPOX The Christian Mission also lived through several smallpox outbreaks. In an 1872 Christian Mission Magazine article titled

MAJOR JONES LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN LONDON

LIVING WITH FAITH The loss of his parents during a cholera epidemic and his brush with death during a smallpox epidemic left their mark on Railton during his early and impressionable years. But he was a remarkable man of faith. He played a vital role in shaping our Movement in its early days and went on to live his life with a fearlessly deep and touchingly simple trust in God. One hundred and fifty years later we are all learning how to live with a pandemic, with faith.

VIEW POINT

Have we lost something precious?

Bandmaster Adrian Lyons (Colchester Citadel) considers the types of songs we do and don’t sing

C

HRISTMAS passed with a little noticed anniversary: it was 60 years since Carols for Choirs was first available.

The book contained many favourite carols, and the music arranged by Sir David Willcocks has become very familiar. Two of those, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’, with its descant for the verse ‘Sing choirs of angels’, and ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’, with a descant for the final verse, are particularly familiar.

My previous article (Salvationist 8 January) referred to cultural capital, which I guess would include those Willcocks settings, and at Christmas I was reminded that much more of the Army’s cultural capital is at risk.

I was delighted that a 25-year-old had asked for an Army songbook for a present. She looked through it on Christmas Day and, after some time, started saying repeatedly, ‘Don’t know that one… Don’t know that one.’ The songs to which she had never been exposed tended to be from the ‘Holiness’ section, such as the great songs of Albert Orsborn. This is not to suggest for one moment that it is her fault. She has spent all her life in The Salvation Army and has worshipped regularly at three different corps. The issue is more that our heritage has been neglected.

Does any of this matter? Are these just the ramblings of a sad old Salvationist yearning for an imagined past?

I would argue that it does matter. I have been a Salvationist long enough to know that many songs become popular for a time and then fall into disuse as others are introduced. As a bandmaster, there is no greater advocate for the Twelve Scripture-Based Songs series than me, but have we lost something precious?

In the 18th century, Charles Wesley was hugely successful at teaching the faith through hymns. His ‘And Can It Be?’ (SASB 241), for example, gets to the heart of the gospel message.

This tradition of teaching through songs is also clearly found in those of John Gowans that pepper the current songbook – for example, ‘If Human Hearts Are Often Tender’ (SASB 467).

The early Salvation Army produced many songs of personal testimony as well as battle songs that inspired and motivated. Then, as the Movement matured, came songs of personal devotion. As William Himes, OF, pointed out on Melody in My Heart on Fortress Radio, these songs represent our Movement’s gift to the great catalogue of hymns available to the Christian Church.

By the 1970s, songs of personal devotion had perhaps driven out a sense of praise. However, one critic wrote as long ago as 1904: ‘I think sometimes that The Salvation Army comes short in the matter of worship. I do not think that there is amongst us so much praising God for the wonders he has wrought, so much blessing him for his every kindness, or so much adoration of his wisdom, power and love as there might, nay, as there ought to be.’ That critic was one William Booth.

Over the past quarter of a century many corps have adopted almost exclusively a praise and adoration approach. As Harold Hill writes, ‘There

has been a move away from the use of the Salvation Army songbook and traditional hymns of the Church to the use of music and song material from other, though limited, sources.’

Here is Hill’s crucial point: ‘There is a much-reduced theological range in the sung material with more of “me” stuff – as there was in the early Army, though with a different message and often less theological depth. There can be a concentration on triumphalist, “feel good” and “prosperity gospel” themes, to the exclusion of the original Army preoccupation with the needs of the lost and disadvantaged. It tends to be music for the self-conceived saints rather than for the sinners.’

That may be harsh, but it makes the point that, in some expressions of Salvation Army, the pendulum has swung away from songs that teach or songs of confession and contrition. As the late Commissioner Harry Read, OF, proved with Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek, it is possible to produce holiness songs in an engaging and popular manner. Perhaps their song ‘I Dare To Be Different’ (SASB 321) is becoming part of our cultural capital.

I hope so.

ADRIAN IS PRESENTER OF MELODY IN MY HEART ON FORTRESS RADIO Salvationist 29 January 2022

15

BIBLE STUDY

How deep is your Major Liz Chape highlights some challenges of loving people

1 JOHN 3:11–24

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INCE being appointed to Regent Hall in central London, my husband, Geoff, and I have enjoyed walking from home to Oxford Street and back. Part of that walk takes us through Hyde Park.

Recently we passed two people who were having a conversation and I heard one say to the other: ‘Well, I did wonder whether the butler had gone in and moved it.’

Now, I’m not disparaging anyone who might be able to have a butler – or anyone who is a butler – but that is not part of my experience. Neither is it part of my world to have to sit on the street and ask for money. Nor have I been abused or trafficked by other people who have their own agenda and are

Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day

by Major Howard Webber

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Salvationist 29 January 2022

motivated by greed. But these things are part of the world for other people.

Do I think that the person who has a butler needs Jesus in their life? Yes, of course I do. Do I think that the person sitting on the street asking for money or someone who is being trafficked needs Jesus in their life? Yes, I do. I thank God that, in these situations, there are people willing to tell them about Jesus. In sharing Jesus, they share love – God’s pure, completely selfless, joy-bringing love. This will resonate with anyone who believes in an active Christianity.

It is interesting, then, that our study passage seems to focus on loving those around us who already follow Christ.

John’s letter is pastoral and is addressed not only to those who have

been Christians for some time but also to more recent converts. Whether we have followed Christ for many years or for few, this letter challenges us as we explore what it means to love other people.

Our first challenge is in verse 11, where John writes: ‘We should love one another.’

QUESTIONS O Who does this bring to mind?

O Why do we find some people easier to love than others?

O Why is it sometimes harder to love some of the people with whom we worship?

Hate, death, life and love all feature in our study passage. The words ‘we have

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Lord, the light of your love is shining,/ In the midst of the darkness, shining;/ Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us,/ Set us free by the truth you now bring us./ Shine on me, shine on me.

(SASB 261)

This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him… Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(1 John 4:9–11)

The light of his love shines the brighter/ As it falls on paths of woe;/ The toil of my work will grow lighter/ As I stoop to raise the low.

(SASB 894)

love? passed from death to life’ (v14) echo words found in John’s Gospel – that those who accept and respond to the message, life and death of Jesus have ‘eternal life and will not be judged’ and have ‘crossed over from death to life’ (John 5:24). What an affirming result from understanding Christ’s love and making loving Christ and other people the central tenet of one’s faith.

Our study passage’s second challenge is in verses 13 to 15. We read that ‘anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer’ (v15). The story of Cain and Abel, referred to in verse 12, would be an extreme example, but any form of hate that is found in us, even if it does not result in such a heinous action, also condemns us to spiritual death.

QUESTIONS O How do you feel about that?

O To what extent does it relate to your experience?

Cain hating Abel provides a contrast with what follows – a declaration of where we see and experience the absolute expression of love in Christ.

There are numerous sayings that reflect the importance of understanding that what we say actually comes out of what is in our hearts. For example: ‘actions speak louder than words’ or ‘compassion in action’.

Jesus said: ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34).

These words enrich and ground our study passage in Christ’s own message.

This is important stuff for all Christians.

The final verses of 1 John 3 contain a warning against speaking words of love but not reflecting them in how we act towards others. To love only with your tongue is to say things that do not relate to what is in your heart. What we do completes our thoughts and words.

The generous love of Christ must be seen in the entirety of who we are. Our final challenge, then, is found in verses 18 to 24. How does it feel to live in Christ and to have him live in your own heart?

MAJOR CHAPE IS CORPS OFFICER, REGENT HALL

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

(1 John 4:19 and 20)

Except I am moved with compassion,/ How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?/ In word and in deed/ Burning love is my need;/ I know I can find this in thee.

(SASB 626)

‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.”

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven.’

(Matthew 5:43–45)

Love of God so pure and changeless,/ Blood of Christ so rich and free,/ Grace of God so strong and boundless,/ Magnify them all in me,/ Even me, even me,/ Magnify them all in me.

(SASB 302)

Prayer Father, I praise and worship you for your love that lights my life each day.

Thank you for revealing the enormity of that love by sending and sacrificing Jesus to save me, even me.

Salvationist 29 January 2022

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NEW COMMITMENTS Editor’s note In-person meetings were held in accordance with Army safety guidance at the time.

DOUGLAS Eva and Mollie were enrolled as junior soldiers by Eva’s grandmother, Major Sandra Fisher. During the meeting the girls shared a beautiful prayer they had written. They were supported by family members as they made their promise to God. – RN

ADDLESTONE Geoff Heald was enrolled as a soldier by corps officer Major Ian Loxley. After a period away from church, Geoff found The Salvation Army and felt the welcome of a prodigal returning home. On his first weekend he was invited to a divisional celebration, during which he felt compelled to rededicate his life to God. He is looking forward to opportunities to share his faith and serve his community. Pictured with Major Ian and Geoff is gap year intern Elizabeth Kitchenside. – EK

RUTHERGLEN Lucian was enrolled as a junior soldier by corps officer Major Catherine Wyles. Lucian is a member of the Jam club and regularly attends worship on Sundays. He said that he ‘wants Jesus to help him be a good boy’. – DM

MERTHYR TYDFIL Philip Griffiths grew up in Tredegar Corps but left and became a member of a local church. In the past few years he has supported his wife, Pat, with Good Companions, joined the corps fellowship band and sung in the songsters. He felt it was time to recommit fully to The Salvation Army. On Covenant Sunday corps officer Major Kevin Rand enrolled Philip as a soldier. Philip’s testimony was reflected in the words of the song ‘I Would Be Thy Holy Temple’ (SASB 591). Philip is pictured with flag bearer Robert Davies, Corps Sergeant-Major and Recruiting Sergeant Lynne Brill and Major Kevin. – LB 18

Salvationist 29 January 2022

PAISLEY CITADEL Mags Morton was delighted to be enrolled as a soldier by former corps officer Major Cora Joy Tucker. Mags first came into contact with the Army when her mother took her to the Sunday school. A valued member of the songsters, she chose the song ‘I’ll Not Turn Back’ (SASB 649) and spoke about feeling God’s love streaming into her. Mags strives to share that love with people she meets and often serves refreshments and provides a warm welcome at corps events. Pictured are Gibb Neeson, Majors Edwin and Cora Joy Tucker, Mags and corps officers Captain Megan and Lieutenant Elliot Kervin. – EK

TESTIMONY

‘There is nothing the Lord cannot do!’

Jim was re-enrolled during the Harvest weekend in 2021

Jim Gillard (Milton Keynes) shares how Jesus changed his life and set him free

I

BELIEVE that God is working in our lives, even when we are not fully aware of him.

My first encounter with God was in 1960 when I was about 10 years old in the Boys Brigade, in a small chapel next to the main meeting hall.

It’s hard to describe what I felt at that time. I had no idea as a child who Jesus Christ was or what salvation meant, but I knew God was there with me and that he was my heavenly Father.

In 1977 I married Ann and we had two beautiful children – a girl and boy – and went on to have eight grandchildren. I knew I had been blessed. Nevertheless, I felt the weight of responsibility and that, in my own strength, I was not as good a parent as I wanted to be.

Ann and I loved each other, but we had differences and faced numerous difficulties. I knew I needed some help and guidance to be a better parent.

I remembered the experience I had at the Boys Brigade and in 1985 I decided we needed to attend a church.

I lived in Neath Hill in Milton Keynes and set off to look for a church. I had only driven to the edge of my estate when a thought came into my mind: what about The Salvation Army?

Much to my surprise I discovered the Army met nearby. The following Sunday I took my family to the meeting and the corps officer at the time, Lieutenant Philip Garnham, invited me to his home.

I shared my hope that the Army would

help me to be a good example to my children.

The captain told me the good news of the gospel, that by believing in Jesus I would be saved and receive the Holy Spirit to help me in life and with my family.

I asked Jesus to come into my life and it changed from that point on. I had a new awareness that Jesus was my Saviour and friend, and I could not learn enough about his love for me.

It wasn’t long before I became a soldier. I have wonderful memories of this time: our marriage was blessed at the corps, my parents moved to the area and attended regularly. We experienced a special time of family togetherness and mutual spiritual love. My children, Emma and Anthony, became junior soldiers and, after her enrolment, Ann worked with the young people. I received local officer commissions and we were invited to different corps to conduct meetings.

In 2000, I faced difficulties on all fronts. My teenage son was convinced he had to make a new start somewhere and my parents died. These challenges took their toll and I stopped attending the corps. However, I continued to tell anyone who asked about my faith.

When I retired from work in 2011 I fell out with my younger sister at my farewell do. As a result, I turned to alcohol. This dependence on alcohol continued until September 2019.

I tried to give up drinking but failed.

I went through deep depression. And yet others still approached me to talk about my faith.

Looking back, I think I misunderstood discipleship and forgot the story of Jesus in the boat when the great storm blew up. I should have realised that God still had a hold on me, even in those dark times.

But even when we are not true to him, God is true to us.

On 27 September 2019 I was invited to the funeral of a good friend, Kate.

The minister said that, before her death, Kate had asked her funeral to be more about Jesus and less about her. This cut me right through to the bone, but the next weekend I had a few drinks as usual. I felt guilty. How could I pray when the drink had more of a hold on me than Jesus did?

I lay in bed in tears and suddenly found myself praying: ‘God please take this weight of dependence on drink from me!’ At that moment the weight was lifted. Soon after I started attending the corps again.

A miracle happened – God reached down and rescued me. There is nothing the Lord cannot do!

Such love, pure as the whitest snow; Such love, weeps for the shame I know; Such love, paying the debt I owe; O Jesus, such love.

(SASB 199) Salvationist 29 January 2022

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TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE UPDATE

Beginning the design phase Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant presents the January update on the work of the Structure Co-ordination and Design Group

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HE Structure Co-ordination and Design Group (SCDG) has hit the ground running at the start of this new year. Significant progress was made in 2021 but 2022 will be busy and, we pray, result in local mission flourishing as well as the streamlining and integration of headquarters.

The project has four stages: Listening (autumn/winter 2021), Design (winter/ spring 2022), Impact Analysis (summer/ autumn 2022) and Implementation (winter 2022 to summer 2023).

Thank you to everyone who’s already contributed to Stage 1 (Listening). Your comments have been encouraging, challenging and helpful, and have provided a strong base for the Divisional Design Groups (DDGs) to start their work. Thank you for spending time reflecting on what is preventing mission from flourishing locally and helping us understand how we can work together to remove obstacles.

The Research and Design Unit at THQ is busy analysing all your feedback. It’s an epic task and we’re grateful for the unit’s professionalism and skill. We hope to be able to share their initial conclusions in the February SCDG update.

Stage 2 (Design) is now under way.

Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main has worked with divisional leaders to identify people to lead and take part in each DDG. We’re grateful to all who have graciously accepted their nomination to take part. The DDGs are beginning their work and five THQ Service Design Groups (Chief Secretary’s Office, Business Administration, Personnel, Communications and Mission) will be collaborating with the DDGs on solutions to the issues raised in Stage 1 and any others that arise.

WHO IS LEADING EACH DDG? O East Midlands DDG: Major Brian Slinn (divisional commander, East Midlands) O East of England DDG: Ann Howlett20

Salvationist 29 January 2022

Foster (Cambridge Citadel, Central East) O Ireland DDG: Colonel Neil Webb (divisional commander, Ireland) O London DDG: Major Mark Rose (corps officer, Hendon, North London) O North East DDG: Major David Burns (divisional commander, North East England) O North West DDG: Major David Taylor (divisional commander, North West) O Scotland DDG: Lieut-Colonel Carol Bailey (secretary for Scotland and divisional commander, East Scotland) O South East DDG: Major Mark Herbert (divisional commander, South East) O South West DDG: Lynn Moore (Forest of Dean, Severn and Somerset) O Southern DDG: Major Mike LloydJones (divisional commander, Central South) O Wales DDG: Nick Redmore (head of Research and Development, THQ) O West Midlands DDG: Major Adrian Allman (corps officer, Birmingham Citadel, West Midlands) O Yorkshire DDG: Major Alan Norton (corps officer, Barton-upon-Humber, Yorkshire South with Humber) You’ll notice that DDGs don’t match with all our current divisions, but no one should assume that this is a list of new divisions. For example, no decision has been taken on the number of divisions in Scotland; and we are still learning from the newer divisions – nothing is decided yet. One of the DDGs’ tasks will be to review the current divisional boundaries and to collaborate with neighbouring DDGs on what processes and structures will enable local mission to flourish.

WHO IS IN EACH DDG? The chief secretary encouraged each division to nominate 12 people to their DDG who have a range of life and Army experiences, as well as giftings and skillsets, so that as many voices as possible are represented across the

groups. Our DDGs include corps and DHQ officers, Lifehouse staff, local officers, chaplains, those with a ministry focus on community, youth, children and prisons, Police Service professionals, solicitors and NHS executives, to name a few.

WHAT WILL THE GROUPS DO? The DDGs have four main tasks: 1. Review the feedback gathered during Stage 1.

2. Review processes and structures currently in use and refer issues to THQ where five Service Design Groups will work to find solutions.

3. Review divisional boundaries and make proposals following discussions with neighbouring DDGs. 4. Propose processes and structures that will support local mission so that it flourishes.

Prayer must be the foundation of everything we do, so the DDGs are expected to spend time in prayer and to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout their discussions.

DDG chairs and members will be supported by the SCDG with these challenging tasks.

HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED? Please continue to pray for our DDGs and Service Design Groups. Please ask that the Spirit leads their work and that a collaborative heart beats in all they do.

Also, please do keep in touch with your feedback at transformation@ salvationarmy.org.uk.

Thank you for your encouragement, support and willingness to share your wisdom.

LIEUT-COLONEL PALLANT IS SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS, THQ

ADVERTS SOUTHEND CITADEL Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March visit of the

INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS Please note these dates, further information to follow

Save The Date Friday 15 – Sunday 17 July 2022 International Convention Centre Birmingham

Commissioning, Congress and Symphony Sounds

ADVERTISING RATES ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT LISTINGS: Single line advert – £5 CLASSIFIEDS: Corps events NUMBER OF WEEKS

UP TO 15 WORDS

16 – 25 WORDS

1

£6.40

£9.00

26 – 35 WORDS £11.60

3

£15.45

£21.70

£27.80

Extra words over 35 – 26p per word CLASSIFIEDS: Non-corps events NUMBER OF WEEKS

UP TO 15 WORDS

16 – 25 WORDS

26 – 35 WORDS

1

£9.00

£12.50

£14.00

3

£22.50

£31.25

£35.00

Extra words over 35 – 30p per word BOXED ADVERTISEMENTS: Single column – 32.5 mm (w) Double column – 69.5 mm (w) SIZE

SINGLE COLUMN 1 ISSUE

SINGLE COLUMN 3 ISSUES

DOUBLE COLUMN 1 ISSUE

DOUBLE COLUMN 3 ISSUES

28 mm

£15.00

£36.00

£30.00

£72.00

61 mm

£26.00

£65.00

£52.00

£130.00

94 mm

£55.00

£137.50

£110.00

£250.00

127 mm

£65.00

£155.00

£130.00

£315.00

PAGE ADVERTISEMENTS: Quarter page – 127mm (h) X 88 mm (w) Half page – 127 mm (h) X 181 mm (w) Full page – 258 mm (h) X 181 mm (w) SIZE

1 ISSUE

3 ISSUES

QUARTER PAGE

£180.00

£450.00

HALF PAGE

£340.00

£850.00

FULL PAGE

£675.00

£1,687.00

ADVERTS CANNOT BE TAKEN OVER THE PHONE. ALL ADVERTS CARRIED IN SALVATIONIST ARE SUBJECT TO HOUSE STYLE AND ARE CARRIED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE EDITOR. For further information email advertising@salvationarmy.org.uk

Salvationist 29 January 2022

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARMY PEOPLE LOCAL OFFICERS APPOINTED O CS Ian Brown, Ripley AWARDED Margaret Sidell, Barton-upon-Humber, awarded the British Empire Medal

O

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Diamond O Joyce and Stuart Holdsworth, Leeds Central (17 February) DEDICATED TO GOD O Ananiah Nyasha Rosie, daughter of Heather and James Makono, at Leeds Central by Major Stuart Barker RETIRED OFFICERS Birthday congratulations O Major Pearl Mattingley (85 on 6 February) O Major Joan Swan (80 on 7 February) O Captain Audrey Miller (85 on 8 February) O Major Janette Brown (85 on 8 February) O Major Sylvia Lane (80 on 10 February) O Lieut-Colonel Doriel Phillips (85 on 10 February) PROMOTED TO GLORY Derek Wellington, St Austell O David Greig, Bedford Congress Hall O Alice Burgess, Watchet, on 25 December O

BEREAVED CSM Vicky Wellington, St Austell, of her husband Derek Wellington, Richard Wellington, Johnathan Wellington, Victoria Groomer and Natalie Blewett of their father O Chris Greig, Bedford Congress Hall, O

of her husband David Greig, Lindsay Gillman, Sutton, of her father O Gwyn Morgan, Penarth, of his father James Morgan

TRIBUTES MAJOR ROBERT CAMPBELL ROBERT was born on 28 September 1947 in Londonderry. He was the only son of George and Alice, with three elder sisters, Joyce, Irene and Phyllis, now deceased. They were members of their local church, where Robert was confirmed. It was during a revival meeting organised by the churches of Londonderry when he first gave his heart to Jesus, however it would be some time before the significance of that day became evident.

Robert served in the Army Cadets and as a territorial soldier alongside his father in the Royal Army Service Corps. He joined the RAF’s medical services in 1966 and, in 1969, was posted to RAF Uxbridge where he met Christine and they married in 1970. Their son, David, was born in 1972 and their daughter, Fiona, in 1980.

In civilian life Robert continued to serve with the territorials of the Royal Anglian Regiment and in various roles for the Royal British Legion. However, his life took on new meaning in 1993 when he attended the enrolment of Christine at Cambridge Citadel, where Robert reaffirmed his commitment to God in 1996 as a soldier and songster.

In 1998 they answered God’s call to officership and, in 1999, took oversight of Willingham Corps before being warranted as auxiliary-captains and appointed to Aylsham. Commissioned as captains in 2002, they were appointed to Thetford, Chatteris and Lowestoft South, where

ENGAGEMENTS GENERAL BRIAN PEDDLE AND COMMISSIONER ROSALIE PEDDLE O ICO, Thu 10 Feb – Sun 13 THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER (COMMISSIONER ANTHONY COTTERILL) AND COMMISSIONER GILLIAN COTTERILL O Larne, Sat 5 Feb – Sun 6 THE CHIEF SECRETARY (COLONEL PAUL MAIN) AND COLONEL JENINE MAIN O Dunstable, Sun 6 Feb O Bromley Temple, Sun 13* *Colonel Jenine Main only

22

Salvationist 29 January 2022

they were promoted to majors and from where they retired in 2014.

Robert’s service was marked by enthusiasm, commitment and a determination to do his best for the Kingdom. Although in recent years Robert suffered from poor health, he continued to be a ray of light and an encourager through whom God touched and changed the lives of many.

Servant of God, Queen and country, well done! – CC JOAN WRIGHT, RUGBY JOAN’s life was hallmarked by her love for God and other people. Born in Morecambe, she later moved to Whitehaven, where she was active in the corps and met and married Albert.

A change of employment necessitated a move to Rugby in 1956. A primary school teacher, Joan balanced her work with Army duties and caring for their two daughters. All these facets came together in her role as a lively and innovative YPSM. In later years she took on the role of Cameo leader and the same dedication was evident.

No one was outside Joan’s loving care.

In employment she was highly regarded and valued for her relationships with colleagues, pupils and parents alike. Her influence was such that, as a result of simple invitations, three people became Salvation Army officers.

Joan leaves a great legacy of love in the community and the corps, where she is sadly missed. – RT RON JOICE, ROMFORD FROM Durham coal-mining roots, Ron embarked on his musical career as an RAF band euphonium player, then as head of music at state schools in Essex. In Salvation Army circles, Ron was known as a pianist, a bandmaster for more than 30 years at Barking then Romford, and musical director of the East London divisional music school in the 1970s and 1980s.

Ron is fondly remembered as a superb band trainer, crafting quality, lyric-focused, emotion-laden renditions, and for his

piano improvisations on Sundays. Ron’s Havering music school involvement led to 30 years as an executive board member of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, being an examiner and content arbiter for O and A-level music and practical exams.

Upon retirement Ron created the Rotary Havering Young Musician of the Year competition, hosted at Romford Corps, for which Rotary UK awarded him the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2010. – GJ DEREK WELLINGTON, ST AUSTELL MARRIED to Vicky for 60 years, Derek was a devoted family man. He is greatly missed by his four children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

During RAF service, he was a chef to officers and helped make some royal wedding cakes. In civilian life Derek worked on the railways for 40 years, finishing as an inspector. He was a guard on the royal train many times and received a letter of thanks from

Buckingham Palace upon retirement.

Derek became a Christian 52 years ago at a gospel church and later joined The Salvation Army at St Austell, where he ran a men’s fellowship group and indoor bowls club. A good handyman and gardener, he also decorated the hall at Christmas and Easter.

Derek suffered very poor health for the last four years of his life, which latterly prevented attendance. – RD DAVID GREIG, BEDFORD CONGRESS HALL DAVID was a fourthgeneration Salvationist and a natural musician, holding many music leadership roles, from assistant YP band leader at Coventry City in 1958 to bandmaster at Bedford Congress Hall until 2018.

David married Chris in 1964 and moved to Oxford, where he became YP band leader and later songster leader. After the birth of Andrew and Lindsay, David decided to retrain as a music teacher, moving to and soldiering at Bedford Congress Hall, where he served as

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songster leader and bandmaster. His passion for music continued through his professional life, teaching brass in the Milton Keynes area, which he considered a large part of his ministry.

David was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2017, undergoing treatment with courage and characteristic good humour until he was called Home to be with the Lord he loved at the end of August 2021.

Good and faithful servant, well done.

– LG ROBERT HARDING, DARLINGTON BOB was a member of The Salvation Army for almost 90 years while mainly living in northeast England.

He and his wife, Margaret, who is now deceased, served as Salvation Army officers in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire from 1950 to 1960.

Bob was a keen vocalist and bandsman into his seventies. He was appointed bandmaster at Darlington and continued to attend and worship there for the rest of his life. He was promoted to Glory on 10 November 2021, aged 94. – KK

Please call: 020 7367 4789 or email: paul.fowler@salvationarmy.org.uk

Flyers from Single sided 100 A5 - £20* Double sided 100 A5 - £30*

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Registered Charity No. 214779 147 779 and and in n Scotland Scotland SC009359; Social Trust Registered Charity No. 215174 and in Scotland SC037691 rrittorria al Commander Commander for the United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland: Commissioner Clive Adams General: André Cox. Territorial

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Salvationist 29 January 2022

23

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The Salvation Army acts as an agent for Global Adventure Challenges. Global Adventure holds an Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL number 6506) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. Registered charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359 Social Trust: Registered charity No: 215174, and in Scotland SC037691 | Republic of Ireland: Registered charity No: CHY6399