LETTERS
CORPS CADETS’ VISIT CHANGED MY LIFE DURING a corps cadet guardian conference at Sunbury Court in the late Sixties, I listened to others attending from Ireland who said that no SA groups visited Ireland because of the Troubles. At the age of 25 my life was changed completely as a result of a corps cadet brigade coming to Ireland in July 1970. They visited my corps for just one day and made such an impression on me that it helped me to consider officership as a possibility for my life. I spoke to my corps officer about how I was feeling and I told him that I would let him know my decision when he returned from his furlough. Time passed. After he returned I didn’t say a word to him. Then one Friday morning at my work desk I spoke aloud and said: ‘That’s it Lord, I am going to see the lieutenant tonight to let him know.’ That very afternoon my boss called me into his office and offered me a promotion. After that there was no returning and I entered the training college in 1971 as a member of the Blood and Fire Session. In 2005 my wife and I were changing appointment and the DC called me from the appointment conference relating to our future. They were concerned about the distance of the proposed appointment from the town we were hoping to retire to in five years’ time, but were convinced that this was God’s appointment for us. We were appointed to Stowmarket, the corps where the corps cadets came from all those years earlier! It was a wonderful experience to meet some of those people and to share my testimony with them. The corps cadet guardian was still alive and I had the privilege of conducting her funeral and thanksgiving service before leaving the corps in 2008. I thank God for that group of young people who, despite the dangers in Northern Ireland at the time, visited us; and for all the blessings that have been mine as God used them to help me discover his will for my life. Harry Wilson, Major, Cheltenham
WONDERFUL LINKS WHAT a thrill it was to read the testimony of Cadet Paul Devine (Salvationist 16 March)! Paul shared the amazing spiritual journey he has so far experienced, from an inmate of Perth Prison to appointment as Perth corps officer, along with his lovely wife Alexandra. The fellowship at Hemel Hempstead was privileged to welcome Paul and Cadet James Addis for a period during their training, and trust we contributed as much to them as they did to us. At that time there were also opportunities for Paul’s officer wife to be with us, and a special bond was formed when their daughter was born, then later dedicated to God here. On learning of their appointment I was able to share with Paul that, as a cadet in the Standard Bearers Session, I was included in the group that conducted a ten-day campaign at Perth. Bandmaster Stewart had high rank in the city police and enabled us to conduct a meeting at the prison. The Lord makes wonderful links for us in the Army! Len Roberts, Hemel Hempstead
SALLY ANN ON DVD SOME time ago, I inquired through the letters page of Salvationist about an episode of a Southern Television series I saw called Sally Ann, starring Stephanie Cole of Tenko fame as a major and filmed around the old Southampton Citadel buildings c1979. I know my letter was followed up, but I have since discovered that the series is available to purchase on DVD by visiting renownfilms.co.uk/ product/sally-ann-the-completeseries As most people I speak to have never heard of this series, or confuse it with the Thora Hird sitcom Hallelujah!, I just wanted to let people know. Morvyn Finch, Ipswich
WHAT ARE WE BECOMING? SINCE retiring from work at the end of 2018 I have had the privilege of selling the Army papers each week in the centre of Worcester. I have been amazed at the generosity of the general public, young and old; nearly every donation is accompanied by the words ‘towards all the good work you do’. What has amazed me more is the number of people who do not realise that we are first and foremost a church. In the way the Army now portrays itself to the public are we neglecting to include the word church? We have the red shield as our emblem – with no cross on it. At Christmas, in all the appeal adverts and literature, was there any mention of Christ? Are we not rapidly becoming known for and selling ourselves as primarily a social service rather than a Christian church that believes in ‘heart to God and hand to man’? John Stimpson, Worcester Salvationist 6 April 2019
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