Feature 14 and

addiction and even economic abuse can all contribute to financial difficulties, and the list doesn’t end there.

‘It’s not just those who are not working who are struggling,’ says Karen. ‘Workers on zero-hours contracts, self-employed workers, seasonal workers and many other working people are seeking help with debt problems.’

Statistically, clients will often have found themselves in and attempted to settle a debt crisis several times before they achieve a resolution to their financial situation. Debt advisers actively engage with them in a two-way relationship, journeying and working with them.

‘In our role, it’s important to listen and empathise,’ Karen explains. ‘Ultimately we want to help clients improve their situation by working with them – we want them to be part of their debt resolution process.’

The service itself also needs financial support, from the public and other organisations, to continue its work. With the rise in demand, it is hoped that centre hours and the number of advisers will be increased nationwide, although this takes time and resources. In May and June the Bedford debt advice centre sent out volunteer collectors to supermarkets over six days. Karen is grateful for the public’s generous response, which has so far raised more than £2,000 towards extra technology and training for its voluntary team of advisers.

‘To recruit, train and equip an adviser qualified to offer advice can take up to six months to a year,’ she says. ‘Not everyone will be suitable to be a debt adviser. It requires a range of skills, but I will always find a purpose for a willing volunteer.’

Although debt crises are nothing new, the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be underestimated. One of the main areas that debt advice centres have focused on during the pandemic is maximising income for clients, many of whom have struggled to pay bills from their savings and limited resources, often not realising what other entitlements or benefits they qualify for.

Lorraine Cook (pictured above), the financial inclusion development manager for Community Services, heads up the work of the Army’s debt advice centres nationwide. She explains that some of the incentives and safeguards put in place by the government and other organisations to help people during the pandemic have only delayed problems. People are now being chased for pre-pandemic debts and payment holidays and the removal of the temporary universal credit uplift have severely impacted many claimants. The advice of the debt advice service has remained the same: ‘If you can pay it, do pay it.’

‘We can give people a debt solution, but we can’t solve poverty,’ says Lorraine.

She explains how, in the past, government authorities such as the Department for Work and Pensions distanced themselves from churchbased community services and provision. However, they are now ‘seeing the results that our services are achieving, and they want to be a part of it and work with us’.

Many clients are confidentially referred from groups they already attend at corps, such as parent-and-toddler clubs or luncheon clubs. They may attend corps activities having received an invitation from the team. Lorraine relates this to the Engel scale of discipleship, whereby clients come in on the fringes but there is ongoing growth and opportunities for faith to be shared.

‘That’s why we do what we do,’ she says. ‘It’s holistic, meeting the wider needs of humanity and offering so much more than debt solutions.’

Bedford Congress Hall

For more information about the Army’s debt advice service, or to find a centre near you, visit salvationarmy.org.uk/

budget-and-debt-advice

LYN WOODS

Editorial Assistant Salvationist

Open rebellion

Major Annette Allen says there are times when we have to trust that God will speak for us

NUMBERS 12

OUR study passage is a challenge to leaders and those being led. As a leader, is there a temptation to rise to challenges, especially when they are undeserved? As followers, how do we support those who are particularly anointed by God for a specific purpose? This was the dilemma that Moses had to face. He was a great and gifted man confronted with opposition from within his family.

The chapter begins as his siblings, Miriam and Aaron, start to question whether or not they should listen to Moses for counsel and direction, and it would seem that Moses’ wife – a Cushite from Ethiopia – is the object of their frustration. Perhaps they didn’t approve of her but, for unknown reasons, envy and pride start to surface and they start to mutter among themselves: ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?... Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’ (v2).

QUESTION

How do you deal with criticism, especially when it comes from the people closest to you?

We are told that Moses was ‘more humble than anyone else on the face of the Earth’ (v3). Maybe this is not based on his first 40 years, when he did much of his growing and mistake-making, but he was certainly unparalleled in his leadership. God had led him on a physical and spiritual journey and Moses had matured into the leader God always knew he could be.

The Lord hears the grumblings of Miriam and Aaron and is not very pleased. He reminds them that with other prophets he spoke through visions but with Moses he has spoken face to face. Moses is someone who has the special blessing of God upon him (see vv6–8). Moses is their brother, but spiritual fear should be even more present not less so.

QUESTIONS

Do we recognise those whom God has anointed? Do we find ourselves willing to follow graciously or do envy and pride stand in our way?

We are told that the anger of the Lord ‘burned against them’ (v9) and that Miriam was inflicted with leprosy and was then ordered out of the camp for seven days.

Aaron immediately recognises this as instant punishment for the sin that they have committed. He begs Moses for forgiveness. Moses beseeches God to heal Miriam (see v13). Instead of instant forgiveness, God reminds them of the ultimate cultural punishment for shameful acts – to be spat in the face and confined outside the camp for a week.

Through their acts of defiance and rebellion, not only have Aaron and Miriam rejected the authority of Moses but they have also rejected God’s authority.

Through the week with Salvationist

– a devotional thought for each day

by Major Jane Kimberley

SUNDAY

We have not known thee as we ought,/ Nor learned thy wisdom, grace and power;/ The things of Earth have filled our thought/ And trifles of the passing hour./ Lord, give us light thy truth to see/ And make us wise in knowing thee.

(SASB 630)

MONDAY

Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.

(Romans 12:10)

TUESDAY

We have not feared thee as we ought,/ Nor bowed beneath thine aweful eye,/ Nor guarded deed and word and thought,/ Remembering that God was nigh./ Lord, give us faith to know thee near/ And grant the grace of holy fear.

(SASB 630)