Salvationist 8 June 2019

SALVATIONIST For everyone linked to The Salvation Army

No.1708 Price 60p

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist 8 June 2019

ALIGHT!

The Spirit of love, justice and hope

T CONTENTS

Quotes from the media

3

News

4 to 8

Frontline challenges I Is there a place for religion in politics?

8

by David Newstead

Viewpoint Campaigning for credit where credit is due

9

by Ryan Gow

Feature I Chinese posters Preaching with pictures

10 and 11

by Ruth Macdonald

Feature I Pentecost 12 and 13 What does the Spirit say to the churches?

Reflection 14 Discover your hidden resources

by Major Sylvia Bird

Viewpoint Tongue-tied at Pentecost

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by Ron Thomlinson

Bible study Promise received!

16 and 17

by Lieutenant Helen Froud

Through the week with Salvationist 16 and 17

by Major Lynda Levis

New commitments

18

Letters

19

Announcements

20

Adverts

THE late Commissioner Denis Hunter once described Luke as a ‘blood and fire Salvationist’. What he meant was that Luke’s Gospel focuses on many of the things that are, or should be, at the heart of our Movement: the good news of salvation, the life of prayer, the rightful place of women, a sense of praise and joy, a concern for people – especially the marginalised and disadvantaged – and a global outlook.

Not least is Luke’s interest in the work of the Holy Spirit. In his account of the birth of Jesus, the Spirit features prominently. At the baptism of Jesus, the Spirit is described as having descended on him in bodily form like a dove. In Luke 4 Jesus, ‘full of the Spirit’, is ‘led by the Spirit’ into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil for 40 days, then returns to Galilee ‘in the power of the Spirit’ and announces in the synagogue at Nazareth: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me.’ What follows is Jesus’ manifesto: ‘He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4:18 and 19). The rest of the Gospel shows how this is worked out and it’s followed up in Luke’s other work, the Acts of the Apostles.

What’s clear is that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not just a private and personal experience. Yes, he is the Spirit of holiness, making us more like Jesus and shaping our personal behaviour, but that should overflow into our practical concern for other people.

On pages 12 and 13 various church leaders, including our own Territorial Commander, tell us what they believe the Spirit is saying to the churches. What comes across is the impact we can and should have on our society. They identify the problems we are currently experiencing – uncertainty, upheaval, chaos and division – and say that the Spirit is calling us to respond with love, hope, grace and reconciliation.

And that’s where politics comes in. Many Christians shy away from political involvement, and The Salvation Army doesn’t support any particular political party, but if politics is about making the world a better place then the Christian voice needs to be heard.

David Newstead makes a good case for Christian involvement in politics in his article on page 8. Whether it’s casting our vote, contacting our MP or protesting peacefully on the streets, we have a responsibility to make our voices heard.

On page 9 Ryan Gow shows how we can make our voices heard in relation to the problematic universal credit system by taking part in the Army’s digital campaign.

The connection between Pentecost and politics appears in our territorial vision statement, which sees us as a ‘Spirit-filled’ Movement ‘with a burning desire to lead people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, actively serve the community and fight for social justice’. As we celebrate the coming of the Spirit this Sunday, may we be inspired to speak up and act to build a fairer world.

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The Salvation Army and me

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

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PENTECOST AND POLITICS

Salvationist 8 June 2019

From the Editor, Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

‘

QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION MAKES GAMING ADDICTION AN OFFICIAL DISEASE Video game addiction has been made an official disease after the World Health Organisation (WHO) voted unanimously to recognise the condition.

The disorder has been characterised as excessive or compulsive use of computer or video games, to the extent that it affects a person’s daily life.

The WHO says that in order for a person to be diagnosed with video game addiction, their behaviour must be ‘of sufficient severity to result in

significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning’.

Last year, the organisation included video game addiction within the 11th revision of its International Classification of Diseases after concerns the gaming industry encouraged compulsive play.

All 194 members of the WHO have now agreed to adopt the revision and it will come into effect on 1 January 2022.

Sky News

NUMBER OF UK CHILD SLAVERY CASES UP BY NEARLY 800 PER CENT IN TWO YEARS, FIGURES SHOW Child slavery cases in the UK have surged by nearly 800 per cent in just two years, new figures show.

Data published in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme’s annual report shows there were 475 police operations into child slavery in the UK in April this year, compared with 53 in April 2017.

One in three probes into modern slavery now concern children after an explosion in county lines drugs gangs preying

on youngsters and exploiting them to distribute their product, the report states…

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for Modern Slavery, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer… said the rise could be attributed in part to huge improvements in the identification of child slavery cases.

Where before these youngsters would have often been criminalised, now they are being seen as victims, he said.

The Independent

DON’T JUDGE SINGLE ADOPTERS SAYS CHRISTIAN CHARITY Single parent adoptions are at a record high, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The number of single parents who adopted last year was 962, compared with 904 in 2017...

The findings have been welcomed

by Dr Krish Kandiah, founder of Christian charity, Home for Good, which aims to make fostering and

SALVATIONIST (tel) 020 7367 4890 (email) salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk (web) www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts – (tel) 020 7367 4901 MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford – (tel) 020 7367 4891 EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Shanelle Manderson – (tel) 020 7367 4894 Simon Hope – (tel) 020 7367 4892 Melita Day-Lewis – (tel) 020 7367 4887 Major Margaret Bovey DTP DESIGNER Hannah Holden – (tel) 020 7367 4883 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight – (tel) 020 7367 4895 Louise Phillips – (tel) 020 7367 4896 PROOFREADER Chris Horne

adoption a significant part of the life and ministry of the Church…

He said: ‘We think, overall, it is a fantastic thing and it gives us and the Church an opportunity to wrap around those families, whether they are single adopters or couples, because adoption is a tough thing for people to take on.’

Premier

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ISSN 2516-5909

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR ME: ALEXA APP HELPS USERS TO CONNECT WITH GOD In centuries past people went to priests and prophets with questions about the Almighty.

Now Christians and the curious are ‘connecting with God’ through Amazon’s Alexa.

Tens of thousands have interacted with the Church of England through the digital assistant since the launch of its own voice-controlled app, or Alexa ‘skill’, a year ago.

Some 9.5 million Britons use smartspeakers such as Amazon’s Echo to answer questions and control devices and the church said that more than 75,000 engaged with its new service.

The idea is to give information to newcomers to Christianity and spiritual succour for believers…

They can then ask the church questions about God and Jesus or the sacraments, or ask to hear prayers and religious reflections...

About a third of recent queries involved questions about religion such as ‘Who is God?’ or ‘What is faith?’, while 40 per cent were requests to hear prayers. Six per cent were requests for grace before a meal. Despite falling church attendance, 7 per cent were to ask where a local church was.

The Times

SALVATIONIST ONLINE Find Salvationist on Facebook www.facebook.com/salvationistonline Find Salvationist on Twitter twitter.com/@SalvationistUK

THE SALVATION ARMY FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Brian Peddle TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Commissioner Anthony Cotterill SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant

Salvationist 8 June 2019

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NEWS

Corps celebrates 135th anniversary WOOD GREEN CELEBRATIONS began on Friday evening with testimonies, prayer and praise, including a testimony by Major Tom Calder, a former officer at the corps.

Pastor Nims and Pastor Tonye from Pray Haringey and Ruth McBryan and Aaron Routledge from The Message Trust, two Christian groups that have worked closely with Wood Green, addressed the congregation.

Lieut-Colonel Drew McCombe (THQ) concluded the evening with a challenge from Scripture, introducing the weekend’s theme Roots 2 Shoots.

A community fun day followed on Saturday, with around two hundred people attending, including Catherine West, MP,

and the pearly queens of Hackney and Shoreditch.

The live stage hosted performances by schoolchildren, the Gospel Centre Choir and singer Jim Patterson, with corps officer Major Paul Knight as compère.

Visitors and corps folk also enjoyed a table tennis competition and hand makeovers. The Army made many new contacts, with some attending the Sunday meeting.

The next day more than 120 people gathered for a final celebration. Lieut-Colonel Beverley McCombe (THQ) spoke powerfully, members of the congregation shared spontaneous testimonies, young people gave a Bible presentation and the after-school group, Sparkles, sang ‘Give Me Oil In My Lamp’. After the meeting, everyone enjoyed a buffet, which included an anniversary cake. – P. K.

GRAVESEND: South London Fellowship Band, supported by vocal soloist Lisa Davis (Chatham), presented a varied programme.

There were opportunities for audience participation and flag-waving during a Proms finale. The event raised more than £200 for the Big Collection. – B. H.

After 28 years of loyal and devoted service, Cannock CSM Glenn Sealey retires; previous corps officers wrote to share memories and give thanks to Glenn for his support and leadership. He is pictured with corps officer Captain Lydia Bartlett 4

Salvationist 8 June 2019

South and Mid Wales Fellowship Band joins the Welsh Norwegian Society in celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay; the band provided music for the national anthem and a folk-song celebration

CLOWNE: The hall was packed for the visit of Anston Male Voice Choir, whose programme included spiritual songs, show songs and popular music from the Seventies and Eighties. Two soloists contributed and

the evening concluded with ‘This Little Light Of Mine’ and ‘Rachie’. Retired BM John Martin thanked the choir for their programme, which raised £460 for corps funds. – G. H.

Washington and Lyn Ali and Assistant Sergeant-Major Ian Rose from Isle of Wight Corps raise £140 for the island’s Earl Mountbatten Hospice; around nine thousand walkers raised more than £375,000 Please do not send your copy to any individual’s email address as this could delay publication. Copy should be sent to salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk

Salvationist 8 June 2019

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NEWS

The Army assists people affected

by Cyclone Idai SOUTHERN AFRICA

Parkhead Songster Leader Karen Dunn takes part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life with her eight-year-old nephew and five-year-old niece, Ruaidhri and Orla Dunn

THE Salvation Army is continuing to help people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe rebuild their lives and homes after the damage caused by Cyclone Idai more than two months ago.

Captain Heather Rossouw, deployed by The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services to assist with the relief efforts around the coastal city of Beira, Mozambique, said: ‘There is still a lot of destruction but we can see evidence of rebuilding. Homes that were destroyed by Cyclone Idai are slowly being rebuilt.

‘People are very creative. First, they map out how big their house needs to be, positioning tree poles horizontally and then vertically. Once that is done they mix mud, and off they go in getting a house erected!’

To date, The Salvation Army has assisted 1,500 families in three different areas. These families were given food packages consisting of 20 kg of cereals (rice or maize meal), 10 kg of beans and 2 litres of cooking oil. Assistance has also extended to non-food items, including the distribution to 500 families of packs containing a mosquito net, blankets, water purification liquid, bath soap, laundry soap, pots, mugs and plates.

– A. R. SWANSEA: More than 90 people from nearby churches and corps attended adult and family weekend, led by Director of Family Ministries Major David

Betteridge (THQ). On Sunday he spoke from Genesis on the theme Stargazing. The Mother and Daughter Choir sang at the rally on Monday. – G. T.

KIRKCALDY: Majors Mark and Sarah Price (East Midlands DHQ) led home and family weekend. The rally on Monday was well attended, and included people from nearby churches. Major Sarah blessed all as she spoke on the topic Me And My Stuff, and Majors Alan and Carol Young (DHQ) presented a sketch, bringing humour to the afternoon. – D. A.

Firefighter Leon Duberry visits Farcet Cameo group to give the members a talk on fire safety in the home

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Salvationist 8 June 2019

ABERTILLERY: Former corps officer Captain Bev Womersley (Cardiff Cathays) led home and family ministries weekend. Sunday meetings included congregational origami, lively choruses and songs, Bible readings and testimonies. Guest soloist 16-year-old Mia Roles presented operatic songs with a maturity that belied her years. A rally on Monday afternoon continued on the same theme, Joy. Jokes were displayed on-screen and, to conclude, Captain Bev made giant lips and invited everyone to ‘wear’ them and keep smiling through every situation. – D. W.

BOURNE: Since the beginning of 2018, the Singing by Heart team and Corps Community Development Manager Heather Culshaw have been visiting two nearby care homes, sharing in fellowship with the residents, carers, families and friends. Last

June the Tesco Bags of Help grant scheme awarded the corps more than £3,000 to support this area of ministry. A new sound system has been purchased, along with folders, lanyards and branded T-shirts for all the volunteers. – H. C.

Ipswich Citadel prepares for the spring fair; more than £320 was raised for the Big Collection

ANGLIA: Fifty-seven women gathered for a Ladies Retreat weekend of prayer, Bible study and teaching. Major Jean Bradbury led the weekend on the theme Scale Those Walls.

The women thought about how they could scale the ‘walls’ of worry, hurry, intimidation, criticism and disappointment to achieve their true potential in Christ, and explored how looking at the ‘walls’ of gratitude, witness and service with a fresh perspective could enhance discipleship. On Sunday morning, women from Ipswich Citadel gave a presentation. – M. W. Salvationist 8 June 2019

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NEWS

Children celebrated with special weekend GUERNSEY THE corps celebrated its children and children’s ministries with a weekend of fun activities, worship and praise led by YPSM Neil Gallagher (North Shields).

The weekend began with a beach party that included games and activities. Neil took the children on an adventure story around the beach and encouraged them to keep on following Jesus. On Saturday evening Neil and the young people’s team shared a fellowship meal.

Sunday worship was lively, and the children enjoyed interactive activities that helped them to remember that Jesus loves them and to shine in their love for him.

The YP band contributed items and the Church and Chips Sunday school children presented songs and individual items and prayed. Neil presented prizes to all the children and thanked them for their commitment to Jesus, before praying that each one would keep on loving and living for Jesus daily. – J. H.

FRONTLINE CHALLENGES IS THERE A PLACE FOR RELIGION IN POLITICS? In our frontline service – among friends, colleagues and neighbours – we’re often asked about faith and ethics; David Newstead offers some responses

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ORD Derek Foster, a Labour peer, and Salvationist at Sunderland Millfield, who spent many years in local and national government, was recently promoted to Glory.

I was privileged to know Retired CSM John Sinclair of Thurso, a former Lord-Lieutenant for Caithness, who served the Queen and the county in this high office. Another Salvationist, Sir John Boyd, was involved in trade unionism and served as the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers.

These are just a few examples of 8

Salvationist 8 June 2019

Salvationists who were involved in politics and civic affairs without compromising their faith. There have been, and still are, many Christians engaged in local and national politics, trade unionism or the magistracy, but there is room for many more. In his book, The City Of God, St Augustine of Hippo declared: ‘Christians should be the best citizens; what others do only because the law demands it, Christians do out of love for God.’ According to a survey undertaken a few years ago, a growing proportion of the British public declared themselves to be non-religious and felt that politics and religion should not mix – politicians should keep their faith to themselves.

It may be that some Christians hold the same view, but it is useful to consider what guidance the Bible gives.

Jeremiah 29:7 says, ‘Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’ Good governments that promote just laws, religious liberty and tolerance can benefit society and help further the gospel.

Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 22:21, says, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’

The Christian faith is much more than just attending church regularly; it is about all aspects of life. It follows then that Christians have a responsibility to live out their faith in political, civic and community life. It is a noble calling to

stand up for the poor and the marginalised, and to work for peace and justice. Nick Spencer, editor of the book The Mighty And The Almighty, found that ‘Faith still remains a potent presence at the highest level of UK politics.’

Christians may face dangers when engaging in the political arena and they must ensure that they are true to their spiritual calling. Their first loyalty is not to the kingdom of men or their political party but to the Kingdom of God. Christians serving in parliament or the council chamber can make an important contribution to the society in which they live and serve. God measures society by how it treats the poor, the vulnerable, the aged, the young, persons with disabilities, immigrants, minorities, prisoners and the persecuted.

According to David Closson, ‘Christian witness in the public arena contributes transcendent values about moral and ethical issues. Politics affects government, shapes society and influences culture.’

TO PONDER To serve the present age, My calling to fulfil, O may it all my powers engage To do my Master’s will!

(SASB 946) DAVID IS A SOLDIER AT BIRMINGHAM CITADEL

VIEW POINT

Campaigning for credit where credit is due Ryan Gow identifies a significant problem with universal credit and highlights The Salvation Army’s campaign for the government to change it

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HE government’s rollout of universal credit received widespread attention, but these days it’s having a bigger impact on communities than it did in the House of Commons.

It was argued that universal credit – which consolidates a number of welfare payments into a single monthly payment – would simplify the welfare system, improve work incentives and better prepare people for entering employment.

However, the realities on the ground have become all too familiar. Time and again, in conversations with corps across the territory, The Salvation Army’s Public Affairs and Social Policy Unit has heard that universal credit is a huge concern. As a result, one of the biggest priorities for corps is to help mitigate the impact on families and individuals during their transition to universal credit.

At present, all new universal credit claimants have to wait five weeks before their first payment. It is not uncommon for The Salvation Army to support households who have very little or no savings, but for many people the Army works with, this wait is simply not realistic.

In response to what corps are seeing on the ground, the Public Affairs and Social Policy Unit has been working directly with politicians to discuss the problems around the five-week wait.

This has involved open and honest conversations about the great work that corps are doing to mitigate the unnecessary financial and emotional harm that is being inflicted on individuals and families.

One of the founding principles of a fair and compassionate social security system is that it supports people at their time of need, rather than placing them at further risk. If people are moving to universal credit they need support immediately, not five weeks later.

We’re seeing people who have fallen through the cracks of our social security system and have nowhere else to turn.

They’re being moved to the sidelines of society and forced into destitution and silence.

No one should be forced to try and pre-book food parcels because the state has denied them an income, but sadly that’s the situation many people in our communities find themselves in.

But there’s still more we can do and

that’s where we need you.

In the coming weeks, based on everything that we’ve heard from corps and their desire to see and provoke meaningful change, we will be mounting a digital campaign and issuing a call to arms for corps to tell MPs to end the damaging five-week wait. The more of us who take action, the louder our voice becomes.

Past pressure from MPs and the public has led ministers to make key changes to universal credit. If large numbers of MPs ask the government to change its mind on the five-week wait we could see real change.

Together, using the collective voice of The Salvation Army, we can speak up for those without a voice and convince the government to change course.

For more information on the campaign and to discover how you can get involved, please contact the Public Affairs Unit – CountMeIn@ salvationarmy.org.uk

O

RYAN IS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISER AT THQ Salvationist 8 June 2019

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FEATURE Chinese posters

PREACHING WITH

PICTURES Ruth Macdonald recalls the early years of The Salvation Army in China and highlights a digital collection of evangelistic posters used by pioneer officers

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AST November the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University in the United States launched a new online resource that brings together in digital form rare surviving copies of evangelistic posters used by Christian groups in China between 1927 and 1951. At the International Heritage Centre (IHC) we hold several collections of papers from Salvation Army officers who worked in China during that period. From these collections we were able to contribute six posters to the site.

Salvation Army work in China officially began in July 1916. The previous year International Headquarters had sent a pair of ‘prospectors’, Colonel Charles Rothwell and Brigadier William Salter, to survey the opportunities and make preliminary arrangements for the opening of Army work. We know a great deal about this expedition thanks to a collection of letters sent back by Brigadier Salter, which we hold at the IHC. Pioneer officers followed close on the heels of Colonel Rothwell and Brigadier Salter. Staff-Captain and Mrs Chard and Adjutant and Mrs Briner arrived in Peking (now Beijing) in January 1916 but spent several months in intensive language study before they were ready to hold their first meetings. These took place in the dining room of their quarters but later moved to an old stable, which was fitted up for services. Within three months the Briners moved on to Yantai, then known as Chefoo, to begin work there.

The Salvation Army’s sphere of activity in China expanded quite rapidly.

By March 1917 a language school for incoming missionary officers had been established. In October 1917 social 10

Salvationist 8 June 2019

Doris and James Gilman with their daughter Joan work began with flood relief efforts in Hebei Province (then known as Chihli).

The following year saw remarkable growth: in March the training of Chinese officers began; in April a Chinese language edition of the War Cry called Chiu Shih Pao went into publication; and in the course of the year seventeen new corps were added to the original two in Peking and Yantai.

The posters we have contributed to the Chinese Christian Posters website come from the collections of two Salvation Army officers: Brigadier James Gilman and Lieut-Colonel John Wells.

James Gilman arrived in China from the UK in November 1921 and spent 16 years there. He served in corps at Jen Ch’in Hsien, Sheng Fang, Pao Ting Fo, Tientsin Central, Tientsin Chow Chang and Peking North West, as well as in several headquarters and regional appointments. In 1925 he married another missionary officer, Lieutenant Doris Avery, who worked alongside him in many of these appointments. Their story is told in the book, Sheng Fang: The Place Of Victory, by their son, James Gilman, which is available from SP&S. John Wells sailed for China in 1925 and stayed for 22 years. His service included corps work at Peking North

Parable of the sower West, Kao Yang, Peiping Central, Shanghai and Tsinanfu, as well as social work at a refugee camp and naval and military work in Shanghai. His most unusual appointment, however, was as the skipper of a Salvation Army boat commissioned to ‘carry the gospel along Chinese waterways’. After his marriage to Ensign Ethel Hoddinott in 1931, he and his family pioneered Salvation Army work in the west of China in the city of Chengdu.

We contributed digital images of two

Surely not I? (The Last Supper)

‘

The posters and scrolls would apparently be held aloft during open-air meetings while chosen speakers gave personal testimonies related to the themes represented in them

posters used by Brigadier Gilman and four used by Lieut-Colonel Wells to the Chinese Christian Posters site. Brigadier Gilman’s posters Surely Not I? (The Last Supper) and The Lord Jesus’ Empty Tomb After His Resurrection are among only four that have survived from the large collection that he used.

Lieut-Colonel Wells’ scrolls depict passages from the parable of the sower.

The posters and scrolls would apparently be held aloft during open-air meetings while chosen speakers gave

’

personal testimonies related to the themes represented in them.

The Salvation Army’s work in China was severely disrupted by the wars of the 1940s: the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. In the early 1940s many non-Chinese nationals serving with The Salvation Army in China either withdrew or were interned by the occupying Japanese forces.

After the Second World War the British leader of Salvation Army work in

China, Colonel Arthur Ludbrook, was reinstated, but political difficulties continued to arise for which no resolution could be found. Ultimately, in December 1951, it was necessary for The Salvation Army in China to become independent from the international organisation. Contact with International Headquarters was severed entirely in April 1952, marking the end of The Salvation Army’s ‘official’ presence in China.

We are delighted to have been able to contribute to this wonderful resource from the Center for Global Christianity and Mission. The Chinese Christian Posters website recovers the forgotten and overlooked Christian materials that vied for attention with other religious, Nationalist, and Communist messages in the public sphere and provides a fascinating window into the complex political, social, economic and religious landscape of China in the second quarter of the 20th century.

O The posters can be viewed at

ccposters.com – find out more about the IHC by visiting salvationarmy.org. uk/international-heritage-centre

RUTH IS THE ARCHIVIST AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE Salvationist 8 June 2019

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FEATURE I Pentecost

What does the Spirit say to the churches?

Salvationist asked various Christian leaders to sum up what they believe the Spirit is saying today COMMISSIONER ANTHONY COTTERILL Territorial Commander IT might sound obvious, but I genuinely believe that the Spirit simply wishes his voice to be heard and his presence enjoyed! I believe he wants us, personally and corporately as the Church, to hear and have confidence that he is indeed with us, for us and in us. During increasingly chaotic and antagonistic days for our nations and for the churches, he is reminding us that if and when we humbly come before him, he empowers and enables us together to be bold, fruitful channels of love, light, mercy, grace, justice, hope and of his glory in all our communities.

THE REV KEN BENJAMIN President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain ACCEPTING that we can never speak with the timeless authority of the Bible, I suggest that God might issue four invitations to the Church today.

O Talk with me. God invites us to seek his direct words and guidance for today through prayer.

O Listen to me. God invites us to revisit his messages to the churches in Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible, and to take them personally.

O Create with me. God invites us to be innovative in reaching out to others with help and hope.

O Stand for me. God invites us to stay true to him and his timeless message.

I believe that our Lord waits for our reply to each invitation.

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NICOLA BRADY General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches AT the present time of political upheaval we are acutely conscious of the damage that can be done by words – the fake news that alienates people from society, the toxic language of some of our political debate and the manipulation of the vulnerable by populist leaders. The letter to Ephesus (see Revelation 2:1–7) moves from a warning about false prophets to a reminder of the centrality of love to the Christian community. Churches are called to remind people of the power of the simple acts of love that build community and restore hope.

STEVE CLIFFORD General Director of the Evangelical Alliance AS we live at this time of extraordinary uncertainty, how do we as a Christian community respond?

This is not a time for fear, but faith. Of all people, we are the hope-filled people.

We hope in a God who has not abandoned humanity but has already won the decisive victory at the cross; we hope in his commitment to work out his purposes in history and we hope in his eventual return, when all creation will be brought into order and a new Heaven and a new Earth will become a reality. As we wait in anticipation, we do so ‘fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith’ (Hebrews 12:2). And we look for every opportunity to make him known because we have realised that with uncertainty comes amazing opportunities for the good news of the gospel, which is able to change lives.

THE REV PHILIP COOPER National Ecumenical Officer for the Moravian Church IT seems to me that our country is presently a divided nation and that Brexit simply brought to the surface divisions that already existed. The gospel is a message of love, reconciliation, peace and unity, which values and embraces diversity. The Acts of the Apostles records that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down powerfully on those first Christian believers and each person present heard the gospel proclaimed in their own language. The churches must proclaim this gospel today, both in word and deed, and, wherever possible, we must do it together.

THE REV ALED EDWARDS Chief Executive of Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales) PENTECOST is a fantastic time of bringing people together. Recently a story was told about three friends – a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian – who were asked to describe their great faiths in a word. The Jew said, ‘justice’, the Muslim, ‘peace’, and the Christian, ‘love’. As someone who serves Christ in the public arena, there is a Greek word I like a great deal: telos. The word speaks of the totality and meaning of a thing. Pentecost gathers a vast diversity of differences and brings them into a great totality under the one Spirit.

‘Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 2:7)

THE REV HUGH OSGOOD Moderator of the Free Churches Group and a President of Churches Together in England NEARLY 2,000 years ago Jesus spoke seven different messages to seven different churches, and in doing so showed his respect for their different challenges and callings. I’m sure his messages would be equally diverse today. But there was one expectation all those years ago that he placed on them all, and that was to overcome.

I’m sure he is placing that expectation on us today: overcome scepticism by speaking out with confidence; overcome apathy by reaching out with compassion; overcome despair by demonstrating the resurrection life of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

THE REV GARETH POWELL Secretary of the Methodist Conference AS the life and power of God flow within us through the Holy Spirit, we must be attentive to the Spirit in our lives, living as channels of God’s grace. Partaking in the mission of God, churches must be open to the call of the Spirit – reflecting the nature of God’s mercy and grace. The calling of the Church is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission, placing a constant focus on worship, learning, caring, service and evangelism – all to be faithful to God.

THE MOST REV JOHN SENTAMU Archbishop of York I AM praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and networks – and that when we do this, we shall see the Holy Spirit bringing joy, healing, reconciliation and hope to many, and bringing new life to churches and communities, to the glory of God the Father.

THE RIGHT REV COLIN SINCLAIR Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly AT Pentecost, a praying Church was renewed through the gift of the Spirit.

The Church, united in praise in languages the people understood, told the good news story of Jesus and built a new community of faith. Today, when political leaders falter and divide, remember that God is faithful, deserving of our worship and our prayers. We are called to speak words of forgiveness where people have failed, seek reconciliation where people are estranged, express concern for the common good where people are partisan and show mercy and hope where people are left voiceless and vulnerable.

THE REV NIGEL UDEN Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly THE Bible’s writers suggest complementary things that I hear the Spirit offering today’s churches.

From Ezekiel, there’s the Spirit’s breathing of life into dry bones. From John, there’s the Spirit’s work of teaching. From Paul, there’s the Spirit as the source of faith, hope and love, launching us into mission, fuelled with gifts for ministry and fruit for fellowship.

From Luke, there’s the Spirit as the sustainer and guide of the Church. And back to John, there’s the Spirit as the giver of peace. In challenging days, we need this Spirit in order to be effective and fruitful. Come, Holy Spirit!

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FLECTI ECTION TION N REFLEC REFLECTION REFL

DISCOVER YOUR HIDDEN RESOURCES Major Sylvia Bird shares a real-life encounter to encourage us to use the spiritual resources available through Pentecost

W

E opened at 9.30 am and Mrs Smith was always the first one in the queue. She always wore an old brown coat, a dark brown beret-like hat, fastened with a hat pin over her grey hair, old lace-up shoes and an old flowery dress with a buttonup cardigan – all of which had seen better days. She had bright blue eyes and wore red lipstick. She wasn’t dirty or smelly, just shabbily dressed.

Having visited her at her home, I couldn’t help but notice that her curtains were full of holes, the carpet was threadbare and everywhere was dingy, untidy and well worn.

I hadn’t seen her for a couple of weeks, so I called round after I had taken the children to school.

Having knocked a couple of times, I tried the door. It was unlocked, so I called in: ‘Hello Mrs Smith, it’s me, Captain Bird.

Are you OK?’ A weak voice replied. I followed the direction it came from, to find Mrs Smith in bed looking gravely ill.

She told me she had suffered a heart attack. The doctor wanted her to go to hospital but she had decided to stay at home, whatever her fate might be. Feeling really concerned, I left her and promised I would return the next day.

Early the next morning the phone rang, just as I was getting the children ready for school. My husband had already left to meet with the corps treasurer. I grabbed the phone, and the voice on the other end said: ‘Sorry to trouble you, Captain, but Mrs Smith has asked me to call you. Could you come and sit with her? She hasn’t got long and she wants you.’

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‘Tell her I will be there within the hour,’ I replied. ‘I just have to take the children to school.’

I went round to her house as promised. Sadly, I was too late; she had already passed away.

We knew she didn’t have any family or anyone who was special to her. We contacted a funeral director, who advised us to get a solicitor as, if there were no will, everything would go to the state. Looking around I thought they probably wouldn’t get much!

The funeral director said he would have to do a pauper’s funeral, which is the cheapest – no frills, no flowers and only an unlined wooden box. We engaged a solicitor and decided that the solicitor’s clerk and my husband would empty the house.

The clearance started, and when we met up at the end of the day, I couldn’t believe what they told me.

Every drawer and cupboard held rolls of £10 and £20 notes. One drawer contained boxes and boxes of jewellery, including unused watches still in their boxes.

We thought she couldn’t afford to eat, but her kitchen cupboards were full of some of the best foods you could mention. Her wardrobe contained brand new dresses, coats, hats and cardigans – many still had tags attached.

In the attic there were mountains of never-worn shoes, sheets, blankets and curtains. It was a jaw-dropping sight, to say the least.

I forget what the sum total of her estate came to, but it was thousands of pounds! Mrs Smith had a good send-off – no pauper’s funeral for her – and we made sure she got some flowers too.

Why she chose to live and portray herself the way she did remains a mystery.

Like Mrs Smith, we have great resources at our disposal that we don’t use. We have the presence of the Holy Spirit but often we fail to draw on his power for our lives and in our service for God. We have the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which we can develop in our lives. Courage, strength and wisdom from God are available to us to face all situations and circumstances.

At Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and these fearful people became fearless; they were on fire for the Lord!

Rather than living like spiritual ‘paupers’ let us follow the disciples’ example and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us.

MAJOR BIRD LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN ROTHERHAM

VIEW POINT

TONGUE-TIED AT PENTECOST Ron Thomlinson highlights the need to depend on the Holy Spirit

I

T was busy at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. There was a monumental rugby scrum of international tourists, all trying at the same time to retrieve their coats from the cloakroom. The area was awash with foreign languages. Having recently arrived in the Netherlands, I planned to impress my Englishspeaking family with my newly acquired linguistic prowess. In my best Dutch, I offered our tokens to the man behind the counter and asked for our coats. He responded with the vaguest of expressions: the lights were on, but there was no one at home. I patiently, but firmly, repeated my request, in Dutch, for our property and waited for him to act.

He attacked like a cobra: ‘Speak to me in any language you like – German, Russian, French, Spanish, English – but do not try to speak to me in Dutch!’ The scrum collapsed.

The family smirked. I was mortified.

Pride had come before my fall.

Learning a new language is a fearful business; people laugh at your mistakes. The problem was that I needed that new language to do my job properly. I prayed often, not for the gift of tongues but for just one extra tongue – Dutch. On Pentecost Sunday a year after that museum debacle, an inspirational, elderly retired officer led our holiness

meeting. In response to the Bible message, I went to pray at the holiness table. I was claiming the gift of fluency. My plea was based on the Bible story in which the disciples preached and all foreigners understood them in their own tongue.

Surely I was offering God a win-win opportunity. It was in his best interest, too. If granted the gift of fluency, then we would all be winners: the Eternal, the corps and me. As the psalmist says, I, too, wanted God to fill my mouth. I never did get what I prayed for. In that regard, the festival of Pentecost continues to confuse and taunt me.

God knew I needed the language, so what was he thinking?

Pastorally, if people imagined that I was a good listener, it was only because I couldn’t say anything of consequence – I had neither the words nor the grammar. All I could do was ‘hmm’ empathetically and look sad, happy or puzzled, hoping that, after looking into their eyes, I had given the right response.

God never gave me the gift of a second language but he did send me friends. There was Lieut-Colonel Jo Heijnsdijk, a brilliant simultaneous translator who, each week for a couple of years, helped me turn my English sermons into good Dutch. A second friend was a retired school teacher who had no affiliation with The Salvation Army. Though he tried his best to teach me Dutch, his greatest offering was to listen to me, once a week, rehearsing my Dutch sermon. He would hear the talk at least five times during a weekday afternoon, including the mercy seat appeal. Were those two men God’s

answer to my Pentecost prayer?

Because I always talk way too much in English, I often wonder whether this language barrier was God’s way of teaching me to keep my mouth well and truly shut. This crisis certainly taught me the principle of total dependence on the Holy Spirit.

It was impossible for me to wing it in Dutch as I can in English. I consciously needed to acknowledge my continual dependence upon the Holy Spirit to carry out my work. My handicap did not allow me ever to forget how much I needed him.

I stopped preaching several years ago. Now I watch a lot of BBC television. I am reading English books again and writing exclusively in English. My Dutch is ebbing away from me like the waters at low tide.

Once again I am thinking in my mother tongue with all the consequences that that brings.

It is also dawning on me that, without this creative tension, my dependence on the Holy Spirit could also slowly ebb away from me just as my second language is doing. I think God didn’t give me fluency because, plain and simple, he could not trust me with it. It would have been dangerous for our relationship if God had granted my petition. If fluency had come easily, I would have begun to stop needing him. I know myself – I cannot be trusted. He needed me to need him, otherwise he could never have used me.

RON LIVES IN THE NETHERLANDS

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BIBLE STUDY

Promise received!

Lieutenant Helen Froud reminds us that God delivers on his promise STUDY PASSAGE: ACTS 2:1–41

‘P

ROMISES are like pie crusts – made to be broken,’ said the satirist Jonathan Swift, popularising a 16th-century saying. How many times have you been on the receiving end of a promise, only for it to be unthinkingly broken? As fallible, fallen people we make promises to one another and to ourselves that we seem barely able to keep.

In the great narrative of the New Testament, we understand and come to know that God’s promises are different.

They are enduring and true. Our Scripture for Pentecost from Acts 2 shows the unveiling of an old promise and its fulfilment in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus Christ.

In Jerusalem, on the morning of Pentecost, God brought the fruit of his promise made in Joel 2:28–32. The people of the Old Testament were

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

by Major Lynda Levis

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promised a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, upon men and women alike. In Acts 2 we see the fulfilment of that promise.

QUESTIONS have we promised one another?

O How do we understand human promises in the light of God’s fulfilled promise of the Holy Spirit?

O Do we seek repentance and forgiveness from one another when we break our promises? Why or why not?

O What

How does the gift come to the Church?

The account of the giving of the Holy Spirit is probably best known from Acts 2:1–4. But the promise of Pentecost in the New Testament is seen in Luke 24:49 where Jesus cautions the disciples to ‘stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high’. Obedient to Jesus’ instruction, the disciples remain in Jerusalem and

are filled with the Holy Spirit. A rushing wind, seen as the ‘breath’ of the Holy Spirit, fills the whole house, and ‘tongues of fire’ came to rest on each of them (Acts 2:3).

We see the gift, the promise received, as a confirmation of the obedience of the disciples. However, later in the chapter we are reminded that this gift is not an exclusive gift of leadership, as Peter offers the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who will accept his message of salvation. On that day around three thousand people came to faith. How many of us have seen that many come to faith in our whole lives?

QUESTIONS do we understand about the gift of the Holy Spirit?

O Why should we seek and learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit for our own lives?

O Why are we cautious and afraid of the possibilities of faith?

O What

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

At the moment of my weakness,/ When my need for power is plain,/ And my own strength is exhausted once again,/ Then my Lord has made provision for the day of my despair,/ And his precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer./ Holy Spirit!

Promised presence fall on me./ Holy Spirit! Make me all I long to be./ Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit!/ Give your power to me O Holy Spirit.

(SASB 316)

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

(Romans 5:5)

Come, Holy Spirit, thou guest of the soul,/ Make thine abode in me;/ Bring in the calm thy sweet presence bestows,/ Let me thy temple be./ Come to my heart today,/ Come to my heart today,/ Rekindle the glow and the glory bestow,/ Come to my heart today.

(SASB 318)

Why is Pentecost so important?

Pentecost was a Jewish festival that was held 50 days after Passover. In Acts 2:5–11, we learn that Jews from all over the ancient world were gathered together in Jerusalem. For the Jewish people it was a time of covenant renewal, a celebration of the Feast of Weeks and an early harvest festival.

The Day of Pentecost is popularly seen in Christian circles as the birthday of the Church. It is the point from which we see the promises of God as being fulfilled in the here and now and yet promised for eternity. The disciples were empowered, strengthened and given talents to speak, prophesy and preach to all the nations on Earth. Many commentators note a sea change in the demeanour of the disciples after Pentecost – they were changed, renewed and ready for the hard road ahead. Pentecost is not simply a birthday party – it is a time of commencement, of equipping and

empowering by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we are strengthened in our faith by this precious, promised gift.

QUESTIONS has God equipped us to live out our faith?

O Why should we trust in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than rely on our own strength?

O How does the fulfilled promise of Pentecost change our lives today?

O Why

Who receives God’s gift?

We understand that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be for all people (see v17). In a society where those who already have plenty take much, the radical message of the coming of the Holy Spirit is that this gift is for all, equally. No distinction is made between men and women, or young and old. The Holy Spirit is inclusive and life giving, and delivers on God’s promises. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the

Trinity, available to all believers. If we ever doubt our Salvation Army Founders’ decision to open our ministries to all, we can draw strength from this passage of Scripture, reminding us of the universal nature of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS do we understand the gifting of the Holy Spirit?

O Do we hold back because we believe that spiritual leadership is for ‘others’?

O How do we encourage people who don’t resemble the leaders we already have?

O How

LIEUTENANT FROUD IS CORPS OFFICER, ABERDEEN CITADEL

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.

(1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20)

Who is it shows me what to be/ And leads me to that goal?/ Who is it claims the heart of me/ And wants to take control?/ Who is it calls to holiness/ Of body, mind and soul?/ That’s the Spirit!

Holy Spirit!/ That’s the Spirit of the Lord in me!

(SASB 329)

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

(2 Timothy 1:7)

I dare to ask the Spirit, come,/ To match with power my heart’s desire,/ My life to cleanse and energise/ With mighty pentecostal fire./ I dare to be different, I dare to believe;/ I dare to be different, God’s Spirit receive./ I dare to be different, my life sacrificed;/ I dare to be different by living like Christ.

(SASB 321)

Prayer Lord, thank you for the privilege of being a person in whom you live. May we never waste that privilege and the opportunities that your presence within us brings.

May we live each day as true ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

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NEW COMMITMENTS

DARTFORD: Corps officer Captain Sue Dean and Territorial Envoy Ed Dean were pleased to enrol Emily Champion as a soldier. Emily shared that she felt proud and happy to have been enrolled as a soldier in The Salvation Army. She explained how Jesus’ love had supported and strengthened her during some difficult times, and how she felt privileged to be committed to serving God as part of the corps. Also pictured is CSM Colin Machan. – E. D.

BIRMINGHAM CITADEL: Jess Seabridge was welcomed as an adherent member by corps officer Captain Clare Allman. Jess has been attending the corps for nearly two years and decided to make this public commitment.

Jess, who testified that she felt it was the right time for this step, already helps in the primary and community outreach, and has recently become leader of the corps dance group. – R. O. NOTTINGHAM WILLIAM BOOTH MEMORIAL HALLS: Corps officer Major Julie Johnson was delighted to enrol Beth Ellis as a soldier. Beth gave a powerful testimony of how, through her family’s tragedies, she saw the faith they displayed and God’s power working in their lives, which then helped to shape and transform her own life. Soldiership for Beth was a response to all God had done for her. – J. J.

WIGAN: After attending soldiership classes, and a lot of prayer, Hazel Claypole decided to make the commitment to become a soldier.

Supported by family and friends she was enrolled by corps officer Major Alison Lewis.

After her enrolment Hazel sang a solo as her testimony, supported by Claire Walton (keyboard). The corps family filled in prayer cards in support of Hazel and, after the meeting, the celebrations continued with a fellowship buffet. – A. P-B.

REDRUTH: Eileen Buzza was welcomed as an adherent member by corps officer Captain Lisa Goble. Eileen has been attending for several months and spoke of the warm welcome she received and how she has been made to feel part of the corps family. She is pictured with family and friends. – L. G. 18

Salvationist 8 June 2019

GILLINGHAM: Katie Green and Nola Williams were enrolled as junior soldiers by corps officer Major Haris Giannaros. They are pictured with YPSM Deniece Brooks. – J. M.

LETTERS

WE STAND FOR CHRIST

The Fry family, Salisbury

ARE WE SHIELDING OURSELVES FROM RECOGNITION? I HAVE long had concerns about the way the red shield logo represents The Salvation Army on our uniforms and in our publicity.

I believe Catherine Booth first introduced the silver metal shield, which bore a diagonal cut-out inscription of The Salvation Army, offset by the crest separated in two parts to the top left and bottom right of the badge. This incorporated the whole concept of our movement. It was worn by both men and women, including members of the Fry family, as early as 1878.

In the late 1960s, early 70s, the shield was again introduced for women’s uniform, minus the crest symbolism. The Red Shield Services had brought this emblem to the public through their great ministry, but for uniform, it only indicated our organisation – not what we stood for.

I have always thought that a simple plain cross incorporated into the logo, behind the wording, would rectify the matter, and bring a modern version of the original that would be easily recognised and understood.

Personally, I wear a cross on my jacket lapel, but would be so much happier if the cross was actually on my SA badge.

Olive Anstead, Divisional Envoy, South Woodham Ferrers

LESS RED SHIELD – MORE CREST I THINK we are using the red shield too much these days. It’s creeping in more and more. All too soon the crest will be no more and gone from the male cap badge and major’s rank upwards.

Let’s stop it now and return to the crest outside our halls, and return the red shield back to what it was first used for – Armed Forces work and, more recently, our emergency services.

Richard Boryer, Havant

Editor’s note: THE Secretary for Communications will shortly be writing a response to the concerns expressed about the red shield. In the meantime no more letters on the issue will be published.

I WAS moved by a recent letter (Salvationist 11 May) and, in particular, a reference to the disappearance of the cross from our logo. While I appreciate that the Army’s red shield is well known to the public, it misses out for me on the message that we are a Christian church that follows the teachings of Jesus.

I feel that we have moved too far to the casual rather than the formal, which was such an important part of our Army in the past. While there are times when the casual is appropriate, I feel we should never be ashamed that we are a ‘salvation’ army, and our uniform should reflect this.

Duncan Miller, Edinburgh

CROSS ABOUT OUR IDENTITY I COULD not agree more with John Stimpson (Salvationist 6 April) and his comments about the lack of Christian identity in our identity.

The vast majority of people I come into contact with think that we are just some sort of voluntary social service and are amazed to discover that we are, in fact, a Christian church.

So, please can we have more outward evidence, perhaps a cross on the tunic, or a cross incorporated into the shield.

Fraser Henebury, Wrexham

WE ARE A PRACTICAL CHURCH SINCE my letter in Salvationist on 6 April (‘What are we becoming?’) I have been pleased to see a number of further letters from fellow Salvationists on the same theme – where is the cross?

Further to the letter from Annette Nash (18 May) is it not time that the leaders of The Salvation Army explain again why the shield – and not the cross – is now the emblem of our church?

I accept that in many countries we are recognised more by the shield, and for publicity or fundraising purposes it has the desired effect, but l, as a uniformed Salvationist, want the public to know we are first and foremost a church that offers practical help in the name of Christ. I do not think I am alone in this.

The cross is what we stand for. Couldn’t someone come up with an emblem that includes shield and cross?

John Stimpson, Worcester

LETTERS Readers’ letters are a popular and well-read section of Salvationist. General Frederick Coutts many years ago said letters for publication in the Army’s press should be ‘carefully thought out, logically presented and charitably expressed’.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARMY PEOPLE The following appointment and promotion, decided upon by the General, has been announced by the Chief of the Staff Effective 1 September O Lieut-Colonel Bente Gundersen, an officer of the Norway, Iceland and the Færoes Territory currently serving as Secretary for Business Administration in that territory, is appointed as Chief Secretary of the Norway, Iceland and the Færoes Territory. She will take up her new appointment with the rank of colonel. She succeeds Colonel Jan Peder Fosen, who will be taking up new appointment responsibilities in that territory. Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries Colonel Birgit Fosen will be retiring from active service.

APPOINTED Effective 16 May O Major Barrie Sampson, additional appointment, Emergency Response Co-ordinator, Herts and Essex Effective 11 July O Captain Sian Wood, additional appointment, Area Candidates Officer, North West England and North Wales LOCAL OFFICERS APPOINTED O Salvation Army Girls Adventurers Corps (SAGAC) leaders Kirstie Patrick and Christine Chapman, Clowne WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Diamond O Len and Pat Walker, Gloucester (30 May)

Commissioners Norman and Marian Howe (20 June) Golden O Majors Peter and Estelle Clack (7 June) O Lieut-Colonels Robert and Isobel McIntyre (20 June) O Majors Alan and Dorothy Green (21 June) O

DEDICATED TO GOD O Jaime Kiera, daughter of Danny and Hannah Murphy, at Swindon Citadel

by Captain Keely Standley BEREAVED O Sara Hellewell, Morley, Lynn Oliver, Ipswich Bramford Road, Stuart Hellewell, Martin Hellewell, Ruth English and Gary Hellewell, of their mother Myrtle O Major Brenda Jackson, of her husband Major Ivor Jackson O BM Mark Cole, Bandswoman/ Songster Katherine Smith and Bandsman/Songster Adrian Cole, all Bristol Bedminster, of their father RS John Cole O Rita Brooksbank, Staple Hill, of her husband Rtd CT/ B/Reservist Harry Brooksbank, CSM/Bandsman David Brooksbank, Norridge Citadel, USA, of his father O Major John Ager, Wallsend, of his mother Jean O Major Caroline Buchanan, Fraserburgh, of her sister Janice Paterson PROMOTED TO GLORY O Major Ivor Jackson from Bangor Hospital on 24 May

ENGAGEMENTS GENERAL BRIAN PEDDLE AND COMMISSIONER ROSALIE PEDDLE O Indonesia Territory, Wed 12 Jun– Sun 16 O Canada and Bermuda Territory (congress and Commissioning), Mon 17 – Mon 24 O Croydon Citadel (150th corps anniversary), Sat Sun 30 O London (Commissioning weekend), Sat Sun 7 Jul THE CHIEF OF THE STAFF (COMMISSIONER LYNDON BUCKINGHAM) AND COMMISSIONER BRONWYN BUCKINGHAM O USA Eastern Territory (Commissioning), Wed 12 Jun – Tu 18 O Devon and Cornwall Division (fiesta), Sat Sun 30 THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER (COMMISSIONER ANTHONY COTTERILL) AND COMMISSIONER GILLIAN COTTERILL O St Albans (135th corps anniversary), Sat Sun 9 Jun O Sunbury Court (Brengle Institute retreat), Tu 11 O Stirling (Into Officership seminar), Th 13 O William Booth College (Covenant Day), Wed 3 Jul O London (Commissioning weekend), Sat Sun 7 THE CHIEF SECRETARY (COLONEL LEE GRAVES) AND COLONEL DEBORAH GRAVES O Luton (20th corps anniversary), Sun 23 Jun O William Booth College (Covenant Day) Wed 3 Jul O London (Commissioning weekend), Sat Sun 7

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TRIBUTES ELIZABETH MILLSDARRINGTON, NORWICH CITADEL ELIZABETH grew up attending the Sunday school at a Methodist church in Rainham.

As a teenager she linked up with the Army in Gillingham, where she became involved in corps activities.

Called to Salvation Army officership, she was commissioned in the Evangelists Session; however, illness meant that she had to resign. When she was well enough, Elizabeth worked with older people as a sheltered housing manager.

In 1970 she married John, and they had two children, Ian and Elisabeth, and five grandchildren. Her family were an important part of her life.

Elizabeth and John soldiered at Lewisham and then moved to Norwich Citadel in 2001, where Elizabeth continued her service.

Despite illness Elizabeth maintained her positive attitude to life, her sense of humour and her faith in God. – A. G. MARGARET BATTEN, LEIGHTON BUZZARD MARGARET spent her early years attending The Salvation Army in Chesham. It was an important foundation for her life as she established her faith there – a faith that would be tested by various life experiences.

With her husband, Bob, Margaret eventually moved to Leighton Buzzard.

She was a faithful home league and over-60 club member, but she was better known for being responsible for the parent-and-toddler group for 20 years. She was committed to this responsibility and had a quiet influence with the children and their parents.

Margaret also enjoyed holidays with the Army – just sharing and being with others.

Margaret is missed at the corps and remembered as a quiet, unassuming lady and a faithful servant of Christ, whose simple yet firm faith assured her of the home in Heaven that was promised by Jesus to those who trust and follow him. – J. Q.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Salvationist 8 June 2019

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Employees, friends, members, officers, volunteers – we have them all in The Salvation Army!

We’ve asked various people to tell us about themselves. This week…

CHRIS DANIELS Midsomer Norton How did you first come into contact with the Army?

Through volunteering in my nearby charity shop.

What made you want to become an adherent member?

I had been attending meetings regularly and, under the gentle guidance of the corps officer, my faith was growing. I got to the point where I felt that I had found a second family. The love, friendship and fellowship that I found within The Salvation Army were unlike those in any other church I had attended and I knew that this was the right way forward for me.

‘

More compassion for others is something we all need to practise

What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?

A marathon – slow and steady wins the race.

If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be?

Compassion. More compassion for others is something we all need to practise.

What is your favourite food?

A roast dinner, as it is a meal I associate with family gatherings.

What do you do in your spare time?

Read, cook, walk in woods and on beaches and visit stately homes and castles. More than anything I love a windy beach. I feel closer to God when sitting and listening to the waves crashing on the rocks than at any other time.

Is there something that you’ve never understood?

Cruelty. I have never and will never understand how anyone can knowingly set out to hurt any human or animal.

If you had to be handcuffed to one person for a day, who would it be?

Paul O’Grady. He could make me laugh as we sat and talked about dogs all day!

If you could invent a gadget, what would it be?

It would be a listening device that would ensure everyone had to listen to what others had to say. A lot of people want someone to take the time to listen to them and understand.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can read people and situations pretty well, which I have found helpful, particularly in my earlier career as a nurse. It is also useful when people turn to me for help.

Which book would you want on a desert island?

A diary, so I could use the time to sit in prayer and contemplation and record my thoughts.

What is the most interesting thing about volunteering in the shop?

The people I meet. I love to chat about the Army and the work we do.

What is your favourite kind of holiday?

A cruise – being on the open water and feeling a sense of freedom. I love to visit different places, eat fabulous food and, most importantly for me, meet people who are friendly and interesting.

What languages do you speak?

Welsh.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose?

Mother Teresa, as her work humbles me. I can only admire her unselfishness and commitment to faith.

What are your favourite Bible verses?

Ephesians 5:22–33. My daughter chose to read this at my wedding a few weeks before she passed away.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?

She came, she saw, she smiled with a positive attitude.

’

If you could bring back any fashion trend what would it be?

The Sixties’ boho hippie style.

What is your favourite hymn or worship song?

‘Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace’ (SASB 608). I feel the words deeply and find myself singing it as if in prayer.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My mother always used to say: ‘Don’t cross bridges until you get to them.’

What do you consider to be the most valuable thing you possess?

Without a doubt, my faith.

Something interesting you might not know about me is…

I have attended many different churches and studied many faiths over the past 30 years but I never really connected with any of them. When I walked into The Salvation Army, I knew that I had found what I had spent so many years searching for.