New commitments 20 and

MERTHYR TYDFIL Barbara Oxenham was welcomed as an adherent. As a child she attended Bargoed Corps, and in recent years has been a volunteer in the charity shop. After the closing of her previous place of worship, Barbara joined the corps Cameo club and started attending morning worship. Many friends and family shared in the occasion and Barbara chose ‘Blessed Assurance’ as her favourite song. Pictured with Barbara are Corps Sergeant-Major and Recruiting Sergeant Lynne Brill, corps officer Major Kevin Rand and flag bearer Robert Davies. – LB

FALMOUTH TEMPLE Ian and Sally Adams were welcomed as adherents by corps officer Captain Andrew Hammond. Following a recommendation from a friend, Ian and Sally started to attend Sunday meetings. They spoke of their love for Jesus and how they found the inclusive approach of the corps welcoming and participatory for all. They are pictured with Captains Andrew and Nicola Hammond. – AH NORWICH CITADEL Sam Grills became the newest soldier at the corps. He is a medical student at the University of East Anglia. His friends and family attended to support him and there was a wonderful spirit of togetherness. Sam spoke of the importance of his faith and how it had helped him discover his identity. People of all ages came forward in a response time as the congregation sang ‘King of Kings, Majesty’. Sam is pictured with corps officers Majors Andrea and Mark Sawyer. – AG

REDRUTH ‘You can take the girl out of the Army, but you can’t take the Army out of the girl,’ testified Muriel Smith as she was enrolled as a soldier. Having grown up in Blackpool within The Salvation Army, she felt she had come home after travelling the world with her husband’s work, raising a family and active participation at her local chapel. The warm welcome Muriel received at the corps confirmed God’s calling to her to become a soldier. She is pictured with corps officer Major Lisa Goble. – LG

STROUD Divisional Commander Major Ian Harris, along with corps officer Captain Teresa Conway, enrolled Andy, Anna, Barbara and Ruth as soldiers and welcomed Anthony as an adherent. They have been an important part of the corps and its Celebrate Recovery programme for some time, taking steps into covenant after recruitment classes and prayerful consideration. Each gave personal testimony and chose a song for the congregation to sing. The corps, which is part of the territory’s Recovery Church initiative, made their relatives and friends welcome and the Bible message was given by Divisional Leader for Leader Development Major Jean Harris. – IH