Time For Change by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

TIME FOR CHANGE Yorkshire South with Humber Division. Summer Edition 2022

FIVE MARKS OF MISSION SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! At

the heart of

T h e S a l v a t i o n A r m y i s a p ass i o n Jesus Christ far and

proclaim the good news of

to wide.

S E R V E O T H E R S W I T H O U T D I S C R I M I N AT I O N ! T h e S a lvat i o n A r m y d i s c r i m i n at i o n . G o d serve.

responds to people without calls us to be with the people we

NURUTRE DISCIPLES OF JESUS! The

future of

T h e S a lvat i o n A r m y

depends on

n u t u r i n g c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e g e n e r at i o n s o f disciples.

Christian

C A R E F O R C R E AT I O N T h e S a lvat i o n A r m y at t i t u d e s , r e s u lt i n g planet.

is committed to helping change in a more responsibile use of our

S E E K J U S T I C E A N D R E C O N C I L I AT I O N ! People can Earth - we God longs

experience a fuller life while we are on don’t have to wait until we die. for justice for all people.

LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS

INSIDE

EDITORIAL

Major Raelton Gibbs reflects on life today.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL Captains Chris and Tim Swansbury corps officers at Rotherham Corps explore the first mark of mission.

DO FOR OR DO WITH?

Assistant Secretary for Mission Mitch Menagh explores the second mark of mission.

MAGAZINE: Unit 2, Nidd House, Richmond Business Park, Doncaster, DN4 5NL. (0113)387 7668 DIVISIONAL LEADERS:Lynn & Raelton Gibbs DIVISIONAL MISSION ENABLERS: Carolyn & Paul Wilson DIVISIONAL YOUTH SPECIALIST: Mark Elliott DIVISIONAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER: Stephen Elliott; DIVISIONAL ADMIN & DIVISIONAL SECRETARIAL SUPPORT: Joanne Moody, Alexandra Utting. (The Sallvation 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).

21ST CENTURY DISCIPLESHIP

CHALLENGING INJUSTICE

BE LIKE CHILDREN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE.

Commisionioner Barry Swanson explores the third mark of mission

Maurice Golden MSP explores tackling climate change as part of the fourth mark of mission - care for creation.

EDITORIAL MAJOR RAELTON GIBBS DIVISIONAL LEADER

he world in which we are living is in turmoil. At home there is an increasing spiral of inflation which is making life increasingly more difficult for the poor and lonely, those we are called to journey with. Added to this within our continent there is a full on war that we never thought we would witness, and the feeling of helpless as we have watch innocent people suffer and have to leave their homes. How do we deal with those feelings? We have been brought up on the story of Bramwell Booth going to William about the problem of homelessness in London only to be told by William to go and do something. What can we do today to

make a difference? Major Nick Coke recently led a webinar which was very helpful for our thinking (still available online). It was a privilege to listen to Major Elena Cotruta outline how the local Salvation Army officers, soldiers and volunteers are responding in the Ukraine and surrounding countries. Giving practical help, holding prayer meetings and Bible study in the shelters. I am sure we are all praying and where we feel able have donated to the various appeals that continue. For those that will enter our country as refugees as individuals the government scheme ‘Homes for Ukraine’ allows for the sponsorship of individuals and families to be housed in spare rooms. At the time of writing we are still awaiting the guidelines for phase two which will be more aimed to business and charities. There are however a number of things we can start to think about should Ukrainian Refugees be housed in our area. These include English as a second language, a place to meet and socialise, support in finding their way around the various systems such as NHS, housing benefit and also finding employment. It is important however to remember that there are still refugees from previous conflicts that still need support. For a large part of our history we have tended to focus on the charity model which provides for the day to day needs of the clients such as providing food, clothing and shelter and other immediate needs. This is important in a crisis but gets rid of the issue for a short period only. As the old illustration goes give the man a fish and they will be hungry again tomorrow, but teach him to fish and that changes his life. For us to succeed in changing people’s world our practice needs to move beyond the charity model into a community development model focussed on social change and transformation. This means meeting the needs of clients in ways that empower them to move towards independence and interdependent self sustainability. In some areas of our work we are doing this such as employment plus and debt advice. Through this lives can be transformed. Matthew 20:26-30 reads ‘Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant. And if you want to be right at the top , you must serve like a slave. Your attitude must be like my own, for I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life’ The thought occurred to me that within our worshipping community too there is the need to ensure that rather than doing things for the short term we look to future. We are called to make disciples and through this to identify and release people into leadership. Moses is surely one of the most unexpected leaders of all time. Inarticulate and tongue tied at first and utterly unconvinced of his capacity to fulfil the task to which God has summoned him. It is my belief that there are a number of Moses’s sat in our congregations, they just need to be released.

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL C AP TAIN S C HRIS & TIM SWAN SBURY ROTHERHAM CORPS

he first of the Territory’s marks of mission: Share the good news! At the heart of The Salvation Army’s mission is a passion to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ far and wide.

These are excellent words! If only we had such passion… This ‘good news’ is actually exceptional news - that we can have peace with God through Jesus’ forgiveness and freedom and power to live a transformed life! We could talk about how to restore passion or how to further describe ‘good news’ but perhaps the more important word for our consideration is ‘proclaim’ - what does that look like in 2022? Broadly speaking in our Territory, we have to be honest and therefore repent that we have not been good at proclaiming the good news. We have become sidetracked by and busy with other things, even some good things, including the other four marks of mission. But because these aspects of mission have not been kept in balance, they have crowded out proclaiming the good news. And without the good news

‘at the heart’ of these aspects of mission, we reduce ourselves and become like many other religious, charity and community groups, who are doing a great job, but also do not proclaim the good news. What marks us out as a church and especially as The Salvation Army? Is it not that we, should have, the sharing of the good news at our heart? Most Christians would probably be able to ‘proclaim’ or answer if someone asked them a faith question. But the problem however, is that people are not asking those questions! So what do we do in the meantime? Nothing? Or can we drop in some good news to prepare the way for deeper conversations. Perhaps you know someone who likes to ‘name drop’! But how about we name drop Jesus (and yes, ‘Jesus’, clearer than ‘God’ - which can sound vague). To proclaim could be to naturally speak about Jesus in our lives in one simple sentence: ‘I prayed about it and believe Jesus answered’, ‘without the peace Jesus gives me I don’t know what I would do’, ‘I was really helped by some words of Jesus that I read today’. Here are some other ways to proclaim: Pray - Are we praying regularly for unsaved family/friends/neighbours/ colleagues? Are we regularly praying for opportunities to share the

good news? Prepare Are we ‘read up’ on the big questions of suffering, science, sexuality and other religions? Do we have a credible tract in our bag/car/coat to give away that outlines the good news? (Most corps have these somewhere!) Have we memorised key Bible verses for sharing the good news, such as the ‘Romans Road’, or at least marked them in our Bible? (Romans 3.23, 6.23, 5.8, 10.9-10, 10.13) Have we practiced sharing our salvation story? (Are you able to share in three minutes; your life before Jesus, your experience of encountering Jesus, and how your life is now.) Party - Are we making the most of our birthdays, anniversaries and seasonal events as great opportunities to get together and build relationships? Publicise - Does your corps have events, spiritual and social, to invite people to, and printed and digital publicity to make inviting easier? Prompt - Can we listen out for these prompts and be ready with an invitation and/or offer to pray with/for them? ‘I’m struggling’, ‘I’ve not experienced this before’, ‘I’m new to the area’. Participate - Can we join a sports team/craft group/etc. or help with a corps programme that will enable us to engage with unsaved people? Prioritise - If we’re thinking ‘I’m too busy to do these things’, then we’re too busy and need to reassess and reorder our priorities!

May we ask God for a passion for souls and to be reminded of the extent of the incredible news we have to share as we continue to reflect on how best to ‘proclaim’. But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? - Romans 10.14

Captains Tim & Chris Swansbury, with their three children, moved to Rotherham in July 2021, having perviously served as corps officers in London and Kent. Although Tim is a London lad and Chris is Swiss, they are loving Yorkshire, as well as the children who are acclimatising themselves nicely by beginning to adopt Yorkshire words and sounds!

S E R V E O T H E R S W I T H O U T D I S C R I M I N AT I O N

DO FOR OR DO WITH? MITCH MENAGH - ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MISSION EXPLORES THE SECOND MARK OF MISSION

Mitch is a first-generation Salvationist, a proud Scot, who lives & works in London (THQ). He has worked for The Salvation Army for 44 years in a range of social services settings including children’s home, adolescent units, lifehouses & divisional social work settings, then becoming the Director of Research & Development until 2010, when he was appointed as Territorial Director for Homelessness Services before taking up his current role in November 2019 as Assistant Secretary for Mission. Mitch has overall responsibility for The Salvation Army’s contracted & regulated services that includes such areas as Homelessness, Older People, Anti Trafficking & Modern Slavery, Community, Prison Ministries & International Development. He is married to Liz, a third generation Salvationist who works at William Booth College and they have 2 daughters and a six-year-old grandson.

eading up to 2020, and unrelated to Covid-19, senior leadership were concerned that the identity of The Salvation Army was being misunderstood, both inside and beyond ‘the army’ and there was concern about the ambiguous and inconsistent understanding as to who we are as a Christian Church. Following the work of the Identity Task Force, a fresh vision & mission statement was developed and is now the basis on which the identity of The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom & Ireland Territory will be known, underpinned by our vision ‘Fullness of life for all with Jesus’ which is encompassed by the call for us to ‘Love God, Love Others’. Whilst our new mission focus has five key priorities, this brief article focuses on the second, namely, ‘To serve others without discrimination’ recognising that God calls us to be with the people we serve. Discrimination is not new – that sense of ‘unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people’, especially on the grounds of race, colour, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or even religion, to name but a few. To this day, society continues to suffer from discrimination where there is sustained inequality, failing to recognise the value, worth & beauty of diversity. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that there are people and situations we encounter people in our everyday who experience such blatant discrimination – in that, I refer to people facing homelessness, those living with mental health issues, struggling with addictions (and not just drug/alcohol), dysfunctional families, people dealing with poverty who have become dependent on food banks, needing debt advice, and those survivors of human trafficking & modern slavery, refugees and asylum seekers - these are just some examples of real situations facing our society today where people face discrimination by their community, the state and even the Church because of their difficult and traumatic circumstances. Surely, we, The Salvation Army are not only wanting to be ‘speaking in to and speaking out’ about these very issues, but we need to be showing the difference the love of God can continue to make … after all, is not the gospel we preach, ‘for the whosoever’, and surely,

we still believe in transformation, that God can change the hearts of men, women and children - without discrimination! As we reflect on the example of Jesus, who frequently chose to befriend and stand with those who were discriminated against, such as Zacchaeus collecting taxes for the Romans, or people with leprosy or the woman caught in adultery - Jesus, our example, acted with compassion and without judgement to reconnect people to their community … without discrimination! When we serve others, without discrimination, without prejudice, without judgement – it follows the example of Jesus, and enables His Church, His people, to offer compassion rather than judgement; to offer that sense of community and belonging, rather than stigma & isolation; and it offers hope for a better future, physically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually! In the Moffatt paraphrase of Romans 12:2 we read, “Don’t let the demands of this world squeeze you into its mould; have your mind renewed, and so be transformed in nature, able to make out what the will of God is…” Its true, we all face the pressure and the demands of society and often, this can at times be to the detriment of who we are as God’s people – perhaps that’s part of why our identity became somewhat ambiguous. However, as Christians, we are without doubt, ‘called’ not only to share the love of Christ, but to live it out in what has become, a discriminatory and judgemental world. Our love for God, and His grace, enables us to genuinely love others, and as Samuel Barnard reminds us in the last line of the four verses of his great hymn found in song 38, ‘For God is stronger than his foes’. Let’s be sure & steadfast of our God given identity in Christ; let’s be clear of our mission as The Salvation Army; let’s not necessarily do for, but do with people in their journey, without judgement or discrimination, because we are first and foremost, a Christian Church who must ‘love God’ and therefore, we ‘love others’ and then we can truly believe that transformation will bring ‘fullness of life for all people with Jesus’

N U RT U R E D I S C I P L E S O F J E S U S

21ST CENTURY DISCIPLESHIP COMMISSIONER BARRY SWANSON EXPLORES THE THIRD MARK OF MISSION

hink for a moment about Lewis Carroll’s fantasy Alice in Wonderland. Now, accept the fact that we also have woken up to a strange new world where nothing seems quite the same. Despite our current state of confusion and disorientation a sense of spiritual consciousness remains surprisingly high. By looking carefully we see that Jesus is everywhere, doing what he has always done: preaching good news, proclaiming freedom, restoring sight, releasing those oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:18-19). Its just that he is choosing to do it in new ways. Things familiar to church leaders and members, like many of our traditions, programs, institutions, and hierarchical structures have ceased to be relevant and as a result are no longer effective in serving as agents of Jesus’ historic mission. I believe Jesus is calling us to a radically different understanding and practice of discipleship as the primary means by which people

come to experience a relationship with him. As a definition, I suggest we view discipleship as a personal relationship with Jesus marked by three defining characteristics: 1. Regular Conversation (prayer), 2. Dedicated Learning (scripture), and 3. Intentional Practice (service to others). We find this clearly stated in the 15th chapter of John. These beautiful verses borrow from nature to describe the elements of spiritual life and growth. Words like prune, branch, vine and fruit all suggest a process designed by God to produce Jesus-like qualities in us. We “remain in him” through consistent, prayerful conversation. For his “words to remain” in us, we acknowledge scripture as our source of truth and apply ourselves to learning it. Finally, Jesus says when we “bear much fruit” we show ourselves to be his disciples. This is done through practical, loving service to others. Unlike Alice, we don’t get to go back home. That looking glass is not available to us. This is our new home; we must live here and look to see what Jesus calls us to BE and DO NOW. I could speak in generalities, but I would rather tell you about one thing our corps is doing to address the urgency of this moment. It

is called “Emotionally Healthy Discipleship” (emotionallythealthy.org), which is an 8-week course designed to help people connect their emotional and spiritual health with biblical principles upon which Christian discipleship is founded. Students are introduced to the daily office (silence, scripture, prayer) and expected to observe this discipline for 40 days. Sabbath keeping is also reintroduced as an important spiritual discipline for the 21st century disciple of Jesus. Our goal is to help people move beyond busyness and navigate the challenges of life today from a position of emotional maturity and spiritual strength, as described in John 15. Effective churches (of whatever denomination) are ones who value people over programs, invest in authentic relationships, guide people into spiritual formation, and honour Jesus’ command to embrace and serve those who are in greatest need, whoever they may be. Salvation Army, this is our job description for the 21st century.

“Commissioner Barry Swanson has served as a S a lvat i o n A r m y o f f i ce r fo r 43 yea rs . O r i g i n a l ly from Chicago (USA), he held various appointments including Corps Officer (4 commands) a n d Te r r i t o r i a l C o m m a n d e r ( U S A C e n t r a l a n d E a s t e r n Te r r i t o r i e s ) . H e s e r v e d a t I n t e r n a t i o n a l Headquarters in London from 2010 t0 2013 as the Chief of the Staff. He and his wife Sue attend the Norridge Citadel Corps (USA) where they actively serve. God has blessed them with 4 c h i l d r e n a n d 7 p r e c i o u s g r a n d c h i l d r e n ”.

WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

JOHN 15:5 (ESV)

S E E K J U S T I C E A N D R E C O N C I L I AT I O N

CHALLENGING INJUSTICE MAJOR HEATHER GRINSTED - DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANTI TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY UNIT EXPLORES THE FIFTH MARK OF MISSION.

njustice starts with words and thoughts and not with actions. It starts with looking at another person and seeing them as less than equal, less worthy of life and love and dignity. And as words are shared, actions follow. Examples include racial, gender and age inequality; modern slavery, hunger and poverty, refugees fleeing oppression.

Jesus’s ministry begins in Luke 4 with the call to give priority to the needs of those whose suffering is hidden and whose existence is a sign of the damaging of the image of God in which they have been created, ‘to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.’ (Luke 4:18) Similarly when Jesus summarizes his ministry in Matthew 25, the key marker and measure is the way respondents have noticed the unnoticed and brought freedom to the oppressed. ‘Lord when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer

them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me’ (Matthew 25:44-45). The point of human life on earth is to be embraced in the Kingdom that unfolds into eternity. Yes, as our fifth mark of mission says, ‘People can experience a fuller life while we are on Earth, we don’t have to wait until we die.’ The source of Mission is God himself because he loves and cares for all of his created ones. Humans are placed as communities to participate in the mission of God, as God’s stewards, to care for all creation (Genesis1:26-29, Psalm 8:1-8) When things go wrong in the world, it is not due to the weakness of God but the fact that humans have chosen to betray God’s purpose in creation by abusing fellow humans and exploiting others. Our mission is about evangelism, growing disciples, and it is about demonstrating it, which is also the act of Christians struggling against injustice and oppression; and it is the binding of wounds in reconciliation. It is challenging systemic and unjust structures that oppress humanity. Grass roots activity is crucial since it is only in particular contexts that those around

can learn to notice, protest, protect, and respond appropriately. Corps have a huge range of gifts and experiences within local congregations as well as good connections with a variety of agencies both voluntary and statutory. Christians can translate the gospel into appropriate activities that will enable those who are being oppressed and abused to be noticed, cared for, and drawn into partnerships of restoration and new life. Also lessons can be learned that might help the development of policies and practices in many aspects of public life, from law and order to social service provision and policy framework. The big picture of challenging an unjust society may seem too big but we can consider our personal contribution to a culture that whether intentional or not, enables injustices to continue. Think about your daily choices this week: who has produced your food, your clothes, who serves you while remaining invisible? Can you make one change in your buying or consumption habits to contribute to a better life for an invisible worker?

Major Heather Grinsted - Deputy Director Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit - The Salvation Army Heather has been a Salvation Army Officer for twenty-nine years working in UK local congregations and in the Middle East with her husband. Her work in the Gulf involved the protection, with responsibility for a residential shelter, and safe repatriation of domestic workers and labourers, many of whom were victims of modern slavery. She served as a member of the Salvation Army International Human Trafficking Task Force for five years, which was set up to ‘promote, encourage, support and coordinate an anti-human trafficking response around the world’. On return to the UK in January 2019 she was appointed by the Salvation Army as Deputy Director Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit for UK and Ireland. .

T H E R E A L I T Y I S , I F YO U ’ R E N O

INTENTIONAL ABOUT INCLUDIN C E R TA I N F O L K T H E N YO U ’ R E EXCLUDING THEM. BETHANY FOX

C A R E F O R C R E AT I O N

BE LIKE CHILDREN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE.

MAUR I C E GOLDEN MSP EX P LORES T AC K L I NG C LIMATE C HAN GE AS P ART OF T H E F O URTH MARK OF MISSION .

ackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face as a global community. Our approach must be around the tenets of raising awareness, ensuring a connection and encouraging action. ‘Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks’ is a quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw. For me, the meaning is that the fervour of youth, an open mind and a belief that anything is possible (no matter how improbable) is lost or reduced as we grow older. So, the challenge for older generations is, to quote Matthew verse 18, ‘to become like children’. If we are going to take meaningful action to tackle climate change we need to bridge the gap between young people and older generations, particularly politicians. The first task is to raise awareness of the issue. The good news is that much of the work around this has been achieved already, and the mainstream view is we must stop or limit climate change. It wasn’t so long ago that there was a debate on whether climate change caused by humans even existed. At the start of this century, young people and the environmental movement staged protests and demonstrations which

highlighted to politicians and wider society the critical importance of the issue. Other major contributions came from the scientific community and global figures such as Al Gore and Sir David Attenborough. The mainstreaming of climate change awareness was complete - but that was the easy part. In order to achieve action, we need to ensure that society and political leaders feel a connection to climate change - that it is relevant to their lives. Further demonstrations or disruptive practices are likely to have a minimal impact or, worse, prove counter-productive. To engage politicians, we need to ensure that we connect via specific evidence-based requests which are relevant to the area they represent and their political responsibilities. This will require a bit of research, but there are some very easy ways to then connect with your political representative. Emailing is very easy, but you could also attend a surgery or invite a politician to address a school, university or community organisation. Most politicians have a connection with climate change and will publicly support it, but the key is ensuring that action is being taken at a household, local, national and, indeed, international level. COP 26, while many of us wish it went further, can be regarded as a huge success for the international community. We have national and

local targets to meet, so action is required - and fast. Young people have a major role in holding politicians to account and making sure they play their part in meeting climate change targets. That could be campaigning to ensure your local authority meets recycling targets or that national government funds renewable energy and more sustainable farming. The ultimate sanction facing politicians is at the ballot box. If tackling climate change is your number one issue, then you should vote on that basis. Failure to act will mean we will all suffer through flooding, drought, deforestation, wildfires and the outcomes of poverty, deprivation, negative health impacts and the destruction of biodiversity. I find it astonishing that, unless we change, there will be more plastic in the sea, by weight, than fish by 2050. Young people have a key role in engaging politicians to effect that change. With that all that in mind, I hope that politicians can be more like children when it comes to one of the most crucial topics of our time.

Maurice Golden is a Scottish Conservative politician. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the North East Scotland region, after having previously been elected in 2016 for West Scotland.

S E E K J U S T I C E A N D R E C O N C I L I AT I O N

QUIT PLAYING IT SAFE. DO WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE THINK?

D IV ISION AL LEADER R AE L T ON GIBBS SHARES SOME THOUGHTS

hilst studying at the Tav i s t o c k at Portman Trust I was fascinated by the complex issue of difference and diversity both personally and organisationally. When reading the works of Melanie Klein her thinking around difference seemed to make sense. Whilst complex, A Foster explains it well. ‘In paranoid schizoid mode we use splitting and projection to rid ourselves of those aspects of our personality that we dislike, locating them in ‘different’ others who we then denigrate. We operate in terms of bipolar judgements and relationships – everything is either good or bad and people are identified as ‘with me or against me’ ‘one of us or one of them’. There is no middle ground and no room for thoughtful debate of complex relationship and situations. This is a narcissistic mental state in which difference is either hated and or denied, where the focus on the self, and dependence on others is defended again’.

In recent days I have returned to thinking about difference and diversity both in terms of what is happening in our world, but also trying to relate to what we find in the New

Testament around this topic. Brad Strawn explores some similar thinking but describes it as either / or thinking. However, he writes that this doesn’t seem to be what Jesus has in mind. In Mark 9:38 the disciples saw someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus. However, because he was not one of the inner group, they tried to stop him. The disciples in effect, like the Klein, are saying you are either one of us or you are not, and as you are not then this threatens our position, our power. This is either / or thinking. Jesus’ response in verse 40 ‘For the one who is not against us is for us’. As Strawn writes, ‘Jesus isn’t pointing to someone who is doing against him but to someone who is actually for and with him even though he doesn’t fit the disciples’ preconceived notions. Whilst the disciples are stuck in the paranoid schizoid or either / or thinking Jesus is demonstrating something else what is described as both / and thinking. If we move to Acts chapter 15: 1-5 we find the description of the council of Jerusalem. Drastic changes were happening in the early church and here a group of people who have been in control, in power are concerned about loosing it. They were starting to lose control and in order to address this what they needed was for other people to become like us. Again either / or thinking.

There were many who disagreed, and so Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about their thinking. They too attempted to change the thinking of the Jewish Christians to both / and thinking. ‘Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke around the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will’ (10,11). We live in a changing world where the majority of Christians are not now found in North America and Europe, but Africa, Asia and South Korea. The communities we live in are now diverse and if we are to move forward Acts 15 gives us an image that we as God’s people are going to need to change our thinking from either / or to both / and. If we could use it more then maybe the world would be a better place. It would enable us to take down the walls that stop people coming in so we can form a new community living as family. This is difficult but possible if we take the lead from Jesus. We would then be open to see things through the lens of others. As Jonathan Sack writes ‘Right now we need leaders, people unafraid to face the challenges of today and build for tomorrow instead of, as so often happens, fighting the battles of yesterday’.

DONATION LEFT ON DOORSTEP! Sheffield Langsett Road: On returning home recently, Herald Alf Taylor discovered a plastic bag next to his door covering a large whisky bottle containing a donation for the corps. It is believed that one of Alf’s War Cry customers had given it. Alf said he is ‘very blessed’ by his ministry and the people he knows in Hillsborough. (AT)

Knottingley: The Yorkshire Enabled group’s Christmas Fellowship Day was postponed until the end of February due to the Covid - 19 pandemic. Illness was still affecting some members, but 24 of them met for a day of Christmas themed quizzes and activities, led by Majors Paul and Sandra Fisher. Christmas jumpers, gifts, favourite carols and Christmas readings all featured during the day. (MT)

BANDMASTER RETIRES AT MALTBY The Corps at Maltby celebrated the ministry of Bandmaster Geoff Yates as he entered retirement. Geoff has held various local officer positions over the years and has shown dedication in doing so. He served for 28 years as songster leader and then as bandmaster for the past 11 years. Friends and family attended the celebration as they recognised that all the service is for the King. Geoff conducted the band and congregation and cut a cake alongside his wife Janet, who has supported him through his years of service. (LM)

Corps leaders in the division came together to spend a day under the leadership of Lynn Chetcuti (Territorial NCD Consultant) to explore the ‘The Microcosm of Corps : Holistic Small Groups’. Together all present explored small groups leadership under the headings of ‘Hands - need orientated evangelism’, ‘Heart - passionate spirituality’, and ‘Head - effective structures’. It was interesting to think through what is worship and to consider how this can be experienced in the everyday. As empowering leaders our role is to identify and release people into leadership. Reflecting upon this those present were reminded of leadership qualities and allowed to explore leadership development models.

The Salvation Army world and beyond were saddened by the recent promotion to glory of General John Larsson. Born in Sweden on 2 April 1938, the son of officer parents, John spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile and Argentina. In May 1957 he was commissioned as an officer in the Faith Session. Subsequent appointments included Hillingdon, Ealing and Bromley Corps, Headquarters appointments in the Scotland and British Territories. Oversea appointments included South America West, and

following an appointment as the principle of the International Training College, he served on IHQ, before becoming the Territorial Commander of the new United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland Territory. Appointments followed in New Zealand and Fiji Territory and Sweden and Latvia Territory. In 1999 General John Gowans appointed Commissioner John Larsson as his Chief of Staff and it was whilst in this appointment he was elected to serve as The Salvation Army’s 17th General. General John Larsson served in this

Upon a visit to the Corps at Royston, the Divisional Leaders were introduced to two of the members of the Sunday School that takes place at the corps. They spent time showing off the art and craft work they had completed that realated to the teaching they had received.

appointment from 13 November 2002 until his retirement from active officer service on 2 April 2006. It is almost impossible to quantify Known extensively through out the Salvation Army world and beyond for hid collaboration with General John Gowan in the writing and production of 10 full - length musicals, the impact of General John Larsson’s contribution to Salvation Army heritage cannot be underestimated. At this time our prayers and thoughts are with Commissioner Freda Larsson, their two sons Karl and Kevin and their wider family.

The Corps officer Lieutenant Terry Hendy and his family are working hard to build up relationships with the local families and schools and this is being to pay off with new people coming to find out what it is all about.