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INSIDE THIS WEEK
Many enjoy a fun-filled, God-inspired weekBognor RegisPAGES 6 & 7
Residents find hopeCambria HousePAGE 9
PLUS LOTS MORE!
PAPERS
2 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
THIS WEEK’S QUOTES FROM THE PAPERS
TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS Tel: 0845 634 0101SALVATIONIST 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN Tel: 020 7367 4890 Fax: 020 7367 4691 Email: [email protected] Web: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationistA registered newspaper published weekly by The Salvation Army (United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland) on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army and printed by benhamgoodheadprint Limited, Bicester, Oxon. © Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army, 2011. The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England and Wales is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399.
EDITOR Major Stephen Poxon Tel: 020 7367 4901 MANAGING EDITOR Stephen Pearson Tel: 020 7367 4891 ASSISTANT EDITOR Major Jane Kimberley Tel: 020 7367 4892 ASSISTANT EDITOR Claire Anderson Tel: 020 7367 4894 DTP DESIGNER Colin Potter Tel: 020 7367 4895 DTP OPERATOR Denise D’Souza Tel: 020 7367 4896 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jonathan Carmichael Tel: 020 7367 4883 ADMINISTRATOR Stella Merino Tel: 020 7367 4881 ADVERTISING Tel: 020 7367 4883 Email: [email protected]
DISTRIBUTION Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (Periodicals), 66-78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough NN8 2QH Tel: 01933 445451 Fax: 01933 445415 Email: [email protected]
THE SALVATION ARMY FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Linda Bond TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Commissioner John Matear EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY Major Leanne Ruthven
LIFE AFTER DEATH: FACE OF ARCHBISHOP MURDERED IN PEASANTS’ REVOLT IS RECONSTRUCTEDForensic scientists
have reconstructed
the face of a 14th-
century Archbishop of
Canterbury, 630 years
after his death.
Simon of Sudbury
was seized by a mob
during the Peasants’
Revolt of 1381 after he
angered workers with a
poll tax.
The clergyman was
dragged from the
Tower of London and
decapitated…
The skull was
retrieved… before being
taken by scientists for a
series of scans…
During the
reconstruction, each
facial muscle was
sculpted and added to
a cast…
Three complete heads
have been created and
one was unveiled…
alongside Simon’s
original skull.
The Daily Telegraph
CHARITY WITHDRAWS FROM ADVICE NETWORK
The debt-counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is ending its membership of Advice UK, an umbrella organisation offering independent advice on a variety of issues. Advice UK felt that CAP’s policy of praying with its clients was incompatible with its ethos…The change will not affect CAP’s
work, which is available to people of all faiths and none.Church Times
JESUS FOR ASIANSA significant resource
for churches working
in mission to the South
Asian community [has
been] unveiled…
Jesus Through Asian
Eyes is a booklet
written for South
Asian inquirers, and
answers 15 of the
most frequently asked
questions posed by
South Asians about
the Christian faith.
The booklet was
produced by the South
Asian Forum of the
Evangelical Alliance…
A discussion course
to accompany the
booklet is currently
being developed.
The Baptist Times
IS LOVE CRAZY STUPID?
WIN A ‘SONGS OF PRAISE’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK
‘QI’ AND IMPOSSIBLE QUESTIONS
JOIN IN THE BIG DRAW
FINAL PART OF KA! JAM SERIES: ELIJAH THE PROPHET
CREATIVE CORNER: HOW TO DRAW EVERYTHING
YOUR SPACE SPECIAL
YOUTH PASTOR APPOINTED TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO NIGHTCLUBBERSA youth pastor has been given the ‘exciting’ task of taking Christianity to a northern city’s clubbing and bar-going masses.
Beth Tash has been appointed by the diocese of Ripon and Leeds as ‘pioneer minister to the night-time economy’…
She will spend time talking to staff in clubs and bars, building bridges with city-centre churches and bringing a ‘message of life and a mission of love’…
[The] Archdeacon of Leeds… said: ‘If you go into Leeds… and see the huge number of young people… it is obvious that the Church is not engaging with the club culture.’The Church of England Newspaper
NEWS FEATURESummer schools Pages 4 & 5
NEWS FEATURENew Horizons Pages 6 & 7
NEWSPages 8 & 9 SittingbourneCentralSouthHarlowFolkestonePaisley SleafordCambriaHouseMinsterStainesUganda
LETTERSPage 10
MINDING HIS BUSINESSNo limitsPage 11
FEATUREStop the traffick! Pages 12 & 13
THINKALOUDTo Germany with lovePage 14
BIBLE STUDYA good return?Page 15
NEW COMMITMENTSPages 16 & 17
ANNOUNCEMENTSArmy people, engagements and tributesPages 18 & 19
ADVERTSPages 20 – 23
COMMENT
[email protected] SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 3
Out of Africa
‘THE Africans have much natural harmony in their singing. The men have a wide compass in their bass singing, while many
women reach the higher notes with full, rich tones that would be the envy of a professional singer.’
So wrote Commissioner Allister Smith OF, decades ago, but he might just as well have been describing African Praise, a gathering of hundreds of African Salvationists that took place in Luton just the other week.
For some unknown reason, I was there as guest preacher. This despite me being about as African as Winston Churchill and married to someone who, to all intents and purposes, would have given much better value for money. (Heather was born and raised in Kenya and subsequently
lived or worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.)
I savour the memories of individuals rising to sing, unaccompanied, pitch-perfect prayer choruses, their voices swooping like swallows anxious to catch the next line.
For my part, I made a stab at Shona, the first language of Zimbabwe, and mastered – but didn’t get to use – the handy phrase ‘my hovercraft is full of eels’.
Commissioners Amos and Rosemary Makina were the special guests, sharing encouraging and humbling insights into African Army life. Did you know more than 40 per cent of The Salvation Army’s senior soldiery belongs to Africa? This despite a backdrop of often crippling poverty and a serious lack of what we would call essential resources – little things like halls, for example.
I saw a photo of some junior soldiers and was told that the one wall and awning of straw behind them was the Army hall in that district. Yet, honesty compels me to report there were more children in that snapshot than some of our corps have seen in years.
What’s the secret? Well, the hour’s prayer beforehand wouldn’t have done any harm, nor the wonderfully vibrant, joyous worship style that was a pure treat to behold. So too the warning that coins in the offering would be tiresome to count and that paper money was the preferred option!
Of course, nothing is ever so simplistic and this is by no means a judgment call on Western Salvationism. Cultures are complex things. Anyway, Romans 9:15 and 16 makes it clear that certain blessings are much more to do with God’s mercy than even our worthiest efforts.
Fact is, we Westerners are up against a subtle onslaught of indifference and ridicule while Africa burns with revival.
Set against that is God’s gift to this territory of Africans who now import the faith that was once exported from our shores to theirs.
Having seen them in action, we have every reason to be optimistic.
God bless Africa!
MAJOR STEPHEN POXON, EDITOR
‘A mighty hum and a buzz prevailed… At last he came. A great shout from these warm-hearted Zulus greeted him… At least 5,000 male voices… rolled out song after song… The overseas visitors declared that they had never heard anything to approach it.’
(Commissioner Allister Smith OF reporting onWilliam Booth’s last visit to Africa in 1908)
4 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
SUMMER SCHOOLS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
atmosphere. This provided for most people another highlight of their week. Finally, we had a medieval-style fancy dress night, complete with hog roast and an inflatable combat arena adding to the atmosphere.
Of course, the festivities carried on long after the evening programme had finished, with highlights including a midnight water fight, a soaking Morph-suited Josh Tillotson (Heck-mondwike) walking casually into the senior common room at 2 am and a brass quartet serenading the girls at 5.30 am – apparently they didn’t appre-ciate it; I’m not sure why not, it sounded lovely!
Tired and exhausted, we somehow managed to perform well in the Final Celebration. Watched by our friends and families, we affirmed we had grown spiritually and in our abilities, as well as showing we had enjoyed a challeng-ing, provocative and fun week together.
Challenging; provocative; funRobbie Haylett (Selby) reports from Yorkshire School of Christian Arts (YSCA) at Ackworth School, Pontefract
YorkshireTHIS year at YSCA was unusual in many ways, not least because it was my first experience of being a senior but, in particular, because of the theme, Minted. The theme seemed ambiguous and we were all excited to find out what was in store for us. As it turned out, the week’s worship programme was based on differ-ent interpretations of what the word ‘mint’ could signify in relation to the Beatitudes – purity, refreshment, flavour and quality.
Each morning worship session focused on a particular Beatitude and we carried the message of that session into Bible study. Studies provided us with the opportunity to discuss relevant subjects – and, most of the time, completely unrelated subjects – with like-minded people.
Each day involved two sessions of our main studies (in my case YSCATV Drama), along with once-a-day options (for me, Mixed Vocal and Song-writing/Composition). Main studies included Dance, Brass or Vocals, exercising (or playing about outside) for Sport or acting or filming in YSCATV, which produced the daily television slot at the beginning of each morning worship session. Our Option 1 and 2 choices were even more varied this year and ranged from learning how to lead worship to studying Scripture!
Of course, there were other times when the whole school came together, such as Selah – a time to relax and reflect in worship before the evening meal. On the Thursday it was especially shown to have great value when the Leading Worship Option helped create a very powerful spiritual envi-ronment, which formed one of the most memorable parts of the week.
Another time for us all being together was during the evening programme, which was differ-ent every day. We started on the Sunday night with a Crystal
Maze competition, involving team-based tasks to compete for the princely sum of some sweets to share – a lot of fun right up until my team lost. Monday night was Pub Quiz Night – without the pub, of course! – in which questions ranged from deciphering songs a toddler was trying to sing to a controversial question on comic book heroes – a lot of fun right up until my team won. In The Quest For The Holy Grail, medieval characters – looking suspiciously like YSCA staff – sent students running round the campus to try to find clues in order to discover the Holy Grail… obviously! Eurovision Talent Night provided an oppor-tunity for students to compete in a talent show, representing countries for a chance to win a ‘lovely’ compilation CD, featur-ing such hits as Nena’s ‘99 Red Balloons’. It proved to be an interesting night with everything
from dancers, to barbershop singers, to clowns taking to the stage amid a warm atmosphere – making it my personal favou-rite evening. Thursday night was our reflections night, in which we looked back on what we had learnt while spending time with God in contemplation, and eventually lifted our hands and voices in a Praise Party
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 5
SUMMER SCHOOLS
Life-transforming weekStaff and students report from the South-Western School of Christian Arts (SWSCA) at Taunton School
SaturdayDivisional Youth Officer CAPTAIN HELEN SCHOFIELDFIFTY young people gathered for what turned out to be an amazing, God-encountering week. The theme – Street Wise – was explored looking at the life of Moses and using situations from his life to help us live our Christian life where we are.
In the evening we had a Mini Olympics hosted by the ‘118 118’ guys – a time where every-one could share in some crazy ‘getting to know you’ games.
SundayBETH FRANCE (Bath Citadel)ON Sunday we had worship in the school’s chapel. Chris Blair (Anglia DHQ) led us and God’s spirit flowed freely. At the evening praise party Captain David Williamson (South and Mid Wales DHQ) preached about accepting God into our lives. God really spoke through him and met many students in a new way. A good day had by all!
MondayLOLA MARTIN (Falmouth)I REALLY started to feel like I was bonding with friends after almost a year of not seeing them. After breakfast we went to our first group – worship band for me. We discussed secular and sacred songs, which made a real
impact on me. I began to under-stand there was a lot more music that could be sacred and mean-ingful; I just had to listen more!
My second option was dance. I really admired how Annal-ise Thompson (Abergavenny) stepped in at such short notice and how the quality of the dances weren’t affected. After tea we went to a bowling alley and a fast-food restaurant – it was a lot of fun!
Time was also spent in united worship and cell groups, where we looked at some of the mistakes Moses made and thought about how, despite our mistakes, God still chooses to use us.
The band looked at ‘My Comfort And Strength’ – many young people in the band testi-fied to this becoming their favourite piece of the week. One young person said she encoun-tered God in a new and powerful way through the music and the related words – ‘The King Of Love My Shepherd Is’ – were her personal experience.
TuesdaySAM SMITH (Bristol Bedminster)ON Tuesday we took the theme Mentor and looked at how important it is to have account-ability in our Christian life and having someone to walk along-side us in our spiritual journey. The emphasis on being disci-pled recurred throughout the week, with many young people expressing a desire to be person-ally discipled.
We also shared our formal meal and disco – for some reason the school’s catering team thought we were celebrat-
ing Christmas, so our dining room was decorated for Christ-mas Day and we shared in a lovely Christmas dinner. One student commented: ‘This day was my best because we all got to dress up and have a good old dance. I felt God’s presence still with me every second of that evening.’
WednesdayPAUL PIPPARD (Yeovil)THIS year I was one of the ‘oldies’ – a role model, perhaps someone for the younger ones to turn to; a great pleasure but also a huge responsibility!
Wednesday night was my highlight. NGM (New Genera-tion Music and Ministry) led a relatively new form of DJ worship. At first I was really out of my comfort zone, until the reflection at the end, when I stood and could clearly see so many young people being touched by God. My prayer for them is that they develop and continue their personal relation-ship with Christ.
ThursdayNYASHA CHAMUNORWA (Bath Citadel)AFTER an extra hour in bed, everyone woke up feeling refreshed and energetic – by ‘everyone’, I actually mean most of the juniors and a couple of seniors!
At a morning dance rehearsal we discussed the difference between dancing at parties and dancing at SWSCA. We came to the conclusion that at SWSCA it’s more meaningful and important because we have one main focal point – God. I think the realisation made us all
enjoy dance a little more that morning.
At the evening praise party we had the opportunity to give our testimonies – hearing about the amazing work God’s been doing in everyone’s lives was truly incredible. The amount of love for God that filled the room was mind-blowing! God is really working in the lives of the young people in the South-Western Division.
Before going back to the common room, we gathered outside in our cell groups to light Chinese lanterns and people started singing. The Holy Spirit was definitely with us and I believe we could all feel his presence!
FridayABI SMITH (Bristol Bedminster)AS SWSCA came to its last day, students and staff prepared for the final evening celebration with family and friends. Amazing and inspiring messages that had been prepared during the week were portrayed through drama, dance, bands, choral, testimonies and prayers. I walked away from SWSCA with new inspiration and a refreshed relationship with God.
SWSCA 2011 was a truly life-transforming time for many of the young people and staff. A number of young people have spoken about how they encountered Jesus for the first time and became Christians during the week, many made fresh commitments to him; all walked away with a fresh vision of what it means to be the generation who will live out their faith where they live.
6 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
NEW HORIZONS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
Many enjoy a fun-filled, God-inspired weekBognor RegisSALVATIONISTS and friends gathered at Butlins for New Horizons – a fun-filled, God-inspired holiday week.
The varied programme catered for all ages with toddler, children’s and youth activities as well as plenty to interest adults. Although the enthusiastic resi-dent team headed up by Melvin Hart (THQ) hosted most of the events, visitors also contributed to the week, including territorial leaders Commissioners John and Betty Matear and Chief Secre-tary Colonel David Hinton and Colonel Sylvia Hinton. Major Hannelise Tvedt, Major James Williams and Major Howard Webber (all THQ) led the Bible studies themed The Lord Is My Shepherd.
On Sunday morning delegates filled the concert hall in antici-pation of the morning holiness meeting. God’s presence was felt as Major Catherine Wyles (West Scotland DHQ) intro-duced pre-meeting worship and led delegates in singing ‘How Marvellous! How Wonderful!’ Melvin welcomed the congre-gation and introduced Colonels David and Sylvia Hinton and divisional leaders Lieut-Colo-nels Graham and Kirsten Owen (Southern). The theme of worship and praise continued as the New Horizons Band led by Kevin Ashman (THQ) gave an upbeat accompaniment to ‘Crown Him With Many Crowns’. In some quiet moments of reflection that followed, Colonel Sylvia Hinton prayed: ‘God give us each new horizons.’
The New Horizons Choir sang Noel Richards’ ‘By Your Side’ to an arrangement written by Mark Feltwell (Nuneaton). The singers responded to the enthusiastic leadership of Anna Lamplough (Birmingham Citadel) as she led them for the first time.
Major Denise Cooper (THQ)
and children’s team members, supported by the young people, encouraged the congregation to join in the lively, action chorus ‘I’m Gonna Jump Up And Down’.
Keith Turton and Claire Brine (both THQ) used drama in a humorous and powerful way. Dressed as sheep, Baabara and Baart, they looked at people
and concluded: ‘What they really need is a shepherd.’ The sketch linked into the Bible study theme for the week.
The band contributed ‘Nothing Do I Bring’ before Colonel David Hinton opened his message with the question: ‘What way are you going?’ He challenged the congregation to discover where they were in their relationship
The Territorial Commander
Enjoying a fun-filled holiday week ‘Baart’
Pictures: PAUL GUNNELL
The Chief Secretary and Colonel Sylvia Hinton
New Horizons choir entertains
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 7
NEW HORIZONS
with God and asked: ‘Are you where God wants you to be?’
During the singing of ‘All That I Am’ and ‘Knowing My Failings’, God’s Spirit moved and there were some sacred, unhurried moments as a number of people went forward to the mercy seat. – J. K.
Team member Claire Brine speaks about some of the week’s activities ONCE again it was the job of the entertainments team to dress up in funny costumes, perform silly songs and act in humorous sketches to give everyone some-thing to laugh at.
On the opening night Major Catherine Wyles kicked off the entertainment with a rendition of ‘Getting To Know You’, before introducing the rest of the team. This was to be Catherine’s final week as part of the team. The congregation took part in an audience participation game after which Keith Turton intro-duced The Salvation Army’s new mascot, Polly the parrot – one of my less quirky roles during the week!
Saturday night’s entertain-ment took the form of a country fair, in which members of the
congregation participated in activities such as smack the rat, hoopla and a coconut shy. On Sunday, to mark the election of Commissioner Linda Bond as General, the team presented the tongue-in-cheek High Council Musical. Clips were shown highlighting aspects of Salva-tion Army history from the film Our People.
The level of competitive-ness among the congregation was high this year, and during the week people volunteered to take part in a game of Catch-phrase and an X-Factor-style
talent show. Ten-year-old Abbie Gunnell won first prize with the song ‘Castle On A Cloud’ from the musical Les Misérables.
Another popular event was Wednesday’s Night At The Movies. Team members Anna Lamplough and Captain Mark Waghorn (Shoeburyness) had the congregation in stitches with their presentation of a scene from An Officer And A Gentle-man. The team also acted out snippets from The Wizard Of Oz and Jaws.
Some people joined in the fun by dressing up as their favourite
film characters which included an Oompa Loompa and Sherlock Holmes.
Major Catherine Wyles writes about some of the guest visitors to New HorizonsCROYDON Junior Musicians gave the series of evening events a fine start as they introduced the programme themselves. Under the leadership of YP Band Leader Martin Roughley the band delighted the crowd with ‘Daniel’ and cornet soloist Thomas Nielsen, 10, received a standing ovation. Singing Company Leader Denise Park-house led the singing company in ‘Praise His Holy Name’ and ‘Jesus Doesn’t Care (What You’ve Done)’.
On Monday evening the Southern Youth Band led by Dr Stephen Cobb (THQ) received an enthusiastic welcome. The 55 members contributed a varied programme, which highlighted their trip to California, and included Andrew Mackereth’s ‘Ein Feste Burg’.
A brass ensemble comprised of Kevin Ashman, Paul Sharman, Simon Birkett and Derick Kane (all THQ), Major Richard Gaudion (Basingstoke) and Trevor Caffull (SATCoL) partic-ipated in the Tuesday evening programme. Their relaxed style went down well as they played ‘Manhattan’ and ‘Jubilee’ and led the holidaymakers in a selec-tion of old choruses. Vocal soloist Susanne Dymott (Staines) also took part and delighted everyone as she sang ‘Summertime’.
Alvin Allison (Guildford) and his brother Karl visited on Wednesday evening to present a challenging programme of new songs from their CD Songs That No One Taught Us. Using effec-tive visuals and slick presenta-tion, the brothers entertained and challenged the audience to think about the mission of The Salva-tion Army.
On Thursday morning Territo-rial Commander Commissioner John Matear led the final Bible study and later preached from God’s word in the final meeting. Many people responded at the mercy seat, a fitting conclu-sion to a holiday week that provided not only plenty of fun and fellowship, but also spiritual challenge and direction.
Abbie Gunnell sings her
way to talent show success
Kevin Ashman leads the New Horizons Band
Singing ‘I’m Gonna Jump Up And Down’
The entertainment team’s
Territorial Lay Evangelist
Jenny Clark
Oz comes to Bognor
8 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
NEWS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
Retreat focuses on family lifeSittingbourneSIXTY corps members attended a Family Life Retreat at the Windmill Farm Conference Centre, Clanfield.
The weekend – themed Fami-lies OK! – focused on placing God’s family values into family life. The programme included seminars: Parents OK!, Relation-ships OK! and Life’s OK! led by Maureen Ross (London South-East DHQ), Majors Jørgen and Libbet Booth and Stuart Pascall (Banbury Community Church).
Teenagers participated in canoeing, fencing, climbing and archery. Divisional Children’s Officer Kathryn Doncaster and Phil Bailey (Hastings Temple) helped the younger children to learn about family values. – R. J.
Support for Annual AppealFolkestoneDAMIAN COLLINS MP, pictured with corps officer Captain Neil Abbey, urged people to support the Annual Appeal when he visited the corps. He acknowledged the Army’s work in reaching out to people who are marginalised. – A. R.
Away day thrillHarlowTHE children’s ministry team organised a series of away days for children who have limited experience of the countryside, seaside and wildlife. Activities included rock climbing, canoe-ing and visits to an outdoor activity centre. Two of the chil-dren are pictured during a visit to pets’ corner in the town. – P. H.
Paisley line-dancing group, which organised a sponsored walk for corps funds, is pictured with leader Major Janette Howie as she presents a cheque for £450 to corps officer Major Mike Loveridge
Agents of changeCentral SouthTHE annual divisional children’s camp encouraged children to be not-so-secret agents of change. They explored ways that they could be obedient to God and bring about change where they live. They considered how they
could be agents of creation, fair-ness, holiness and eternal life and filled their ‘spy’ notebooks with ideas for when they went home.
The week concluded with a celebration at Staines, where it was announced that the children had raised £326 for the Water-shed Appeal. – L. H.
Bandsman Glyn Roberts presents a trophy to the winners of a five-a-side football tournament at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell; he and Bandsman Len Alliston were invited to present the awards at the event, which raised £150 for Sleaford Corps
Image removed
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 9
NEWS
Drought response continuesUgandaTHE Salvation Army is responding to drought condi-tions that have taken hold across much of the Horn of Africa. Children are particularly vulnerable, with malnourish-ment among under-fives having increased dramatically.
In one district the Govern-ment now uses two health centres – Magada and Nsinze Clinics – solely for the purpose of dealing with malnourished children. The Red Cross and UNICEF are providing food but children and their families have been sleeping on the ground; there is no water and hygiene is a major problem.
When Salvation Army assess-ment teams became aware of the situation they stepped in to provide 200 mattresses, 200 jerry cans, 200 washbasins, 500 bars of soap and 100 cans
of liquid soap. Plans are under way to sink a borehole so there is a constant supply of clean water. The Army’s support is greatly appreciated. It is making a small but significant differ-ence to the children and their families.
The staff in these compact health centres work day and night to look after more than 250 children. The night before The Salvation Army delivered the mattresses one child had died; nine were buried only a few days earlier. But the problems in the health centres are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a large number of malnourished children in the surrounding villages. The local government has started a campaign to encourage villag-ers to bring their children to the health centres before it is too late.
In one of the villages a Salva-tion Army project officer met a young woman, Nalongo. Her name means ‘mother of the twins’. She told him that her
breast milk had run dry, prob-ably because she had not eaten sufficiently. Once a day she tries to feed the babies porridge made of cassava flour, which is not very nutritious, but it is all she can afford.
Mothers like Nalongo are in a very difficult situation. The project officer encouraged her to go to the local health centre with her children. In the mean-time hers was one of more than 700 families who benefited from food provided by The Salvation Army. Each family received 15 kg of maize and 10 kg of beans.
More projects are planned and an international Salva-tion Army team is on its way to assist the territory. Dona- tions to the Africa Disaster Fund can be made online at salvationarmy.org or sent by post (cheques made payable to ‘The Salvation Army’) to Africa Disaster Fund, Salvation Army International Development (UK), 101 Newington Cause-way, London SE1 6BN. – D. F.
Residents find hopeCambria HouseFRANK DOBSON MP is pictured with divisional leaders Lieut-Colonels Melvin and Suzanne Fincham, London regional manager Major Hilarie Watchorn, staff and residents during a visit to the London Lifehouse to see how The Salvation Army is helping people to rebuild their lives and regain independence.
Resident Richard Allen, who lost his job in construction due to heavy drinking and drug addiction and who is now start-ing an IT course and health and safety training, explained: ‘For years I was stuck inside a bottle and couldn’t get out. Coming here was a massive weight off my shoulders. I feel like I’ve been given a chance at life now.’
Deputy Centre Manager Annette Watts said: ‘Our staff team works hard to ensure that residents are supported physically and emotionally to develop the skills needed to help them to move on and maintain their own tenancies.’ – A. S.
Starship troopersMinsterMORE than thirty children, many attending for the first time, boarded the Starship Discovery for the weeklong holiday club. Through drama, crafts and games they explored five char-acteristics of the disciple Peter.
During Sunday morning worship the week’s activities were shared with the rest of the congregation. – B. H.
These are some of the 100-plus children who enjoyed The Big Adventure! Holiday Club at Staines – the adventures included space, underwater and jungle themes; on the final day, there was a bouncy castle and lunch for the children and their families
My small cornerALTHOUGH ISB120 now seems a distant memory, it is still a truly memorable one!
For me, arriving home at 1 am on that Sunday morning from the Royal Albert Hall, I suddenly found myself faced with a dilemma, as I realised I had just five bandsmen at Norwich Mile Cross making up an unusual combination: two baritones, two euphoniums and an Eb bass.
You could say that after such a wonderful Saturday, it was down to earth with a bang! But throughout that Sunday I was constantly reminded of the words: ‘You in your small corner and I in mine’ (SASB 841).
God bless our Army sections – large and small!Trevor Middleton,Norwich
Feel free to phoneI WAS delighted to read the letter from Gerry Parsons (Salvationist 17 September). I am very pleased to know of his interest in our projects.
Gerry makes a very good point when he asks for a telephone number to accompany our publicity. Please allow me to reassure Mr Parsons and any other readers that they should feel free to contact me personally on 020 7367 4776 or Major Anne Read on 020 7367 4779. We would be happy to supply information to anyone interested.Heather Poxon, Major Director, Salvation Army International Development (UK), THQ
See pages 12 and 13
Write to Salvationist (Letters), 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN or email [email protected]
for reference. I made a large photocopy of the cover of the book to show to the women.
The members of the guild were surprised to learn that our mercy seat is a place of prayer, restoration and thanksgiving. Many didn’t realise it was merely a wooden bench, thinking it would be something more ornate. I was also able to explain that a kitchen table, for example, or a drum in the street could serve equally well as a mercy seat. I told them of the custom of using rows of chairs in ‘big’ Army meetings, if and when the actual mercy seat was lined with people approaching God in this way. This helped those listening to understand that Salvationists do not regard the mercy seat as an idol.
The guild theme for 2011 is Mercy, Love And Hope, which is similar to some of the inscriptions on mercy seats around the world.
I am most grateful to Major Bovey for his book. It enabled me to share previously unknown aspects of Salvation Army life and worship.Joyce Wheeler,Paisley
Major Bovey’s latest book, The Mercy Seat Revisited, is available from SP&S priced £5.99 (plus £4.95 postage and packing). – The Editor
10 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
LETTERS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
Book helped explain the mercy seatIN my work as community care ministries secretary, I am often invited to speak about The Salvation Army to various groups and organisations. This proves to be a useful way of informing people about Army beliefs and characteristics.
On one recent occasion, I was speaking at a church guild (women’s meeting) and chose the mercy seat as my subject. I was greatly helped by having an old book by William Burrows to refer to, but more so by the recent Army publication, The Mercy Seat by Major Nigel Bovey.
I was delighted to have Major Bovey’s excellent work available
Was Bible-burning vicar right?THANK you for your always-interesting quotes from the papers, which recently included an excerpt from The Church of England Newspaper about a Bible-burning vicar from Wales (Salvationist 6 August).
It seems the vicar in question is to be investigated by his bishop for burning parts of the Bible he believed were unchristian and contrary to the teachings of Jesus. The parts the vicar took scissors to were those in the Old Testament describing gore and slaughter, for (said the vicar) it’s there that God killed millions of men, women and even innocent children in a vengeful and spiteful way.
Now, as believers it is hard to disagree with what the vicar says, and I imagine most of us have at times felt as he does. There are parts of the Bible that many wish had never been written, so far removed are they from the God described by Jesus in the Gospels.
So, how much of the Old Testament should we regard as the inspired and inerrant word of God, and how accurately do we feel these ancient writings reflect the true heart, mind and nature of God?Keith Fernie,Inverness
The first chapter of the 2010 edition of The Salvation Army Handbook Of Doctrine is helpful in answering this question. In particular, the following paragraph on page 11: ‘The inspiration of the Bible provides a foundation for our understanding of the reliability of the divine revelation in Scripture. It is uniquely inspired in a way that is different from other writings or works of art. However, this does not mean that the Bible is infallible or inerrant, so that it is incapable of misleading and contains no human error. Whereas we believe that the overall message of the Bible is inspired and reliable, each individual passage must be read and interpreted carefully, in context and with careful reference to the whole of biblical truth.’ – The Editor
MINDING HIS BUSINESS
CAN you imagine life without limits? It seems that in many areas we are pushing the limits – of space, of human
endurance, of our capabilities.I recently joined with others at a
symposium of scientists and medical professors who indicated they could push the limits of life further than we can imagine but needed direction on how far they should go. Technology enables humankind to defy age or disability, but is it inevitable that limits are removed for the sake of scientific advance?
Limitless power or limitless prosperity deludes us into thinking that life just gets better if we become powerful or rich (yet, perhaps, poor in soul). Is it conceivable that such limitlessness contributes to a moral vacuum?
‘No limits’ – when applied to codes of behaviour – affects communities. We live in times when, globally, moral structures are being dismantled. There are some who say that, as long as someone’s behaviour does not affect others negatively, anything
is acceptable. Selfish indifference needs to be challenged. We have obligations one to another.
As Christians, we have to work out what it means to love our neighbour. Mark 12:30 and 31 reminds us: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength… Love your neighbour as yourself’ (all quotations New International Version unless otherwise stated). John 13:34 and 35 states: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another… everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
The limitlessness of God’s love means we should
not set limits on our love for others or on our continuous service. For the sake of others, our discipleship and our mission mandate we do not set limits or conditions.
Conversely, as disciples, there are limits we embrace for the sake of others. Salvationists willingly accept the principles set out in the soldier’s covenant. This presents us with privileges and
responsibilities. We graciously, positively and unapologetically remind one another of these and underline them: Christian ideals in relationships, the sanctity of marriage and family life and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, non-medical drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all that enslaves body or spirit. This is in order to be the best we can be. This is freedom. This is a dimension of radical discipleship – not legalism – that provides a relevant, contemporary response and context.
The limitless, boundless grace of God enables us to live life in all its fullness. This is a divine response to the mistakes each of us make, which always have consequences. A reluctance to face up to these consequences can result in a culture of rationalisation and victimhood that blames everything and anyone else. When we accept personal responsibility for failure to measure up – not just to our own or society’s standards, but to God’s too – then we can receive grace and redemption.
Grace does not mean God ignores that which diminishes our lives. God cannot pretend it is inconsequential. The limitless, unmerited grace of God is available on the basis of who Jesus is and all he has done for us. The grace of God and the cross of Jesus are inseparable.
Consequently, we are free to live according to God’s way and to strive to please him. We cannot earn God’s love and forgiveness but God freely forgives us through Christ.
We learn to live within the limitless realm of God’s love. Keep yourself safe in God’s love (see Jude 21 New Living Translation).
No limitsby Commissioner Betty Matear, Territorial President of Women’s Ministries
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 [email protected]
A PRAYERI pray, Father, that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Adapted from Ephesians 3:16–21.)
‘As Christians, we have to work out what it means to
love our neighbour’
FEATURE
Major Anne Read describes the Army’s involvement in tackling modern-day slavery
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 13
FOUR years ago we celebrated the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery and the tremendous achievements of campaigners
against the trade in human beings. Yet today, millions of men, women and children are trafficked and enslaved. Since the earliest days of The Salvation Army we have been committed to this issue.
In 1883 Catherine Booth wrote: ‘In a bad house, a wretched place somewhere, where the poor inmates were never allowed to go out of doors, but at certain times and under certain surveillance, there was a certain window with gratings where those poor girls could get a look at our soldiers as they passed by; and one of them, who is since converted, says: “We used to rush to those gratings, and press our faces against them, and watch until we could see the last cap of the last soldier pass by. We felt somehow that they were our hope, and were to be our deliverers.”
In July 2011 The Salvation Army was given the
responsibility of managing
support for all adult victims of trafficking in England and
Wales. Almost every
day officers and volunteers from corps and centres around the territory are transporting victims of trafficking from their point of rescue to safe houses. Corps members and employees have offered their services as translators,
emergency accommodation is being provided and our safe
house provides professional, loving support for up to eight female victims of sexual exploitation. A team based in Birmingham will manage the contract.Salvation Army
International Development (UK) at THQ manages
worldwide projects generating income for people in areas
targeted by traffickers, caring for the children most vulnerable to this kind of exploitation and supporting those who have become victims of this evil trade.
Please add your prayers to those around the
world who pray for those
involved in human trafficking as victims and perpetrators. Resources to aid your prayers can be found on the Army’s anti-human trafficking webpage (see below). Praying isn’t the only thing we can do but it is the best thing we can do to play our part in stopping the traffick.
To refer a suspected victim of human trafficking telephone 0300 303 8151
Major Read is Anti-Trafficking Response Co-ordinator, THQ
A PRAYER FOR USE IN CORPS AND CENTRESFATHER GOD, we pray for victims of human trafficking. We ask for your protection from further abuse. We ask for your strength to help them face and endure each day. We ask for your intervention, that they might know freedom again. For the hurt, exploitation, abuse and trauma they have suffered, we pray for healing in Jesus’ name.
God of justice, we pray for the traffickers, the slave masters and
those who use exploitative services. We pray for justice and righteousness to prevail. We pray that by your Holy Spirit you will touch the hearts and minds of those who profit from the sale and exploitation of others or participate as clients. Believing you are a God of grace, we claim your salvation and forgiveness
for those who perpetuate the cycle
of slavery.Lord of all,
we seek your guidance. We ask that you would help us
walk humbly and act justly before
you. We want to be involved in your
Kingdom work to end human trafficking. Help us as a community to do all that we can to play our part to combat
this injustice. Use us to serve suffering humanity and to live out your love and
compassion. Amen.
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Victimsare often very
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to lure their victims into the trap they have
prepared.
The victims are men,
women and children.
Around 50% are children.
WALK IN THEIR SHOES: Get involved in education and awareness. Prevention is the best protection. Visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/humantrafficking
WALK WITH THEM: Support victims and Salvation Army projects in the UK and around the world or make a donation to support The Salvation Army’s work.
WALK JUSTLY: Continue to pray about this issue – for the victims and the traffickers. Join in campaigns that help stop human trafficking. Tackle the problem that exists in your town and worldwide.
14 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
THINKALOUD
OLDER readers will remember a strange country called the German Democratic Republic, whose athletes had an odd
habit of coming in first, but whose government had to build a grim wall in order to stop its own people escaping.
Stamps in my schoolboy collection – overprinted ‘Soviet Occupation Zone’ – remind me that the GDR was established after the Second World War as a bastion of Soviet communism. State atheism became the official creed in Saxony, the home of Martin Luther and heartland of the Protestant Reformation.
Not-so-old readers may regard this as ancient history. Twenty years have passed
since the Berlin Wall came down and the famous Trabant car chugged its way into eternity. Germany is now reunited, and I failed to spot a single ‘Trabi’ when I visited Dresden to take part in the Kirchentag, the great biennial congress of the Lutheran churches.
The Kirchentag began in 1945, as German Christians met in penitence to pray and to search for a way forward. Each great get-together has a scriptural theme. This year in Dresden it was There Will Your Heart Be Also, from Matthew 6:21. The Kirchentag offers treats without number: after beginning the day with Bible study, one can hear a speech by Chancellor Angela Merkel, learn from overseas visitors
to the International Centre, sing a Bach cantata from scratch with professional soloists on Johann Sebastian’s home ground – or go looking for Die Heilsarmee (The Salvation Army).
I found the Army in the Market of Possibilities – a vast jamboree of stalls and stands presenting countless forms of
Christian endeavour, some of which I hadn’t even thought of. Holding our friendly fort were Divisional Commander Major Reinhold Walz and Captain Carsten Dax, who is in charge of the work in Chemnitz. I recorded an interview with Carsten for Central FM Radio in Falkirk and asked why The Salvation Army had been banned in the old East Germany.
‘The Salvation Army wanted to do its work,’ replied Captain Dax, ‘but they said that the only Army in the GDR would be the Red Army.’
Well, the Red Army has gone and the yellow, red and blue Army has returned, but what is it doing in Chemnitz now?
The Army in Chemnitz has its old property again – a picturesque building more than three centuries old and in need of repair. In contrast, the average age of the congregation is down in the twenties. Don’t, though, expect an Army with uniforms, band and songsters. Carsten’s flock praise the Lord in a very contemporary idiom.
The Salvation Army in Chemnitz employs six social workers – all Christians – and provides free meals for children in need. Cards marked ‘Danke!’ (‘Thank you’, see picture) include photos of everyone who has given money to support the scheme. More help might be needed as council cutbacks might be in the offing. Sound familiar?
Leaving the busy Market of Possibilities, I wondered about the past, present and future of Christian faith in Europe – so long its heartland and now its problem zone. Dresden is full of Christian heritage – the exquisite Frauenkirche, blitzed in the raid of 1945, has risen again on the banks of the Elbe. But two generations of atheist indoctrination have left their mark, and here – as in my own native land – many see the churches as odd survivals of a bygone age.
Not so in Chemnitz, where Captain Dax and his team are doing their best to live out The Salvation Army’s slogan: ‘Mit menschen unterwegs’. Translated literally, it means ‘On the way with people’, but there’s more to it than that. We travel in faith with the whole of humanity, but our partner in faith is the Lord. ‘Post-Christian’ Europe is in for a surprise: Jesus Christ is alive and well and at work through his people.
John is a poet, performer, author and translator who worships at Stirling Corps
To Germanywith loveby John Coutts
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
Captain Carsten Dax and Major Reinhold Walz
BIBLE STUDY
TO come back is to return. An obvious statement, but it points to a key word to consider on Back To Church Sunday
tomorrow (25 September).God’s call to the people of Israel
to return to him and his enabling of their return to the Promised Land are recurring features in the Old Testament. In encouraging people to come back to church – to God’s ‘new Israel’ – we can benefit from reflecting on this ancient concept of returning to God.
God’s word, spoken to his people through Moses, made it clear that he always knew his people would, at various times, wander from their allegiance to him – the one true God. But it also revealed that many would return from these wanderings and that God had already planned their way back.
‘When you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul… then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land
under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul… Then the Lord your God will
make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands… The Lord will again delight in you’ (Deuteronomy 30:2–9 all quotations from New International Version unless stated otherwise).
It is abundantly clear from these verses that it is God’s deepest desire for his wandering, errant people to return to the place where they belong.
To ‘the land that belonged to your ancestors’ (v5), where he wants to bless them with his love and mercy.
To ‘have compassion on you’ and make up for the lost time of wandering; to ‘restore your fortunes’ (v3).
To grow them as a people numerically, to ‘make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors’ (v5).
To grow them spiritually in a way they had previously not experienced: ‘The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul’ (v6 New Living Translation).
To make them a fruitful and productive people: ‘Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands’ (v9).
It is also clear from this passage that we must be careful not to limit the possibility of who may return, for God promised to bring back exiles from even ‘the most distant land under the heavens’ (v4).
The truths gleaned from these verses also remind us that, when we invite and encourage people to come ‘back to church’, it is not simply an exercise to complete or a box to tick.
It is an ongoing mission, in which we are God’s agents through whom he graciously reaches out to those who have drifted from his planned place for them: ‘The Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land’ (vv4 and 5).
‘The Lord will again delight in you’ (v9) carries overtones of the celebration party planned by the father when the lost son returned from his wanderings in the
parable told by Jesus. It brings great delight and celebration in Heaven when those who have drifted away from their rightful place in the family return.
Though we must be cautious about assuming that all whom we want to come back to church have drifted away entirely from their relationship with God, it is clear from the Old Testament teaching on ‘return’ that the vital goal is the
return of God’s people to their relationship with him.
A return into their rightful place or community is something that should naturally accompany that restored relationship.
Major Barker is corps officer at Hull Citadel
A good return?Major Stuart Barker identifies the vital goal of Back To Church Sunday
STUDY PASSAGE: DEUTERONOMY 30:1–10
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 [email protected]
‘It is God’s deepest desire for his wandering, errant people to return
to the place where they belong’
Katie GiblettMichael BridgeJunior soldiers
NORWICH MILE CROSSCORPS officer Major Sarah Murray enrolled Katie and Michael as junior soldiers. After their enrolment, they sang with the junior choir. – S. M.
Carol SharpAdherent member
SOUTHSEA CAROL’S first contact with the Army came through taking her daughter April to the parent-and-toddler group and, later, the Monday Club. She went to see April when she sang a solo in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last year and shortly after that April joined the singing company. Carol began attending Sunday meetings regularly and greatly enjoys the worship and fellowship.
Corps officer Major Mary Wolfe welcomed Carol as an adherent member. – T. M.
John HarrisonSoldier
RIPLEYFOUR years ago John felt called back to service within The Salvation Army after being away for many years. When invited to the corps he knew that this was where the Lord wanted him to be. Corps leader Divisional Envoy Kevin Wibberley enrolled John as a soldier. – S. B.
John NewellAdherent member
NOTTINGHAM WILLIAM BOOTH MEMORIAL HALLSDURING the years that John worshipped at the corps he was encouraged to consider becoming an adherent member. Initially he felt unworthy and shy about making his commitment in a meeting. However, with the encouragement and support of the corps he decided to step out in faith.
Corps officer Major Robert Peppiatt welcomed John as an adherent member. – R. P.
Keith NarburghOlive NarburghAdherent members
STOCKTONKEITH and Olive were married in the hall earlier in the year and decided to make the corps their spiritual home.
Corps officer Major Keith Williams welcomed Keith and Olive as adherent members. – B. C.
Christopher HarrisonJunior soldier
CARDIFF CANTONCHRISTOPHER made the decision to become a junior soldier and was enrolled by corps officer Major Graham Willetts. – G. W.
Grace SwansburyMegan Jamison
Bethany JamisonElena JamisonJunior soldiers
HERNE BAYGRACE is already sure of her calling to be a Salvation Army officer and is a budding evangelist at school.
Megan, Bethany and Elena have attended Army activities for a number of years. They wanted to recognise Jesus in their lives and the corps as their spiritual home.
Corps officer Captain Chris Carré enrolled Grace, Megan, Bethany and Elena as junior soldiers. – P. C.
Jacqueline BusiSoldier
Helen ListerHelen Howells
Kerry WeeksSamuel Cooke
Tracey Camden-PriceMadeline PearnAdherent members
PONTYPOOLCORPS officer Lieutenant Elizabeth Di-Palma enrolled Jacqueline as a soldier and welcomed Helen, Kerry, Helen, Samuel, Tracey and Madeline (not pictured) as adherent members. Madeline is a silver-star mother and the others arrived at the corps by various routes, including the community Christmas meal, junior soldiership, family and friends. – C. D-P.
16 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
NEW COMMITMENTS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
Christine FullerJean ColbyAdherent members
LITTLEPORTCHRISTINE and Jean have attended the corps for some time and testified to their desire to make the Army their place of worship. They value the friendly, warm welcome they find at the corps and appreciate the opportunities to serve the Lord in the town. Christine is a keen helper in the luncheon club and Jean is a member of the corps singing group, The Littleport Singers.
Corps officer Major Loraine Holland welcomed Christine and Jean as adherent members. – B. H.
Irene GandidzanwaTerence SibandaSoldiers
Michael PryerToni HarerimanaAdherent members
LUTONIRENE and Terence testified to God’s leading in their lives since they moved to England from Zimbabwe. They are confident God has a plan and a purpose for them as they make this commitment to serve him.
Michael returned to the corps in recent years after some time away and is thrilled to be using his gift as a trombonist in the band. Toni linked up with the corps through the winter night shelter and testifies that his life has completely turned around since he began attending meetings and the Bible study group.
Corps officer Captain Pam Pitt enrolled Irene and Terence as soldiers and welcomed Michael and Toni as adherent members. – P. P.
John HoweSoldier
LOCHGELLYAFTER some time away from the Army, John came back to the Lord and became an adherent member at the corps. He felt that the Lord was speaking to him about making a further commitment and made the decision to become a soldier.
On the final Sunday before her retirement, corps officer Major Catherine Knott enrolled John, the first new soldier for a number of years. – C. K.
Elsie EdenMia Hawkes-ByrantJunior soldiers
BRISTOL KINGSWOODCORPS officer Captain Rebecca Eden enrolled her daughter Elsie and Mia as junior soldiers. Many family members supported them at the family worship service in which they both prayed. – M. E.
Emily JonesTyriece Strachen
Lakia StrongShadiamond BrownJunior soldiers
BRISTOL CITADELEMILY, Tyriece, Lakia and Shadiamond started going to the Army through attending the Kids Alive outreach Sunday club. They are all keen to witness to being Jesus’ friends and trust him to help them keep their covenant promise.
Family and friends looked on and prayed for them when corps officer Major Tracey Mountford enrolled them as junior soldiers. They then signed their commitment cards at the mercy seat. – I. M.
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 17
NEW COMMITMENTS
NEW COMMITMENTS IN SEPTEMBER
23 Soldiers
34 Adherent members
45 Junior soldiers
Totals for this year so far:Soldiers: 299Adherent members: 424Junior soldiers: 266
Out of 102 new commitments reported in Salvationist in September, 8 joined a kids’ club; 3 began attending to support their children who were involved in YP activities; 3 returned after many years away through attending a songster reunion, being invited to band practice and Back to Church Sunday; 2 attended Messy Church; 2 accepted invitations to meetings; 2 married at the corps hall; 1 attended after their grandfather was enrolled as a soldier; 1 is a silver-star mother; 1 linked up with a winter night shelter; 1 attended a Christmas meal; 1 joined Cameo; 1 decided to attend after passing by the hall on a bus; 1 joined a youth club; 1 is a group scout leader; 1 stayed in contact with friends at the corps and was challenged at Roots.
RETIRED OFFICERS
Birthday congratulations: Major Mrs Agnes
Thompson, , Kilwinning
(95 on 29 September); Major Douglas
Sanderson, , Oughtibridge,
Sheffield (85 on 2 October).
Retirement address: Captain Lynda Barber,
, Gorse Hill, Swindon
.
PROMOTED TO GLORY
Clifton Burgoyne, Plymouth Congress Hall.
Major Michael Crookes from Lincoln on
14 September.
Major Mildred Crookes lives at ,
Grantham
TRIBUTESCOMMISSIONER WILL PRATTBORN in 1925 to Salva-tion Army officer parents, Will was the youngest of four children, all of whom became officers. Service
in the Royal Navy preceded his entry into the training college from Ilford in 1946. A year later he was appointed YP cadet- sergeant, and in 1948 was commissioned to the command of Sheerness Corps. He married ‘girlfriend Kathleen’ (his lifelong name for his wife Kathleen Lyons) in 1949. That same year, Will was appointed to the Editorial Department at IHQ.
By 1953 a daughter, Avril, had joined their son Graeham to complete the family.
A gifted wordsmith par excellence, Will’s skills were honed through 16 years of edi-torial service. During this period he moved from assistant editorship of the international War Cry to editorship of The Musician. Will was a member of the International Staff Band for much of that time and was a local officer at Nunhead; his musical talent and eloquent communication skills were well used.
A twelve-week reporting assignment accompanying General Wilfred Kitching to the Far East not only resulted in the mis-sionary review Tell Them In The East, but
also provided material for three ground-breaking Army films: Blood Of The Martyr, Angel With A Bushy Beard and Miracle Of Medicine Hill.
Three months before the Army’s interna-tional centenary celebrations, Major Pratt was appointed as Director of Information Services at IHQ. For seven years he was the Army’s official media spokesman in London, collaborating in the production of numerous TV, film and radio documentaries about The Salvation Army. In 1975 he was appointed Secretary for Public Relations.
In 1978 the Pratts were transferred to USA Western Territory, where Will served as chief secretary. He returned there as territorial commander after a brief term as chief secretary in the British Territory.
Dr Robert Docter, editor-in-chief in USA Western, remembers his ‘strong leadership, new programmes and many creative endeav-ours. His writing style and skills were of such excellence from a literary standpoint that even his letters were worth saving. Subtle humour, self-deprecation, strong commit-ment to his ethic and a sense of joy in the written word leapt from his tongue and spilled onto his pages. He provided the Army with a remarkable leadership style based on factors of trust and creativity.’
Commissioner Pratt was appointed Territorial Commander, Canada and Bermuda, in 1984.
Retiring from active service in 1990, he set about compiling a collection of humorous Salvation Army anecdotes entitled A Funny Thing Happened On… The Way!
In the book’s foreword his colleague and friend, Commissioner Andy Miller, wrote: ‘He led us into the presence of God with rare good spirit and joy.’ – J. F.
LIEUT-COLONEL LAURENCE SUTTONLAURENCE SUTTON was born in 1919. He entered the training college in March 1939 following release from military
service, catching the tail end of the Holdfast Session and continuing into the Crusaders
18 24 September 2011 SALVATIONIST
ANNOUNCEMENTS
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist
ARMY PEOPLELOCAL OFFICERS APPOINTED
CS Brian Edwards, Petersfield; SL Sarah Priday,
Hull Icehouse.
NEW CPR
Glenda Tuttiett, Winton.
LOCAL OFFICER RETIRED
CSM Steve Ellson, Wellingborough (after 31 years).
MARRIAGES
Timothy Mount to Leanne McClusky (both
Canterbury) at St Dunstan’s Church, Canterbury,
by the Rev Mark Ball; Matthew Smith to Carole
Benson (Castleford) at Anvil Hall, Gretna Green,
by Majors Andrea and Mark Sawyer; Jonathan
Harvey (Canterbury) to Nina Ellis at Lympne Castle.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Diamond: Rtd BM Derrick and Mrs Quita Peel,
Minster.
Golden: Colonels Bob and Joy Cooper
(7 October); Derek and Mrs Lydia Wears,
Kettering; Bandsman Peter and Songster Mrs
Sheila Edwards, Hadleigh Temple.
DEDICATED TO GOD
Tamsyn, daughter of Simon and Heather
Ellson, at Wellingborough by Major Paul Church;
Callum Levi, son of Michael Anderson and Emma
Sewell, by Lieutenant Helen Parry, Kayla Anashe,
daughter of Nigel and Samantha Makina, by
Commissioner Amos Makina, both at Grays; Oliver
George, son of Mick and Allison Wain, at Clowne
by Major Gill Cook; Anashe-Natasha, daughter of
Brightwell and Ashley Kamudyariwa, at Shipley by
Major Maureen Melton.
BEREAVED
Muriel Creamer, North Walsham (formerly Newark)
of her husband Derek, Major Shirley McKenzie,
North Western DHQ and Connah’s Quay, and
Valerie Kidger of their father; Betty Charlton,
Warrington, of her brother Eric; Margaret Campbell,
Port Glasgow, of her father James Hagan; Betty
Eatwell, Slough, of her husband Rtd BM Kenneth
Eatwell OBE; Bandsman Alex Ferguson, Govan,
of his wife Songster Hazel Ferguson, Bandsman
Peter Ferguson, Parkhead, of his mother.
ENGAGEMENTSGENERAL LINDA BOND:
Mozambique (Africa Zonal Conference), Fri 23 Sep
- Fri 30; Malawi (commissioning), Sat 1 Oct - Mon
3; South America East, Th 20 - Tu 1 Nov
THE CHIEF OF THE STAFF
(COMMISSIONER BARRY SWANSON)
AND COMMISSIONER SUE SWANSON:
UK, West Scotland, Fri 7 Oct - Sun 9; ICO, Th 13,
Tu 18; South America West, Th 20 - Mon 24
THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
(COMMISSIONER JOHN MATEAR)
AND COMMISSIONER ELIZABETH MATEAR:
Caribbean (80th anniversary celebration), Mon 19
Sep - Tu 27; William Booth College (rededication
following refurbishment), Fri 30; William Booth
College (public welcome of cadets), Sat Sun 2 Oct;
Swanwick (officers councils), Wed 12 - Fri 28
THE CHIEF SECRETARY
(COLONEL DAVID HINTON)
AND COLONEL SYLVIA HINTON:
William Booth College (rededication following
refurbishment), Fri 30 Sep; William Booth
College (public welcome of cadets), Sat Sun 2 Oct;
Swanwick (officers councils), Wed 12 - Fri 28
Commissioners Alistair and Astrid Herring:
China, Tu 27 Sep - Fri 30; Hong Kong (China
Task Force), Mon Tu 4 Oct; Indonesia (youth
convention), Tu 6 - Sun 9
Commissioner Kenneth and Jolene Hodder:
Brazil, Sat 24 Sep - Mon 26*; UK, Bristol
Easton, Sat Sun 9 Oct
Commissioners Amos and Rosemary
Makina: Mozambique, Sat 24 Sep - Fri 30
Commissioners Robert and Janet Street:
Italy and Greece (welcome to cadets
and installation of General Secretary and
Command Secretary for Women’s Ministries),
Sat 24 Sep; UK, Stotfold, Sun 2 Oct (morn);
Sunbury Court (International Doctrine Council),
Sun 2 - Wed 5*; UK, Southampton Sholing, Fri
7 - Sun 9
*wife will not accompany
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SALVATIONIST 24 September 2011 19
Session to complete a 14-month training period.
He was commissioned as a probationary-lieutenant in 1941 and appointed to Dover – taking over from the previous officer, who had been killed on the steps of the hall while awaiting a delivery of fuel.
Further appointments included Strood and Milton Regis (Sittingbourne).
In 1944 he married Captain Hilda Yarwood, and together they took command at Sheerness and Sandwich, followed by a period of time at headquarters working on European relief in the wake of the Second World War and appointment to the IHQ Accounts Department.
In 1954 the couple sailed for India, where they took up an appointment in the Poona Audit Office. This covered the Indian Territories of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Pakistan and Burma (now Myanmar). They returned to the UK in 1959 to the IHQ Accounts Section.
The next ten years included a four- year period as the accountant for Men’s Social Work, culminating in 1969 with appointment to South Africa as financial secretary.
A return to the UK in 1971 took them to Scotland, where the colonel again served as financial secretary. Two years later the couple were reappointed to Poona, where the office now included Bangladesh in addition to territories previously covered.
Mrs Sutton’s illness brought a return to IHQ in 1974. The colonel then undertook overseas audit tours in Zambia, Rhodesia and Kenya in 1975, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark in 1976 and the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden in 1977.
Later that year he was appointed as financial secretary in charge of the amalga-mation of the Men’s and Women’s Social Work to form the Social Services, which took place in 1978. He remained in Social Services until retirement from active service in 1984. Mrs Lieut-Colonel Hilda Sutton died in 1997.
The colonel was a gentle, much loved and respected man. He leaves a son and daughter, five grandchildren and seven great-grand-children. – M. S.
RETIRED SINGING COMPANY LEADER MRS BERYL PARFITT, RISCABORN in 1929, Beryl was taken to Abercarn Corps when she was
just a few days old. With her younger sis-ter, Joyce, she grew up with the mantra of ‘giving’ and ‘sharing’. A busy mother of six daughters, Beryl was also supportive of her husband Malcolm, a prominent local politician.
During her 30 years as singing company leader, rehearsals always finished with
the singing of ‘A Little Star’ – a memory that still continues to impact former members.
In retirement, Beryl remained active – leading the home league singers and parent-and-toddler group, attending Bible studies, fundraising and enjoying her twelve grand- children and two great-grandchildren.
Beryl was generous with her giving and will certainly receive her reward in Heaven. – I. B.
JOHN (JACK) JENKINS, PLUMSTEADBORN in 1914 in Llan-bradach, Jack was sent to the Wesleyan Chapel as a child, but at the age of 13 he
followed the open-air meeting to the Army. The corps officer, later Brigadier Ivy Sams, arranged for him to lodge with her family in Plumstead to find work. He became an agent with the Salvation Army Assurance Society, retiring after 38 years.
Jack married Joan in 1941 before serving for three and a half years in North Africa and Italy with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
At Plumstead he was a local officer for more than 50 years, as YPSM and corps treasurer, and a bandsman for 54 years.
He and Joan celebrated 70 years of happy marriage earlier this year. – D. J.
