All The World (January 2012)

TOGO – a new and growing Army Exploring INDIA’s hidden depths Fighting for change in AUSTRALIA The FOUNDER’s final challenge

Life through IMAGES FROM COMPETITION WINNER KERI SHAY

JANUARY– MARCH 2012

VOL 50 NO 1

the lens

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CONTENTS

JANUARY–MARCH 2012

Visit ALL THE WORLD at: www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

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UPFRONT From the Editor

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ONE ARMY International Vision

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DEVELOPMENT In forgotten India

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HOME AND AWAY Reflections from here and there10

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EYEWITNESS Keri Shay’s photographs

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FACT FILE Togo information

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NEW OPENINGS ... in Togo

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REWIND Remembering William Booth

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SPORTS MINISTRY Australian boxing programme

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SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

Subscriptions

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Show and tell MY six-year-old son Zachary had some news when he came out of school. One – he had fallen over at lunchtime and hurt his wrist (it was still ‘a bit sore’ but nothing too bad). Two – he was bringing home Heycroft Harry, his class’s mascot.

The arrival of Heycroft Harry fills every parent with dread! The idea is that each child has the cuddly bear for a day or two, during which time photos are taken of Harry joining with the family at parties, special events or whatever they happen to be doing. The problem I foresaw was that we had nothing interesting in the pipeline.

Nothing!

I was soon to be proved wrong.

A scream of pain from Zach’s bedroom suggested that his wrist was more than ‘a bit sore’. I decided to take him to the local hospital to get it checked out. Heycroft Harry, of course, came along.

Five hours later we returned home, where a very excited Zach showed off a fresh plaster cast which was protecting what we now knew to be a broken wrist. I was less excited and more stressed than Zach but I was relieved that he’d received the proper treatment!

This little escapade would simply pass into family folklore if it were not for one thing – Heycroft Harry. Because we had Harry with us I had taken photos on my phone of every step of our adventure. When Zach was booked in, when he had his x-ray, when he

Kevin Sims, editor

had the cast put on – every step was recorded.

I’m so glad it worked out this way because we ended up with a record of what, to Zach and to us as a family, was a significant event. I even made up a storybook using the photos which Zach took to school. His teacher read the book to the class, much to Zach’s delight!

‘Social media sites give opportunity to spread the message of how God affects people’s lives’ It made me think – how many significant events pass by unrecorded? These days, with mobile phones and digital cameras readily available in most parts of the world, there is little excuse.

And I don’t just mean family events.

Many Salvationists talk about times and places when they have seen God at work. To me, these stories show the value of faith in the everyday.

But how many get documented and shared?

I have a challenge for you, the readers of All the World. When you see God at work, through people or programmes, take a photo or a video and share it. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites give opportunity to spread the message of how God affects people’s lives to those who would not normally take any interest in church activities. We see lots of negative applications of modern technology –

now is the time to grab the positive opportunities it presents.

UPFRONT

FroM The ediTor

Salvation Army Founder William Booth, who died a century ago this year, was all for using every possible method to spread the gospel. As you read through this issue of All the World you will see wonderful photographs and moving stories.

These are, I’m absolutely certain, just the tip of the iceberg of what God is doing through The Salvation Army.

If you send your stories and pictures to IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org, the best will be featured in the magazine and on the International Headquarters website.

It’s worth remembering that the Bible contains example after example of God working in the everyday lives of ordinary people. Look at the Gospels for starters – we read about Mary, Joseph, shepherds, kings, fishermen, taxmen and more. We only know about these stories because the Gospel writers recorded what they had seen or been told. They didn’t have the benefit of instant photographs either!

So go on, look again at how God is moving in your everyday life, take photographs or videos and share them so that others can see what you see. The world needs to know.

ediTor Kevin Sims

FoUnder William Booth

deSiGn And ArTWorK Berni Georges

GenerAL Linda Bond

ediToriAL oFFiCe The Salvation Army international headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London eC4V 4eh, United Kingdom

ediTor-in-ChieF Lieut-Colonel Laurie robertson

© The General of The Salvation Army 2012

Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; fax: [44] (0)20 7332 8079

Published by Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army

email: ihQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L V I S I O N

One Army, One Mission, One Message THE Salvation Army’s International Vision – one Army, one Mission, one Message – has taken the Army world by storm since its launch at International Headquarters (IHQ) in October 2011.

Launching the vision, General Linda Bond told staff and officers at IHQ, plus Salvationists and friends around the world who later saw the event online, that she believed God has a plan for The Salvation Army. ‘I truly believe Salvationists need to know we have a hope and a future,’ she affirmed.

Twelve Mission Priorities – full details of which can be seen in the Vision Plan (http://sar.my/one) – call on Salvationists to say ‘we will’ to principles such as deepening spiritual life; reaching and involving youth and children; and communicating Christ unashamedly. The practical approach of these priorities will, explained the General, stop the vision being ‘only a pipe dream’. They make it clear, she said, that ‘you have to do something’.

The General clarified that One Army, One Mission, One Message was not only ‘the General’s vision’ but that she wants the worldwide Salvation Army to say: ‘This is our vision’.

So far, all evidence points to the General’s desire coming true. The vision logo – a distinctive, swirling shape incorporating a globe, the words ‘One Army, One Mission, One Message’ and making use of the familiar yellow, red and blue from The Salvation Army’s flag – has been put into use right across the world. Some Salvationists are

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using the logo as their Facebook status picture and others have incorporated the image into their email letterhead. Covers of publications, posters, platform backdrops and even a symbolic key handed over at the opening of a men’s hostel in the Czech Republic have all made use of what is fast becoming an instantly recognisable image.

The design team at IHQ has been working flat-out to produce the logo in a variety of languages, from Spanish and French through to Kiswahili and Chinese.

The same thing is happening with the more-detailed Vision Plan, which details the Mission Priorities.

It truly seems that The Salvation Army worldwide has caught the vision – and that it has no intention of letting go.

INDIA

Building relationships in a forgotten wilderness

A

S the population of India passes the billion mark it is difficult to believe there are still areas of great wilderness. The common perception is of

by Jonathan Hibbert-Hingston a great mass of civilisation jostling for space in a crowded, hot and dusty throng.

For a large part of the country this is the case but in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the population continues life in vast virgin Army in Arunachal, based in the district Above: women weaving in front of a house in Yamsingh forest which sweeps down from Tibet and capital of Pasighat. The work is an on into Bhutan and Nepal. This forest is extension of The Salvation Army’s India one of the last refuges for wild tigers Eastern Territory. The officers, from than road, and a large bazaar contains Mizoram, are similar in appearance to the shops selling all sorts of imports. Most and elephants.

The Salvation Army has been building native tribes of Arunachal – known people cook with gas and explosions are relationships with the people in collectively as the Adi. Many of their not uncommon, with fire spreading Arunachal, getting to know their culture, customs and traditions are similar too, and quickly through the wooden and bamboo they are deeply respected by the Adi. language and needs. houses. The officers explained that The I sat in their wooden house – rented Salvation Army’s ties with the community So what is the secret of Arunachal Pradesh? How has it remained serene from a prominent physician, with his were strengthened when it offered relief elephant regularly tied up outside! – and after one such explosion. and unknown?

The answer lies in India’s next-door we talked about the work.

‘Other churches have very few links to Pasighat is a frontier town and looks the outside,’ explained Major Liantanga, neighbour, China, which claims ownership of Arunachal Pradesh. Since like one. Wide streets have more potholes ‘because of the controls. The Salvation the time of British rule, strict travel and Army is the first church to be allowed to development regulations have been in start here for a long time.’

‘I sat in their wooden place for visitors (national and foreign).

In the urban community of Pasighat, This has led to the state effectively being house ... with his elephant The Salvation Army also runs a tailoring forgotten. centre for women. One woman told us of regularly tied up outside!’ her Majors Liantanga and Vanlalchhuangi excitement at being involved for the are extension officers for The Salvation past 10 months.

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INDIA

Above: a woman selling tea beside the mountain road; top: the bamboo house belonging to the sergeant from Bilat

‘We are so happy here and the teachers teach us very well,’ she said. ‘When we go on from here we will be able to stitch for our families and I will be able to open a small shop as well.’

West of Pasighat the road winds up into the mountains. Below us we could see the village of Bilat, where the Army was given a large amount of land by a man who is now sergeant at the local Salvation Army.

When we joined him in his house he told us how he woke one night to see a spirit entering his wife. After prayer from the officers, the wife recovered and the couple joined The Salvation Army.

The Adi are largely animist and live in fear of upsetting evil spirits. This fear is encouraged by the formalised religion of ‘At night 6 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Donopolly (meaning sun and moon).

After tea we walked through the village. The e xten sion office r, now wearing a woolly hat with a Salvation Army crest on it, told me: ‘We are very blessed to receive this land for free.

The Adi have ancestral land and it is very difficult to get them to sell. But this we got for no cost.’

At Yamsingh village we were shown around by Ta k a o m Ta l o h , a n e w Salvationist. He was thrilled to show us where he grew up and to point out things from a community map a small group had drawn for us the night before. He pointed over to the other side of the valley, beyond the paddy fields now ready for harvest.

‘That is where the village used to be,’ he said, explaining: ‘The last time we had a British person here was in 1911. A missionary came up the Siang River trying to find a way into China. The Adi killed him and that started the Anglo-Adi war.

The British soldiers burned the village.’

The ‘missionary’ Takaom spoke of was Captain Noel Williamson, a British administrative officer delivering news of the death of King Edward VII to tribal chiefs. The Adi thought Williamson was

coming to declare war and killed him and most of his party. The British responded and war resulted.

Importantly for me, the first British visitor for a century, there were no hard feelings!

Next stop was Tarak where we met Robert Vanlalthlana and saw his church.

Tarak was significantly dirtier and more crowded than Yamsing.

As we walked around the village, Vanlalthlana explained to us the fear and oppression that exists there. At night the hills are alive with strange, unidentifiable noises, and houses are shut up for fear the ‘spirits’ might come in. With no motorbike or working telephone, and with the nearest support at least an hour away, Tarak must be one of the most remote outposts in India.

A short drive away is the town of Pangin, which has a Salvation Army society of 30 members led by AuxiliaryCaptain Daniel and his wife. The town is a small administrative hub with a secondary school, sports field and some government offices. It has quite a different feel to the villages.

We met Aux-Captain Daniel and some women from the church who were dressed in the traditional hand-woven fulllength skirts. They told us about their community.

‘We are very happy here because of the fresh fish and so many oranges,’ explained

the hills are alive with strange, unidentifiable noises’

INDIA

Left and right: children playing in Yamsingh; below: learning basic skills at The Salvation Army’s tailoring training centre in Pasighat

one lady, with blue Salvation Army ‘S’s on her collar visible above her jumper. ‘We can eat them or sell them for money to buy clothes or educate our children. The land is fertile too, so we can grow rice.’

The people of this valley want for relatively little. They have enough food, with fertile land and plenty of clean water running from the mountains. Small hydroelectricity projects provide constant, affordable electricity – a rare thing in India. The climate is good and there seems little evidence of the usual widespread deforestation.

But as we talked, social issues began to emerge. A number of the women had been widowed through alcohol-related incidents as most of the men are heavy drinkers. This heaps a huge burden on the women and their families. We also discovered that there is no English medium school (a well-regarded form of the education level between primary and further education) which means the opportunities for young people to go on to higher education are almost nil.

Basic knowledge of sanitation, such as how to dig and operate latrines, is almost non-existent, which is something the women want to remedy. Knowledge of pre and postnatal care are also limited, with apparently little support from the

government. Vaccines often do not make it far into the mountains so typhoid and other preventable diseases are common.

What was particularly exciting was the way the women talked earnestly and eagerly about these issues and began to discuss possible solutions.

Later, the extension officers, project officer and I examined a ‘problem tree’ diagram created by community members that showed the various issues. We began to plan a health awareness campaign to support the initiatives already coming from the community and state government.

The next morning was glorious. The mist that had covered the mountain on the previous day lifted to reveal lush forest in every direction. As we headed back to Pasighat on a horrendous road we passed the heavy earth movers forging a new road towards the Chinese border – a sign that globalisation could reach even this remote region.

‘The Army can bring freedom from fear to people terrified of spirits and unknown illnesses’

The Adi have a rich culture and a simplicity of life rarely found in 21stcentury India. I wondered, as I passed through the seemingly endless forest, whether Arunachal Pradesh will adapt to modern life without the population growth, and environmental and social degradation that are common elsewhere.

The Salvation Army has an opportunity to be part of the state’s future. The commitment and love of people such as the extension officers and Robert Vanlalthlana are deep and sincere.

Tapping into its experiences from around the world, the Army can bring freedom from fear to people terrified of spirits and unknown illnesses. It can help others break their addiction to alcohol.

Advocating with and on behalf of the people to the government for proper vaccines, medicines and family planning initiatives may strengthen the state and support the goal of tackling suffering and mortality without the consequence of a run-away population.

The plans I saw for a health awareness campaign are a great example of how The Salvation Army can work together with the local people. In this and in other ways it can build upon the cultural strengths of the Adi. There is potential for an ideal partnership founded on compassion and understanding.

Jonathan Hibbert-Hingston works in the International Projects and Development Services Section of The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters JA NU ARY– MA RC H 2 01 2 | ALL THE WORLD |

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N DO A CHOOUMNE T ARY RW T AY HEME

A SERIES LOOKING AT THE THOUGHTS AND ExPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH AND OTHERS GIVING SERVICE ABROAD

MAJOR BEVERLY IVANY Major Beverly ivany is Writer of the daily devotional book Words of Life. her first issue, covering January to April 2012, is out now (see page 23 for subscription information). She is appointed to international headquarters but works out of her home country, Canada.

What would be your typical day?

The mornings are the best for me! My husband, David, and I leave the house early but we always pray together, to start things well and to keep on track spiritually. I usually go to a coffee shop to write. I find I write best in that environment. I’m usually back before lunch. I spend the afternoon typing up what I’ve written by hand then it’s re-writing and/or editing.

My devotional time is crucial. The time I set aside for this in the day varies because I never want it to become routine. In the evenings I love to read mysteries!

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all Salvation Army officers. I never intended to become an officer.

I wanted to do my own thing; something in the field of music.

God had other plans!

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

The first thing that comes to mind is my four children. They’re pretty amazing people! They all love the Lord deeply, and are really striving to make a difference in the world – for God and for others. I thank God every day for them.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

My parents. My dad died suddenly nearly 20 years ago; but he was a solid Christian and one who always fought for the underdog. My mom is 88 and has only one leg – among many physical ailments. But she’s a prayer warrior. She’s also a great encourager – for her children and grandchildren; but also for many others. Also, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband. We have been, and still are, a team.

We are partners in mission!

How do you think The Salvation Army in Canada differs from the rest of the world?

This is hard to answer because I haven’t travelled around the world extensively. What I do know is that most Canadian Salvationists are deeply spiritual people, who love others. We have a heart for our fellow brothers and sisters in Canada; but also for people outside of Canada.

What particular challenges does The Salvation Army face in Canada?

Three things come to mind. First, we need quality officers for the days to come. Second, we need young people who will

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Major ivany in her office in Toronto, Canada

follow Christ – willing to put selfish desires, things that are ungodly, aside. Third, we need people willing to commit fully to the organisation/movement. Will people commit to the point of belonging and becoming soldiers? This is a challenge.

What do you like most about Canada?

Everything! But above all, the people.

What aspect of another country’s culture/attitudes do you think would be useful in Canada?

We are a multi-cultural country. Many people come to Canada to get a new start in life. This is changing who we are – in a positive way. It fosters inclusiveness; and I pray we will be even more open to other cultures – people who bring a ‘newness’ to life.

If you were appointed General, what would be the first thing you would change?

Nothing! I like where the Army is taking us. And, even more, where God is taking the Army!

What skills do you use most in your work?

I feel, perhaps more than ever before, that this appointment is of God, and so right for me at this point in my officership. I am blessed to be doing what I feel is significant. For I feel, as I write, that God is right with me; that we are in this together. I thank God daily for this honour, to write about him.

I need to be disciplined in keeping on schedule – as much as possible. I need to be organised, to have an overall plan; then a yearly, monthly, weekly plan.

Above all, personally speaking, I need to be right with God and with others. This is not a skill as such. But it’s fundamental for my writing. If something’s wrong in my life, I simply can’t write. It’s then I have to humble myself before the Lord – asking him to reveal what needs to be addressed. When I confess, and ask for forgiveness, then I can write again.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who: Loved God – with a passion like no other; Loved her parents – thankful for a loving, godly heritage; Loved her husband – a holy union, a holy love; Loved her children – with all of her heart and being; Loved her grandchildren – with a renewed vitality for life; Loved people – believing they were God’s gifts to her.

&

away

Ò LIEUT-COLONEL ROBYN CLINCH is Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Editor/Literary Secretary in The Philippines Territory. She and her husband, Lieut-Colonel Ronald Clinch, moved to The Philippines from their home country, Australia, in May 2009.

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

As Editor/Literary Secretary I coerce and cajole people to contribute to the monthly War Cry. Being a ‘one-person team’ I do the lot, including photographs, layouts and organising the printer. It’s a great job because you get to know what is going on around the territory and the practical way lives are being changed. Just wonderful!

As Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, I am fully involved in the executive leadership of the territory. I value this privilege tremendously.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

I stood two metres away from Roger Federer during his practice hit for the Australian Open tennis tournament and Roger’s coach, Tony Roche, nodded at me and said: ‘Hello!’

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

General Eva Burrows (Retired). A visionary, brilliant Aussie leader who cares for the individual and still ‘walks the talk’.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

‘Jesus himself drew near’ (Luke 24:15). Sums up the gospel really – and brings tremendous encouragement to know that Jesus walks with me whatever road I am on.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

‘Joyful, Joyful’, ‘We Have Caught the Vision Splendid’ and any by John Gowans – but especially ‘Love Cannot Fail’.

&AWAY

How do you think The Salvation Army in The Philippines differs from the rest of the world?

It’s incredible here – we feel we are among one giant youth group!

There are many young people in the Army – the vibrancy and sincerity of the worship are inspiring.

What particular challenges does The Salvation Army face in The Philippines?

Because of financial restraints there can be a temptation to suggest that ‘nothing can be done’, and vision can become very small. We all fight this in our own way and long to see God’s Kingdom grow and flourish.

What do you miss most about your home country?

Our children and our families. Clean air (sorry friends from The Phils, but it is true!). Huge, juicy celery stalks. Fresh milk that you keep in the fridge not the cupboard. Neatness and order.

What do you like most about The Philippines?

Besides the mangoes, lush foliage, blindingly white sandy beaches and mangoes, it would have to be the warmth and openness of the people, plus their trust and total reliance on God. Did I mention the mangoes?

&AWAY

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

My parents took me and my four siblings to the Army. Mum had been an officer and Dad belonged to the Church of England but came to the Army and was soon totally connected and convinced that it was where God wanted him to be.

Lieut-Colonel robyn Clinch with a Filipino soldier

If you were appointed General, what would be the first thing you would change?

It is probably already happening, but I would have serious talks about the place of married women within the movement. Structures should be there to support not confine and to have the flexibility to respond to the changing face of leadership today.

I am also concerned about the disparity of wealth in our global movement and the lack of human resources to enable sustainable growth in developing countries. I would introduce an apprentice model where soldiers or officers could serve overseas for six, 12 or 18 months and come alongside locals and invest in their leadership.

This would broaden perspective and raise awareness among ex-pats while developing local leaders.

I would also be desperate to inspire and energise leaders to inspire and energise their troops. Gosh, if we are not excited about Jesus and his Kingdom now, when will we be?

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

1) Melbourne so I could be closer to family.

2) A corps (Salvation Army church) because there is nothing better than seeing a person change as they find hope and love in Jesus Christ! The BEST job in the world!

What skills do you use most in your work?

Encouragement – on the platform, through the written word and face-to-face (sometimes in virtual reality!).

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

Pastoral care, preaching – more of the ‘people business’. Because of the nature of my job, I am often behind a computer screen.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who was real ... honest ... fair dinkum! As someone who helped bring the hope and joy of God’s transforming love into this world. As someone who actually did something and didn’t just talk about it. As someone who cared.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

It walks the talk.

&AWAY

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C O U N T RY O R T H E M E

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P H OTO G R A P H Y

Everyday beauty

W

INNER of the All the ‘She ... tries to World Photographic Competition 2011, photograph Keri Shay is a freelance photographer living in Seoul, them in a way Korea, but originally from Chicago, that honours Illinois, USA. Her vocation has taken her across them’ the globe, fulfilling her passion to expose global needs and share the stories of her subjects.

She has worked with several different humanitarian organisations but works closest with The Salvation Army, which is also her church.

Recent projects with the organisation have seen her working in post-tsunami Japan, India, eastern Europe, Africa and Pakistan.

Photos taken on these trips are used to help raise funds and to spread awareness of the often difficult situations faced by people in poor or disaster-struck communities.

Keri says she aims to make an intentional connection with her subjects and tries to photograph them in a way that honours them – trying to see the beauty in what others might describe as mundane.

As a follower of Christ, Keri tries to share God’s love through her photography. She has a calling to use her photographic gifts to celebrate the dignity, the stories and the moments in time of people who are too often forgotten or neglected.

On these pages, All the World readers can see examples of her work. Keri also revisits some of the scenes she captured, sharing her thinking behind the photographs that take the ‘mundane’ and explore its beauty.

opposite page: a Salvationist at a Salvation Army medical centre in Zimbabwe; above: people living in tents provided by The Salvation Army and set up near hyderabad, Pakistan; far right: people helped by The Salvation Army in india after the indian ocean tsunami; right: Keri’s winning entry to the All the World Photographic Competition 2011 JA NU AR Y– M ARC H 2 0 12 | ALL THE WORLD |

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P H OTO G R A P H Y

Women in Pakistan who create products for Sally Ann, The Salvation Army’s fairtrade scheme Keri says: When i first met some of the Sally Ann women i was overwhelmed with emotion and so blessed to be able to meet such incredible people.

A Salvation Army emergency worker in Sendai, Japan Keri says: i was asked to travel with the Korea Territory’s emergency team to take photographs of the relief work in Japan following the 2011 earthquake. We visited a local shelter in the area and distributed food and clothes to the people in the community. if you could say there was a ‘highlight’ of such a difficult trip it was spending time with the communitys member in the shelter. even though they had lost their homes and possessions, and maybe even loved ones, they showed great warmth and kindness to me and the others in my team. i always try to tell a story when taking a photo, so this one is no exception. even in the midst of destruction, there is hope.

May we continue to lift up Japan in our prayers.

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They are simply extraordinary. i wanted to capture the essence of who they are and somehow portray their humble and loving nature. i decided to focus more on their faces rather than photographing them making the various items. i will remember them as wonderful sisters who model Christ in their joyful service.

P H OTO G R A P H Y

A child at a Salvation Army school in Zimbabwe Keri says: i think this photo will forever hold a special place in my heart. it shows a child on a Salvation Army compound in Zimbabwe. The interesting thing is that this girl does not attend the Salvation Army school but is from a different school nearby. i was told that she comes around often and looks through the trash for beans and other foods.

When i heard that i wondered if i should take a photo of her because i don’t like to exploit other’s situations that seem dire to us living in the western world. Yet i experienced a revelation from God through this interaction about who God thinks about and where his heart is.

Maybe this girl will never be famous, yet our heavenly Father knows, loves and cares for her deeply. his heart is for her and he watches over her, even when she is collecting beans that someone else has thrown away. i wanted to take this photo to show the beauty of this precious daughter of God.

An example of the culture Keri has become used to during her time in Korea

Boy with a flag in a village outside Chennai, India Keri says: it is quite a challenge trying to capture The Salvation Army in india!

The Salvationists there are energetic and bold. You can see how proud they are of their faith in Christ.

A lot of times when visitors go to a corps they are met on the road by the congregation and other community members, and there’s a parade that follows. i tried to capture the joy expressed by the Salvationists in india, young and old, who welcome people in as family.

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FACTFILE

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GULF OF GUINEA

TOGO = Togo’s official name is the Togolese Republic.

= The population of Togo is 6.6 million. = The name Togo comes from the town of Togoville, in the south of the country, where Germany declared a ‘protectorate’ over the area that then became German Togoland, part of which eventually became Togo.

There is a sculpture in Togoville that commemorates the friendship between the people of Germany and Togo.

= After the First World War, Togoland was split into two territories. West Togo came under British rule and in 1956 became part of Ghana. East Togo was governed by the French until independence as the Togolese Republic in 1960.

= Thirty per cent of the population is Christian and 15 per cent Muslim.

More than half the population (51 per cent) follows traditional African religions.

= Togo ranked 139th out of 169 on the From top: view of Gulf of Guinea from Togo beach; Togoville harbour; Andossa dancers

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2010 United Nations Development

The Togolese flag contains great levels of symbolism. The red square represents the loyalty and patriotism of the people towards the country.

The green stripes stand for hope, fertility and agriculture.

The yellow stripes reflect the country’s mineral wealth and a belief that hard work and strength will bring prosperity.

The white star symbolises life, purity, peace, dignity and Togo’s independence.

Programme’s Human Development Index.

= Literacy levels for adults are 75.4 for men but only 46.9 per cent for women.

The SAlvATion Army in ToGo

The Salvation Army officially began work in Togo on 1 April 2011, making it the 124th country in which the movement is officially present.

The work in Togo is overseen by the Ghana Territory.

A fact-finding team sent to Togo by the Ghana Territory in March 2007 discovered that Salvation Army meetings were already being held and converts were being made.

Language used by The Salvation Army in Togo: French.

There is one Salvation Army corps in Togo, seven outposts and six societies.

Sixteen senior soldiers (full members) have been enrolled, along with 305 adherent members.

TO G O

Seekers who went forward in response to an appeal at Atakpame Society

Joys and struggles

T

OGO (officially, the Togolese Republic) is a small Frenchspeaking African country bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. Besides French, a number of local languages are spoken. The majority faiths are Christian (primarily Roman Catholic and Assemblies of God), Muslim and Animist.

In April 2011 the then General Shaw Clifton gave approval for The Salvation Army’s work in Togo to be officially launched under the care of the Ghana Territory. Just six months later I travelled to Togo to provide evangelistic support to the fledgling work.

I have a friend in Togo who is a member of an independent Pentecostal church. I thought it would be good to combine a social visit to his family with an offer of evangelistic support to the new Salvation Army opening. So, with the permission of territorial and divisional leaders, I headed off on a self-funded visit in October 2011.

My time in Togo was spent travelling between ‘societies’ (a society is a small

‘The local people were reaching out in love in a tangible way’

by Divisional Envoy Stuart M. Gay group of soldiers who work and worship together without an officer but with the approval of the divisional commander), fact-finding and leading worship.

I was joined in these visits by Captains Herve and Dorcas Ahouyanganga, originally from the Congo (Brazzaville) Territory, who are coordinators of The Salvation Army’s work in Togo.

The captains are based in the town of Atakpame. They have no car of their own and must rely on local taxis to travel between the societies. The nearest is approximately 2.5 hours away, along mud roads and tracks. For my time there I hired JA NU AR Y– M ARC H 2 0 12 | ALL THE WORLD |

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TO G O

a car and driver which at least afforded us some reliability and a level of ease for travelling around.

My impression of The Salvation Army in Togo was of groups of dedicated and committed Christians – people who had very little money or resources available to them, but who were doing their best to build up the work and show God and Christ to the people of their community.

In Atakpame, shortly after arriving I witnessed several members of a society fixing a galvanised iron roof on to the wooden framework of the building so we could have shelter from the sun for our worship the following day. The men worked through the night to get the building ready. That’s commitment!

That’s dedication!

Travelling eastwards along rutted mud roads the following day, almost to the Benin border, we came to Ountivou. In this village the congregations of three societies had joined together for the service and were waiting at the roadside for our car. I was amazed when the congregation insisted on escorting the car down the track to the church building, singing and dancing all the way! They obviously wanted to give their visitor the best welcome possible.

After the service I was made to feel like royalty by the congregation, which

‘There is an appreciation and a welcome by the local people of Salvation Army ministry’ seemed happy to have received an encouraging message.

In Kpékplémé two congregations joined together. Again I was given a warm welcome and an invitation after the service to a fellowship meal of items harvested from the fields – meat, vegetables and fruits. The local people were reaching out in love in a tangible way.

Travelling back to Atakpame along unlit and very uneven tracks, we banged our heads on the door frames as we were jolted about!

Three hours’ drive north-west of Atakpame, towards the border with Ghana, are the villages of Kougnouhou and Efoupa. In both of these villages The Salvation Army’s lack of resources makes progress difficult. In Kougnouhou the meeting was held in the spartan room of an elderly member of the congregation.

There is no dedicated church building.

Some of the local young people promised to support the old man in building up The Salvation Army in the village. In turn, I provided them with a football (soccer ball) to use as a team-building tool.

At Efoupa I led a service in a small building. The cement facing was crumbling off the mud brick walls and the only furniture items were two simple wooden benches. Again, I offered a football to the young men of the village.

The villagers expressed a desire for cottons, silks and needles so the young women could also have a method of coming together and providing an opportunity to invite others into the fellowship.

Two hours south of Atakpame lies the small town of Notsé. Here, as in Kougnouhou, there is no permanent church building. Instead, we held worship under a cotton tarpaulin fixed to four corner poles. One man who came expressed a desire for The Salvation Army to start in his village and contact details were readily exchanged between him and Above: village life in Kpékplémé; left: ountivou Band

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TO G O

Left: young people at efoupa Society; left below: the choir and congregation of three combined societies at a praise meeting at ountivou Society; above: (from left) Captain herve Ahouyanganga, envoy Stuart Gay and their local interpreter greet congregation members after a meeting at Atakpame Society

Captains Ahouyanganga so this could be taken forward.

My final visit was to Lomé, the capital city of Togo, which was another threehour drive from Atakpame. Here, just outside the airport perimeter fence, noisy and dusty from wagons travelling to and from the airport, was the final Salvation Army place of worship of my visit. Part of the grounds of a house have been given over to The Salvation Army and we took the service there in the shade of a large tree.

Home-made cakes were offered to us in appreciation of the sharing of ministry.

They were gestures of love and thanks.

Too soon my visit was over. I had been there for only a short time but I was left with a greater understanding of the joys and difficulties faced by The Salvation Army as it tries to grow in this new place.

Worship in the societies varied. In Atakpame, the musical accompaniment was a junior soldier paying a piano keyboard. At Ountivou there were African drums and at Kpékplémé a bass drum was used. Everywhere else the singing was

unaccompanied. Worship style ranged from a quiet and gentle style at Kougnouhou through to enthusiastic clapping and dancing at Ountivou.

The leaders of The Salvation Army in Togo struggle because of the great distances between the different places of worship, especially as they don’t own a car.

To visit one society is a full-day round trip and necessitates the hiring of a taxi, which is not cheap. They are the only Salvation Army ministers in the country and have to take an interpreter with them to many of the societies as they don’t yet speak the local languages. They also cannot easily get uniforms for new Salvation Army members or badges of office. The nearest supplier is in Ghana and the cost of collection is prohibitively expensive. Even the postal system is unreliable.

Only a few of the soldiers wear uniform. The occasional ladies’ hat is in evidence and I saw a junior soldier with epaulettes on his shirt. Some men wear a white shirt and dark trousers as a basic

uniform. The rest wear traditional dress or western style clothing.

There is a lack of basic tools for teaching the congregations. Bibles, song books, pens, pencils and crayons are all in short supply, as are children’s Bible story books.

Apart from Sunday services, at present there is no other work formally taking place. At Kougnouhou a small youth football group is coming together, but there is a need for even basic equipment such as footballs. At both Efoupa and at Kougnouhou there are plans to develop sewing circles for women, providing materials can be obtained.

I have to say that – despite the obvious difficulties – I am convinced from my time there that The Salvation Army will continue to grow in Togo. This hope is based on the commitment and enthusiasm I witnessed from people in the congregations. At each service, new people are attending and saying that they want to be part of the fellowship. At Atakpame Society I witnessed people committing themselves to Christ. At Ountivou, 194 of the 198 people present prayed at the improvised mercy seat.

There is an appreciation and a welcome by the local people of Salvation Army ministry and a desire by many to support it or, even better, be part of it. If this support continues – and if people from outside Togo continue to offer spiritual and financial assistance – the future for The Salvation Army in Togo is bright.

Divisional Envoy Stuart M. Gay MBE works out of Blackpool Citadel Corps in The Salvation Army’s United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland JA NU AR Y– M ARC H 2 0 12 | ALL THE WORLD |

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REWIND BACK TO The pAsT

T

HIS year marks the 100th anniversary of the promotion to Glory of William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army, who died on 20 August 1912. To mark this significant anniversary, throughout 2012 All the World will

feature the Founder’s words – as first featured in the magazine’s early days.

The first article in the first issue of All the World was by General Booth, who challenged readers in November 1884 to ‘GO!’ into the world, taking the gospel to the ‘dark stream of lost souls’ who were heading for Hell.

More than 27 years later the General’s final message in All the World was equally forthright, this time calling people to support the self-denial appeal.

The article, from March 1912, is reproduced here. Interestingly, despite the Founder’s failing health – his final public appearance would be only two months after this item was published – the forthright message was written by hand.

Comrades and friends.

The most practical form by which a suffering sinning world can present its needs to sypathetic human souls and be assisted in the alleviation and removal of its woes appeals to you through the medium of the Self-Denial Week of the Salvation Army.

In this movement nearly every class and kind of anguish and wrong is met and wrestled with by as brave a body of men and women as were ever baptised with a Christlike pity for mortal suffering.

I know these ‘Red Cross’ warriors intimately and love them dearly. I fight with them all the time and am an eye witness of the remarkable blessing with which our dear Lord is pleased to attend their extended and self denying efforts. Consequently I can with confidence ask you to liberally and freely assist them, thanking God for the privilege of being able thereby to cheer them forward in the fight.

May I plead dear friends that there be no excuses for doing nothing, and no cold calculations as to how little you can offer – but a big hearted, open handed, generous contribution according to your ability.

So shall you have the approval of the great Father, the blessing of those ready to perish and the gratitude of

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AUSTRALIA

t h ig e h t od go t h g fi me ram le g o r gp eop oxin oung p ralia Ab t for y rn Aus ites e t as , wr in e big hit thing or na bee one W s a h Sim by tos Pho rson e P at on r i a Sh

‘T

HIS is not an ordinary church,’ says Simeon Hoffman, Youth Ministry Development worker at North Ipswich Indigenous Ministries in The Salvation Army’s Australia Eastern Territory. ‘Our work is our ministry, and that’s youth work. My background is working with marginalised youth, and that’s where my passion is.

‘Boxing is the core of our Kingdom Youth programme but, really, it’s not about boxing. God is at the centre and it’s about the kids being changed.’

Simeon came to the outpost in 2010 and started the youth ministry under the supportive leadership of the corps officer, Envoy Judith Nuriyn-Yumba.

‘Leu Vaotu-ua, who is now a youth worker, approached me and wanted to be involved from the start as well,’ Simeon explained. ‘It’s his passion and he works

full time, even though we can only pay him for 15 hours per week.

‘The programme is now connected to more than 80 young people from the area and lives have been transformed before our eyes. Every week between 40 and 60 kids come to Kingdom Boxing alone.’

Boxing is the core of the youth programme. The youth ministry also offers guitar lessons and a homework club but boxing is the main attraction.

‘It fits and it works,’ said Simeon. ‘We wouldn’t have found this in textbooks for youth ministry but the kids are responding. Their parents, teachers and

chaplains have all commented on how they are growing in mind, body and spirit.’

Th e b o x i n g n i g h t s b e g i n w i t h devotions. The leaders and young people sit in a circle on the floor of the corps hall; someone reads from the Bible, there is prayer and praise, and usually Simeon or Leu lead devotions.

‘One boy prayed out loud tonight for the first time,’ Simeon says. ‘It’s wonderful to see and it’s happening more and more.

We don’t force the kids to do this, but they end up wanting to take part.

‘I often ask the kids the question, what kind of person do you want to be? Do you JA NU AR Y– M ARC H 2 0 12 | ALL THE WORLD |

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right: prayer is a vital part of the programme

want to be fitter, trimmer, and give your hearts to Jesus? Jesus changes us. I want to see them being more encouraging to each other, more positive, and this is happening.’

The group also prays for the young people’s family members and any other issues they bring up.

‘Lives have been changed dramatically.

Kids have been saved – given their lives to the Lord. The discipline of the training is helping them too – physically and emotionally.’

After devotions, the rest of the evening is spent on warming up, fitness training, sparring and boxing.

‘We don’t have a lot of fancy equipment but the kids aren’t looking for that,’ explains Simeon. ‘We have a warm, happy and fun family atmosphere, and that’s what counts.’

The young people who come to boxing range from primary school age to those in their early 20s. Leu says: ‘We need to be aware of different ages, and different cultures and races. The kids learn to respect each other here. The workout is also good for them – it settles them down and gives them a healthy tiredness by the end of the night.’

At the end of the evening a team led by Ashika Vaotu-ua, the corps administrative assistant who organises the homework club, prepares dinner for the young people.

‘For many of these kids, it’s the best meal they will have all week,’ she says.

‘We also try to give some of them some food to take home.’

The happy noise, friendly banter, prayer and praise show that the kids obviously love the programme.

Jasmine is 10 years old and has been coming to boxing for three months. ‘I like everything here, just everything!’ she exclaims with a big smile. Aywien is 12 and is also a regular. ‘I like the sparring,’ she says. ‘It’s heaps of fun.’

Leu’s background in boxing goes back to his great grandfather, who was a boxing champion in the British Army.

‘My father and uncle on my Samoan side were also boxers so it runs in my family,’ he explains. ‘There is a burning in my heart to box too.’

Three years ago, Leu started boxing at home with a training bag. ‘A few young guys wanted to come along and box with me and I found I could really relate to them,’ he says. ‘I asked God what he 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

JA NU ARY – MA RC H 2 01 2

‘The discipline of the training is helping them physically and emotionally’ wanted me to do with the boxing, and especially with the younger people I was getting to know. My wife Ashika introduced me to Simeon, I made a commitment to God and last February we started the group.’

The group began with around 10 young people, both from the corps and off the street. Some of the local Aboriginal people brought their sons.

‘Our aim was to reach out to the indigenous community and get to know them,’ says Leu. ‘This was our passion. So many of them come from homes where there is no stability, no structure, and many different problems. Here they have support.’

He has high hopes for the group. ‘We would love to see world champions

coming from our programme! More importantly, though, we want this to be a place where the kids can eat, sleep, train and we can support them in their lives.

‘Some of these kids haven’t grown up with a father, they’ve been on the streets and have many issues to face. I can relate to what they’re going through, and this helps them.

‘More and more, the kids who come to boxing are starting to come to our youth gr oup, a nd ma ny h ave be c om e permanent members.

‘We box with partners, the kids are quick learners, and strong relationships are being built through the one-onone training.’

As Kingdom Boxing grows, plans are being made for the future. A boxing ring

AUSTRALIA

is almost complete, and new boxing bags and other equipment for more advanced boxers is also now available.

‘Local clubs and businesses have donated all the equipment, the shed, the ring and all the helmets and gloves,’ says Leu. ‘We are very thankful for all the support we receive. We couldn’t do Kingdom Boxing without it.’

Brett Briggs has been training and boxing socially for five years. ‘I love what boxing has brought into my life with the training,’ he says, ‘how it stretches me as a person, and the friendships I have developed here. I can box with my best friends.’ Through the Global Boxing Association, Brett has been offered an opportunity to fight for Queensland. ‘Just the chance to do this is a dream come true,’ he adds. ‘I hope I can continue to improve and go further with boxing.’

Martin Karene, originally from New Zealand, has been boxing for just over a year. ‘I didn’t know whether boxing was for me,’ he says, ‘but now I love the sport and it’s a ministry for me. It’s not all about

Left: Jaden Brown, who has stayed off drugs since starting to box; below: Kingdom Boxing brings young people together with a common purpose

me. I want to help and influence the younger kids and let them know that, through God, all things are possible.’

Martin was recently asked to fight for the Australian Amateur Heavyweight title through the Global Boxing Association.

‘When I was asked to fight for the title, I thought it was a joke,’ he says. ‘I am taking all opportunities and God is opening the doors. It’s not about me, it’s about the Kingdom.’ He lost the fight but just having the opportunity is a fantastic reflection on the programme’s success.

Leu is very happy about the progress t h e yo u n g p e o p l e a r e m a k i n g i n their boxing.

‘We’ve had six out of eight of our boxers win their fights, and two were asked to fight for an Australian title. God has really blessed us. It usually takes two or three years for a club to get up and established to the level we reached in seven months.

‘All the kids can really relate to this ministry, to the fitness and to developing skills. But it’s not about boxing, it’s about the God influence.’

This article first appeared in Pipeline, published by The Salvation Army’s Australian Eastern Territory

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SNAPSHOTS ONGOING PRAYER The Salvation Army’s Global Call to 24-7 Prayer – A Day and Night Cry for Justice, which began on 1 January 2011, is to continue into 2012. The call comes from Jesus’ words in his parable of the persistent widow: ‘And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? I tell you, he will see that they get justice and quickly!’

(Luke 18:7-8).

also available, including prayer CDs, the 24-7 Prayer brochure and the monthly prayer focus, which is written on a justice-related theme by a member of The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission.

Latest prayer resources and news are also updated regularly on the Global Call to 24-7 Prayer: Facebook (facebook.com/saglobal247) and Twitter (twitter.com/saglobal247) pages.

More information about the call, including explanatory videos, can be found on www.saglobal247.org. Free downloads are

ON DISPLAY The All the World Photographic Competition 2011 exhibition has presented a vibrant image of The Salvation Army to visitors to International Headquarters in London, UK. The exhibition includes the five main prize-winning entries among 31 photographs that show something of the variety of Salvation Army people, work and worship around the world (go to http://sar.my/photocomp2011 to see a sample of the photos).

The exhibition finished on 10 January but plans are in place to show it again later in 2012.

There has already been interest in taking the exhibition overseas so watch this space – it could be coming your way!

NEW! New in the ‘Classic Salvationist Texts’ series

Essentials of Christian Experience

by Frederick Coutts

£3.50 Plus postage: UK £0.65 within the EU £1.75 rest of the world £2.57

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Love – Right at the Heart

by Robert Street

£3.50 Plus postage: UK £0.90 within the EU £2.32 rest of the world £3.89

S N A P S H OT S

SHINE AS THE LIGHT When IHQ was rebuilt and reopened in 2004, part of the rationale for the headquarters staying on the central London site it had occupied since 1881 was that its location – just along from the Millennium Footbridge, on the walkway between St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern gallery – meant it could ‘speak’ to the huge number of people who pass the front door.

It’s estimated that four million people a year walk past the building, which presents huge opportunities and challenges to catch their attention and make them aware of the gospel message.

The Christmas display has become a focal point over the past few years. As has been reported previously in All the World, in 2006 and 2007 a larger-than-lifesize nativity scene made from perspex caught the attention of passers-by, many of whom took photographs, with some even standing in the middle of a display to have their picture taken!

The 2011 display followed the two previous years in presenting Christmas-related

words and images on huge lightboxes, measuring 2.5 metres by 2.5 metres, which shone out through the British winter.

The theme for Christmas 2011 was ‘Light’ and, appropriately for International Headquarters, the display had a distinctively international approach.

Each panel featured the same Bible passage about Jesus coming to earth as ‘light’ (or ‘a light’), from John 12:46, but four different English translations were used. The English version was kept

relatively small, with the main wording being the text in another language. One panel featured a Spanish translation, another a Chinese version, a third had a Norwegian-language Bible passage and the fourth panel used the African tongue of Kiswahili.

The images that accompanied the text were bright, vibrant, modern takes on images from the nativity story, created by All the World designer Berni Georges.

words of life may – august 2012

by Major Beverly Ivany The helpful devotion explores our ‘Faith Journey’, commencing with a series on prayer, followed by the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Then it moves to look at King David’s rule and the rise of his kingdom, Ezra’s story of renewal and the question of suffering in the Book of Job. Annual subscriptions are available: email: mail_order@sp-s.co.uk Or go to: http://sar.my/wolsubu (UK subscribers) http://sar.my/wolsubo (non-UK subscribers) www.hodderfaith.com Or from your nearest Salvation Army Supplies or Trade Dept

(For books only) Please send a cheque made out to ‘The Salvation Army’ to: Communications Section, The Salvation Army international headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London eC4V 4eh, United Kingdom.

Be sure to include your name and address and to be clear which items you wish to purchase.

Salvation Books publications are also available from territorial trade/supplies departments and on amazon.co.uk, although prices will vary.

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