All the World (January 2015)

Anniversary message by THE GENERAL GEORGIA – delivering simple solutions Three countries united through KOREA REWIND – a Salvation Army prehistory

1865 2015 VOL 48 NO 4 VOL 53 NO 1

Inspired by the past Ready for the future

JANUARY–MARCH 2015

CONTENTS

JANUARY–MARCH 2015

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

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03 UPFRONT From the Editor

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04 FROM THE TOP A 150th anniversary message

from the General

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06 INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Ten years at the new ‘101’

08 HOME AND AWAY Reflections from here and there

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10 FACTFILE

Vital statistics from Georgia 11 GEORGIA Providing the basics

16 USA Working with homeless veterans

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18 REWIND Before The Salvation Army

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was founded

19 KOREA TERRITORY Three countries, united in mission

23 SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

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Be Boundlessly Brave!

SO here it is – The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary year. I wasn’t born in time for the last ‘big’ anniversary, the centenary in 1965, but from what I’ve read it was an exciting time to be linked with the Army. The highlight of that year was an international gathering in London, and there’s little doubt that the highlight of this year will be Boundless – The Whole World Redeeming, the International Congress which will take place at London’s O2 arena in July.

Occasions such as this significant anniversary can’t pass by without the question being asked: what would Salvation Army Founder William Booth think of today’s Army?

There’s no way of knowing, of course, but considering the question brings up another thought – how much do we really know about William Booth? Over the years he’s become an iconic figure, glowering out of black-and-white photos behind his long, white beard and pensive

‘He put himself in danger and trusted that God would protect him’

(some would say grumpy!) expression. We perhaps think of him only as an old man, or at best as a strong, forceful, inspirational figure – a driven evangelist with a passion for ‘the lost’ (those who don’t know Jesus) and the poor. But widely held views of historical figures can easily become caricatures. What about the real William Booth – particularly the young Booth, the man who found his destiny on the rough, dirty streets of east London?

This issue of All the World includes an excerpt from a forthcoming book about the Army’s Founder. What strikes me most is the apparent normality of family life that surrounded the young William Booth and his influential wife, Catherine. It wasn’t all blood-and-guts preaching – real-life concerns such as housing and childcare had to be dealt with too.

It also struck me recently that, despite being an ordinary family man, William Booth must have been very brave. Daring, even! In the mid to late 19th century, the East End of London was known for lawlessness, squalor and disease. You only have to think of the tales of Jack the Ripper or Sherlock Holmes to conjure up a place where unsavoury characters lurked in narrow alleys, waiting for an unsuspecting outsider to come along. The area would have smelled terrible too, with an underground sewerage system not completed until the late 1860s – and many houses not joined to the system until years after.

This smelly, disease-ridden, dangerous area is where William Booth ventured, with his passion for the lost – into a place where journalists, hunting out shocking stories of deprivation and

Kevin Sims, Editor

UPFRONT

FRO M T H E E DITOR

depravity, wouldn’t travel without being accompanied by a policeman. Here were streets that were far from safe for a middleclass family man from Nottingham, yet this was where Booth found people who were ignored and forgotten by the established church and polite society. He put himself in danger and trusted that God would protect him.

In the 16 years I’ve been Editor of this magazine, I’ve featured plenty of stories of people who are treading in the Founder’s footsteps. People who are prepared to dare, prepared to put themselves in places of discomfort or even danger so that God’s work can be done.

Even the rebuilding of International Headquarters 10 years ago showed brave leadership and vision, and you will read about ministry in Mongolia, Cambodia, Georgia and the USA where people in need are benefiting through acts of sacrifice and daring.

As William Booth’s latest successor, General André Cox, writes in his article: ‘God has used his Salvation Army to great effect ... and continues so to do through ordinary people who dedicate themselves to the Lord.’

The Salvation Army of 2015 has much to learn from its Founder. Perhaps the most important lesson is summed up neatly in the words of God recorded in Isaiah 41:10: ‘Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God.’

Editor Kevin Sims

Founder William Booth

design and Artwork Berni Georges

General André Cox

Editorial Office The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom

COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Major John Murray

© The General of The Salvation Army 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Martin Gossauer

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

Published by André Cox, General of The Salvation Army

Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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FROM THE TOP

THE GENERAL

Even more glorious ...

A 150th anniversary message for All the World readers from General André Cox

T

HE year 2015 is an important milestone for The Salvation Army, as it marks 150 years since the founding of this global evangelical movement which is characterised by a strong social conscience. Salvation Army Founders William and Catherine Booth had a deep desire to reach the masses with the good news of the gospel message. Such was their love for Jesus, obedience to their heavenly Father, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit that God’s Salvation Army proclaimed the gospel around the world, and now reaches 126 nations and countless cultures. Their hearts burned with a passion to see ‘the world for Christ’.

Despite that fervour and commitment, I do wonder whether William and Catherine would – or could – have envisaged what this Salvation Army would look like or become. Many people admire the vast array of programmes, the strong international network that has

developed in 126 countries (so far), and the fact that we are present in some of the remotest communities on earth.

Could William and Catherine have ever imagined that 150 years on The Salvation Army would number more than 1.2 million soldiers, or that the organisation they founded would impact the lives of millions of others in so many ways every year? Perhaps they would be surprised to see The Salvation Army’s impact in the developing world. Today, 75 per cent of Salvationists live in Africa and South Asia.

Might the Founders be disappointed to see indifference and sometimes resistance to the gospel message in some places?

William Booth spoke clearly to his time when declaring in 1899: ‘I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration; politics without God; and Heaven without Hell.’

Though speaking about the challenges

‘I am constantly amazed, touched and moved to see the many things that God is accomplishing through the lives of ordinary but dedicated people’ 4 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN U ARY–M ARC H 2015

Above: the General with junior soldiers in Zimbabwe

that would face The Salvation Army during the 20th century, he could say exactly the same today! In recognising the danger of watering down the gospel message, Salvationists across the globe must share the Booths’ obedience to God, commitment to Christ and fervour for the lost in order to win the world for Christ. Only then could one anticipate celebrating another 150 years of Salvation Army mission and ministry.

As the 20th General of The Salvation Army I can readily identify with the concerns articulated by William Booth, realising that all that we are and all that we do stems from our living relationship with God. It is all well and good to receive praise for the many good works that take place around the world today, but our motivation stems from a scriptural imperative to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and our neighbour as ourselves.

This is why we actively encourage our soldiers and friends in this milestone year of celebration to diligently read and meditate upon God’s Word, through the

THE GENERAL

The General – with Commissioner Silvia Cox – on visits to (clockwise from above) Pakistan, Australia, Kuwait and Kenya; below: flying the flag in Canada

Boundless – The Whole World Reading Bible challenge (see page 22). With the apostle Paul we believe that the gospel is ‘the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes’. This is why it is so important that we read the Bible regularly – both collectively and individually. If the finest chapter of The Salvation Army’s history is yet to be written, Christ must be at the centre of our lives and in everything that we do.

Only then can The Salvation Army fulfil its mission to this generation right around the world, as called by God. During extensive international travel I am constantly amazed, touched and moved to see the many things that God is accomplishing through the lives of

ordinary but dedicated people. I observe so many positive examples of lives changed for the better as men and women are freed from the addiction of drugs and/ or alcohol. I meet people who testify to positive change in their financial security as they achieve stable employment or make a decent living through Salvation Army-run skills development and microcredit schemes – to name but a couple of examples.

God is still doing amazing things in the lives of people around the world and I am sure that William Booth would have felt encouraged to see something of the impact this Army has in so many places today. That does not permit any sense of self-satisfaction or boasting, however. It is God – choosing to work in and through the lives of Salvationists – who positively transforms individuals and thus strengthens society. We must never forget to be thankful to God and give him all the glory for what is accomplished each time the opportunity is taken to serve our neighbour.

There remains work to be done, and an anniversary celebration is no time for resting and basking

in past glory. The war against social deprivation, injustice and sin is far from over! If William and Catherine were to return today they would still see the vices they fought against in their day. How might they respond to such sadly familiar scenarios?

Doubtless they would again urge Salvationists to ‘do something about it’, as William is said to have exclaimed when his son, Bramwell, told him of men sleeping rough in London. The clarion call of William Booth still resonates deeply: ‘While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight, I’ll fight to the very end!’

Some people grow despondent when looking at the world today. Human trafficking and slavery are possibly even worse now than during their supposed heyday in the 17th century. Human lives are traded as a commodity, abuse and corruption continue to fester. One can still hear the echo of William’s urgent command: ‘Get up and fight. Do something about it!’

A single life can make a tremendous impact for good in the world. I have been amazed and inspired to see what God can accomplish when men and women are willing to reach out to others, motivated only by a desire to allow God to express his love through their Christian service. Individuals and communities are transformed!

The Salvation Army has a great past and, in my view, an even better future.

God has used his Salvation Army to great effect – surely beyond anything William and Catherine could have dreamt – and continues so to do through ordinary people who dedicate themselves to the Lord.

If we remain true to Christ’s calling, if we remain faithful to God our heavenly Father, if we remain dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s infilling, if we continue with fervour our mission to win souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity, then the next 150 years can be even more glorious than the past.

General André Cox is the international leader of The Salvation Army J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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INT E R N A T I O N A L H E A D QU AR T E R S

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‘

T is like waking up on Christmas morning to find that the gifts under the Christmas tree were everything one had asked for!’ Thus spoke retired General John Gowans during the evening celebration of the opening of the new International Headquarters (IHQ) of The Salvation Army on 9 November 2004. Earlier in the day Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal had unveiled a plaque commemorating the formal opening of 101 Queen Victoria Street in front of invited guests, commending the Army for completing this most modern and innovative building at no direct cost to the movement.

Salvationists around the world, watching on a live stream or looking at news reports, were variously impressed, although some were rather apprehensive that the Army’s flagship headquarters in a most prominent location in the City of London would be judged as rather ostentatious.

In the months that followed the IHQ building was highly commended and received a number of awards for its dynamic and purposeful design.

So what about today? Having been in continual use for the past 10 years, 6 | ALL THE WORLD |

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have those original design concepts and features stood the test of time?

The design and development of the IHQ building had taken place over the previous six years, exploring a variety of options and possibilities – even at one time considering whether IHQ might benefit most from the value of the site by moving to another location.

The Army engaged a highly professional team of property and legal advisors, architects and engineers. From this team emerged the concept that the IHQ building should be frugal in size, modern in infrastructure and evangelical in purpose.

The horizontal relational model of the traditional Roman military camp was chosen as the inspiration for the layout – a forum linked closely together with the general’s tent, communal and eating areas at the points of intersection, closely surrounded by the troops and stores.

This was then translated into a vertical structure, putting the General’s office at the place of easiest access – far different

to the corporate offices that place leaders further up the building as they progress through the organisation!

Credit must be given to the design team, the consultants and the development team, for the building complied with the three primary requirements of any building project; that it was completed on time, within budget and to an acceptable standard of construction.

But particular credit must be given to General John Gowans who, as he assumed office, took responsibility for the project and gave it his full attention and priority. He took the momentous decision that the IHQ building should be retained at the most valuable portion of the site – adjacent to the newly-constructed Millennium Footbridge across the River Thames – and that the building itself should be transparent to enable the passing public to see the Army at work and at worship. The dynamic structure was adopted, along with highly proactive visuals – particularly Bible verses – to deliberately engage those passing

‘Does the building still feel “fit for purpose” after 10 years?’

INT ER NA T IO NA L H EA DQ UA RTERS Photos show design features of International Headquarters, along with some of the new adaptations that have been introduced during the past 10 years, such as the ‘Gallery 101’ exhibition space, which has even hosted a concert by the ‘lunchtime gospel choir’ – made up of IHQ staff and local office workers – and large-scale ground-floor displays. The ‘sticky note’ on the opposite page shows the original ‘Roman camp’ design

by and to demonstrate that this was no ordinary building and of no ordinary purpose.

In complete contrast to the former IHQ building, which was typified by long sterile corridors with numerous independent offices, the new office floors would encourage staff to work in teams, being also more mutually accountable for their time and contribution. The number of cellular offices was deliberately limited, thereby distributing the staff desks around the periphery of the floor plate to benefit from the best of the light and perspective.

Each of the administrative floors was similarly grouped to give cohesion to the functional responsibilities of the various teams. Office furniture was designed to minimise intrusion, maximise perspective and encourage relationship. As was noted during the pre-move training: ‘You might have lost your cubicle office, but you have gained the whole building!’ While some flexibility of space was included, the long-term function and responsibility of IHQ was carefully considered in order to retain the frugality of space requirement for the numbers of staff on the building. The actual floor space per member of staff throughout the building

is actually much less than the accepted standard for the City of London.

Another considerable innovation was to retain the facility of a café within the remarkably small building, but also to open this to the public. Concerns that IHQ staff would feel exposed or inhibited were quickly assuaged as the lower ground floor became a regular place of meeting for large numbers of both passing tourists but also those from neighbouring offices, with hardly a glance at those frequenting the facility in uniform.

Displays, exhibitions and features – both on the ground floor but also a designated portion of the lower ground floor – continually engage visitors and passers-by alike. Occasional outside groups, such as for blood donation sessions, make use of the private function rooms beneath the walkway. And, interestingly, the annual Open House London day, giving members of the public opportunity to tour buildings of interest, still sees a couple of hundred visitors come into the IHQ building each year.

Concerns that the level of visibility afforded the passing public would intrude upon the privacy of the General and

the Chief of the Staff have additionally proved groundless. Neither have those gathering for worship in the ground floor meeting room on a Thursday morning felt as though they were in a goldfish bowl!

Does the building still feel ‘fit for purpose’ after 10 years? While all the officers have changed appointment during that period there are a number of staff who still remember the old building.

Do they still appreciate the environment, the atmosphere and ‘buzz’ of serving in both the heart of the city and heart of the Army? The answer continues to be a resounding ‘Yes!’ Commissioner Charles Swansbury is International Secretary for Programme Resources at International Headquarters J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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HOME AND AWAY

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

BERNI GEORGES INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Berni Georges was born in the UK and has worked as a graphic designer at International Headquarters in London for more than a decade What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am a graphic designer in the Communications Section of International Headquarters (IHQ), mainly working on print material such as this publication (All the World), Revive magazine, a variety of book covers and poster campaigns. I also curate exhibitions for ‘Gallery 101’ here at IHQ and design large-scale displays for the ground floor area.

HOME

What would be your typical day?

My days can be varied but usually (after a strong coffee) I start off working on layouts for my current project, sourcing photos or brain-storming concepts, ideas and illustrations for the magazine I’m working on. On the other hand I could be painting display boards for a coming exhibition or helping to move large display equipment!

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

I first worked as graphic designer for the UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland children’s publication Kids Alive! for a short while before returning to more ‘commercial’ work. I started working for IHQ about 12 years ago and have worked here ever since. On a personal level my wife was brought up as a Salvationist, being a daughter of officers – and actually I have a lifelong relationship with The Salvation Army because I was born in the Army’s Mothers’ Hospital in London!

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

I once acted alongside Michael Jordan, the American basketball star, in one of his few film appearances. I should explain: I used to work in film animation and worked on the Warner Bros film Space Jam. I animated cartoon characters including Bugs Bunny, ‘acting’ in scenes with live-action footage of the sports star!

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

A great close friend of mine, who encouraged me to accept myself completely and value others extravagantly.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others’ (Philippians 2:3, 4). This simple but radical verse seems contrary to human nature, and refreshing in a world that values people who push themselves forward. It has helped me keep perspective in many areas of life, staying open to different people’s ideas, backgrounds, tastes, talents, opinions. It also talks about unity.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

It may be a very common choice but ‘They Shall Come from the East’. I had the privilege of working with the writer, John Gowans, and it meant a lot to me after I lost my Mum a couple of years ago.

How do you think that working at IHQ differs from working elsewhere?

I think at IHQ we have the privilege of working alongside people of many nationalities and cultures. The nature of the work itself gives you a wide, global view of the many aspects of the Army’s ministry. Lunchtime conversations can sometimes sparkle with that heady mix of backgrounds!

What do you like most about the UK? The autumn sunshine, luscious green country lanes, spectacular

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coastlines. The amazing variety of regions in a relatively small country which has produced so many accents, such humour and a colourful mix of cultures.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in the UK? This is interesting because, although the UK is ‘home’, I am Mauritian by race – my family having moved here from that small island in the Indian Ocean in the mid ’60s. This means I grew up in a double culture: that of my peers at school, and that of my family. Growing up I was always conscious of our family’s ‘foreign-ness’, my parents’ French accents, different food etc. The Mauritian culture has always been adaptable – absorbing and appreciating beauty and nuances of others.

This aspect also exists here in the UK but has taken time to develop, and has still some way to go.

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

This is tricky as I’m not a member of The Salvation Army – I worship with another denomination. In that sense, one aspect I find sad is that the Church as a whole doesn’t know a lot about the Army apart from the initial, obvious stereotypical picture of an organisation that does good works. So I would encourage greater, meaningful interaction with other churches.

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

The southern African country of Swaziland. It was the first African country I visited when I was younger. I found it rich in culture and deep in character.

What skills do you use most in your work?

Creative design, visual thinking, trying to understand people’s needs for their projects.

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

I had the privilege of being involved in some cross-cultural work overseas and spent a short time on a tsunami recovery project in southern India. I would love more opportunities like that.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone encouraging, supportive, accepting, thoughtful and fun.

In this, The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary year, what are you most looking forward to?

Experiencing the Army from around the world during the International Congress. Perhaps seeing the Army use the special anniversary to make its ‘story’ more well known to the outside world.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

Its inclusiveness without judging and its personal links that bind it together right across the world. Its passion for all people – the poor and marginalised, those who find themselves in difficulty – and its practical endeavour to make a difference, in creative, intelligent and constructive ways.

&

away

... originally from the USA, is the International Congress Coordinator, based at International Headquarters in London, UK. Working alongside his wife, Lieut-Colonel Kathy Hobgood, he is overseeing the preparations for Boundless – The Whole World Redeeming, The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary international congress which will take place in London in July 2015.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

It was a very quiet Sunday afternoon in my neighbourhood, when I heard something that sounded like music playing down the street. I thought it was the circus and when I ran down to see what it was, I encountered The Salvation Army. I had never seen anything like it before and I immediately knew that these were my people! I was nine years old and began attending youth programmes and gradually started attending Sunday school and other Sunday meetings. One of the first things they did was to put a horn in my hand and I never looked back!

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

Well, I guess that would have to be that I wrote a musical about Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle called, BRENGLE: My Life’s Ambition.

It has been presented in numerous countries around the world and shown on DVD in a lot of corps (churches) and at a lot of Brengle Institutes. I also got to play the part of Brengle in the original production and on the DVD. The other would be my one-man show about Joe, the Turk, one of the most colourful Army officers that every lived! I’ve been privileged to present it all across the world.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

Major Al Smith. He was my corps officer during my formative years and when I graduated from high school and went to university, he and his wife brought me into their home. They always treated me like I was family. He is my spiritual father and one of the most effective Salvation Army officers I have ever encountered. In retirement he is still going strong and is my home territory’s territorial evangelist. He is an old-fashioned hellfire and brimstone preacher and he is winning people into the Kingdom through his ministry every day. I want to be like Al Smith when I grow up!

&AWAY

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Psalm 16:11 is my life verse: ‘You [O Lord] will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore’ (New King James Version). My personal testimony is pretty bizarre and I could very easily be a bitter person, but a long time ago I decided to ‘choose joy’ and this verse has been instrumental in that happening in my life.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

‘O Boundless Salvation!’ – honestly! I can’t get through it without crying – it truly moves me.

What do you like most about IHQ – and living in the UK? London is an amazing city – you can’t take 10 steps without touching something that’s 1,000 years old. (If something is even 100 years old in America we are in awe!) Working just across the way from St Paul’s Cathedral is inspiring. As our train comes into the station, there she is – as she has been for more than 300 years, in all her glory. What a greeting each morning!

What do you miss most about the USA? Obviously my family – we are incredibly close, so to be more than 3,000 miles away has been difficult. We had to leave our two dogs behind and, since we became ‘empty-nesters’ a few years ago, my dogs Will and Grace have become my ‘kids’. I look forward to getting them back after the Congress. I also miss having a car. We have been able to hire a car from time to time, but to have one that you can just hop into and go to the market or ‘wherever’, is something I have missed. That said, public transport in London is wonderful (most days!) and we are truly grateful for that.

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

I have to be careful as I am getting a new appointment in August! I’ve never desired to serve anywhere outside of my home country. When we were given

Lieut-Colonel Eddie Hobgood as ‘Joe, the Turk’

&AWAY

What would be your typical day?

I arrive in the office at 7.15 am, and immediately open the Congress email box to begin sorting through the messages that have arrived overnight. We visit the London O2 on a regular basis, as this is, even by their standards, a huge event. They have unofficially told us that this will be about the third-largest event they’ve ever had at the O2! I work with the production company and the planners of each of the general sessions of the Congress and I am also responsible for making sure the Congress budget is always up-to-date and that all spending is within the approved amounts.

LIEUT-Colonel Eddie Hobgood

this appointment we were in serious shock! We knew when we accepted our calling to officership that it could mean going ‘anywhere’ and so we are aware of what that means.

What skills do you use most in your work?

One would think in this role as Congress Coordinator it would be the creative side of my brain, but while I get to give a lot of input and am actually planning one of the congress general sessions, it would be business skills. When I went to university, I thought I wanted to be a Certified Public Accountant and the entire first year of my schooling was in the business department. I loved my accounting classes but, due to personal circumstance, I had to move back home after the first year and my education went in a different direction. I use those skills every single day. Those who only know me as a ‘programme’ person might be surprised to know that I am actually quite competent and comfortable as a ‘business’ person.

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

Honestly, The Salvation Army has done an amazing job in giving opportunities beyond my expectations to use my skills, gifts and things that I am passionate about. For as long as I can remember, I have loved the theatre – writing, directing and especially acting. When I became an officer, I thought that would be the end of that. Little did I know! The Salvation Army has given me the opportunity to do exceedingly more that I could have ever imagined in this arena!

How would you like to be remembered?

Firstly – as a man who loved Jesus and in whose life it was very evident.

Secondly – as a great father and grandfather.

In this, The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary year, what are you most looking forward to?

The gathering of approximately 16,000 Salvationists in London, and to see how it can impact the worldwide Salvation Army. The possibilities are ...

BOUNDLESS! What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

For me, it is my spiritual home. The Salvation Army accepted me with arms opened wide, never judged me for my past and gave (gives) me opportunities that I never dared dream could be possible in my whole life.

I am a product of The Salvation Army. God used it to bring me to faith.

The Salvation Army owes me nothing – I owe it everything.

&AWAY

NUA UARY RY ARC RC 2015 | | ALL J JAANM ON TH– –MMAON TH HH2015 2012 ALLTHE THEWORLD WORLD | |

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FACTFILE

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GEORGIA

• The country of Georgia, stretching eastwards

from the Black Sea coast across towards the Caspian Sea, has existed as a unified nation – on and off – since the fourth century bc.

• The size of Georgia in square miles (26,807) is less than half that of the State of Georgia in the USA!

• According to the school of Russian and Asian

Studies, Georgia is called ‘Sakartvelo’ by its natives, who call themselves ‘Kartvelebi’.

How Georgia came to be called ‘Georgia’ by much of the world is something of a mystery, although one theory is that the name is derived from the Latin ‘georgi’, meaning ‘agricultural’.

• Georgia’s ‘golden age’ was in the 12th and

early 13th centuries under King David the Builder and his granddaughter Queen Tamar.

The ‘Georgian Renaissance’ of this period left a legacy of great cathedrals and poetry.

• Over the centuries, Georgia has been an

independent country on numerous occasions but it has also been ruled by most of the great European empires – from the Romans through to the Khazar, Prussian and Ottoman Empires and on to the 18th-century Russian Empire.

It was even under British protection from 1918 to 1920, having declared independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917.

in 2000 but was then deposed by the bloodless ‘Rose Revolution’ in 2003. His successor, Mikheil Saakashvili, remained as President until November 2013, when Giorgi Margvelashvili was elected.

• Georgia has claims to the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, although Russian support and recent annexation has led to them achieving a disputed – and violent – independence from Georgia. The ongoing displacement of people from fighting in the disputed regions is one of Georgia’s main areas of difficulty.

• In the fourth-third centuries bc, the area that

is now Georgia was mainly comprised of two states – landlocked Iberia and the coastal land of Colchis. According to Greek myths, Colchis was the location of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts. The idea of the fleece may have come from the local practice of using fleeces to sift gold dust from rivers.

• The Georgian capital, Tbilisi, (formerly known

as Tiflis) was founded as the capital of Iberia in the fifth century ad. Its strategic location on the crossroads between Europe and Asia has led to it changing hands many times through the years.

• The Russian Red Army invaded in 1921,

• Tbilisi means ‘a warm place’.

• Tbilisi is home to about 1.5 million people

• On 9 April 1991, shortly before the collapse

• Despite centuries of invasion and foreign

leading to a prolonged period of Russian/ Soviet occupation.

of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared independence and on 26 May Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected as the first President of independent Georgia. Within months, a bloody civil war broke out, lasting until 1995, when Eduard Shevardnadze – who, as First Secretary of the Georgia Communist Party, was effectively the leader of Soviet Georgia from 1972 to 1985 – was elected as President. He was re-elected

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– almost a third of the country’s entire population.

rule, Georgia has maintained not only its own language but also its own alphabet.

• The Georgian alphabet is only used to

write Georgian and other South Caucasian languages spoken in the country (Laz, Mingrellian and Svan).

The Georgian flag, also known as the ‘five crosses flag’ was officially adopted in 2004, having come to prominence during the previous year’s ‘Rose Revolution’. The flag in its current form was first believed to have been used by Georgia in the early 14th century, after it was introduced by King George V (known as George the Brilliant).

It is believed that the previous flag was the red cross on a white background that, known as the St George Cross, has for many years been the flag of England.

The five crosses are sometimes interpreted as representing either Christ’s ‘Five Holy Wounds’, or alternatively Christ and the Four Evangelists.

The Salvation Army in GEORGIA ‘The Salvation Army’ in Georgian is ‘Khsnis Armia’.

The Salvation Army began work in Georgia in 1993, as part of the Russia Command, which became the Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States Command that year. Today the Georgia Region is part of the Eastern Europe Territory.

The first Salvation Army ministry in Georgia – following conversations with President Shevardnadze – was carried out from November 1992 by USA officers Captain Mike and Mrs Ruth Olsen, who made preparations for the opening of the first Salvation Army corps (church) in Tbilisi and oversaw the delivery of a planeload of humanitarian aid to Sukhumi, in the west of the country.

The first corps was opened by another American officer-couple, Captain Ron and Mrs Linda Lee, who began evangelistic ministry – including openair meetings – alongside further humanitarian work. This led to the opening of Tbilisi Central Corps in November 1993.

The Lees’ successors, Captain Alex and Mrs Luz Nesterenko – from South America – had a dramatic introduction to Georgia. Their plane was hijacked en route from Moscow, with ransom demanded from all foreign passengers. Disaster was avoided when the Georgian passengers on board paid the ransom money.

There are eight Salvation Army corps (churches) in Georgia, with 206 soldiers, 276 adherent members and 154 junior soldiers.

The Salvation Army in Georgia has 17 active officers (but no retired officers) and two cadets win training.

There are 38 songsters (members of Salvation Army adult choirs) and 45 singing company (junior choir) members in Georgia but – according to the latest statistics – no members of senior or young people’s bands!

Approximately 88.5 per cent of the population of Georgia is Christian, of which about 70 per cent is Greek Orthodox.

COMMUNITY

GEORGIA

Showers of blessing Words and photos by Ruth Samuels

A

s we make our way into the dilapidated, disused kindergarten building, the warmth and light of the day begin to slip further away.

Turning into a dark corridor, we pass by a makeshift partition along the side wall.

Blankets, a few scraps of wood panelling, and some stacked bricks serve as the thin veil of privacy for those living behind it.

A few minutes later, heading deeper into the building, we reach Lale’s home – a single room with a bed, a little table, small kitchen area and some boxes.

One room for 54-year-old Lale, one of her two daughters, and her two young

grandchildren. ‘When the sun shines outside, it is raining in my house!’ jokes Lale, pointing at the buckets positioned in the middle of the room to catch the drips from the ceiling. She finds a stool so I can sit down, and we begin to talk.

Lale moved to Rustavi from her home town of Khashuri when she was 17 years old, following her separation from her husband (Georgia has the highest percentage of early and forced marriages in Europe, at 17 per cent). While Lale cares for her grandchildren, her daughter goes out to work as a street cleaner, earning 180 lari (roughly US$100) a month. It is the only income they have,

‘For Lale and her neighbours, “home” is no longer the place of rest and seclusion they enjoyed in the past’

Above: Lale lives with her daughter and two grandchildren in a room in Rustavi

and it doesn’t go much beyond providing food for the family.

There is no hiding the fact that life for Lale and her neighbours is hard and, unsurprisingly, the living conditions take their toll on the residents, placing considerable strain on their relationships.

Some find it hard to cope with the struggles of life in the building.

Lale tells me of an elderly woman, living further down the hallway, who became the sole carer for her three grandchildren when her daughter abandoned them, leaving only a note.

As we talk, we hear a man shouting at his wife in the room next door. No one draws attention to the argument, which CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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GEORGIA

Photographs by Ruth Samuels

‘Rustavi Corps has gained the trust and respect of many in the local community through its programmes’ Above: these two girls enjoy the after-school club as they can hang out with their friends, dance and play games; above right: Lieutenant Rezo Bahktadze is very popular with everyone at the corps, including the young people at the club; right: Lale’s two-year-old granddaughter, Elena, listens to children sing worship songs

Above: this woman lives in Lale’s building, in the corridor space next to the only toilet. Like Lale, she tries to make the best of things, and gives lovely warm hugs; right: these two boys love playing table football so much that they won’t let the lack of a ball stop them – resourcefulness is developed early in Rustavi, and the boys find that a small blue cube from another game will do just fine

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GEORGIA

Above left: Lieutenant Rezo Bahktadze shows some new library resources to Lieut-Colonel Suzanne Haupt (Projects Officer, Eastern Europe Territory) and Divisional Projects Coordinator Natia Padarashvili; above: the ex-kindergarten building where Lale lives is in a state of disrepair but she and her neighbours are doing their best to make it a home for their families; below: Lale had to build a wall and a door so she and her family could gain some privacy. Other residents in the building have had to make do with very basic partitions, using blankets and sections of wood; left: children sing some songs with Elnura, one of the teachers at the after-school club

‘While there is no simple solution to their problems, The Salvation Army is finding ways to bring hope to the lives of those in need in Rustavi’

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

is perhaps a regular occurrence, and we carry on with our conversation over the noise coming through the thin walls. It is unsettling to experience such a painful and private moment.

For Lale and her neighbours, ‘home’ is no longer the place of rest and seclusion they enjoyed in the past.

While many people like Lale are limited to this kind of accommodation due to financial and social vulnerabilities, a large number of those living in temporary housing blocks and disused buildings in Rustavi have been displaced from the South Ossetia region of Georgia, as a result of the recent conflicts. In August 2008 war broke out between Georgia and Russia, which supported ethnic Ossets’ campaign for independence from Georgia. Since fighting ended, approximately 30,000 people who had fled the region remained in other parts of Georgia, facing years of displacement.

Sadly, this is not a new experience for Georgia, as the country accommodates more than 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been unable to return to the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions since earlier separatist conflicts in 1992. While the Government of Georgia has officially voiced its commitment to providing IDPs with durable housing solutions, the vast majority are yet to receive alternatives to the inadequate, often derelict, settlements they have occupied since their displacement.

While listening to Lale, I have to remind myself that this room – with its broken windows that won’t open, its leaks and its exposure to the elements – is home to a family of four. There is no second room to house another bed, or an area for the children to play. This is all there is.

It is hard to believe that, to some degree, Lale is fortunate even to have this much!

In 2013, Lale’s family was evicted from a communal housing block in another part of town. The local authority’s decision to repossess the building to use as a school left up to 70 families homeless. It was only after protesting outside the mayor’s office that Lale and 23 other families were given permission to occupy the old kindergarten building.

The residents of the building have tried to make the best of their situation, making improvements where they can with the

Above: Lale holds two live wires together to switch on a dim light bulb. It is a big risk for little return; centre top: the building that Lale and other families were evicted from. It is in much better condition than Lale’s new home; centre bottom: Ruth Samuels says: ‘I loved how much the children at the club enjoyed having their photo taken. The look these boys were going for was “cool dudes”!’

resources they can find, but it is clear that they feel abandoned. ‘It was just a shell [when we moved in],’ explains Lale, before pointing around the room. ‘I had to build that wall and that door. We don’t get any help from the government [to improve the building].’ A few rooms have been connected to a rudimentary electricity supply, but access is far from widespread. Lale’s neighbour has kindly allowed her to connect a single lightbulb without charging for the usage, but some others in the building resent this arrangement. It has to be said that the light bulb does not do a very good job of illuminating much in the room.

Looking at the dim glow of the bulb – worryingly switched on by the connection

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of two bare wires in Lale’s hand – it becomes clear that for this community any resource, however seemingly insignificant to others, can in desperate times be a much-coveted luxury.

Even the provision of the most basic water and sanitation facilities has been the responsibility of the residents, who have built one toilet and an outside water tank to serve all 24 families. Water must be collected from the tank in bottles and transported to individual rooms. Limited to small wash basins in the corner of the toilet or in their rooms – being without a bathtub or shower – families are forced to forego bathing for long periods of time.

As a result, illness and skin complaints are rife in the community – particularly among children.

There is a real sadness in leaving Lale’s home, knowing the struggles her family will continue to face.

While there is no simple solution to their problems, The Salvation Army is

GEORGIA

Right: the bathroom at Rustavi Corps is simple, but it means a great deal to the community it serves

finding ways to bring hope to the lives of those in need in Rustavi.

Already home to a thriving after-school club and small children’s library, Rustavi Corps (church) runs small projects to open its bathroom and laundry facilities to needy families. Children and their parents are able to come to the corps after school up to three times a week, to shower and wash their clothes using the modest bathroom. This sounds so simple but to the families that benefit from the projects, the impact is great. One of the after-school club’s teachers explained that while for many of us having a shower is a normal, everyday experience, for those from communities like Lale’s the idea of being able to stand under a constant stream of hot water – without fear of the cost of heating that water – is almost unimaginable.

It was shocking to learn that some of the children that attend the after-school club have been used to bathing as little

as once a month. As a result of the bathroom project, teachers have seized the opportunity to educate the children on important hygiene issues as part of the after-school programme. This is helping to reshape hygiene behaviour.

This process of change hasn’t always been easy for the teachers or the children.

Some of the children did not want to use the shower, as doing so would be to admit their abject poverty and perhaps leave them open to teasing; others simply were not used to the idea that regular bathing is normal. With gentle encouragement from the after-school teachers the children are now recognising the value of the facilities that have been made available to them.

For The Salvation Army in Georgia, forming relationships with communities can be difficult due to a pervasive mistrust of non-Georgian Orthodox churches.

Despite this, Rustavi Corps has gained the trust and respect of many in the local community through its programmes.

When bringing their children to the after-school club, parents have approached the corps officers to find out more about The Salvation Army, and have engaged in positive conversations.

Similarly, the availability of a children’s library has encouraged families who would not normally associate with a non-Orthodox church to spend time at the corps and experience its good work first-hand.

These small gains in trust are being made largely because the officers and teachers are so genuine in everything they do. Their sincere love of people, coupled with their own experiences of poverty and struggle, has shown the people of Rustavi that The Salvation Army is there to love and support them.

Ruth Samuels is Project Support Coordinator for Salvation Army International Development (UK) J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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HOMELESSNESS

USA

by Vivian Gatica

Finding peace The Salvation Army across the USA is providing vital services to former members of the armed forces

T

HE USA Salvation Army’s dedication to assisting veterans – former members of the armed services – is long-standing, putting it in the right place to help achieve President Barack Obama’s 2009 goal to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.

Following the announcement of the President’s goal, the 25 Cities Initiative was put in place, setting housing goals for the 25 cities with the highest concentration of homeless veterans – an endeavour of the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Interagency Council on Homelessness with other partners.

The initiative seems to be making a difference, with HUD figures indicating that the number of veterans facing homelessnes dropped by around a third between 2010 and 2014. Even so, 50,000 veterans are still believed to be homeless, meaning that The Salvation Army’s ministry in this area is continuing.

The Salvation Army Northport Veterans Residence – established in 1997 in Long Island, New York – houses up to 700 veterans in the New York metropolitan area each year. Veterans may stay at the residence for 90 days, per county regulations.

‘My hope would be that the county would extend the length of stay for veterans because three months isn’t really a long time,’ said Deborah Rodriguez, Northport Veterans Residence programme director.

‘We’re getting a lot of street homeless and we’re also getting a lot of returning vets who have major issues that take time to help them reintegrate into the community or into their families.’

The facility is located on the Northport VA campus, which allows clients to be connected to VA services.

‘It’s important for [veterans] to have an environment where they can receive support from The Salvation Army and also from the VA,’ explains Deborah. ‘So

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they’re housed here and we work with the VA providers to [ensure] that the right treatment plans have been developed.’

One client explains: ‘When I came in I was homeless; I had nothing. I had experienced some difficulties in the service that I didn’t realise had affected me in an adverse way.’

After completing The Salvation Army’s programme, the client was able to find a job and an apartment, as well as to reconnect with family.

‘I felt like I came in here and was able to look at myself, [and] forgive myself for the things I had done wrong,’ the client says.

‘I’ve been able to find peace; I’ve been able to find God. This place has helped me find myself.’

Veterans on the Move (VOM) – a housing programme run by The Salvation Army Red Shield Services in Atlanta, Georgia – has served around 1,500 veterans since its creation in 2004.

‘We have taken troubled men who have no hope, and allowed them the chance to change the direction of their lives,’ says Sergeant Janeane Schmidt, Red Shield Services director.

VOM is a two-year housing programme that offers an in-house drug treatment programme to veterans battling substance abuse. All other veterans have access to supportive services in addition to transitional housing.

‘We are able to guide veterans to resources that address their needs, support their strengths and help them to envision new opportunities for their lives,’ says Sergeant Schmidt, who hopes that VOM space will be found that will allow the programme to serve female veterans and veteran families.

The Salvation Army Veterans Transitional Housing programme at the Detroit Harbor Light, Michigan, has run veteran men’s and women’s shelters, along with another shelter in nearby Monroe, since 2010.

Above: the men’s shelter in Detroit

‘There are a lot of homeless veterans in the Detroit area,’ says programme director Michelle Gates. ‘One of the issues is [that] a lot of veterans ... do not qualify for certain [VA] services ... so they may come to us and then we help them with the services they can’t get through the VA.’ Veterans may stay at the programme for up to two years, accessing substance abuse treatment services, detox residential and outpatient services while they are residing at the transitional housing facility, as well as being able to attend Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and spirituality meetings through Recovery at Work and corps (church) services.

Additionally, clients receive legal aid services through the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic (WBLAC) and help from partner agencies providing employment and education assistance. The programme also connects the veterans to VA and state resources.

‘In the last quarter we’ve had 90 per cent of our veterans [who] were housed in permanent housing or found housing, and 10 per cent of individuals who went to another residential setting,’ adds Michelle, who says the programme gives its clients ‘a sense of stability’.

Among the five housing programmes offered at Railton Place in San Francisco, California, is a two-year programme for veterans with a goal of acquiring permanent housing, self-sufficiency and stability.

‘Our vets have a wide range of needs,’ says Sandra Ally, Railton Place programme

‘I felt like I came in here and was able to look at myself, [and] forgive myself for the things I had done wrong’

USA

Above and left: rooms at Railton Place in San Francisco

director. ‘For some of our younger vets it’s helping them to stabilise with their medical and mental health issues and ideally helping them to get back into the workforce. With the older vets sometimes it’s not so much getting them back into the workforce, but helping them to take care of their physical health and increase skills in nutrition, health and wellness.’

Railton Place opened in 2008 with 110 studio apartments built above The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, where residents receive free membership after 30 days in the programme. Clients also receive case management, life skills training, workshops and connections to VA resources. They also have access to the Kroc computer lab, fitness centre and senior programme.

The programme hosts a food market every other Friday, where residents receive a free bag of groceries. Wells Fargo Bank sends people to teach financial literacy to the residents, educating them in money management, establishing or re-establishing bank accounts and budgeting.

‘It’s helping people to get back into the real world in a supportive environment.

Two years is a good enough time to practise these things,’ says Sandra. ‘When they leave here they’re ... ready to take on life all on their own.’

Robert Fullmer, a US Navy veteran and former resident, overcame bipolar disorder and moved out of Railton Place in summer 2014 after finding a full-time job with the

San Francisco Giants baseball team, giving tours of their stadium, AT&T Park.

‘Prior to coming to Railton Place,’ he says, ‘I had spent 270 consecutive days in inpatient institutions as a result of a several-year-long psychotic bipolar episode. Had Railton not been here, I would have ended up on the street. They gave me my life back.’

When Danny Lynch returned from serving in the Vietnam War, he started drinking. He stopped in 1980, and remained sober for 26 years. He attended college under a government initiative, majoring in journalism and English, and worked for the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Vietnam War veteran Danny Lynch, a resident at Railton Place

Photos on this page by Vivian Gatica

After his wife was killed, Danny spent 17 years teaching in Thailand. He started drinking again, suffered a stroke and returned to San Francisco to receive medical treatment from the VA. Without a place to live, he applied for housing at The Salvation Army’s Railton Place, in San Francisco, and was accepted.

He adopted a healthier lifestyle, started going to church, returned to teaching, and started volunteering as a tutor for children in the San Francisco Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center youth summer literacy programme. He was asked to continue helping in the after-school programme during the school year.

‘These kids are all from poor families around here so they have a hard life ... if you can help them educationally, then they can break out some day maybe and achieve,’ says Danny. ‘When you see that little light go on in their heads ... that’s the reward you get.’

Danny’s stay at Railton Place will end in February 2015, so he is embracing the time he has left and planning for the future.

‘I always land on my feet,’ he says.

‘After Vietnam, after my wife [died], and all that stuff, I lived in a lot of darkness. [Now I realise that] there is life, there is happiness, there is joy, there is something to pursue. I just learned to embrace life and I love it. No more surrender for me.’

Article from New Frontier Chronicle, published

by The Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory.

Vivian Gatica is a member of the publication’s editorial staff.

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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COUNTRY OR THEME

REWIND BACK TO the past

At the start of this, The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary year, All the World looks back to the events of 1865, as recorded in Salvation Army historian Gordon Taylor’s William Booth – His Life and Legacy, Volume I (1829-1878), which will be published by Salvation Books in 2015. Gordon has worked for many years at The Salvation Army’s International Heritage Centre in London, UK, and his biography of William Booth uses previously unpublished correspondence and collects together many contemporary reports to produce what is as close as possible to a definitive version of the life of The Salvation Army’s Founder. Throughout 2015, All the World will feature excerpts from the parts of the book that deal with the lives of William and Catherine Booth around

A

T the beginning of 1865 the Booth family was still living in Leeds, with William preaching at chapels in Sheffield while Catherine was conducting a series of meetings in Rotherham. With William and Catherine preaching in different places, and seeing each other only once or twice a week, family life was difficult – and, having six children under nine years of age, it was not an ideal arrangement.

On 26 January 1865 William was one of the speakers at a midnight meeting for more than 100 ‘fallen women’ in the Temperance Hall in Sheffield. That night, seven women applied to go to the refuge, and more would have done so if there had been room. A larger building was needed as the present home could not accommodate more than 14 women. Later in the year Catherine spoke at a meeting arranged by the Fallen Women’s Midnight Movement, soon after the Booth family moved to London.

For several months Catherine had been thinking about preaching and living in London.

Now, at the end of February 1865, she was invited to speak in Rotherhithe, South London, while William went to Louth, in Lincolnshire, before joining Catherine in London.

They found a house in Shaftesbury Road, Hammersmith, and as soon as their commitments would allow, the family moved

the time that they began what would eventually become The Salvation Army.

As can be seen, Gordon has included details of family life as well as the more well-known preaching and teaching.

He makes it clear that William and Catherine Booth were in many ways ordinary people who allowed God to use them in extraordinary ways.

We start at a period of uncertainty for the Booths. They are living and working in Yorkshire, although Catherine believes strongly that they should be in London. Their longtime relationship with the Methodist New Connexion has broken down, with no one willing to take on William in his calling as an evangelist. Gordon writes:

This photograph of William and Catherine Booth was taken in 1862, three years before the founding of what would become The Salvation Army. The five children pictured with their parents are (from left) Kate, Emma, Bramwell, Herbert and Ballington

down from Leeds. Catherine was more confident than William about adapting to work in London, and William was continuing to receive invitations to preach at towns outside London, including Ripon, in Yorkshire, and Launceston, in Cornwall.

Catherine’s meetings in Rotherhithe were commended very positively: ‘Mrs Booth’s manner is exceedingly impressive, her womanly tenderness and earnest pleading cannot fail to commend her to our Christian affection. A large number profess to have been converted during her labours at this place.’

At this time, another husband-and-wife team, Joshua and Mary Poole, was preaching in Shoreditch, Bermondsey and Stratford, so William and Catherine would not be the only married evangelists working in London.

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One morning, after moving from Leeds, Catherine Booth was called to the nursery to see her 10-month old daughter Marian, who seemed to be choking and having a fit. They sent for a doctor, who said it was ‘caused by the irritation of the brain, in consequence of teething’. The attacks continued more frequently and severely and left Marian’s body and mind permanently impaired. Catherine reflected: ‘This was the first trial of the kind I had experienced and it was a painful one.’

When the family moved to Hammersmith, Catherine did much of the practical work of furnishing and arranging the home herself.

She planned and fixed the carpets, curtains and upholstery, and furnished the home as economically as possible. Catherine said, ‘I could not rest without having household matters in tolerably good order.’ All this, combined with the meetings she was leading, kept her very busy.

Next issue William evangelises in the East End of London

KOREA TERRITORY

MISSION

Cross-cultural ministries Commissioner Denise Swansbury travelled to The Salvation Army’s Korea Territory in her role as Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries for the South Pacific and East Asia Zone, based at International Headquarters in London. The visit took her to the three countries that come under the territory – Korea, Mongolia and the Kingdom of Cambodia. As she writes here, the commissioner discovered that while the cultures varied hugely across the three nations, the work of The Salvation Army was consistent in its care and compassion.

I

HAVE been more than impressed by the ministry of The Salvation Army’s Korea Territory.

South Korea has made enormous strides in its development since the end of the Korean War in 1953 (the year of my birth!), but Salvation Army ministry in the country goes back much further, since Colonel and Mrs Hoggard ‘opened fire’ in a then-united Korea in 1908.

Since the Korean War the main expression of The Salvation Army is in South Korea, where it is thriving, with more than 53,000 soldiers and adherent Above: Commissioner Denise Swansbury plays with a baby at Doori Women’s Home in Seoul

members, 798 officers (629 active and 169 retired), 278 worshipping communities and 31 institutions.

From what I witnessed, Korean Salvationists are passionate, efficient and effective in all they endeavour to do for the Kingdom of God. The main purpose of my visit to Korea – accompanying Commissioner Gillian Downer, International Secretary for the South Pacific and East Asia Zone of The Salvation Army – was to carry out a review of the Army’s work and ministry. Because of this, we spent time with the committed and diligent leaders, but also visited projects to see how The Salvation Army is affecting the lives of people every day.

Very early one morning I visited the Bridge Project in Seoul, to assist a team which feeds approximately 150 homeless people every day. It was thrilling to realise that in far-flung parts of the world, many miles from where I live, The Salvation Army is still engaging in ministry to the poor and needy, just as the Army’s Founder, William Booth, instructed his son, Bramwell to ‘Go and do something!’ about men he had seen living on the streets. From 19th-century London to 21st-century Seoul, The Salvation Army is still serving suffering humanity.

Attached to the Bridge Project is the Hope One-room Project where the men from the hostel can eventually stay, having secured a job, paying reasonable rent for J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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KOREA TERRITORY

Right: Commissioner Swansbury tries out a traditional Mongolian hunting method – with an eagle, on horseback!

one-room accommodation for up to three years. At the end of the three years, or less, the men are given a proportion of their rent back to give them a good start.

The Salvation Army also continues to ‘do something’ for unmarried mothers and their babies in the Doori Home in Seoul.

I was moved to see that this facility is managed with compassion, efficiency and effectiveness.

It is a joy to know that in some parts of The Salvation Army world the love of God is still shown to those who might otherwise be shunned and marginalised. The present assistant manager once benefitted from this ministry herself. There are other girls now working at this facility to help others who come. There is accommodation for mums to stay while they study and find work before moving on with their lives.

When I was a child people would speak about being ‘sent’ to Outer Mongolia. Now I have been! Commissioner Downer and I travelled to this fascinating country and witnessed some amazing things.

The Salvation Army has been at work in Mongolia since 2008, and its ministry is comprehensive. For example, it runs a baseball club for 24 boys from a deprived area of the capital city, Ullaanbaatar. The boys are very energetic and excited to come and be coached by a professional player from the national team, who is paid for his services. Recently The Salvation Army team went to play baseball in Korea and won each of its five games! I can only imagine the excitement of these young boys at their opportunity to travel by air to Korea.

A kindergarten operates from the rented corps (church) building, as does an afterschool programme. The children who attended the programmes are well catered for and would not have this facility if it were not for The Salvation Army.

The one corps in Ullaanbaatar is growing apace with more than 100 members attending. It is illegal to evangelise openly, particularly to under 18-year-olds, but many children and young people are coming to The Salvation Army because of its practical programmes. Once they are there they have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

We travelled to a remote part of Mongolia to see an elderly persons programme in full swing, with more than 100 elderly people attending five days per week to socialise, find friendship, share music and be fed with a hearty meal.

Many of them bring their grandchildren.

These people have mostly been farming the land and now find themselves in need of assistance in their old age. The Salvation Army is able to fulfil this need.

We were delighted to spend time with the two Korean officer couples who head the work and ministry in Mongolia, Major Lee, Jong-woo and Major Kim, Hoe-gyeong, and Lieutenant Ban, You-me and Lieutenant Yun, Byeung-hag. They are doing an amazing work. They certainly need our

prayers – as did I, when I was persuaded to sample the local culture by riding a horse with a huge eagle sitting on my shoulder!

My cultural experience was terrifying, but it typifies the way The Salvation Army is forging links with the people of Mongolia, providing for their needs in the most appropriate way.

From Mongolia we headed to the Kingdom of Cambodia, where the Army began working in 2012.

The corps in the capital city, Phnom Penh, is growing at a good rate in a country which is 96 per cent Buddhist. Christians make up only one per cent of the population.

At the corps I met the local Salvationists, most of whom are young people. Many are students. They are learning about Jesus

‘It is a joy to know that in some parts of The Salvation Army world the love of God is still shown to those who might otherwise be shunned and marginalised’ 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

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KOREA TERRITORY

Above left: Commissioner Swansbury (left) and Commissioner Gillian Downer (International Secretary for South Pacific and east Asia) serve an early-morning meal at the Bridge Project in Korea; above: Commissioner Swansbury meets a beneficiary of an elderly persons programme in traditional Mongolian dress; left: the commissioner uses her teaching skills at an after-school English class in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

and The Salvation Army, and becoming energised about what they are discovering.

Seven of them already have thoughts about one day becoming a Salvation Army officer.

The corps is surrounded by obvious signs of poverty, but the local Salvationists are doing all they can to give people the best start in life.

A few university students are helping to teach at an after-school programme attached to the corps in Phnom Penh. When it was somehow discovered that I had been a school teacher I was asked to assist with an English lesson!

I was interested to learn that Captain Shin, Jin-kyun – who oversees the work in Cambodia with his wife, Captain Lim, Hyang – first came to The Salvation Army when the present Territorial Commander of Korea, Commissioner Park, Chong-duk, was in one of his early corps appointments.

As happened in Mongolia, we were invited to see something of the country to enable us to understand more about its history and culture. The recent history of Cambodia contains great tragedy, as we saw during a visit to the infamous Killing Fields, where many educated people were killed by members of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. This was not exactly an enjoyable experience but a very moving one. It was one of those occasions when it is impossible to fathom why people could be so brutal to their fellow human beings.

We were also taken to see many of the Buddhist temples that are dotted all over Cambodia. It highlighted the dominance of Buddhism in Cambodian culture.

The three countries that make up the Korea Territory may seem, on the surface, to have little in common, but I discovered that in recent days links between Korea,

Mongolia and Cambodia have been strengthened in an unusual way. Across Korea, The Salvation Army collects money at the highway tollgate booths for the specific reason of helping children with heart conditions. Children from Korea, Mongolia and Cambodia are assisted in this way. Having been identified as needing assistance for conditions such as a hole in the heart, the children are brought to Seoul, Korea, for assessment. If it is thought to be appropriate, an operation will be paid for by the funds raised for this specific purpose

by The Salvation Army.

It’s a simple but practical ministry, again fulfilling a need that others haven’t seen.

I was privileged to visit these three countries and see that The Salvation Army is at work among their peoples, being faithful even when not many know about their ministry. God is great and his love and provision is for all peoples.

Having seen the ministry of the Korea Territory, I – like the many who feel God’s touch through its wide-ranging ministry – was truly blessed.

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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starting in january 2015 In 2015, the year of the Boundless Congress, Salvationists and Christian friends around the world are called to join together to read through the whole of the New Testament within one year – The Whole World Reading!

You are invited to journey with us as we reflect on God’s timeless message to his Church.

Will you rise to the challenge?

BOUNDLESS

THE WHOLE

WORLD

READING

the International Bible Reading Challenge For further resources and commentaries www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge 22 | ALL THE WORLD |

JAN UARY–M ARC H 2015

COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Boundless Bunting Historically, The Salvation Army has enjoyed the sight of a waving flag – usually a yellow, red and blue banner attached to a pole. For the 2015 International Congress in London, however, small, triangular flags known as bunting are the order of the day.

(Editor’s note: full-size flags will also be present!)

Lieut-Colonel Kathy Hobgood (Assistant Congress Coordinator), working alongside UK officer Captain Kerry Coke, had the idea that women from around The Salvation Army could be asked to produce

sewn triangles of material that can be turned into bunting. The material should include clear identification with The Salvation Army but, other than that, they had complete free reign on colours and style.

‘I love the idea that women from all around the world,’ says Lieut-Colonel Hobgood, ‘including many who would love to be in London for the congress but simply can’t afford it, can be part of the celebrations through something they’ve made. The bunting from around the world being sewn together to make one spectacular display is a wonderful example of our being One Army.’

The original idea was that the bunting would hang all around London’s O2 arena that is hosting Boundless – The Whole World Redeeming. Unfortunately, as the whole venue is indoors, fire regulations stopped that suggestion. But then another idea was put forward by Captain Coke –

why not hang the bunting in Whitechapel, at the place where The Salvation Army was born?

The current owner of the Blind Beggar – the public house outside of which William Booth began his ‘Christian Mission’ ministry – has already agreed to have the bunting around the building, and other shopkeepers and business owners along the Witechapel Road are following the lead.

So far, more than 2,000 individual triangles have been sent to the congress office, following a request sent to every Salvation Army territory, command and region by Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries), with thousands more expected over the coming weeks.

They are being sewn together by the congress team, which is approaching this mammoth task with a little trepidation.

They want to make clear that offers of assistance will be very gratefully accepted!

For the latest information about the International Congress, visit boundless2015.org

Coffee Culture For more than seven years the Salvos Coffee programme has been providing life-changing services and opportunities to coffee growers in Papua New Guinea. Now the scheme has taken the step of selling Fair Trade organic quality coffee from the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea direct to online customers through the Australia Eastern Territory website salvos. org.au/coffee. (At present, sales are only available to customers in Australia.)

The rich volcanic soil in the growing area means that chemical fertilisers are an unnecessary expense, pesticides are not needed and, according to the website, ‘most farmers prefer a bush knife and some elbow grease to chemical weedkillers’!

Salvos Coffee has around 700 active members who all contribute coffee for processing and sale. In essence, Salvos Coffee is a centrally organised growing group. Working together, members can get a better price for their coffee than they would selling as individuals.

During the two annual harvest seasons the Salvos Coffee team, working with location-

specific field officers, collates and collects the coffee produced by each isolated cluster. The sun-dried coffee is then transported back to Goroka for milling.

The coffee is sold in bulk and the proceeds are deposited into farmer accounts in what is known as the Salvos Coffee passbook system.

This passbook system, in collaboration with financial and literacy education and training, assists farmers to save their revenue for vital expenses, such as school

fees and medical bills. The programme also provides health and hygiene awareness, social care and spiritual support.

Coffee is also at the root of plans in Indonesia, where several divisional commanders attended a coffee workshop in Jakarta. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of coffee plantations and to find approaches to improve income for farmers. Some of the farmers that may be assisted are Salvationists.

J A N UA RY – M A RC H 2015 | ALL THE WORLD |

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