Revive (April–June 2017)

VOL 9 NO 2

APRIL-JUNE 2017

SEEING CHRIST

in others BIBLE STUDY

Beauty

IN BROKENNESS MY STORY

INTRODUCIING

JANINE DONALDSON NEW EDITOR OF REVIVE

Celebrating Christ

Refocusing

IN A MULTIFAITH WORLD

ON CHRIST E Q U I P P I N G

W O M E N

F O R

M I N I S T R Y

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M I S S I O N

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Refocusing on Christ

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04 In Christ alone 08 A light in the darkness

APRIL-JUNE 2017

revive@salvationarmy.org

10 Seeing Christ in others BIBLE STUDY 16 Beauty in brokenness MY STORY 20 Changed from the inside out SOCIAL ISSUES

22 The Whole World Mobilising WEBSITE AND APP

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COLUMNS

IN EVERY ISSUE

07 Share your tasks LEADERSHIP

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15 Living to please God SPIRITUAL LIFE

Editorial

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18 The Prayer House 19 Book review

Front cover: Commissioner Janine Donaldson, photo by Berni Georges Back cover: Philippians 4:8 in French and English, illustration by Berni Georges All Bible quotations throughout this edition of Revive are from the New International Version 2011 unless stated otherwise TM – The Message, GW – God’s Word, NASB – New American Standard Bible, NKSV – New King James Version, KJV – King James Version, GNB – Good News Bible, NLT – New Living Translation, SASB – The Song Book of The Salvation Army

Articles on any subject of interest to women in ministry are welcomed by the editor. To send an article, write to revive@salvationarmy.org

A RESOURCE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY AND MISSION Publisher: Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries Editor: Commissioner Janine Donaldson Editorial assistance: Paul Mortlock and Kevin Sims Designer: Berni Georges © André Cox, General of The Salvation Army, 2017 Founders of The Salvation Army: William and Catherine Booth Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: revive@salvationarmy.org

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Subscription details at:

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from the editor

Fixing our eyes Commissioner Janine Donaldson EDITOR

H

i, I am excited to be able to greet you through Revive. My grateful thanks for the leadership of Major Deslea Maxwell who has served Revive so well. I follow in great footsteps.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Janine Donaldson and I am from New Zealand. I am delighted to have new appointments at International Headquarters including as Editor of Revive.

I have been a Salvation Army officer for 30 years. During this time I have, with my husband, jointly led four corps (churches), served in training colleges and at territorial headquarters. Robert and I have been privileged to serve in Zambia and in the Southern Africa Territory. Until recently Robert and I were leaders of The Salvation Army’s New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. I am also a mum to three adult sons, and one lovely daughter-in-law.

When our middle son was growing up, he loved to pretend he was Superman. Because of this, his focus daily was on trying to solve dangerous situations and save the world! It’s human nature that we eventually become like whoever we fix our eyes upon. The Bible teaches that, as we behold the Lord, we are ‘being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). This shows why it’s important that we choose our heroes carefully.

We need to be sure our eyes are focused in the right direction.

Recently, I’ve committed to start memorising more Scripture. Although I know many of the stories and lessons in the Bible, I have very little memorised verbatim. Those few verses that I do have down by heart, however, I use on a very regular basis. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have more

life-giving words at my fingertips, wherever I am, regardless of whether I have a Bible accessible?

So here are verses that have stood out to me this week. I am going to focus on memorising them.

Philippians 4:6-8: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’

1 Corinthians 10:13: ‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’

James 4:7: ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’

God bless you each as we refocus on God and all he has in store for us.

‘It’s human nature that WE EVENTUALLY BECOME LIKE whoever we fix our eyes upon’ Revive 3

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In Christ Doreen Kholowa

A

ll around the world people are committed to various types of religions and many have put their faith in other things, rather than in our Lord Jesus Christ. Much of this can be equated with the blind faith or superstition which the apostle Paul noticed

in Athens.

People in Athens were very religious but without always understanding what they were worshipping. There was even one altar inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. It was here that Paul introduced Christ to a multifaith community. Some people sneered, some took an objective interest and a few of them believed in Christ. At least there was success, despite only a few people being saved (Acts 17:16-34).

Today we have Christian societies all over the world, but to most people Jesus is still unknown. I am convinced that we live in a time that General William Booth prophesied about at the dawning of the 20th century. He warned about ‘Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, religion without the Holy Spirit, politics without God and Heaven without Hell.’ Sadly, Booth’s prophecy is being fulfilled.

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Pastors around the world appeal for prosperity, financial breakthrough, miraculous signs and wonders and do little in calling for spiritual formation. Some Christians have lost their focus on Christ because certain things have not worked as they hoped, yet no matter what we face in life we should never drop our focus on Christ. Once we lose focus we need to refocus if we are to be what God wants us to be.

In my country – Malawi – Islam has spread rapidly in the past 20 years. Not too long ago it was difficult to know what a mosque looked like and there was little knowledge of the Islamic faith. Christianity was the only religion that was heard about in the media. Recently, Islam has influenced the country such that it has public recognition through public holidays and programmes on radio and television.

Mosques are all over the country. Currently, I live in a community where half the people are Muslims. Some are so influential that they insist that their workers attend Islamic services. Normally, workers such as cooks and garden boys are accommodated in boys’ quarters together with their families.

They are influenced to put on Muslim attire, and thus they slowly join people of Islamic faith as long as they work for

feature ‘Christians have a responsibility to show Christ through our morals, passion for God and PASSION FOR THOSE WE MEET IN LIFE’

alone them. This kind of influence is making a number of Christians abandon their faith in Jesus in order to secure jobs.

What would Jesus do in a multifaith world?

Christ is the role model of Christianity. He never compromised his faith. He focused on the God who had sent him. If the world is to be the way God intended it to be, then Christians ought to celebrate Christ in the midst of all around us.

Christians have a responsibility to show Christ through our morals, passion for God and passion for those we meet in life.

There are people whose faith does not focus on Jesus and they don’t know they are lost. If we don’t help them we are like a light hidden under a bowl. We should not be quiet. It does not matter if they will not accept our gospel, at least they will have heard – and not all will refuse. Some will accept the gospel like Paul’s Athenians.

We live in a world full of so many troubles. People face difficult circumstances. Sometimes committed Christians desert their faith or spiritual journey, failing to withstand the hard times they encounter.

There is a need to celebrate Christ’s presence in the midst of

our tough moments. In doing this we will become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved world in which Christians shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 3:15).

The world is in darkness – the darkness of sin – but our behaviour must be different from that of other people whose faith is not in Christ. We may be tossed about by the cruelty of this world, fear for our lives or lack many things – perhaps not having enough to meet the needs of our day-to-day living. We can remain strong and continue to please God, knowing that whatever happens to each one of us, God is still in supreme control.

Those who maintain their focus on him continue to mature and develop in their spiritual life. It is like a cup into which very hot water is poured. It will not crack because it survived a much stronger heat during the process of being made. Christians who continue to embrace Jesus through tribulations will be greatly rewarded. We shouldn’t focus on the troubles we face, but on Jesus who is able to save us from any trouble.

This reminds me of Peter who, when he saw Jesus walking on the water, desired to walk on it too. Jesus invited him to

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feature walk along and so Peter did. What joy filled his heart when he found himself walking on top of the water! The impossible had become possible.

Later Peter lost his focus on Jesus, became afraid and started sinking. Thank God he refocused on Jesus, cried out to him and Jesus reached out his hand to save him. His refocusing on Jesus in the midst of his helpless condition saved him from sinking (Matthew 14:25-31).

It is possible for Christians to sink in a world of problems like the loss of loved ones, possessions, status, health or employment, and so many difficult situations. In times like these we may feel empty, question God’s presence, feel left alone and be tempted to think that God no longer cares.

Personally, I have felt like this on a number of occasions.

Refocusing on Jesus has helped me to move forward, trusting God’s continual presence in the midst of my ‘hiccups’.

Recently, Malawi has been going through a misconception of getting rich easily. For instance, some people believe albinos’ bones have special value, a misconception that has led people with albinism to be harmed or killed. Many live in fear.

The government is doing everything possible to stop this act.

Local leaders, churches, social organisations and security forces are empowered to take part in sensitising people to the fact that this is an inhuman and criminal act. Whoever is found guilty of mistreating albinos stands to serve life imprisonment.

It’s surprising that, even in a country where Christianity is a majority, such a misconception can be held. People have put

‘Those with whom we come into contact SHOULD BE AFFECTED by God’s love’

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faith in self-satisfaction, without remorse for the pain they are creating for others. It appears people have become more wild and violent in search of human satisfaction.

In situations like these, Christians should not lose heart.

We are the salt of the earth which is meant to preserve the world from decaying and season it by the flavour of our goodness, love and passion; the light of the world which has to shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).

Our lives should reflect Christ’s likeness

But what is Christianity if we are not able to show others who we are? People need Jesus, but how can they know him if we say nothing?

Our next-door neighbours, whatever their faith, should see Jesus in us. Those with whom we come into contact should be affected by God’s love, seeing that our faith originates from the supernatural God who cannot be compared to any other god.

They should be attracted to him because they have seen this loving God in us.

Captain Doreen Kholowa DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER TRAINING COLLEGE MALAWI TERRITORY

leadership

Share

your tasks

W

hen I arrived in Haiti to run a social and emotional support programme for children after the 2010 earthquake, I felt somewhat unequipped. I knew about the high level of poverty and the many changes of dictators, but Haiti had not caught my interest until our new appointment.Being trained as a nurse and a counsellor, I understood how to listen to and comfort people after a traumatic event. I could run a project – even if I needed instruction on assessments, reports and evaluations – and I could remember how to run activities for children and young people thanks to our time as youth secretaries.

But I didn’t know Haiti, and I had no idea what it was to experience an earthquake that tears away home, close family and close friends in the twinkling of an eye. I needed experts: people who knew Haiti, its culture, language, history and people. And I found them.

First, it was the assistant programme manager, a great man who knew his country, knew a lot about schools and education, and had experience in public opinion research (quite useful if you have to ask questions in order to choose

‘I had no idea what it was to experience an earthquake that TEARS AWAY home, close family and friends’ your beneficiaries). Then we chose two social workers for each region, passionate young Haitian Christians who were well equipped to work with us but open enough to learn. Our team was ready to step in!

Together, we rewrote some aspects of the project to meet the real needs of the Haitian families. We made significant choices such as working closely with parents and offering interactive activities for children. We clarified rules for working groups so they could develop a sense of responsibility, introducing regular self-evaluations for our facilitators.

As our team visited the different locations to present the programme, I chose to let my three Haitian friends lead the conversations. After all, I was the stranger while they were the

citizens of Haiti. We all wished that our programme would prove to be an important step in developing autonomy while helping all the actors to become responsible citizens, able to dream and build their country.

However, some specific questions such as their relationship with non-governmental organisations, the use of foreign money and their future could only be discussed by Haitians with Haitians. Today, all three of them are still passionate for their country and they are still engaged in building their country’s future.

This experience has taught me how important it is to respect those we are working for and those who are working for us. It is an important key for fruitful leadership. In these three-way relationships, each one of us can bring his/her competence, his/ her ideas, each one can develop new talents and can grow. All of us, in the end, can be proud of the work done and can share our experiences with others.

During his ministry of three years, Jesus could have chosen to work alone (after all, he is the Almighty, the Son of God).

Instead, he chose 12 disciples, whom he called his friends, to journey with him. He trained them and sent them to participate in his project. Those disciples were able to build the Church after his departure.

That’s the aspect I appreciate most as a leader: to see my colleagues play important roles, even more important than mine, in building a better future.

Columnist for 2017

Major Christine Volet-Sterckx TERRITORIAL SOCIAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR AND UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVE (GENEVA) SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY TERRITORY

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A LIGHT in the DAR H. Lalawmpuii

John 8:12: ‘I am the light of the world … whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light’

I

t is saddening to see how we have transformed this beautiful world we are living in. Because of our greed and hatred towards each other, we are turning this planet into an uninhabitable and horrifying place to live in. There are constant conflicts – country against country, race against race and religion against religion, resulting in war and bloodshed.

We have turned our planet into a battlefield where we mercilessly murder our fellow humans without sparing even innocent children. It is really sad that the place we call home has become such a dark place.

We need to rebuild this world and create a harmonious, better world. We need Jesus Christ, the one who is the ‘light’ for every member of the human race. We Christians are fortunate to be in a place to spread the Good News which will heal this world.

However, it is essential for us to spread our message urgently in order to heal the world before it is too late.

How can we be the light of the world?

Matthew 5:14: ‘You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, that they might see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. ’ The home league of our little church operates a programme to visit the furthestspread members of the congregation, 8 Revive

hoping to bring them together and affirm their faith. At such events, we sometimes have to move to places where lights have not been provided. One has to use a battery-powered torch to see.

Through these programmes, I am constantly reminded of the importance of light, without which we are hopelessly blind – unaware of our surroundings, our situations and circumstances. Light makes it possible for us to see things clearly as they really are. Without the batteries, light could never come. When their power is exhausted, user has to walk in darkness.

Luke 11:35 says: ‘See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.’ A Christian life has to have power inside, and we must stay connected to keep ourselves charged.

Christ says we are to ‘let’ our light shine.

In other words, when we get right with God and are filled with the Holy Spirit, he will simply shine through us. It cannot be helped. The darkness can be replaced with light. It is in the presence of light that darkness fades away.

In any situation, the darkness of hatred, anger, greed, disparity will vanish when replaced by the light of Christ. As the Bible teaches, we are the light of the world, and when we share our faith we spread God’s light.

In the New Testament we read of Joseph of Arimathea, a sincere convert. He begged

‘Light makes it THINGS

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KNESS

Pilate for the body of Jesus after the Crucifixion. He wrapped Christ’s body in a clean cloth and laid him in a tomb.

For Jesus’ followers, this was a time of darkness, uncertainty, fear and hiding.

Even Peter told others that Jesus was not known to him. But Joseph bravely stood up for Jesus and showed the world that he was a faithful disciple of Christ.

Let this be a challenge to us. Are we afraid to do anything that would make us stand out as being radical or different from the crowd? Let us show our belief and stand for Jesus without fear.

Do we see Christ in others?

possible for us to SEE CLEARLY as they really are’

Luke 2:44-45: ‘Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day.

Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem for him.’

When he was about 12 years old, Jesus was taken to Jerusalem by his parents for the feast of the Passover. Afterwards Mary and Joseph went back home, never realising that their child was left behind.

They began to look among their relatives and friends, but in vain.

Sometimes we wander away from Christ and his teachings. Unknowingly, we seek Jesus in others; we seek him among our family, friends and other people. We must learn to allow Christ to live within us and seek him there.

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‘Once we learn to see CHRIST IN OTHERS, people will see Christ living within us’

Searching for him elsewhere in this manner will not lead us anywhere but to despair.

Where do we find Christ?

We read in Acts that as Saul neared Damascus a light from Heaven flashed around him. He heard a voice and then asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The answer was: ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ Saul had never tormented Jesus in person, but he had tried to destroy the Church.

Let us ask ourselves: are the things that we do to our fellow believers and others bringing torment to Christ?

Matthew 5:35: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

This seems to be a world of the hungry, of the thirsty, strangers, of the naked, the sick and the prisoner. It is important to question whether one sees Christ in these various characters.

At times we may find it hard to recognise Christ, especially in the faces of those labelled as evil and undesirable.

Mother Teresa said: ‘Whenever I meet someone in need, it is really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.’ If we seek Christ we will be able to see his face in everyone. Once we learn to see Christ in others, people will automatically see Christ living within us. The Christ in us will be shown and his presence will manifest itself through our words and actions.

Do we shine to others?

In John 11:41-42 we read: ‘Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but 10 Revive

I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they believe that you sent me.” ’ When Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus looked up and prayed. He did this so the greatness of God would be revealed and his Father would be glorified through the miracles he performed.

When we do good deeds or even when we preach God’s Word, if we try to highlight the greatness of God from the very depths of our heart, the light of Jesus which is within us will burn so brightly that it will not be possible for it to be denied. Then, people will believe in us and in the Saviour.

We are striving hard to make the world a better place and it is laudable that The Salvation Army has a commendable record in rescue and relief work all over the world.

However, we should constantly remind ourselves that the admirable social activities we perform must be in tune with the gospel and our focus should always be directed towards Christ.

Finally, let us always remember that – above all – we stand for Christ, we work for Christ and everything we do is for his glorification and for the extension of God’s Kingdom.

H. Lalawmpuii HOME LEAGUE SECRETARY, KANAAN CORPS, MIZORAM INDIA EASTERN TERRITORY

bible study Helena Andersson

Seeing Christ in OTHERS Celebrating Christ in a multifaith world

AS

a Salvation Army officer I’ve had the privilege to live and work in a multicultural community. My family and I have been able to share our lives with many who don’t share our Christian faith. This can be a challenge, but it’s also the most exciting and natural thing you can do. That which all of us as Christians are called to do – live out our faith.

A Scripture that has spoken very strongly to me is Jesus’ words from John 15:16 (The Message): ‘You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil.’

Jesus calls us out to the world, right where we live. We are called to bear fruit, but how do we accomplish that? Let’s look at what the Word of God says: ‘This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am”’ Isaiah 58:6-9 (TM).

This Scripture tells us about the life he desires us to live. The preceding verses (58:1-5), are about how the people fasted, searching and calling for God to answer their prayers.

True worship and praise is more than a ritual, more than attending a service Revive 11

‘The more confident we are in our faith, the easier it is for us to MEET and INTERACT with people of ANOTHER FAITH’ once a week, more than listening to good sermons. It is about living in a relationship with God and allowing our faith and service to him to be expressed through reaching out to those around us.

Jesus also speaks about this in Matthew 25, where we read about the Son of Man’s judgement. Jesus tells his disciples about when the Son of Man returns and separates the people one from another, like a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. He talks about people who receive the Father’s blessing: ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.”

‘Then those “sheep” are going to say, “Master, what are you talking about?

When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink?

And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?” Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me”’ (Matthew 25:3540 TM).

When I was young I worked with addicts and homeless people. I thought they were both difficult and frightening.

There was a painting in the facility where I worked that showed a park bench with three men. You could only see their legs.

All around the park bench were empty cans, needles, and garbage. Their clothes were tattered and their shoes were broken. This was just like the men I met each day!

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Jesus was right there with the ones I felt were difficult, or even annoying.

He was close to them, loved them, and wished them well. This opened my eyes – my assignment is to see Jesus in everyone around me. My assignment is to meet them just where they are and show them the love of Christ, without distinction.

He loves, therefore I should also love and show love.

In 1 John 4:7-8, 12 we read: ‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love … No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.’

We are called to bear fruit and we do that best by seeing Jesus in everyone around us and by loving.

Most of us want to see results too.

Sometimes it might be easier to give a great sermon and see how the people embrace every word, than to meet the same people day after day, share your life with them, and perhaps not see a change.

I don’t think we should think that way.

To live out our faith should be so natural to us that achieving a ‘result’ shouldn’t even be on our minds.

I’ll give you an example. Over the years I have met several families who have had a very sick child – all hoping for asylum in our country. We didn’t share the same religion and we didn’t speak the same language, but that didn’t mean we could not share together.

Their Swedish was very limited, but the mothers came to our service every Sunday. They knew we were a church, but didn’t understand much of what we were saying. They lit candles each week and prayed for their children.

We visited the families almost daily.

We played with the healthy children, sat with the sick children, and talked to the

mothers. This went on for a little more than a year. With time, the children got better and the families found out they could stay in Sweden.

My husband and I were sitting in the home of one of these families when we noticed that there were large pictures of Jesus and his disciples on their wall. ‘You have a picture of Jesus on your wall?!’

I exclaimed. ‘Yes,’ the woman replied.

‘Our friends and family members tell us we should take it down because we are Muslims. But I tell them no and that it’s the most beautiful thing we have in our home, because Jesus has helped us so much.’

That testimony is so strong to my husband and me. We shared our lives with the people in our community, without knowing what was going on in their hearts. Jesus got to move into that home! And most likely into many more homes than we know. When we meet people where they are and show them love, compassion, and help in the name of Jesus, when we see Jesus in the people around us, big things happen!

To be a Christian in a pluralistic world that doesn’t embrace Jesus, we must have conversation with people of other faiths and cultures. It would be easier and definitely more comfortable only to spend time with people who think and believe the way we do, but the Bible challenges us to reach out to the stranger.

A good example can be found in Leviticus 19:34: ‘The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ Another example can be found in chapter 17 of the Acts of the Apostles.

Paul is in Athens, where he meets people who hold the dominating philosophical viewpoints of the time.

One approach argued that the end goal for a person is to search for that which

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brings the most pleasure and happiness.

Another approach argued that the mind was more important than feelings and therefore harmony with nature and reason was to be favoured and that one should suppress the desire for happiness.

These philosophers understood that Paul wanted to introduce a god they were unaccustomed to and brought him to the Areopagus (the place where the highest court of law gathered) so he could tell them more about the foreign teachings he was preaching. Paul stepped forward and spoke about the one true God. Many

were touched and wanted to know more, and some came to believe.

Paul was prepared and he knew the one he believed in.

The closer our relationship is with God, the more confident and safe we feel. The more confident we are in our faith, the easier it is for us to meet and interact with people of another faith.

I met Amal – a woman, wife and a mother to two young children. Amal was a Muslim who recited the Koran and prayed her assigned five times a day.

Amal became very sick and I went with her to the hospital and sat there with her during her treatments. Each time we went, Amal sat next to me in the car, and recited the Koran aloud. Each time I sat next to Amal as she laid in her hospital bed, I read my Bible and prayed while she held on to a verse from the Koran.

Amal and I couldn’t speak to each other, other than with our body language, but because of

‘To be a Christian in a pluralistic world that doesn’t embrace Jesus, WE MUST HAVE CONVERSATION with people of other faiths and cultures’ Revive 13

bible study the respect and love we both felt towards each other, we became very close. We became sisters. We cried, laughed and shared our lives with each other.

We loved each other. Not because we were forced to, or because we were expected to, but we just simply did.

Amal never recovered, and eventually passed away. I will never know what took place in her, or what happened to her because of our friendship. But I do know that God is a great God. Much greater than I can fathom. And I know what our friendship did to me!

‘Because I know whom I have believed’ Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:12.

In Ephesians 3:17 he wrote about ‘being rooted and established in love.’

It is my experience, that if I know who I believe in, if I live close to Jesus, if I am secure in my faith, then I can interact with others without being defensive, or condemning, or distancing myself. Only then can I see Jesus in everyone around me, no matter who they are. Only then can I walk beside my fellow man or woman, even if our faith and thoughts are different.

Our biggest testimony, our best sermon, does not stem from what we say, but from what we do – when our words and action align and when our faith becomes our lives (James 2:18).

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The best example of how to meet people is found in Jesus himself. We read about this when he calls Matthew: ‘As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ’ (Matthew 9:9-13).

Jesus shows us through his life what our relationships should look like and how he desires us to behave towards others.

A man came to our corps. He was a Muslim but he was curious about the Christian faith. He had a ton of questions! He became part of our fellowship and after a while he decided to become a Christian.

So what was attracting to him? He said that he felt welcome and that the door was always open for him. In spite of the fact that he didn’t know everything,

that all he really had was questions, he was welcome. No one judged him, was mean to him, thought he was frustrating or even annoying. He discovered a God who wasn’t frightening, a God who didn’t punish by sending bad things his way, but rather a God who stood behind and supported him when difficult things happened. He found a God who gives him hope, and who has a good plan for his life. A God who loves.

Do you know what? It’s us – you and I – who get to show everyone this God, through our lives. We get to be his hands, feet, eyes and voice.

We are created in God’s image. Can we see each other through his eyes?

What does this mean as we think about how we see each other?

Read the Bible verses again. Do they challenge you? How? How can Jesus be seen in you, in this multifaith world?

Major Helena Andersson is Assistant Corps Officer, with responsibility for social work, at 393 Corps, Stockholm, Sweden and Latvia Territory

spiritual life

Major M. Mercy Manjula DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES CHENNAI DIVISION, INDIA CENTRAL TERRITORY

Columnist for 2017

Living to please God ‘As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.’ 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ‘So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.’ 2 Corinthians 5:9

A

lmost two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul wrote to the new churches in Thessalonica and Corinth about the importance of pleasing God. Today, pleasing God is the goal of every believer, but the question, of course, is: how can we do this?

Let us look at Romans 12:1-2: ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ So we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices but, equally, we must renew our minds. But how can we go about making this happen?

Our bodies must be presented to God

‘The body… [is meant] for the Lord, and the Lord for the body’ (1 Corinthians 6:13-14). Our bodies are not our own, to do with as we want. We should present our bodies as a living sacrifice, set before God at the altar. We can make our bodies a sacrifice to God even though we do not give them to be burned. A person – and a body – sincerely devoted to God is a living sacrifice. But this is not all down to us. It is Christ living in the soul by faith that makes the body a living sacrifice. Galatians 2:20 states: ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ Faith and holy love validate the sacrifice.

Our bodies must be holy

Our bodies must not be made unclean or become the instruments.

They should be set apart for God and put to his holy use. Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 6:19: ‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.’ He also takes a similar approach in 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 ‘Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable.’

Our minds must be renewed

The mind should be holy. When we are saved we take on a new heart, a new spirit, new dispositions and inclinations. We also need to remember the close links between heart and mind; between our considered actions and our instincts. In Proverbs 4:23 we read: ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ As we are sanctified and transformed by the Holy Spirit our whole being is renewed, much like Jesus was, as recorded in Matthew 17:2: ‘There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.’ We too are called to be completely renewed; utterly transformed.

Jesus called his followers to be holy. Even more, he called them to be perfect: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48). Only when we do this, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can we live a life that is truly pleasing to God. Revive 15

my story

Beauty in brok e nn e s Janelle Bowen

I

am Lieutenant Janelle Bowen and I’m from the Caribbean Territory.

Currently I’m working on the beautiful island of Jamaica but I’m a proud Barbadian with a deep love for God. I enjoy using my talents to bring glory to God. My personal mission is: ‘to encourage others to have a deep relationship with God and experience his love. To help others know and understand how God’s Word is relevant; to prove as truth Christ’s words, which are, ‘Who the son sets free is free indeed’.

In July 2016, I attended the Caribbean Beauty for Brokenness conference, a women leaders event on social justice in the light of the Bible. It was not only informative but also reviving. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to share fellowship and worship with other women leaders across the territory.

I especially enjoyed listening to our guest speaker, Major Danielle Strickland from the USA Western Territory. Major Strickland’s energy and passion for ministry is captivating.

Listening to Danielle has confirmed my belief that women have an important role to play in society. We can inspire, empower and motivate people in our community.

God has given us spiritual gifts and talents that must be used if we want to see people give their lives to Christ.

I have been inspired to pursue new ways of leading people to Christ.

It was definitely an eye-opener, hearing how rampant human trafficking is, yet comforting to know that alongside the efforts and policies being put in place to curb its spread, there is something I can do as well. I need to educate my people on the signs of human trafficking

16 Revive

s

and the right authorities to contact.

Personally, it was my time for spiritual and emotional healing and for acceptance and deliverance from past hurt.

I was molested as a child and I struggled even as a Christian with emotional scars. I suffered from low self-esteem and a deep mistrust of men.

I felt alone and unloved. I would mask my true feelings, for I was too scared and embarrassed to tell anyone.

In my final teenage years I surrendered my life to Christ while attending a crusade at The Salvation Army. Later I became involved in church activities which helped to develop my talents and interests in the performing arts.

My self-esteem grew and I felt important and needed. My relationship with God strengthened. With God, pretense was out of the question.

Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit I discovered my calling. So I applied for officership ministry. I was accepted and trained for two years.

I thought that because I was able to forgive and that I was saved that everything was okay and I was finally healed. But it wasn’t so – scars take time to heal. I still had a deep distrust of men and this negatively affected every relationship I entered.

I had this feeling that a guy couldn’t be trusted and his motives for approaching me were only sexual. I carried this burden even into officership until I let go and let God take those feelings, and heal them. Just like Jesus said, ‘With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.’

I can say that at the women leaders conference I confronted my fears and walked away knowing that with God I can overcome anything.

I can’t tell you enough how much I love God. I just want everyone to know how wonderful God is and that he can heal the deepest wounds. God has shown me the source of my distress and given me the courage to deal with it.

It is liberating to know that I have the power to overcome a childhood

‘My personal mission is: “ TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS to have a deep relationship with God and experience his love”’

my story

Beauty in Brokenness He sees the beauty in your brokenness, The brilliance in your sad eyes, The softness of your harsh words, The tenderness of your anger.

He welcomes your brokenness For he knows it makes you need him.

It makes you want him to bind you together In a strong and shielding embrace – A restraining embrace that holds the brokenness together, Not letting even one piece fall, Not letting one piece escape.

experience that had me enslaved emotionally and psychologically.

I praise God because I have accepted that I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14 KJV) and that ‘God can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us’ (Ephesians 3:20 KJV) I desire for all women who are bound in emotional scars that they would let God lead them to freedom and know that he can give beauty for brokenness.

I shared a poem at the conference, titled ‘Beauty in Brokenness’. It is a fusion of a poem written by Eileen Manassian Ghali and the lyrics to Hillsong’s popular tune ‘Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)’. I also edited some of the words.

It has been inspiring for me and I hope it will be the same for you.

Lieutenant Janelle Bowen CORPS OFFICER AT FALMOUTH CORPS CARIBEEAN TERRITORY

All these pieces, Broken and scattered, In mercy gathered, Mended and whole.

Oh, I can see you now.

Oh, I can see the love in your eyes.

Laying yourself down, Raising up the broken to life.

Empty-handed But not forsaken, I’ve been set free; I’ve been set free.

You ask me how – How can I love a broken vessel?

Don’t you know the answer?

Look at your reflection in my eyes.

Do you see any brokenness there?

Look – you are beautiful, you are beautiful.

In my eyes – there, there is the truth For I don’t see as others see.

My eyes see what lies inside this broken vessel.

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost But now I’m found, Was blind but now I see.

A heart that’s pure and devoted, A spirit that was born to soar, A soul that is sanctified, A mind that is renewed.

I see – I see it all.

It doesn’t matter what the world sees, I only see beauty.

Because you are mine, You are MINE! Your brokenness allures me.

Come to me.

I’ll take your failures, I’ll take your weakness, I’ll place your treasure in jars of clay.

Give me your heart and I will show you Beauty for brokenness.

Revive 17

THE

prayer

HOUSE

‘They all joined together constantly in prayer’ (Acts 1:14)

Anita Caldwell

Prayer centres me!

I

n a world of sorrow and injustice, God calls us to be just and to stand for truth. As we pray for the victims of crime, we understand him and hear his heartbreak. When questions of doubt come, when we wonder why such travesties are in this world, prayer centres us on who God is and how compassionate he is to a world that is so lost. Prayer changes us and God both comforts us and guides us to action through prayer.

Beth is a teen in the USA. Her life has not been the easiest and she searches for someone to love and care for her. She begins a relationship online but soon discovers that she is caught in a web of trafficking from city to city, from man to man. How can it be, we ask? Finally, one day, a very special person reaches out to her and she learns what true compassion is. In that moment, we see God step into the situation and we understand that, in all of our pain, God never leaves us or forsakes us. Prayer calls us to know this God of compassion in a world that is broken. While we demand him to change the brokenness, he teaches us to be his hands of compassion to the broken.

With injustice comes anger and pain.

We question where God was in Beth’s life, or perhaps in our son’s life, in the life of our best friend. Why should one person be healed and another suffer?

Why should one teen have a beautiful home and family while another is sold from city to city, from man to man?

18 Revive

These questions keep us looking at earth and keep us from being centred in faith on the One who loves us and gave his life for us.

We live in a broken world. God did not plan this brokenness. His plan was a beautiful perfect garden where we would have life, health and hope. Mankind did not choose to receive that perfect place, resulting in a world with thorns, pain, death and hurt. There is no promise for a life free of pain, so we should expect pain rather than be surprised by it.

Indignant anger at God does not solve this pain. We have this idea that if we serve him and help others, we will never have pain. This is simply not truth. We will have pain.

The wonderful truth is that God loves us in the midst of the pain. He is with us and takes us through the suffering. We must refocus on him, pray for those who are hurting, take action to help them whenever possible – but never turn from him in anger or raise our fist in hate. As we refocus on the Lord, he gives us the comfort we need to comfort others. He gives us the peace needed to bring peace to those who are hurting. He heals our

ONLY

£5

‘Prayer changes us and God both comforts us and GUIDES US to action’

deepest grief so that we can lead others to him, our healer.

Too often, in life’s busyness, we fail to practise God’s presence and we fail to release our need to control. We do not admit that he can take care of the situation, which results in our failure to let him actually meet the need.

Refocusing on him and just sitting quietly at the beginning of the day helps us to remember that he is with us through the entire day. He knows the day. He knows the pain we carry. He knows of the next great sorrow before it comes. He will take us through that storm if we allow him to be God in the midst of the storm. Let go, and let him be God! Prayer turns our focus from pain to the God of all comfort. Be challenged today to spend time with him and let him bring healing to your heart. Refocus on him through prayer and let the Holy Spirit be your Comforter.

Practise the presence of Jesus and know that he is with you and suffers with you. Throw him the bouquet of cares you carry and find peace.

INC P&P

To some the very idea of holiness conjures up a vision of dullness and death, but by striking the right balance, the experience of holiness is one of liveliness and life abundant.

In this work, Anita Caldwell, a former guest writer for Words of Life, expresses her joy in attempting to live the life and to teach the truths of holy living that can be found in Scripture and experienced personally.

Using her experience of life and ministry not only in her native United States, but in Haiti, Russia, Moldova, Georgia and now as corps officer at Waco, Texas, Anita expresses the joy which belongs to living a life of holiness. Her work will prove a blessing, especially to new Christians, but also to any who wonder what is really meant by this concept of holiness. This book will be a boon to individuals, as well as to groups who will find much to discuss within its pages.

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO ‘THE SALVATION ARMY’, ADDRESSED TO: Communications Section, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom.

Please include your name and address.

Major Anita Caldwell CORPS OFFICER, WACO CORPS USA SOUTHERN TERRITORY

Salvation Books publications are also available from territorial trade/supplies departments and on www.amazon.co.uk, although prices may vary Email IHQ-Editorial@salvationarmy.org for further information

Revive 19

social issues Meg Dale

Changed from the inside out

‘Inside-Out Project’ provides God’s love to female prisoners

I

n 2012, The Salvation Army’s Collingwood Corps (church) in the Australia Eastern Territory established a now-thriving prisongate ministry, which is very dear to my heart. Through it we assist the reintegration of post-release women back into society.

Owing to the success of our endeavours, we have received (and continue to receive) numerous referrals from our local magistrate, a multitude of lawyers, various court and prison chaplains, an assortment of other agencies, and also Corrections Victoria.

The ministry essentially revolves around a home league-based mentoring programme, linking our women with various support groups, including relevant counselling services. We befriend those who have no friends (Mother Teresa described ‘loneliness’ as the worst form of poverty), source material aid and assist with family reunification, appropriate work/study opportunities, and finding suitable housing.

We seek to be part of the vitally necessary debrief for these broken and hurting women – none of whom come out of prison better – by allowing them the opportunity to tell their stories in a safe environment, thereby espousing the underlying Salvation Army values of human dignity, justice, hope, compassion and community. Because everyone has a story and everyone is somebody’s child!

The Scriptures declare: ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men and women by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the supreme culmination of God’s holistic reign, the great mediator of our redemption, and the sublime agent of all true transformation, reconciliation and restoration.

And by God’s grace, and in God’s strength, and with God’s help, The Salvation Army (at its best – at its very best) continues to stand as a beacon of hope and light and love and truth and grace and mercy and justice, with arms outstretched, saying in Christ’s name: ‘Here is my hand!’

Hence, Jesus becomes more than just an abstract model to follow; he is the means

20 Revive

of salvation by which all of us are reconfigured from death into life, saved from impersonal individualism, fruitless humanism and meaningless materialism – thus enabling each of us to freely exist together in community with others, under the divine unification of the Kingdom of God – which is demonstrably present in the here and now when we feed the hungry, provide a drink for the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, attend to the sick, or visit the prisoner, for in doing this to another, we actually do it to Jesus himself (Matthew 25:34-46). Accordingly, our relationship(s) with others should be utterly indistinguishable from our relationship to Christ.

In partnership with the wonderful Mary Anderson Family Violence Service, we have set about breaking the substantial links between domestic violence and the prison population. An astonishing 95 per cent of those in prison come out of backgrounds of significant family violence.

Because the undeniable reality is that the vast majority of incarcerated women have simply come from one cruel, abusive environment into another, and then go out again into another – and people wonder why these folk continue to go to prison, ‘in and out, in and out!’ as The Salvation Army’s Founder said more than a century ago. Thus, it is important to recognise the definitive (albeit narrow) window of opportunity when people still have ‘hope, plans and a future’ for a new life, not just the old one patched up – before dreams are completely obliterated by an archaic,

social issues

inhumane, abhorrent and unjust system that consistently sets women up to fail.

Clearly, the potential is there to empower these most vulnerable and dispossessed women (and their children) to truly believe that they’re not just continually condemned to destructive, poisonous and abusive relationships because they feel that’s all they deserve.

So, out of a little seed, this project took root.

We put together a select prisoner advisory and review group designed to develop the production of a discrete, user-friendly, attractive ‘family violence’ resource and engagement card, that

we have distributed throughout the maximum-security women’s prison, via specialist counselling services.

The subsequent stage of this exciting project entailed Collingwood Corps partnering with other groups and Box Hill Corps, in sourcing an array of donations for our ‘exit pack’ initiative (practical backpacks replete with essential toiletries, socks and underwear, our family violence info card, food vouchers, Salvo Store vouchers, Myki travel cards and Bibles) that has negated the need for people to be released with all their worldly belongings contained in nothing more than an undignified black, plastic, garbage bag.

On a pastoral level, we consistently endeavour to create and nurture a loving, kind, compassionate, inclusive community by showing kindness in the name of Jesus and by continuing to affirm and accept these broken and hurting women as they are. We listen to their stories with a kind and nonjudgemental ear, open our hearts and come alongside them, thereby inspiring them to be the very best that they can be, and hence, encouraging them in the relentless pursuit of the person that God has made them to be. We have been deeply blessed to have brought a number of our women to Christ or – perhaps more pertinently – brought Christ to a number of our women!

We have discovered (or at the least have had it reinforced) that it is quite possibly only privilege and advantage (or rather a lack thereof) that separates us all … because there but for the grace of God go each of us!

The true reign of God, not the reign as we might be inclined to design it, defines the very essence of authentic Salvationism. After all, it is Jesus who heals, not us; Jesus who speaks words of truth, not us; Jesus who saves, not us; Jesus who is Lord, not us!

Those who experience the fullness of salvation do so not as a result of their own merit, but because of the unfathomable provision of God’s incomprehensible prevenient grace, in terms of his impartial, unearned and unmerited favour.

My personal salvation story lies in, and only in, our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Jesus Christ, God’s abundant love and mercy heals divisions, reconciles the alienated, ensures freedom for the captives, gives hope to the hopeless, offers forgiveness to both the unforgiven and the unforgiveable alike, and intentionally includes the excluded.

Henri Nouwen used the hauntingly beautiful description of ‘A restless seeking of God … The figure of Jesus lives among humanity, damaged and wounded. He is the wounded healer who in his downward mobility (incarnation) searches for broken people and shares in the brokenness of our existence.’

Unquestionably, I believe that The Salvation Army has been raised up by God, and as such would respectfully propose that it must not become so much of a middle-class movement that it forgets ‘the rock from which it was cut, and the quarry from which it was hewn’ (Isaiah 51:1).

Our special glory should be our concern for and our ability to be the champion of the poor in every respect, and to reach out and to come alongside the marginalised and the most vulnerable and dispossessed within our communities.

Why? Because, quite simply, and according to our own ‘Orders and Regulations for Soldiers’, it ‘belongs to the Army spirit to remember those whom others forget!’

Captain Meg Dale ASSOCIATE CORPS OFFICER, BRUNSWICK CORPS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY

Revive 21

THE W

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Philippiens 4:8 Segond 21

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