Salvationist 13 March 2021

SALVATIONIST For everyone linked to The Salvation Army

No.1798 Price 70p

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist 13 March 2021

Feeding hope Helping-Hand Appeal 2021

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THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF SALVATIONIST

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QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING IN INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MISSION WORK A new study has highlighted key areas for improvement in safeguarding young people in international Christian work. The study by the University of Chester and independent safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight found ‘plenty of evidence of good practice’ in overseas Christian mission work, but also ... differences between policy and processes versus the ‘challenging reality of implementing these in practice on the ground’. The study was based on a survey of ... 39 organisations and agencies working in an international context. Over two thirds (69 per cent) had a written child safeguarding policy that included a section for those going overseas... Around three quarters (74 per cent) said they provided ongoing child safeguarding support when individuals were overseas, and ... 86 per cent said they prepared individuals to address child safeguarding concerns that could arise overseas... However, a significant minority (42 per cent) said they had encountered child safeguarding issues that they had not been prepared for. The report recommends that international Christian mission agencies take steps to ensure the safe recruitment of all people they are sending, and make ‘cultural competence’ in safeguarding and child protection a part of individual preparation for international Christian work.

YOUTH LEADER CREATES BIBLE READING CHALLENGE THAT GIVES VIRTUAL UK TOUR

CAMPAIGN SHOWS HOPE GIVEN BY CHURCHES DURING PANDEMIC

A youth leader has found a creative way to get youngsters reading the Bible every day. Paul Lee from a church in St Albans has created a free online Bible reading challenge called Bible Quest. The challenge takes users on a virtual adventure around Britain by reading their Bible each day, with the aim of both helping them to get into the healthy habit of reading their Bible daily and reading the entire Bible. Every word that they read moves them forward on a virtual adventure from Land’s End in England to John o’ Groats in Scotland via a host of landmarks along the way. Users can quest on their own or as a team. Each time they reach a waypoint along the route, they unlock a fact file above that location and a virtual postcard. Once they cross the finish line, they will unlock a finisher’s certificate and optionally a special finisher’s medal.

More than 40 Christian denominations have launched ... the Give Hope Campaign to raise awareness of churches’ service to their communities during the pandemic and to boost their efforts. The campaign is run by YourNeighbour, an alliance that includes ... The Salvation Army... It seeks to create a rapid-response fund, develop and expand already successful church-based programmes and gain recognition for churches’ contributions. Many cathedrals and churches have offered their buildings as vaccination centres. The minister for Covid vaccine deployment, Nadhim Zahawi ... said: ‘We want every eligible person to benefit from a free vaccine, regardless of their ethnicity or religious beliefs... ‘Church is a place of trust and church leaders have been doing incredible work.’

Premier

Christian Today

THIEVES TARGET HISTORIC CHURCH SLABS FOR PATIOS More than £400,000 worth of paving slabs has been stolen from historic churchyards and buildings over the past five years, causing ‘grief and horror’ among parishioners. The value of claims made by churches and historic properties for the theft of slabs made from York, Portland or Cotswold stone has doubled over recent years, according to figures held by Ecclesiastical, the insurance firm. Police chiefs have warned homeowners looking for ‘weathered’ stone for their patios or driveways that they may be using stolen chunks of Britain’s heritage. Senior officers told The Times they wanted to see stone traders and architectural salvage businesses regulated in the same way as metal dealers to help them crack down on ‘heritage crime’, which can carry longer sentences than other thefts.

Christian Today

The Times

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Salvationist 13 March 2021

ISSN 2516-5909

THE SALVATION ARMY FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Brian Peddle TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Commissioner Anthony Cotterill EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY Major Mal Davies

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CONTENTS

PARENTING CHALLENGES LAST Monday many parents across England heaved a huge sigh of relief as their children were able to attend school for the first time this year. Vulnerable children and children of key workers had been attending during the various lockdowns, but schools are now open again for all. Parents in other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland have had, or soon will have, similar feelings on their children’s return. In the UK and some other parts of the world this Sunday is Mother’s Day – a day when children express their love and appreciation, usually with cards, flowers and chocolates. They have even more reason to be grateful this year as mothers (and fathers) have had the challenge of home schooling their children, many while continuing to work. Their bunches of flowers and boxes of chocolates may be extra big this Mother’s Day! For Janet Mazura, who features in our Helping-Hand Appeal article, life has been more challenging still. Janet is a widow who grows maize on a small plot of land in Zimbabwe in order to support herself and her children, and to ensure she can pay for their school fees. A series of bad harvests was a major setback but, with help from a food security project run by the nearby corps, she has learnt new farming techniques and had much better harvests. The Helping-Hand Appeal, which began years ago as an awareness raising and fundraising campaign in the home league, is now an established part of corps life in this territory, and the article shows how anyone can support it. Challenges of a different kind faced Charlotte and Nick Parkhouse with the birth of their daughter, Sophia, whom Charlotte describes as ‘our greatest challenge and blessing all wrapped up in one’. She writes about times of loneliness and isolation at home with her newborn, but also about the blessings and joys of mixing with other parents at her corps Babysong sessions. New challenges came along when her return to work as a special needs teacher coincided with the lockdown last March. Through it all she has found strength in trusting God. Another mother of a young child, Lieutenant Rachel Dunham, tells us about some of the books on her bookshelf. They include one about being a ‘missional mum’, which helped her see her role in a new light. Other resources to support family life are highlighted this week: a book that helps parents, grandparents and carers share the Easter story with their children; and another that guides parents and carers in nurturing the spiritual life of their babies and toddlers, and has helpful videos that accompany it. If motherhood comes with both blessings and challenges, so does Mother’s Day. There is joy and thankfulness for some people, but pain and distress for others. Those who had difficult childhood experiences or have troubling relationships can find it hard to share the happiness of others on this day – as can those who have been bereaved of their mothers, have not been able to have children or have lost children. Let’s be as mindful of them as we are of parents under pressure, remembering them in prayer and offering practical help where we can. And if any of that describes your experience, then may you find that ‘the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms’ (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Quotes from the media

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Message from the territorial leader for leader development

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News

5 and 6

Prayer matters

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News feature Students reflect on resilience at TYB and TYC

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On my bookshelf 8 Inspiring passion for God and mission by Lieutenant Rachel Dunham

Reflection Challenges and blessings

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by Charlotte Parkhouse

Feature 10 and 11 Helping-Hand Appeal 2021 by Hayley Still

Feature For everyone linked to The Salvation Army

12 to 14

by Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

In the face of suffering When loss delivers gain

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by Major Jim Bryden

Bible study Be prepared!

16 and 17

by Major Brian Slinn

Through the week with Salvationist 16 and 17 by Major Melvyn Knott

Reflection How long?

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by Major David Cavanagh

Reflection Trust in God

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by Elaine Humphries

Poets’ corner

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Previews The Easter Story

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by Martyn Payne

Babies and Toddlers by Rachel Turner

From the Editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

Announcements

22 and 23

Adverts

23 and 24

SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS Scripture quotations in Salvationist are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated

Salvationist 13 March 2021

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A MESSAGE FROM THE TERRITORIAL LEADER FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT

Lord, we are free

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N his message last week, Anthony mentioned that we had stumbled across the monument commemorating William Wallace, the great Scottish leader who fought for the freedom of his country against the English at the end of the 1200s and beginning of the 1300s. As we walked from that spot, which is not far from where Wallace was executed, we came across two other plaques marking the places where significant freedom events took place some 430 years after his death – events that have had a profound and powerful influence upon the Church and The Salvation Army. The first plaque read: ‘Adjoining this site stood the house of John Bray.’ ‘Great,’ I thought, ‘I’ve never heard of him. That’s not very exciting.’ But it went on: ‘The scene of Charles Wesley’s evangelical conversion. May 21st, 1738.’ Then, as we turned into Aldersgate Street, we saw another plaque in commemoration of Wesley’s conversion and also the conversion of the Reverend John Wesley, which took place three days later. John was the founder of Methodism, and Charles was the great Methodist hymn writer, whose hymns have stood the test of time and are still loved and sung today. 4

Salvationist 13 March 2021

They were two of nineteen children born to Samuel, an Anglican clergyman, and Susanna Wesley. Until their conversions the brothers had what John described as ‘a fair summer religion’. They were both ordained and they preached, taught, wrote, composed hymns and even committed themselves to missionary work. But despite being so dedicated and involved in Christian service, they doubted they’d had a real experience of salvation, and it troubled them. Some Moravian friends witnessed to them about salvation by grace through faith in Christ. And so it was that on Whit Sunday, 21 May 1738, Charles Wesley was converted, receiving the Holy Spirit into his life. Charles was said to have written a hymn to commemorate his experience, though we’re not entirely sure which one. It could have been a song many of us know well, in which verse 3 may highlight his experience: ‘Long my imprisoned spirit lay/ Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;/ Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;/ I woke; the dungeon flamed with light./ My chains fell off, my heart was free,/ I rose, went forth, and followed thee’ (SASB 241). Three days later John Wesley had the same experience of freedom. He wrote in his journal: ‘In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street.’ As he heard someone ‘describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ’ he too experienced conversion. ‘I felt my heart strangely warmed,’ he wrote. In 2 Corinthians 3:17 we read: ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’ It was the Holy Spirit that made all the difference to the lives of Charles and John Wesley, that brought freedom into their hearts and lives, releasing them to become Spirit-led men – not simply living a religious life and doing good works, but being freed to become the liberated version of what God wanted them to be.

It’s the same for us. We’re not all going to become great songwriters or worship leaders or ministers or officers, but we can all walk in freedom. We can receive the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives so that all God has created us to be helps us become his children, living in the power of the Spirit – people led by God. The Message paraphrase of Galatians 5:13 and 14 says: ‘It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.’ I hope that as we look to the days ahead, when there will be a little more freedom to live our lives, we will be people who are led by the Spirit. I hope we won’t live lives of mere religious routine but will be truly alive in him. I was in the Servants of God session at the training college, and some words of the dedication song, which we sang at our Commissioning, are very special to me. They remind me that we can know what it is to be released in order to follow Jesus, to do his will and to serve others as we build the Kingdom of God where we are. Lord, we are free, our freedom won by Jesus; Free at this moment in this sacred hour, Free for a lifetime, we pledge ourselves forever Servants of God, for Jesus’ sake.

GILL COTTERILL COMMISSIONER TERRITORIAL LEADER FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT O This

message is based on a video that can be viewed at facebook.com/ SalvationistOnline or youtube.com/ salvationarmyvideo

NEWS

TORQUAY A painting of earlyday Salvationist William Robins, commissioned by his great-grandson, Martin Robins, has been accepted to hang in the Devon Heritage Centre. William was arrested in 1886 as he marched with the Army band from the citadel to an open-air meeting at the harbour. The painting depicts William’s arrival back at Torre Station after being imprisoned for breaching laws banning marching on Saturdays. He was sentenced to seven days in Exeter prison but was released three days early. – AR

ARMY NEWS

Army calls for asylum seeker housing solution UKI THE Salvation Army has joined other churches to call on the government to stop using military barracks as accommodation for asylum seekers. An open letter to the home secretary, Priti Patel, has been signed by more than 25 highprofile church figures, including Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill. It outlines ‘growing concern’ about the welfare of asylum seekers being housed at Ministry of Defence sites. The letter says: ‘As you know, in the absence of safe and legal routes to apply for refugee status outside the UK, many have no choice but to make a dangerous and perilous journey to seek safety from conflict, persecution and violence. ‘After such a traumatic journey, having had to often spend time behind wire fences in refugee camps, it is simply insensitive to house people in such environments. In a global pandemic it is nothing short of irresponsible and risks the lives of residents and staff alike… ‘We are therefore calling for an immediate end to the use of military barracks as accommodation for those seeking sanctuary in the UK. It is not a fair or justified response to your legal duty to house asylum seekers who would otherwise become destitute.’ – AR IRTHLINGBOROUGH The food bank has received a donation of £250 from Davidsons Homes. One volunteer, Angela Bridge, said: ‘We rely on the generosity of donors to help provide food for people in genuine need. I’d like to thank Davidsons Homes, and all our other kind donors, for their support.’ The food bank provides crisis parcels that contain enough food for three days. – AR

COMMUNITY WELLING Morrisons Community Champion Claire Russell presented the corps with two full trolleys of non-perishable food for the food bank. The supermarket has consistently donated food, toiletries and baby items throughout the coronavirus pandemic. During the recent half-term, they also donated more than 100 pizzas to families supported by the corps. – KS

COMMUNITY NELSON Staff and store directors at a nearby Specsavers donated food items worth £200 to the corps, including cereal, cleaning products and snacks. The food will go to people who have been particularly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘The pandemic will have been especially tough on those from low-income households, and we feel very strongly about doing our bit to support them,’ said dispensing assistant Rahuel Massey. – AR

COMMUNITY RAMSGATE The corps food bank continues to support those in need thanks to donations from individuals and companies. Millwood Homes donated food parcels that staff members had created in their spare time while working on a nearby building site. Last year, the food bank supported almost 7,000 people around the town with donated items, which had a total value of more than £100,000. – AR

EMERGENCY AID

‘Warming centres’ provide food and shelter USA THE Salvation Army set up thousands of respite centres to provide warmth, food and shelter to people affected by a polar vortex in mid-February. As freezing temperatures, heavy snowfalls and power outages swept across southern states, National Commander Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder stated: ‘We’re prepared to serve. If needed, all our 7,600 locations can serve as warming centres.’ The Army also distributed cold weather clothing, mobilised its outreach units to serve hot meals and drinks, fed first responders, provided stranded travellers with temporary shelter and offered emergency transportation. In Galveston County, Texas, the Army partnered agencies, charities and local authorities to provide cots, blankets, pillows and snacks. Approximately 1,000 blankets were supplied to hospitals running on curtailed power in Houston, while drinking water was distributed in areas where supplies had been compromised. In Chicago, a mobile outreach unit brought warmth and shelter to people experiencing homelessness. – AR Salvationist 13 March 2021

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NEWS

COMMUNITY

Army accommodates vulnerable patients LONDON THE Salvation Army is offering temporary accommodation to vulnerable patients who would otherwise be discharged to the streets after a hospital stay. Specialist ‘step-down’ beds at the St Ann’s Street building in Westminster provide people experiencing homelessness with a safe space to recover, while freeing up urgently needed NHS beds. Alison Smith, the service manager at St Ann’s, said: ‘The residents may have been sleeping rough or their previous accommodation is unsuitable for their needs. St Ann’s is a stepping stone out of hospital until suitable accommodation is found and their health has improved.’ Tessa James, a clinical nurse specialist with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Homeless Health Team, added: ‘Many of the patients are clinically vulnerable and are unlikely to survive sleeping rough. By giving people a safe place to live we can continue to provide the care they need, while encouraging them to take an active role in managing their health.’ Patients are also signposted to legal and housing support and alcohol and drug services to help them ‘get back on their feet and make a fresh start’. – AR

COMMUNITY

Corps opens doors to rough sleepers BURY THE corps opened its doors to house rough sleepers during the winter months as temperatures in the area dropped. The emergency shelter was set up with Adullam Homes Housing Association and Bury council as part of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, which provides a bed for those sleeping on the streets when temperatures drop below zero. The corps was able to provide two rooms with camp beds for eight people in total, ensuring the accommodation was Covid safe. The beds were needed most nights in January due to the bad weather and the service continued to run until this month. Corps officer Lieutenant Hannah Borrett said: ‘The Salvation Army wants to help make sure no one spends a night on the street over winter. That is when people are at most risk of dying due to harsh weather conditions. Providing safe and warm shelter for the most vulnerable people is at the core of what we do.’ Councillor Clare Cummins, cabinet member for housing services at Bury council, thanked The Salvation Army for its work. – AR

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Salvationist 13 March 2021

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INTO THE WILD: WEEK 4 – DOING WITHOUT by Lyndall Bywater (territorial prayer consultant)

SATURDAY 13 MARCH Read this quote from A Grief Observed by CS Lewis, noticing which words or ideas the Spirit draws your attention to. ‘There are, no doubt, passages in the New Testament which may seem at first sight to promise an invariable granting of our prayers. But that cannot be what they really mean. For in the very heart of the story we meet a glaring instance to the contrary. In Gethsemane the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from him. It did not. After that the idea that prayer is recommended to us as a sort of infallible gimmick may be dismissed.’ SUNDAY 14 MARCH Meditate on these verses from Isaiah 49:15 and 16, giving thanks to the one who will always be with you and who will always be enough. ‘Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you – never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands. The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight’ (The Message).

INTO THE WILD: WEEK 5 – LOSING CONTROL by Lyndall Bywater

MONDAY 15 MARCH Power and authority are tempting because being in control feels safe, while being out of control can feel like the scariest thing in the world. Connect today with someone who’s in a situation where they feel completely out of control. Ask how you can pray for them. Assure them of your love and care. TUESDAY 16 MARCH Are you facing a situation where you feel powerless and out of control? Maybe it even feels like the Devil holds all the cards. Jesus’ response to that feeling was simply to worship. Sit a while in silence today, acknowledging your weakness and your inability to change what needs changing, but declaring from the depths of your soul that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH Jesus lived in a society where some had great power and others had no power at all. So do we. Go on a ‘power walk’ today, planning your route to pass the places of power in your community (council offices, law courts, prosperous businesses) as well as the places of deprivation and powerlessness. THURSDAY 18 MARCH John the Baptist knew what it was to live in a wilderness and to submit to God. Here’s what he said about Jesus: ‘Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less’ ( John 3:29 and 30 New Living Translation). Meditate on these words today. What does it mean for Jesus to become greater and for us to become less? FRIDAY 19 MARCH Power, authority and control are seductive. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that one of Jesus’ temptations was the offer of being put in charge of everything straight away. Yet he chose the humbler, harder way. Is there a situation where you know you cling on to power or control? What could you do to fast from doing that today? Could you stay silent, delegate something or let someone else choose? O A PDF of the Prayer Matters booklet is also available to download from salvationarmy.org.uk/resources

Salvationist 5 December 2020

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NEWS FEATURE

5VWFGPVU TGƃGEV QP TGUKNKGPEG CV 6;$ CPF 6;% UKI Territorial Youth Band DESPITE having to meet virtually, TYB was a great success with students joining from around the territory to take part in a week of music and fellowship, writes Patrick Minton (Bromley Temple). The staff members worked incredibly hard to put on a wide range of activities throughout the week. These included masterclasses from Paul Fisher, Mike Lovatt and Philip Cobb, a quiz hosted by Matthew Frost and Review of the Week with Jonathan Evans. During the week we filmed ourselves completing various and often ridiculous tasks, which were shared on the final night. As we were unable to perform together in person, we each recorded individual parts for Erik Silfverberg’s beautiful arrangement of ‘You Encircle Me’. This, together with footage from previous TYB concerts, was incorporated into a virtual concert on YouTube, which also featured the Territorial Youth Choir. Every morning we met for Bible studies focused on the theme of resilience, which resonated with everyone. During these sessions we separated into small groups to have discussions about physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. This allowed contact that some hadn’t experienced in months and it was great discussing these topics with people in similar positions across the territory. Thanks so much to all the staff members for making this year’s TYB such a fun and rewarding week. We all very much look forward to being able to meet up in person next year. Territorial Youth Choir SINCE 2016 I have had the privilege of being able to attend TYC, writes Matthew Elliot (Liverpool Walton). I have repeatedly found it to be one of the highlights of my year. Things were different this year. We couldn’t meet in Bournemouth as usual or sing in the same place together. Instead TYC took place on Zoom. It was a

different and at times almost surreal experience, but it was still very good. We met every morning for Bible study and split into breakout rooms for cell groups to discuss different aspects of resilient living. Afternoon sessions included workshops and a guest appearance from actress and singer Kerry Ellis, best known for her work in musical theatre. Cell groups were a particular highlight for me. It was encouraging to listen to members of my group talk about how God has worked through them during the coronavirus pandemic. For a lot of young people, the past year has been tough, so it was good to have a space where we could share experiences and remind each other

that God works for our good in all situations. At the end of each day we would sing ‘Goodness of God’ together over Zoom. Even though we were miles apart we felt close as we sang. I love you, Lord, For your mercy never fails me; All my days I’ve been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life you have been faithful, All my life you have been so, so good, With every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God. Salvationist 13 March 2021

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ON MY BOOKSHELF

Inspiring passion for God and mission People have been revealing their bookshelves on video calls in recent months. Salvationist asked a number of people to tell us about books on their bookshelf – this week, Lieutenant Rachel Dunham (Plymouth Exeter Hall Whitleigh)

INSPIRED THIS is a challenging and inspiring read about Rachel Held Evans’s journey interpreting the Bible. I love the way she includes elements of poetry, short story and other forms of writing to unpack the hidden treasures of Scripture. Alongside these, Held Evans explores the numerous genres found in the Bible and how understanding them can help us connect with the stories on a deeper level. For example, she includes a monologue written from the perspective of Hagar, a character often overlooked or looked down upon. The book challenged some of my misunderstandings and inherited perspectives of elements of the Bible and opened my eyes to the richness that can be found in approaching it in a different way. Held Evans also grapples with some of the more debated and difficult passages of Scripture, which many might shy away from, such as stories of war. It is a book that has pushed me to move away from the comfortable and to remember that the Bible is the ‘living’ word and there is so much more we can all discover. 8

Salvationist 13 March 2021

ORDINARY MUM, EXTRAORDINARY MISSION THIS book was a gift last year as my husband, Tom, and I welcomed our first child. Reading it was like a breath of fresh air as I discovered other mothers and their journeys, and tips on how to live missionally as a parent. As an officer who is passionate about mission it is easy to feel torn between wanting to change the world as part of God’s mission and caring for a new child. Yet this book made me breathe a sigh of relief as I read how the two are intertwined. Being a ‘missional mum’ may look different from my life before children but it has also opened opportunities to share Jesus in ways that were closed to me before. In the past months I have often thought about the women who wrote this book and how they used their stage in life and the gifts God had given them to live missionally in their everyday. It has reminded me that all of life is a mission field! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is about to have or has a child, or to anyone who is considering a gift for a Christian mum.

ME AND WHITE SUPREMACY CHALLENGED by the Black Lives Matter movement I purchased this book as a way of educating myself and addressing my conscious and unconscious bias. The book requires engagement to fully learn. Each chapter ends with questions to help you look inwards at your own views. Reading this book opened my eyes to my own privilege, ignorance and indifference to the challenges facing black, indigenous and people of colour. It felt uncomfortable at times to read, but that feeling is needed as it shows the issues in my own thoughts and actions and has pushed me to change. I would never call myself racist but I am challenged that not being racist does not mean being anti-racist. This is summarised in the book’s last line: ‘Become a good ancestor.’ That is what I want to strive to do. DIRTY GLORY THIS is one of those books that you just don’t want to put down. Pete Greig is down to earth and honest, but in his stories shows God working powerfully in amazing ways. It captured my imagination of what God can and will do if we pray. Greig also makes prayer exciting rather than a series of long words repeated or said with our hands together and eyes closed. This sentence has stuck with me: ‘Those who pray continually without engaging missionally are missing the point.’ The Army is very much a ‘doing’ movement, but this book encourages prayer in action. It reminded me that prayer is essential to missional activity because it gives us an opportunity to stop, acknowledge and seek the miraculous God whom we serve.

REFL RE FLEC FL ECTI EC TION TI ON REFLECTION

Challenges and blessings Charlotte Parkhouse (Croydon Citadel) reflects on her experience of motherhood

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N May 2019 life for me and my husband, Nick, changed in ways we could not think possible. The birth of our beautiful daughter, Sophia Charlotte Rose, was our greatest challenge and blessing all wrapped up in one. So many people had offered us encouragement and advice, but no one could really prepare us for the moment we became in charge of the most precious thing in our lives. I remember sitting on our sofa with Nick, having just got home from the hospital, and thinking, ‘Well, what happens next?’ Many sleepless nights and dirty nappies have passed since then and our love for such a small human being has grown stronger every day. When I imagined maternity leave in my pre-parenting dreamworld I thought of days filled with long strolls, meeting friends for coffee and freedom to do exactly what I wanted. Oh, how wrong I was! Some days were very lonely, as I felt completely isolated from the outside world with a baby who was wholly dependent on me at all times. I found myself sitting on the sofa watching daytime TV, still in pyjamas at 4pm and eating my body weight in snacks.

As Sophia got older, the days got easier and I found routine became important for my sanity. I really cherished the baby classes I was able to attend each week, especially the Babysong sessions at the corps. This was a real safe haven for mums – and dads – in similar circumstances to me with whom I could share experiences. It was an opportunity to spend time connecting with Sophia while singing a mixture of nursery rhymes and familiar Sunday school choruses. In these moments I found a sense of peace amid the chaos of life – a real connection with God. One of my favourite songs that we sing in the group is called ‘An Angel Is on Board’. It’s a reminder that God is with us always. Our boat is sailing, The water’s calm, Sailing, oh so gently. Our boat is small, But its course is firm, An angel is on board. We sail as well When the waves are rough, Life can be uncertain. Our boat will show That it’s strong enough; An angel is on board. Many months passed and as parents we saw our baby develop rapidly through eating solids to crawling. Up went the safety gates and all precious ornaments were put out of reach! In March 2020 I returned to work as a special needs teacher in a school for children with autism. This was

something I had been looking forward to, as it brought some routine and normality back to my life. But with that came the ‘mum guilt’. I was fortunate enough to return to work on a part-time basis, which was the best of both worlds. This was short-lived, as the first Covid-19 lockdown came one week after returning to work. It was a worrying time, with infection rates rising and things we took for granted stripped away – meeting up with loved ones, travelling the world and even the mundane task of going to work. Zooming, banana bread-making and daily walks became ingrained in our daily lives. With all the initial doom and gloom I couldn’t help but feel sad about the whole scenario. It’s only in recent days that I have been able to reflect on the situation we were in and feel thankful for the blessings we had. As a result of lockdown, both Nick and I started delivering online learning from home. Managing our work-life balance was challenging but we have had so many precious hours and moments together as a family, watching Sophia develop into a cheeky, independent toddler. We were together to celebrate her first birthday, watch her take her first steps and hear her first words – all things I might have missed if 2020 had been normal. Of course, we longed for other family members to be present in these cherished times but we thank God that the power of technology has enabled them to be present, albeit virtually. Life is filled with things we don’t expect, but the Bible tells us to respond by trusting God and continuing to worship him. ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything’ (James 1:2–4). My prayer is that those who are struggling will have the faith to see the light and trust in the Lord. You may find your blessings are in disguise. Salvationist 13 March 2021

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FEATURE I Helping-Hand Appeal 2021

Hayley Still introduces the 2021 Helping-Hand Appeal, which focuses on the growing problem of food insecurity and how The Salvation Army is responding in Zimbabwe

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Janet’s family* 10

Salvationist 13 March 2021

T is with hope that seeds are planted. Science and experience tell us that they will grow, but as each seed lands in the soil the hope of a plentiful harvest is also sown. For farmers in Zimbabwe, a good crop means they can feed their families and have surplus to sell, which will pay for education, healthcare and other costs. Yet as the changing climate makes weather unpredictable, some tried and trusted methods of growing crops have begun failing small-scale farmers. The Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory has 447 corps, 566 outposts and about 160,000 members. Just as elsewhere in the world, each Salvation Army corps is part of its community. Members are often part of the community development projects that the corps run. Equally, participants in the projects often begin attending the corps, having experienced first-hand the positive impact of outreach work. The Salvation Army does not work delivering such projects. alone in deliverin Recognising the importance of external expertise and the value of partnership, Zimbabwe maintains the Army in Zimb long-standing relationships with two re organisations: Foundations for organisation Farming and a Farming God’s Way. These partnerships have T strengthened food security projects and supported thousands of s farmers through training and the provision of basic farming equipment. Community members can take part in training in simple and sustainable farming techniques. As crop yields increase and confidence grows, families from one generation to another can thrive and whole

communities can know that the future they hope for is secure. One of the people involved in a food security project is Janet Mazura. Her small plot of land has been in her family for three generations, and she originally learnt traditional methods of planting and harvesting maize from her father. As a widow the responsibility for growing enough produce to feed the family, as well as surplus to sell for income, falls solely on Janet’s shoulders. After experiencing a series of disappointing harvests Janet was deeply concerned about how she would pay for her children’s school fees and keep them well fed. She often went without food to ensure her children had enough to eat. Upon visiting the corps officer, Janet noticed that the maize grown on the corps compound was thriving. Though the corps plot was smaller than hers, the harvest was set to be much bigger. The corps officer explained that they had used some new farming techniques and invited Janet to join their agricultural training programme. The techniques taught there were different from those that Janet learnt as a child. The training emphasised the importance of mulching the crops while ensuring minimal disturbance of the soil. This helps to conserve soil moisture and increase soil fertility. She also learnt about planting seeds with precision using straight lines and holes and about rotating diverse crops to ensure continued food production and nutrition. When the seed is planted at the onset of the rains, the crops thrive before the dry spells hit, which means bigger yields. Janet noticed small changes at first: the soil was holding more moisture than before and the seedlings looked stronger. Encouraged by the progress on her own land and similar reports from her fellow trainees, she continued to use the techniques she had learnt to tend her crops. At

Learning new techniques in the training programme gave him the confidence to make some necessary changes to his farm harvest time Janet was thrilled with the results – double what she had managed in the previous year. Janet is full of hope for the next growing season – she knows she might be able to grow even more next year. She has seen how small changes in the way she plants and nurtures her crops can make a huge difference, and this has led to renewed hope for the future. Like Janet, Anerudo Anesu relies on his farm to provide for his family. He is a young man who manages his family farm to support his mother and younger siblings. Anerudo had been responsible for the farm for a few years but, despite his attempts, the farm was struggling. When a neighbouring farmer mentioned what she had learnt during a local agricultural training programme and how well her farm had been doing since, Anerudo was eager to join. Anerudo took over the farm from his mother as she was getting older, and started to question whether he was farming correctly. Learning new techniques in the training programme gave him the confidence to make some necessary changes to his farm. After the first season the increased amount of maize he was able to produce meant he could sell the surplus at the markets. This put him in a position to buy chickens and goats to breed and sell for further income. Anerudo also has a passion for helping others and has since taught the new techniques to his friends and some neighbouring farmers to help them and their farms thrive as well. Partnership is central to this food security project – from The Salvation Army working with other organisations to peer training that means this project can have an even greater reach. Partnership is also central to the Helping-Hand Appeal. Salvation Army International Development UK (Said UK) has worked in collaboration with the Family Ministries Unit (FMU) on the

appeal since 2001. Over the years, corps and family ministry groups from home leagues to parent-and-toddler groups have raised more than £2.5 million to support international projects. This year Said UK and FMU are also collaborating with Kids Alive! to bring the messages of the Helping-Hand Appeal to a new generation and their families, through monthly editorials and pull-out comic strips. Corps and groups across the UK and the Republic of Ireland will raise money this year for the Helping-Hand Appeal. You can join them and help to feed hope. O Download all the Feeding Hope resources from salvationarmy.org.uk/ feedinghope or order a free fundraising pack by calling 020 7367 4777 HAYLEY IS UK ENGAGEMENT CO-ORDINATOR IN THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS OFFICE, THQ

* Due to Covid Covid-19 19 restrictions no photos of the people mentioned are available, so cartoon depictions of the families have been created for the campaign materials

Anerudo’s family* Salvationist 13 March 2021

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FEATURE I Salvationist anniversary

For everyone linked t

Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts looks back at the first issue of Salvationist and how the periodical has developed over the past 35 years

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N March 1986 the first issue of Salvationist rolled off the machines at The Salvation Army’s Campfield Press. It was part of a shake-up of Army publications that had been described a few months earlier by The Musician as ‘the most exciting development in Salvation Army journalism for many years’. The Musician outlined what was to happen: ‘As from 15 March the War Cry will cease to carry items of purely Salvation Army domestic interest and on the same date a brand new paper, Salvationist, will be launched.’ The title was not entirely new. A monthly paper with a similar name, The 12

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March 1986 – first issue Salvationist, was introduced in January 1879 as a successor to The Christian Mission Magazine. Its aim was to be ‘a record of work for God and the people’. However, the Army’s work was growing at such a pace that before the year was out William Booth decided a weekly paper was needed to ‘record remarkable occurrences of every sort’. And so, on 27 December 1879, the War Cry replaced The Salvationist after only 12 issues. The War Cry fulfilled a number of purposes: it carried Army news and articles of interest to UK Salvationists, served as an international paper and was sold to the general public in pubs and on street corners across the territory. The Musician, launched in 1938, had a more specific purpose of providing news and features relating to band members and songsters. In The Musician’s final issue, General Jarl Wahlström explained the change in more detail: ‘As an effective tool of evangelism the War Cry will in future address itself more specifically than

hitherto to readers outside the ranks of the Army. Material of more domestic nature and of interest mainly to Salvationists will be published in a new magazine entitled Salvationist.’ Commenting on the fact that Salvationist would replace The Musician, the General said: ‘The new arrangement will highlight the fact that our musicians are first and foremost Salvationists and active and highly appreciated members of the corps family.’ Salvationist became the place for Army news – corps, territorial and international – devotional articles, special interest features, testimonies, letters and Army announcements. It was the paper for everyone linked to The Salvation Army, informing, inspiring, encouraging and equipping them for discipleship and mission. The first issue, published a week later, announced that General Wahlström’s retirement would take place in July. The front cover carried the news that there was to be a High Council in April to elect his successor. That first issue published several items of news, including reports of 30 seekers at High Wycombe during YP annual weekend, the opening of Peterborough Citadel’s new hall and the visit of Brass Impact to Barton-on-Humber. There was also a meditation called ‘What the Bible says about peace’, a reflection on the song ‘Cleansing for Me’ and an article on the use of Army abbreviations called ‘Should we talk about the DC?’ The ‘In the post’ page included a letter suggesting Salvationists should show as much dedication in selling the War Cry as communists did in selling the Socialist Worker, and another singing the praises of the Army rock group Blood and Fire. In the early years of Salvationist, as with the other Army papers, pages were designed using the ‘cut and paste’ method and taken to Campfield Press each week on the train. Early in 1992 – a few months after the closure of Campfield and the switch to another printing company – a technological step forward was taken when the Editorial Department installed the Apple Macintosh

o The Salvation Army desktop publishing system. This meant that pages could be composed on the screen ready for the printers and, explained Editor-in-Chief Major Max Ryan, would be produced ‘more efficiently and with greater design and content control’, thus saving money and providing a better experience for the reader. For the first 10 years of its life Salvationist had no colour photos. There were splashes of colour here and there – in some graphics and headlines – but photos were always black and white. The magazine’s first colour photos appeared on 21 December 1996. The following issue reverted to black and white, but colour photos were used every week from Easter 1997 onwards.

During its first 11 years the number of pages each week varied between 16 (the same as in The Musician), 20 and 24. Only from October 1997 onwards was it consistently a 24-page publication. Along with The Musician and the War Cry, Salvationist was printed on newsprint paper from the start. The Easter 2002 Salvationist was the first to use glossy paper, but it was back to newsprint the following week. On 15 June that year the first regular glossy issue appeared. ‘No more cheap newsprint,’ wrote the editor, Captain Charles King. ‘Readers’ hands will remain ink-free, and photographs will be cleaner and clearer.’ With this change, the price went from 40p to 50p – the first rise in seven years.

Writers of articles, letters and news reports have made important contributions over the years. The longest-running column is ‘Thinkaloud’ by John Coutts. It made its first appearance on 16 January 1993 and continues to tackle a variety of relevant – and sometimes contentious – subjects and provide valuable food for thought. A popular weekly feature came to an end on 7 July 2001 with the publication of the final Mutt and Bone cartoon, just weeks before the promotion to Glory of its artist, James Moss. The cartoon strip appeared in 735 issues over more than 14 years, taking a tongue-in-cheek look at Army life as the characters discussed items in each week’s issue. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 X

FEBRUARY 1992 Apple Macs introduced

DECEMBER 1996 First colour photo issue

MARCH 2002 First glossy issue

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Keep up-to-date at facebook.com/salvationistonline

EDITORS Lieut-Colonel Malcolm Bale March 1986 to July 1986 Captain Trevor Howes July 1986 to May 1991 Major David Armistead May 1991 to October 1994 Major Trevor Howes October 1994 to December 1994 Major Michael Marvell December 1994 to December 1996 Captain Charles King December 1996 to June 2004 Captain Dean Pallant June 2004 to September 2007 Major Christine Clement October 2007 to July 2011 Major Stephen Poxon August 2011 to November 2012 Major Jane Kimberley January 2013 to January 2016 Captain Andrew Stone February 2016 to October 2017 Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts Since November 2017 W CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

From the first issue until 2020, the front cover carried a news report or feature article, except for special issues such as at Easter and Christmas when there was a full-page image on the cover to suit the occasion. On 15 June 2002, the same week Salvationist went permanently glossy, the cover featured a full-page photo, and for the next two years a photo or image filled each week’s cover. At the end of June 2004 the cover went back to regularly featuring a news story, but from

LONG-SERVING TEAM MEMBERS ALVATIONIST has always relied on skilful and dedicated team members. Stephen Pearson retired in May 2019 after more than 22 years as deputy editor. Having joined the Musician staff in 1976 he left to work in Fleet Street three years later, then returned to the Editorial Department in 1993 where he put that experience to good use, first on the War Cry and then, from December 1996, on Salvationist. Colin Potter, who joined Campfield Press in 1974 and remembers helping to produce the first issue of

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17 June 2006 onwards it would again be filled with an image from an inside story or feature – an indication that Salvationist was becoming less of a newspaper and more of a magazine, which is how General Wahlström had first described it. Salvationist launched its Facebook page in November 2012, allowing readers to see what was coming in the next issue. That same month an app was launched, making each issue readable on a smartphone or tablet. Unfortunately, the take-up was low and did not justify the expense, so the app was withdrawn in November 2017. Twenty years before, in March 1997, the Army’s world wide web co-ordinator, Major Bruce Tulloch, had created the territory’s first website, adding complete copies of Salvationist in PDF format. Each issue was available a few weeks after the print publication date and was free to download. A new website was launched in November 2014 and PDFs were no

Salvationist there in 1986, moved to THQ in December 1991 to assist with desktop publishing for the paper. Colin retired as desktop publishing manager just over 27 years later. The longest-serving team member is still working on Salvationist: Chris Horne has been our proofreader for almost 30 years, although he has been part of the Editorial Department since 1984. He’s our backstop, who manages to spot mistakes that no one else has seen. You might be able to tell when he’s away on holiday!

longer made available. However, when the coronavirus pandemic led to corps meetings being suspended in March last year, Salvationist PDFs once again appeared online to download for free – along with Kids Alive! and War Cry – but this time, two days before each issue’s publication date. That provision will continue until salvationist.org.uk is launched later this year. Instead of PDFs the new website will carry content from the print edition formatted for PC, tablet and smartphone, and include other features and resources. Watch this space! A recent letter in Salvationist thanked all those who produce the Army papers and make them available, including ‘the editorial staff, contributors, printers and distributors’. But none of that would be possible – or necessary – without our readers. Whether you are new to Salvationist, have read it since issue No 1 or you are somewhere in between, we thank you. From 27 March 1999

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IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING

When loss delivers gain T

HE cross of Christ cannot be divorced from the Incarnation. God coming to Earth in human flesh is aptly illustrated in Philippians 2, where we find a hymn to Christ Jesus, who is worshipped as God and whose earthly life was predestined by his Father God to be one of suffering, humiliation and death. ‘The mystery of the Incarnation unfolds into the mystery of Good Friday and of Easter,’ writes Karl Barth in Dogmatics in Outline. While God incarnate in Christ – making himself known in terms of his suffering love – is an indispensable pillar of authentic Christian faith, that suffering is also the Father’s. Gethsemane and Golgotha together give insight into the suffering of both Father and Son. At Gethsemane we hear Jesus’ deep cry: ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’ (Matthew 26:38). Theologian Jürgen Moltmann suggests: ‘For the first time he does not want to be alone with God. He is afraid of him.’ For those who hold tenaciously to the unique oneness of the Godhead, this would seem a strange thing to say. The question has intrigued Bible scholars throughout the ages and produced a wide spectrum of comments. I confine myself to two thoughts. First, when Jesus says, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me’ (Matthew 26:39), it is clear that the ‘cup’ of death and wrath that he receives is to fulfil the Father’s will. The essence of Jesus’ suffering here has little to do with his impending death, but rather the manner and purpose of it – it laid on him the sins of the whole world. Think of it: he bore the cost and the curse of sin in his beautiful body (see Galatians 3:13). Second, it is to be the cup of separation. Moltmann says, ‘Elsewhere the gospel tells us: “I and the Father are one.” But here the Father withdraws from the Son, leaving him alone. It is the cup of separation.’ This is a relational separation between the Son and the Father. It is this relational distance, this haunting vacuum beyond our comprehension, that leads to Jesus’ anguish as he prays in Gethsemane – so much so that it causes his sweat to be ‘like drops of blood falling to the ground’ (Luke 22:44).

So many people I have known over the years, including friends and family, have experienced a dark night of the soul when facing some great tragedy or loss and feeling that God was not to be found. Some Christians are fine with God when all is well. But the moment tragedy knocks at the door, everything changes and they feel that God has let them down. At times some treat faith like a heavenly insurance policy that carries cover against all the nasty experiences of life. If anything, the believer is called upon to share in the sufferings of Christ (see Philippians 3:10), which we all know is easier said than done. Those who have endured deep suffering and held on are in the best position to reach out to suffering humanity, pouring hope and grace into the lives of people who feel hopeless and lost. In a meeting of NHS chaplains that I attended recently the discussion focused on the frightening levels of suffering and loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. When asked to comment, I said, ‘Suffering is the badge of compassion.’ In all of this we may ask, ‘What of God?’ Was his stony silence at the cross an unfeeling, compassionless silence? I think not. While, in the words of Martin Luther, Christ saw himself ‘as lost, as forsaken by God, felt in his conscience that he was cursed by God – suffered the torment of the damned, who feel God’s eternal wrath’, God never stopped loving his Son. Once more, we face another of those great paradoxes and mysteries that are part of the fabric of genuine Christian belief, namely that God, who exerts wrath and judgement, is the same God who is filled with mercy and love. God’s silence does not lessen his love. In fact, such silence is the silence of suffering. Jesus’ distress and anguish are real. So is the Father’s, because the Father loves the Son. The Son does not suffer – indeed, cannot suffer – but that the Father suffers with him.

MAJOR BRYDEN LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN BELLSHILL

Major Jim Bryden begins a three-part series reflecting on the problem of human suffering

Next week Where is God when it hurts?

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BIBLE STUDY

Be prepared! Major Brian Slinn reminds us that we might well suffer as Christ did

1 PETER 3:15–22

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T is not always easy to articulate what we believe. It is harder sometimes to explain why we believe the things we do. Mostly our beliefs are the product of a whole raft of influences and ideas gleaned from the likes of our parents, grandparents and educators. They enable us to understand the world in which we live, equip us to contribute to our communities and larger society, and help us to belong and be accepted. It is not easy to be different. QUESTION O Can you think what it is like to be different from those around you? Differences are not always our fault; sometimes difference is chosen. To

Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day by Major Melvyn Knott

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decide to be religious in a liberal and secular society, where religion is seen as a private pastime, can seem odd – the implication being that we are different. Our choice is, however, respected. We can be odd if we want to, as long as we do not disturb anyone else. In a more controlling political or social environment, to adopt a religion that is different from traditional heritage can have serious consequences. It is not unusual for individuals to be ostracised from their communities and families, and even to be threatened with death. In Peter’s first letter, we imagine a world where being a Christian is not only odd but also dangerous. Peter prepares his readers to suffer for what they’ve chosen to believe. Their only

consolation is that Christ has already suffered (see 1 Peter 3:18 and 4:1). QUESTION O How do we live in a world that does not understand us and is suspicious of us? In the 1994 film Forrest Gump, Forrest knows what being different feels like. He says that ‘stupid is as stupid does’, meaning that how we behave speaks for us, and acts as a mirror to those who make judgements about us. Peter suggests that Christian is as Christian does. Recognising the hostility towards Christians in a pagan society, he calls Christians to ‘be holy’ (1 Peter 1:15), be good citizens (see 1 Peter 2:13), submit themselves to their masters (see 1 Peter 2:18) and be respectful of the culture in which they exist, while still

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Lord, I would be available to serve where there is need;/ Despite the cost to reach the lost/ And match my creed with deed;/ Not just by word of mouth alone/ Would make your glorious message known!/ Available I’d ever be,/ To serve you is my destiny! (SASB 603)

‘And he will go on before the Lord, I would be available to Lord, in the spirit and power do your holy will,/ Not of Elijah, to turn the hearts seeking ease if I may please/ of the parents to their The one who calls me still./ children and the disobedient The going may sometimes be to the wisdom of the rough/ But then your grace righteous – to make ready will be enough. a people prepared for (SASB 603) Prayer the Lord.’ Dear Lord, may your (Luke 1:17) praise always be on our lips. May we rejoice in you – in your mercy, grace, forgiveness and love. Fill us with praise for you! May our words point others to you as we remember your faithfulness and love.

living out the Christian ethos (see 1 Peter 3:1 and 7). How we live speaks for who we are. In our study passage there is a shift towards articulating the reason for our behaviour and, should we be asked, why we believe the things we do. ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have’ (v15). If you are asked, respond ‘with gentleness and respect’. A community under threat has to be careful as well as prepared to be misunderstood. The hope that a good response will shame those who slander Christians and their good behaviour suggests it is already happening. Persecutions come from people misunderstanding and misrepresenting others, and Christians were exposed to

all of that. Sometimes it is easier to believe a lie than admit a virtue and, in spite of all the evidence, believe wrong things. We might well suffer, as Christ did, ‘for doing good’ (v17). Bad things can happen to us. Verses 18 to 22 are a primitive creed: Christ suffered for our sins, was ‘put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit’, ‘made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits’ and is now at God’s right hand. Verse 19 is reflected in the Apostles’ and Athanasian Creeds (see The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, 2010, pp278–280), which include the idea of the ‘harrowing of hell’ – that Jesus visited the place of the dead after his crucifixion to declare his salvation. Peter’s reference to Noah and the salvation his ark offered imagined the

Church as a ship. As the floodwaters brought salvation to Noah and his family so the waters of baptism can symbolise being brought through to salvation by the ‘resurrection of Christ’ (v21). This is a letter for troubled times and brutal in its honesty. It is not for the faint-hearted. Do not be surprised to suffer as though it were something strange, but rather rejoice that you share the suffering of Christ.

MAJOR SLINN IS DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, EAST MIDLANDS

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:20 and 21)

Lord, I would be available with all that I possess/ To walk the road and share the load/ With those I seek to bless./ Your love incarnate in my life/ Will overcome where there is strife. (SASB 603)

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:5 and 6)

O Jesus, I have promised/ To serve thee to the end,/ Be thou forever near me,/ My Master and my friend./ I shall not fear the battle/ If thou art by my side,/ Nor wander from the pathway/ If thou wilt be my guide. (SASB 613)

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RE R EFLEC FL F LE EC CT TIIO ON N REFLECTION

HOW LONG? Major David Cavanagh reflects on the coronavirus pandemic in the light of words from the prophet Jeremiah

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N recent months a number of questions have been on people’s minds. How long will the pandemic last? How long before the lockdown is over? How long before we get back to some sort of normality? Even though the way ahead now appears clearer, these questions linger on. In Jeremiah 29:4–14 the prophet addresses similar questions asked by his compatriots in exile in Babylon. How long will this last? How long before the exile is over? How long before they can get back to Jerusalem? Behind those questions is the question of how they can properly worship the God of Israel in a foreign land, without the Temple and the sacrifices offered there. As the psalmist puts it, ‘How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?’ (Psalm 137:4 New Revised Standard Version). It’s a concern that we can identify with, because many Salvation Army halls are currently closed for public worship, and congregational singing isn’t permitted at all. Jeremiah’s message is, first of all, that they should prepare themselves for the long haul. They’re not going back to Jerusalem any time soon, so they need to get on with life. They should settle down in Babylon and seek the common good: ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you’ (29:7 NRSV). The prophet also tells the exiles that, even before returning to Jerusalem, they can find God where they are, if 18

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only they look for him: ‘When you call upon me and come to pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me’ (vv12 and 13 NRSV). Jeremiah’s words can be understood individually, as a call to each believer to get back to the basics of the faith, exercise the disciplines of personal prayer and reflection on Scripture, and make sure their personal relationship with God is healthy. There’s also a corporate dimension to their response. Because God could be found even in Babylon, the exiles had the opportunity to rethink the faith of Israel, such that many of the pillars of later Judaism had their roots in this seismic shock. These include the shift from worshipping one God to the conviction that there actually was only one God, the attempt by Ezra and then by the Pharisees to extend holiness and purity to all the people and all the land, the importance of the local synagogue as a centre for teaching and worship and the awareness that obedience in holy life was more important than sacrifice. All these were Israel’s responses to the question of what they had left when the land, Temple and sacrificial altar were all stripped away. The pandemic poses a similar question to the Church, including The Salvation Army. What do we have left when all we have left is God – when the hall is closed for worship and there is no weekly programme?

The answer won’t mean we have to rewrite the 11 Army doctrines, but it will affect how we worship and witness. In recent months, many people have had to become quite expert at online worship. These virtual meetings have done more than just maintain fellowship or reach people who, for one reason or another, could not attend gathered worship. They have reached people who have never set foot in our halls and perhaps never would. Some of these people have even come to faith and started a personal relationship with Jesus. While there are hopeful signs, we still don’t know how long it will be before we get back to some kind of normality. But it’s clear that this is not just a period of idle waiting, like standing at a train station. God has given us an opportunity to think about what this new normal will look like. We have the chance to ask what we have learnt in these months, to think about why we do what we do and – while continuing to reach and support those who are not yet ready, and perhaps never will be ready, to enter our halls – consider how we can encourage people to make the journey to gathered worship and play their part in the worship, witness and service of the body of Christ where they are.

MAJOR CAVANAGH IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND

REFL RE FLEC FL ECTI EC TION ON REFLEC REFLECTION CTI O

Trust in God Elaine Humphries reflects on what we can learn from Bible characters who experienced their own lockdowns

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HE impact of the latest coronavirus lockdown and the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines means that restrictions should be gradually lifted in the near future. In the meantime, we remain in lockdown. Many Bible characters experienced a form of lockdown as they were confined in a small space for one reason or another. What can we learn from their experiences? When Jesus was here on Earth he healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years (see Luke 8:43–48). Considered unclean, she would have been an outcast in society. She would have felt as though she were locked in her own home and been fearful of going out. But one day she plucked up the courage to go out and see Jesus – and her life was changed. Ten lepers were also healed by Jesus (see Luke 17:11– 19). People with leprosy would also have been considered unclean, so their lives would have changed drastically too. Noah was called by God to build an ark. This must have seemed crazy, but he was obedient and built it according to God’s instructions (see Genesis 6:14–22). He lived in the ark for more than a year, but there is no indication that he got impatient with God or couldn’t wait to leave. When he sent a dove out of the ark it couldn’t find anywhere to perch, so he waited seven more days before he sent it out again. This time it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf. Many of us would have been tempted to leave at that point, but Noah waited seven more days. When he eventually came out of the ark, he ‘built an altar to the Lord’ and ‘sacrificed burnt offerings on it’ (Genesis 8:20). A number of Bible characters were imprisoned. Joseph, for example, was sold into slavery, then falsely accused and

thrown into prison. He was eventually released and put in charge of Egypt during seven years of famine. When his brothers asked him to forgive them for how they had treated him, he said: ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives’ (Genesis 50:20). Paul and Silas praised God while behind bars: ‘About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God’ (Acts 16:25). After an earthquake, the jailer found the Lord, along with the rest of his family. All these examples show that God was with people and at work in their lockdown. It also reveals their trust in him. Jesus knows how we feel during this time. In his humanity, he felt the same emotions we do. When John the Baptist was put in jail and later killed, Jesus felt the pain (see Matthew 14:3–13). When his friend Lazarus died, we are told that ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35). The Lord knows the pain that many of us have gone through in this pandemic, and he is with us now. He fulfils God’s promise to ‘never leave you nor forsake you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6). It is easy to complain at this time, but ‘your conversation should be so sensible and logical that anyone who wants to argue will be ashamed of himself because there won’t be anything to criticise in anything you say!’ (Titus 2:8 Living Bible). Psalm 46:10 says: ‘Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the

nations, I will be exalted in the Earth.’ God’s name is being exalted. We know that during this pandemic more people are listening to church services than would normally attend church. There has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking salvation and accepting Jesus as Saviour. The Evangelical Alliance says 59 per cent of church leaders have seen an increase in people interested in finding out about Jesus and the Christian faith, and more than one in ten have seen an increase in people making a first-time commitment to Christ. God is at work. Our job is to trust that he is with us and is working through us – because he is in control. God is still on the throne And he will remember his own; Though trials may press us and burdens distress us, He never will leave us alone. God is still on the throne, And he will remember his own; His promise is true, he will not forget you; God is still on the throne. (SASB 16)

ELAINE SOLDIERS AT CARDIFF CANTON Salvationist 13 March 2021

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In these days that we are facing Can n be sung to the tun ne ‘S ‘Sou outh Shields’ (SATB B 37 379) 9)) In these e days that we e are fa faci c ng g, Days of anxiousnesss an and d fe fea ar, Help us,, Lor He ord, d to se see ek your prresence, H lp us kn He k ow tha h t yo ou are near. For you promised ne e’er to leave uss And d yourr promises are true; Ease e our fears r and give the comfor ortt Thatt alone e is found in you. In thesse day ayss th that at we ar are e facing, Da ays tha hat is isol olat ate e an and d th hin, Ass our littltle world decrea ase s s To our homes and those within, To Mayy we look for joy in nature, Ma Watch and see e th the e se s asons flow, Know your hand in al alll ar arou ound nd us; Lord, we pray, your peace bestow. In these days that we are fa aci cing, Of uncertainty and noise, Help us strive, amid the clamour, Every da ay to hear your voi oicce. For your love is never chan nging And you ho old us in your care re;; Help us kno ow midst all the tumul ut Ever Ev eryy da dayy th that at you are there. As we face ce these e day ayss with you, Lord, Days thatt gi give ve us chance to see A l the good that can be offered, Al If lik ike e you we try to be, May our prayers be first for others, For in praying we can find All the strength and help we long for; Help us, Lord, just to be kind. DEBO OR RA AH B BE EXO XON

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Giving up Wh t wililll yo What you give ve up to Jesus for Lent? What will itt be? What will it be? The moneyy and time and laugh hte terr unspen nt ? Without fa family? Without fa fami milly? What will you give up p to Jesus this year? What will you do? What will you do? The boredom, frustration, the pa pain and the fear? I’m asking you; I’ I haven’t a clue. Can n I give up my watching the news? Afte ernoon snooze? Nott wearing shoes? Can Ca n I please give up p at tempting to teach? Missing the beacch? Frie end ndss ou out of reach? Can I just give up my anxiety? y? Though hts never free? Too much TV? Should I be giving up trying at all? To still have it all And let myself fall? Should I surrender to Co Covi vid d fatigue? A different league. A different league ue. Maybe this yearr we’ve all given enough; Lockdown is toug ugh, Things are stilll rou ugh. Butt ma Bu maybe....

But maybe this misses the whole pointt of Lent; That’s not wha hat is meant, That’s not why he’s se sent nt. It’ss not about stopping or goi It oing g without, Or being without, Or not going g out ut. Lent is a time e to draw closer to God o , For while I misss you, He missses you too. So, what if the time and the laughte er unsspent Were pac a kaged in prayerr and heaven nward sent? What if th the boredom, fru ustration and fe ear Were used to assure We e us u that Jesus is near? What if your restting in the pm Were time to hea eal and start again? What if not wearin ng socks and shoes Opened up for us holy avenues? What if the teaching ng your children fro om home Taught us instea ad that we’re never alone? And what iff surrender can heal the hurt soul? Calm and conssole? Making us wh hole? RAINE ARCH HER R

PREVIEWS

Inspiring parents and families Salvationist introduces two books to help bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike THE EASTER STORY FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE by Martyn Payne

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ASTER is the most important Christian festival in the calendar. Martyn Payne’s new book helps families explore together the events remembered and celebrated at this time of year. Payne brings the first Easter to life with an interactive, all-age approach to encourage Bible reading together as a family and to help parents share the Easter story with their children. The Easter Story is written for parents, grandparents and carers to engage with children through a fun and stimulating family Bible and prayer time. Each section provides a brief commentary on

BABIES AND TODDLERS by Rachel Turner

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ACHEL Turner’s slimline book, Babies and Toddlers: Nurturing your Child’s Spiritual Life, has been published as part of a new set of resources from Parenting for Faith, an organisation which ‘equips parents to raise God-connected children and teens’. Written for parents and carers of very young children, this short, accessible guide shows how parents can help their children meet and know God, even as they explore faith themselves. Turner hopes to directly inspire parents, no matter where they are on their faith journey, to know that they can be significant in the spiritual nurture of their children. She also hopes to give the wider Church confidence in helping families with children at all ages and stages to parent for faith. In her introduction, Turner writes: ‘Once we become parents, our lives are forever opened up to new experiences and opportunities, for

the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid, an activity and prayer idea, a key verse and a link to an Old or New Testament story. ‘Explore the story of the first Easter together as a family!’ says the author, who adds: ‘I think sometimes the Church worries that we’re “just” telling stories. We’re not teaching people properly how to be disciples. But I think that’s rubbish: stories can take you very deep into discipleship. I’ve seen it happen.’ Formerly part of the Bible Reading Fellowship’s Messy Church team, Payne’s previous books, The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012), demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that

ourselves as well as for our children. One type of experience we can bring to our babies and toddlers is the simple understanding of the God who made them and loves them. ‘This book is about how we as parents or carers can nurture and encourage the spiritual side of our young children, simply and naturally. Growing this spiritual side is as much a part of parenting as caring for our children’s mental, physical and emotional development.’ To accompany the book, five short videos have been produced to enable parent-and-toddler groups and parents’ groups to explore small, everyday ways to help their families engage with God, along with a guide for group leaders. The book and the five-minute videos are designed for new parents who are short on time and energy. These new materials model the key principles of Parenting for Faith and lead into other resources such as Parenting Children for a Life of Faith, also by Rachel Turner.

comes from generations exploring faith together. O The Easter Story is available from brfonline.org.uk priced £2.50 (plus posting and packing), with discounts for bulk orders

O Babies and Toddlers is available from brfonline.org.uk priced £4.99 (plus posting and packing), with discounts for bulk orders O Sample pages and the Parenting for Faith videos are available at parentingforfaith.org/babies-andtoddlers

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARMY PEOPLE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Platinum (70 years) O Jacqueline and Ray Horne, Cwmbran (26 March) Blue Sapphire (65 years) O Aux-Captains Doreen and John Broadbent (24 March) Diamond (60 years) O Majors Patricia and Peter Exon (25 March) Emerald (55 years) O Captains Peter and Ruth Hammond (26 March) RETIRED OFFICERS Birthday congratulations O Major Reginald Batt (90 on 21 March) O Lieut-Colonel Colin Tucker (80 on 23 March) O Mrs Captain Beryl Cordy (90 on 24 March) O Major George Hook (95 on 26 March) O Major Ivy Nash (80 on 26 March) PROMOTED TO GLORY Ina Jobling, Willenhall O David Hobday, Hemel Hempstead O Cath Brown, Staple Hill O John Mills, Hythe O Pauline Ashley, Hythe O Songster Lily Oakes, Gateshead O Lieut-Colonel Sonia Fairclough from Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, on 19 February O Bobby Quinn, Sunderland Millfield, on 19 February O Major Ruth Goodridge from Juniper House care home on 21 February O Major William Richmond from Antrim Area Hospital on 21 February O Major Georgina Atkinson from Maiden Castle House, Dorchester, on 26 February O

BEREAVED O Songster Milly Hobday, Hemel Hempstead, of her husband David, Faith White and Jane Dell of their father O Bandsman Marcus Brown, Staple Hill, of his wife Cath, Bandsman Haydn Brown, Staple Hill, and Shona Bell of their mother O Sue Mason, Staple Hill, of her mother Rosemary Parker O Yvonne Faulkner, Staple Hill, of her husband Malcolm 22

Salvationist 13 March 2021

Dawn Neeve, Canterbury, Sarita Larsson, Torrance, USA Western Territory, Tara Breathnach, Bromley Temple, and Piers Fairclough of their mother Lieut-Colonel Sonia Fairclough O Major Paula Layton, Risca, of her father O Captain Wendy Leisk, Hamilton, Susan Sutherland and Michael McKain of their sister Jill McKain O

OFFICIAL GAZETTE UKI Territory LONG SERVICE 25 years O Major Jacquie Hanover, Leigh-on-Sea PROMOTIONS To major O Captain Alison Stone, associate officer, Regent Hall, on 22 February ANTHONY COTTERILL Commissioner Territorial Commander

WHAT’S ON THE ALL TERRAIN PODCAST TV presenter Gemma Hunt (CBBC, CBeebies and Songs of Praise) faces four choices and four questions in the latest edition of The All Terrain Podcast from Youth and Children’s Ministries. O Listen on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or Spotify DEVELOP PODCAST Sriyani Tidball, author of The Breadwinner, explores the experiences of many women from Sri Lanka who are forced into modern-day slavery and explains the negative impact this has on wider society and the children left behind. O Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud or Google Podcasts

TRIBUTES INA JOBLING, WILLENHALL INA was born in Walsall in 1925 to a Salvationist family. She was one of eight children, and the second eldest girl. She progressed through juniors, becoming a senior soldier and songster

and in 1953 was commissioned YP treasurer. Ina introduced numerous young people to a living faith, including several who were later called to full-time service. Many have paid tribute, revealing what an impact she made, helping them to find and grow in faith and prepare to respond to God’s call. In 2008, Ina transferred to Willenhall to join her sister, Linda, and brother-inlaw, Bandmaster Bill Hayward. She later went into a care home but still looked forward to receiving Salvation Army papers each week. Everyone who visited her came away feeling blessed just by being in her company. God used Ina, an unassuming Christian lady, in a remarkable way all her life. Well done, good and faithful servant! – LBW MAJOR GLENYS GREEN GLENYS was born in 1938 to a Salvationist family in Farcet. She grew up to know and love the Lord and the Army, signing her junior soldier’s promise in 1944 at the age of six. A life of service followed in the junior and senior sections at Farcet, before Glenys entered the training college in 1957 as a member of the Courageous session. When Glenys was posted to Parkgate as a newly commissioned lieutenant in 1958, she met Tony. They fell in love and, following her appointment at Thurnscoe, were married in 1960 and soldiered at Wath-upon-Dearne where their two older children, Gareth and Carol, were born. Glenys served as an envoy at Denby Dale, Old Ford and Manor Park while Tony trained for officership. After his commissioning in 1966 and the birth of their third child, Alison, Tony and Glenys served together as corps officers for 30 years. They had corps appointments at Barnoldswick, Accrington, Standish, Barrow-in-Furness and Middlesbrough West Central. After welcoming daughters Rachel and Rowena, they had further appointments at Connah’s Quay, Liverpool Kensington, Farnworth, Chatteris and Lowestoft Citadel. On retirement in 2000 they settled at Peterborough Citadel where they continued to serve in the corps. Glenys

ADVERTS took responsibility for the over-60 club until her health deteriorated. Glenys was the centre of her family and loved looking after their practical and spiritual needs. Her faith was rock-solid and she was a source of comfort during Tony’s illness and subsequent death in 2018. Glenys spent her latter years at Florence House care home in Peterborough where she continued to minister for the Lord. She is greatly missed by all her family. – GC MAURICE OZANNE, WORTHING MAURICE Ozanne was born at the Mothers’ Hospital in 1933. His parents and grandparents were officers and he grew up mostly in London. For national service he was drafted into the Dragoon Guards and stationed in Libya. His musical prowess led him to become solo cornetist in the regiment’s band, participating in the Royal Tournament and the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. He was commissioned as an officer in 1955 and served in a number of corps appointments. His daughter, Jane, was born in 1971. Later Maurice joined the Music Editorial Department at National Headquarters as an accomplished composer and arranger. He also played in the International Staff Band, touring the USA in 1980. After officership Maurice ran Littlehampton’s Young Musician competition, directed the Littlehampton Concert Band and played with other local bands. He married Sally in 1990 and they soldiered at Worthing, where he was a bandsman, a constant encourager of young people and a valued member of the prayer group. – BT ELSIE ERRINGTON, SUNDERLAND MONKWEARMOUTH ELSIE was born into an Army family and attended Sunderland Millfield until she married Allan Errington in 1946. They were married for 63 years and were blessed with two sons, Nigel, who sadly was promoted to

Glory after a long illness, and Peter, who along with his wife, Sue, lovingly cared for Elsie in recent years. Elsie and Allan served the Lord faithfully at Consett, Stapleford, Sunderland Millfield and eventually Sunderland Monkwearmouth. Elsie had a lovely singing voice and enjoyed serving the Lord as a songster for many years. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and her strong faith was evident to all who knew her. Her calm personality and Christian influence were a blessing and inspiration. Throughout her illness she proved her strong faith in the Lord she loved and served. – LH KATHLEEN JULIAN, STAPLEFORD KATH was a lifelong Salvationist. Throughout her life she had been a soldier – first at Ilkeston Citadel then Coventry City and finally at Stapleford. She held the position of singing company sergeant twice and was a dedicated songster for many years. Kath’s daughter, Corinne, is a soldier at Stapleford and her granddaughter, Victoria Paling, is a territorial envoy at Nottingham Aspley. They both speak of the influence Kath’s faith and strength had on their lives. Kath is greatly missed by her family. – FT

William Booth College online journal Issue 3 is now available Articles include O ‘From Creation to new creation: a theological reflection of salvation imagery in Genesis and Revelation’ by Alison Hutchings O

‘Genesis 15–17: How does God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah inform The Salvation Army’s use of the term ‘covenant’?’ by David Jones

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‘How might a digital Bible be read differently than a print Bible?’ by Sarah King

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‘A critical evaluation of the nature of play in formal gathered worship in The Salvation Army by Emma Newton

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‘Conceiving the corps as a polity: The Salvation Army and Stanley Hauerwas’ by Sam Tomlin

Read it for free at tinyurl.com/wbcjournal3

Are you in need of some daily hope during this lockdown? We have a new FREE telephone line for you to ring to hear comforting hymns, daily prayers ­ĊÌ īÐŦÐÆĴðďĊĮȘ

Aged 55 or over? Have your Zill written free of charge with help from The Salvation Army.

MGS works professionally providing O

COUNSELLING O THERAPY O MEDIATION

MGS works with relationships and other life experiences

MGS is confidential, experienced and free If you would like more information, please go to Or you can call the Legacy team who will be happy to answer any questions you might have on

Contact Major Jorgen Booth and the MGS team Tel 07711 148538 or email mgscounselling@yahoo.com

020 7367 4800

(Based in Worthing – MGS works throughout the UK)

salvationarmy.org.uk/gifts-wills/free-wills-month

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Salvationist Day Month 2020

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