Salvationist 20 February 2021

SALVATIONIST For everyone linked to The Salvation Army

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www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist 20 February 2021

What’s up, doc?

A GP shares his insights PLUS

GOD AT WORK ON THE STREETS

PAGES 10 AND 11

QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA

FLOODING AND HEATWAVES NOW ENDANGER 12M UK LIVES, SAY CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS Climate change is threatening the lives of more than 12 million people in the UK, as temperatures soar and severe flooding events become more frequent, a new report says. The elderly and those with conditions such as diabetes are most at risk.

This Report Comes with a Health Warning: The Impacts of Climate Change on Public Health, released by the Climate Coalition and the Priestley International Centre for Climate … says that at least 1.8 million people are living in areas at high risk of flooding, and 12 million people are considered to be vulnerable to future summer heatwaves…

Those living with the risk of flooding … are four times more likely than those who have been unaffected by flooding to suffer from poor mental health, including depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder.

The rising elderly population in Britain is particularly at risk from heatwaves…

Last year was the joint hottest year globally, and the third hottest year in the UK… The report speaks of health benefits from doing more to tackle climate change, including cleaner air, improved wellbeing, and a reduction in the pressure on the NHS. Church Times

SALVATIONIST

DEBT HELP NEEDS TO BE SIMPLIFIED, SAYS CHRISTIAN CHARITY

MARRIED COUPLES HAVE WEATHERED COVID STORM WELL, STUDY FINDS

Christians Against Poverty (Cap) is calling for changes to the debt help on offer so that more people can qualify.

The charity says the ‘difficult’ eligibility criteria for Debt Relief Orders (DRO) [are] leaving many people in debt with little option but to file for bankruptcy, which is far more expensive and carries much more stigma.

It wants the process to be simplified so that more people can obtain a DRO instead of having to file for bankruptcy.

‘DROs are more affordable…’ Cap’s social policy manager, Rachel Gregory, explained.

‘They are designed for people on low incomes who have no other option to get out of debt. To apply for a DRO costs £90 but a bankruptcy application is £680. This is money people in debt do not have’…

Cap also wants the debt limit raised from £20,000 to £50,000.

The number of couples considering divorce dropped by two thirds during the pandemic, according to a new study.

Between 2017–19, an average of 2.5 per cent of married dads and 5.6 per cent of married mums said they were considering divorce.

But by June 2020, three months after the start of the first UK lockdown, this had fallen to 0.6 per cent of married dads and 1.1 per cent of married mums.

By September, the proportion of married dads saying they wanted to divorce had risen slightly but still remained much lower than prepandemic levels at just 1 per cent, while married mums saying the same had fallen to 0.7 per cent.

The study is based on responses from 3,005 parents in the UK Household Longitudinal Coronavirus survey from the Office for National Statistics, which covers the period up to September 2020.

Christian Today

Christian Today

AID AGENCY CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO USE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF THE CHURCH FOR HUMANITARIAN ISSUES A new report by the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales says the government should use the untapped potential of the church to recover from humanitarian problems around the world.

Cafod’s report entitled Distinctive Role of the Catholic Church in Development and Humanitarian Response says that the vital part played by the church in times of crisis is often overlooked by governments and international agencies…

Cafod said with the church’s extensive experience in development and humanitarian efforts, governments should see the church as a vital partner to plan and implement solutions during the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity’s report says the church networks are trusted and rooted in local communities and can reach the most vulnerable people and remote places where governments often struggle to reach.

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EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts – 020 7367 4901 MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford – 020 7367 4891

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Salvationist 20 February 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

CONTACT SALVATIONIST 020 7367 4890 salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk Find Salvationist on Facebook SalvationistOnline Find Salvationist on Twitter @SalvationistUK

CONTENTS

ALONG THE WAY THE coronavirus pandemic was first mentioned in Salvationist on 15 February last year with a report that a Salvation Army emergency response team was on hand to provide food, refreshments and support for families and friends of those in quarantine at a hospital on the Wirral after having been evacuated from Wuhan in China.

We have all been on quite a journey since then. Along the way there have been many twists and turns, hills to climb and valleys to walk through. We have passed important milestones and there have been crossroads where difficult decisions have been made about the direction of travel, as well as a few false trails that have been followed. With the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines we have turned a corner, but there is still some way to go.

We may have been on a journey metaphorically, but our actual travel has been severely restricted. The prime minister is expected to set out a ‘road map’ on Monday (22 February) indicating the way forward in these next months. As more and more people are vaccinated it is possible that students will return to school, people will be able to visit loved ones, shops and the hospitality sector will reopen and holiday travel will be allowed. Even then, it won’t be full steam ahead. We’re likely to move forward step by step.

If holidays do become possible later in the year, many of us will pack a book to read.

I always find it interesting to see what fellow passengers are reading on a plane or a train, and in this week’s ‘On my bookshelf ’ article Jonathan Evans tells us about some of the books that have accompanied him on his journey of life and faith.

One of Jonathan’s choices is The Lord of the Rings – the story of an epic journey to destroy the One Ring. That is mentioned again by Lyndall Bywater as part of her Prayer Matters series ‘Into the wild’. The series, which ties in with the Salvation Army Prayer Network initiative of the same name, aims to help us on our Lent journey, beginning last week with ‘packing up’ and continuing this week with ‘setting out’.

People walking the streets late on a Saturday night have often found support from street pastors – volunteers from churches, including Army corps, offering practical help and a listening ear. Shanelle Manderson highlights a fascinating new book about their work, which before the pandemic had expanded to cover places such as schools, music festivals and railway stations.

In their accounts of personal journeys, Sharon Boyd, a care home manager in Belfast, looks back at how her work and life were affected over the course of 2020 and Dr Chris Heavens shares insights from his 32 years as a GP in Cardiff and his thoughts about the Covid-19 vaccinations.

Jesus made the road between Jerusalem and Jericho the setting for his story of the Samaritan who helped an injured Jew, showing himself to be ‘a neighbour to the man’ (Luke 10:36). On another road – the road to Emmaus – ‘Jesus himself came up and walked along with’ two disciples on the evening of his resurrection (Luke 24:15), although they didn’t recognise him at first.

As we continue our journey through the pandemic, perhaps these two Bible passages can help us understand how best to do it – to realise that Jesus is alongside us and reach out to others who are struggling along the way.

From the Editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

Quotes from the media

2

Message from the territorial commander

4

News

5 and 6

Prayer matters

6

Self-Denial 2021 Bangladesh

7

Captain Richard Bradbury talks to Captain Ben Cotterill

Feature Beyond the call of duty

8 and 9

by Sharon Boyd

Interview Stories from the streets

10 and 11

by Shanelle Manderson

Interview Putting faith into practice

12 and 13

Dr Chris Heavens talks to Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

Viewpoint Vaccine: Yes or no?

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by Lieut-Colonel (Dr) Eirwen Pallant

On my bookshelf Exploring life and faith

15

by Jonathan Evans

Bible study A living hope

16 and 17

by Major Linda Govier

Through the week with 16 and 17 Salvationist

by Major Jane Kimberley

Poets’ corner

18

Feature Why make a will?

19

by Jackie Birch

Letter from the chief secretary

20 and 21

Preview Virtual London Marathon Announcements

21

22 and 23

Adverts

23

Songbook quiz

24

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

Salvationist 20 February 2021

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A MESSAGE FROM THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Walk on

T

HE recent cold weather caused me to find two old friends. They’ve been a great comfort to me since 1977 when I picked them up in Fulham Broadway. I’m referring to my wellington boots.

I bought them because, as a university student, I was going on a geography field trip. But within a few years I was using them as a geography teacher – an important part of my kit as I took pupils on their field trips.

I don’t know how many hours I spent going door to door in those boots over the years when the annual appeal was in February, receiving people’s gifts and saying, ‘God bless you.’ I don’t know how many games of football I’ve watched from the touchline in those boots, as my kids have played.

One winter when Gill and I were the corps officers in Arbroath a big snowstorm blew in off the North Sea and I felt I should go and see as many of the older members of the congregation as possible.

I trudged round in my boots through the thick snow, making more than 30 visits.

On the very last call I went in and found a woman sitting in the cold. She had attempted to turn on her gas fire but it had not ignited and the room was filling with gas. I just marvel that, courtesy of my boots, I was able to be there at the right time. It was as if God had ordained it.

Another time there were serious floods in Glasgow and I had been out in a 4

Salvationist 20 February 2021

rowing boat helping people. When I got back to dry land the phone was ringing in the emergency vehicle. It was the divisional commander, who told me the corps hall was flooded. My boots and I went and splashed our way into the building to begin clearing up the mess.

Those boots of mine have accompanied me to serious fires, fatal train crashes and the site of a police helicopter crash in a place called Giffnock near Glasgow. I’ve attended two plane crashes where my boots have got me to places that perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to go, including Lockerbie where I was able to trudge through streets where the houses were still on fire and through the surrounding fields, supporting residents, troops and other support workers. You can see why I call these boots my friends. We’ve been through a lot together.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been emphasising a spiritual truth from Isaiah 43:2: ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.’

Some of us have literally been through water. I’m thinking of Salvationists and others who have been helping in areas devastated by flooding. But all of us continue to walk through the metaphorical waters and fires of the coronavirus pandemic.

Song number 1009 in the Salvation Army songbook is based on the truth of

Isaiah 43. It says: ‘We’ve been through fire, we’ve been through rain,/ We’ve been refined by the power of his name.’

This is what God in Christ does. When we go through tough times, he refines us in the power of his name.

The opening words of the song are challenging and invitational: ‘Men of faith, rise up and sing/ Of the great and glorious King./ You are strong when you feel weak,/ In your brokenness complete.’

Verse 2 continues: ‘Rise up, women of the truth,/ Stand and sing to broken hearts,/ Who can know the healing power/ Of our awesome King of love.’

It is a call for us to step out.

It’s so exciting when we see people understanding that their whole lives can be in the service of God, whatever it is that they do. That’s why many of our songwriters have created lines such as ‘Take my feet and let them be/ Swift and beautiful for thee’ (SASB 623) and ‘I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,/ In paths he has marked for my feet’ (SASB 959).

Whether you feel you’re walking through snow, water, fire, mud – or even if you’re walking on eggshells – may your feet be ‘fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace’ (Ephesians 6:15). And even if you are unable to leave your accommodation, may the love, joy, peace and comfort of Jesus be yours and be shared in God’s world.

ANTHONY COTTERILL COMMISSIONER TERRITORIAL COMMANDER O This

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

NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

EMERGENCY AID

Army film premieres on HBO

EMERGENCY AID

Army distributes food after storm strikes

USA

MOZAMBIQUE LA Deuda (The Debt), a new short film produced by The Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory, premiered on the HBO Latino channel in the USA and Bermuda earlier this month.

Filmed on location in Mexico, the Spanish-language film was produced by Share Change, the territory’s multimedia arm in Los Angeles. It is loosely based on Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant, found in Matthew 18.

La Deuda follows a young boy called Victor in his quest to save the life of his beloved pet goat, Isabel.

The film was nominated for the HBO Ibero-American Short Film Award at the Miami Film Festival last year, although the festival was cancelled partway through due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is now available on HBO streaming services, including HBO Max in the USA. A companion Bible study is available for download in both Spanish and English.

‘We want to showcase the continued power of Jesus’ parables and narrative storytelling to teach the universal truths we all need to understand,’ said the territory’s secretary for programme, LieutColonel Lisa Smith.

Director and producer Jeff Prahl added: ‘We’re tremendously blessed that HBO is distributing our film.

God is good. May he receive all the glory and may this film help spark conversations and contemplations on the boundless love and grace of Jesus Christ.’ – AR O To download the Bible study visit

Army supports emergency workers SKEWEN, DONCASTER AND MANCHESTER THE Salvation Army provided support to emergency services as they helped flood victims in the wake of Storm Christoph.

In Skewen, South Wales, about 100 households were evacuated, as well as a residential nursing home. Volunteers from Skewen, Morriston, Ammanford, Carmarthen and Cwm served food and drink to emergency services workers.

Essential items were also distributed to residents from Skewen hall, which became a drop-off centre for donations of clothing, food and cleaning products. First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford visited the village to meet those directly affected by the floods and spent time speaking with Salvation Army leaders and volunteers, thanking them for their work and support.

In Doncaster, South Yorkshire, corps volunteers fed emergency and utility workers who were helping with flood prevention work, while the hall was on standby to provide emergency shelter to people evacuated from their homes.

About 300 homes in Didsbury, Greater Manchester, were also evacuated during heavy rain and snow. Volunteers from Sale Corps spent six hours feeding approximately 100 fire, police and ambulance personnel.

Emergency Services Co-ordinator Major Nigel Tansley (Central North) said: ‘The emergency response team plays a key role in supporting the emergency services, particularly when attending an incident. We can offer a blanket and a cup of tea, a friendly smile or a prayer, and it can make all the difference.’ – SL /AR

FUNDRAISING HEREFORDSHIRE Six-year-old Kian Lamonby from Shobdon helped raise more than £500 for The Salvation Army after seeing someone sleeping rough while out shopping with his mother. Kian couldn’t understand why someone would have to live on the streets and asked if they could do something to help people experiencing homelessness. – AR

salarmy.us/LaDeudaStudy

COMMUNITY Send your news reports to salvationist@salvationarmy. org.uk. Good quality pictures will be included.

WIMBLEDON Corps members Jenny and Richard Smart suggested a Sunday prayer walk to corps officer Captain Annette Wicks that encompassed ambulance, fire and police stations, as well as the Nelson Medical Practice and St George’s Hospital. Adhering to social distancing measures, they walked 5.4 miles and gave out chocolates and Kids Alive! magazines to say thank you. – AR

THE Salvation Army has been working with other agencies to secure a robust supply of emergency food for up to 1,500 individuals after Cyclone Eloise hit the central Mozambique province of Sofala in January. Bringing 100 mile-perhour winds, heavy rains and severe flooding, the storm displaced thousands of people from their homes.

Around three million people were facing high levels of food insecurity before Cyclone Eloise struck. With crops inundated by the storm, the situation has been exacerbated.

Lieutenant Delfina António Zualo, assistant project officer in Mozambique said: ‘The situation is hard. Eight people died [in the storm] and many lost their houses.

Roads are destroyed and access is blocked. I am especially concerned about children, elderly people and vulnerable individuals in the community who were already struggling with the effects of Covid-19 while also recovering from Cyclone Chalane in December.’

With a needs assessment identifying people waist-deep in floodwater among those in particular need of help, plans have been developed to distribute bulk quantities of rice, beans and cooking oil to approximately 300 families, sufficient to ensure a month’s supply of basic nutrition. Aid recipients will also receive five bars of soap for personal hygiene.

Nationally, the Army has been co-ordinating with government and non-governmental agencies to ensure that relief supplies reach the people most in need. Much of the collaborative response has been channelled through 21 temporary camps that were set up to accommodate those who have been displaced. – AR Salvationist 20 February 2021

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NEWS

Prayer

INTERNATIONAL INTO THE WILD: WEEK 1 – PACKING UP

by Lyndall Bywater (territorial prayer consultant)

Residents find art and soul at Paris shelter FRANCE STAFF, residents and volunteers at the Army’s La Cité de Refuge shelter in Paris have participated in an interactive art project called Human Soul.

The year-long project recounts the stories of ‘invisible and forgotten’ members of vulnerable communities, using a variety of artistic techniques, from portraits and light boxes to large-scale installations and contemporary collage.

Curated and spearheaded by artists Anne-Laure Maison and Michel Cam, the concept was first developed in the Philippines and has travelled the world. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the artists have modified the project and are drawing inspiration from the often-challenging journeys of the Army shelter’s residents.

Depictions of their life stories now adorn the interior and exterior walls of the refuge, enabling people to share deeply personal stories in a safe and nurturing context.

Centre Manager Christophe Piedra said: ‘We consider the Human Soul initiative to be a long-term project, since both artists will live in the centre for a year. It was important for us to conceive it as an overall part of the social work. Service users have led multiple different lives and this project is a way to show that they are much more than “people in need”.

‘Many service users wanted to be part of it, because they felt it was a fantastic way to express – without necessarily using words – who they really are and what shaped them to be this way.’ – AR

SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY What did Jesus pack for the journey? There’s no way to know, but we can do our own ‘packing’ before we set out. What have you learnt over recent months? What new gifts have you received? What old blessings have you rediscovered? What do you know God is telling you to hold on to in this season? Do some journaling today, writing down five things you want to take on your Lent journey.

SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY We assume Jesus travelled his wilderness journey alone, but it’s notable that it began in a public place with lots of onlookers (Luke 3:21). It’s easy to get caught up in our own concerns, but the people around us are on a journey too and we all need the encouragement of fellow travellers. Talk with friends and family about the journeys you’re on and where you’d like to get to by Easter.

INTO THE WILD: WEEK 2 – SETTING OUT

by Lyndall Bywater

MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY Read these words, sung by the hobbit Bilbo as he sets out on a journey at the start of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and notice what stirs in you: ‘The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.’

TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY Luke tells us that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness (Luke 4:1).

Does that mean Jesus set out without knowing where he was going, or did the Spirit overrule his plans? If you’re the sort of person who likes to be in control, it can be hard to let the Spirit lead you. Fast from one of your regular daily activities today – a meal, a TV programme you normally watch or your time on social media. See where the Spirit leads you in the time you free up.

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY Whether he’d planned it or not, the wilderness must have felt like a daunting destination for Jesus, yet Luke tells us that he emerged transformed – in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). Do some journaling today about a time in your life when you found yourself in a place you didn’t want to be. How did you get there? What did God do in you? How were you different afterwards?

THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY Forty days is a long time to be away from home. The Gospels make it clear that Jesus loved people and parties, so he must have missed being with his loved ones. Take time today to connect with someone who is away from home. Ask how they’re doing and ask how you can pray for them. Hold them in your prayers today.

FUNDRAISING HAMILTON Corps folk and members of a nearby church submitted subm their favourite recipes to be included in a Lockdown Favourites cookbook, which was produced to raise money for Christian Aid. The books were ready in time for Christmas and were great stocking fillers. A total of £1,367 was raised. Pictured are Christine Young, who typed up all the recipes, Fundraiser Co-ordinator Flora Smeaton, who came up with the idea and helped produce and distribute the books, and corps officer Captain Wendy Leisk. – WL 6

Salvationist 20 February 2021

FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’ (Isaiah 43:18 and 19). These words would have been familiar to Jesus. What might they have meant to him as he journeyed into the wilderness?

Meditate on these Isaiah verses today. What do you learn from them as you set out on your Lent journey?

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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Bangladesh In the third of five articles Captain Ben Cotterill speaks to Captain Richard Bradbury about this year’s Self-Denial Appeal

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APTAIN Richard Bradbury and his wife, Captain Heidie (pictured above), have served in Bangladesh for the past two and a half years, with their two children. They work at Command Headquarters in Dhaka, the country’s capital.

Bangladesh has about 100 officers and 1,300 soldiers. The country’s population is growing, especially in the cities. Dhaka has twice the population of London, but it is five times more densely populated.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AFFECTED LIFE IN BANGLADESH? It’s been a challenging time. The pandemic isn’t just a healthcare issue, it’s an economic issue. Many people are on daily wages, so do not have any income when they can’t work, which has serious implications.

When you live in crowded conditions – whether it be in a house you’re sharing with extended family or living on top of each other in a slum area – transmission is much quicker and it’s a lot harder to isolate.

MANY INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY. HOW DIFFICULT WAS THE DECISION TO STAY? In some ways it was not very difficult.

We felt that we had this tremendous privilege of living in another culture and we couldn’t only do that during the good times. If we truly believe that this is our calling – that this is where we’re supposed to be – then it has to be during the challenging times as well.

Yes, there were struggles in our minds, particularly at the start and particularly around the lack of healthcare. That’s why many people left. But, for us, we had to believe that our faith was stronger than our fears. We wanted to stay and journey with our colleagues.

HOW IS CHURCH LIFE CONTINUING IN BANGLADESH? During the initial stages of lockdown we had to close the churches, but we don’t have the benefits of Zoom or Skype. It’s often said that, in places like Bangladesh, The Salvation Army is not for the poor, it is the poor. Many of our soldiers live in poverty but our officers did a remarkable job keeping everybody connected. We kept going until we were able to gather together in person.

RESILIENCE IS A THEME OF THE SELF-DENIAL APPEAL. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SEE IN BANGLADESH? The Bangladeshi people are tremendously resilient, and the officers

reflect that in their responses, because we aren’t just dealing with Covid-19.

There is also dengue fever and we’re helping people rebuild their homes after a cyclone – several halls and quarters were blown away.

The locals really stepped up the response. We were able to co-ordinate things but the majority of work was done by officers on the ground. They did an amazing job, often without any concern for their own safety.

We also have several clinics that stayed open. I pay real tribute to the staff members of those clinics, who kept soldiering on.

During this time we also held our Self-Denial Appeal. While we receive help from it, the appeal is something that everybody contributes to. It emphasises that we stand together as Salvationists and Christians.

O This article is based on a video that can be viewed from Sunday at youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo

CAPTAIN COTTERILL IS CORPS OFFICER, CLAPTON WITH STOKE NEWINGTON AND DALSTON PLANTS

Next week Major Merlinda Boone in the Philippines

Salvationist 20 February 2021

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FEATURE I Managing while shielding

Beyond the call of duty Sharon Boyd, the manager at Sir Samuel Kelly Memorial care home, shares the highs and lows of frontline work

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T the beginning of 2020 none of us knew what was in store as we headed towards the coronavirus pandemic. As the manager of a care home – in Holywood, near Belfast – the possible impact was never underestimated, but it was hard to envisage exactly what that impact would be.

We quickly planned ahead, attended meetings, ordered extra cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, organised training and completed risk assessments and business continuity plans. Then we waited.

Personally, it was an anxious time as I was in the shielding group and had to negotiate working from home. It was difficult and unusual to lead staff members and plan and hold meetings from home to ensure the governance of the care home continued. I was only able to do this with the support of the management team and my line manager.

I also had to get my head around the technical issues of Zoom and Lifesize meetings but I enjoyed the visual connection they enabled.

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Salvationist 20 February 2021

My dining room became my office. It did feel as if work had invaded my home and there was no longer the opportunity to switch off from work during a drive home and no escape at the weekends.

The computer was a visible reminder of work 24/7.

Two of my children were sent home from school in March with the uncertainty of how GCSEs and A levels would be assessed. As their mum I took this on board, plus the lockdown’s impact on them and the consequent isolation they felt, and supported them emotionally as best I could. My other daughter, who was in her third year of training in medicine, was sent home from her hospital placement as doctors were needed to ‘treat not teach’. She felt the loss of this teaching experience and the opportunities that it offered greatly. My husband was also working from home, so for the next few months there were five of us in the house – either working or a bit bored with no schoolwork or exams to do!

Although the house was busy every day, I missed the company of my work

colleagues and friends and the buzz of daily life. I found working from home very isolating and the pace was completely different from what I was used to.

When the coronavirus spread into the care home the pace of everything changed and every day was busy from beginning to end. The anxiety I felt for staff members and residents, and their relatives, cannot be expressed.

All our plans for such an eventuality went into action but the reality was different from what we had imagined.

Local authority, government, public health, Salvation Army and regulatory guidance was frequently changing, and translating this into direct care within the care home was demanding and stressful.

I felt completely overwhelmed and missed the tangible support of my colleagues. The effect on the staff team cannot be underestimated, with many feeling anxious, overwhelmed and stressed by the impact of the virus.

Thankfully, we came through this phase. We were armed with experience and would be better able to deal with whatever came our way in future days.

There are things that I have loved about lockdown and being at home more, such as having time to knit, sew, read, cook and be in the garden, enjoying the stillness and hearing birdsong. I have loved not having to rush home and then rush out to take children to activities. In good weather, we enjoyed eating outside.

I have also loved the online ministry of Belfast Sydenham Corps and the fact that I could tap into meetings and listen to teaching and worship any time I wanted, although I did miss the usual connection with church friends and family and singing together.

Lockdowns and working from home made me realise that first and foremost I am a people-person and value connection with others. Without this, I struggle! Sometimes, we wished for quieter days when we would not have to go out, but when those days did come, they were not as wonderful as we thought.

Some of these pictures were taken before the coronavirus pandemic

I returned to work at the start of August and was apprehensive after being sheltered for so long, but the loveliness of being back at the care home and being able to chat to others lessened my anxiety. After a few hours, I felt as if I had never been away.

However, with the third wave of the coronavirus, we are once again in lockdown and people are becoming weary of restrictions and the continuing anxiety. There is hope, nevertheless, as the Covid-19 vaccination programme is rolled out across the country.

Staff members and residents at Sir Samuel Kelly received their second

vaccine dose in January. We are so fortunate to be in this position and, as a care home manager, it does give me a certain peace of mind.

It has been good to have some visitors back in the home, although they are restricted to one visiting room and a shorter visiting time. To have the care home’s hairdresser back in on a weekly basis has lifted the spirits of the residents after many months with no haircuts.

The staff members are committed to engaging with residents in varied activities. They have gone above and beyond their roles with great creativity

and compassion to ensure life for the residents has been entertaining, lively and interesting. I commend them for this.

My hope for 2021 is that life will return to ‘normal’ and, as the whole population is vaccinated, that the home will again open up to visitors and entertainers and that residents will be able to go out into the community and visit family and friends. I also hope that the staff team, who have worked so hard and stayed safe for the health of the residents, will have the freedom to relax, meet with loved ones and take a much-deserved holiday!

Salvationist 20 February 2021

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INTERVIEW

Stories from the streets Street Pastors volunteers Dr Luke Randall and Sue Shaw tell Shanelle Manderson about their new book

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EFORE coronavirus restrictions and the inevitable halt to the night-time economy, it wouldn’t be unusual to find street pastors walking around your town or city on a Saturday night offering compassion, support and a listening ear to people in need. Now, you’re more likely to see them during the day and evenings, looking out for lonely, vulnerable people who may need to be signposted to relevant agencies.

Street pastors are trained volunteers from churches who care about their community. In the Gospels there are many instances where Jesus reached out to care for marginalised people.

Following his example, street pastors aim to do the same, not only in the streets but also in other public spheres.

Pioneered in London in 2003 by the Rev Les Isaac, the Street Pastors network now has more than 20,000 volunteers across the UK. There are also a growing number of Street Pastors teams overseas. Each city project is set up under the guidelines of the governing 10

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body, Ascension Trust, and run by a local co-ordinator with support from churches and community groups, in partnership with the police, the council and other statutory agencies.

Dr Luke Randall, a research microbiologist who has been a Street Pastors team leader in the Greater London area for 10 years, and Sue Shaw, who was a co-ordinator for her local scheme for many years before serving the Street Pastors movement in Antigua, have co-authored a book titled Stories from the Streets. It shares real life stories from branches throughout the UK, as well as some of the life-saving stories of those with whom they come into contact, and documents some of Sue’s experiences while in Antigua.

Luke explains how the idea for the book came about: ‘One night the Street Pastors team were out, and a man came over and recounted a story where another team had saved his life. It made me think about how moving some of these stories are, and that it would be

good if a wider audience heard them.’

A real labour of love, the book took up to three years to write and is the first to be written by Street Pastors volunteers.

The introduction sets the scene within the Christian heritage of Britain and mentions The Salvation Army’s beginnings, its charity shops, Lifehouses and the disaster relief and humanitarian aid it offers to developing countries. In a later chapter it also recognises the Army’s work with people experiencing homelessness.

‘I felt it was important to reference The Salvation Army because it’s a well-known and respected Christian organisation that originated in Britain and has spread around the world,’ explains Luke. ‘The Army cares for the disadvantaged and this is similar to some aspects of Street Pastors ministry.’

Some theological content, such as the parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son, has been woven into the book in a way that Luke hopes is not too heavy for non-believers, to

put into context God loving people out on the streets.

‘We wanted the book to be accessible to people who wouldn’t call themselves Christians, so we’ve avoided using jargon,’ says Sue. Two chapters focus on co-ordinators, the people who run Street Pastors initiatives in a given location and do a lot of work behind the scenes.

‘Every group is different, but we’ve tried to show variability,’ says Luke. ‘So, for example, the Reading Street Pastors group helps with Reading Festival, and the Edinburgh Street Pastors group works with Street Assist, a non-NHS ambulance service that takes people who are highly intoxicated or injured to a centre with first-aiders – or, if needed, to A&E – to take pressure off the hospitals.’

‘We’ve also included the other aspects of Street Pastors work – rail pastors, prayer pastors, school pastors and response pastors – and given some background information about what sort of training you need, like knowledge

about drugs and alcohol misuse and safeguarding issues,’ adds Sue. ‘So the book is also useful in terms of educating people about what it means to be a street pastor as well.’

While the highlight of putting the book together for Sue was writing about her experiences in Antigua, for Luke it was seeing final copies arrive from the publishers and knowing the project had been completed after several challenges. Though there was an initial struggle in obtaining stories for the book, this quickly improved. The main difficulty was seeking publishing permission from individuals.

‘We had to be sure that people were happy to give their personal details,’ says Sue. ‘We got written permission and worked hard to anonymise stories unless people wanted to be identified. A lot of people’s names have been changed, as well as some of their details, so people can’t be identified easily, especially in Antigua. It is a very small place, everybody knows each other.’

Stories from the Streets was written with the belief that the main people who would be interested in the book would be street pastors who want to read about what’s happening in other areas, or Christians who may not want to be a street pastor but nevertheless support the work. However, it could also be helpful for trainee street pastors.

‘Whoever is reading the book, I hope it brings some light and encouragement, so people know that God is at work on the streets and that he cares about people on the edges of society – people who are often deeply vulnerable,’ enthuses Sue. ‘I hope that people will be encouraged and that those who don’t know God yet will reflect on the stories and begin to think about whether they could have a relationship with him.’

O For more information about Street Pastors or to order a copy of Stories from the Streets visit storiesfromthestreets.org Salvationist 20 February 2021

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INTERVIEW

Putting faith into practic

Dr Chris Heavens speaks to Lieut-Colone Lieut-Co about his work as a GP and his hopes fo

‘I

HAD an interest in science early in life and also wanted to do something involving people,’ says Dr Chris Heavens, a Salvationist from Cardiff C nton. ‘After graduating from Ca Canton. medical school in 1985 I spent some years as a junior doctor before becoming a general practitioner.’

Almost 32 years later Chris is still a partner at a GP practice in the west of Cardiff.

‘As a GP you stay in one place and get to know the families. Some of the patients were babies when I first saw them and by now might have grandchildren.

It’s good to be part of the community.

‘We have about 8,500 patients, and there are eight doctors and four nurses. Our practice area is quite economically diverse.

Part of it covers one of the most deprived areas of the city, but we also look after some of the affluent villages on the edge of Cardiff.’

As the term ‘general practice’ implies, a GP is faced with a broad range of illnesses to diagnose.

‘You can be presented with absolutely anything across the medical, social or mental health spectrum. You just don’t know what’s going to come up.’

Along with the more serious cases, patients occasionally present him with problems that raise a smile.

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h ce

el Jonathan Roberts or the Covid-19 vaccines ‘When I was a young doctor,’ Chris remembers, ‘a woman told me her husband had sent her along because her bottom was cold in bed. So, with a chaperone, I dutifully examined her bottom, and of course it was the normal temperature. I made up some advice on the spot about hot baths and wearing something warm and sent her away. I don’t think I’ve seen her since!’

If the variety makes work interesting, it also means Chris has to be alert to any type of illness.

‘The challenge is trying to deal with absolutely everything that comes through the door. Sometimes you see a lot of routine stuff, but at other times you see something really serious, and at an early stage when it’s not so obvious. The challenge is never to treat anything as just routine, but always to be aware that there can be something more serious behind it.’

As a committed Christian, Chris’s faith plays an important part in his work, although he is careful not to abuse his position.

‘I hear occasionally of doctors who have Bibles on their desks and preach a bit, but I’m certainly not like that,’ he insists. ‘My view is that it could potentially damage the doctor-patient relationship.

Obviously my faith does inform what I do and how I am. The way I present myself and the way I address people’s problems, I hope, reflects that faith.

‘Sometimes you come across people who have got themselves into a problem through their own decisions. It can be difficult to have sympathy for them when there are other people waiting to be seen – people who you’re tempted to think are more worthy. But God knows there’s innate value in every human life. Nobody is worthless, so I must treat everybody

the same, no matter what their behaviour and lifestyle.

‘In this job I’m face to face with the frailty of life and health. You see things happen to people and feel immensely sad for them and their families. It’s heartbreaking sometimes, but I have faith that this life is not all there is, and that sustains me in those circumstances.’

Like most people who have been able to work during the pandemic, Chris’s working patterns have changed significantly.

‘Nobody comes to see us before they’ve been spoken to on the phone.

We also do video consultations when necessary. For those that need to be seen we take special precautions.

Instead of our ordinary clothes we wear scrubs along with a mask and gloves – and we have a Covid room that is cleaned afterwards. If necessary, we still visit people at home, again with protection. It was difficult to get used to the changes, but they have been necessary to protect people. Patients and the practice team have adapted pretty well.’

Chris and his colleagues started vaccinating people against Covid-19 in January. The practice has also combined with others to organise a drive-through vaccination centre. Chris realises that some people might be hesitant but advises everyone to receive a vaccine.

‘The invention of vaccination was the most important advance in medical history,’ he says. ‘It has saved more lives than anything else. I had no hesitation in being vaccinated myself because it is safe and effective.

‘The vaccination will protect you from becoming seriously ill and needing to go to hospital. Also, you are doing

something for the community. We need to get enough people vaccinated to produce this so-called herd immunity.

That’s when so many people are immunised against the condition that the virus cannot infect enough people to spread. Coronavirus will still exist, but its terrible spread through society and through the world will be stopped in its tracks and forced back.

‘In this country, if all goes well, I’m hopeful we can return to normal by the autumn. Around the world it will take much longer because a lot of countries have difficulty getting the vaccines.

There has to be a big effort to make them available.’

Although the pandemic has brought widespread misery, Chris has been encouraged by some of the positive things that have emerged.

‘This has been a terrible experience for a lot of us,’ he says, ‘but we have seen some good things. There have been heroics from many hospital staff members and several fantastic scientific advances to get this vaccine so quickly, and we’re seeing people volunteering and looking after their neighbours. Now there are many people stepping forward as volunteer vaccinators, wanting to do their bit to try and stop the pandemic.

We’ve seen the best of people in this terrible adversity.’

As Chris nears the end of his medical career he looks back with a great deal of satisfaction and is keen to encourage others to follow in his footsteps.

‘We need more general practitioners because many, like me, are approaching retirement,’ he says. ‘I’d definitely recommend a career in general practice.

It is really rewarding to be part of the community and to know you’ve been able to help the people there.’

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VIEW POINT

Vaccine: Yes or no?

Lieut-Colonel (Dr) Eirwen Pallant assesses the pros and cons of the Covid-19 vaccines

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VERY day we make choices. We constantly assess situations to decide whether the benefit is worth taking the risk – from simple things like crossing the road to major life events like starting a family. If we think the risks are low and the benefits are high, then we go ahead. But if the risks are high and the benefits are low, we might seek an alternative course of action.

Around the world people are currently making a choice about whether to have a Covid-19 vaccine. So what are the risks and the benefits?

RISKS The risks of vaccines are not always clear. Mild reactions to a Covid-19 vaccine are common, but they are short-lasting. Headaches or a flu-like feeling have been reported but are usually gone the next day.

The risk of a major allergic reaction is minimal for most people and those who are susceptible are recommended not to have a vaccine. Even if one happens, medical staff will treat it immediately and there should be no lasting effects.

The producers of the vaccines cannot guarantee there will be no side effects.

All they can say is that, so far, there have not been any major side effects.

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The number of people vaccinated in trials is key; the larger the trial the higher the possibility of recording any side effects.

We have all heard stories where drug companies have hidden results to make their medicine look safer than it is.

Some bad researchers have falsified results to make a reputation for themselves. This is why peer reviewing of studies is important to identify any weaknesses or signs of making the results look better than they are.

BENEFITS Vaccines are not new. Millions of lives have been saved across the world because of vaccines for diseases such as smallpox, polio and measles.

Illnesses and disabilities have been prevented and smallpox has been eradicated – what was once a highly infectious killer is no longer even thought about.

The most important benefit of the Covid-19 vaccines is immunity from infection from a virus that can kill you.

The vaccines also mean that coronavirus symptoms, if there are any, are mild, which means you are less likely to develop long Covid, where symptoms last for weeks or months.

Vaccination reduces the need to

isolate from others for personal safety and may mean a reduction in the spread of the disease, especially to other members of your family, friends and loved ones.

It is reassuring to know that the Covid-19 vaccines have been funded outside normal research funding and that drug companies will not be able to make vast amounts of profit from it, reducing any temptation to be less than transparent in their reporting.

The Covid-19 vaccines have also been carefully tested and thoroughly reviewed.

When assessing risks and benefits, it is always dependent on how much we trust the information that we have been given.

If the information is trustworthy, then we are likely to make a good decision.

Vaccines: yes or no? My choice is yes. I have had all the vaccinations recommended for me in the past and I will queue up for my Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is available.

LIEUT-COLONEL PALLANT IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PERSONNEL (DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH), THQ

ON MY BOOKSHELF

Exploring life and faith 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, Jonathan Evans (Sale) THE LORD OF THE RINGS I FIRST read JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece after seeing Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Whether it was the characters, the poetry or the struggle between the forces of good and evil, I found it utterly compelling, even if it was a challenging read for an 11-year-old!

The story follows a hobbit named Frodo from the Shire as he tries to cross the dangerous, magical world of Middle-earth in a quest to destroy the One Ring. The tale’s villain, Sauron, forged this ring centuries before and is seeking to regain it to cover the Earth in darkness.

This timeless novel is everything a classic fantasy story should be, but it also illustrates the power of friendship and the qualities required for endurance on life’s journey, perhaps even on a journey of faith: courage, honesty, patience, trust and love. As Lady Galadriel says: ‘Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them.’

THE REST IS NOISE AMONG the many academic texts and papers I consumed while studying music at university, perhaps the most engaging and accessible was by the New Yorker music critic Alex Ross.

Whether it be the great symphonies of Mahler, Sibelius and Shostakovich, the popular music of Gershwin and

Bernstein, or the weird, wacky and – in my view – wonderful musings of Steve Reich, John Cage, John Adams and Arvo Pärt, my musical passion lies in the 20th century. Ross manages to produce a cohesive chronicle that encapsulates the whole period in terms of its musical features but also the music’s fascinating relationship with wider social narratives and cultures: nationalism, war, politics, space exploration, environmental destruction and technological development.

He writes: ‘The best kind of classical performance is not a retreat into the past but an intensification of the present.’

This is a must-read for anyone who loves classical music or who wants to understand more about the sounds that surround them on a daily basis.

WILL IT MAKE THE BOAT GO FASTER? I LOVE autobiographies or biographies of great leaders, whatever their field. Sir Alex Ferguson’s Leading, Nelson Mandela’s A Long Walk to Freedom and Ray SteadmanAllen’s History, Harmony and Humanity would be just a taste of what lies on my bookshelf – and Barack Obama’s The Promised Land was at the top of my Christmas list for 2020.

This book was recommended to me by my head teacher when I was embarking on a senior leadership position at my school. Each chapter charts Ben Hunt-Davis’s journey to Olympic rowing success while drawing parallels between his

crew’s strategies and us achieving greater feats for our organisations. I couldn’t help but consider the implications for my church in reaching our goals. In every decision we take at a local, divisional or territorial level we should be asking, ‘Will it make the boat go faster?’ In other words, will it help to make disciples of Jesus?

WHERE IS GOD IN A CORONAVIRUS WORLD? ‘A CHRISTIAN is not so much a person who has solved the problem of pain, suffering and coronavirus, but one who has come to love and trust a God who has himself suffered.’

A copy of this, the most recent book on my list, was sent by Major Noel Wright to each member of the International Staff Band to guide us in our devotions when we were suddenly unable to meet collectively. It has provided peace, comfort and joy in the midst of a year that has brought so much angst and isolation for so many.

In examining worldviews of how to deal with a crisis, John Lennox shows how faith in God enables us to have hope.

He provides a Christian view of the pandemic that allows the reader to make sense of the crisis while clinging to a tangible confidence in Christ Jesus. The book validates our vulnerability, finds evidence of God’s love in 2020 and shows the difference he can make through us in our world.

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BIBLE STUDY

A living hope Major Linda Govier reminds us that by our new birth we have the hope of an inheritance

‘Fill thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise.’

1 PETER 1:3–9

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O you appreciate speakers who get straight to the point? It can be frustrating when people beat about the bush, when we just want to hear what they have to say. To hurry things along we say ‘spit it out’, encouraging the speaker to speak frankly. Peter’s message is about hope, but he starts with praise. Not because he can’t get to the point but because his understanding of hope is cause for great rejoicing; it immediately elicits praise and leads to glorious joy.

QUESTIONS O How can praise be expressed?

O Does praise always come naturally or is it a discipline to be developed?

Read the lyrics to song number 361 in the Salvation Army songbook. It begins:

Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day

by Major Jane Kimberley

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Peter’s concise writing in our study passage gives every word significance, and reveals the context for our hope.

Following praise, he speaks of mercy and new birth. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is merciful. In the place of a death sentence he grants life.

Through the resurrection of Jesus, we have been given new birth. The families we are born into expose the inequality of opportunities: shamefully, there are children born into poverty who struggle to survive while others born into prosperity can be more confident of security. In Christ, all can be born again into God’s family and offered a living hope.

QUESTION O What other benefits do those who have been born again enjoy?

Read the lyrics to song number 483.

Focus on these words: ‘Now I have come into your family, for the Son of God has died for me. O Lord, such peace … assurance … confidence … joy.’

There is a danger that we diminish our concept of hope by how we use the word in everyday speech. We say things like ‘I hope it won’t rain tomorrow’, when we mean it would be inconvenient if it rains as our plans would then be disrupted. In cases like this, what we hope for and what happens are not always the same.

Sometimes our hopes are not selfish.

We might say ‘I hope you feel better’ to a friend who is unwell, but hope itself will not cure them. The hope of a different future can spur people to do extraordinary things, but there is always a risk that their efforts will not be rewarded in the way they had hoped.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

There is a hope that burns within my heart,/ That gives me strength for every passing day;/ A glimpse of Glory now revealed in meagre part,/ Yet drives all doubt away:/ I stand in Christ with sins forgiven;/ And Christ in me, the hope of Heaven!/ My highest calling and my deepest joy,/ To make his will my home.

(SASB 550)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

(Hebrews 10:23)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:17 and 18)

Prayer Dear Lord, only you can bring hope and healing to a world filled with so much hopelessness and suffering.

Help me not to be distracted and discouraged but to keep my focus on you and reflect your hope through my life.

Christian hope is not like this. It is sure and certain – a living hope. By our new birth we have the hope of an inheritance.

Viewers of the TV programme The Repair Shop are shown the result of time, use and neglect on inherited possessions that owners want preserved to pass on to future generations. The show’s experts take great pains to repair these items thus prolonging their life, but they cannot guarantee they will last forever.

Unlike an earthly inheritance that can be lost, devalued or spoilt, our inheritance is kept for us in Heaven where it cannot perish, spoil or fade.

An earthly inheritance is of no benefit if the recipient does not live to receive it or circumstances cause them to be disinherited. Our hope is doubly sure: not only is our inheritance kept for us, but we are also kept for the inheritance.

This protection is granted to those who by faith are shielded by God’s power. ‘Shielding’ has been implemented during the coronavirus pandemic as an attempt to protect clinically vulnerable individuals for whom contracting the virus could have serious or even fatal consequences.

The shield of faith protects believers from attacks that would otherwise be deadly to our newborn relationship with God. In this we greatly rejoice.

QUESTIONS O How can we rejoice when we are suffering?

O What do you consider the greatest test of faith?

Read the lyrics to song number 531.

‘There are shadows on the earthly pathway where, at times uncertainly, we tread; in perplexity we halt and linger till

our faith again is upward led.’ Can you relate to this?

In the midst of all these praiseworthy truths there is recognition of the reality of earthly life. Peter writes: ‘You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials’ (v6). Thankfully we are reminded that trials are temporary, but this does not ease their intensity. Being a Christian does not immunise us from suffering and grief. Peter likens the experience of trials to the refining process that gold is put through. When faith withstands testing it results in praise, glory and honour expressed in the presence of Jesus. Praise him!

MAJOR GOVIER IS DIVISIONAL MISSION ENABLER, CENTRAL EAST DIVISION

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,/ A consolation strong against despair,/ That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,/ I find the Saviour there!/ Through present sufferings, future’s fear,/ He whispers ‘Courage!’ in my ear./ For I am safe in everlasting arms,/ And they will lead me Home.

(SASB 550)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

(1 Peter 5:10)

There is a hope that stands the test of time,/ That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,/ To see the matchless beauty of a day divine/ When I behold his face!/ When sufferings cease and sorrows die,/ And every longing satisfied,/ Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,/ For I am truly Home.

(SASB 550)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)

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Poets’ corner Springtime The icy wind is cutting round each corner, The sky is full of snow about to fall, The ground is hard and nothing grows within it, The plants there all stand rigid, frozen, small.

O send your sun where once there was a summer, And turn us back again to see your smile, O break the stubborn heart that brought us winter, O may your spring come in a little while.

But was that not a snowflake I saw melting?

Do I now see a snowdrop lift its head?

And what was that which woke the dormant squirrel?

And caused the hedgehog there to leave its bed?

To that lone song, long hidden in the hedgerow, Come myriad echoes from each branch and briar, The joyous sound grows with the sunshine’s brightness, As Jesus Christ the Son is lifted higher.

MAJOR HOWARD WEBBER

Absolutely wonderful God is absolutely wonderful to me, He is more than I could ever dream he’d be.

He’s my Saviour and my King, He’s my Lord my everything, God is absolutely wonderful to me.

God is absolutely wonderful to me, He can be the same to you as well to me, For he saved me from my sin, Gave me peace and joy within, God is absolutely wonderful to me.

God is absolutely wonderful to me, Mere words cannot express his love for me.

In the very darkest days, He has held my hand always, God is absolutely wonderful to me.

God is absolutely wonderful to all, For he sent his precious Son to save us all.

Through his blood we’re saved from sin, Have eternal life with him, God is absolutely wonderful to all.

Matthew 5:48 ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

To be like Jesus Me? Like him?

With so many twisted feelings Rife within?

He was perfect But not me: Too many things to hamper Any hope to be Loving, caring, giving, Gentle, kind.

What am I beside him?

Stumbling, blind.

For our salvation He left his throne.

Whose needs matter to me?

Just my own.

Father, I’m your child too, Just like him.

Please, plant the family likeness Deep within.

BERYL MITHAN

HAZEL PYNE

A pray-er’s ’ arpeggio

Snowdrops S d

We’re novices, Lord – unpractised children apprenticed to the Master.

We struggle with rhythm, With melody’s weave, harmony’s artful ardour and the labyrinth of lyric.

Please keep marking time, in our prayer-tuned ears until our noise is music to delight your heart!

LIEUT-COLONEL MARLENE CHASE

The dark silent stillness of winter, The hard lifeless earth, hard as iron, The harsh bitter words of destruction, The dark solemn night of death.

The still silent strength of creation, The soft warmth of sun to the soil, The fresh drops of dew gently soaking, The breakthrough of snowdrops bring life.

Christ brings new life from destruction, Changing despair into joy.

Earth gives her silence a voice, Crucifixion her curse to ‘Rejoice’.

MAJOR EILEEN COOK

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FEATURE I Making a will

Why make a will?

Legacy Fundraising Manager Jackie Birch (THQ) explains that where there’s a will there’s a way to make things happen

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HERE are many reasons why it is important to make a will. It means you can be certain your wishes will be met when you die and to make sure that everything you own goes to the people and causes you care about.

A will makes things easier for the people you leave behind – by letting them know your wishes you’ll be continuing to look after your loved ones by removing any uncertainties.

If you have young children, making a will is even more important because it can state who you want to take guardianship of your children in the event of your death.

Even if you don’t think you own much, it is still worth writing a will. You might be surprised about your wealth, especially if you own a home and have life insurance or savings. Making a will is the only way you can decide what happens to your assets.

You can write your own will, but it is an important legal document: it deals with the disposal of money and possibly your home and sets out a number of important issues such as guardianship. You must therefore get it right if it is to be valid. A poorly worded will can create doubt over your intentions. Mistakes could happen and your wishes might not be met. Worse even, disagreements might arise, leading to legal costs. That is why it is advisable to seek professional advice from a solicitor.

O If

you have any queries about amending or making a will, or would like more information about free will writing schemes, contact the Army’s Legacy Unit on 0800 144 4774

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT WILLS I DON’T NEED ONE AS EVERYTHING WILL GO TO MY HUSBAND/WIFE/ PARTNER Assets held in your joint names will pass automatically to the survivor when one of you dies but any assets held in your sole name – property, investments, bank accounts – will have to be transferred. Without a will, the process is not quite as straightforward.

COMMON LAW KICKS IN WHEN THERE IS NO WILL If you aren’t married, jointly owned assets would still pass by survivorship, but a partner doesn’t have the same legal entitlements as those conferred on a spouse.

A will is one of the only ways to make absolutely certain a partner benefits when you die. For those who aren’t married, it’s also worth considering any life assurance or pension benefits that might arise in the event of your death, to ensure that your partner benefits wherever possible.

MAKING ONE IS COMPLICATED Many people put off making a will because they don’t know where to start. Breaking down the process into bite-sized chunks can make what feels like an enormous task more manageable: What you have Your assets – everything you own.

Who you want your money to go to Do you want to leave people or charities sums of money, or divide your estate into shares for various people or charities to have?

Who will organise it You need to choose an executor to administer your affairs when you die. This might be a family member, friend or a solicitor.

Writing the will Once you have established your assets, decided who you want to inherit and who is going to act as executor/s, you are ready to have your will drafted.

MAKING ONE IS EXPENSIVE If your will is simple (for example, everything to your spouse on first death and to your children when the survivor of you dies) it doesn’t have to be expensive.

The Salvation Army has a number of free will writing options available to you. In March and October each year, the Army participates in Free Wills Month. That means you can have your will written at no cost in selected locations across England and Wales. If you’re aged 55 or over (for couples, only one of you needs to be 55) you simply make an appointment with a participating solicitor before the end of the campaign month.

If you take part, there is no obligation to remember The Salvation Army in your will, but we hope you’ll consider the huge difference a gift can make to the vital work of providing care, compassion and practical support to those who need it most.

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A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY Issued on 10 February

Territorial update

I

AM grateful for this opportunity to be able to update you on the important matters of our territory. I am conscious that this is God’s Army – his Church, his mission and his Kingdom.

I acknowledge and honour the leadership of my predecessor Colonel Lee Graves and thank him for his preparation for my arrival into this responsibility. My wife, Colonel Jenine Main, and I are delighted to be back in our home territory and appreciate the support and assistance we are receiving in these early weeks in our respective appointments.

While we have arrived during unprecedented circumstances, we very quickly appreciated the tremendous work, ministry and faithful service of our employees, volunteers, members and officers. A sincere thank you for everything you have done to support the mission of The Salvation Army, particularly in the past 11 months of the pandemic.

It has been a traumatic year for so many people, but it could have been much worse. Your co-operation and contributions have made a significant difference. Thanks to those of you who have worked throughout to keep essential services running well. Thank you to those who have worked from home as well as those who have been on furlough for months and months. This is not taken for granted. The pandemic is not finished yet, so please take good 20

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care of yourselves, your families and friends.

We continue to be grateful for the faith and trust placed in The Salvation Army. The general public has been very generous and supportive of our work. We are amazed that our Christmas Appeal 2020 has brought in an additional £7.3 million to date, and while I express deep gratitude to the THQ fundraising team, I recognise it is because of the amazing work and ministry undertaken at the front line, which has caught the attention and gratitude of the public. Thank you!

While our financial position is better than we feared at the beginning of the pandemic, we also recognise that other income streams – the Big Collection, legacy delayed in probate, charity shops, the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd and corps fundraising – have been significantly impacted. Due to budget constraints we have had to put on hold our property planned maintenance programme and mission development fund, and delay replenishing our reserves.

We have been able to benefit from additional government support and many areas have been able to reduce expenditure. However, the future is uncertain, and it is likely that demand for our services will consistently be called for and relied upon in the coming months and years.

We are particularly concerned about people who are still not back at work.

The UK government’s furlough scheme is scheduled to finish at the end of April. This is a cause of great stress and concern for many employees and their families. Unfortunately, as communicated by the chief secretary back in October, we have been engaged in a consultation with some employees whose regional and THQ roles we can no longer sustain. In the last few days we have announced multiple redundancies as we begin the journey to balance our budget. I appreciate that THQ is not alone in having to face these realities, with divisions, corps, centres and charity shops having to make similar decisions.

These decisions are never taken easily and come at some considerable cost.

This is always a painful experience, particularly as we have lost some fine employees who have given many years of faithful service.

STRUCTURAL REVIEW The Salvation Army is a large organisation that needs to continually adapt. For the past 12 months Lieut-Colonel Michael Highton has chaired a working group of representatives from around the territory to develop options for structural change in light of the Fit for Mission Review.

This group of stakeholders has completed its task with rigour and professionalism despite the significant challenges of working during a pandemic.

Their recommendations have been gratefully received by the Cabinet chaired by the territorial commander.

This detailed and quality work will now be progressed by the Structural Coordination and Design Group (SCDG) with the appointment of a core team: Secretary for Communications Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant as chair, Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main, Assistant Chief Secretary Major Howard Russell, Divisional Commander Major Greg Morgan (Southern Division), Divisional Commander Major Paul Kingscott (Ireland Division), HR Director Jo Mosely (THQ) and Retired CSM Andrew Avison (Bath Citadel / Territorial Advisory Council).

The Cabinet has received the following recommendations: O A reduction in the number of divisions.

The Cabinet reaffirms this will not be done before thorough planning and piloting has been undertaken.

O Greater attention is given to culture change across the territory. The Cabinet confirms that the work of the People Strategy and the Identity Task Force need to align and enhance any future structural changes.

O THQ and DHQs need to be aligned for greater efficiencies. Cabinet recognises the need for DHQs and THQ to work much more closely together. The functions of THQ were not part of the previous working group’s terms of reference, but they must be fully assessed and integrated during planning and piloting.

O A flexible structure that ensures local expressions of Salvation Army mission have the support they require. Cabinet agrees that a ‘one size DHQ structure’ will not be imposed. Divisional teams in the pilot divisions will be fully involved in the planning and piloting work.

It is our intention to reconfigure some divisional boundaries over the summer, to assist us in thinking through the recommendations the SCDG are considering, so that these pilot divisions will be able to assist in and test any new structural changes. I appreciate that this in itself will bring some level of uncertainty for employees and officers alike, but I want to reassure all DHQ officers and employees who will understandably be concerned. We will actively work through the implications of the divisional boundary changes with those involved, so please do not jump to conclusions and assume this is a ‘done deal’.

People not involved in pilots should not assume that changes in one part of the territory will automatically happen everywhere. We are committed to an evolutionary process undertaken in

an informed manner that responds to local context and difference and, of course, to complying with any duty to formally consult that may arise in due course. You can expect the SCDG to communicate regularly.

DIVISIONAL BOUNDARY CHANGES On behalf of the territorial commander, I can announce that from 1 July 2021 the following divisions will be established: O Wales Division, bringing together the

corps and centres in the current South and Mid Wales Division and the Welsh corps from the North West England and North Wales Division.

O North Western Division, bringing together corps and centres in the current Central North Division and the English corps from the North West England and North Wales Division.

I commit myself, in partnership with each of you, to continue to serve the Lord, so that his love will be shared in word and in action. Keep the main thing the main thing! Love God with all your heart, your soul and your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

If you have questions or comments, please write to me at THQ or email chief.secretary@salvationarmy.org. uk and I or the appropriate person will respond to you.

May God continue to bless and guide us – thanks for all you are doing.

Yours faithfully PAUL MAIN COLONEL CHIEF SECRETARY

PREVIEW

Virtual London Marathon 3 October 2021 Join the team am and be part rt of breaking a Guinness World Record

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n Sunday 3 October the organisers of the London Marathon – the world’s most iconic running g race – will be holding a virtual event alongside the actual al event in London. With 50,000 000 running the actual race plus 50,000 running the equivalent distance all over the country, this willl

be the biggest bigge running event in the th world. The organisers are hoping to break their the current Guin Guinness World Record for the most people to run a remote m marathon in 24 hours.

If yyou join #TeamSallyArmy, #TeamSa you will enjo enjoy fantastic support from the Community a and Events team, plus ca camaraderie fellow runners with your fello as part of a closed c Group – and Facebook G your own Te Team Sally running ves vest.

Coronation Street’s Ruxandra, who ran the first virt virtual London Marathon in October 2020, urges people to p ‘Do it!’

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KEY FACTS O You have 24 hours – the whole of 3 October – to run 26.2 miles anywhere you like O You will still receive your London Marathon running vest, medal and race number O If the record-breaking effort is successful, you will be able to claim an official certificate from the Guinness World Book of Records O You can raise funds to support victims of modern slavery or your favourite Salvation Army corps or project.

To apply in the ballot for public places from 16 February onwards, visit virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/theevent/virtual-marathon. To increase your chances of getting a virtual place, apply for one of The Salvation Army’s charity places at salvationarmy.org.uk/virtual-virgin-moneylondon-marathon.

There are also some places left for anyone who would like to run the physical race in London. For details, visit salvationarmy.org. uk/run/virgin-money-london-marathon.

For more information, email challenge@ salvationarmy.org.uk or call 020 7367 4819.

Salvationist 20 February 2021

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARMY PEOPLE APPOINTED Effective 1 July O Major Roger Batt, divisional commander, Wales O Major Noreen Batt, divisional leader for leader development, Wales O Colonel Sylvia Hinton (officer in retirement), divisional commander, Central East, pro tem to 30 June 2022 O Major David Taylor, divisional commander, North Western O Major Kathryn Taylor, divisional leader for leader development, North Western O Captain Janice Lahouel, Bonheur Ville Corps in Ouagadougou and section officer for Burkina Faso, Mali Region LOCAL OFFICERS APPOINTED CSM Andy Hurd, Gloucester

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MARRIAGES Christopher House to Katherine Martin, both Regent Hall, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace

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WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Blue Sapphire (65th) O Aubrey and Sheila Bishop, Wellingborough (25 February) Golden O CPR Christine and CT David Helm, Thornaby (6 March) RETIRED OFFICERS Birthday congratulations O Commissioner Frank Fullarton (90 on 3 March) O Major Rosina Young (80 on 5 March) O Major Dennis Ward (90 on 6 March) PROMOTED TO GLORY O Richard Waring, Hoyland Common O Stella Underwood, Bromley Temple O CPR Brian Adamson, Hinckley O Andrew Ritchie, Kilbirnie O Charlie Petherbridge, Kilbirnie O Joan Blyth, Canterbury, on 6 December O Kathleen Daw, Chelmsford, on 20 January O John Curtis, Chelmsford, on 25 January O Bandsman Colin Wilson, Chelmsford, on 6 February 22

Salvationist 20 February 2021

BEREAVED O TE Beverley Waring, Hoyland Common, of her husband Richard Waring, Elysia Waring, Hoyland Common, of her father O Olive Buckley, Bromley Temple, of her sister Stella Underwood O Miriam Adamson, Hinckley, of her husband CPR Brian Adamson O Elizabeth Ritchie, Kilbirnie, of her father Andrew Ritchie O Margaret Petherbridge, Kilbirnie, of her husband Charlie Petherbridge, Liz Menagh, Penge, Margaret McConnell and Irene Boag of their father O Bernard Blyth, Canterbury, of his wife Joan Blyth, Eric Blyth, Russell Blyth, Trevor Blyth and Tony Blyth of their mother O Pauline Daw, Chelmsford, Pamela Daw, Keith Daw and Kevin Daw of their mother Kathleen Daw O Sylvia Curtis, Chelmsford, of her husband John Curtis O Helen Wilson, Chelmsford, of her husband Bandsman Colin Wilson, Daisy Wilson, Chelmsford, of her father, Major Lilian Wilson of her son, Major Paul Wilson, Yorkshire South with Humber DHQ, and Karen Scholes, Croydon Citadel, of their brother O Major Jean Middleton of her sister Pat Mitchell Chief of the Staff Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham made the following announcement on 5 February The General has decided the responsibility for Scouts, Guides and Guards at International Headquarters will now be taken up by the youth and children’s officers.

This role was previously held by the world president of Scouts, Guides and Guards. With this change, that title will be retired.

This is strategically planned to provide overall international support to youth and children’s work.

Scouts, Guides and Guards will be incorporated into the focus of the Youth and Children’s section at IHQ, which now also includes International Child Protection.

We pray for God’s blessing and inspiration for the ministry to the Army’s youth and children.

TRIBUTES MARY CARROLLE, THORNABY MARY was born in Ireland in 1929 and moved to Manchester in 1949 to study nursing.

While Mary was on placement at Stepping Hill Hospital the Army band visited and she was invited to the carol service. She loved the Army and Stockport Citadel became her spiritual home.

Mary was commissioned as an officer in 1958 and upheld her covenant by giving her life over to caring for others. Along with her husband James, she served in appointments at Coatbridge, Whiteinch, Edinburgh Congress Hall, Belfast York Road, Londonderry, Clapton Congress Hall, Preston, Spennymoor, Sunderland Citadel and Thornaby.

Mary continued to serve as a soldier at Thornaby until she had to go into a care home in 2017, due to failing health.

She witnessed in the home until she was promoted to Glory on 14 December.

Mary is sadly missed by her four daughters and nine grandchildren. – CH JEANNE ROBSON, SUNDERLAND MONKWEARMOUTH JEANNE was born in 1940, the youngest of six children. She was introduced to the Army when Salvationist neighbours invited her to Sunday school in their home. She started attending Stockton Tilery Corps and became YPSM in her late teens.

In 1960 Jeanne married Harold and they moved to Barnsley, where Jeanne became a guide leader, songster and YP worker. In 1964 they moved to Sunderland, serving at Sunderland Monkwearmouth. Jeanne inaugurated the corps Guides group and served as corps treasurer for a number of years.

Jeanne graduated and worked as a sixth form economics teacher. In retirement she led the corps parent-and-toddler group.

Jeanne lived with dementia during her latter years, but her strong Christian faith never wavered. She was loved and is sorely missed by Harold and her children, Nigel, Ruth and Janet, who have the assurance that she is now with the Lord she served so faithfully. – HR

The Salvation Army is joining with other churches to encourage people to spread the good news of the Covid-19 vaccines far and wide in our communities. Getting vaccinated saves lives, protects others and gives hope to our communities.

By looking out for hard-to-reach groups, facilitating clear and kind conversations with some who may be reticent and providing practical support to those who need it, churches will play a vital role in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

If invited by the NHS to get a Covid-19 vaccine The Salvation Army encourages you to take it, and then to give some much-needed hope to others by sharing your vaccine story.

O More information is available at salvationarmy.org.uk/covid-19-vaccineshope-out-pandemic

ADVERTS

QUESTIONS OF OUR TIMES THE Christian Evidence Society is to run a series of five free-to-view webinar conversations hosted by the society’s vice-chair and former editor of the War Cry, Major Nigel Bovey. The hour-long webinars will start at 8pm and there will be opportunity for viewers’ questions.

23 February – Truth In a world of fake news, who can we trust?

The Rev Jonathan Aitken, prison chaplain at HMP Pentonville

16 March – The Environment Can the future ever be green?

Professor Mike Hulme, professor of human geography, Cambridge University

2 March – Health How can I find wholeness in a broken world?

The Rev Dr Gillian Straine, director at the Guild of Health and St Raphael

23 March – Prayer and Spirituality Is God really listening?

The Rev Dr Lord Williams of Oystermouth, honorary professor of contemporary Christian thought, Cambridge University

9 March – Race Which lives matter?

The Rev Joel Edwards CBE, director of advocacy at Christian Solidarity Worldwide

am strong”’ 11. a. John Bell 12. a. They were all born in Australia 13. a. They all include the word ‘gold’.

14. c. Irish 15. b. Six 16. c. Richard Slater 17. a. Swedish 18. b. Marian Booth 19. a. Doris Rendell 20. b. ‘Now and for evermore be thine.’

O For further information and to reserve a free ticket email revdedwardcarter@googlemail.com or go to christianevidence.org

ANSWERS TO THE SONGBOOK QUIZ (PAGE 24)

JOAN BLYTH, CANTERBURY JOAN started attending Whitstable Corps from the age of three because The Salvation Army gave her shipwrecked grandfather a cup of tea.

She progressed through the singing company, corps cadets and songsters and, when asked to play the drum solos in the march ‘Star Lake’, became the band drummer.

At the age of 16 she met Bernard, which led to 71 years of devoted marriage and loyal service in The Salvation Army at Whitstable and Canterbury.

Bernard and Joan raised their sons in the Army. Joan never complained of being left at home while the band was on duty or away, but would comment when helping to carry instruments: ‘Why did three of them have to play bass?’

She always gave more than she took, putting the needs of others before her own.

This was demonstrated daily until her promotion to Glory on 6 December, aged 92. Joan was a true soldier and a faithful servant. The good she did in her life will continue through her legacy. – RB

GIVE HOPE AND STOP COVID

1. b. 1,041 2. a. ‘O joyful sound! O glorious hour’ 3. b. Albert Orsborn (33 songs) 4. c. Verse 6 5. c. Norman Bearcroft 6. b. Seven (William Booth, Bramwell Booth, Evangeline Booth, Albert Orsborn, Arnold Brown, John Gowans, John Larsson) 7. c. Catherine Baird 8. a. Graham Kendrick 9. c. Charles Wesley (48 songs) 10. b. ‘And now let the weak say, “I

GEORGE KIRBY, SNETTISHAM GEORGE was born in Rotherham in 1929. His cousin introduced him to the Army, where he learnt to play the cornet.

He served as a bandsman for the next 78 years, only stopping when a stroke prevented him from playing.

He married Mona in 1950. They moved to Norfolk in the early 1980s, soldiering at Snettisham. Mona was promoted to Glory in 2003. In 2005, George married Alison and they enjoyed 15 happy years together.

A bricklayer by trade, George finished his working life doing restoration work on a local church, a job he loved. He also enjoyed gardening and had a stock of plants that he would give to friends, neighbours or passers-by.

In his latter years George lived with dementia but he never complained and always had a smile for everyone. He is remembered by all as a quiet Christian gentleman.

He is now with his Lord whom he served. – AK

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SONGBOOK QUIZ Test your knowledge of songs and songwriters in the 2015 Song Book of The Salvation Army (SASB)

1

How many songs are there in the SASB?

a. 999 b. 1,041 c. 1,066 What is the opening line of the song that includes the chorus, ‘He lives, he lives, I know that my Redeemer lives’? a. ‘O joyful sound! O glorious hour’ b. ‘Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious’ c. ‘Christ the Lord is risen today’

2

Which Salvationist has the most songs in the SASB? a. Catherine Baird b. Albert Orsborn c. John Gowans

3

Which verse of the Founder’s Song begins with the line, ‘The tide is now flowing, I’m touching the wave’? a. Verse 4 b. Verse 5 c. Verse 6

4

Who wrote the song, ‘Able to Save, Able to Keep’? a. Ruth Tracy b. William Himes c. Norman Bearcroft

5

How many Generals have songs in the SASB? a. Five b. Seven c. Nine

6

Which Salvationist songwriter wrote a book of poems called The Sword of God and Other Poems? a. Flora Larsson b. Ivy Mawby c. Catherine Baird

7

Who wrote the song, ‘Beauty for Brokenness’? a. Graham Kendrick b. Darlene Zschech c. Matt Redman

8

Which songwriter is a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day? a. John Bell b. Stuart Townend c. Tricia Richards

16

What do Salvationist songwriters Arthur Smith Arnott, Howard Davies and Lily Sampson have in common? a. They were all born in Australia b. They have all written band music c. They have all served as training college officers

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12

What do the songs ‘Purify My Heart’, ‘Who Is on the Lord’s Side?’ and ‘Will Your Anchor Hold?’ have in common? a. They all include the word ‘gold’ b. They were all written in the same year c. They all have four verses

13

What nationality was songwriter Cecil Frances Alexander? a. French b. American c. Irish

Which non-Salvationist has the most songs in the SASB? a. Isaac Watts b. Fanny Crosby c. Charles Wesley

14

What is the first line of the chorus in the song ‘Give Thanks’? a. ‘And now let the poor say, “I am rich”’ b. ‘And now let the weak say, “I am strong”’ c. ‘And now let the bound say, “I am free”’

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10

Who was known as the ‘father of Salvation Army music’ and has 14 songs in the SASB? a. Charles Fry b. William Pearson c. Richard Slater

11

How many of Joy Webb’s songs are in the SASB? a. Four b. Six c. Eight

The original version of the song ‘How Great Thou Art’ was written by Carl Boberg in which language? a. Swedish b. Russian c. German Which Booth does not have a song in the SASB? a. Ballington Booth b. Marian Booth c. Emma Booth-Tucker

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Who wrote ‘God of Comfort and Compassion’? a. Doris Rendell b. Olive Holbrook c. Susie Swift

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What is the last line of the song ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’? a. ‘Rejoice; again I say, rejoice’ b. ‘Now and for evermore be thine’ c. ‘And find my name is written there’

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O Answers on page 23