SALVATIONIST For everyone linked to The Salvation Army
No.1758 Price 70p
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist 30 May 2020
Spirit of holiness PLUS ON THE FRONT LINE SEE PAGES 10 AND 11
QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA
IMMIGRATION BILL WILL DISADVANTAGE PEOPLE ON LOWER INCOMES Plans to introduce a post-Brexit immigration system to the UK will disadvantage people on lower incomes who have much to contribute to society, a Church of Scotland minister has warned. Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, fears that the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill will make it harder for people to come to these shores. She said migrants make an ‘enormous contribution’ to society and many have demonstrated their value as key workers on the front line during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The legislation, which repeals EU freedom of movement and introduces a new framework which is likely to be based on a points system, has been given initial approval by MPs in the House of Commons. Dr Brown... said: ‘What worries me is this legislation will reduce migration, making it harder for people to come here... ‘As a Church we know and value the contribution of all human beings equally, whether they were born in the UK or not,’ she added... ‘Our Church has never been so diverse, representing the people of God from all corners of the globe.’ Dr Brown urged people who share the Church’s position on immigration to contact their local MP.
PROLONGED SCHOOL CLOSURES RISK CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING, SAYS CHURCH EDUCATION CHIEF
OLDEST AND YOUNGEST FACE CRISIS IN LIVING STANDARDS
Keeping children at home ‘for a prolonged period’ risks harming their ‘mental, spiritual, physical and social well-being’ and causing those from ‘the most disadvantaged families’ to fall further behind, the Church of England’s chief education officer, the Rev Nigel Genders, has said. Church House issued a statement... which set out the Church’s position on potentially sending some children back to school... Mr Genders... said... ‘It is of paramount importance that children’s education... can continue as fully and as soon as possible, while always balanced with the health risks that this may entail’... Mr Genders also urged people to ‘continue to support and pray’ for those working in schools.
Britain is facing a ‘U-shaped’ crisis in living standards with the youngest and oldest in society taking the biggest hit to their incomes, according to a report. Although workers across all ages are likely to be earning less than they did in January, the Resolution Foundation found that the burden was falling disproportionately on the two groups... Its report showed that 35 per cent of workers aged 18 to 24 are taking home less than they did at the beginning of the year, as are 30 per cent of those in their early 60s. This compares with just 23 per cent of 35 to 49-year-olds. Only 13 per cent of Britain’s youngest workers have seen their earnings rise, a figure that falls to 9 per cent for those aged over 60.
Church Times
The Times
UK CHURCHES CONSIDER TICKETING SYSTEM FOR SERVICES AFTER LOCKDOWN Churches… are thinking about introducing ticket-only services when they reopen... in a bid to help congregants stick to social distancing guidelines. The idea is just one of many innovative strategies that churches have been contemplating... Other possible measures may include a ban on congregational singing, as experts believe this could dramatically increase the chance of transmission. Traditional communion, too, is likely to be axed for the time being. Churches are also expected to enforce social distancing by rearranging the seating and ensuring that adequate space is kept between worshippers. In addition, the ban on exchanging the peace through physical handshakes is likely to continue. Many churches may continue live streaming their services for those who are vulnerable or at-risk. They may also hold back-to-back services in order to reduce the number of people present in each gathering.
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EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts – 020 7367 4901 MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford – 020 7367 4891 EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Shanelle Manderson – 020 7367 4894 Simon Hope – 020 7367 4892 Melita Day-Lewis – 020 7367 4887 Major Margaret Bovey COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Major Godspower Anozie – 020 7367 4893 ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden – 020 7367 4883 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight – 020 7367 4895 Louise Phillips – 020 7367 4896 PROOFREADER Chris Horne
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Salvationist 30 May 2020
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CONTENTS
HOLINESS EXPERIENCED AND EXPRESSED WHAT’S more important – the work we do for God or the work he does in us? Recent issues of Salvationist have highlighted the way individuals, corps, centres and headquarters are responding to the coronavirus crisis. That continues this week on pages 10 and 11 where Peter Glover describes his work on the medical front line, heading up a team of community paramedics, doctors and nurses. He sees his work as an expression of his faith. That inner experience of God, which is demonstrated by the things we do and the way we live, is the theme of a number of articles this week. In his Pentecost reflection on pages 12 and 13 Commissioner Robert Street considers the experiences that cannot be measured, including the love and power of God, whose Spirit transforms us, producing his fruit in our lives. ‘Good fruit grows from the energising power of God within,’ he says. A word we often use to describe this work of God within us is ‘holiness’. It can be a confusing subject, but over the years The Salvation Army has produced a number of teachers and preachers who have helped people understand it – and experience it. Senior Major Allister Smith was one of them, and on page 14 Lieutenant Charles Smith (no relation) looks back at his life and ministry. What about holiness today? That’s a question asked by Peter Woods on page 15. He wonders if the one-meeting Sunday in many corps – with the loss of separate holiness and salvation meetings – has led to a decline in holiness teaching. He poses some questions to which readers are invited to respond. One answer to Peter’s questions might be supplied by Commissioner Phil Needham in his article on pages 16 and 17. He describes discipleship as being ‘graciously empowered through the Spirit to be like Jesus’, which is also a description of holiness, and suggests that the best way to enable this is through discipleship cell groups where individuals can support and encourage one another. In his Bible study on pages 18 and 19 Major Mark Herbert makes the important point that ‘the work of the Holy Spirit is to put the spotlight on Jesus’ because it is ‘for Jesus we live’. Some people, though, prefer the spotlight to be on themselves, as John Steley says in his exploration of narcissism on page 20. The trouble is that these people are more interested in the image they portray to others than in being honest about their real selves. This can cause all sorts of problems for them and those around them. Keeping an eye on our real selves, our motives and our attitudes can help us avoid slipping back in our experience of God, says Brian Colley in his reflection on page 21. He suggests we have ‘a regular spiritual check-up’ to make sure that Jesus remains at the centre of our lives. The question I posed at the beginning may not be the right one. Perhaps it’s better to ask: How can the work of God within us be expressed in the work we do for others? We need to look inward and outward, having a heart to God and a hand to man. The two shouldn’t be separated – they are part of the one experience of holiness, of being like Jesus.
Quotes from the media
2
A message from the Territorial Leader for Leader Development 4 News
5 to 7
Prayer pointers
7
Reflection What shall I give him?
8
by Bill Hamilton
Diary of self-isolation Just keep swimming! Week 9 by Major Karen Sandford
Interview ‘I am not a hero’
10 and 11
Peter Glover speaks to Shanelle Manderson
From the archive A fruitful Spirit
12 and 13
by Commissioner Robert Street
Feature Christ-centred ministry
14
by Lieutenant Charles Smith
Viewpoint Time for holiness
15
by Peter Woods
Feature 16 and 17 Discipleship: The Christian’s forgotten calling by Commissioner Phil Needham
Resources Into The Wild
16 and 17
by Lyndall Bywater
Bible study Spirit of truth
18 and 19
by Major Mark Herbert
Through the week with Salvationist 18 and 19 by Major Lynda Levis
Viewpoint Taking a look at narcissism
20
by John Steley
Reflection Continuing in salvation
21
by Brian Colley
Announcements
22 and 23
Quiz
From the Editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
9
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SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS Scripture quotations in Salvationist are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
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A MESSAGE FROM THE TERRITORIAL LEADER FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT
Focusing on Jesus I
WANT to take this opportunity again to say thank you to those of you who are serving in so many different ways, and to assure those with lots of difficulties at this time that our thoughts are with you. Together we will get through these challenging days. I wonder what your map-reading abilities are like. A few years ago, when we were the corps officers at Hemel Hempstead, we decided to have a corps day out at Runnymede. We were all going in our cars and were given a map to get there. Our four sons piled into the car with us, one of them in the front passenger seat next to Anthony, who said to him: ‘Hang on to the map. We won’t need it now but towards the end of the journey we will.’ It was a beautiful day and, as we drove along the M25, the windows were open in our car because we had no air conditioning. When we got closer to the destination Anthony suddenly said: ‘Right, we need the map now.’ Our son quickly opened it but a sudden gust of wind took hold of it. The map flew out of the window and sailed away. ‘What are we going to do now?’ we thought. But we made it through to our destination. What do we do when the map flies out of the window? Perhaps that’s how you are feeling today – about life in general and how we’re going to move forward. I need to confess that I’m not blessed with a good sense of direction. In fact, it is to my husband’s amusement when we stay in a hotel that, when I come out of the room, I almost invariably turn in the wrong direction to the exit. I’m easily disorientated at times. I was thinking about the words ‘disorientated’ and ‘orientation’ and began to think about the skill of orienteering – the skill of reading a map and using a compass to find your way across unfamiliar terrain. I guess that’s 4
Salvationist 30 May 2020
where we are now. The governments in the various countries of this territory are choosing different ways that we might move forward. I wonder how you are feeling about that just now. I thought about Jesus preparing his disciples for when he was going to leave them. I suppose you could say he was drip-feeding information to them, some of which they must have found a little bit disturbing. They were enjoying the security of being with Jesus and suddenly he was talking about leaving them. He was saying that someone would betray him and someone would deny him. You can imagine how the tension was rising within them. Then Jesus spoke some words that are perhaps familiar to so many us. They’re found in John 14: ‘“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You
know the way to the place where I am going.” ‘Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him”’ (vv1–7). You might think that it is a bit unusual to be thinking about going to Heaven. But the invitation is not only for the future – we can experience Heaven now, when we invite Christ to be in our lives and indwell us by his Holy Spirit. At the end of that chapter Jesus said some lovely words to the disciples: ‘All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (vv 25–27). This peace is not the absence of trouble – it is the shalom, the presence of the living God with us through every situation. There’s a lovely song that says: ‘When we cannot see our way/ Let us trust and still obey;/ He who bids us forward go/ Cannot fail the way to show’ (SASB 689). It might seem that the road map has flown right out of the window but there is one who longs to lead us. As the map of our lives unfolds for the future, let’s always remember to focus on Jesus. O This message is based on a video that can be viewed at youtube.com/user/ salvationarmyvideo. The channel will also host a Pentecost meeting led by Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill at 9 am on Sunday 31 May.
NEWS
SATCoL delivers PPE to NHS staff UK THE Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) is helping deliver thousands of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline NHS staff. SATCoL staff members have teamed up with emergency services to support the ShieldNHS initiative and help get 50,000 face shields to doctors, nurses and other health workers across the UK to protect them against the coronavirus. ShieldNHS is a new non-profit organisation made up of medics,
engineers and designers working on a voluntary basis to address the national shortage of face shields. SATCoL volunteer drivers have already collected and delivered face shields to 20 locations.
BARGOED: Divisional Envoy lan Browning has kept corps folk connected with online meetings and daily posts via Facebook. Although weekly activities have been postponed, members continue to stay in contact with each other. Cameo club members call one another, a gesture they all appreciate as it reminds them that they are not forgotten. – LC
SATCoL Director of Clothing Collection Division Tony Hosking said: ‘I would like to say a massive thank you to them for stepping forward to help the NHS heroes fighting this pandemic.’ – AR Please do not send your copy to any individual’s email address as this could delay publication. Copy should be sent to salvationist@ salvationarmy.org.uk
CAMBRIDGE CITADEL: The corps has been providing breakfast, sandwiches and a hot meal for up to 75 people a day, primarily those experiencing homelessness who have been provided accommodation in hotels and guest houses without cooking facilities. With social distancing measures in place, a small team is cooking, packing and delivering the meals from the corps, while an outreach team for rough sleepers is working to provide additional support. Food parcels and hot meals are also being given to isolated older people and families who are struggling to make ends meet. – AR
DERBY CENTRAL: Corps officer Major Anthony Colclough bought a microwave oven for a man after receiving an enquiry for a food parcel only containing tinned food. The man had been eating cold food for 27 years because he lacked cooking facilities but is now able to have hot meals. He is on the corps radar for a follow-up and further support. – AC
Salvation Army that enables visitors to easily navigate their way and find the information they are seeking. ‘Statistics reveal that most people come to the website to find their local Salvation Army corps or charity shop, and increasing numbers of people use the website to donate money to the Army. The new website makes it easy for them to do these two key tasks.’
Lieut-Colonel Dean continued: ‘This is only phase one of the new website. We urgently need more web content for members of The Salvation Army. At present, most information for corps is placed on the internal OurHub site, but this is only accessible to people with a “salvationarmy.org.uk” email address. We hope to launch salvationist. org.uk later this year and this will focus on news, information and resources for soldiers, adherent members, friends and officers.’ The new website offers the opportunity for corps to be more creative with their pages and connect with their communities. Corps website editors will be able to move content around and add new features such as call-toaction buttons that promote local services, social media pages and fundraising appeals. – AR
A new digital face THQ WITH the launch of a new territorial website, The Salvation Army is serving the present digital age and equipping the territory for the future. The new website focuses on connecting the general public with the mission and work of the Army, and includes a host of new features and materials. Through an easily navigable layout, the website will help people learn more about the Army, what it does and how to help. There is a resource centre with materials on worship, how to join The Salvation Army, community engagement, discipleship, social justice and more. The complete redesign also makes the website easy to use on a
SKEWEN: Neath Port Talbot county borough council youth outreach worker Lester McCalmon raised more than £1,600 through GoFundMe to support the corps food bank and another food bank in the town. With a team of volunteers, Lester runs Safe and Well, a scheme set up by the council to help people in need of shopping. The corps is also grateful for those who make regular contributions to the food bank. – SL
mobile device for that on-the-go experience. Secretary for Communications Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant commented: ‘The priority with the new website has been to connect with people who have little or patchy knowledge of the breadth of the Army’s mission. In the era of social media, the territorial website must be an uncluttered window into The
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NEWS
Army welcomes rough sleeping taskforce UK THE Salvation Army has welcomed the government’s plans to set up a coronavirus rough sleeping taskforce. Assistant Territorial Director of Homelessness Services (North) Malcolm Page said: ‘The housing of rough sleepers during the lockdown offers a once in a generation opportunity to get people living on the streets the long-term support they need. ‘We are pleased that the government has launched a taskforce to work with councils so that people can get sustained help to tackle the many complex reasons that led them to be on the streets, which range from mental ill health to domestic
violence to addictions. ‘As one of the largest providers of homelessness support, The Salvation Army stands ready to work with the taskforce and get people off the streets for good. ‘We know through our work with rough sleepers that the reasons for being homeless are often deep-seated and it is vital that any support provided is long-term and fully funded for the duration. It is a real step forward that local councils are getting this support from central government, but we do want to see further details on how this is to be funded or whether this will come out of existing pots of money already announced. ‘If one positive thing could come out of the lockdown, then a meaningful and long-term structured effort to end rough sleeping could be it.’ – AR
UKI
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CARDIFF A PIONEERING homelessness prevention partnership, which supports more than 106 young people, has delivered creative supported housing solutions during lockdown. Working under strict government public health guidelines, staff from the Cardiff Young Persons Supported Accommodation Partnership have gone the extra mile to help young people rebuild their lives despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. ‘For a young person who’s been homeless, moving into a new flat can be an anxious and delicate time under normal circumstances, but during lockdown there’s an added level of anxiety,’ said
partnership contract manager Sally Anthony. ‘In the last two weeks alone, our team has supported nine young people as they rebuild their lives during the lockdown. Despite the challenges of social distancing, staff shortages and fewer external support services, the partnership has delivered to its full capacity. This has ensured that all young people across the partnership receive the support, safety and opportunity they need to be able to sustain their accommodation during the pandemic and a longer-term plan to resettle into the community – everyone has been fantastic.’ – IR
LIVERPOOL WALTON: The corps has extended its food bank service from being open just one morning a week to five days a week to cope with rising demand. Approximately 10 people a week were being helped before the crisis but in recent weeks more than 108 people have been supported. – AR
A lifeline of hope FOR the past two years, The Salvation Army – particularly the Older People’s Ministries team – has been mission partners with Faith in Later Life. They are now collaborating on a telephone worship and support project called Daily Hope. Created with the Church of England, Faith in Later Life and Holy Trinity Claygate Connections in Surrey, Daily Hope is a free phone line for anyone but is designed with older people in mind, many of whom do not have access to the internet. Callers hear a short message from the Archbishop of Canterbury welcoming them. They can choose to listen to prayers, reflections or hymns, with the option of a session taking them through old hymns and explaining their meaning. There is also the option to listen to a Sunday service. The phone line, which opened in April and includes advice about Covid-19, has already received more than 50,000 calls. – AR O Call Daily Hope on 0800 804 8044
Young people rebuild lives during lockdown
ST ALBANS: Aware that Army fundraising would be badly hit by the postponement of the London Marathon, corps folk were eager to take part in the 2.6 Challenge. Major Julie Kidd (THQ) played 26 minutes of swingball, corps officer Lieutenant Wan Gi Lee completed 2,600 skips, Maureen Kennedy walked 2.6 miles, repeating the feat on her exercise bike, and Bill Hamilton enjoyed a 26-mile cycle ride. More than £700 was raised for corps activities, which include vital work with people who are experiencing homelessness. – BH
Majors Neville and Yvonne Andrews (Morriston) prepare more than 250 parcels a week to deliver to families in need; Majors Geoff and Glenis Bonsell (Ammanford) assisted the corps team effort
Virtual trail and practical supplies support farm community
Prayer pointers
HADLEIGH FARM ESTATE
Secretary for Spiritual Life Development Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts introduces prayer topics for each day of the week
THE Estate has launched several initiatives in response to the coronavirus outbreak. A virtual trail around Hadleigh Farm allows individuals to view areas of the site from the comfort of their home, with a suggested prayer focus and Scripture references for reflection. Weekly updates and educational videos from Hadleigh Rare Breeds Centre mean members of the public can continue to engage with the animals as well. A food distribution project provides essential supplies for nearby corps, churches and community groups. It has delivered more than 7,000 items in four weeks. – CE O To take the trail, visit hadleighfarm.org.uk and click Visit Us
D
URING these challenging days we are all invited to pause at noon each day to unite in prayer. This specific time will not be possible for everyone but whenever you take time to pray, the following subjects are offered, which particularly relate to concerns around the pandemic. Different topics will be published each week.
Monday Let us focus our attention today on family members who are living and working overseas. Some have chosen to live elsewhere permanently while others may be unable to return home just now. We pray especially for parents, children and grandchildren who are separated at this time.
Tuesday We think today of all UKI Salvation Army personnel serving in other territories. May God bless them and meet their needs as they serve others in his name.
Wednesday GAINSBOROUGH: A number of women from the corps baked 200 small cakes as a special thank you to all the staff at John Coupland Hospital. Corps officer Captain Wendy Brown and volunteer Amelia Bott (pictured with Zoe Bott and Claire Simons) delivered the cakes. The hospital staff were absolutely thrilled and delighted. – PH
We pray for the officers and staff of IHQ, especially those from other parts of the world who are far from their families. We pray that God’s peace and strength will comfort and enable them in these challenging days.
Thursday We especially remember all NHS staff, care workers in every setting and the key workers on whom we all rely. We pray particularly for those who have caught coronavirus while working for others, and for the families of those who have lost their lives.
Friday We ask God for endurance and patience as we continue to live, travel and work together safely in our communities.
Saturday
Army’s anti-trafficking short wins Charity Film award THQ HIDDEN In Plain Sight, a short film created for the Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit, won first prize in the £100 Million Plus Turnover category at the Charity Film Awards. Four hundred charities entered the awards, which are divided into categories according to the annual turnover of each charity – ranging from under £10,000 to in excess of £100 million. More than 110,000 members of the public voted, with 127 charities making it to the shortlist across all categories. Charity Film Awards founder Simon Burton announced the winners online in a live-streamed virtual ceremony. – JR
Lord, as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, we thank you that your Church moved from the lockdown of the upper room to proclaim salvation in the name of Jesus when the Spirit came upon them. Holy Spirit, fill us and guide us we pray.
Sunday We pray for corps and centres throughout The Salvation Army that are providing opportunities to unite in prayer and worship online and via printed matter. We praise God that we can continue to share fellowship in many ways and celebrate the birthday of the Church on this special day. O This
week sees the launch of Into The Wild, an exciting new project from the Territorial Prayer Network. See page 17 for more about this year-long journey of encounter with God. Add your name to the mailing list to receive resources and invitations to online gatherings each month: eepurl.com/g26lob Salvationist 30 May 2020
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REFL RE FLEC FL ECTI EC TION TI ON REFLECTION
What shall I give him?
Bill Hamilton recalls a woman of faith and obedience
Bill and Meropi with her translated Bible
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HE Lord, as the apostle Paul was eager to tell the early Christian Church, loves a cheerful giver. In 2 Corinthians he emphasises that when it comes to giving, motive matters. It matters to us and, more importantly, it matters to God. Our offerings must come from the heart voluntarily, not grudgingly or from a sense of compulsion. Many Salvation Army soldiers, as well as adherent members and regular worshippers now tithe through a standing order, which can attract gift aid if they are taxpayers. Before committing themselves they no doubt consider prayerfully and carefully the amount they should give and whether it is an adequate reflection of God’s generosity. Others prefer to give via the weekly collection plate but, with corps buildings closed because of the coronavirus, this is no longer possible. The hope, of course, is that when the crisis is finally over the weekly givers will respond, having safely stored the equivalent of many weeks of offerings. It reminds me of a remarkable story I was able to relate as the first TV news correspondent allowed into Albania in 1990, just before the communist government finally collapsed. For 46 years the nation was ruled by a ruthless dictatorship, the majority of those under 8
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Stalinist Enver Hoxha. He banished religion, destroyed all the churches and either executed members of the clergy or sent them to labour camps. Yet many believers refused to allow the worst excesses of those dreadful years to extinguish the Christian flame that burnt brightly within them. On the second floor of a crumbling apartment block in the capital, Tirana, I was introduced to a remarkable old lady who saw every act of suppression as irrelevant to what God would eventually achieve. Meropi Gjika was one of a tiny band of Albanian Adventists who had been converted to Christianity by Daniel Lewis, a missionary who had settled in the southern town of Korçë. In 1951, along with his Italian-born wife, Daniel was arrested by the secret police and thrown into jail for his missionary zeal. He later died under torture after refusing to work on the Sabbath. At great personal risk and under the most severe psychological pressure, Meropi had visited Daniel regularly in prison, bringing him food and washing his clothes. More importantly, she vowed to carry on his work in secret. As little groups of believers arrived at her house for worship and prayer she would search for hidden microphones and blacken the rooms to foil the efforts
of the secret police to photograph proceedings from the opposite side of the road. Just three years short of her 90th birthday, Meropi was finally baptised in an improvised pool right under the dome of the museum that had been erected to immortalise Enver Hoxha, the man who had counted the banishment of religion as among his finest achievements. He was now dead and visiting preachers were quick to spot an opportunity to bring the Bible message back to this corner of the Balkans. After the ceremony Meropi invited me back to her home. From under her bed she pulled out a wooden box. Inside were her offerings, which had been faithfully given and stored every week for the previous 25 years. The Adventist pastor was completely taken aback, but Meropi had more to show him and our BBC camera. Out came sheet after sheet of old A4-sized paper. During those years of oppression she had translated the entire New Testament of her Greek Bible into the Albanian language. What an example of faith in action! Meropi told me she had three dreams: to be baptised, to hand over her tithes and to see the building of a church that would spark a religious renaissance and prove that faith cannot be wiped out by decree, bulldozers or bullets. Her first two dreams were fulfilled but, at the age of 97, she passed away just months before a new church opened its doors. It strikes me that those in our congregations who prefer to give their offerings each Sunday via the church plate might like to follow Meropi’s example by putting aside the money week by week until the pandemic passes and bringing along the total collection when meetings finally resume. Just like Meropi, remember that God is always there, so let’s stay strong in the faith and have confidence in a generous God who promised never to leave or forsake us. BILL IS AN ADHERENT MEMBER AT ST ALBANS
FEATURE I Self-isolation
JUST KEEP SWIMMING! DIARY OF SELF-ISOLATION WEEK 9 Major Karen Sandford (Harlow) continues her day-by-day account of life in lockdown DAY 57 Tuesday 12 May
DAY 59 Thursday 14 May
I’m part of a gathering of women clergy in the area who eat and pray together – today we met on Zoom. Usually we chat a bit, then pray, and that’s it – the moment of connection, when the Holy Spirit draws us together and enables us to talk properly, listen and bring each other before the throne of grace. When it was my turn, they prayed and wondered if my reflectiveness would be ‘an invaluable gift to the church’. My spirit leapt. Being reflective in a church that’s known for its activism sometimes makes me feel like I’m walking to the beat of a different drum. That’s not always comfortable, but it’s something I’ve learnt to embrace in recent years. I think it’s important to remember who God is and who we are because of him. It’s not really about us after all. He uses who we are to show his grace to the world.
I spent some time at the hall helping to put messages on the clothing bank. People have been leaving stuff, but it hasn’t been emptied since the pandemic began. I had a long chat with the media department about my fundraising swim, which reminded me again of why I thought it was a good idea to swim 21 miles, in all weathers, while tethered to the washing line. The reason is the things I’ve been involved in today, with people suffering trauma of many kinds. It’s a broken world out there, and people need help more than ever.
DAY 58 Wednesday 13 May Today I felt beaten before I had started. As I was cleaning my teeth I thought, ‘Yesterday you were a gift to the church, today you’re a big let-down.’ I don’t know what your inner critic is like, but mine is mean. I ignored her for a bit and did some work, until I realised I needed to spend time by myself, doing things that fuel my soul. I watched Eat Pray Love while colouring, which ended up being a time of prayer and space with God – a glimpse of the unforced rhythms of grace. The world won’t end today if I take some time out. Maybe I’m not as important as I think I am. After I cleaned the pool yesterday, it was time for a nice long swim. Tomorrow is another day.
DAY 60 Friday 15 May I’m struggling with the cold after my swims. The temperature has dropped dramatically this week, and I could really do with spending longer swimming if I’m to complete the challenge before Christmas. This week has been a struggle. Extremes of highs and lows, with a few triggers thrown in for good measure. A trigger is something that affects my mental health that I wasn’t expecting. It often comes from nowhere, and is usually completely unconnected to anything and unexplainable. I have an armoury of things to help me. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armour of God – ‘and after you have done everything, to stand’ (v13). God has provided for us in ways we can’t even begin to imagine. Stand, sit, kneel in his presence. Listen to all he has for you. Trust him. He’s got this.
DAY 61 Saturday 16 May When you run out of things to say, it’s usually best to say nothing. So instead, I turned to sharing this week’s worship sheet with a lady from the corps. I remembered again the importance of waiting.
The disciples had to wait for a while until the Spirit came. It’s in the waiting time that we rest in the promises of God. ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses’ (Acts 1:8).
DAY 62 Sunday 17 May I declared today ‘Paint like a toddler day’ in Testosterone Towers. There’s no plan, no design, no sense of what it will become. You just put paint on paper and let your mind take you and your brushes where it will. It’s one of my favourite things to do when I need some clarity. I love the process of creating. It often leads me to prayer, reflection and Scripture. I’m reminded that God is a creator. I sometimes forget that he alone knows what tomorrow holds. He may not share the plan with us but he is the one who gives strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
DAY 63 Monday 18 May I can’t say I’ve missed travelling on the M25, but today’s journey felt like a little adventure – and on our return home, in conversation with our window cleaner, we confirmed that it’s not the big things we miss, it’s the little things. The proper chats, the hand-holding, the hugs with those we love but are unable to see. It’s hard. I firmly believe God brightens our day with small blessings, though, and when we notice those they take on a greater significance. Our appreciation makes us appreciative. Our gratitude makes us grateful. We are blessed and we become a blessing. As Richard Rohr said: ‘Prayer is sitting in the silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful and praising God until we ourselves are an act of praise.’ O To
read Karen’s daily posts in full, go to karensandford.blogspot.com Salvationist 30 May 2020
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INTERVIEW
‘I am not a hero’ Peter Glover (Woking) shares with Shanelle Manderson how God is using him to help others during the coronavirus crisis
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N the past three weeks I’ve worked on average around 70 hours a week. I’ve never been busier than I am now!’ says Peter Glover, clinical lead for proactive medicine at Farnham Integrated Care Services. The service offers a streamlined way of accessing same-day GP appointments for patients of Farnham’s three largest GP practices. Peter, who has been a registered clinician for 20 years, normally heads up a team of community paramedics, doctors and nurses who work alongside people from multiple health 10
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disciplines: community nurses, mental health practitioners, staff from the voluntary sector, GPs and social work teams. His role involves identifying patients, particularly older people, who are at an increased risk and intervening to prevent them from getting ill or needing hospital admission. This is particularly important during the coronavirus pandemic as the disease is easily transferable. He also ensures that the right care is in place at the right time for patients who have ended up in hospital, to enable a safe and quick discharge.
Peter achieves this in a number of ways: arming individuals and families with knowledge about their conditions; looking ahead at patients’ notes, identifying potential health issues that may arise and organising reviews to get on top of them; and taking a whole-person approach when looking at an individual rather than looking at an illness in isolation. He makes sure the problem at hand is not the result of something else, then shares his insight and allows the patient to choose the best pathway for them. This moves the care away from hospital to the home, where the patient can be better cared for. ‘If someone with a lung condition like asthma suddenly had a chest infection, they could end up in hospital on medication given through an IV drip,’ explains Peter. ‘They would be at a higher risk of picking up an infection. So, one of the things I would do is make sure they know how to get hold of their GP just in case they suddenly feel unwell, provide the correct medicine for the patient to have at home just in case and create an escalation plan with a clear list of dos and don’ts. ‘The more I can help a person understand and self-manage their conditions, the more likely they are to be able to stay at home, healthy and well.’
Peter in the hospital chapel On a normal day Peter would visit prospective patients in their homes to talk about how holistically they live day to day, but many of the conversations currently take place over the phone or Skype, and many of the people he speaks to are at risk of catching coronavirus. ‘I’ve found I’m having more meaningful conversations with patients about their deepest fears and how I can support them,’ he says. Despite a sudden influx of patients,
Peter remains focused on ensuring he does his job well and has been involved in setting up various enterprises. He identified the need for a coronavirus assessment and treatment area in the town after realising an increasing number of at-risk residents had no choice but to attend accident and emergency. With the support of GPs and the NHS 111 telephone service, he set up a rapid assessment centre for up to 100 patients a day with suspected coronavirus symptoms. These patients are examined in their cars by the advanced clinical team and, where possible, signposted and treated on the same day. While some attendees have not been diagnosed as suffering with the virus, all have been ill and some have required emergency hospital treatment. Local volunteers, including from The Salvation Army, have been sourced to staff the area, alleviating pressure on other areas of the NHS. An outdoor phlebotomy clinic has also been set up to ensure older patients, who are already at risk from complications and require regular routine blood tests, maintain some consistency, while minimising the risk of transmitting the virus. A community freephone service has brought together groups, churches and
much ties in with my faith and my belief that you can’t treat a soul if the head is hurting.’ While by day Peter supports vulnerable members of the community, he is also a registered clinician with the NHS ambulance service and has been doing extra work at weekends and in the evenings. He wears PPE along with his uniform to work, including a face mask, gloves and an apron. ‘Every time I walk into someone’s house I’m putting my family at risk because I’m potentially exposing myself to the virus,’ he acknowledges. ‘Two colleagues that I’ve known personally have died. But if I and others don’t go to work, systems fail. Systems, for me, are real people – real souls in peril needing a friendly face to share their current pain or problem with.’ His family is supportive of all that he is doing but having his faith to lean on has also been beneficial. ‘I believe I was given this job, blessed with these skills and given these life experiences to help others. I’m just allowing God to use what he created in the first place,’ Peter enthuses. ‘God’s love has helped me when I couldn’t cope or see, God’s practical support has strengthened me when I fell and couldn’t get up, God’s grace
Coronavirus rapid assessment centre organisations to provide volunteers who can deliver groceries or medication to vulnerable people or talk to those who are lonely. Peter’s contribution to these initiatives originates from his faith and experience of the Army. ‘As a faith-based organisation, we don’t conform, we challenge and confront,’ says Peter. ‘We take church to the people. We don’t pick the bits of society we like; we care and serve the whosoever. My professional role very
has provided the forgiveness to heal and rebuild and God’s hope has allowed me to dream and believe. ‘People talk about NHS heroes but I am not a hero. I’m just trying to live a life by, and share, my faith. If I can affect one patient, one family, if I can hold someone’s hand when they are unexpectedly poorly, that to me is the loudest clap I could ever receive, the biggest pat on the back, as that’s a privilege not many people are afforded. I feel very humbled.’ Salvationist 30 May 2020
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A fruitful Spirit FROM THE
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PENTECOST REFLECTION
Commissioner Robert Street reflects on the measureless might of the Holy Spirit
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THOROUGHLY enjoyed the five years that were given to me as Principal of William Booth College at Denmark Hill, London. The cadets – young and old – were an inspiration. Their commitment to Jesus was plainly evident. Their lives were in God’s hands. They were ready to learn and to help each other. Being a cadet in training for officership wasn’t a competition. It was an experience like no other. When each person was commissioned there was a special, individual ‘yes!’ in my heart. There were times of challenge – of course. Questions flowed. No one was exempt from doubt, disappointment and, sometimes, disillusionment. Potential leaders needed to know how to cope when others let them down, or when they became aware that they weren’t as good or as well equipped for ministry as they thought. It was, and always will be, a privilege for the staff to share in such development. In offering support, we received too. When it came to matters of faith some cadets found certain aspects more difficult than others. If they had not previously realised that the Bible always has to be interpreted and read in context – and that good people have different understandings of what it says and means – adjustments were required. We learn a great deal by sharing and listening to others. The richness of genuine fellowship in Christ can aid spiritual development immeasurably. As I engaged with cadets, I could see that those with a scientific mind often
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found the openness of some issues less than satisfactory. The kind of equations that give definite answers – such as two plus two equals four – do not apply to much that is crucial to our understanding of the gospel and its outworking in our lives. Some things just can’t be ‘proved’. There is much that simply isn’t measurable. And when we look at what cannot be measured we discover they are the things that matter most. An old Salvation Army song that has made its way into the new songbook starts with the statement: ‘None the love of Christ can measure’ (SASB 880) – and it’s true. The love of Christ cannot be quantified and is beyond description. The love that took Jesus to Calvary has depths that we cannot begin to delve. Nor can we measure God’s power. As we read Acts 2:1–4 about the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles gathered in the upper room, we sense a powerful force at work. Luke describes the sound as ‘like the blowing of a violent wind’. The apostles received new power, fresh courage and a sense of God’s presence that empowered them for their task of preaching (and living) the gospel. They were changed people, transformed from their former fearful selves. We are told (Acts 2:41) that ‘about 3,000’ converts were added to their number that day. No one can estimate, let alone measure, the effect of the Holy Spirit’s power through the apostles that day – and beyond. It has been the same ever since. God the Holy Spirit – present in the lives of those who welcome him – continues to transform lives and situations the world over. Some of us may be tempted to think of such transformation only in spectacular terms. It would be a mistake to do so. The Holy Spirit is with us in our
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everyday circumstances, and his daily promptings make their constant impact. The Holy Spirit is not a phenomenon. He is God – the third person in the Trinity. He is someone with whom we have a relationship and the evidence of his presence in us is seen in our living. We call the evidence the ‘fruit’ of his Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit who came at Pentecost, and who comes to our lives, is described in Galatians 5:22 as ‘love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. None of these can be measured. Their effects can be seen and felt, but no one can accurately assess their depth or consistency in our lives. Each of them is meant to grow – growing is what fruit does. They grow in us because none of us has yet reached full maturity (Philippians 3:12) – none of us. What else can’t be measured? Our hope, depth of faith, quality of thought, purity of intention and the value of a friendship are not quantifiable – but they matter deeply. Our attitude can’t be measured and yet it is crucial to Christian living – and especially service in the name of Jesus. We can produce the most impressive blueprints and mission statements, but without the right attitude they achieve little of lasting worth. Paul said much the same about faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13), each of which isn’t measurable. It is not possible to measure the effectiveness of an officer or the worth of a new recruit. It is futile and foolish to try. Statistics will never – can never – tell the full story. Conversely, we can’t measure the damage caused to a young life by a bad example, or the hurt caused by parents who demand more than is reasonable. Carelessness, selfishness and pride make their negative impacts – not measurable, but potentially devastating. When Jesus said, ‘By their fruit you will
recognise them’, he was speaking about false prophets (Matthew 7:16). The same maxim applies to true followers. Good fruit grows from the energising power of God within. Robert Grant spoke of God as ‘measureless might!’ (SASB 52). In a verse of another song John Gowans asks: ‘Do you want the power to be a better person?’ He provides the answer too: ‘If you want it – it’s yours!’ As much as we need – measureless. COMMISSIONER STREET IS WRITER AND PRODUCER OF THE ONE ARMY INTERNATIONAL TEACHING RESOURCE AND LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN LANGFORD O This article was first published in the 14 May 2016 Salvationist
Salvationist 30 14 May 2020 2016
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FEATURE Major Allister Smith
Christ-centred ministry Lieutenant Charles Smith recalls the life and ministry of holiness revivalist Major Allister Smith (1897-1978)
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HEN William Booth was looking for individuals who would make a difference in their communities he didn’t want ‘broken down parsons’ but ‘godly go-ahead daredevils’. Among those later revivalists that seemed to make a difference was Major Allister Smith. Born in South Africa to pioneering officers James and Elizabeth Smith, Allister was moulded and shaped by his parents, his environment and the Holy Spirit to become a holiness revivalist who made an impact. He spent his early years in Cape Town and Pretoria, eventually gaining a law degree from Pretoria University. Allister was a local officer at Pretoria Corps, including time as bandmaster. He worked in the civil service but there was a continual tug at his heart to do something more for Christ. It was through reading the revival lectures of Charles Finney and the books of Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle that magistrate Allister Smith
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Allister’s life mission was to tell others about holiness
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came into a spiritual crisis, sensing the deep need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As a result of this baptism he answered the call to full-time service. Although he was over the age limit, Allister was accepted for training in London in 1929 and, after serving for a short time as a corps officer in England, was sent to conduct evangelistic work among miners in south Wales. He looked upon the young miners as Jesus looked upon the fields that were ‘white already to harvest’ (John 4:35 King James Version). As he ministered he began to see them repenting of their sins, being saved and sanctified and even answering the call to preach the gospel. He saw the same results in Cardiff with sailors who were torpedoed during the Second World War. His was a holistic ministry, which included opening a farm for ‘juvenile delinquents’ in the Rhondda Valley. Allister began to visit other countries, delivering the red-hot gospel. His early evangelistic endeavours took him to Germany, France, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. He was imposing in stature and uncompromising in speech; listeners could tell that he spent his life in an atmosphere of prayer as he spoke with
authority and conviction concerning the message of holiness. It was through his consistency of relying upon Christ that many doors were opened to him. He visited numerous corps and had the opportunity to speak at several annual Keswick Conventions. Through Allister’s ministry many individuals became Salvation Army soldiers and officers. Not only was he effective as an agent of the gospel but he was a deep man of prayer and was invited to lead the united all-night prayer meetings held at intervals throughout Billy Graham’s London Crusade in 1954. Whether in public or private, by proclamation or publication, Allister’s life mission was to tell others about holiness and revival. He believed people could experience them daily and that it was a commandment from the Lord himself. In his book Made Whole he wrote: ‘There is no holiness apart from the holiness of Jesus in us. It is Jesus who cleanses our hearts from all sin by his blood and fills us with himself by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I have no purity of my own, but his pure Spirit makes me pure within, controlling my thoughts, desires, motives, words and deeds. His meek, humble and patient Spirit gives us a patience we would never possess of ourselves.’ Major Allister Smith was promoted to Glory in Cape Town on 18 October 1978. What was it that made him exceptionally powerful in his ministry? For one, he believed in the promises of God – not only reading the Scriptures but allowing them to direct his life. He also knew that he needed an experience of the Holy Spirit to be an effective worker for Christ. And he lived in an atmosphere of prayer, having constant communication with Christ. Holiness was not just something Allister experienced personally – it was something he desired for all people. May we also have that experience and that desire. LIEUTENANT SMITH IS CORPS OFFICER AT MUSKOGEE, USA SOUTHERN TERRITORY
VIEW POINT
Time for holiness Peter Woods wonders whether one meeting on a Sunday is enough
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WAS brought up a Methodist but started attending Salvation Army meetings in 1963 when I met my wife-to-be, a lifelong Salvationist, who invited me to accompany her to a meeting at Norwich Citadel. Being new to the Army I had to defer regularly to Myra in matters of practice, doctrine and terminology. She proved to be an effective and knowledgeable mentor. I have now been attending Army meetings with Myra at corps in the UK and abroad for more than 50 years. In 2007 we were on holiday on the North Island of New Zealand. We arrived at New Plymouth on the west coast and, having discovered the Salvation Army hall, went inside. We were warmly welcomed and even invited to participate in a midweek fitness class. Having diplomatically declined this kind offer we went and sat quietly in the gallery. Looking down into the main body of the hall I noticed a table covered by a cloth bearing the words ‘Holiness unto the Lord’. In more than 40 years of attending Salvation Army meetings I had never consciously encountered something like this in an Army hall, and I had to ask Myra what it was and what purpose it served. She explained that it was a holiness table – more than just a table on which to place a vase of flowers, but a place set apart where holiness might be encountered. More than that she could not say, other than that it was the equivalent of the mercy seat where people knelt to seek salvation. (Some years later, when we referred to Nigel Bovey’s excellent book The Mercy Seat Revisited, we discovered that the origin and function of the holiness table were less clear than they were for the mercy seat.) Myra told me that when she first attended the Army there were three
meetings: the morning holiness meeting, the afternoon praise meeting and the evening salvation meeting. The holiness meeting, she explained, was largely concerned with the exposition of the teachings of our Lord according to the needs of the congregation. There followed a long discussion about holiness and salvation. Were the two not inseparable? If that was the case, why were they spread over two distinct meetings? As a result of further discussion we decided that, with more and more corps reducing the number of meetings on Sunday to just one, holiness was largely being sacrificed and salvation to a lesser extent. The compromise was to hold a meeting that included many of the elements of the former afternoon praise meetings. We thought there needed to be more than one weekly meeting to adequately address the important issues raised by holiness and salvation. For us, the logical outcome of our discussion was that the decline in two Sunday meetings was largely responsible for the marked decline in the holiness aspect of Salvation Army worship. It was noticeable that at Tiverton, where we were previously, there had always been two meetings on a Sunday and it was a rapidly expanding corps. Our present corps also has two meetings, and the holiness element is very apparent. It seems to me that if holiness is to remain a feature of Salvation Army meetings then it has to be addressed at grassroots level and that those with
positions of authority in the field should do all they can to halt the decline in the holding of a second Sunday meeting. If my experience is anything to go by, this is not always the result of a call from the congregation for a reduction in the number of meetings. I know of at least one corps where, when it was suggested that there should be a move to a single-meeting Sunday, the response from the congregation was a resounding ‘no’. It was followed by: ‘If this happens we will lead the meetings ourselves.’ If this kind of commitment were more widespread there would be far fewer occasions when we would be left mourning the decline of the holiness part of our meetings. The questions that I had those years ago remain with me. Has the Army lost something vital in the demise of the holiness and salvation elements of its Sunday meetings? And while seekers can ask for salvation at any stage of their search for a new direction in life, is not the holiness element essential for that salvation to be fully accomplished? If so, how can this happen if the holiness aspect is largely missing from Army meetings? Perhaps someone can help me answer these questions. O To respond to Peter’s questions via our letters page, email salvationist@ salvationarmy.org.uk
PETER ATTENDS NORWICH MILE CROSS CORPS Salvationist 30 May 2020
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FEATURE Cell groups
Discipleship: The Christian’s Commissioner Phil Needham suggests a discipleship model from the past that might help us grow in holiness today
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NCE upon a time there used to be disciples of Jesus. Oh, there still are, but it’s more and more difficult to detect them. There is an ample supply of church members who identify as followers of Jesus. They have confessed their sins and are often faithful supporters of the church or corps they attend. They may tithe diligently and participate in church or corps activities. They may consider themselves to be ‘good Christian people’ who behave themselves and live respectable lives. But they are unaware, or have forgotten, that being a Christian actually means more than receiving the wonderful forgiving grace of Jesus through his death on the cross. It also means being graciously empowered through the Spirit to be like Jesus. You will remember that Jesus was known as a rabbi or teacher. In his day rabbis were Jews who gathered around them a group of disciples whose job it
was to perfect their way of living by learning from their rabbi’s teaching and imitating his life. Jesus expected the same from his disciples. What this means is that all Christians – no exceptions – are called to imitate the way their Lord and Saviour lived. When Jesus called someone to follow him he meant for them to go in an entirely different direction by loving him supremely, carrying their cross as he did his, losing their old lives for his new life (see Matthew 16:24 and 25) and doing the things he did for others – like loving each other as he loved them (see John 15:12) or washing each other’s feet as he washed theirs (see John 13:14). Our early Salvation Army knew this well. They not only conducted large gatherings in rented facilities to preach the gospel and bring people to accept Jesus as their Saviour, they also followed this up with holiness teaching. This was often done in smaller weeknight sessions called ‘holiness meetings’, where converts and soldiers learnt about living the life of Jesus. Here they sought the holiness of heart that motivated and equipped them spiritually to live as credible disciples of Jesus in the world. The humble converts from the evangelistic meetings had returned to the Army because the churches to which
RESOURCES
Writing a new story of encountering God Lyndall Bywater, prayer consultant for the Salvation Army Prayer Network, invites us on an adventure
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O be a follower of Jesus is to trust that when everything changes it means God has something new in store. Over the centuries, every time the people of God have come up 16
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against a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, God has used the crisis to open a new way, to do something they’d never even dreamt of. The Covid-19 crisis has certainly
they were referred had made them feel less than welcome. So, the Army accepted them, made them feel at home and became their worshipping community, their church. Although the term ‘church’ was rejected for another hundred years, we did become one, only by a different name, a name that spoke of spiritual warfare: a Salvation Army at war against the forces of sin. What happened to the weekday holiness meetings, where the focus was on a cleansing and empowering holiness that enabled the convert to live in the likeness of Jesus? Since the Army had now become a church, a Sunday morning worship service was needed. While retaining the emphasis on holiness, the weekday holiness meeting was transferred to Sunday morning where it became the weekly worship. This larger gathering, however, did not
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What happened to the weekday holiness meetings, where the focus was on a cleansing and empowering holiness?
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changed much of our Army life beyond recognition. In this territory we have taken the sad but wise decision to cancel all territorial and divisional events for this financial year, and many of our corps activities will look very different due to social distancing restrictions. But that doesn’t mean we press pause until things get back to how they were. This is the time to embrace the adventure and write a new story together. Our new story won’t be about activities and events. It will be a story of encounters: of us experiencing the love and power of God in our lives like never before. Every significant new beginning or change of direction in Scripture starts with an encounter with God. God is no
forgotten calling
have the intimacy and personal accountability of the smaller group. Personal accountability to other Christians is crucial to our growth as disciples of Jesus. Twelve disciples lived close to Jesus, learnt from him, were accountable to him and grew in grace sufficient to launch his Church in the world. In the early centuries of the Church, when large Christian gatherings were illegal, followers of Jesus gathered in homes and discipled each other.
remote-control-wielding couch h potato, managing our destinies from afar. God is creator and companion, n, guide and friend, walking with h us into the unknown. That’s why it matters so much that we keep p on encountering him – not just once nce at our conversion or every couple of years at a big event, but day after day. Into The Wild is an encounter adventure that we invite you to go on. Each month we will dip into a story of encounter – a story of someone in the Bible who met et with God in a life-changing way. ay. We will help you explore the story y through
These cell churches grew rapidly during those years. One cell church would birth one or more other cell churches. It was multiplication out of control! The Wesleyan revival of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the church communities that grew out of it, were fuelled and formed by small groups that the Wesleys called class meetings and bands. These were largely lay-driven accountability groups. The class meetings – which were not classes in the sense we usually mean today: a group of students being taught by a teacher – had a maximum of 12 participants, one or two of whom were facilitators. A facilitator was responsible for keeping the meeting on track while at the same time being accountable to the group for his or her own growth in grace and spiritual depth. The main agenda of the meetings was for each member to give an account of their own discipleship since their last meeting and share how Scripture was speaking to them or challenging them. Then the members prayed for one another. The bands were smaller, more intimate groups of the same gender where accountability was even greater, personal confession of sin by each member was typical and prayer was usually more extended. Jesus and his circle of 12 disciples,
the Early Church and its small home cells, and the class meetings and bands of the Wesleyan movement teach us – along with other similar expressions of effective discipleship groups – that the best way forward to deep spiritual growth, which in turn leads to meaningful numerical growth, is through small groups of Christians meeting regularly in a relationship of mutual trust, prayer and accountability. Such groups are poised to be transformative. Because of the nature of such discipleship groups or teams, they should not be seen as corps programmes. Each group would be fully accountable to the corps officers and the facilitators would be properly trained. The groups themselves, however, would be voluntary and mostly lay-driven. Discipleship is a lay movement or it will have little effect. The goal is transformation of people – and ultimately of a corps. O This article first appeared in Rescue The Perishing, a magazine of the USA Southern Territory
COMMISSIONER NEEDHAM LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN THE USA
articles, podcasts and videos delivered email address, and we’ll have to your e online gatherings each month so some on pray and worship together. Most we can p we’ll give you ideas on how you of all, we meet with God in new, life-changing can mee ways, rright in the middle of your ‘new normal’. norm Chapter 1, ‘Crossing over – courage to trust’, will be emailed out in time for Pentecost weekend.
O Sign up to receive Into The O Wild resources, along with W invitations to online gatherings: inv eepurl.com/g26lob eepurl Salvationist 30 May 2020
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BIBLE STUDY
Spirit of truth Major Mark Herbert reminds us that the work of the Holy Spirit is to put the spotlight on Jesus
JOHN 14:15–27
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HEN is something fake? Am I the only one who doesn’t get the fake faces that people use in texts and WhatsApp messages? And how much fake information does there need to be in the news for it to be called ‘fake news’? The reality is, the level of fakeness depends upon who is doing the speaking; my truth will contain far less fakeness than yours. So then, as disciples of Jesus, where do we find the benchmark for truth? Jesus. He describes himself as ‘the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). He then goes on to give a remarkable promise: the Spirit of truth is coming, and he will ‘be with you for ever’ (v16). As you read our study passage open your ears and allow the Spirit of
Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day by Major Lynda Levis
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truth to speak to you and, as he does, grasp the sense of certainty that flows from these words. Did you hear how many times Jesus says ‘I will’? We need, of course, to understand the context of this passage. Having just shared the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room, Jesus teaches them before they leave to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He explains that their love for him needs to be shown in obedience to his commands, and he promises help and his peace. The promise Jesus gives has many aspects. First, he is going to send ‘another advocate’ (v16). This is a picture of one who comes alongside. One of the great privileges of being a follower of Jesus is that we are never alone. We may feel isolated but the
Holy Spirit lives within us. It is essential that we understand the work of this advocate. The work of the Holy Spirit is always positive. It is not the work of the Holy Spirit to cause division. It is not the work of the Holy Spirit to cause strife and pain and anguish. It is not the work of the Holy Spirit to build a barrier that stops us from fully understanding God. His work is always positive and, although often uncomfortable, always for our good. Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth. QUESTIONS O When was the last time you testified to the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? O What did you say?
SUNDAY
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‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’ ( John 16:13)
Spirit of truth and love,/ Life-giving, holy dove,/ Speed forth thy flight;/ Move on the waters’ face,/ Bearing the lamp of grace,/ And in Earth’s darkest place/ Let there be light! (SASB 327)
‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word… I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ( John 17:6 and 11)
The second aspect of this promise is the unbreakable link between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is for our benefit that Jesus returns to Heaven. He couldn’t be everywhere at once. Note the difference – Jesus was with the disciples but the Holy Spirit is in us. The Holy Spirit is not a force that zaps us; he is a person who brings Jesus to us. The work of the Holy Spirit is to put the spotlight on Jesus. The Holy Spirit never speaks about himself, rather, he always directs the attention towards Jesus. When all is said and done, it is for Jesus we live and to him that we will each give an account of our lives. QUESTION O In what ways have you felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your life?
A third aspect of this promise is easily missed in our haste to get into the passage. The call to obedience is made three times in these verses (vv15, 21 and 23). The link between loving Jesus, obeying God’s word and experiencing the work of the Spirit in our lives cannot be broken. The rule of Christ in our hearts is the test of our love for him and will reflect how aware we are of the Spirit’s work within us. Radical obedience in one area of our life won’t cover disobedience in another. Therefore, doing the right thing, in the right way with the right kind of love, all in the name of Jesus, will lead to a deepening sensitivity to the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth who directs our devotion to Jesus. All this leads us back to the first word of our study passage: ‘If’ (v15). Its significance should not be
underestimated. Jesus is the truth and the Holy Spirit leads us to him. However, our understanding and experience of him rest upon our personal choice. ‘If you…’ says Jesus, ‘I will…’ QUESTION O Is there an area of your life where you are deliberately being disobedient towards God?
MAJOR HERBERT IS DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, SOUTH EAST
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Come, Holy Spirit, thy guidance we crave;/ Speak out thy will we pray;/ We would be sensitive to thy control;/ Speak to our hearts today./ Speak to our hearts today,/ Speak to our hearts today,/ Rekindle the glow and the glory bestow,/ Speak to our hearts today. (SASB 318)
‘My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.’ ( John 17:15–17)
Spirit of the living God,/ Fall afresh on me;/ Spirit of the living God,/ Fall afresh on me./ Fill me anew, fill me anew./ Spirit of the Lord/ Fall afresh on me. (SASB 313)
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ( John 8:31 and 32)
Prayer Thank you, God, for your everyday presence with us and within us. May we know your truth, share your truth and live your truth, so that our world may be filled with your glory.
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VIEW POINT
Taking a look at narcissism John Steley presents excerpts from Help! I Need To Know About Narcissism
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HEN we think of the word ‘narcissism’ we may imagine people taking selfies, maintaining an attractive image on social media or something similar. True narcissism, however, is something far more serious. It destroys communities, churches, marriages, families and individuals. It is not just a case of people showing off, annoying as that may be. True narcissism is destructive and needs to be understood. WHAT IS NARCISSISM? In the ancient Greek myth, Narcissus was a handsome but arrogant young man who rejected the love of others. Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution, lured him to a stream where he fell in love with his own reflection. Narcissus did not realise that this was only his reflection but thought it was his real self. His infatuation with this reflection was so powerful that he eventually pined away and died. This myth is the root of our word ‘narcissism’ and helps us understand what is meant by the term. It is commonly believed that narcissistic people are in love with themselves, but this is not quite true. Narcissus fell in love with his
reflection not himself. So it is with narcissistic individuals today. They are not concerned with who they are but how they appear; it is the image that matters rather than the reality. Truly narcissistic people may come to believe that the image they project is their real self. This image will, of course, be highly admirable, perhaps very intelligent or stunningly attractive. When someone points out a fault or shortcoming the narcissistic person may react with anger or ridicule. The belief that the image is perfect, that it is the real self, must be maintained. By contrast, people who truly love their real self will normally listen to criticism. They can be aware that who they are, how they are perceived by others and the way they would like to be perceived are not the same. These people want their real self to be the best that it can be – so honest appraisal, even if it is painful, is welcomed. It gives them an opportunity to reflect upon themselves and to change where necessary. From this it is easy to see why people who truly love and accept their real selves can become more alive. The longer they live the more they are able to help themselves and others and be of service to God. Those who love only their image have far less hope of meaningful change. As with the story of Narcissus, the obsession with image is the way of self-destruction. WHAT ARE ITS CHARACTERISTICS? People who are narcissistic like to be seen as more important than others. They have an unusually strong desire for admiration and attention. This can be for their physical appearance, intellectual ability, superior knowledge or other supposed attributes. Allied to this can be unrealistic expectations of special treatment or for others to comply with their wishes. There can be an unspoken assumption that the rules that apply to others do not apply to them. These are all ways in which narcissistic individuals assure themselves that the image they project is working.
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Salvationist 30 May 2020
As narcissistic people love only their own image they usually lack empathy for others. They can manipulate and use others for their own advantage. They often display a haughty arrogance and can be quick to give unsolicited advice. It should be remembered, however, that behind what appears to be ultra self-confidence, narcissistic people are actually very insecure. This means they can be hypersensitive to any form of criticism. A perceived slight can result in an episode of narcissistic rage. CAN NARCISSISM BE CURED? From a psychological perspective, the likelihood of someone who is very narcissistic changing their ways is not great. The lack of self-awareness and tendency to blame others can make any form of therapy extremely difficult. As Christians, however, we must remember that we are called to pray, even for the least lovable and for those who have hurt us. This is not always easy. We may need to ask for God’s help just to pray for someone. Jesus gave his disciples some advice about living and working in this world. He told them, ‘Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10:16 English Standard Version). The Kingdom of God has not yet come in all its fullness. Until it does we must keep working and keep praying. We must always be vigilant, having a healthy, realistic scepticism. Wolves can wear the clothing of sheep. But we must not become cynical; we must, as Jesus said, be wise as serpents yet innocent as doves. O Help! I Need To Know About Narcissism is available from dayone.co. uk priced £2.50 (plus postage and packing)
JOHN IS A PSYCHOLOGIST BASED AT HOXTON. HE HAS WORKED IN NHS AND FORENSIC SETTINGS, AS WELL AS WITH CHURCH, MISSION AND OVERSEAS AID WORKERS
REFL RE FLEC FL ECTI TION REFLECTION EC CTI O ON
Continuing in salvation Brian Colley (Clowne) prescribes a regular spiritual check-up
J
ESUS said, ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven’ (Matthew 7:21). A lot of people worship him but not everyone obeys his will for their lives. God’s word tells us clearly that he wills our salvation and that we should be holy. It is possible to think that we are saved when in fact we are not. We can fool ourselves and we can fool others but we can’t fool God. We need to have a regular spiritual check-up. On the back of some vehicles we read, ‘How am I driving?’ If we had ‘How am I living?’ printed on our backs, what response would we receive? Do some of our thoughts and actions suggest we have slipped back into pre-salvation mode? I once read that some Christians can take down the cross of Jesus in the town centre of their lives and replace it with a statue of themselves. It becomes all about them; not God’s will but their own. The ninth doctrine of The Salvation Army says: ‘We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.’ Many who thought they were saved suddenly found out different. Look at David, God’s chosen king. He planned Uriah’s death so that he could have Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, for himself. He seemed to
be completely unaware of his sinful act until God sent the prophet Nathan to tell him a story about someone who had behaved badly (see 2 Samuel 11:2 to 12:13). David was so angry, he said: ‘The man who did this must die!’ (12:5). Nathan replied: ‘You are the man!’ (12:7). This led David to write Psalm 51, where he prays for God to ‘blot out my transgressions’ (v1) and ‘restore to me the joy of your salvation’ (v12). Look at Peter in Mark 8. One minute he is saying to Jesus, ‘You are the Messiah’ (v29). The next, we are told, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Jesus responded: ‘Get behind me, Satan!... You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ (v33). Later Peter was to deny even knowing Jesus, not once but three times. We could also look at Samson, who ‘did not know that the Lord had left him’ (Judges 16:20), Solomon, whose ‘heart had turned away from the Lord’ (1 Kings 11:9), and many other characters from Scripture. They all thought they were right with God but they had become spiritually complacent and in need of forgiveness. Jesus made it clear what will happen on Judgment Day in his parables about the sheep and goats (see Matthew 25:31–46) and the broad and narrow roads (see Matthew 7:13 and 14). We will never reach the right destination if we are on the wrong road – and the choice is
Heaven or Hell, there is no way between them. A tombstone in Indiana bears these words: ‘Pause stranger when you pass me by, as you are now so once was I. As I am now so you will be, so prepare for death and follow me.’ Somebody wrote underneath: ‘To follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went!’ The Kingdom of Heaven is available to everyone. Jesus told Nicodemus: ‘No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again’ (John 3:3). He said to a rich man: ‘Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven’ (Matthew 19:21). Nicodemus was there at the cross but the rich man went away sad. People have different priorities and don’t always respond in the right way. Yes, the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven is available to everyone. God sent his Son to die on a crude wooden cross so that all could find it. We only have to recognise his will for us and obey it. Salvation is a miracle and the door to holiness. When we repent, salvation can be found. I can’t remember what it was that my little granddaughter did to upset me on one occasion, but afterwards she wrote in her childlike way a little note. It simply said: ‘Dear Grandad, I’m sorry for upsetting you and I will never do it again. I was so silly. I am so sorry.’ You can imagine my response to that note. God’s response must be the same to all who are truly repentant.
Salvationist 30 May 2020
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
ARMY PEOPLE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Emerald (55th) O Colonels Graeme and Anne Harding (12 June) Golden O Majors Peter and Marion Shipp (9 June) O Majors Jeff and Sandra Wills (13 June) RETIRED OFFICERS Birthday congratulations O Captain June Gaylard (90 on 30 May) O Mrs Major Gladys Travis (90 on 9 June) O Major Dennis Wisbey (80 on 13 June) PROMOTED TO GLORY O Karl Wilderoder, Darlington O Songster Kath Hudson, Hull Icehouse O Stuart Aitken, Stockton O B/Reservist Norman Cowley, Bedford Congress Hall O David Soal, Bromley Temple O Margaret DeMaid, Bromley Temple O Bandsman/Songster Thomas Littler, Failsworth O Elsie Bethell, Staines O Fred Bethell, Staines O Evelyn Collins, Greenford O Ivan Thompson, Belfast Sydenham O Gordon Bowyer, Canterbury O Gordon Barker, Woking O Betty Dennison, Sheffield Citadel O Rtd Divisional Envoy June Tones, Newcastle City Temple O Karen Kelly, Bolton Citadel O B/S/Reservist David Tuttiett, Winton BEREAVED O Karen Aitken, Stockton, of her husband Stuart O Barbara Soal, Bromley Temple, of her husband David, SCL Julia Minton, Bromley Temple, and Jonathan Soal of their father O Ian DeMaid, Bromley Temple, of his wife Margaret O Janice Littler, Failsworth, of her father Bandsman/Songster Thomas Littler O Songster Linda Thompson, Belfast Sydenham, of her husband Ivan, Neil Thompson and Clayre Thompson, both Belfast Sydenham, of their father O Gwen Bowyer, Canterbury, of her husband Gordon, Rosemary Aziz and Margaret Pursglove, Sutton, of their father 22
Salvationist 30 May 2020
Songster Shylet Nyemba, Dunstable, of her sister Grace Mujajati O Ruth Barker, Woking, of her husband Gordon, Debbie Brown and Steven Barker of their father O Keith Dennison, Sheffield Citadel, of his wife Betty, Major Edna Rowley of her sister O Songster Glenda Tuttiett, Winton, of her husband B/S/Reservist David Tuttiett O
WHAT’S ON PENTECOST MEETING O An online meeting led by Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill will premiere at 9 am on Sunday 31 May The meeting will be available to watch live and after its broadcast at youtube. com/user/salvationarmyvideo
TRIBUTES MAJOR DOREEN KING LOVE for God, love for her family and love for The Salvation Army were the hallmarks of Doreen’s life. She was born in a showman’s caravan in 1935 on the outskirts of Liverpool. Her life changed dramatically when her mother died and she went to live with her grandmother in Ellesmere Port at a very early age. She was converted at a tent campaign and through the influence of Salvationist neighbours linked up with the corps, becoming a soldier, songster and Sunbeam leader. Responding to a call to officership, Doreen entered the International Training College and became a member of the Swordbearers Session in 1955. Following her commissioning she served in appointments at Darwen, Blackburn Furthergate, Keswick, Penrith and Liverpool Old Swan, where she married Lieutenant Russell King in 1959. Together they served in many corps, including Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leicester Temple, Gateshead Citadel, Clacton, Darlington Citadel and Canterbury Temple. In all her appointments Doreen took a keen interest in YP work, the home league and Guides and Brownies. Known for her singing voice she was often asked to give vocal solos. In 1966 Doreen and Russell were
appointed to the Army’s Public Relations Department, first in Nottingham and then in Birmingham. Later she became the Leicester area director for Salvation Army Guides and Brownies and was the manageress at the Devonport and Cambria House Red Shield hotels, before being appointed with her husband as a county evangelist to Lincolnshire. This was followed by a return to the Public Relations Department in the West and then in Nottingham. Her final appointment before retirement was with the audit department at THQ. Doreen was loved by all her family and is remembered fondly by those she served. Saddened by her unexpected promotion to Glory, family and friends salute Doreen’s memory and say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ – RK
WILLIAM BELL, BOOTLE BILL was born to Salvationist parents and, apart from two years at Kowloon Central Corps, served all his life in Bootle. He was in the junior and senior sections, and in Hong Kong played in a band made up of UK Salvationists. Bill married Rene, and they had two daughters, Susan and Alison. After Rene was promoted to Glory, Bill married Jan. They celebrated 34 years of marriage in January. Over the years Bill was YP band leader, songster leader, YPSM and recruiting sergeant, carrying out these responsibilities as a real Christian gentleman. After retirement Bill involved himself more in the corps, became a Gideon and led meetings at unofficered corps. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but recognised music and still loved to sing. Bill is sadly missed by his family but he is now with the Lord he loved. – SP/AM
JOHN DAVIS, CHATHAM MARRIED to his childhood sweetheart, Joan, for 58 years, John was the epitome of devotion. He followed his calling to serve others by entering the training college, with Joan following a year later. Throughout his life he was passionate
about the importance of serving others. Later in life John worked in social services in Kent and several London boroughs, before finally retiring as an assistant director. As a leader, he firmly believed that the most important people in the department were the frontline staff, and he saw his role of serving the team as a true calling. John was a fine cornet player and went on to be bandmaster at Gillingham. He is greatly missed by Joan, their two sons, Greg and Jeremy, four grandchildren and many others. They rejoice in the sure knowledge of a fine ‘welcome home’. – GD
STUART MARSHALLSAY, BOSCOMBE STUART was commissioned as a bandsman in 1947 at Swanage and maintained his commitment throughout his life. During national service in the RAF he played in the band at Bath Citadel. Back at Swanage Stuart took on the role of YP
band leader, then deputy bandmaster. Through the visit of Worcester Band in 1954 he met Audrey Barker, which led to a move to Worcester and marriage. Stuart worked in engineering but was also employed as a brass teacher in schools for the local authority. At the corps he was commissioned as songster leader and later bandmaster. After the tragic loss of Audrey, Stuart found happiness again and married Captain Sandra Burton. Following redundancy, he returned to Dorset with his family and became involved at Pokesdown as a bandsman, then as songster leader. In retirement he soldiered at Boscombe. Stuart’s promotion to Glory followed a short time of illness. – KM
JEFFREY STRAW, THORNTON HEATH JEFFREY Straw was born in Manchester in 1938 to Salvation Army officers Lily and William Straw, who later became the national evangelist. Army work took them across
Please note that soldiers’ and adherent members’ tributes submitted for publication should be no longer than 150 words. Good quality pictures will be included with tributes.
Britain and young Jeff lived in 20 different towns. Jeff joined the RAF and served in Hong Kong, Singapore and Cyprus. While on leave he visited Thornton Heath Corps and met Olive Guilford, who was in the songsters. They fell in love and married within months in 1960. They had four children – Carla, Madeline, Gavin and Maria – and worshipped at the corps. Jeff had a successful career in life insurance, including setting up the Save Assured company and later becoming London group manager of Sun Life Unit Services. After retiring, Jeff worked as a Salvation Army prison chaplain at HMP Ford in Arundel for 12 years, providing spiritual and practical support to the men. Jeff was a warm, generous, funny and hugely positive man. He is deeply missed by his family and many friends. – GS
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE This information from THQ is correct as of 3 pm on 22 May FUTURE OPENING OF CORPS BUILDINGS Assistant Secretary for Mission Major Elwyn Harries and a group of divisional leaders, corps officers and local officers across the territory are discussing the future opening of corps buildings and possible gatherings for worship. They are taking into consideration the decisions and timetables of devolved governments and localised responses to generic guidelines. CORPS CHARITY SHOPS As government restrictions ease and corps, in conjunction with their DHQ, consider when they can reopen their charity shops, there are a number of issues to think about if they are to open safely and be financially viable. THQ will produce a series of guidance documents to support this planning. DEVELOPING YOUR ONLINE MINISTRY The Resource Hub has launched a new webpage with inspiration and tools to maximise an online ministry. This is for corps with an already-established online presence but
who are looking for fresh ideas. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/ developing-ministry-online. Its sister page, launched last month, gives advice to corps wanting to begin an online ministry: salvationarmy.org.uk/ moving-ministry-online. FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN A fundraising campaign is running from 25 to 31 May, including a TV ad, press adverts, door-drops, Facebook and Google ads, digital display ads and inserts in key publications, as well as a mail drop and emails to 600,000 supporters. The TV video was created in-house by the Individual Giving and Video Production teams, which has kept the production costs down. It features people serving through The Salvation Army during the pandemic and is on channels such as ITV1, Sky News, More4, Drama and Yesterday. Key information is on the territorial website: salvationarmy.org.uk/coronavirus-and-internal-information O
ANSWERS TO GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ (PAGE 24) 7. a. Jean Barclay 6. c. No Continuing City 5. a. Evangeline Booth 4. a. 1939 and 1946 3. b. Clarence Wiseman 2. c. Jarl Wahlström 1. a. Albert Orsborn
Salvationist 30 May 2020
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21. a. Chief of the Staff
14. a. Wilfred Kitching
20. a. Erik Wickberg
13. b. Shaw Clifton
19. b. Frederick Coutts
12. b. One Army, One Mission, One Message
18. c. André Cox
11. c. Ten
17. b. Bramwell Tillsley
10. c. Eva Burrows
16. c. Edward Higgins
9. a. Five
15. a. Bramwell Booth
8. b. Paul Rader
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ How much do you know about the Army’s 21 Generals? Here are 21 questions to test your knowledge.
Whose name was mistakenly entered as ‘Alfred’ on his birth certificate? a. Albert Orsborn b. Arnold Brown c. André Cox
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Which General’s autobiography was called A Pilgrim’s Song? a. Wilfred Kitching b. George Carpenter c. Jarl Wahlström
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Who had been a Second World War chaplain with the Canadian military? a. Erik Wickberg b. Clarence Wiseman c. Arnold Brown
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1
2 3
George Carpenter was General between which years? a. 1939 and 1946 b. 1954 and 1963 c. 1969 and 1974
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Who said: ‘To compare knowledge with love you may as well expect the raindrops to rival the ocean’? a. Evangeline Booth b. Eva Burrows c. Linda Bond
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What was Frederick Coutts’s autobiography called? a. The House Of My Pilgrimage b. The Gate And The Light c. No Continuing City
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7
Whom did Arnold Brown marry in 1939?
a. Jean Barclay b. Joan Nat c. June West
O Answers on page 23
Which General served as president of Asbury University in retirement? a. Evangeline Booth b. Paul Rader c. George Carpenter
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How many songs by William Booth are in the 2015 songbook? a. Five b. Seven c. Nine
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Which General was admitted to the Order of the Founder posthumously? a. Edward Higgins b. Jarl Wahlström c. Eva Burrows
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How many musicals did John Gowans and John Larsson write? a. Eight b. Nine c. Ten
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What was Linda Bond’s vision statement? a. One Army, One Gospel, One Mission b. One Army, One Mission, One Message c. One Army, One Mission, One Saviour
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Who established the International Social Justice Commission? a. Eva Burrows b. Shaw Clifton c. Brian Peddle
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Apart from William and Bramwell Booth, who served as General for the longest? a. Wilfred Kitching b. Albert Orsborn c. Clarence Wiseman
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Which General was born in Halifax?
a. Bramwell Booth b. Bramwell Tillsley c. John Gowans Who was the first General to be elected by a High Council? a. George Carpenter b. Evangeline Booth c. Edward Higgins Who wrote the book Life In The Spirit?
a. William Booth b. Bramwell Tillsley c. Edward Higgins Which General was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)? a. Paul Rader b. Shaw Clifton c. André Cox
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Whose comment about modern evangelism led to the formation of the Joystrings? a. Wilfred Kitching b. Frederick Coutts c. Erik Wickberg
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Which General was awarded the Swedish King’s Gold Medal? a. Erik Wickberg b. Jarl Wahlström c. John Larsson
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What was Brian Peddle’s appointment before being elected General in 2018? a. Chief of the Staff b. International Secretary for the Americas and Caribbean c. Territorial Commander, Canada and Bermuda Territory
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