Time for Change

TIME FOR CHANGE Yorkshire South with Humber Division.

Spring Edition 2022

LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS

INSIDE

05

EDITORIAL

Major Lynn Gibbs reflects on ‘Coming together, keeping together, working together’

06

08

AN ARMY OF PRAYER

HEALTHY CHURCHES ARE MISSIONAL CHURCHES

Captains Peter and Ruth Hammand give an insight into being retired officer visitors in the Division.

Natural Church Development consultant Lynn Chetcuti introduces this valuble tool to us.

MAGAZINE: Unit 2, Nidd House, Richmond Business Park, Doncaster, DN4 5NL. (0113)387 7668 DIVISIONAL LEADERS:Lynn & Raelton Gibbs DIVISIONAL MISSION ENABLERS: Carolyn & Paul Wilson DIVISIONAL YOUTH SPECIALIST: Mark Elliott DIVISIONAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER: Stephen Elliott; DIVISIONAL ADMIN & DIVISIONAL SECRETARIAL SUPPORT: Joanne Moody, Alexandra Utting.

(The Sallvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779. In Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399).

10

14

18

A TIME FOR CHANGE?

JESUS & FOOTBALL

APEST WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

Who is the church for?

Professional footballer Josh Pak shares a little on how he tries to share Jesus in his day to day life.

Majors Paul and Carolyn Wilson ask the question what does APEST mean for you?

EDITORIAL MAJOR LY N N GIBBS DIVISIONAL LEADER

I

t was Henry Ford who said “coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” The context of this is that we began together with a dream, a dream of being relevant to our community, and we came together to define this dream as being Tier one. We worked together to achieve this goal, and today we stand together to celebrate our success.

On my way to the office last week, my first day of freedom following Covid I was privileged and blessed to spot in the sky a group of starlings in the distance. As I drove on I realised they were coming together and so I stopped the car (in a safe place) and looking upwards I witnessed the most beautiful murmuration, this huge group forming with a twist, turn, swoop and swirl as they went across the sky in beautiful shape-shifting clouds. It’s interesting that scientists believe that murmurations offer safety in numbers; protection from predators like peregrine falcons that are attracted by the sheer number of birds. After all, it can’t be easy to single out just one starling from a whiling group of hundreds or even thousands! Experts still aren’t completely sure how each starling knows which way to turn without bumping into others.

The truth is that the murmuration of starlings is a coming together, keeping together and working together! We can surely learn much from this for ourselves in the context of our own church community.

We were privileged to share an evening with some of our young adults in the division at the 4:12 Forum, a group that come together to discuss and debate current issues of importance to themselves and others. The theme for this evening was ‘God’s Creation.’ This was a time of great blessing for us as we listened and shared in their conversation of things that concerned them and how ‘they’ and ‘we’ can all make a difference to God’s damaged world.

We concluded our evening by going outside and looking up to the sky, to gaze upon God’s beautiful creation as we read Psalm 8 together before a final prayer.

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth (Selected verses) I would challenge you to keep looking upwards, if I had not done this then I would have missed both the Murmuration of Starlings, and also the beautiful sky full of God’s stars.

As you connect with your community and your church I invite you to consider how we are stronger in our “coming together, keeping together and our working together.

M I N I S T RY

AN ARMY OF PRAYER C APTAIN S P ETER & RUTH HAMMON D RETIRED OFFICER VISITORS

P

eter and I have been married for 56 years and have been lifelong salvationists. We spent most of our married life in Thetford as Local Officers. For many years, just after the Romanian revolution, Peter and I took teams of Salvationists to Romania with Humanitarian Aid and bibles in their language which at that time they were unable to purchase.

However, in 1997 our lives changed when the Lord called us into full-time ministry and since that time we have worked for the Salvation Army International Emergency Services in Bosnia, Kosova, Kenya, Iraq and Peter also went to Sri Lanka. We have had appointments in Farcet, Sheffield Woodhouse, and were appointed as Spiritual Programme Directors at Mount Cross Family Centre before our retirement in July 2010.

We retired to Doncaster Lakeside as our son Andrew was the Corps Sergeant Major and his wife Nicola was the corps administrator. It was great to live near our two grandchildren, Marcia and Samuel.

However, on Boxing Day 2013 Andrew and Nicola gave us the news they had been called into full-time ministry in the Salvation Army.

6

They moved to William Booth College in 2014 and they have now been Corps Officers in Falmouth for over five years. Needless to say, we are pleased they made this decision. The rest of our family continue to live in East Anglia.

In October 2014 we were contacted by the Retired Officers Unit at Territorial Headquarters inviting us to become Visiting Officers which we gladly accepted. As visitors, we are responsible for keeping in contact with a list of Retired Officers, which have been allocated to us by Territorial Headquarters. From time to time, we visit these Officers, whether that be in their homes or going out for a coffee.

Over the years, several Officers have lived in residential homes and wherever they are we are pleased to meet with them and enjoy Christian fellowship. We share a bible reading and pray with them.

In some cases, an Officer may prefer to keep the contact with us by telephone. If an Officer is unwell this is shared with both the Retired Officer’s Unit and Divisional Headquarters, in confidence, so that more prayers may be made on their behalf, and they are aware of the individual circumstances.

When a retired Officer has a birthday, we send out birthday cards and if we are aware of any other special occasions an appropriate

greeting is sent.

Some of our Retired Officers are now Local Officers in different corps situations and continue to be used in various ways in the church; it’s as if they have never retired!

During the years we have got to know Officers who have suffered from memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, yet amazingly, if Peter and I begin to sing their favourite song they will join in. It’s so lovely to see a smile come to their faces as they remember the words. Also, when reading familiar bible passages, they join in with us. It always gives us great joy when we see this happen.

Each of our Retired Officers have some wonderful stories to tell regarding how the Lord has used them throughout their ministry.

In conversation, they sometimes reflect on difficult situations that have occurred in their life, yet they always recognise that God had been with them in every situation. During the last 18 months, we have had to alter the way we communicate with Retired Officers, due to Covid-19, and so we have met with them in outdoor spaces or through telephone conversations.

Peter and I feel very privileged that we have been given the opportunity to share with so many wonderful people as Retired Officers Visitors.

MISSION

HEALTHY CHURCHES ARE MISSIONAL CHURCHES NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT LYNN CHETCUTI OUTLINES WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

‘ L ynn is the National Director of NCD UK, focusing on assisting Christian leaders develop the health and culture of their churches, for growth. She is our NCD Territorial Consultant, responsible for coaching and supporting Divisions, Corps and individual teams to grow and take territory for the Kingdom of God’.

8

T

he Salvation Army United Kingdom Kingdom & Republic of Ireland Territory being ever committed to making disciples who make disciples, has invested in church health and development, supported by Natural Church Development (NCD) for well over a decade. Churches are as healthy as the spiritual health and well-being of their members.

The healthier a church is, the more its members instinctively reach out to others, and live inspiring lives that point people to Christ. The healthier we are, the better placed we are to welcome and enfold visitors who are invited along, enabling them to find a place of belonging, where they will discover who it is God has created them to be and what He has called and gifted them to do.

Healthy churches equip and empower everyone, helping each person discover how God has uniquely formed them. They assist each to pursue all that He has for them and to grow in personal relationship with the Father, living lives of worship.

God has given you everything you need, to fulfil His calling in your lives. Some of those resources, you may not see. Some are in their infancy and need to be developed, but nonetheless are within you.

We need to help identify them, and support you in nurturing them.

We reassess our businesses, careers and physical fitness, and we also need to do so in church life. This process is about identifying all that God has given us, and empowering us to steward that well, then as the parable of the talents illustrates, He will bring increase.

Research covering over 100K churches, worldwide, from every denomination, and theological persuasion, mega churches, tiny churches, long established congregations and brand new plants, consistently points to eight key factors that are invariably stronger in growing churches, than in those that have plateaued or are in decline. As we invest in these essential qualities of healthy church life, we naturally see increased growth and health.

All aspects of this discipling approach are based on biblical principles, backed scientifically with statistical evidence that, when we invest in these - all of which are within our ability to develop, Jesus grows His church. Essentially when we do what God has asked us to do, He of course comes, and does what only He can do.

The truth is, He is not limiting our growth; we are. We need to find how and where we are doing that, and then simply address that blockage.

That’s where an NCD survey comes into place. This will assist you and your congregation to assess how strong you are in these principle areas of health and also identify those that are less developed, pinpointing the specific aspects that are currently limiting the growth of your Corps.

No survey will actually fix anything. It simply informs your thinking. It tables the right conversations. So, once you have taken your survey, it is then imperative that you act on the information, taking time to understand the results, consider how you would like to grow, then plan the way forward, investing in the leadership development of your people.

You will soon begin experiencing change.

10

C U LT U R E

A TIME FOR CHANGE? WHO IS THE CHURCH FOR?

hange is constant and at times we struggle to recognise the need to do so, or if we do how to make a difference. The signs of global warming are being seen, and each of us are wanting to ensure that things do not get any worse. How we make a difference is not sometimes easy. Similarly will my little bit really make a difference?

C

The same is true within many of our corps.

Things are going alright but there is the feeling that change is needed but we’re not quite sure what God is saying to us and how we might achieve it.

Alan Roxburgh believes that organisational structure in itself will never get us to the place of being a missional community, but it can act as a wonderful vehicle for the journey. In Jesus, all of life is taken seriously and becomes the realm of God’s action, Institutionalised practices and convictions created a culture that prevented them from seeing Jesus as they eagerly sought God’s purposes. Is the same happening to us in our congregations?

We must learn how to discern what God is doing in, through, and amongst all the movements of change in which we find ourselves. We need to reflect both on the word of God and on what we are experiencing . We need to listen to each others stories. Testimony times certainly give opportunity to hear each others experiences.

What does grace really mean in todays society and is this available to literally everybody or just those the church think fit in? We are clearly called by Jesus to love, to support each other and care. As Jarel Robinson Brown expresses ‘Either all people are made in God’s image or they are not. Either Christ came, died and rose again for all or for none. Either the Church exists for every soul or for not a single soul.

There is a danger that we live in what Chuck Mingo describes as ‘bubbles’ that have a tendency to become permanent. Often people who are in our bubbles look like us, share our interests and values. They are quite insular and become permanent.What is this saying about our faith and what Jesus is calling us to do? Is there a danger that in our congregations our bubbles have become insular.

The great commission tells us to share the gospel with everybody, and our songbook is full of songs declaring ‘whosoever will may come’. In John’s gospel too (4:4-26) Jesus took the disciples through Samaria to people and places they did not want to be.

This raises the question of how we interact and build relationshs with people who are our neighbours but are not like us?

Elsewhere in the New Testament Jesus also says alot about who our neighbour is.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan we are shown that neighbours are to love and treat well. The stranger even came back to make sure he was alright.

learn about the culture, religions, language, and food of other ethnicities in your community?

Like Mingo I continue to reflect on my life and what Jesus is calling me to do. I need to confront the question of my own bias, my own comfort and my unwillingness to move otside the comfort of my own bubble.

Have you listened to the stories and struggles of immigrants and refugees in your community?

There is the danger when looking back to see things through rose coloured glasses.

However the times when God has been revealed most is when the congregation has been made up of Divserity can be likened to being invited to the school dance. Everybody has received an invitation and they all go. With everybody attending then this is diversity.

However at the dance the only people in the room dancing are the athletes, or certain people who are close enough friends, or maybe only people of a certain age who are dancing.

Diversity alone is not enough. If diversity is being invited to the dance, inclusion is being invited to dance when you are at the party.

In their book Partnering with God: Being a missional Salvationist Edge and Morgan pose some helpful questions that are worth reflecting upon within your context.

What are the different cultural groups in your community?

Do you know anyone from these cultures? If not, how could you meet them and develop friendships?

Have you taken intentional steps to

12

What multicultural festivals are celebrated in your area? How can The Salvation Army become involved in a loving and respectful way?

If the dominant ethnic group in your corps is different to that of your community what steps can you take to close the cultural gap and become more representative of the wider community?

Over the years I have come to appreciate that The Salvation Army is at its strongest when ‘all people ‘ are welcome. We sing they shall come from the east, the west, north and south and find that when we attend the Army, in the community we find there are people that we would not normally mix with.

I recently came across a quote from Henri Nouwen who defines ‘community’ as the place where the person you least want to mix live with always lives. Often we surround ourselves with the people we most want to live with, which forms a club or a clique, not a community.

Anyone can form a club. Our challenge today, and it takes grace, shared vision and hard working, is to form a community.

Jesus did it perfectly. What I have heard people saying is that we, who are called by his name, must at least give our best shot.

‘So now faith, hope and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love’. (1 Corinth 13:13)

Major Raelton Gibbs Divisional Leader

WE SEEK TO INCLUDE AND WELCOME INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD THOSE WHO FEEL THEMSELVES TO BE EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY

SALVATION ARMY BOOK OF DOCTRINES

P L AY U P S K Y B L U E S !

JESUS AND FOOTBALL! FOOTBALLER JOSH PASK TALKS ABOUT LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN AND A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER JOSHUA PASK C OV E NT RY C ITY FOOTBALL C LUB.

H

i, my name is Joshua Pask, I am a 24 year old professional footballer and defender for the championship side, Coventry City FC. I am a husband to my beautiful wife Shantol and have been married for one year. Before any of that I am a born - again Christian and that ‘s the foundation of who I am. It’s important that God comes first, above my gender, age, nationality, background, height, occupation, status, position, title, skin colour and name.

I and a child of God - without Him I am nothing.

I started playing football around the age of 5 and my earliest memories are going to the local park, where I grew up in East London, with my dad. My dad was also a very talented footballer but he never got the opportunity to pursue the beautiful game as he grew in Cornwall during the 70’s and 80’s and there wasn’t much opportunity. My dad, seeing the ability I had and the fact I enjoyed playing took me to a local Sunday league side where I started playing with a team. I remember it being tough trying to play in the Sunday

14

league games because the church service took place at the same time.

This difficulty continued after I joined the West Ham academy at 8 years old.

However I have grown up in the faith and always believed in Jesus for as long as I can remember. During the holidays in my younger years, my dad would take me to Israel where I got to visit Jerusalem and a lot of historical sites. At 6 I was baptised in the River Jordan which I remember vividly, like it was yesterday.

When I joined West Ham, I always believed that there was a greater calling on my life than just to play football. I always believed that telling people about Jesus was more meaningful than just playing the game.

I remember seeing and admiring players like Linvoy Primus, KAKA and other footballers sharing their faith on television for the world to see and believed I would do the same.

Through my years growing up in the academy from the age of 8 -21 years old, I saw so many boys come and go. So many different parents putting pressure of their kids from the side-lines, so many boys crying and devastated once they were told they’re not good enough. Football was an idol to them and when they were told didn’t

have a future at the club, it shattered them.

During the end of my last season at West Ham, myself and many of the lads I had known for years would not be kept on. I felt compelled to tell them about my faith and the Gospel of Jesus. A lot of them knew I was a Christian, but that was as far as it went. I started opening up, sharing and inviting some of the boys to a Sunday Bible study we led with other players and God started working miraculously through that U23’s dressing room. Many boys started to take their faith seriously instead of it being something their family just believed in and started coming to the Bible studies. It was four players initially who joined, which soon expanded to 10 players on our zoom calls and 2 players gave their lives to Christ and were baptised. It was amazing because even a lot of the non-believing players asked questions and asked for prayer for the situations they were facing.

I left West Ham in 2019 and joined Coventry City where I am currently now. The mission is still very much the same, sharing the good news of Jesus to my team mates.

In football there’s a lot of criticism and pressure. A lot of players bottle it up and when coming into training and matches

they put on a mask. Being open and honest about what you are going through rarely gets shared or exposed and a football clubs dressing room can be a dark place at times. For me, I think it’s important to be that light, whether that means praying for or with my teammates or just sharing the gospel and encouraging them.

Football has its high highs, and low lows.

One moment you’re playing, the next you’re on the bench or out of the team.

One moment you’re being promoted, the next you’re being relegated, one moment you’re fit and strong the next you’re injured. One moment you’re scoring the winning goal, the next you’re getting a red card. One minute the fans are praising you, the next you’re getting death threats on social media. Dealing with all these emotions can be tough as a player and although I am only 24, I can say I’ve experienced all these things.

Without Jesus in my life I would not have peace and instead be paralysed with fear and anxiety. Knowing Christ and knowing who I am gives me perspective and gives me peace that regardless of the roller coaster of a football career, Jesus loves me and will never leave me nor forsake me.

And why are yo cloth Consider the lilies they grow: they ne yet I tell you, eve his glory was not a the MATTHEW 6:28 & 29

16

ou anxious about hing? s of the field, how either toil nor spin, en Solomon in all arrayed like one of ese.

17

MISSION

APEST WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

MAJOR ’S C AROLY N & PAUL WILSON SHARE A BASIC INTRODUCTION.

O

ver the past 3 months period we (Carolyn & Paul) have been part of an APEST cohort to glean further understanding of this subject and how best we can develop this within our ministry. In this brief article we share some of our thoughts as to what APEST is all about.

‘So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’

Ephesians 4: 11 - 13 In this passage, Paul is writing to all believers and states that Christ has gifted His body, the church, with people equipped to function in different roles. Alan Hirsch, author of The Forgotten Ways, thinks all the roles identified in Ephesians 4:11 - 13 will need to be in play for a real development of the movement of God to occur in our day. Alan suggests that while each of us probably live out all these roles at some level we will tend to gravitate toward some more than others.

18

He points out that in creation itself–not just the church–these functions exist, but that God’s intention in making us this way was to equip “his people for works of service.”

What is APEST? It is basically an acronym for the following Apostle, Priest, Evangelist, Shepherd and Teacher. This is unpacked by Alan Hirsch using the following brief definitions.

APOSTLES extend the gospel. As the “sent ones,” they ensure that the faith is transmitted from one context to another and from one generation to the next. They are always thinking about the future, bridging barriers, establishing the church in new contexts, developing leaders and networking locally.

PROPHETS know God’s will. They are particularly attuned to God and his truth for today. They bring correction and challenge the dominant assumptions we inherit from the culture. They insist that the community obey what God has commanded. They question the status quo.

EVANGELISTS recruit. These infectious communicators of the gospel message recruit others to the cause. They call for a personal response to God’s redemption in Christ, and also draw believers to engage the wider mission, growing the church.

SHEPHERDS nurture and protect.

Caregivers of the community, they focus on the protection and spiritual maturity of God’s flock, cultivating a loving and spiritually mature network of relationships, making and developing disciples.

TEACHERS understand and explain.

Communicators of God’s truth and wisdom, they help others remain biblically grounded to better discern God’s will, guiding others toward wisdom, helping the community remain faithful to Christ’s word, and constructing a transferable doctrine.

Each of these definitions need to be found in the church, working hand in hand, to enable an effective communication and witness of the message of Jesus. Only Jesus ever encompassed all five definitions. For the rest of us, we need to be part of a team, engaged in God’s mission alongside other Christians who are not like us because they display the definitions of APEST in a different order. When this happens it creates an environment where the development of a wider ministry and outreach where everyone works together.

How do we achieve this? Knowledge of which function/gifting we possess within Ephesians 4 and APEST can be obtained through the completion of the APEST

assessment. This is a profiling questionnaire designed to assist you in finding your ministry style in relation to the philosophy of the fivefold ministry.

This online self-assessment is designed to ask an individual’s response to a series of questions. The answers are then measured to indicate an individual’s current ministry motivation and expression in ministry settings and provides a quantified result to identify one’s current place for influence within a larger community.

The best model for completion of the assessment is as a group/church as it will allow you to ensure that you have a more complete ministry mix necessary to be missional church. When a group allows each member to function out of their natural abilities, and they all contribute to the overall teams dynamics, direction and wisdom, then APEST becomes effective in ministering to the needs of both the body of the church and into the wider community and mission becomes tangible.

Majors Carolyn & Paul Wilson are currently the Divisional Missional E n a b l e r s a t Yo r k s h i r e S o u t h with Humber Division. They were Corps Officers for 24 years with diverse appointments at Kendal,Blackpool South, Hastings Citadel, Rochdale and Farnworth.

19

SHEFFIELD LANGSETT ROAD WILLAM BOOTH HOUSE (HULL) The centre again benefited from the generosity of the local community to provide a positive time for the residents . The hampers were donated by ‘Kindness, Helping the homeless in need’ group. This is a social media group founded by a friend, Alison Wordingham - Pearson. In the photograph she is pictured with some of her volunteers. The feedback from the residents has been excellent and they were very appreciative on receiving their gifts.

Major Alan Norton (Barton upon Humber) also led a very creative and varied programme for the carol service.

Residents and visitors captivated for one hours by drama, video clips, music, solo, trio, carols with brass bands and the Christmas story told with Chocolate bars and sweets.

(DN)

20

The corps had a busy time distributing toys through the Children’s Social Services at Sorby House, Sheffield.

Together with the toys collected from DHQ, we had quite a lot of more donated by members of the community. In total well over 300 gifts were given away.

Various social workers collected gifts and took them away for children under their supervision.

The band also did amazingly well collecting more than £1000 for the carolling efforts (GP)

LINCOLN COURT (SHEFFIELD) At Lincoln Court HSU we have been ‘pausing for Advent’ on a Wednesday night where staff and residents have joined together to share a short time of prayer and reflection.

We have also painted the summer house in the courtyard at Lincoln Court HSU to display the nativity scene as a focal point.

Pictured is Simone one of the residents at Lincoln Court who has been key and worked with Catherine on this. (CD)

WOODHOUSE

Our first event was the toy appeal. Children’s services came to the service . Lindsey and her two children ready to take them.

The corps had a Christmas meal for the elderly, lonely and homeless. 28 were served a three - course meal.

We had a Christmas fayre which was well supported by the corps and local community.

The corps also distributed food parcels in the community.

(GRC)

MOSBOROUGH

ROTHERHAM

Having gathered over 100 nativity scenes, Rotherham corps held their 1st Nativity Exhibition.

Over 150 guests visited during the week.

One guest shared ‘This is my first time in this building although I’ve been past this building for 30 years.

Corps members assisted in welcoming people, giving guided tours outlining the country of the origin of the sets, and in serving refreshments.

The exhibition was a great way to provide a place to step aside from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas period and bring people into the story in a very Christmassy way! The opportunities to share the gospel are many and varied; ‘every culture, nation and person needs Jesus as Saviour!’(TS)

On the afternoon of 22nd December some of the corps members and friends went to Eckington Court Nursing Home and then to The Grange Care Home to sing carols to the residents there. Not having a band local corps leader Linda Foster provided music via a CD player. As we were unable to go into either home the residents were gathered in the large entrance hall and residents lounge respectively. The doors were left open and we sang carols outside with the residents joining in. At the Grange one lady was brought outside to listen and join in as her daughter and grandchildren were there. The grandchildren were not allowed in the home and this was the first time they had been allowed to visit her in 20 months.

It was really moving to see the reunion and bring Christmas to them in carols. A wonderful time was had by all. (LF)

YO U T H

GOD’S CREATION WHAT CAN WE DO TO LOOK AFTER IT TODAY?

DI V I S I O N AL Y OUTH SP EC IALIST MARK ELLIOTT REPORTS ON A RECENT 4:12 GATHERING

O

Mission & Creation. ver the last 4 years it has been great to journey with our Divisional 4:12 Youth Forum.

The 4:12 Youth Forum is for young people, led by young people across the Yorkshire South with Humber Division. The forum gives young people from our Division an active voice in decisions which affect them and provides them with an opportunity for them to make a difference. The group created the following mission statement: ‘We exist to be at the forefront of instigating change for young people in and around our Church community; To encourage, equip and support an authentic, Spirit led movement of discipleship that is relevant to the opportunities and challenges we face today.’

Since its inception, the group have been heavily involved in the territorial Tweenagers’ programme and fundamental in the research for the resource ‘Pastorally Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People.’

In recent months the forum has been blessed by guest speakers where we have looked at the following topics; Pioneering, Inclusion,

At January’s forum our Divisional Leaders, Majors Lynn & Raelton Gibbs, led the conversation on God’s Creation. The discussion focussed on our responsibilities as Christians, with the challenge of ‘What Can We Do Today In Looking After Gods Creation?’ Genesis 2:15 says: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

There are numerous things we can do in our everyday lives that help protect God’s creation, such as conserving energy and reducing our waste. These in no way interfere with our witness to unbelievers.

Rather, they enhance our witness as others see us put our faith into action. Our concern for the environment may open up opportunities to share with unbelievers that our service to the creation overflows from our love for God, the creator.

We worship God the Creator more fully as we see His glory in His creation and as we participate in His work of sustaining and restoring proper relationships within the creation.

The 4:12 Youth Forum were inspired by the challenge set by our Divisional Leaders.

Discussion ranged from; How can we lobby parliament to looking at the possibility of

creating corps allotments. The group looked at how we can each change elements in our personal lives to making simple changes at a corps setting that would collectively make a big difference.

In future magazines, members of the 4:12 Youth Forum are going to share simple changes and facts that can make a difference to our personal lives. In addition to this, in the coming weeks’, we will be launching a ‘Dragon’s Den’ competition for young people across the Yorkshire South with Humber Division.

We will be challenging young people to come up with an idea about how we, as the Yorkshire South with Humber Division, make a difference in looking after God’s creation. Young People will be invited to Divisional Headquarters to present their pitch to a panel where the successful pitch will win up to £5000 for the implementation of their idea. More information to come on this initiative soon!!

God commissions us to rule over the creation in a way that sustains, protects, and enhances his works so that all creation may fulfil the purposes God intended for it. We must manage the environment not simply for our own benefit but for God’s glory.

If you have any young people that’d like to join the 4:12 Youth Forum, please email me or call me: Email: mark.elliott@salvationarmy.org.uk Mobile: 07415 414018

MESSAGE BUS VISITING HORBURY HORBURY SALVATION ARMY YOUTH HUB We are excited to share news of an exciting youth project starting in the community of Horbury in 2022.

Following a successful grant application from the local Council, we will be opening the doors of Horbury Salvation Army to deliver regular youth provision as the Horbury Salvation Army Youth Hub. We are currently in the process of renovating the property. Whilst the renovation works continue, we have been running weekly Youth Gatherings outside the property on The Message Bus. Our next gathering is tonight. 🙂 Please uphold this exciting project in your prayers in the coming weeks and months.

(ME)

24

LOIS RETIRES FROM DRIFFIELD! Divisional leaders Majors Lynn and Raelton Gibbs led a retirement meeting for corps officer Major Lois Town, who completed more than 32 years of faithful service. The divisional leaders presented Major Lois with a retirement certificate and she responded with the lyrics ‘my very steps are planned’ from the song ‘God’s Love to Me Is Wonderful’, as these words were given to her when she entered the training college in the Servants of God session. The meeting was attended by friends of the corps and family members. (LG).

BARBARA IS ON THE MOVE! BARBARA’S AROUND YORKSHIRE SOUTH ON FOOT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT: On Monday 10th January Major Barbara Lang (Wakefield Corps) started the challenge to travel to every Salvation Army Corps and Centre in the Yorkshire South with Humber Division on foot or via public transport. This is to Raise funds for a new Youth project at Wakefield.

She completed the challenge on the 21 January and has received of £750 in donations. This included a £10 donation from a local fish and chip shop in Bridlington where Barbara was buying lunch. It is not too late to support this brilliant cause. Please contact Barbara direct.

COMMISSIONER HARRY READ PROMOTED TO GLORY The Salvation Army world and beyond were saddened by the recent promotion to glory of Commissioner Harry Read OF on 14 December 2021.

During World War 2 on 6 June 1944 wireless operator Harry Read parachuted into Normandy as part of the D-Day Landings.75 years later at the age of 95 many watched as Harry again jumped into Normandy as part of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, sky diving with the famous Red Devils.

There is so much that could be written about Commissioner Harry Read that we could not do him justice.

The Commissioner was a prayer warrior but also a master of the English Language and has been responsible for many special song lyrics and poems. As our tribute we share a poem the Commissioner wrote for Major Lynn Gibbs to publish Christmas 2013.

Little Jesus lying there, Centre of such loving care, Child of Mary - whom God chose Wrapped secure in swaddling clothes; Earth’s sublimest mystery, Centre of our history.

Little Jesus lying there With God’s glory in your hair, Softest light within your eyes, Earth and Heaven’s greatest prize.

Your unspoken message tells God with human - kind now dwells.

Little Jesus lying there Come the peace of Heaven to share, Come with peace in us to live, In life’s turmoil peace to give, This your God - appointed role Planting Heaven in every soul.

GRIMSBY CORPS RETURNING TO DUNCOMBE STREET After a significant time worshipping at St Andrews Methodist Church, the corps are looking forward to returning to their former hall in Duncombe Street that has been refurbished.

The corps are looking to a new start in partnership with the local community and HSU lifehouse. It is hoped that the keys will be

handed over at the end of January and the official opening is scheduled for the spring.

This is an exciting time for the corps and community in Grimsby and our prayers are with Majors Alison and Kenneth Gardner as they lead the corps in this significant time.

THERE ARE SOMETHINGS WORTH COMMITING TO

GROWING LEADERS 2022 S TA RT I N G A P R I L

MAGAZINE