Explore 2015 by Barry Sawyer

2015 2016

TRANSFORMATION: CHOICE OR CHORE?

THE HARD WORK OF DISCIPLESHIP

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

THE COST OF EFFECTIVENESS

INTEGRATION | EMBRACING THE WHOSOEVER | WBC SUMMER COLLEGE 2014

CONTENTS

TRANSFORMATION: CHOICE OR CHORE?

INTEGRATION

EXPLORING LEADERSHIP DAY

EMBRACING THE WHOSOEVER

INTERVIEW

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

BOOK REVIEW

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WELCOME THE HARD WORK OF DISCIPLESHIP

THE COST OF EFFECTIVENESS

WBC SUMMER COLLEGE 2014

Exploring Leadership Day 2016

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The recently launched UKI Territory TIDE acrostic spells out the strategic mission priorities for the UKI Territory, under the banner headline ‘Transformational Mission’.

Transformation: ensuring life in all its fullness for people and communities is the aim of everything we are and do Integration: engaging the whole of the Army to reach the whole of the person through the whole of our mission Discipleship: equipping and inspiring people to be passionate followers of Jesus Christ Effectiveness: in being fit for the delivery and support of God’s mission. Our Founder, William Booth reminds us : “The tide is now flowing, I’m touching the wave I hear the loud call of the mighty to save” For spiritual leaders, leadership and vision belong together ... you need vision if you are to lead. This kind of leadership is not primarily about telling others what to do and how to do it. It is more about working with people and discerning what God is saying ... and then doing it! “Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” (Albert Camus) This is what Jesus offers to do. As you read the pages in Explore may that same Spirit ignite a passion in your heart to engage in God’s transformational Mission!

The Salvation Army is a Christian Church and Registered Charity No. 214779 in England and Wales, SC009359 in Scotland and CHY6399 in the Republic of Ireland

Design: www.snapdesigns.co.uk

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Transfo Choice or

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ormation Chore?

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Reality TV has a lot to answer for in today’s society. It seems that we have become obsessed with following the every move and thought of other people. Some shows are better than others, of course. Whereas some seem simply to be about observing either the mundane or the intentionally provocative, others at least try to demonstrate a metamorphosis, a transformation, usually in appearance, brought about by lifestyle change. Viewers are given the opportunity to see the sacrifices and the choices that have to be made in order to achieve the goals that have been set. The dictionary defines transformation as a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that the thing or person is improved. As the participants in said TV shows can testify, true transformation is not easy. It requires effort and most importantly a willingness to change either yourself or your circumstances. Transformation has been a fairly central theme throughout my officership, but particularly so in recent years. I have spent most of my officership serving in residential homelessness and latterly territorial leadership appointments, along with an all-too-brief sojourn in Learning and Development. It was also my privilege in my last appointment to serve in the Fit for Mission team. Here every day was about transformation: creating the right environment that would allow this great movement to become all that God intended and called it to be. Sure it was challenging. We are a very large organisation with some very established practices and processes that create an embedded culture which can be difficult to challenge, let alone change. Yet change we must, and change we shall, and I have no doubt that in so

doing we shall see God’s pleasure and blessing as we honour him. How, then, could I be more focused on transformation? Having been advised of my new appointment and seeking a smooth transition, I naturally spent some time talking to the previous incumbent about the role. Most unusually, as she was retiring and prepared to stay on until I was in post, I was afforded a period of handover with her. As part of our discussion I asked her specifically about her vision for the service. Her response was as succinct as it was instant: John 10:10 – ‘I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full’… (NIV). For her it was simple. Having life to the full included opportunity to work, and opportunity to work meant addressing and removing whatever barriers might be preventing that. Employment Plus is not only about finding people work, but rather it is about engaging with people to address whatever barriers might be preventing them from finding sustainable employment and therefore enabling them to begin to experience the fullness of life that Jesus intended. Now that I am in post and beginning to find my way around the service and around the territory, I have been blessed and encouraged to hear with some frequency how lives are being transformed through Employment Plus. People whose lives had been negatively impacted by their personal circumstances are finding renewed hope and focus through employment. One such story happened in Southend-on-Sea. As part of her role as Employer Engagement Co-ordinator, Julie made a phone call to a company called Mitie, a local employer, hoping that they might have some employment opportunities for individuals who had specific barriers preventing them from getting back into work but who were willing to undertake training to make this happen locally.

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Incredibly it just so happened that Tom at Mitie was indeed looking for a new cleaning team at one of their contracted sites at the local Odeon cinema. He interviewed and agreed to take on five people. Within six weeks they had excelled to such an extent that they are considered indispensable both to Odeon and to Mitie, and remain so to this day. I was recently able to talk to Julie about the individuals involved and she was able to share how each of them had been transformed by this stepping stone towards

need to interact with others in some way. Both of these things are found in Christ. For those of us who know a loving heavenly Father, we can begin to experience something of God’s intention for us each to be in relationship with him, and in so doing begin to discover his purpose for our lives. In order to get the best out of our relationships with others, we need to be confident in who we are. One of the unintended consequences of constantly applying for jobs over a prolonged period of unemployment is the high probability of regular rejection. This is unlikely to be good for selfJesus transformed the lives of countless esteem. It is important therefore individuals as they encountered him. to refresh a sense of self-belief He both challenged them and gave them before re-embarking on the road the opportunity to change to employment. The GOALS course is specifically designed to enable participants in our services to fulfilling their full potential. experience just such an opportunity, and Corps too are getting involved. Employment for some this opportunity to reflect on who Plus Locals are a fantastic ministry opportunity they are starts them on a journey of deeper to engage with the needs of people in the discovery. For some that journey has even led community. A laptop and internet connection, as far as William Booth College. A journey of and some willing volunteers to support and transformation! signpost, is all that it takes to make a significant Jesus transformed the lives of countless difference for those seeking work. And this individuals as they encountered him. He is exactly what is happening at corps up both challenged them and gave them the and down the country. There are countless opportunity to change. Today, as then, people stories of transformation as people seize the need to choose to change. Our challenge opportunity to serve. surely is to create the environment in which Over the last three years The Salvation Army transformation is possible. Employment Plus has enabled nearly 3,500 I am genuinely excited at the opportunities people into work, each with their own success that will be mine in this appointment, both to story. Fantastic though this is, we are still some witness and to be a part of transformation; to way short of the target set by William Booth. enable individuals to realise a sense of purpose His battle cry in this arena was ‘Work for All’, a and to establish meaningful relationships based concept that we can but strive for today. in a confidence of who they are. Jesus came Employment brings with it a sense of ‘that they might have life and have it to the full’. purpose. Purpose is an integral component May we each seize the opportunities that God in having confidence in who we are and gives both to experience and to demonstrate why we get up in the morning. For me, life that fullness of life wherever we may serve. is simply about two things – purpose and relationships. We each need to know that we have a purpose, it is an innate need and it is how we are designed. We were also made to be in relationship. We are communal beings. Major Julian Watchhorn is the Director of Employment Services Although it is true that we do not all share the same level of disposition for relationship, nor the same opportunities, nevertheless we all

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INTEGRA 6

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I remember standing outside a run-down building in a shattered area of Riga, Latvia, and just observing what an inspiring and courageous work The Salvation Army was undertaking there with homeless men. It was in this moment where it all started making sense for me. This ministry wasn’t driven by the facilities, the finances, the programme, the action plan, the outcomes or other people’s agenda – it was simply about the meaningful and deeper relationships that these people were building together. Church members, older people, teenagers, homeless people, all accompanying each other together in their journey, providing a community of unconditional love, talking through challenging issues and trying to work together to identify ways of solving their problems with what they had. Above all, offering each other hope within the reality

of integration and unity of our unique Salvation Army mission. This takes time, which is not always a welcome message in our fast-moving society, but crucial if we are to embrace the commandment and divine responsibility to love each other in an inclusive, sustainable and unconditional way. On a very personal level, I was convicted as a busy Salvationist that an abrupt change of perspective was required – that ‘being’ needed to come before ‘doing’. I needed to make space to be with God and be with others. This reflection led to a period of intense intimacy with God during which some very special personal relationships were shaped and deepened. The focus on right relationships was absolutely key! The pinnacle of God’s creation is humanity, which God has made in his own image. God designed humanity for a relationship with himself and with others. This responsibility of relationship is the foundation of human society and it is the basis on which every aspect of integration of our mission must be based. Integration of mission – or ‘integrated mission’ – has long been the cornerstone of our approach within The Salvation Army. It is regularly examined to ensure that our social services or community work are powerfully connected to our church work. There can be little dispute that lasting transformation is the work of a connected community and church; it comes through joining up and uniting the diverse ministry in the Army. Transformation is rarely achieved by lone workers or stand-alone programmes. After all, loving your neighbour surely implies being connected in a neighbourhood. From reading 1 Corinthians, it’s clear that the overwhelming picture in Paul’s writings is of every Christian living in total interdependence on one another. By extension, each expression of Salvation Army ministry should also be completely interdependent on each other part. Integration of our mission is not simply tagging community outreach or social work programmes to our already existing corps ministries. These various ministries must

ATION of their situation, while at the same time fellowshipping and sharing life together and rooting their conversations within a faith context. For those who were exploring or struggling in their spiritual journey, they were connected to the Body of Christ. It was an amazing and profoundly significant experience. The visit to Latvia was one that led me to a real encounter with God. It also offered a revealing but simplistic message to me – that it is the everyday personal relationships that lead to integration of all aspects of our mission and subsequently open up the possibility of real engagement and transformation. Right relationships are the foundation for an integrated approach to any missional activity. These relationships need to transcend all branches and chasms of our diverse ministries; this is essential to embrace an expansive level

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discipleship by be within encouraging each other to and supporting avoid simply the local corps. becoming a Throughout parallel and the Bible static mission. we find It is only when evangelism, our corps work discipleship, is considered healing, complementary practical work and woven and the fight together with for social justice our social, all interwoven community or together. By celebrating the different parts development work can we really be truthful in and diversity of the Salvation Army body, by telling people we have a holistic ministry and an providing mutual encouragement, by offering integrated picture of mission. a blended mission, by focusing on building Having established that right relationships and growing relationships and even by holding are at the centre of any integrated those parts to account, we can be confident in mission approach, there is a much deeper stressing our unique and integrated approach organisational response required. Our mission to our ministry. statement has three integrated strands – A few years after my Latvia experience, saving souls, growing saints and serving my journey took me to Chikankata Salvation suffering humanity – all equally important, Army Mission Hospital in Zambia, where I was connected and most effective when blended the Hospital Administrator. On one particular together. Each of these strands has a critical occasion I find myself standing round a hospital role to play in a truly integrated mission. If The bed with a patient who is about to go for Salvation Army and we as individuals are to remain faithful to God’s purpose for our movement, then all aspects of our ministry need to Our mission statement has three blend together as part of God’s redemptive and relational work. integrated strands – saving souls, growing We should not be reticent about saints and serving suffering humanity – embedding issues of faith, prayer all equally important, connected and most and reflection into all our aspects effective when blended together. of our ministry. For me, I have often struggled to integrate the ‘saving souls’ emergency surgery. I am holding hands with and ‘growing disciples’ into my ministry and Dr Elsa on one side and Clare, the midwife, on have focused exclusively on the ‘serving the other. These are my friends, my colleagues suffering humanity’ part. From my experience and professional people who, in the moment, of working for The Salvation Army in three have a deep understanding for the patient’s countries, I have come to learn that our social physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We centres, community programmes or medical form an unbroken circle round the patient, institutions, for instance, have a ministry praying earnestly for her and the surgery, as of transformation which only strengthens she is is lying anxiously on the trolley outside the integrated and holistic character of The the operating theatre. Salvation Army’s work when they stand in The patient is my wife Heidie who is about continuity with our corps work. Likewise, the to undergo an emergency C-Section to deliver ‘serving suffering humanity’ aspect must our first child due to severe complications. It is a maintain its commitment to evangelism and

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moment of extreme tension and anxiety, away from the sophisticated equipment we know from back home, away from the comfort of having our immediate family nearby and not knowing what will pan out in the next few minutes. For Heidie and for me it was a precious moment on so many levels. Ultimately at our time of great need there was something deeply soothing about the presence of Jesus being overtly integrated as part and parcel of our hospital care. My wife would testify that being the recipient of spiritual interventions from the medical staff was as important for her as the excellent medical treatment she received. As a good friend of mine reminded me recently, intercessory prayer, which by its very essence must be part and parcel of an integrated approach, has missional significance. Integration of mission, therefore, calls on the Army to be actively involved in care for both the body and soul. In the New Testament we see Jesus sending out the twelve disciples, commissioning them to preach the gospel and heal the sick (Luke 9:1-6). It is a call to holistic and joined-up ministry. In our time at Chikankata we were reminded that we must also never underestimate that all Christians are called to serve, whether in the secular or sacred spheres. Agents of integrated mission will be found in every corner of society, no matter what your occupation or vocation. An Army that values an integrated approach to its ministry and its people will support its soldiers as they attempt to create environments in their secular spaces which are conducive and intentional about introducing faith issues. Recently I attended the UK Social Services Conference. What an encouragement and inspiration to hear testimonies from people who have previously battled with alcoholism, homelessness, mental health issues, family disruption and unemployment! Their testimonies reflect an integrated and holistic transformation in which each aspect of their life has been touched. They thanked their support workers not just for their professional input, but also for their significant spiritual influence. They testified to a physical, emotional, psychological, lifestyle and spiritual transformation in a way beyond their wildest dreams. Clearly, body and

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soul are so transformed that they see things very differently now. Their transformation is ongoing as they continue their faith journey within a connected community of accepting believers. In Kenya we are seeing people coming to faith and new corps opening as a direct result of some of the water projects. Our aim must always be to create communities of disciples where we are which engage in an integrated ministry to our spiritual, social, emotional and physical needs that reflects the character of God. The Salvation Army must never lose its intentionality about passionately integrating the gospel message into all aspect of its work. The local Salvation Army corps is well placed to talk about faith issues and undertake pastoral care in the community. Integrating the whole story into every aspect of mission and ministry is also essential. There is no better, life-changing message than knowing that Jesus came to earth so â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed ofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (John 10:10 The Message). It is through the lens of an integrated approach to ministry that every human being can experience the fullness of life. Ultimately it is our relationship with God and others that gives us a true picture of what meaningful human life is. It is an amazing and liberating message for all of us; why would we not integrate it?

Cadets Richard and Heidie Bradbury are Territorial Projects Officers [with responsibility for all the community development, projects and health work in Kenya East]

Exploring Lea Exploring – ‘travel through in order to learn more about it’ ‘enquire into or discuss in detail’ ‘examine or evaluate’ Leadership – ‘Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.’ Day – ‘each of the 24-hour periods, reckoned from one midnight to the next, into which a week, month or year is divided, and corresponding to a rotation of the Earth on its axis.’

Well, I can reassure you that the Exploring Leadership Day held at William Booth College does not last for 24 hours – from one midnight to the next! But it does last for eight hours – and during that eight hours there will be all manner of things to ‘travel through in order to learn more about leadership’. Exploring Leadership Day in this particular format has been in existence since 2008, and since that time the event has developed into what it is today. The overall theme for the day is based upon the theme for the Candidates Unit for that particular year. In 2015 our theme is ‘Wholly Available’ and in 2016 it will be ‘Transformation’.

Exploring Leadership Day 2016 Sunday 13 March 2016 William Booth College WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

Majors Linda and Mark Herbert

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adership Day The day includes corporate worship at the start and end of the day, a united seminar led by the main speaker, and then various other seminars from which you can choose two. Each year we have a children’s programme which runs alongside the sessions, and the college nursery is open for those under five years old. There is also space in the programme for people to have a tour of the college if they would like to. The purpose of Exploring Leadership Day is to do just what the title says: to help people explore different areas of leadership in its various forms. This could be how we deal with social and moral issues as a leader, leadership

in the workplace, young leaders, life as a cadet, leadership at a local level, chaplaincy, leading worship and officership. It gives individuals space to reflect on what God is saying to them and also space to respond to what he is saying. If you have never been before, then I would encourage you to come in 2016. Come and spend eight hours with us as we travel together in learning how we can make something extraordinary happen. The date is 13 March at William Booth College, the theme is ‘Transformation’ and our guest speakers will be Majors Mark and Linda Herbert. See you there!

This is a free event - but to be eligible to attend you need to be over 13 and interested in spiritual leadership. A children’s programme will be available for 5+ and nursery provision for children over 6 months. Booking will be through Eventbrite, details of which can be found after 31st October 2015 at: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/William-Booth-College-Candidates

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Embracing the whosoever For the past 14 years my hobby has been running. As I have learnt about this sport, so I have developed different techniques to help me run faster. Workouts involving swimming, running and the gym have helped me to speed up and run far more efficiently. Experience has shown me that if I take one of these areas away there is a negative impact on my performance, yet when they are integrated there is a positive impact on my running ability!

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Much has been said recently about integrated mission, perhaps summed up by this graphic…

My wife Catherine and I are playing our part in building this integrated earthly Kingdom, where all are welcome, no matter what background or age, colour or race. Over the years questions have come up and the following gives insight into our experiences at Southwark and Wood Green, which will hopefully encourage you on the journey that you are on.

How do you integrate a diverse congregation?

To be the Army that plays its part in building God’s Kingdom, we need to recognise that all three areas are crucial for our mission. Ignore one, and – like my running experiences – you simply end up with a distorted view of mission. From my experiences on the front line, I am convicted that when holistic mission is modelled, so we see a true expression of God’s Kingdom being built, just as Jesus modelled. However, in being Kingdom builders, we importantly need to recognise that this Kingdom involves all of humanity… ‘People will come from east and west, north and south, and take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God’ (Luke 13:29 NIV). Through his ministry, we see Jesus time and time again welcoming and embracing the whosoever, and in so doing building an integrated Kingdom that has room for anybody! If any people are left out, we again end up with a distorted picture of the Kingdom different from that which Jesus modelled, which was for all people. If we are followers of Jesus, then I am convinced that part of our mission is to help the whosoever, not only to be welcomed through our doors, but also to be celebrated and embraced as they are integrated into our fellowships. In a country of much diversity, where we see people groups opposed to differing people groups, the Church has a Kingdom-building role to play in helping people to integrate, celebrate and live together in the communities that they are in. After all, this is the feast that God wants not only in the future, but right now on earth.

This is a common question. An immediate response is always food! At Southwark we were privileged to participate in many dedications, significant birthdays, leaving do’s and key church dates. For every one of these we shared an international buffet where people would bring a unique food dish that represented their culture. We would always end up with a beautiful world banquet, which saw people start to chat to one another, resulting in barriers coming down and friendships starting to be built. As you read about Jesus, he certainly spent time with people over a meal, resulting in relationships built and lives changed!

Pre-conceived ideas! Dr Helen Cameron once came to do a survey in Southwark with people representing ten different countries. One of the comments recorded was: ‘I never thought I would go to a church where I would become friends with a man from West Africa.’ As the comment was unpacked, this person said that he had preconceived ideas about people from that particular country, yet as he engaged and embraced that person, so a different understanding started to form. We live in an age where media creates stereotypes of people, and the danger is that this can influence our opinion. Sometimes we may have experienced just one person from a particular people group, and then judge everybody from this same group on that negative experience. The lesson we have learnt is that we need to see people as uniquely individual. Yes, there may be some cultural similarities, yet God has created us, and with that we are each unique. If we are going to be people who long to see an integrated diverse Kingdom, then our

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preconceived ideas need to be checked, and often binned!

firmly believe that this is not just a good idea, but part of Kingdom building for today’s world.

Be willing to embrace and learn about different cultures

Nurture, value and celebrate the cultures that are represented within your church

When we start to embrace and learn about the cultures that are right there before us, so we get a far greater understanding of God’s creation. We need to accept and recognise that the British culture (whatever that is) is not replicated around the world, not even in English-speaking countries, and there is a need for us to learn about the cultures around us. Catherine had the privilege once of going to a Zimbabwean wedding where there were negotiations over how much the groom’s family would pay to the bride’s family. Eating in other people’s homes has seen us come to an understanding of so many different cultures, from an Indian family who eat with their hands through to the Nigerian lady who often cooked and served tripe. Not forgetting the Yorkshire family who turned up with Yorkshire puddings for one of our cultural celebrations! It’s about celebrating our differences, and we do that best when we are willing to learn together. It does not necessarily mean that we have to ditch things that are culturally important to us; it’s more about embracing and accepting our differences and bringing them to the banqueting table and celebrating together!

Join local community groups Community groups are usually made up of different people groups, so it is important for integration that the local church is involved in these groups. Catherine had the privilege and responsibility of being a key part of the Southwark Multifaith Forum. This saw people of different faiths coming together, listening and learning from each other and working for the common good of the community. When the atrocities of 7/7 happened, it was easy for a group of people representing different faiths to stand outside the local mosque as a show of relationship with our Muslim friends. I cannot stress enough that it’s through groups like these that we not only learn about each other’s cultural differences, but also we start to embrace them and celebrate them. I

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In experiencing different churches in the UK, I have seen lots of places that are representative of the communities that they are in. However, this is often not the case when it comes to the local leadership team which often does not represent the gathered people. If we are serious about God’s Kingdom and integration, then there is a real need in areas of cultural diversity for different people groups to be represented on leadership teams. Our experience has taught us that if you want to take the whole of your congregation on the journey, then a culturally representative leadership team will be key.

If your church were not in the local community, would it make any difference? I would like to think that the answer would be yes, as the church that you engage with is diverse in every possible way and models the ‘Kingdom Now’. It’s so bright that it shines a light to the local community as to what the Kingdom looks like here on this earth, seeing diverse groups of people integrating together, celebrating each other’s differences and connecting with a world full of variety. If that were not in the local community, I think it there would be a negative impact! I want to say that your church has a calling to be the place where the whosoever can come and not have to lay down their cultures as they go through the entrance, but rather hold on to the differences that we all have and celebrate them. When your local community sees people from the east, west, north and south coming together, celebrating and embracing one another, it shines a very bright light into that community.

Captain Jonny Smith is the corps officer at Wood Green and a Mission Partner for Multi Ethnic Resources Team

EXPLORE... spoke to General André Cox, world leader of The Salvation Army, about vision, challenge, calling, leadership and legacy.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your family and the journey that has brought you to this point in your life I was born into an Army family; my parents were officers, so I grew up in the Army. When I was a teenager, I wanted to make my own way in the world and had doubts about my faith. I wanted to become a commercial buyer and travel the world as a buyer in the fashion industry. At one point I wanted to spend some time in Switzerland, my mother’s home country, in order to learn French, and that is where I put my roots down and stayed. It was in a salvation meeting in Geneva that I really made a firm commitment to Christ as I came to the realisation that Jesus not only came into the world to bring salvation to all people but he did it for me. The call to officership followed not long after. I was extremely reluctant ever to consider officership as a possibility for my life, but when the call

BUILD FOR T FUTU came it was crystal clear and from that moment I have never doubted or looked back. Little could I have imagined at that time just where this journey of faith would lead us! I can however state that there are no regrets, it has been an incredible adventure and God’s grace has been and is sufficient to meet every situation. I feel blessed in my officership to have been exposed to so many different and sometimes challenging experiences and I realise now more than ever just how God has been with me and preparing me for the responsibilities with which I have currently been entrusted.

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DING THE URE EXPLORE 2015/16

What do you like best about being the General and what excites you about this role? Without doubt the most exciting thing is to see how relevant the gospel message still is today, and to see as we travel around the world just how many lives are impacted, changed and transformed by the power of this message. God is without a shadow of a doubt at work in our world today, and to see the evidence of that is one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences. What is your vision for the worldwide Army for the next 150 years? I am not sure that anyone can cast a vision for the Army over the next 150 years! If there is to be an effective and vibrant Army in the future, however, it will require commitment from the people of this and future generations. It will not continue to exist unless there are those who answer God’s call to set aside personal dreams and ambitions and commit themselves first as soldiers but also as officers. There will not be a future without long-term and lifelong commitment to this cause. Shortly after my election as the General I said: ‘My dream for this great organisation is that The Salvation Army will be characterised as being a force for good, a force for change and a force that lives by the values it proclaims.’ I see an Army in the future that will be less self-centred. There will be far fewer corps that resemble comfortable clubs, and far more corps actively involved in the communities in which

they are present. We exist for people and people need to be at the centre of all that we do. I have also shared with the world something of my own dreams for the future, and if the Army in any way reflects these dreams, I believe that we will have not only a great future but a future that is even better and more glorious than the past: ‘I see a vibrant, committed, effective and joyful Army, rooted and confident in the word of God and on its knees. I see an Army that truly reflects the mind of Jesus in our commitment to the poor and the marginalised. I see an Army that practises what it preaches from the top leadership down, an Army that is a visible and living example of Kingdom values. I see an Army that values its youth where our young people feel that they have a voice. I see an Army with strong relevant and streamlined administrative structures and a much more effective use of our financial and material resources. I see an Army where all cultures are equally accepted and celebrated through the spiritual ties that bind us all together. I see an Army that shuns the dependency culture.’ What are the greatest challenges facing the Salvation Army in the 21st century? As the head of a global organisation that reaches out to the poorest of the poor, I find that financing the mission is always a challenge. Many of the major challenges in the world today have remained depressingly the same in recent years and these have a direct impact in The Salvation Army. Poverty, social exclusion, social injustice,

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the increasing gap between the rich and poor all over the world, secularism and a spirit of materialism, sexual exploitation as well as human trafficking, are evils that are still prevalent and, in some cases, worsening. Responding to these issues remains very much a part of our core mission. New challenges include the issue of same sex marriages, sexual abuse of children and others by members of the clergy, climate change, ongoing financial uncertainty and the consequences for the poor and marginalised members of society. Financial corruption is an issue that, alas, is faced both inside and outside of the Army. It does worry me when I see evidence that some of our people accept compromise by adopting some of the negative standards of the world. What constitutes calling? For me it was a fleeting but very clear vision of myself as an officer proclaiming the gospel message in the context of Africa. Within a moment I knew that I was called to be an officer and that I would serve in Africa. For many people the calling can be as clear and sudden as that. For others it is something that develops over time, perhaps in reading the Bible and sensing that God is calling them to full-time service. For others it can be seeing the endless needs, the pain and suffering in the world that can trigger a deep sense of calling. God knows each one of us individually and knows how best to allow us hear the call!

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How would you like to see leaders developed in the Army for the future? Salvation Army officership is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding but challenging vocations in the world today. We need leaders that combine qualities we expect to see in pastors, community workers, managers. If we do not look beyond producing pastors, we fail to prepare people for the unique nature of the ministry of a Salvation Army officer. It is a different role and function from the leadership model of any other denomination! In recent years there has been a focus on theological education and improving the academic qualifications. There is no doubt that some officers felt somewhat second-class on occasion when comparing themselves to some other ministers of religion and it is a positive development to see that this has been actively addressed. We do however need to recognise that the challenges and demands of Salvation Army officership are significantly different from those of ministers or pastors in other denominations. Progress in academic prowess appears to have come at some cost, for too many newly-commissioned lieutenants (particularly in the Western world) seem to expect simply to pastor a flock, and so they struggle when it comes to the broader practical aspects of ministry as Salvation Army officers. In some instances the training is perhaps too theoretical, and as leaders we have seen too many newly or recently

If you weren’t an officer what would you be? Undoubtedly a commercial buyer trying to identify the next fashion ‘must have’. How shallow and boring that would be compared to what I do now!

seriously and thus commissioned officers our corps need to struggle to apply what be places where they have been taught. people arriving If our training colleges from distant lands are to have Kingdom What makes you angry? When people experience divine impact in those corps fail to live up to the things that they say, grace manifested in and communities or impose things on others that they are not prepared to do themselves. Christian welcome, where new lieutentants integration, and are appointed upon Who makes you laugh? I don’t think care. commissioning, we there is only one person who makes must ensure the me laugh. I do have a well-developed The London right heart, skills sense of humour and laugh at many Olympics focused and knowledge are things including myself. very much on the inculcated throughout How do you relax? Reading, walking, word ‘legacy’. training for effective wildlife photography and occasionally What legacy and fruitful officers. watching a movie. would you like to The world has see left behind Three things you would find hard to significantly changed live without? My wife, my Bible and my by the Boundless since the days of Kindle. Congress? our Founders, yet Favourite book? A Far-Off Place by The Boundless without true spiritual Laurens van der Post. Congress is not leadership The intended to Salvation Army will not Favourite film? Out of Africa. be one great be effectively able to entertainment fulfil its mission to the event. God, in symbolically calling us present, let alone to future generations. back to the East End of London, is issuing It is probably fair to say that, in a call to return to our roots, and it would the UK, although our corps are very be a huge waste of money and resources diverse, Salvation Army officers if this Congress leaves us unchanged. don’t seem to be coming from those I am expecting God to challenge us, communities. Will you speak a word of energise us, renew us and then send us challenge into that? back out into the world to proclaim his We often talk about the Great wondrous message. The legacy will be Commission to go into all the world and renewed passion, zeal and commitment proclaim the gospel message. God still in saving souls, growing saints and calls men and women to leave home in serving suffering humanity. order to go to the ends of the earth. In recent decades, however, we have seen The international vision of ‘One Army, the world coming to our doorstep with One Mission, One Message’ speaks of immigrants from so many countries confidence in who we are, what we do seeking to build new lives in the UK. and what we believe. How can leaders I am not sure that we have fully today maintain that confidence? understood the opportunities and the Where we face great pressures due to responsibility that we have to share materialism and secularisation, we need the gospel message with the peoples of to rediscover our confidence in the divine these many nations. Our corps do not inspiration and the authority of God’s necessarily reflect well the demographics word. We need to pay more than mere lip of a multi-ethnic or multicultural society. service to the things we believe, but truly Similarly, the training college here in live out the values that we proclaim. Our the UK does not sufficiently reflect that belief and our actions should go hand in reality. hand. We must take the Great Commission

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BOOK

Two caterpillars were crawling along. As they chatted they looked up into the sky and saw a beautiful butterfly flying overhead. One caterpillar turned to the other and said, ‘You’ll never get me up in one of those!’ That old joke may be a familiar one, but it does risk missing an important point. Because even though caterpillars will indeed become butterflies, the transition isn’t an instantaneous one. Any student of the natural world would tell you that before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it goes through a miraculous time of transformation, a time spent in the dark and dangerous world of the chrysalis. It is this analogy which Alan Jamieson skilfully utilises in this short book as he explores the developing journey of faith through which believers travel. For Jamieson this illustration is one which aptly describes the spiritual lives of those who are trying to navigate the dangerous currents of Christian spirituality in the early years of the 21st century. Now it has to be said, some readers might find parts of this work to be difficult. There will be those who suggest that faith should be marked by stability, holding up regardless of whatever life throws at the believer. However, it is the conviction of the author, and I have to agree, that the complexity of life and faith in today’s post-modern world brings many struggles to an expression of that faith. For example, he addresses issues of disillusionment, doubt and even despair. He is happy to join with Christian mystics of

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Review centuries past and speak of the ‘dark night of the soul’. But it is Jamieson’s view that this is all part of the normal process of growing and discovering more about oneself in those dark periods of life, when one might just be hanging on by a thread. So, would I recommend this book? Absolutely! In fact, I would go as far as to say that this has to be one of the best books I have ever read. It has given me new insight into some of my past and present experiences. It has given me permission to explore my faith, unpacking what that looks like if I am to be an authentic Christian today. Don’t read this if you want a nice comfortable existence. But if you want to explore the phases of Christian faith that you may already be experiencing and no doubt will experience, then I wholeheartedly suggest you give this short book a try. You never know, it might be just the release into a life of exhilarating freedom for which you yearn.

Major Steve Dutfield is the Regional Leader for the Georgia Region of the Eastern Europe Territory.

THE HARD WORK OF

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Even the word ‘discipleship’ itself involves effort! Alan Hirsch highlights the work it takes to become a disciple when he states, ‘I have come to the dreaded conclusion that we simply cannot consume our way into discipleship.’1 Adding the pressure, Commissioner Clive Adams points out that ‘discipling… cannot fall into a responsive or reactive process of simple consumption, but depends on the working out of a covenant relationship.’2 Discipleship doesn’t fall in front of us on a plate. It looks like a lot of struggling and determination to get anywhere!

DISCIPLESHIP So what of discipleship? A simple glimpse at the words ‘discipleship’ and ‘disciple’ sees that they share their roots with ‘discipline’. Digging a little deeper, we see the etymology of this word comes from the Greek word mathetes, literally meaning ‘follower’, which developed into the Latin word discipulus meaning ‘learner’. Our modern-day perspective has progressed through time and usage to become more of an understanding of a disciple as something of a student, or an adherent to a particular path of critical thinking. So what does this mean in practice? I have a dog – a three-year-old cocker spaniel who answers to the name Mersey. When Mersey entered our home, as an eight-week-old puppy, his sole intent was to chew the laces in my training shoes. My intent was that we would have a companionable, well-behaved family pet – so the undertaking of training began. Through the process of training we have established who is the boss: me! Mersey has been trained to sit, to stay, to heel, not to chew, not to jump, know his place in the hierarchy of the Lloyd-Jones family – the list goes on. Mersey is now a well-behaved dog, but he isn’t perfect. The occasion when he ran out of the park, crossed three or four busy

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• We are on a Mission: We are hearing more and more about transformation. The Salvation Army is in the business of sharing faith and telling people about the transformational changes Jesus Christ has made in our individual lives.9 As disciples, we’re involved in being agents of transformation, and at the same time being transformed ourselves into the likeness of Jesus. Back to the slightly mad cocker spaniel; the process of training Mersey isn’t simple or easy, so discipleship for us isn’t simple or easy either. Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost us everything. Jesus lays a clear challenge: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit To be a disciple of Jesus means that we their very self?’10 To be a disciple of have to give up our lives in order to follow Jesus means that we have to give him wholeheartedly and unreservedly up our lives in order to follow him wholeheartedly and unreservedly. It means that our lives are no longer • We Follow: Throughout the breadth of the our own; they are his. New Testament we are called to be followers Discipleship is all about Jesus, and it’s not of Jesus’ teachings; obedient doers of the something we do on our own; it’s much better word, following the example of Jesus who in community. ALOVE has four essential lived a life of complete obedience to the purposes: Mission, Social Action, Worship – Father, even to the point of death.5 and the fourth is Discipleship, which has the • We are Fruitful: The Gospel of John6 tagline ‘getting in Jesus and his community’. challenges us to live disciplined lives of Discipleship is relational; we need to be fruitfulness. Fortunately, it’s not our job to disciples who are making disciples of Jesus. produce the fruit – that’s the work of the Holy This means we need to spend consistent time Spirit – but as we follow Jesus and become sharing our lives with other believers, becoming more obedient, he will produce the fruit in disciples with one another, learning how to love and through us. God and each other as we go. We need to allow • We Love One Another: 1 Corinthians others to disciple us by letting them challenge 13 is often quoted as the foundation us and encourage us in our walk with God. This of understanding love within marriage is why church and honest relationships with celebrations. In actual fact it shows us that other believers are so central to the Christian love is far beyond an emotion; it is an action. life; we need one another in this journey of We are told that love for other believers is becoming wholehearted disciples of Jesus. the evidence of our membership of God’s Kevin DeYoung is quoted as stating, ‘The one family.7 Love for other disciples is perfectly indispensable requirement for producing godly, summed up as something that is essential mature Christians is godly, mature Christians’.11 when we read about the example of Jesus Through ALOVE UK, The Salvation Army in Philippians8: ‘Our example should be the has recently published To Serve, a resource same as Christ Jesus.’ designed to ensure that people understand roads and ended up sat on the front doorstep with us chasing behind calling his name is more than evidence of his imperfections! Mersey is full of character, but he is being disciplined – he is a learner and his training will continue. As Christians, we commit to being followers of Jesus. We commit to develop through learning what it means to live a life following Jesus. In a society where ‘the consumer is king’3, as disciples we actively choose to continue to grow, develop and learn through our relationship with Jesus as Lord. But again, what does this mean practically? • Jesus First: We put Jesus at the centre of all things. In Mark’s Gospel4 we are called to have a relationship that is focused on taking off self-centeredness and putting on Christcenteredness.

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the distinctive membership of a soldier within The Salvation Army, and continue the tradition of challenging people ‘to live up to its calling of intentional discipleship’12. The intention of To Serve is to disciple soldiers in what it truly means to be in a covenant relationship with God, and the discipleship value we have to each other. Using teaching, mentoring, small-group study and personal development, To Serve strives to challenge a lifetime of discipleship, not least belonging to the people of God known as The Salvation Army. General André Cox recognises that we’re not disciples on our own; through introducing the One Army resources he calls Salvationists to be ‘convinced of our calling, moving forward together’.13 To Serve simply echoes the passion of William Booth from a century and a half ago: ‘If you have a heart of love, come along. We want men and women indifferent to all other aims but the extension of the Kingdom of Jesus.’14 To be a disciple of Jesus doesn’t require attending a certain church, participating in a certain Bible study or praying a certain way; it’s all about living transformed lives by putting Jesus first, loving one another and sharing our faith.

1. Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. (Grand Rapids, MI, 2007: Brazos Press). 2. Adams, Clive T. Commissioner. TO SERVE, Inspiring a New Generation of Salvation Army Soldiers. (London, 2014: The Salvation Army, ALOVE UK). 3. Wind, Jerry; Mahajan, Vijay; Gunther, Robert. ‘The Consumer is King’, (Article). (Pennsylvania, PA, 2002: EBF). 4. Bible, NIV. Mark 8:34–38. 5. Bible, NIV. John 8:31–21. 1 Samuel 28:18. Philippians 3:6–8. 6. Bible, NIV. John 15:5–8. 7. Bible, NIV. John 13:34–35. 8. Bible, NIV. Philippians 2:3ff. 9. Bible, NIV. Matthew 28:18–20. 10. Bible, NIV. Luke 9:23–25. 11. DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness. (Wheaton, Il, 2012. Crossway Books) 12. TO SERVE, Inspiring A New Generation Of Salvation Army Soldiers. (London, 2014: The Salvation Army, ALOVE UK). 13. Cox, André, General. The Salvation Army International Headquarters Website. www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/ vision 14. Booth, William, General/Founder. TO SERVE, Inspiring A New Generation Of Salvation Army Soldiers. (London, 2014: The Salvation Army, ALOVE UK).

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Major Mike Lloyd-Jones is the Territorial Youth Secretary – ALOVE

The co

EFFECTI

It has always been a little bit of a disappointment to me that in the team of disciples, the one who betrayed Jesus was the finance man. Judas Iscariot, not without reason, gets a bit of a bad press in the Bible as do quite a number of people who hold finance-orientated jobs – like tax-collectors, for example. On the other hand, for those who are willing to expand their minds, there are some great examples in Scripture of business administration activities which balance out the bad press. The Old Testament is crammed full of building projects… starting with the Ark and finishing with the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem under the watchful eye of Ezra and the rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem organised by Nehemiah.

The New Testament is full of references to do with finance. Judas Iscariot was the treasurer for Jesus and his disciples. One of the notable conversions during Jesus’ ministry was not of someone who was sick, disabled or bereaved; it was a taxcollector, Zacchaeus. Very early in the life of the Church the value of administrators was recognised in the appointing of seven ‘local officers’ to take care of the running of church activities whilst the apostles got on with the business of preaching and teaching (Acts 6). Stephen was the chief of these administrators, and it is not lost on me that he was also the first Christian martyr, being stoned to death for his faith. That was not very back-room ministry, was it? We could develop the theology a little

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ost of

IVENESS more to provide a stronger foundation for my assertion that the UK Territory’s Business Administration Service (BA Service), which includes departments like Finance, Property, Information Technology, not to mention Fleet Management, Internal Audit and Safe Mission, is as much about the mission of The Salvation Army and the advancement of that mission as the other three services that comprise The Salvation Army’s division of departments at Territorial Headquarters; namely Programme, Personnel and Communications. If, for the purposes of this article, we can accept as a given that the BA Service is about mission, what would my vision be for the contribution that the BA Service can make towards effective mission? In

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a nutshell, my answer would be that the outcomes of what takes place within the BA Service must be a help rather than a hindrance to mission. I have to be honest and say that, notwithstanding my earlier comment about Stephen, the BA Service cannot pretend that it is at the front line of mission activity; instead it provides the support services that enable mission activity. The car that reliably takes the officer on his visitation round; the salary that appears in the corps employee’s bank account at the end of each month; the building in which the parent-andtoddler club takes place; the email that is received by the student at university from their corps officer back in their home corps, keeping them in touch,

reminding them that ‘out of sight’ is not ‘out of mind’… All of these things happen because a BA process is working. I would contend that these BA processes, and all the others too, work best when those people on the front line of mission never need to think about them. We all know that when something goes wrong we get frustrated, uptight, irritated, angry, and any other emotion you might care to name, and that ‘wrong thing’ occupies our mind, nagging away and distracting us from our main objective. When the BA Service causes someone to feel negativity in this way, something has gone wrong and we are not contributing to mission but are causing a distraction. I have a niggle inside me that says that the evidence that the BA Service is being most effective is when it is taken for granted – it’s just there, working as it should be, requiring little conscious thought, like a heartbeat. How

see where we want to get to, but no matter how we strive toward it, it keeps moving forward. Organisations are like families. They are living beings, not inanimate or robot-like objects that do not fight back. The world of the BA Service is one of giving and taking, of balancing need, of making decisions that is an ‘Up’ for one and a ‘Down’ for another because our resources are finite. We have to make decisions that mean we may spend less here to inject more funds there. Such decisions have to be mission decisions because that is what The Salvation Army is all about: saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity. We are about the Lord’s work. We need to discern the will of God in everything that we do, and this might mean putting less funding in the BA Service in order to provide more people to do the hands-on mission work. Of course, it could equally mean putting more funding into the BA I have long said that in reality it does not Service so that fewer people can cost a penny to ‘do’ mission. The right word be more effective in the mission said to someone at the right time and in the opportunities they are given right way can lead to miraculous outcomes because our poor service does not distract them. For me, one of the important many of us think very much about whether our outcomes of the Fit for Mission initiative will heart is beating? How often do we check that be the restatement of the ‘baseline’. In other we are breathing? We soon know – or rather words, one of the major outcomes must someone else soon knows – when our heart be a determining of spend in various areas is not beating or we are not breathing. That’s of the territory, the various services that I effectiveness – getting a good job done with mentioned earlier, Programme, Personnel, the minimum of fuss and little intervention. Communications and Business Administration. A perfect flow of processes that ends with It is possible that we are not as effective as those in corps and centres engaging in mission we could be because this apportioning of with little or no thought of the business resources has got out of kilter with what we are infrastructure which enables them to do to trying to do as part of the Christian Church. We their work because it functions so perfectly and might never reach Utopia, but so long as we so much in harmony with everything else that strive towards it we must be improving; so long makes up the complete picture of mission. as the Utopia we strive for is God’s Kingdom on Will we ever achieve such a utopian state? I earth. am very sorry to say that I doubt it. I wish we The other important outcome of the Fit could, but I am not aware that there has ever For Mission initiative has to be the refining of been a 100 per cent effective organisation. processes so that we can get more for less, How do you measure a 100 per cent effective more bangs for one’s bucks as some people like organisation? Such aspirations are rather like to put it (not me!). However I am now bordering the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow – we on that other great ‘E’, that of efficiency, and

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I am supposed to stay with ‘effectiveness’. But the two are somewhat intertwined, I think. If we were the perfect organisation, if we had reached Utopia, I wonder whether that land would be a cold and clinical place in which to live. Could The Salvation Army lose its warm and tender heart if it tried too much to follow the business practices and principles of the world? Dr Julia Mundy, of the Centre for Governance, Risk and Accountability, University of Greenwich, in an article I read recently, made the point that following best practice is not always the right thing for an organisation to do. Best practice can constrain an organisation. Dr Mundy says: ‘The best practice juggernaut will eventually come to a halt when most organisations have the same governance practices but differing outcomes. We might then move away from the notion of “best for all” towards the more useful “right for us”.’ Along the same lines, Gavin Holland, in the magazine Fintech News, says: ‘Hip to be square: knowing yourself is more important than jumping on the latest bandwagon.’ The point he makes in his article is that an organisation has to be true to itself. The Salvation Army has to be true to itself, and to God, and whatever finally emerges from the Fit for Mission initiative should not alter us beyond recognition unless we are absolutely sure that this is what God wants. Picking up Dr Julia Mundy’s theme again, she notes that Peters and Waterman in their well-known publication In Search of Excellence show-cased 43 successful companies and demonstrated the processes and practices that made those companies successful (which

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means effective) with the inference that other companies should follow suit. This premise is now being severely questioned, since the selection of companies was not random. The selection was based on a group of companies whose processes and performance were already known to be good. Says Dr Mundy, ‘Conspicuous by their absence were those companies with similar processes to the favoured 43 – but whose performance was poor.’ Dr Mundy concludes, ‘This only goes to show, you should be careful who and what you decide to follow.’ I have long said that in reality it does not cost a penny to ‘do’ mission. The right word said to someone at the right time and in the right way can lead to miraculous outcomes. This said, I do acknowledge that growing saints and serving suffering humanity is going to take a little longer and cost a little more. I want one of the outcomes of the Fit for Mission process to be that people are barely conscious of the BA Service because that will signify that their minds are filled with other things, hopefully to do with mission; and that for me will be my Utopia, because it means that my Service is being effective.

Lt. Colonel Alan Read is the Secretary for Business Administration

WBC SUMMER COLLEGE 2014 Take 47 delegates, aged 19 to 94, from 16 divisions. Add 11 staff. Place in William Booth College. Leave for seven days to be infused with teaching, worship, fellowship and fun. Bake at temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Result? The first ever William Booth Summer College. Amy-Jo Battersby was one of the delegates and sent this report: This year I had the massive privilege of attending the WBC Summer College. It was a hugely anticipated visit, and for months leading up to the event the College was in touch with

the plans for the week, so by the time we arrived, excitement was really flowing. I hoped to spend a week with God and that is what I got, but much better than what I had expected. We arrived on Saturday 2 August to a very warm welcome and a comfortable room packed with a load of goodies for us to keep. I had never been to the College before and remember how excited I was to see what it was all about. I was not let down, with plenty of people eager to tell me all about the history and the many goings on. We started by eating

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together and discussing what it was all about: coming together in a calm environment to learn about our history and faith as well as learn new things to pass on to others. It was obvious that the staff were as excited as we were to have this opportunity to pass on their knowledge and gain insight into our lives and views. This made the week all the better! On Sunday we enjoyed worship both within the College and later in various churches around London. I chose to attend Hillsong, a new plant built across from a football ground in an old warehouse. It was amazing. The message we received that night tied in to the studies during the week and what we had discussed that very same day. It was very clear, even this early on, that God had a huge hand to play in this week. Throughout the week we spoke about mission, doctrine and our history as well as having the opportunity to enjoy visits to Salvation Army sites within London, along with film nights, Bible studies and group discussions. The week was packed with exciting ways to

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deepen our relationship with God, and through prayer this was achieved. The staff made use of every different learning style and made sure that there was something for everyone during the week. I visited IHQ, Faith House, Stoke Newington Corps, and went on the tour of The Salvation Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history around the East End, bringing the history and the present together to give the bigger picture of what we are about. We had time off where we could enjoy London for ourselves or simply relax. I had such an amazing time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in growing their knowledge base of what it is we do all over the world and why it is so important. At the end, we had some time to pray with one of the staff and to discuss taking up an open learning course to continue the learning we had taken part in at college. Everyone was so hospitable. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thank them enough for an amazing week which I left feeling rested and full at the same time. Thanks, WBC!

THE NEXT WBC SUMMER SCHOOL TAKES PLACE ON 1–7 AUGUST 2015. DON’T MISS IT!

What I lear nt at Summer School

A rap by Shaun Bingham I feel really special I feel really cool Because I’ve just attended The Salvation Army summer school I’ve learnt about mission And the Army’s position Of putting into practice The Lord’s Great Commission I’ve learnt about doctrine And its credal formation And I now understand the word Sanctification I’ve learnt about history And the heretical schisms The ecumenical battles And theological divisions I’ve learnt to interpret A scriptural text

And I know it’s a must To regard its context I’ve learnt I theologise Just through sheer conversation About what God means In this post-Christian nation I’ve learnt about the Army And its rise to fruition From its humble East End To its world-wide position I’ve learnt that the tutors Must have read the odd book Because surely their knowledge Is more than pure luck (this is a joke)! But the best thing I’ve learnt From day one to the end Is that God is alive In both me and new friends

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‘I WOULD LIKE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE SALVATION ARMY BUT I DON’T WANT TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL APPLICATION AT THIS POINT.

WHAT CAN I DO?’

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED: Have a look at the Candidates Unit website Visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/William-Booth-CollegeCandidates for more information about becoming a spiritual leader.

Pick up a leaflet The Candidates Unit stand will be at some Youth Councils and other Salvation Army events in the UK. Alternatively, give us a call and we will send you a leaflet through the post. Telephone number: 020 7326 2820

Attend the Exploring Leadership Day Conference Every year the Candidates Unit organises an open event for those interested in spiritual leadership. You must be over 13 to attend. In 2016 it is taking place on 13 March at William Booth College. Booking forms will be available from your corps officer and the Candidates Unit from October 2015 onwards or online at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/William-Booth-CollegeCandidates. This is a free event.

Candidates Sunday In the Salvation Army calendar, one Sunday in every year is dedicated to the subject of spiritual leadership with a particular emphasis on Candidates. The official date for 2015 is Sunday 8 May, although some corps will hold it on a different date. Some time prior to this date resources will be available from www. salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/William-Booth-College-Candidates to help the congregation focus on the need for all Christians to follow God’s call, wherever that may lead. This year the theme is ‘Transformation’.

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Exploring Leadership Day 2016 Sunday 13 March 2016 William Booth College WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

Majors Linda and Mark Herbert

A weekend to help you discover God’s design for your life 11-13 September 2015 29-31 January 2016 20-22 May 2016 2-4 September 2016 William Booth College For more information and to apply for any of the above events contact the Candidates Unit

vocation@salvationarmy.org.uk 020 7326 2820

WBC Summer College 1–7 August 2015

Thinking and learning together at William Booth College

COST

For further details and an application form: Email college@salvationarmy.org.uk Phone 020 7326 2700

£195

includes meals and accommodation