All The World (October 2010)
-
Upload
salvation-army-ihq -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
1
description
Transcript of All The World (October 2010)
Focus on ... LIBERIA
MONGOLIA – providing water
CHILE – after the earthquake
REWIND – using All the World
recoveryin Pakistan
Flood
LOOK!NEW
VO
L 4
8 N
O 4
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
2 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
COUNT RY � O R �T H EM EC
ON
TE
NT
S Visit ALL THE WORLD at:www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
5
8
11
15
19
2 ALL THE WORLD JULY–SEPTEMBER 2010
SPEC
IAL
OFF
ER
An Adventure Sharedby Catherine Baird
Practical Religionby Catherine Booth
What and Why We Believeby Harry Dean
£3.95 eachor all three for
£7.00
Prices quoted include postage if
purchased from Salvation Books
at International Headquarters.
Please send a cheque made payable to
The Salvation Army and addressed to:
Salvation Books –
Attention: Debbie Condon
The Salvation Army International
Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria
Street, London EC4V 4EH,
United Kingdom.
Salvation Books publications can
also be purchased from Amazon.co.uk
CLASSIC SALVATIONIST TEXTS
03 UPFRONTFrom the Editor
04 INSIGHTThoughts on the World Youth Convention
05 EMERGENCYPakistan floods
08 HOME�AND�AWAYReflections from here and there
10 FACT�FILELiberia facts and figures
11 FOCUS�ON�...�The Salvation Army in Liberia
15 BEGINNINGSMongolia water scheme
16 EMERGENCY�Chile earthquake
18 REWINDA story from the past
19 OUTREACHAustralia Eastern’s Flying Padre
22 SNAPSHOTSNews from around the world
Salvation Army meets the world’. Thisencompasses the social, development,health and emergency work that haveformed the nucleus of All the Worldduring my time as Editor. It also takes inevangelistic and outreach efforts andmuch more.
The Salvation Army has, since itsinception in the mid-19th century, beenpro-active in its relationship with ‘theworld’. Open-air preaching in Victorian
Britain causedsuch uproar thatSalvationists wereattacked in the streetsor arrested. Eventoday, Salvationists arewilling to putthemselves in danger inorder to help people’smaterial needs or savetheir souls.
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 3
UP
FR
ON
TWELCOME to All the World – but not asyou know it.
There is a famous saying in French: ‘Plusça change, plus c’est la même chose.’ Itsliteral translation is: ‘The more it changes,the more it’s the same thing’ but a moreaccurate interpretation is ‘The more thingschange, the more they stay the same.’
This, then, is the ‘Plus ça change, plusc’est la même chose’ issue of All theWorld! I present to you a new layoutfeaturing fonts and design motifs neverbefore seen in an All the World. There arenew regular and occasional series withmore pages yet all for the same price.Reader, we’re spoiling you!
I should, at this point, pay tribute to themagazine’s designer, Berni Georges, whohas been both exhaustive and exhaustedin his efforts to make this redesign aseffective as possible.
Some things, of course, have stayed thesame. There is still a mix of articles fromall around the world (the only continentnot represented is Antartica but, restassured, if work begins with the penguinpopulation, All the World will get thestory!). There will still be a strong focus on showing how God is using TheSalvation Army around the world tochange people’s lives.
Part of the discussions ahead of theredesign touched not simply on how Allthe World should look but on what itshould actually be. If we were startingfrom scratch, what should All the Worlddo? This has led to the focus beingwidened a little.
Some brainstorming brought about aphrase that struck a chord – ‘Where The
‘If work begins with the penguin population,All the World will get the story’
Kevin Sims, Editor
f R o M T H E E D I T o R
Vive la revolution!It’s to this revolutionary streak that I’d liketo dedicate this different-but-the-sameissue of All the World. From the officers ofLiberia who work out of a shack, to thosein the fledging Salvation Army in Romaniaor the Roman Catholic country of Italy, tothe emergency services workers inPakistan and Chile who go where angelswould fear to tread – to these people andothers who dedicate their lives to theservice of others, I salute you.
The Salvation Army meets the world head-on every day and All the World will behere to celebrate both its constancy andits willingness to do a new thing. In short,it’s the same as ever – but different!
EDIToR Kevin Sims
DESIGN AND ARTWoRK Berni Georges
EDIToRIAL offICE
The Salvation Army International Headquarters
101 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom
Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; fax: [44] (0)20 7332 8079
Email: [email protected]
foUNDER William Booth
GENERAL Shaw Clifton
EDIToR-IN-CHIEf Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson Published by
Shaw Clifton, General of
The Salvation Army.
Printed in Great Britain
© The General of
The Salvation Army 2010
Annual subscription from Salvationist
Publishing and Supplies (periodicals),
66-78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial
Estate, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 2QH,
United Kingdom
Cost: United Kingdom £3.00
Worldwide surface £3.50
Worldwide airmail £4.50
Single copy 40p (UK), or from any Salvation
Army headquarters. Published quarterly
4 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
WOR LD �YOU TH � CONV EN T I ON
Raised upTHE Salvation Army’s World
Youth Convention took place in
Stockholm, Sweden from 15-18
July 2010. It was the most
international Salvation Army
event ever – delegates attended
from almost all the 121 countries
in which The Salvation Army is at
work – and the most widely
available event – all meetings
were broadcast live on the
Internet through the
www.raisedup.org website. More
important than the impressive
figures, however, the convention
had a huge impact on the lives
and spiritual awareness of the
1,000 delegates.
Here are some responses to the
event and a few photos that give
a flavour of WYC 2010.
An innovative feature of the World youth Congress was
the Buzz Groups. At designated times delegates met with
others from their own territory to discuss prepared
questions that focused on going deeper with God while
looking ahead to what would happen when they returned
home.
Each group prepared a summary of its discussions.
The image on the right was created using Wordle (a free
application from www.wordle.net) to draw a word cloud
of the main themes. The size of the word indicates its
frequency in the discussions.
‘Let’s keep
the Army flag
flying high ...
and let’s
keep the fire
burning in
ourselves.’
‘WE WANT MORE!
WE WANT MORE!’
‘It was
the
best
time of
my
lifeee!!!’
‘WYC – what a greatexperience! We got to
know a lot of people fromdifferent countries =) God
spoke to our mind and heart.’
‘I was blessed in many ways.’
‘To be with close
to 1,000 young
Salvationists from
across the world really
put into perspective
how big this church
really is and how
much potential the
Army has to grow.’
‘I’ve made so
many friends
from all over
the world.’
‘I’VE LEARNED So MUCH.’
‘God hasshown me
what Ihave to do
next.’
‘I’m going backhome to share as
much as I can.’
‘In 2050 I'll be
the General
and I'll be
organising
another one.’
PHoTo
S By M
ARK BRo
WN
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 5
PA K I S TA N F L O O D S
prevent damage. However, last year theyhad the same warning and no water wasreleased, so this time they didn’t believeit and stayed.
In some cases the waters seepedthrough mud floors while people slept,and when morning came the water wasalready knee deep inside their homes. Byafternoon, watching from higher grounds,they saw their mud-brick structures eitherswept away or submerged. What littlethey had was now replaced with nothing.
For many in the country it was seen tobe a localised flood that didn’t affect theirlives. Only when the surging waters
Cries,damaged livesand statistics
But statistics don’t tell the full story.What about the people? What about thosewho had to walk five kilometres – at timesthrough chest-high water – carrying theirdisabled brother to safety? What about therelief camps where various people turn upto see what’s happening, write a story(including statistics) and never come backto provide help?
At the end of July, heavy monsoon rainscreated a slow-moving natural disaster. Itaffected the newly named KhyberPukhtunkha province, devastating manyhomes. Some villages were warned thatdams would release excess water to
By Andrew Lee
WHEN you work with numbers as I do, statisticsare simply a set of figuresto be analysed and pre-
sented in a final report. Even Pakistanflood statistics – 20 million people affected,one million homes destroyed, six millionpeople without shelter, eight million chil-dren in danger of health risks and 1,600people dead – are dealt with in this way.
Statistics have value in the sense thatthey provide information. They present afactual, unemotional account of what hashappened and the response to an event.
In presenting the statistics of The Salvation Army in Pakistan regarding ourcurrent flood relief programmes, we cansay that – at the time of writing – the Armyhas received funding to help at least6,500 families with bedding and utensils,and a further 4,625 families with tents ata cost of US$1.4 million. We are waitingon approval and further funding to enableanother 4,100 families to be helped withutensils and bedding.
A woman and her family take home bedding andcooking packs from a Salvation Army distribution
6 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
PA K I S TAN � F L OOD S
started to head toward the province ofPunjab did many realise that this wassomething bigger than they had seenbefore. Millions were evacuated and mostfound shelter with relatives willing to takethem. The size of this disaster meant theefforts of the military and non-governmentorganisations (NGOs) were not enough.
Some individuals have seen the seri-ousness of the situation and have helped,even generously driving to flood-affectedareas with carloads of food, giving it outwithout regard to the danger they wereputting themselves in.
However the danger is real. I visitedsome flood-affected areas as part of TheSalvation Army’s assessment team. We
passed a large truck with people distributingbread at the side of the road but the recip-ients started fighting over the food,worried they would be left out. A car wesped past was mobbed by at least 20 people. There are stories of armed banditsholding up convoys of trucks deliveringaid.
Heading into Charsadda, where theRiver Kabul had caused terrible damage,we were guided through the back streetstoward the riverbank and shown a fewhouses that were damaged. However,being an adventurous accountant, Iignored the warnings that further downthe street towards the river it was stillflooded and headed that way with thedivisional commander, divisional financeofficer, two guides and two young boyswho looked tough.
Following the local residents and takingtheir advice, I avoided the open sewer onthe right side of the path and tiptoedthrough the debris in rubber boots.
At times the mud was so thick that myboots got stuck. As I walked along thestreets, residents still living in their badlydamaged homes were surprised to see methere. Most wanted to know what uniformI was wearing!
During translated conversations withthe locals, it seems that we were the firstpeople to make it through to them. I wasthe first to visit but I felt sad that I couldnot give any assistance except by theencouragement of me being there.
A father was carrying two childrenthrough the knee-high water and hisdaughter dropped a shoe. As it floated byI manage to retrieve it and put it back onher foot. A small act of kindness putsmiles on a few faces.
Coming within about 30 metres of theriver, we finally had to stop as the waterlevel was rising again. As I made my waythrough the flooded alleyways, houseswere either collapsed, full of mud orbadly damaged. One owner showed mehis two-storey house and told me thewaters had reached the top floor. The family had sat on the edge of the roof forabout two days until the waters receded.All their possessions were damaged bymud and water, and the owner’s dog hadsince refused to come down from the roofof another building.
Mishri, a man with four sons, can seeno hope for the future. He believes thatwhen he is able to go back home he willfind their house destroyed. His son, Akeel,thinks his school will be in a similar situation. The problem for them is thatMishri has no permanent job. He worksas a day labourer, getting paid when thereis work available. He asked if The Salvation Army could help by providing atent for shelter – winter is a few months
‘There are stories of armed
bandits holding up convoys
of trucks delivering aid’
The flooded streetsof Charsadda
A traumatisedbusinessmanwho losteverything inthe floods
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 7
PA K I S TAN � F L OOD S
away – or by offering some work so hecan earn an income to support his family.
It is difficult when a statistic has aname, a face and a story. To show com-passion and yet be wise enough not tomake a whole string of promises is difficult.To walk into a camp and be surroundedby a sea of sad faces and to see the utterdesolation when they talk about whathappened and what lies ahead in thefuture would bring tears to anyone’s eyes.But even those understandable tearswould only add to the misery of thefloods and the sense of helplessness.
In the weeks since the disasterbegan I have resolved not to dwell onthe helplessness but to offer whatassistance I can with the abilities thatI have in finance and administration. It’snot the most glamorous of duties com-pared to emergency response in the fieldbut it is integral to it. Getting the storiessent out across the world, makingenquiries with various people about fund-ing, writing funding proposals, ensuringpurchase and delivery is correct, makingsure the distribution is documented andfinally writing the completion reports asquickly and accurately as possible – toensure more funding – is hard work andcan be exhausting when time is of theessence.
I’m from Australia and am used to a different pace of life to that which I find inPakistan. Dealing in a society that holds adifferent meaning of time can be frustrat-ing. There is a word people use here, kal,literally meaning ‘not today’, that is usedfor the English words yesterday or tomorrow based on the context of thesentence. Inevitably, in my experience, itactually means ‘at some point’ – with anunsaid ‘maybe’!
There were days when we were prom-ised that an item would come but itwould not show up until a few days laterafter a constant stream of phone callschasing it up. And due to the massivescale of the disaster, even with pleas andnegotiations the prices of most items areinvariably inflated.
Being a soldier of The Salvation Armyhas given me some values that make mywork easier in a predominantly Muslim
society. The Salvation Army’s missionstatement call to ‘meet human needs in[Jesus’] name without discrimination’ isan important reminder for me.
Out of the 21 million people that needhelp following the floods in Pakistan, onlya very small percentage will be helped byThe Salvation Army, due to limitedresources. So that mission value holds mein stead to help ‘without discrimination’people who have been allocated to us bythe local government.
It would be easy to choose to help onlyminorities or our own people but wedon’t work that way. ‘Love your neighbour’as shown through Jesus’ parable of theGood Samaritan means helping thosewho are in need and ensuring we see thepeople behind the statistics.
Left: an elderly man in Charsadda triesto dry some of his belongings; below:Andrew Lee speaks to an affectedfamily; bottom: wrecked belongingsare piled up in the street
Andrew Lee is Chief Accountant in The Salvation Army’s Pakistan Territory
‘It is difficult when a
statistic has a name,
a face and a story’
8 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
HOM E �AND �AWAY
What is your role in The Salvation Army?
I’m the corps officer (church minister) in Craiova, Romania.
What would be your typical day?
I usually plan every day, so when I get up I have in my
mind exactly what I will do in that day. It starts with
prayer, devotions, breakfast and preparing for the
programmes at the corps. Now, because I’m a new
mother, my daughter changes the order!
How did you meet The Salvation Army?
I met The Salvation Army in 1999 when my three sisters
invited me. They had been to a children’s club which
they liked very much.
Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?
My hero was Aux-Captain Muriel Sims (a Salvation Army
officer from the UK who devoted her life in retirement to
the people of Romania). In spite of her old age she
served God till the end. Her faith encouraged me a lot.
The Salvation Army began work in Romania in
1999 and Roxana Cucu was the first Romanian to
become a Salvation Army officer. She shares her
ministry with her husband, Captain Ionut Sandu,
and in June 2010 gave birth to a daughter, karina
CAPTAIN ROXANA SANDU
What is your favourite Bible verse?
Proverbs 3:5: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean
not on your own understanding’ (New International Version).
What is your favourite Salvation Army song?
‘I Serve a Risen Saviour’.
How do you think The Salvation Army in Romania differs
from the rest of the world?
The Army is new in Romania. We don’t have much of our own
resources. Many countries support us so we can survive.
What particular challenges does The Salvation Army
face in Romania?
People come from an Orthodox tradition and don’t want to
know the Army. It’s hard to make them trust it.
If you were appointed General, what would be the first
thing you would change?
I would invest more in the countries where The Salvation Army
has opened recently, but then I would ask them to find ways
to become self-supporting.
If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army
anywhere else, where would you choose and why?
I never thought of going somewhere else. But if God needs
me to, I will go.
What skills do you use most in your work?
I’m a good planner, administrator, teacher and I like to work
with children.
What skills do you have that you would like the
opportunity to use more?
Teaching, advising.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a faithful servant.
What’s so special about The Salvation Army?
I loved the Salvation Army from the beginning because it
was close to the people and got involved with them, showing
love and care.
A nEW SERIES LOOkInG AT THE THOuGHTS AnD ExPERIEnCES
Of PEOPLE WORkInG fOR THE SALvATIOn ARMY In THEIR
COunTRY Of BIRTH AnD OTHERS GIvInG SERvICE ABROAD
Left: Captain RoxanaSandu comforts alocal woman; below: helpingchildren with theireducation
&AWAYOCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 9OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 9
was born in the uk but, with his wife,
Major Elaine Cavanagh, has served most
of his Salvation Army officership in Italy.
MAJOR DAVID CAVANAGH
&AW
AY
&AW
AY
identity and style is in a phase of extensive transformation.
To some degree, that’s a challenge everyone faces, but in our
case it is a particular challenge because there was a long
period (about the last quarter of the 20th century) in which we
almost completely lost any real sense of the specific identity
and vocation of The Salvation Army within the wider Christian
Church.
If you were appointed General, what would be the first
thing you would change?
I would charge the yearbook editor to include (yearly average)
attendance figures and conversion figures in the record of
statistics published. That would give us a more realistic picture
and show what trends are emerging, enabling us to better
respond.
If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army
anywhere else, where would you choose and why?
I would be interested to work in Spain because – leaving aside
Eastern Europe – it is the only country in Europe which has
seen growth over the past 10 years, and I’d like to see if there
is anything that we could learn to aid us in Italy. My wife,
however, would like to work in health programmes in Africa and
I’ve promised to follow if God opens the right doors for that.
What skills do you use most in your work?
My initial degree was in English and American literature, and I
think the skills of literary analysis (applied to the Bible) and the
skills of writing play a large part in my ministry. Otherwise, I’m
the typical officer – jack of all trades!
What skills do you have that you would like the
opportunity to use more?
Teaching. I would like one day to serve in the area of theological
education.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a good husband, father and friend who tried to live the
virtues of what Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has
described as ordinary routine fidelity.
What’s so special about The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army has a particular genius for holding together
elements of the spiritual life which are often separated in other
churches: evangelistic focus and compassionate service;
theological depth and simplicity of expression; holy lifestyle and
openness with understanding. The single elements can all be
found elsewhere, but the rich mix of them is unique to
The Salvation Army.
What is your role in The Salvation Army?
My wife and I are the officers of florence Corps and directors of
the small guest-house with it.
What would be your typical day?
There isn’t one, but over the course of a week I’ll deal with
paperwork, maintenance in the house (I can’t call a plumber
every time a cistern leaks), visit people in their homes, prepare
Bible studies and Sunday meetings, go to a committee meeting
of some sort, study for my distance degree in Religion and
Theology, and sometimes write some kind of statement on
moral, ethical or theological issues we face in our relations with
other churches.
How did you meet The Salvation Army?
I was working as a very junior university lecturer in Sicily, and
attending a Pentecostal church, when a student friend turned up
on my doorstep one evening and took me off to meet a couple of
friends, who turned out to be the officers of The Salvation Army
corps in that city at the time.
Do you have a claim to fame?
In my first appointment in Italy I was invited to take part in a
Sunday afternoon Tv programme which followed the Italian
Serie A football (soccer) championship. As a keen football fan I
was happy to be involved but it soon got to the stage where
I could not set foot outside the door without being recognised.
for a short time I was probably the most famous Salvation Army
lieutenant in the world!
What is your favourite Bible verse?
‘Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your
waves and billows have gone over me’ (Psalm 42:7,
New Revised Standard Version).
What is your favourite Salvation Army song?
A toss-up between ‘Burning, Burning’, ‘Christ is All’ and ‘My Life
Must be Christ’s Broken Bread’.
How do you think The Salvation Army in Italy differs from
the rest of the world?
It’s Italian! More seriously, I’m not sure it’s different from
everywhere else in the world but compared to the uk, where the
Training College told me to plan at least 12 and preferably 18
months in advance, in Italy everything is always thrown together
at the last minute – l’arte del arrangiarsi. The miracle is that it
does usually all come together!
What particular challenges does The Salvation Army face
in Italy?
We face the challenge of finding the right balance between
recovering our rich spiritual heritage and identity without slipping
into sterile traditionalism, at a time when the Army’s international
Ò
& away
10 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
FA
CT
FIL
E
N
= The population of Liberia is 3,476,608
= The infant mortality rate is almost one in
100, though some figures claim that
there are almost 156 deaths for every
1,000 live births
= The official life expectancy of a baby girl
born between 2005-2010 is 59.4 years.
for a boy it is 56.7 years. Some figures
put these averages as low as 44.7
= using gross national product per capita
as a measure, Liberia is the fourth
poorest country in the world
= The Republic of Liberia was founded in
1847 after the region was colonised by
freed American slaves with the help of a
private organisation called the American
Colonization Society
= Monrovia, the capital city, is named after
James Monroe, the fifth president of the
united States and a strong supporter of
the new country
= The set-up of the government of Liberia
and even its flag, with a star and
stripes, show the strong links between
Liberia and the uSA
The Salvation Army began work in
Liberia in 1988
Languages used by The Salvation
Army in Liberia: Bassa, English,
Gola, krahn and Pele
There are 2,028 senior soldiers (full
Salvation Army members), 54
adherents and 424 junior soldiers
The Salvation Army has 52 officers
(full-time ministers), eight auxiliary-
captains, five envoys, five corps
leaders and 206 employees
The Salvation Army in Liberia runs 19
corps (churches), 18 outposts, 12
schools – with 2,992 pupils, eight
child day care centres, one clinic and
one mobile clinic
Above: the Liberia national flag;below: the Liberia coat of arms
from top: a view of Lake Piso in Boni country,current President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; praisetime during a Salvation Army meeting
LIBERIA= Civil wars beginning in 1989 and
1999 crippled the country and led to
thousands of deaths
= Liberia has an employment rate of
only 15 per cent
The SALvATION Army IN LIberIA
Information from The Salvation Army Year Book2010 and internet sources including www.un.org
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 11
WAS it Libya? Namibia?Siberia? These countriestrip off the tongue ascolleagues and friends
struggle to remember the name of thecountry that the international communitytried for so long to forget. The country theyare trying to bring to mind is Liberia.
For 14 long and painful years the westAfrican country of Liberia was frequentlyin the world news for all the wrongreasons – genocide, horrifying humanabuse, child soldiers and illegal diamondsmuggling. An astonishing 250,000people are thought to have been killedfrom a population of 3.7 million. Duringthe civil war, which lasted from 1991 to2005, up to half the population wasuprooted, dispossessed or displaced.
But since the 2006 elections, bad newsfrom Liberia has thankfully subsided ascameras and news reporters have movedon and gravitated to the next in a long lineof the world’s troubled hot-spots.
On the streets of the Liberian capitalMonrovia life has gradually andperceptibly been returning to a semblanceof normality. The markets are bustling andstreet t raders jost le with theirwheelbarrow stalls for position to catch
the eye of those on the look-out for abargain. The evidence of destruction,however, remains an eyesore; the cityskyline is still littered with derelictbuildings, pock-marked with bullet- andshell-holes.
Venture away from evidence of newdevelopment – shiny buildings and the
F���CUS�ON
During the civil war up tohalf the population wasuprooted, dispossessedor displaced
Above: Aux-Captain Alonso Nyemah in front of ZlehTown outpost; below: downtown Monrovia
By Major Charles SwansburyLiberia
12 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
F OCU S � ON � . . . � L I B E R I A
increasingly congested lines of traffic –and the long-term impacts of the conflictremain a worry for the massive UnitedNations peacekeeping force. Lack of jobprospects, illiteracy, poor housing,overcrowding and a lack of basicamenities continue to constrain youngpeople in townships that are inevitablycrime-ridden and explosive.
And further still, in the country’sinterior, neglect and poverty still affectshalf the population. Liberia is one of the10 poorest countries of the world. Roadsand other communication systems remainat a primitive level. Basic healthcare andeducation is inaccessible to many.
International observers are thereforejustified in looking anxiously towards theelections scheduled for 2011, whenMadam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf – thecontinent’s first female president – will be seeking re-election.
To the western eye the Christian Churchin Liberia appears to be evident andprominent. Businesses boldly proclaimtheir religious affiliations and vehicles areemblazoned with Christian slogans orScripture references. Sometimes thecondition of the vehicle or standard ofdriving of the person behind the wheelsuggests that the Almighty’s protection orguidance is being taken a little too muchfor granted!
As a relative late-comer to the Christianscene in Liberia The Salvation Army’s
ORIGInALLY from Sierra Leone, Amadu Bangura became a Salvationist 10
years ago and is now employed as an accounts clerk at the Army’s command
headquarters in Monrovia. As well as working full-time, Amadu is also studying
at the university of Liberia and hopes one day to qualify as a development
economist.
His day-to-day work entails keeping track of the school fee payments of the
3,000 students who attend The Salvation Army’s nine schools, along with the
day-to-day expenditures related to the education system.
Amadu’s other passion is children’s ministry, and he is the founder of a children’s
school initiative which seeks to resource and support children who are otherwise
unable to attend school. As part of that work, Amadu holds a Sunday afternoon
outreach in his neighbourhood, within the Paynesville township on the outskirts
of Monrovia. Each Sunday up to 80 children gather for a programme of games,
activities and Christian teaching. The children are also encouraged to attend the
Army’s meetings at the Paynesville Corps (church).
Amadu’s life thus far has been far from easy. An orphan refugee from the civil
war in Sierra Leone, his situation in Liberia is far from settled due to his status.
One day he hopes to return to his home country.
‘There are many children in Liberia who are unable to attend school,’ Amadu
says. ‘I feel led by God and want them to have the chance to reach their
potential. I think I can be part of that opportunity.’
AmADu bANgurA
Above and right:Amadu Bangura’schildren’s ministry
Below: sunset over the beach in Monrovia
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 13
respect and recognition is a tribute tothose pioneering officers and soldiers whobraved considerable deprivations toremain at their post and fly the flag – evenwhile the expatriate officers were onoccasions evacuated for their own safety.Having a Salvation Army red shield on theside of a car guarantees a cheery wavethrough check-points, and the uniform isfrequently a passport through what wouldotherwise be a melee of confusion.
Liberian Salvationists are todaydetermined to demonstrate their national
identity and coming of age, striving toattain the criteria that would elevate theirSalvation Army status from a command tothat of a territory. The recent expansioninto neighbouring Sierra Leone will,justifiably, add credibility to that claim.
The consolidation of the command’sschool system, currently encompassingnine schools and soon to incorporate afurther five, has been a priority duringrecent days. The establishment of a seven-person education secretariat has sought toprovide structure and accountability to
every aspect of the school systemadministration after some years of fiscaluncertainty.
The ministry of the mobile medicalclinic has additionally been secured for afurther period of five years, with fundingfor staff and resources being provided byThe Salvation Army’s Norway, Iceland andThe Faeroes Territory, and a newambulance is on its way thanks to projectfunding from the Australia SouthernTerritory.
The static clinic, within the William
A SALvATIOn Army officer for just one year, Lieutenant
Debbie kwashie was appointed, with her husband Emanuel,
to the remote outpost of Arthington, Liberia, in September
2009. Arthington is approximately two hours’ drive from the
Liberian capital, Monrovia, but for some months of the year
the road conditions are such that the journey can take two or
three times as long.
The Salvation Army buildings in Arthington comprise a simple
mud-brick hall and adjacent living quarters on an open plot
surrounded by tropical rain forest. A few hundred metres
away are a cluster of other huts that make up the village.
It is not an easy place to live. The officers are the only ones in
the congregation who receive an income. Just a handful of
their congregation can read or write, and there are no
schools, facilities, shops or amenities within a considerable
radius.
The congregation members at Arthington Outpost all have a
story to tell about their experiences during the long-running
recent civil war. Most fled the area, living in the woods and
constantly on the move to keep away from the rebel soldiers.
They returned to their village to face a life with no work, few
prospects and little hope.
The Salvation Army’s mobile clinic used to visit Arthington
once a month, providing a much-needed medical service.
Regrettably, due to the lack of a roadworthy ambulance and
the road conditions, the visits were recently curtailed.
fortunately, Lieutenant Debbie trained as a midwife nurse
before entering the officer training college and, with the help
of project funding from the Army’s Canada and Bermuda
Territory, she has been supplied with some basic emergency
aid provisions. People living nearby can now receive
treatment for minor ailments. The lieutenant was also recently
called upon to deliver a baby.
The community’s only supply of water has been from a
nearby muddy creek or by making a two-hour walk to the
nearest well. During the past few months, again funded
through the Canada and Bermuda Territory, a new water well
has been dug a few metres from the officers’ quarters. More
recently, through project funding from Australia, the kwashies
have been given a bicycle.
‘Life is much easier now,’ Lieutenant Debbie explains. ‘The
clean water, medicines and bicycle mean that we ourselves
are no longer sick as often and are able to concentrate more
on our ministry as officers. And people in the community see
that Salvationists in other countries are interested in them. It’s
a small start, but it gives us all hope.’
DebbIe KwAShIe
Below: the hall at Arthington outpost; bottom left: LieutenantDebbie Kwashie checks a patient’s medication; bottom right:Lieutenant Emanuel Kwashie uses the new water pump
F OCU S � ON � . . . � L I B E R I A
14 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
F OCU S � ON � . . . L I B E R I A
Booth Compound in Paynesville, has alsobecome more financially viable.
Outreach initiatives, particularly aimedat unchurched children in urbancommunities, are proving to be effective.
Other project work has sought to targetpoints of need at rural corps (churches)and outposts throughout the country. Herebuildings – although in context withothers within their communities – arefrequently as primitive as one couldimagine: mud walls, branch roof trussesand thatch roofs. Corrugated steel roofsheets are a luxury.
And yet it is in these out-of-citylocations that the future growth of theArmy must be based if the initialmomentum is to be maintained. InMonrovia – as in most of the cities – thereseems to be a church on almost everycorner; in the interior, rural communitiesare crying out for support andencouragement.
But being appointed to remotelocations is a challenge to newlycommissioned officers. They can findthemselves many hours from cities byinadequate road, accommodated inprimitive, traditional buildings. There isoften no cell-phone service and they arefrequently having to cope without safedrinking water or toilet facilities.
These pioneering officers arecommonly the only ones in theircongregation who receive a cash income.They may also be among the few in theircongregations able to read or write.
But it is to such communities that theArmy needs to reach out – today and inthe future. Liberia’s Salvation Armyofficers have a huge job ahead – to teach,to train and to enable.
For unless the church can make apractical as well as a spiritual differencein the lives of people in Liberia the worldcould all-too-soon again be seeingevidence within this fragile nation ofman’s ability to wreak incalculable miseryand injustice on his fellow countrymen.
JOhNNASON DAvID
THE son of a Methodist father and Jehovah’s Witness mother, Johnnason David
became spiritually confused and neglected the Church for many years. But since
he took up an opportunity in 2006 to become a physician assistant for The
Salvation Army he has renewed his vision to serve God, particularly through the
medical work of the Liberia Command.
While still training to qualify as a doctor, Johnnason works at his brother’s medical
clinic, attends the Army’s static William Booth Clinic – located on the William
Booth Compound in Paynesville – and supervises a clinic at the Army’s Len Millar
School. He also travels with the Army’s medical mobile clinic twice a month on its
day trips to two locations that would otherwise have no medical service. On top
of all this, Johnnason attends command headquarters on a weekly basis to
provide a drop-in surgery for officers and staff.
The days spent with the mobile clinic are long and challenging. ‘We see around
100 patients each time we visit,’ he explains. ‘Sometimes the number has been
200 and we work into the night using the headlights of the jeep to make sure
everyone is seen.’
The five staff on the team work non-stop, not only providing medicines and
undertaking minor surgical procedures but also distributing food to pregnant
women and those with young children.
‘A few weeks ago we were given a baby who was severely malnourished,’ says
Johnnason. ‘The mother had died in childbirth and the baby was not being fed.
So we arranged for some baby formula milk powder and other items to be taken
to the family. The next time we went we were pleased to see that the baby was
looking much more healthy.’
Why does he support the Army’s medical work in this way?
‘It’s the appreciation,’ he says. ‘One day I attended a
woman giving birth, and she said “thanks a lot”. I see
the appreciation of those we treat and I can see hope
open in them.’
Right and below: Johnnason David and patients
Above: no walls necessary for this hall!
Major Charles Swansbury is General Secretaryof The Salvation Army’s Liberia Command
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 15
MONGO L I A
TWO years since The SalvationArmy began work in Mongoliaits influence in the landlockedAsian country is spreading, with
projects in place to help the local peopleand now even a building of its own.
Geographically speaking, Mongolia issurrounded by giants! It is bordered byRussia to the north and China to thesouth, east and west, and it has been ruledby various nomadic empires through thecenturies. The nomadic way of living stillplays a major part in the life of thecountry.
In 2008 The Salvation Army began toestablish its ministry and service to theMongolian people, in response to thegovernment’s more ‘open’ policy sincebecoming a republic.
A significant landmark was reached inAugust 2010 with the opening of theArmy’s first building. Situated in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, it willnot only house the administrative centrebut also provide worship facilities, accommodation and feeding programmes.
Ulaanbaatar is the seat of governmentand home to about 38 per cent of thecountry’s 2,500,000 population.
Establishing a relevant and effectivepresence in a country which has not beenused to the new openness of its republicstatus, has required careful andintentional dialogue with the government.Good relationships have been establishedand significant service is already beingundertaken.
By Commissioner Robert Street
As Mongolia’s nomadic populationfrequently has difficulty finding freshwater the government has made waterprojects a priority. The Army, under thedirection and generous sponsorship of itsKorea Territory – which oversees the workin Mongolia – already has two projectsunderway with the promise of 10 more ‘inthe pipeline’. The projects not only aidhealth – by providing washing and puredrinking water – but also enableenhanced food production. Tomato,cucumber and courgette crops formed thebasis of the 2010 harvest in Tov Province.
In a recent meeting with the DeputyPrime Minister (Mr MiyeegombynEnkhbold), the government’s gift of landfor the Army to develop a social welfarecentre in Tov was confirmed. It is plannedthat the centre will include facilities forthe care of the elderly and children, aswell as education and agriculturalprojects.
Another significant contribution fromthe Army to the community is its Solongos
Kindergarten, on an Ulaanbaatar estate. Itfunctions as an aid to parents who wouldhave no means of paying for the care oftheir children or for their education. Thekindergarten is under Salvation Armydirection with local people adding theirskills to ensure that some 60-80 childrenare not only fed and monitored but alsoreceive a creatively-presented education.
The development of the Army’s ministryin Mongolia is in the hands of CaptainLee, Min-ho and Captain Chang, Mi-hyun– a married couple appointed from Korea.Their varied areas of responsibility meanthey have many demands – among themis the building up of a committedMongolian Salvationist team to provide afoundation to all that takes place.
A young married couple have madeapplication to be trained as officers(Salvation Army ministers). Also, in July2010 two young women Salvationistsrepresented Mongolia at the Army’sInternational Youth Convention in Sweden– letting the world know that Mongolia isnow very much on the Salvation Armymap.
Significant
‘The nomadic way
of living still plays a
major part in the
life of the country’
Above: a young Mongolian boy tests the fresh water;below: the provision of clean water has helped withthe harvest of courgettes and cucumbers
growth
Commissioner Robert Street is The SalvationArmy’s International Secretary for South Pacificand East Asia, based at InternationalHeadquarters in London, uk
CH I L E � E A RT HQUAK E
VICTOR, a retired carpenter, haslived through four earthquakesin Talca, Chile, but he says theone that struck at the end of
February 2010 was the worst.His house was destroyed but he does
not want to leave his damaged propertysince this is where all his possessions are.He is very thankful for The Salvation Army,where he gets a daily hot meal and, moreimportantly, fellowship and conversationwith others who listen to him when hetalks about his situation.
Victor has not given up hope, as can beseen from the smile on his face, eventhough he is living in very difficult con-ditions. He is not eligible for a mediagua– a temporary house measuring six metresby three metres – so he has to put up withthe cold and dampness of the winter season.
Earthquake damage is still evident inthis community and elsewhere, althoughi t ’s now s ix months s ince the disaster happened.
The government has taken the initiativeto deal with the effects of 8.8 Richter scale
earthquake but it cannot do this alone.During my six weeks in Chile, stories,
photographs and experiences were sharedwhich provide a greater glimpse and understanding of this catastrophe in theearly days until now.
Dichato, a coastal fishing community,suffered not from the earthquake but fromthe resulting tsunami, which destroyedhomes and fishing boats, and put an endto tourism.
A converted school is now the centralcommand and distribution centre for relief
supplies – a far cry from its previous use.There are no homes around since thecommunity has been relocated to anumber of temporary camps where a newtemporary school is in the process ofbeing built.
A women’s support group hascommenced after a series of visits byofficers (ministers) and soldiers fromConcepcion Corps (Salvation Armychurch). They meet in a building that wasnot damaged because it is high on a hilloverlooking the sea. The women, agedfrom 16 to 60-plus, are grateful for theopportunity to meet together. Many of thewomen knit as they gather together, butthe most important aspect is theopportunity to meet together to findstrength for another day.
Later on the day I was there a SalvationArmy team met with a member of thechamber of commerce, a representative ofthe people and leader of the relief
New avenuesBy Major Bill Barthau
‘The mostimportant aspectis the opportunityto meet togetherto find strengthfor another day’
16 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 17
CH I L E � E A RT HQUAK E
operation. The needs are great but a planis underway to rebuild a new permanentcommunity. Safeguards will be put inplace to limit damage if anotherearthquake and/or tsunami occurs.
The children, mothers and leader of thepreschool in Caleta Tumbes wereenthusiastic when I visited, withnumerous activities taking place. TheSalvation Army supplied paint andfurniture and undertook repairs to thebuilding so it could open after the tsunamiswept through this community. Somehow,the history book of this preschool hadsurvived and was shared during my visit.There was evident enthusiasm anddetermination that life must go on.
After the tsunami, the community hadto live in a tent camp. A few people arestill living there. In conversation withothers who arrived to help after thedisaster, I heard stories of the physical
activity to remove rubble and debriswhich was scattered everywhere.
In the tsunami-damaged community ofSanta Clara I saw a clear example of theongoing problems caused by the sheerforce of the disaster. The local fire truckhad just arrived to determine the extentof oil leakage from a former factory located close to the community. Some ofthe locals used to work there. Contami-nation of water by the leaking oil was aconcern.
We were invited into a home where theextend of damage was still evident.Another family was living in a tent just afew metres away. It was very basic but atleast it provided a roof and kept out therain.
I asked the family what the hardestthing was in coping with the aftermath ofthe disaster. The mother told me about thedifficulty in preparing meals or heating
water. The mediagua provides vital shelterbut it is very basic and there is no kitchenfacility. A kind neighbour was helping butit meant having to go elsewhere to doeven this most simple of tasks.
El Faro Students’ Residence Hall inSantiago is the most damaged SalvationArmy property and will have to be totallyrebuilt, along with the officers’ quarters.The building is unsafe and there arevisible cracks in the walls. Formerresidents have had to find alternativelodging due to damage and now theterritory is having to find funds to repairthe damage.
The South America West Territory hasmobilised resources, officers, soldiers andpersonnel to deal with the disaster. Thefirst responders knew they could not sitback and do nothing. New networks andunderstanding of how to respond havecontinued to evolve.
Responding to disaster and emergencysituations can only be partially planned.Being ready to respond and gettinginvolved is what is required.
God continues to provide avenues ofservice and new doors of opportunity asothers are served though emergencyservices.
Previous page: a Salvation Armyteam member talks to a local inCaleta Tumbes; this page, above left:buildings damaged by theearthquake in Concepcion; above: apreschool in Caleta Tumbes that TheSalvation Army helped refurbish; left:a Salvation Army team prepares tovisit community members
Major Bill Barthau is a Canadian Salvation Armyofficer who was seconded to work forInternational Emergency Services in Chile
18 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
COUNT RY � O R �T H EM E
A revamped, redesigned All the World doesn’t mean we’ve lost touch
with our roots. There was such a strong response to the 125th
anniversary issue of the magazine last year that we wanted to ensure
the heritage continued to be recognised. So here, from 1893, is an
example of the power of the written word.
Incidentally, if this article should encourage any of today’s readers to
think about buying and sending a copy of All the World to a friend,
relative or other acquaintance, then that’s all the better!
REWIND BACK TO ThE PAST
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 19
AU S T R A L I A
[farmer] Keith ‘Wild Horse’ Dawson, whodied several years ago. Mr Dawson wasfor many years a strong supporter of TheSalvation Army – especially its OutbackFlying Service. He had seen fellowpastoralists – often deprived anddepressed – benefit from the ministry.
Queensland Governor PenelopeWensley officially launched the helicopterat the Mt Isa base on 26 June 2010.
During the launch, Ms Wensley saidthat, as Queensland Governor, she waspassionate about taking new technologyand ideas to remote areas of the state.
‘But,’ she added, ‘there is nosubstitution for personal care, which theFlying Padre provides. This is an excitingand historic day for The Salvation Amyand Queensland.’
Central and North QueenslandDivisional Commander Major RodneyWalters said a huge advantage in havinga helicopter was that The Salvation Armycould continue its support services tofarmers even when there were floods.
‘Flood is a big time of need in theoutback,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, ourplanes have had to remain in the hangarat the airport during floods because theyhad nowhere to land on affectedproperties.
Flying withoutwings
‘There is no substitutionfor personal care, whichthe Flying Padre provides’
Above: flying Padre Envoy Simon Steele with hiswife, Natalie, and two of their four children infront of the helicopter
By Bill SimpsonPhotos by Shairon Paterson
THE Salvation Army’s firsthelicopter anywhere in theworld has gone into service inthe Australian outback.
A sparkling white four-seat Robinson44 Raven II, with the verse ‘Christ’s lovecompels us’ (2 Corinthians 5:14) paintedon each side, the helicopter is based at MtIsa in Queensland among the ochre-redranges of the world’s biggest copper,silver, lead and zinc mining operation,almost 2,000 kilometres north-west ofBrisbane.
Its role is to transport pastoral care,farming support and urgently neededsupplies, including food, to remoteproperties, many of which are cut off fromcivilisation for months during flood.
The helicopter replaces a series offixed-wing Salvation Army OutbackFlying Service planes operated by TheSalvation Army’s Australia Eastern Territorysince 1965. The Australian SouthernTerritory has been operating a similarFlying Padre service using light planessince 1945, based at Darwin.
They are the only Flying Padre servicesin the Salvation Army world. Combined,they cover two million square kilometresof the Australian outback.
The Australia Eastern Territory’shelicopter was made possible by abequest from Queensland pastoralist
20 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
AU S T R A L I A
‘That is not a problem for a helicopter.It only needs a small piece of dry land. Sothe helicopter allows The Salvation Armyto be part of the solution in meeting theneeds of remote farmers in flood time.’
Helicopter pilot and Flying Padre EnvoySimon Steele said at the official launchthat the helicopter had already allowedhim to visit a remote property where theowners had not seen anybody or receivedfresh food supplies for four monthsbecause their farm had been cut off byflooding.
He said the faster helicopter also meanthe could visit up to 15 remote propertiesa week. Envoy Steele is supported in theministry by his wife, Natalie. They havebeen Salvationists for just over two years.
The Flying Outback Service also assistsAustralia’s historic Royal Flying Doctorand School of the Air, which operate fromMt Isa.
Father of four Simon Steele wasskippering commercial ferries onAustralia’s sun-drenched Gold Coastwhen the call came.
Wife Natalie was working part-time asnetball coordinator at The Salvation
Army’s Tweed Heads Corps (church).It was a little more than two-and-a-half
years ago. They had been Salvationists foronly a few months. But they knew the callthey were receiving was from God.
The call was an opportunity to becomeflying padres with The Salvation Army’sOutback Flying Service, based in theQueensland town of Mt Isa.
It had to be of God, the now EnvoySimon said at the launch of the flyingservice’s new helicopter.
Simon had held a pilot’s licence formany years, so taking on the flying padrerole – certainly as far as flying wasconcerned – was not an issue. But Simonalso had a helicopter licence. He hadqualified years before The Salvation Armyeven thought about switching from lightplanes to helicopter; years even before hejoined The Salvation Army.
This call was more than coincidence.Not long before accepting the Outback
Flying Service role, Simon had turneddown an opportunity to fly with anotherChristian outback group. The job justdidn’t seem right. At the time, Simon andNatalie were not aware that The SalvationArmy operated an outback flying service.
When the Mt Isa opportunity came,both Simon and Natalie knew they hadbeen ‘kept’ for The Salvation Army role.
‘When our [then] corps officer MajorNeil Clanfield mentioned the opportunityto me, I knew immediately that it wouldhappen,’ said Natalie.
‘When I told Simon, he just looked atme and said: “Are you kidding me?” Weboth knew it was no joke. And, so, herewe are at Mt Isa.’
Simon does the flying and Natalie is thesupport and administrator of the service.Two of their children, Isabel (six) and Joel(four) are with them in Mt Isa. Natalie (20)and Halley (19) remained on the GoldCoast.
With a coverage area of 800,000square miles of Queensland outback,Simon tries to visit 10 to 15 properties aweek. His mission is to offer the hand offriendship and give practical and spiritualsupport.
He does this by calling at properties todeliver or check if supplies are needed,
Below: Simon and Natalie visita remote outback location
‘His mission is to offer
the hand of friendship
and give practical and
spiritual support’
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 21
AU S T R A L I A
help mend fences and machinery, assistwith aerial seeding or dropping feed tostranded cattle, and just by having a chat.
Simon and Natalie also call in atremote schools to promote the service.
‘I tell the kids that I wasn’t very good atschool, but now I am a helicopter pilot,’says Simon. ‘I tell them not to feel badabout themselves if they are struggling atschool or to let anybody put them down.I tell them that what is important is whatGod thinks of them.
‘He has given me the best job in theworld.’
Right: Simon at the controls of the helicopter;below: with the new flying machine
What is the salvation army?
The Salvation Army, an international
movement, is an evangelical part of
the universal Christian Church.
and meet human needs
in his name without
discrimination.
Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is
motivated by love for God. Its mission is to preach
the gospel of Jesus Christ
This article was first published in Pipeline,a publication of The Salvation Army’sAustralia Eastern Territory
22 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010
COUNT RY � O R �T H EM E
FROM AROUND ThE WORLDSNAPSHOTS
NEW�ZEALAND
THE Salvation Army response to an earthquake thatcaused substantial damage in and around Christchurchincluded help from a significant source – new ZealandPrime Minister John key. When Mr key visited a largewelfare centre at the Addington Raceway he took his turnserving dinner alongside the Salvation Army catering crew.
The wider response saw The Salvation Army feed 2,000people a day and provide counselling to those who hadlost homes and livelihoods.
USA
SOLDIERS and friends from The Salvation Army’s uSA SouthernTerritory have pledged to raised up to uS$1.5 million to rebuild thecorps (church) building in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The building wasdamaged beyond repair (see right) in the earthquake thatdevastated the city in January 2010.
More than 1,000 people regularly worshipped at Port-au-PrinceCorps but it is thought that this number would be higher if therewas more room. With this in mind, the worship hall in the newbuilding is planned to have a capacity of around 3,000 people.
Colonel Terry Griffin (Chief Secretary, uSA Southern Territory),writing in the territorial publication Southern Spirit, explained thatthe emergency relief work in Haiti was being well supported by thepublic and other donors but that the rebuilding of facilities thatwere needed to continue the ‘spiritual programme’ was an‘internal responsibility’ – and one that the uSA Southern territorywas willing to take on.
Within a month of the initial request for assistance, more than$300,000 had been donated to the fund, with more added froma collection at commissioning weekend.
The territory has now launched a Ten for Haiti appeal, throughwhich it hopes to encourage at least 10,000 Salvationists todonate $10 a month for two years to pay for rebuilding work.
for more information go to www.tenforhaiti.org
PH
oT
o:
NZ
PA
OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 | ALL THE WORLD | 23
S N A P S HOT S
KoREA
THE Salvation Army Building in
Seoul was officially opened by
General Shaw Clifton. The
building, 17 storeys high with six
basement levels, was constructed
to celebrate the 2008 centenary of
Salvation Army work on the
Korean peninsula.
The new building houses a
number of major businesses, the
territorial headquarters and a 560-
seat auditorium – known as The
Salvation Army Art Hall – which
can be hired out and will be used
for Salvation Army events. The
territory’s trade department is in a
strategic area, immediately by the
entrance to the subway station
which is a transfer stop for two
lines of the city’s rail transport
system.
In time it is hoped that income
from the rental of commercial
space in the building will help fund
the territory’s work and also allow
Korea to support Salvation Army
ministry overseas.
AUSTRALIA
A SALvATIOn Army film won a prestigiousaward at the International Christian visualMedia conference, held in St Louis,Missouri, uSA. The documentary Our
People: The Story of William and Catherine
Booth and The Salvation Army received agold Crown Award, winning the‘Documentary Over $50,000’ category.
Our People was produced by Radiantfilms and Carpenter Media, of TheSalvation Army’s Australia Eastern Territory.Radiant films is operated by CoreyBaudinette, a Melbourne Salvationist whowas the film’s producer and director.
The International Christian visual Mediaconference brings together leadingChristian producers, directors, anddistributors from around the world. TheCrown Awards recognise excellence infilms which take a Christian message intowhat is generally a secular arena. Allnominations are judged by professionals,who take into account the quality of theproduction, storytelling and Christiancontent.
five years in the making, Our People –launched by then-Chief of the StaffCommissioner Robin Dunster in the eastend of London in August 2009 – charts thefounding of The Salvation Army. It usesaround 350 images, includingcontemporary photographs, press cuttingsand images from the time and artistimpressions of several key events in theearly days of the organisation. Many ofthese, selected from more than 1,000gathered in researching for the film, hadnot been seen for more than 80 years.
Commissioner Harry Read, a retired Salvation Army officer from the uk, wrote No
Heart More Tender based on his experiences of bereavement. The text, including
poems, shows the commissioner’s thoughts and feelings after the sudden and
unexpected passing of Win, his wife of 57 years.
He writes in the preface: ‘If this small volume has any value it must be because it
comes from within the experience of bereavement ... The book is from a heart that
has felt, and still feels, the catastrophic effects of loss; a heart that has struggled to
reconcile the negative elements of grief with a tried and tested faith. Hopefully, these
pages speak the language of the heart and will prove helpful to all who seek
comfort and encouragement during their own days of almost overwhelming grief.’
In his foreword, General Shaw Clifton adds: ‘Here is a book that combines
tenderness and sensitivity with realism and practicality. My prayer, like that of the
author, is that it will be used to help and to bless, to comfort and to encourage.’
Price £3.95, inclusive of postage and packing.
Send a cheque made out to ‘The Salvation Army’ to: Communications Section, The
Salvation Army International Headquarters, 101 Queen victoria Street, London
EC4v 4EH, united kingdom. Please be sure to include your name and address. No
Heart More Tender is also available from territorial trade departments and on
amazon.co.uk
The images are set alongside interviewswith historians, writers and commentatorsoffering expert knowledge of The SalvationArmy and church and social history in themid to late victorian era. Additional materialprovided on bonus tracks on the DvDincludes memories from Salvation Armymembers and leaders which serve as partof an oral history of The Salvation Armythat the producers were also attempting toachieve.
The documentary is being translated intofive languages. It is available on DvDthrough Salvation Army trade departmentsand through the websitewww.ourpeoplefilm.org
£3.95
ONLY
INC P&P
NO HEART MORE TENDER by Harry Read