Symposium delegates discuss holiness

From: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/1747861EECC6B27E802577B6004D2668?opendocument

WITH many delegates shaking off the effects of long travel and swiftly adapting to British Summer Time, the global gathering at the International Theology and Ethics Symposium commenced day two – the first full day together – in prayer. There proved to be a sequence and natural unfolding in the progression of the day.

Commissioner William Francis presented the day's first paper, focusing on 'Our Heritage of Holiness – Biblical Foundations'. 'Sanctification is an initial crisis followed by a never-ending process,' noted the commissioner in his treatise on Romans 6:18. 'You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.'

Dr Jonathan Raymond followed with the paper 'Our Heritage of Holiness – Historical Heritage'. Tracing a Salvationist theological lineage that includes the incomparable John Wesley, Dr Raymond stated: 'Wesley's practical theology has promoted a theology of free salvation for all people and full salvation from all sin (holiness) that has had an immeasurable impact on the world.'

Courageously commencing the early afternoon hour, Lieut-Colonel Philip Cairns addressed 'Personal Holiness – Perspectives of the Holiness Experience', noting the influences of Christological holiness (living life in Christ) and pneumatological holiness (an emphasis on the sanctifying event) upon current Salvationist thinking. 'I believe that the future of the Army's holiness doctrine lies in a synthesis,' concluded Cairns.

The final presentation was from the seasoned pen of Commissioner Robert Street: 'Personal Holiness – Holiness for a New Generation'. Here the plea was for nurturing relationships. 'Any teaching on holiness which has its emphasis away from relationship – centred on terms, labels and defined experiences – runs the danger of detracting from the main issue,' cautioned the commissioner.

Commencing with a biblical basis, recognising a precious legacy, acknowledging the need for a personal experience and always seeking to relate to the present day in terms of mission – there was shrewd brilliance to the sequence of the day.

Each paper was immediately followed by a prepared response, forum discussion and debate. Throughout this series, the dialogue was courteous, intelligent, diplomatic and engaging. Here was scholarly debate at its finest.

Following the opportunity for increased examination naturally provided by small group discussion a full day ended with corporate evening prayers in which delegates warmly affirmed the holy truth of the beloved song by Albert Orsborn:

My Life must be Christ's broken bread,
My love his outpoured wine,
A cup o'erfilled, a table spread
Beneath his name and sign,
That other souls, refreshed and fed,
May share his life through mine.

Yes indeed, today our cups were full and overflowing.

Report by Lieut-Colonel Richard Munn

Call to Prayer for Victims of Sex Trade Trafficking

Salvation Army in Pakistan Prepares to Distribute Tents as Floods Move through the Country (Update 10 September)

From:

http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/2ABDDE99BD9A3BF28025779A0057D503?opendocument

THE Salvation Army is continuing its work in the flood-hit regions of Pakistan, where it is estimated that 20 million people have been affected by the disaster – more than 10 per cent of the population. The flooding began in the north-west of the country but continues to move to the south, with people now having to leave their homes in Sindh province. Five weeks after the downpour that began this crisis, water continues to impact on new areas, families and communities.

Salvation Army relief teams are working in three provincial areas – Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The teams continue to distribute household goods including bedding and cooking utensils. For most families these goods are the first they have received and they are very grateful for the help. Ministers from the Pakistan federal and local government have offered their thanks for the help given to their communities.

Tents have been purchased and are ready for distribution in the South Punjab area. This weekend is the end of the Muslim festival of Ramadan and the distribution will occur within the next few days as the celebration of this festival ends. Preparations are under way for the distribution of nearly 5,000 tents to be given to families in the south of the country.

So far almost 2,000 families have received goods from Salvation Army teams and in the coming weeks many more will be helped. The relief effort is quickening pace as the needed supplies are becoming more available. Plans are in place to help more than 16,000 families in the next month.

International Emergency Services worker Major Drew Ruthven (International Headquarters) reports from Pakistan: 'I have met so many who have been impacted by these floods. One man told me that he and his son had to climb onto the roof of their house and remained there for two days without food or water. He smiled as he then went on to say they had some of the family cows on the roof so they milked the cows and that is how they kept the hunger away! One woman told that she does not know how they will rebuild their house. Her husband is in jail for committing murder and she and her four children don’t know what to do.'

Every family has a story. They are happy to tell what happened but they also are watching and waiting to see how the government and humanitarian groups now in the country are going to help.

The Salvation Army is a part of this response and Major Ruthven concludes: 'It is good to see the work done here by the local Salvation Army. Many people have been helped but so many more need help.'

Salvation Army Flag Flies in United Arab Emirates

GENERAL Shaw Clifton has given approval for the work of The Salvation Army to be officially commenced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as of 1 June 2010. This will bring the number of countries where the Army operates to 121.

It is less than two years since The Salvation Army’s work started officially in neighbouring Kuwait, under the leadership of Majors Mike and Teresa Hawley, officers of the USA Southern Territory. It was known, however, that there has been a long-standing fellowship of Salvationists from a number of countries resident and working in Dubai, in the UAE.

Majors Hawley were joined in 2009 by Lieutenants Robert and Glenis Viera, also from the USA Southern Territory, and the work continued to develop in Kuwait. In the same year, exploration started with regard to the possibility of extending the Army’s ministry into the UAE. An invitation was extended for the Army to plan a Christmas carol service in Dubai and this was attended by hundreds of people. Meetings then commenced in rented property in Sharjah.

Working in cooperation with other churches, The Salvation Army's legal presence in the UAE is growing. Residency permits have been obtained for Majors Hawley and rented premises have been secured for regular meetings in both Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, where significant groups of Tamil-speaking Salvationists live.

The Salvation Army is also developing its relationships with prominent members of the government, diplomatic and legal communities in the UAE. Together with the formation of an advisory board, these steps will help ensure that The Salvation Army becomes part of daily life in the Middle East.

General Clifton asks that Salvationists around the world pray for God’s continued blessing upon this newly established expression of Salvation Army ministry.

from:

http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/819766A5D05C5C5380257723004B8C19?opendocument

Salvation Army Helps Tribes in Papua New Guinea Exchange their Guns for Bibles

TWENTY-SIX years of tribal fighting in a remote region of Papua New Guinea have been brought to a close thanks to a Salvation Army programme that involved warriors swapping their guns for Bibles.

The fighting, which began after an accusation of sorcery, took place between two groups of Zugu, Taro and Tawansaru villages and the Amusa, Tarotu, Fusa and Takaitu villages of Okapa District. Because of the area's remoteness, government authorities, community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were unable to bring peace. The only people who could enter the villages were pastors from various churches.

Male children were raised to fight. Mothers were frustrated and saddened by giving birth to baby boys and raising them, only to find that later in life they would take up arms and fight like their fathers. Some even took the drastic step of killing male babies in the hope that this would stop the endless fighting.

In recent years the warring tribes heard about The Salvation Army Community Advancement and Reform Enhancement (CARE PNG) programme operating out of its Misapi outpost. The officer (minister) from Misapi, Captain Michael Hemuno, and CARE field officer Danny Glendumu visited the warring area and raised awareness of the possibility of peace.

In November 2008 The Salvation Army arranged a week-long peace training programme, facilitated by students from Divine Word University. Some 40 men and women leaders from both tribes attended. They all stayed in the same house for seven days and nights, eating, talking and sharing together. It was a challenging test for the beginning of a new era. Active warriors and the most influential Okapian sorcerers were among the group.

The leaders ended the training with a Highlandsmumu, symbolising an end to fighting and beginning of peace. This was the start of the peace process involving each tribe deciding whether or not to have peace.

Almost a year later a peace ceremony was held, signifying a final end to the conflict.

Salvation Army leaders travelled to the ceremony by helicopter – the only realistic way to get to such a remote setting. Luggage was very limited so 300 Bibles were delivered by villagers from Misapi via a three-day foot journey.

Guests of honour were Lieut-Colonels Hans (Chief Secretary) and Marja van Vliet. They were accompanied by Major James Cocker (Secretary for Personnel), who had previously walked to the village on another visit, and Major David Temine, the divisional commander in charge of Salvation Army work in this portion of the Highlands.

More than 1,000 people made their way to the ceremony, some travelling for days.

Lieut-Colonel Hans van Vliet told everyone that this was a fresh start for the region, but that laying down weapons and items used in sorcery was not enough. 'You know what tribal warfare is all about. Many relatives have died,' he said. 'Leaders, you are making the promise not only in front of us but also in front of God. You must change within your mind, heart and soul.'

He said the new chapter in their lives should be one of love and care for their neighbours. Then two live pigs were presented, one to each of the warring groups as a token of appreciation for their peace efforts.

During the exchange process, one man accompanied his young son, who was carrying a gun. The man explained with tears in his eyes that he did not want his son to have to use such weapons and live the kind of life he had experienced, but he wanted him to be able to live in peace with other tribes. Both father and son left with a Bible.


Tribal leaders from both factions called on the national and provincial governments to allocate their share of development funds to the three main churches in the area – New Tribes and Lutheran churches and The Salvation Army – with the idea that these could build health centres and schools for the local people.

Source:

http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/683A61B4C725EBE0802576C6005F21FF?opendocument

Salvation Army Opens Work in 119th Country

GENERAL Shaw Clifton is pleased to announce that the work of The Salvation Army has been officially established in the west African country of Sierra Leone, bringing the total number of countries in which the Army operates to 119.

An enquiry was first made as to the possibility of The Salvation Army establishing a presence in Sierra Leone in 2003. That led to a long period of discussion, prayerful consideration, careful research and waiting upon the Lord to reveal his will in this regard. Further enquiries came in 2005 and then, in 2006, Auburn Corps in the Australia Eastern Territory expressed a keen desire to support any project the Army might consider running in Sierra Leone.

Later in 2006, Major Robert Dixon – then serving as Officer Commanding of the Liberia Command – undertook a feasibility study in Sierra Leone. There was a positive response from the government at that time. When serving at International Headquarters as the General’s Representative for World Evangelisation, Colonel (now Commissioner) Dick Krommenhoek visited Sierra Leone, met with government officials and other authorities, and submitted a positive report to the General.

At a meeting of the International Management Council in December 2009, Commissioner Amos Makina (International Secretary for Africa, IHQ) reported that The Salvation Army had been legally registered to operate in Sierra Leone and officers from Liberia (Captains John and Roseline Bundu) had arrived in the country, ready to start work with the group of local people who had already expressed interest. Captain John Bundu originates from Sierra Leone.

The General has thus approved the official opening of The Salvation Army’s work in Sierra Leone, under the supervision of the Liberia Command, as from 1 January 2010.

Source:

http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/2474FA00B76BC520802576A80067D88C?opendocument

God came in Jesus to live among us

God came in Jesus to live among us

It’s almost Christmas, a time of celebration, gatherings, and the desire for the new Light. For the past few weeks, every week an extra candle was lit, reaching the climax on Christmas Eve. Then we celebrate that new light came to this world. That God came in Jesus to live among us.

There is a wonderful song, of which the lyrics are so simple, yet they contain the source hope, love, and light. It’s becoming a favourite Christmas song, but I could sing it every day:

God came in Jesus to live among us

And He lit the light of hope again.

True light, true hope to fill our yearning;

The Light that will for ever reign.

May that be my prayer for this Christmas time, and the blessing for all of us.

God kwam in Jezus in ons midden

Het is bijna Kerst, een periode van feest, samenkomen, en uitzien naar het nieuwe Licht. De afgelopen weken is er elke week een extra kaars aangestoken, en het bereikt een hoogte punt op Kerstavond. Dan vieren we dat nieuw licht naar de wereld kwam. Dat Jezus in ons midden kwam.

Er is een prachtig lied, de woorden daarvan zijn zo simpel, maar raken de kern van hoop, liefde, en licht. Het is een favoriet Kerstlied aan het worden, maar ik zou het elke dag wel kunnen zing:

God kwam in Jezus in ons midden

En stak het licht der hoop weer aan

Het licht waar wij om mogen bidden,

Het licht dat nooit meer uit zal gaan.

Dit is mijn gebed voor deze Kerst, en een zegen voor ons allemaal.