All The World (October 2010)

Focus on ... LIBERIA

MONGOLIA – providing water

CHILE – after the earthquake

REWIND – using All the World

recoveryin Pakistan

Flood

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OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010

2 | ALL THE WORLD | OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010

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S Visit ALL THE WORLD at:www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010

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2 ALL THE WORLD JULY–SEPTEMBER 2010

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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

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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


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


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


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


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


FA

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= 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


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


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


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


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


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’



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


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


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


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’


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


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


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

Documents

All The World (October 2010)