Captains Paul and Lisa Trickett, corps officers at Metrotown Citadel in Burnaby, B.C., didn’t set out to create a program for single mothers, but when they started a games night for families last fall, that’s exactly what happened.

“While their kids were playing games, the mothers started networking,” says Captain Paul Trickett, “and it has become a place where they find security and support.”

Joy Zhang and her daughter, Lily, play games at the Metrotown Citadel games night

“It’s similar to being a single parent,” says Captain Paul Trickett. “For two or three years at a time, they don’t see their husbands.”

The games night offers them a chance to speak their first language and have fellowship with other newcomers.

When the program launched, approximately 20 mothers and children came to the games night, which happens every Friday. Now, nearly 60 people attend each week. Most of the families who come have not had any prior exposure to church, but since the program started, six mothers have become Christians and 10 children have become junior soldiers.

“The church has given my family safe activities to be involved in,” says Joy Zhang, whose daughter, Lily, became a Christian after the family started attending the games night. “The church is teaching them about God, and it has given my son volunteer opportunities to help him complete high school.”

In addition to the games night, the corps tries to help these families in whatever way it can, whether it’s showing them how to access services such as legal aid, helping them move or simply praying with them. At the request of these mothers, the corps has recently started an English-as-a-second-language Bible study.

“Our attitude is, ‘How can we meet your need?’ ” says Captain Lisa Trickett. “We now have women walking through our doors and saying, ‘I was told to come here,’ because they know it’s a place where they can get help.”

For many Salvationists, the Partners in Mission campaign is a time of self-denial as we focus on the needs of the international Salvation Army. This year, our territory set a goal of raising $2.2 million, with each division setting targets in faith to see this happen. I am grateful for every supporter, and as I write these thoughts, I am aware that you will be reading them in the closing days of the campaign and likely preparing your final donations. I am strongly convicted that I should support the work of the Army around the world and I have a desire to do something tangible, so I pray that you will join me in supporting this campaign.

In February, I had the opportunity to visit Malawi and see the work that your funds make possible. When I ask you to give, I do so having witnessed the many possibilities created through your generosity.

Despite their many challenges, the people of Malawi are gentle, respectful, hopeful and hardworking. They speak Chichewa and English, but both languages are surpassed by smiles, singing and traditional dance. When you see the obvious and significant needs facing them, your initial response is shock and deep concern. But then the Malawian people embrace you and tell you their story, opening your eyes to the beauty and strength of the nation.

Nonetheless, the needs are great. There are limited resources, economic instability, widespread poverty, illiteracy, human child trafficking, HIV/AIDS and high unemployment.

In the midst of this dismal picture, we discover the positive self-determination of the Malawian people. And we also find The Salvation Army’s development team.

As the Army in Malawi identifies opportunities for development and mission, other territories such as Canada and Bermuda are given the privilege to partner with them. We support projects that are changing lives and helping communities improve their future.

I need to say, however, that while the people of Malawi appreciate and benefit from our assistance, they are quite able to help themselves. They have an enviable sense of community as they carefully manage their projects—some of which continue long after the funding has run out. They also demonstrate the capacity to discover solutions when roadblocks suggest there is no way forward. Our involvement as a partner territory must focus on augmenting what already exists as we support their journey to being self-sustaining.

I believe that our partnership must continue and, where appropriate, be enhanced. The projects and programs our territory supports would not be possible without the contributions made to the Partners in Mission campaign. This is the starting place for projects such as bee keeping, water wells, HIV/AIDS outreach, literacy and feeding programs to help children stay in school. These initiatives are valued and a means of empowerment. Also effective are the donations made to Gifts of Hope. It seems simple, but even the gift of two pigs, properly cared for, can create income for a family so that they can afford to eat adequately and send their children to school. These things are all possible as we continue to give sacrificially.

As I reflect on my trip to Malawi, I’m flooded by a sea of images: rescued children, orphans, poverty, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and missing parents. But in the midst of it all, The Salvation Army is there to show God’s love and concern for his people.

I’m thankful for the ministry of Major Gillian Brown who leads our world missions team at THQ. In addition to Malawi, we are Partners in Mission with Zimbabwe, Liberia, Latin America North and Germany and Lithuania. Your help is critical in providing the resources that can make a difference in a life and in a community. Thank you for giving!

Commissioner Brian Peddle is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Anticipation had been growing as the graduates and their families, the Board of Trustees and other friends of the graduates and Booth University College filled the Chapel. To the opening refrains of music, Booth UC President, Dr. Donald Burke, led the colourful procession of Salvation Army leaders and Booth staff and faculty attired in their academic robes. The combination of Salvation Army uniforms and formal academic regalia signified the drawing together of faith and learning in the mission of Booth University College.

The Baccalaureate Service on Sunday morning of Convocation Day is a time of worship, reflection and exhortation as the graduating students both look back upon their time of study and look forward to the next phase of their journey. In his opening remarks, Dr. Burke stressed the unique role of Booth University College as it brings together a deep Christian faith, the heritage of The Salvation Army and the rigours of academic study.

After the invocation by Colonel Floyd Tidd, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, three graduating students offered reflections upon their time of study. Laura Milette, Nanci-Lynne Bell and Major Michael Hennessy each spoke in a unique way about their experience as students and described how their studies had shaped them. They testified to the importance of their faculty mentors and of the support of family and friends. Immediately after the graduates’ reflections, all graduating students were invited to present roses to two individuals who had supported them in their studies. As the congregation sang, students circulated throughout the Chapel to exchange roses and hugs with family members, friends, professors and others who hold a special place in their hearts. This moment of thanksgiving signalled that success in their studies rested upon the active and generous support of others.

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle read from 2 Timothy 4:1-8, preparing the way for Commissioner Brian Peddle’s message. As Chancellor of Booth University College, the Territorial Commander exhorted students to make their lives count. He encouraged them to persevere in the face of challenges and to finish well. The congregation responded to the Commissioner’s message by singing a song which includes the words:

Lord of all being, I give you my all;
If e’er I disown you I stumble and fall;
But sworn in glad service your Word to obey
I walk in your freedom to the end of the way.

The Baccalaureate Service concluded with a united sending prayer, “Jesus, now lead us on.”

Valedictorian Kris Kenemy addresses the large congregation at the Booth University College Convocation.

On Sunday afternoon, the celebrations moved to the historic Knox United Church, just a short distance from the Booth University College campus. Supported by the Winnipeg East Community Church Band, the academic procession made its way into the sanctuary. After the singing of the national anthem, some opening remarks by the President and the Invocation by Commissioner Brian Peddle, Bachelor of Social Work graduate Kris Kenemy took the podium. He was chosen by his peers to represent them as valedictorian at the 2012 Convocation. In his remarks, Kenemy struck just the right tone—thanking Booth UC faculty and staff for their investment of time with the graduating class, thanking family and friends for their unstinting support and thanking his classmates for their friendship during the years of study.

A moving moment in the valedictory address came when Kenemy related how he thought that he would not be admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work program because his previous grades were not high enough. However, he was given a second chance, permitted to prove his ability by taking courses and then allowed to enter the program. The result was that he graduated from Booth “with great distinction,” the highest level of achievement possible. The faith that Social Work Program Director, Professor Bonnie Bryant, showed in Kenemy when she granted him an opportunity to prove his ability was amply rewarded!

The Convocation speaker this year was the Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas Davis of Montreal. Mr. Justice Davis has a long record of service to the community and to The Salvation Army, including his term of membership with the Booth University College Board of Trustees on which he served as 2nd Vice Chair. In his address, Mr. Justice Davis drew upon his experience both as a judge and as a community volunteer to encourage the graduating students to be involved in their community, to make a difference and to use their education to make the world a better place. He exhorted the graduates to be committed to their vocation. Finally, he encouraged them to dream large dreams and to pursue them with passion.

The Convocation then moved to its highly anticipated climax as the certificates and degrees were awarded. In his role as Chancellor, Commissioner Brian Peddle awarded eighteen certificates to students who had completed the Certificate in Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care program, the Certificate of Christian Studies program or the Certificate in Management program. Then the Chancellor conferred the Bachelor of Arts degree upon a total of nineteen students and the Bachelor of Social Work degree upon twenty-four students. Each degree graduate who was able to be present for the ceremony was hooded by the President and then received their parchment from the Chancellor.

Commissioner Brian Peddle presents the Chancellor's Medal to Bachelor of Arts graduate Laura Milette.

After the certificates and degrees were presented, the recipients of two special awards were announced. The Chancellor’s Medal, given to a graduating Winnipeg campus student who has achieved a high academic standing and who has contributed to the life of the university college community and the wider community, was awarded to Laura Milette of Abbotsford, B.C. Captain William Stanger of Elliot Lake, Ont., was announced as the winner of The General’s Medal, which is given to an extended learning degree graduate who has achieved a high academic standing and who has demonstrated potential for leadership and an understanding of the distinctive ministry and theology of The Salvation Army, including the doctrine of holiness. The General’s Medal is awarded by the General on the recommendation of the President of Booth University College.

A Dedicatory Prayer by Major Wendy Swan drew together the themes of the afternoon and implored God’s continued guidance and blessing upon the graduates. After a rousing rendition of “I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,” the graduates left the church for a celebratory reception at Booth University College.

This year’s ceremony marked the 30th year that Booth University College has awarded certificates and degrees to students. While the legacy of this graduating class will not be known for many years, the legacy of Booth as an educational institution of The Salvation Army continues to grow.

Photo: The 2012 Booth University College graduating class. In the front row are Dr. Donald Burke, Booth UC President; Mr. Justice Thomas Davis, Convocation Speaker; Commissioner Brian Peddle, Chancellor; Colonel Floyd Tidd, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees; Major Ian Swan, Vice President Academic and Dean.

YES. The use of visual media helps the Church bring people closer to the story of Jesus.

BY CAPTAIN MARK DALLEY

“A picture is worth a thousand words”—Anon.

I love bookstores, so I decided to work at one when I was a university student. While there, I learned how easily we are swayed by appearance. For example, when you are in a bookstore, how do you decide which book to pick up? Most of us want to believe that we base our decision on the value of the content, but if the cover isn’t attractive, we won’t even bother looking at it.

We are surrounded by images in our society. Everywhere we look we see graphics, posters and videos.

The use of images has always been part of the life and worship in the Church. This is exactly how God intended it, which is why Scripture speaks so frequently of the use of image.

In Genesis 1 we are told that we were created in the image of God. This means that each one of us is a billboard for God—we are literally God’s walking, breathing media. And in John 1, we are told that God’s plan of redemption and revelation hinged on his revealing himself to us in the image of Christ, in the “medium” of a man. In fact, the Word needed to be transformed into the image of flesh so that God’s glory could be fully revealed and salvation given through the “medium” of Christ’s broken body.

Media itself is simply defined as the primary means of mass communication. Therefore, the cutting-edge medium of Jesus’ day was parables. Jesus almost exclusively spoke in parables, using the images of the culture around him. He used parables because it allowed him to not only teach the deep truths of God but also to present them in an understandable way. Christ used the images of his culture and the media of his day to bring people into worship and relationship with God.

The use of media in the Church has always been of some debate. In the past this has been in the form of anything from stained-glass windows and popular music to the use of radio and TV. The real debate here is not about the use of media, but rather what forms of media are helpful to worship and which images should be used.

Many of you will remember the flannelgraph. I spent many years teaching Sunday school, and nothing helped me make the stories of Scripture more understandable than the flannelgraph. It was like a switch came on as my students were able to see, perhaps for the first time, the stories of the Bible play out before their eyes. The flannelgraph was the medium of the day and proved essential to the spiritual growth of many of us.

In Uncommon Lectionary, Tom Bandy writes, “Worship is a form of mission. It employs the indigenous cultural forms of any given micro-culture, in order to introduce seekers to Christ. Or, it employs whatever learning methodologies are most effective in any given micro-culture, in order to motivate disciples to witness, serve and model authentic Christian faith…. Worship is not intended by God or planning teams to send people to coffee, refreshments and conversation with their friends. It is intended to help people drink deeply from the fountain of grace, and send them to bring living water to the rest of the world.”

In other words, our use of images and the media that proclaim the gospel are integral to the mission that Christ laid out for us so many years ago. From the flag to the projector, the images of our worship have become the scrapbook of our lives together with each other and Christ.

As a corps officer, I have found that the type and amount of media used is directly dependent on the culture both within the congregation and the community in which we minister. What this means is that the media we employ must represent those we seek to reach rather than our own personal preferences. If the media that we use in our worship does not connect to the indigenous culture we seek to serve and to save, then we are hindering the mission of God.

No one picks up a book without a good cover, and no one keeps a book without a good story. Media, when used well, helps the Church bring people closer to the story of Jesus. We have the greatest story ever told, and the most powerful created image ever given: the cross. Knowing that the tool of media is available to me just as it was to Christ so many years ago, I would not want to attempt to portray the story of Jesus without it.

Captain Mark Dalley and his wife, Naomi, are the corps officers in Listowell, Ont.

NO. We should be wary of how dependent we’ve become on technology to guide our experiences in church.

BY JOHN McALISTER

As the congregation sings Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?, I follow the words projected onto a large screen at the front of the church. Behind the words of the first verse, I’m shown a mountain in the background with clouds moving across the screen. On the second verse, I see images of people raising their hands in worship. For the third verse, I view a flowing river with birds flying in the sky. By the fourth verse, my eyes are sore and I’m mentally adjusting the first line to read, “Open up the doors and let me go home.”

All of this feels more like a full-out assault on the senses rather than a source of spiritual refreshment. Has the Church become too reliant on technology in its worship services? Whether it’s the use of creative—and sometimes tacky—PowerPoint backgrounds or the prevalence of video clips accompanying devotional messages, we are obsessed with finding new ways to visually engage our congregants.

Since images already pervade our society through billboards, TV, Internet, movies, magazines and social media, people have come to expect a visual experience in everything they do. So, in order to connect with people in a relevant manner, the Church feels obliged to incorporate media into its worship services.

While I’m no Neo-Luddite—just try taking away my iPhone—I believe that we should be wary of how dependent we are on modern media in church. A good starting point is the question: What would our worship look like if we had no electricity this Sunday?

Although I earn a living by designing and managing websites, a part of me craves a community where the many distractions of the world are stripped away. In other words, a church unplugged. As God tells us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” As a society oversaturated with visual stimuli, it takes great discipline for us to sit still. While we may think we’re helping people to focus on the service through visual media, perhaps we’re making it even harder for them to connect with God.

While I recognize that it’s not feasible to eliminate technology altogether, we also shouldn’t overdo it. For example, the words we sing each Sunday have their own power to inspire and challenge us; they don’t need elaborate visual backgrounds to help us connect the dots. So, project the words on the screen, but use a simple background that doesn’t distract.

We should also be aware of how PowerPoint presentations and other visual media are used in the secular world. In almost every case, they are created to sell things or to market an idea. While we may think we have redeemed this technology, people are pre-conditioned to respond warily to advertisements. As well, if our sermons incorporate many bulleted statements, we may be connecting with people on an intellectual basis but missing their hearts, which is where profound change occurs. Rather than unpack the reasons why we should believe or behave in a certain manner, our preachers should turn off the screen and tell an inspiring story of how God and his Word have impacted their lives or someone they know. The passion they exude will come across as real and uncontrived.

In The Importance of Being Foolish, Brennan Manning writes: “Consider how our churches have explored and exploited our need to replace the numbness in our lives with a passion for something, anything. We’ve created worship in which music is meant to stir the emotions but the soul is left unmoved, in which the words spoken are little more than manipulations of the heart. We have created cathartic experiences filled with weeping and dancing in the Spirit that leaves us with the sense that we have touched God but that fail to give us the sense that God has touched us. We run to churches where the message feels good and where we feel energized and uplifted—but never challenged or convicted.”

Of course we want our churches to be engaging and relevant. But we must ensure that they remain places where people can find divine intimacy, not just locations where we try to market and sell Christianity.

John McAlister is the features editor and web producer for The Salvation Army.

Things Fall Apart
While in Congo-Brazzaville, Lazare was a high school principal, while Georgette was a boat pilot on the Congo River. Together they operated an orphanage, which they opened in 1993. Both were involved in the local Salvation Army corps—Lazare as a youth pastor and Georgette as a nursery worker. When they left, they had five daughters ranging in age from five to 18, and Georgette was pregnant with twins.

Plagued by war and corruption, the Republic of Congo was never a safe place for the Lefus to live. But in the time leading up to their departure, the situation worsened. As they faced increasing political persecution, they knew they needed to leave as soon as possible. The Lefus decided to seek refuge in North America, but they had no time to plan the trip or raise the funds necessary for the whole family to go at that time. The Lefus took their youngest daughter with them, expecting that the others would be able to join them soon after.

Five years later, the Lefus are still separated from their four eldest daughters.

A Windsor Welcome
On their first Sunday at South Windsor Corps, the Lefus shared their testimony and the congregation responded with great concern, asking questions about their situation and offering support.

They visited the Lefus at their new home and, recognizing that it was unsuitable, helped them find better housing and gave them “everything that you could need for a house,” as Lazare puts it.
When Georgette gave birth to twin girls two months prematurely, the congregation looked after the family and later helped them get a car.

In April 2010, the Lefus were granted “protected person” status by the Canadian government—a crucial step toward reuniting the family. The following month, members of the South Windsor Corps created the Lefu Trust Fund to help cover the cost of bringing the daughters to Canada. In addition to asking for general donations, they held various fundraisers, including a benefit concert that raised just over $4,300.

Lazare says the trust fund probably has enough to bring the girls to their new home in Canada. The only thing preventing their reunion is paperwork: the Lefus, who are now permanent residents of Canada, are still waiting for the Canadian embassy in Dakar, Senegal, to issue travel visas for their daughters.

“We don’t know when the visas will be issued, but we hope it will be soon because we are tired of living without our children,” says Lazare. “And they are tired of living without their parents.”

Keeping the Faith
Lazare and Georgette talk to their children every day on the telephone. And when the telephone bill comes at the end of the month, it’s in the hundreds of dollars.

“Our daughters need spiritual and emotional support, and that’s the only way we can give it,” Lazare says. “They don’t understand what’s going on. Sometimes they have doubts about whether they’re ever going to see us again.”

Though the daughters live with their grandmother, their situation is far from secure.

“Sometimes you don’t know what’s going on over there and you wonder, are they safe?” says Georgette, fighting back tears. “We try to have courage for them, but it’s very difficult.”

Reflecting on what has been a challenging time for the family, Lazare says that they are very thankful for the spiritual and material support they have received from The Salvation Army. He and Georgette are active members of the corps—Georgette has joined the songsters and they both play in the band.

“That helps us forget about the pain and it helps increase our faith,” says Lazare.

“We pray every day that God will bring our children here,” he adds, “and we have faith that one day we will be together again.”

Photo: Georgette and Lazare Lefu with their daughters, Lazarette, Lucette and Lazarelle

By taking a few simple steps, Canadians can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies:

• Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to your community and region can help you better prepare.
• Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do, making the situation less stressful.
• Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days in an emergency.

For more information about EP Week and how to prepare for an emergency, visit www.getprepared.gc.ca.

Assignment: Save the World
In this latest instalment of the Marvel Films franchise, Hollywood puts a new spin on the formation of the original superhero team. Much of The Avengers is based around Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans) and his attempts to make sense of the modern world. In a deviation from the comic-book storyline, Rogers emerges from a deep freeze after heroically crashing his plane into the Arctic Ocean at the end of the Second World War.

He and Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), aka Iron Man, are enlisted by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), head of the super-secret law enforcement agency SHIELD. They’re joined by highly skilled SHIELD agents Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), banished Norse god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and genetically altered scientist David Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who, when angered, turns into the green-skinned Hulk.

These six extraordinary individuals are brought together to save the world from Norse god and would-be conqueror Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

Together, But Apart
The Avengers is just as much a study in interpersonal relationships as it is an old-fashioned comic-book adventure. How can these extraordinary, but very different, individuals come together and work as an effective unit?

Tony Stark, for instance, is an egotistical genius whose sardonic wit drips from every clever line. “Apparently I’m volatile, self-obsessed and don’t play well with others,” he tells Fury when asked to join the team.

“We’re not a team. We’re a time bomb!” says a frustrated David Banner.

Maybe that’s the point. Director Joss Whedon admitted as much in a recent interview. “The whole movie is about finding yourself,” he commented, “finding that you not only belong together but need each other very much.”

Unlikely Team
If the premise sounds awfully familiar, it is.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He put together a team to help Him teach the lost, heal the sick and show God’s love.

You would think Jesus would have picked the best of the best—maybe a charismatic general, a gifted politician or a popular athlete of the day—to make up His team.

Instead, Jesus chose the most ordinary people He could find—a few fishermen, zealous revolutionaries and even a reviled tax collector. And just like in The Avengers, Jesus’ Twelve Apostles couldn’t have been more different. Some were soft-spoken and thoughtful, while others were loud and obnoxious. They argued about theology, jockeyed for position and often failed to understand Jesus’ mission. To make matters worse, there was even a traitor within their ranks.

Far from standing behind their leader, they all fled the scene when Jesus was seized by the Roman authorities. Their team leader, Peter, even denied he knew Jesus—not once but three times!

But then a wondrous thing happened. Once they figured out their calling in the wake of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection and then received the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were an unstoppable force. They collectively penned a large portion of the New Testament and were the catalysts who took the Early Church from its infancy to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire. Most of them died for their faith, and the impact of their sacrificial work is still being felt today.

Everyday Heroes
If you strip away the superpowers and the mythological overtones, the storyline that drives The Avengers is not so different from the real-life scenario Christians face today. Just as those unique individuals were called to work together in order to save the world, and just like the apostles 2,000 years ago, we are called to put aside our differences and use the talents, abilities and spiritual gifts God gave us in order to do good.

To do so, we need to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14). With those gifts, everyone can make a significant impact on the world.

Like the apostles, and the Avengers, we all have it in us to turn the world upside down—to eliminate poverty, end injustice and make the world a better place. But we can’t do it on our own. It requires a team effort like nothing any superhero flick could ever portray.

Perhaps that’s why superheroes so easily capture our imaginations. They represent a God-planted desire in our hearts to make a difference and save the world. We may not have superpowers, but we do have a real, living God on our side.

Now that’s epic!

This potluck dinner is held at Nanaimo Community Church on the third Friday of every month, a week before the B.C. government issues income and disability assistance cheques.

The program is the result of a proposal made by a corps member at a meeting of the Home League in October 2011.

“At first, the idea of doing a monthly potluck seemed unreal and challenging, taking into account that Home League attendance is 13-15, on average,” says Captain Tatiana Kachanova, corps officer. “But everyone was inspired by the idea of reaching out to individuals and families from the community.”

Since October, the corps has held a potluck every month. The event has grown from 75 attendees to 114 at the most recent dinner in April. About two thirds of the attendees are corps members, while the rest are guests from the community.

“Our main focus is to serve those in need, so we have single mothers and low-income families with many children,” says Captain Kachanova. “Regular attendees of our midweek children’s programs often bring their school friends.”

The Home League has adopted the potluck as their community outreach project, supporting the dinners through various fundraisers. Home League and other corps members bring main dishes and sides to the potluck, while The Salvation Army New Hope Centre donates bread and desserts.

In the weeks leading up to Adler’s visit, our congregation explored questions of suffering through its Sunday sermons. We found that God is present among those who suffer, and that we need to be attuned to the suffering of those in our community.

Adler’s story of survival in the face of incredible odds was heart-rending and powerful. As a youth, Amek Adler watched his local synagogue being burned to the ground by the Nazis. By the age of 16, Adler, had already spent two years in Auschwitz, Natzweiler and Dachau concentration camps. He told of tender moments with family, a daring escape and his eventual reunion with other survivors.

Adler recalls praying and making a deal with God, “If you let my family survive this, I will live my life as a good person.”

When asked by a member of the congregation, “How do you feel about Germans today?” Adler shared, “People who live today did not do this to me. I do not hold any hatred or animosity toward them.”

If you enter the home or business of a Jewish person today, you will often find a small capsule attached to the top right side of the doorframe. It is called a Mezuzah, and it contains the words of Moses from Deuteronomy known as the shema, a call to listen and to remember.

For our congregation, Adler’s story was a modern day shema. We chose to hear the story and, in doing so, became witnesses to a dark time in world history and relearned its important lessons.

Churches need ears to hear what God is saying to them, but this doesn’t only happen in the confines of our church walls. God speaks through many voices, including those in our communities.

Reverend Paul Martin writes, “Christianity involves ‘bearing witness’ to the love of God in a way that is life-changing not only for others but for ourselves, for our own faith is strengthened by the very act of sharing it. Similarly, our ‘witness’ to suffering begins to change our attitudes by becoming a matter of public story and testimony. This may happen by activating practical care and compassion for those who suffer, whether through natural causes or the inhumanity of others. It may happen as we commit ourselves to working seriously for a just world in which conflict and cruelty no longer have a place.”

The General with young people from the Junction 6:8 program

Roots conferences have been held in the UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland for more than a decade, but this was the first regional conference (to be followed by gatherings in Birmingham, Doncaster and London during the next year and a half).

Territorial Evangelism Secretary Major Drew McCombe welcomed the General who, to warm applause, told the hundreds of people present that her own roots were in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia—translated as “New Scotland.”

The General gave powerful challenges to the crowds who had travelled to Edinburgh—some from as far away as The Netherlands. She encouraged a renewed belief in the power of the gospel and challenged Salvationists to “proclaim the real Jesus to the people of Scotland.” Stressing the need to engage confidently in mission, she urged a revival of soul-saving as the Army’s priority.

“We are called for the people nobody wants!” declared the General. “Connecting people with Jesus—that’s our roots!”

Commenting on statistics about an increased number of children being taken into care, the General stressed the need to reach out to children: “Take them to the Army. Give them Jesus!”

Sessions were introduced by Territorial Children’s and Youth Ministries Secretary Major Mark Sawyer and Captain Kerry Coke (Stepney), with pulsating music from Lou Fellingham and Phatfish. Times of intergenerational worship were supported by intercessors in the prayer venue, where prayer resources were provided by the 24-7 prayer network.

Mini presentations ran between the main sessions, outlining ways in which activities across the territory promote social justice. These were a source of inspiration to those looking to implement practical community ministry. Testimonies referred to work among marginalized people, with numerous ideas on offer. These presentations linked well with stands and stalls providing resources.

The theme of Social Justice prevailed in sessions led by Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Herbert and Amanda Jackson, representing the THQ-based charity Micah Challenge whose aim is to encourage a Christian commitment to the poor. They emphasized the Christian responsibility for social action. Scotland Secretary Lieut-Colonel Alan Burns enthused about Mission Scotland, sharing news of developments and bringing a stirring message.

A rallying cry to mission was accompanied by a procession of flags and the Scottish flavour of a drumbeat.

The General spent part of her final morning at Roots visiting the children’s program, having visited the Youth Space the day before. In the children’s program she was introduced to the Junction 6:8 theme, representing the fact that the challenge of Micah 6:8—”To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (New International Version)—can by viewed as a “life junction” for decision-making.