International News Briefs - 10 November
International News Briefs - 10 November
World leaders General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, joined in the vibrant cultural dancing in the Philippines Territory, celebrating 85 years of The Salvation Army.
World leaders visit PNG and the Philippines
The Salvation Army world leaders, in uniform from right, are welcomed to the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.
General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, recently spent a week in Papua New Guinea. The two world leaders spent two days in Goroka for the Northern Region Program before heading to Port Moresby.
“We have met officers, soldiers and adherents of The Salvation Army, travelled to the Eastern Highlands to Goroka where mostly rural dwellers walked, came by rivers and drove to share in the celebrations,” wrote General Peddle. “The culture was vibrant and enthusiastic.
“Our time in Port Moresby put us in touch with community leaders, Advisory Board members and our people of both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, of whom I am very proud. Their corps, social work and presence in communities is outstanding. Our engagement with health clinics, schools and the House of Hope is amazing. Culture from the various provinces is woven into our identity as Salvationists, and it pulls you in. As we leave these shores, I can’t wait to see what God will do next. God Bless Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.”
Before this visit, the world leaders visited the Philippines and joined the territory to celebrate 85 years of the Army’s ministry and service.
Salvationists gathered in the capital, Manila, and arrived from many of the more than 7000 islands that make up this beautiful country. The events of the celebration, with its theme of ‘super-abundantly’, included women’s and youth rallies, meetings and worship.
“God was present in each meeting as people came and kneeled in response to various appeals,” wrote General Peddle. “There was a special moment when 36 young people responded to the call to officership. A particular highlight came as 92 recruits were enrolled as senior soldiers. Our Philippines Territory is vibrant and clear in its mission.
“In addition to a warm welcome, cultural dance and food, we heard about the challenges and opportunities (in this land). We thank God for our leaders, officers, soldiers and adherents. God bless the Salvation Army in the Philippines Territory.”
IHQ hosts Remembrance Day exhibition
In the lead-up to Remembrance Day on Friday 11 November, Gallery 101 at International Headquarters is hosting a free exhibition that explores the history and customs of remembrance and the work of armed forces charities. There are also opportunities for patrons to pause to pray for those involved in conflicts worldwide.
This day, 11 November, is universally associated with remembering those who died in World War One. This conflict had mobilised over 70 million people and left between nine and 13 million dead. The allied nations chose this day to commemorate their war dead, initially with the name Armistice Day.
After World War Two, the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom’s proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those killed in both World Wars. Today, the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts is observed on Remembrance Day.
Gallery 101 at IHQ hosts up to six exhibitions each year. Many of these publicise and promote the work and mission of The Salvation Army, but the gallery is also available to be used by photographers, painters and other artists whose work reflects the aims of the movement.
A warm blanket over the Netherlands
Captain Harm Slomp (right) at the opening of a Salvation Army ‘warm room’ in the Netherlands.
‘Warm Rooms’, an initiative of The Salvation Army in the Netherlands (Leger des Heils), are opening in community centres around the country to provide a warm and comfortable place where people can go during cold winter days.
The Salvation Army is partnering with different organisations to make this possible. The Christian College Ede (CHE), for example, recently opened the 1000th Warm Room to help ensure that people, especially the young and students, don’t need to be cold as energy prices rise.
“It’s great that the CHE is participating in this initiative,” said Captain Harm Slomp, chairman of the board of directors of the Army’s Welfare and Healthcare Foundation and the Youth Protection and Probation Foundation. “We hope other schools follow this. Together we can form a blanket of Warm Rooms over the Netherlands.”
The community room of The Salvation Army on the Reehorsterweg, opposite the CHE, will also be open in the coming months for anyone who turns off the heating at home because of the high costs.
The Salvation Army encourages those who are cold at home to come and sit in the warm to study, drink a cup of complimentary coffee, play a game with their child or read a book. “We want to ensure that every neighbourhood has a warm and welcoming place where people can go,” said Captain Slomp.
Salvos walk for freedom in Poland
Representatives from The Salvation Army in Poland joined the recent March for Freedom in Warsaw.
The Salvation Army in Poland participated in a ‘Walk for Freedom’ march to help the fight to end human trafficking on a global scale. A non-profit and non-governmental organisation, A21 (Abolishing injustice in the 21st century) organised the walks in hundreds of cities worldwide.
Salvationists from Poland’s capital, Warsaw, walked with fellow participants from the old town to the downtown area, carrying signs and pamphlets protesting human trafficking.
“In Poland, people are mostly being exploited in forced labour and sexual exploitation,” shared Carolina, an A21 representative who works across Eastern Europe. “People are also being forced to beg for money.
We thank God for the partnerships that form to raise awareness in the fight against such injustice and pray for the thousands who watched the event on the streets of Warsaw that they may add their voice to the cause.”
Poland is part of The Salvation Army’s anti-human trafficking network across Europe. The Salvation Army here also runs education and other programs to help young people identify potential traffickers and dubious offers of ‘work’.
Football legends support Salvation Army tournament
Erik ten Hag with The Salvation Army Secretary for Mission Drew McCombe.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and former football manager and England captain Terry Butcher cheered on players at a recent annual tournament The Salvation Army runs for people experiencing homelessness, including refugees.
They attended the five-a-side Partnership Trophy tournament held at Goals in Manchester. The tournament brought together over 20 teams from Salvation Army services across the UK, with players a part of Lifehouses (hostels), outreach programs, and Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA) services, all of which provide support for people who are homeless.
Winning team Blue Nile, from The Salvation Army’s Refugee Resettlement Service in the North West, took the top spot, and Mr Butcher hosted a passing skills workshop for the players and presented the trophy to the winning team.
The Partnership Trophy, which is run in collaboration between the church and charity and its subsidiary, SAHA, celebrates the achievements of players on and off the pitch and Terry Butcher, who captained the England team in the 1990 World Cup and played in three FIFA World Cups, gave a moving speech about his experience of tackling depression after he lost his son to suicide.
“This tournament is a great way of bringing good sportsmanship, good behaviour and good football together and the most important thing for everyone that took part was to enjoy it! The challenges that all the players have overcome, and are still overcoming, is testament to their hard work and commitment to being the best that they can be,” he said.
“I know from my own experience that having people you can turn to is a huge help, and The Salvation Army is a perfect example of how getting the right support can go a long way towards rebuilding lives. Fighting power was evident at the tournament from all teams, and you need that in life, never mind on the football pitch!”
Partnership Trophy 2022 winners, Blue Nile, from The Salvation Army Refugee Resettlement Service.
Major Hilarie Watchorn, Assistant Director of the Homelessness Services Unit for The Salvation Army, said that the annual Partnership Trophy “celebrates those we support through our homelessness services and all that they have overcome and indeed the journey that they are still on. Today has been a wonderful example of everyone coming together to work together and build on their experiences whilst boosting mental and physical health as well as social skills."
Along with Mr Butcher, the tournament was also supported by the Guardiola Sala Foundation (GSF), a humanitarian charity set up by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his family, who attended the event in 2019, and donated items to the players and supported travelling expenses to enable teams to attend from across the UK. GSF also arranged for Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, to attend the event to cheer on the players and watch some of the matches.
“It was fantastic to attend today’s event in Manchester with The Salvation Army,” he said. “The organisation does great work in supporting homeless people to rebuild their lives.
“Homelessness is a difficult problem in our city, and anything I can do to raise awareness by coming to events like this is important. It was great to see everyone playing football together, showing energy, spirit and teamwork to promote wellbeing.”
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