Peddles lead Indonesian celebrations
Peddles lead Indonesian celebrations
1 July 2019
General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle received a warm welcome in Indonesia as part of their visit to celebrate 125 years of The Salvation Army there.
Salvation Army world leaders General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle recently led the 125-year anniversary celebrations of The Salvation Army in Indonesia.
The day after their warm welcome, the General and Commissioner Peddle, accompanied by territorial leaders, Australian officers Commissioners Peter and Jenny Walker, travelled to Palu in Central Sulawesi.
Commissioner Rosalie Peddle surveys the rebuilding work in Palu.
Many parts of Palu are being entirely rebuilt after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the region in September 2018. The General was keen to show support and encouragement to the local community and travelled through some of the affected disaster areas to witness the devastation.
One memorable meeting was with Captain Susan Assah-Sereh at Jonooge Corps, where the new Salvation Army hall was destroyed. Susan told the international leaders the compelling story of how she and her son miraculously survived the earthquake.
The General also signed plaques for three corps buildings badly damaged by the earthquake but now refurbished. An evening meal was hosted at The Salvation Army Woodward Hospital, which had played an integral part in the early days following the disaster.
A crowd of some 17,000 Salvationists and friends gathered at a football ground in the nearby village of Maranatha as part of the celebrations. A local Muslim drum band performed and an official welcome was given by Iwan Lapata, Mayor of Sigi, and Dr Hidayat Lamakarate, representative of the Governor of Central Sulawesi.
More than 17,000 Salvationists gathered in Maranatha.
Chief Secretary Lieut-Colonel Yusak Tampai – himself local to Palu – responded with words of appreciation before the General spoke. The international leaders, in common with other speakers, spoke powerfully about working together and interfaith harmony.
Acknowledgement was made of Salvation Army service and ministry in Indonesia featuring a 125-strong children’s choir. Testimonies of those who were directly impacted by the earthquake detailed their experiences and testified how God kept them safe. These were moving and poignant moments for all present.
Sacred moments followed the General’s address when the invitation was given to come forward for prayer. People were literally “running towards prayer”, the General observed in a Tweet.
Returning to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, the international leaders led the commissioning meeting for 32 cadets of the Messengers of Compassion session.
General Brian Peddle commissioned 32 new officers for the Indonesia Territory.
Following the Declaration of Faith, the General charged the new lieutenants that “the Spirit of the Lord is on you, and anointing you to preach the good news”.
Rosalie encouraged the new lieutenants saying, “God speaks boldly to all of us to be his people and to live in this world differently, with Jesus modelling compassion”.
More than 100 young people – newly-commissioned lieutenants, cadets and candidates for forthcoming officer-training – moved forward to declare God’s call on their lives to serve through Salvation Army officership. A further 10 young people registered interest in officership.
In the closing moments, the General thanked officers and soldiers for their faithfulness. He prayed for new leaders to rise up and accept the challenge. Acknowledgement was also made of the service of Commissioners Peter and Jenny Walker, who conclude their time as leaders in the coming days, and of Lieut-Colonels Yusak and Widi Tampai as incoming leaders.
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