Friends, fellowship and retreats...

A couple of weeks ago we had Willis Howell over for tea. I love meeting internet buddies for the first time and I am pleased to say that Willis did not disappoint. It is always good to meet kindred spirits. For want of a much, much better cliché Willis and I definitely sing from the sane hymn sheet!

On Thursday, last week, Xander came to tea – it is hard to believe that it is now 6 months since he went into College and that it is a year and a half since he moved to the UK!

Both of these men need our prayers, a leader and a fledgling leader yet both standing at the heart of the battlefield, both with the clash of steel in their ears and the smell of warfare in their nostrils.

Yesterday I came to Ashburnham for Divisional Officers' Retreat and it would appear that many of my colleague Officers find themselves similarly at the heart of intense spiritual conflict.

Let us not forget to pray for each other, intercession is a mighty and effective gift.

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathising tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart
And hope to meet again.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity. (John Fawcett)

Grace and peace, A

Finishing strong!

I emailed a friend recently and shared in that email the possibility that we might change appointments this year. He replied with the exhortation "If you are transferring, finish strong in your current appointment." This comment set me thinking. I consider myself to be consistent in my service to God and the Army. Above every other possible occupation I would choose Salvation Army Officership every time.

2009 saw some great highs for Dartford. In February, Lee (a street homeless alcoholic) walked into our hall and a month later got gloriously saved and hasn't drunk alcohol since. On Christmas Day, Tracey and I had independent text messages from him thanking us for giving him his life back. Of course God is the engineer behind conversion and we are merely tools in his hands but if we hadn't been here there is a possibility that Lee might not have got saved. Later in the year a young lady who was recently relocated to Dartford under the 'witness protection scheme' and also a victim of domestic violence was led to Christ by Tracey. This year has also seen a family of four (asylum seekers from Sri-Lanka) become a real part of our Corps family – to such a degree they have recently invited friends of theirs (a family of 4 from India) to join our fellowship. Imagine our delight when all 8 of them turned up at our watch-night service and despite obvious language barriers engaged fully with the games and worship. In 2009 we also farewelled Xander to College – Xander was a great hep and encouragement to us during his time here and I hope he feels that Dartford made a positive contribution to his ongoing Officer training. In November we saw an old soldier (85 years old) who hasn't worn uniform for many, many years don the blue surge and silver s's again - Hallelujah! On January 17th a man who was once the Corps Secretary at Dartford but relinquished his soldiership some time ago will enrolled as a Soldier again. In addition we have seen our people grow and domestic situations improve as a consequence of an ongoing pastoral programme.

In the 2 ½ years we have been privileged to be at Dartford God has blessed us greatly and fulfilled his promise to 'do more than we could ask for or even imagine'.

Yet at the same time there have been occasional troughs – fortunately God has given me a personality that is largely immune to depression – but there have been moments of doubt and sometimes even downright rebellion on my part. Yet all in all it has been a very positive experience and our time here will remain a memory when we do eventually move on.

Ideally we would have liked to stay here another couple of years but the complex medical needs of our youngest daughter make this year a sensible time to relocate (she starts Senior School in September).

So back to that encouragement to 'finish strong'... We have 6 months left at Dartford and my motivation remains the same as it was 2 ½ years ago – I am a sinner saved by grace and the knowledge of my unmerited salvation compels me to put all I have into those 6 months. If the the 'call of holiness' makes us anything other than consistent then we are not giving the right answer.

This year I'm starting an MA in theology (at the Army's request) but I am determined that this study should enhance and not diminish my service as a Corps Officer. On Monday I am doing 'Jury Service' which will necessitate at least 2 weeks away from the front (although I am sure that God will use me during this time as a witness to my fellow jurors) then it is back to the battle.

In April Tracey and I have our appraisals and it will be interesting to see if the folk at Dartford consider our 'finish' to be 'strong' I am confident that they will because at the end of the day although we serve them our master is Christ!

This Sunday (weather permitting) is 'Commitment Sunday' in the UK and as always I will be renewing my Officer's covenant as I encourage my folk to reconsider their Soldier's covenant.

The temptation at the end of an appointment to give in to complacency and to become a bit 'demob happy' is very real but praise God we are called, commissioned and empowered by Christ and in his strength we overcome the world.

So as we begin, not quite the last, but maybe one of the closing chapters in this part of our story I will cling to the words of Hebrews 12:1-3

" ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Grace and peace, A

Dartford Corps 122 years old today!

This weekend we celebrated our 122nd Corps Anniversary. Malcolm and Stephanie Jones led Sunday worship. On the Saturday all the Corps sections praised God and entertained the troops!

The Saturday night included the debut performance of our new YP Band!

Thanks to Xander for the following 4 1/2 minute highlights video! Let's aim (unless Christ returns before then) for another 122 years!

God bless Dartford, God bless the Salvation Army - Amen! Love and prayers A

Xander and the Battle for Bull Centre

Saturday 13th September was a significant day in the life of Dartford Salvation Army.

First of all - we have reinforcements in the shape of Brother Xander Coleman from Australia - I discern powerfully that Xander is going to be a big blessing to Tracey and I personally and our Corps ministry here in Dartford. Xander shows a spiritual maturity way beyond his years.

Secondly we celebrated the 'Battle for Bull Centre' with an amazing march of witness, open air meeting and a grand music festival and salvation meeting which culminated in five souls at the Mercy Seat. and the town Mayor in full regalia joining in a glory march!

Rather than duplicate stuff here, there are some great reports starting to appear around the internet - some including video footage - chck ou the links below:

Chatham Savation Army

My Dad's report on Facebook

My Dad's photos on Facebook

Forgive the laziness, but time is a premium and these good folk have probably said it better than I could!

God bless Dartford, God bless Xander. God bless The Salvation Army

Yours set apart by Christ, for the lost, in the Army.

A

Countdown to the Battle for Bull Centre 1

This is the front page of The War Cry, Sept 4th 1908 (if you click the image you'll get a bigger version). In the centre is a picture of Mrs Ensign Roy, who together with her husband, commanded the Dartford Corps a that time. This Saturday (September 13th) we are celebrating her release from prison (she was put there for preaching the gospel!). We are goingto have a full out assault on the enemy, a march of witness (aided by Chatham Band) and open-air and a festival/salvation meeting.

I'm not sure we'll get arrested but we certainly will shake up the town a bit :-)

The following is a local press report concerning the absurdity surrounding what became known as the 'Dartford Disgrace'.

Hopefully Xander will be with us on Saturday - no time for jet-lag in God's Army :-)

PUBLICANS OFFER TO PAY SALVATIONIST’S FINES.

The current issue of the “War Cry” contains several interesting comments on the situation at Dartford. Under the heading of “Persecution,” the official organ of the Salvation Army makes the following remarks: —

“Were it not for the significant fact that the names of various Salvationists continue to be taken at Dartford, one might be justified in concluding that the good sense of the magistrates and the voice of the people had at last prevailed. Whatever may be the cause of this “willing-to-wound-but-afraid-to-strike” attitude on the part of the authorities, there is no mistaking the growing interest in, and sympathy with, the Army’s position by the public.

“Amongst those who have come forward with offers to pay the fines imposed on our comrades are two publicans, while the demand for the War Cry’ which contains latest news of the proceedings, has necessitated a rise of twenty dozen during the past week, and even then would-be purchasers have been disappointed.

“Encouraging and helpful, however, as the approval and goodwill of the people may be, the calmly confident attitude of the Salvationists is not based on this so much as on the knowledge that they are standing for liberty to preach salvation in that locality in the town “where people most do congregate”. This is a matter that vitally touches Salvationists everywhere. It is of such supreme importance to them that prison bars are, in comparison, mere trifles.

“Dartford comrades feel this most keenly, and there is not a soldier amongst them who is not willing to suffer the ignominy of imprisonment in defending this sacred principle.”

Cutting from the ‘Chronicle and District Times, Tuesday August 18th 1908”

8 days after 08.08.08.

So it's 8 days after the 8th of the 8th 2008 and it's been a mixed week.

Back to work (if you can call Officrship work - maybe I should say back to service). I love my job and feel that Officership is a great privilege. Having said that I have struggled this week to get out of holiday mode! Everything that needs to be done has been done but I'm not sure I've got out of 2nd gear yet.

There is an exciting couple of months coming up at Dartford - especially the centenary celebrations of the Dartford Disgrace on September 13th (the imprisonment of the CO and others for preaching in the open air) and of course two days before that the arrival of reinforcements in the form of Xander Coleman on September 11th (hallelujah - thank you Jesus!).

The following contemporary newspaper report gives a taster of what we're celebrating on the 13th.

"In defence of the Salvation Army - wild scenes on the streets of Dartford

There was a massive and fervent response to the arrest of Dartford's Salvationists. A defence committee was formed to co-ordinate the protest campaign. Public meetings of protest attracted large crowds; protest marches were held and banners, slogans and posters appeared all over the town.

Banners declared 'IMPRISONED FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE'; 'DEFEND RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL LIBERTY' and 'WE DEMAND LIBERTY TO PREACH CHRIST'. 15,000 people gathered at Dartford Station to welcome home the prisoners when released from jail, two of them still wearing their prison uniforms bearing broad arrows.

During the course of the exuberant celebrations the Dartford police were stoned and pelted with rotten fish heads and bad eggs. Hooligans used the occasion to vent their spleen on the local constabulary. Dartford's Superintendent Poole was pelted for four hours. Policemen were stoned to the station. There were violent speeches at the Drill Hall - a torrent of rancorous abuse."

Let's 'do or die for Jesus'

Love and prayers

A