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LOCAL OFFICERS APPOINTED

SL Bram Warren, Brighton Congress Hall; OSCS Patricia Awcock, Eastbourne Citadel; BM Richard Woodrow, Norwich Citadel; SCL Yvonne West, YPBL Kim Whyard, Gloucester.

MARRIAGE

Milan Mayer to Ilona Gaborova at Margate by Majors David and Kathryn Blowers.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Blue sapphire (65th): Leonard and Mrs Wyn Fullbrook, Reading Central (24 April).

Golden: Maurice and Songster Mrs Joan Edwards, Paignton; Archie and Mrs Margaret Cooper, Margate.

DEDICATED TO GOD

Daniel Vilem, son of Vilem Kona and Jessica Konova, Tamar Michael Nomahenunumwen Omosivie, daughter of Michael Okunhon and Iziegbe Enabuhehe, Aleesha, daughter of Isaac and Rana Marshall, Harrison David Paul, son of Steve and Lorraine Edney, all at Margate by Major Kathryn Blowers; Anastasia Ruth, daughter of Bram and Abigail Gibson, at Dartford by Captain Andrew Bale; Evan Charles, son of Tristan and Angela Thomas, at Cheltenham by Major Diane Henderson; Megan, daughter of Andrew and Samantha Slater, at Willenhall by Major Stephen White; Archie George, son of Steve and Songster Alison Fiddy, at Norwich Citadel by Major Denis Lomax; Naomi Maria, daughter of Simon and Claire Rand, at Chester-le-Street by Major Robert Davies; Josuah, son of Raz and Pamela Delacroix, at Wath-upon-Dearne by Captain Tracy Harrison.

BEREAVED

Captain Janet Martin, Preston, of her sister; Mrs Major Maureen Baxter of her mother Bet Denny; Major Susan Randall of her mother Ida; Songster Joan Page of her husband Chris, Victoria and Helen Page of their father, all Chatham; Rtd SL Bram Clark and Rene Shivers, both Harlow, of their brother Howard; Kath Rockall, Horsham, of her husband Bill.

RETIRED OFFICERS

Birthday congratulations: Mrs Lieut-Colonel Chrissie Barnes (95 on 20 April).

PROMOTED TO GLORY

Major Molly McCormick from Liverpool on 2 April.

Tiverton-born Salvation Army officer celebrates 100th birthday

Tiverton-born retired Salvation Army Officer, Major Muriel Skinner, celebrates her 100th birthday with a party for friends and family at the Salvation Army church in the town on Thursday 24th April at 3.00 pm.

Major Skinner was born in Tiverton and after a brief spell of work with a local seamstress, she moved to Bristol, trained with the National Society of Day Nurseries and took a post as a nanny with a naval family living in Burgess Hill and Gosport.

Muriel's early church links were with Tiverton Baptist and Methodist churches but The Salvation Army held a Sunday night meeting which enabled her to attend in between duties with her employers' children. Muriel 'joined up', donned the distinctive uniform and, following a clear call to full-time Christian ministry, in 1932 entered The Salvation Army's William Booth College in London to commence her theological and mission training. Each intake of students preparing to serve in the worldwide church and charity is allocated a distinctive and inspirational name. Muriel's session was named Torchbearers of which she is now one of very few surviving members. Muriel was commissioned (ordained) as a Salvation Army officer (minister) in 1933.

Muriel's early childcare training qualified her for a first appointment to a Salvation Army nursery in Newcastle-on-Tyne. She undertook midwifery training at The Salvation Army's famous London Mothers' Hospital, followed by general nursing training during the difficult conditions of World War Two in the London Metropolitan and Edmonton and Enfield hospitals. As a State Registered Nurse and State Certified Midwife, Muriel was granted promotion within The Salvation Army attaining the rank of Major before her retirement in 1968.

During her ministry as an officer, Major Muriel held appointments at Salvation Army social services homes in Leeds, Liverpool and Bristol. Later Muriel combined the care of her elderly parents with midwifery duties as Sister in Tiverton Hospital. Having returned to her roots she supported the local Salvation Army corps (church) and also devoted time to The Salvation Army's Mayflower Home in Plymouth, providing relief staff cover there.

Major Skinner lives independently in Tiverton with the help of community support workers and her niece, Evangeline Skinner and cousin, Mrs Vera Stockton. She attends Salvation Army's services and meetings as and when her health permits where the corps officer Captain Diana Green is delighted to welcome her most senior member of the congregation.

'Major Skinner is a delightful member of our church family. We particularly enjoy her contribution to our devotional times when she is able to draw on a long and eventful life of Christian service and ministry to share in our practical and spiritual care for today's generation. Everyone at The Salvation Army is looking forward to wishing her many happy returns at the special party planned for her one hundredth birthday on 24th April,' said Captain Green.

Young Salvation Army members bound for Zambia

Fourteen young adults from Salvation Army churches across the south west are heading for Zambia in April. Their destination is a remote Mission Hospital run by The Salvation Army at Chikankata, 135 kilometres south of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia.

During their two-week stay the young people will be visiting Aids orphans, working in the community and helping to renovate the hospital, as well as taking a financial gift to enable the centre to purchase much-needed equipment.

Speaking in anticipation of the trip the team's leader, Divisional Youth Officer Captain Helen Schofield, said, 'We have been invited by the Zambian Salvation Army members who manage the significant community activity serving over 3,000 people in central Africa. The young adults have been preparing for their visit over many months, raising money to fund their travel and to enable a sizeable gift to our friends. This sum will enable them to invest in their own economy and purchase items they need to keep the Hospital and School complex going in the future.

'Team members are both excited and a little nervous of what they will experience. We know that infant mortality is high and that some of the home comforts we enjoy are not available, electricity is erratic. Nevertheless we are confident that lasting friendships will be made and the practical help we can offer will make a difference to us as well as our hosts.'

The lighter aspects of the programme will include running two fun days attracting over 600 local children and seeing some of Africa's stunning natural scenery, including the Victoria Falls.

Mission Director, Salvation Army officer Major Christopher Mabuto, is looking forward to welcoming his British visitors,

'It is encouraging that the young people from the United Kingdom can travel to share two weeks of their lives with us. I look forward to showing them the ways in which God's love in action can make a real difference to the lives of many people in Zambia. Although separated by thousands of miles we are delighted to have the prayers and practical support of fellow Christians,' he explained.

The fourteen individuals are all active members of Salvation Army churches from across the South Western Division, including Bristol, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Exeter, Plymouth and Falmouth.

The Salvation Army starts work in Namibia and Mali

The Salvation Army has begun work in the African nations of Namibia and Mali, bringing to 115 the number of countries where it is officially at work.

The international church and charity previously worked in Namibia from 1932 to 1939. Now, 69 years later, the re-establishment of a presence in the country has been warmly welcomed by both the Church and non-governmental organisations. The work is being led by Major Lenah Jwili, a South African national, who arrived on 3 January 2008 and is already networking in the community, witnessing steady growth in the attendance at meetings and contacting key personnel. These contacts have led to the official registration of The Salvation Army in the country.

Namibia is part of the Southern Africa Territory, which also oversees Salvation Army work in Lesotho, St Helena, South Africa and Swaziland.

Following an invitation for The Salvation Army to establish a presence in the predominantly Muslim nation of Mali, a local response was undertaken under the leadership of André Togo. Mali is the most northerly part of the African continent in which The Salvation Army has a presence.

The Army's work in the country became official in January 2008 with the appointment of Majors Eugene and Odile Dikalembolovanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo as officers in charge, and Mali is attached to the Nigeria Territory. André and his wife Nana are currently preparing to move to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they will train to be Salvation Army officers.

Announcing The Salvation Army's new work, Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Robin Dunster, said: 'Prayers for these new initiatives are sought as the response to the challenges found in Namibia and Mali are identified and grasped, enabling an holistic response that reflects the Great Commission given by Jesus (Matthew 28:19, 20) in tangible ways.'

10,000 Scottish Christians challenged to transform church’s image

Posted: Saturday, April 19, 2008, 12:06 (BST)

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Scotland is a nation of “holy discontent” – and the church has all the answers, says one Church of Scotland minister.

A Scottish minister is challenging 10,000 Christians to transform the image of the church in Scotland during next week’s inaugural National Gathering.

The event is the first time that the Church of Scotland has attempted a festival-style event and takes as its model the country’s major annual indie rock music festival T in the Park. Over two days from 3 to 4 May, thousands of Scottish Christians will join together to enjoy Christian music, dance, art and “food for thought” at the Royal Highland Showground in Ingliston, outside Edinburgh.

Rev Albert Bogle, minister of St Andrew’s Church in Bo’ness, who is heading up the project, said he believes the event will send out a clear message to the country that the church is alive and has the answers to what he perceives to be a growing spiritual longing among Scots.

“It seems to me that there is a holy discontent within the nation, people today are looking for more,” he said.

“But not just in monetary terms, they're looking for purpose, inspiration and above all to reconnect with faith that is relevant for everyday life.”

A number of high profile church leaders have already added their support to the event, including the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Sheilagh Kesting, and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who has openly called for the removal of Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe, will be a keynote speaker on the Sunday morning.

Rev Bogle invited everyone to join the celebrations: “There is a big welcome waiting to the whole of Scotland to get connected with a church without walls.”

Bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to Scottish society is high on the Church of Scotland’s agenda and forms the focus of a major report to be presented at May’s General Assembly by the Church’s Mission & Discipleship Council.

In the report, the council outlines a new ‘toolbox’ of ideas called ‘Future Focus: a way forward for congregations’, which aims to help churches discern the signs of the times and become what God wants them to be in challenging times.