Had a wonderful moment today that I just had to share. I was in HMP Aberdeen for our chaplaincy team meeting (I’m just about to be on the staff there as a part time chaplain although I’ve been a volunteer chaplain there for about a year). We were talking about the fact that due to … More ‘Go to them’
In the times we are in, there has been much that has demoted evangelism to the bottom of the pile. Many people are reluctant to share faith because of the culture of the society we’re in, such as the culture I described yesterday. Some thing that because the church isn’t a norm in society, because … More Evangelism is not a dirty word
I’ve just had two very interesting weeks. Officers councils, furlough in between, then a weekend on the Crucible Course, a course run by Urban Expression and The Salvation Army about creating communities of faith on the margins. Both those ‘conferences’ were good in and of themselves, but I’ve become aware of some significant contrasts. Much … More Pre-revolution, not post-Christendom
The previous post, a section from O&R for Corps Officers in 1930, is the section about Village Warfare. Following on from the bit of stuff about Brigades, there was a few things that caught my eye in this chapter. Firstly, there is just the huge concept of reaching the whole district, even beyond the immediate … More On Village Warfare
1. The Army is as much responsible for the Salvation of the people who live in the villages as of those who reside in larger centres. (a) The good work already accomplished in villages and hamlets in all parts of the world, including the establishment of thriving corps and the raising of valuable Officers, emphasises … More Orders & Regulations for Corps Officers (1930) Chapter XX: Village Warfare
I wanted to publish that section of the 1930s Orders and Regs for Corps Officers for a few reasons. Firstly, because it seems to me that it contains much of the 1914 Orders and Regs for Wards, the Army’s prototype cell groups derived from Wesley’s class system. Secondly, because they are a great picture of … More A few thoughts on ‘Brigades’
1. The Commanding Officer is responsible for organising Corps into Brigades (if not already done), and for insuring the efficient working of the same. Even where it may not be possible to carry out, in its entirety, the Brigade organisation hereinafter described, ever Corps of specified size is required to adopt it as far as … More Orders & Regulations for Corps Officers (1930) Chapter VI Section Two: Corps Brigades
A couple of days ago, Commissioner Joe Noland sent me his DVD ‘Altars in the Street’ which outlines his plea for Christian people to step in to the lives of children in their communities, especially considering that many children are ‘at risk.’ The DVD carries the true story of a boy, Joey and a girl … More Be a hero to a child
Just to introduce the our new corps blog for up to date news. http://torryarmy.blogspot.com This will also feed onto our corps website at torryarmy.org
I’ve been thinking deeply about mission and ministry over the last couple of days, a sort of personal assessment if you like. I remember in Bible College, my practical theology lecturer, Rev Dr Rory McKenzie used to say (maybe quoting someone) ‘the unreflective life is not worth living.’ It struck me as true at that … More Selah
Andrew S M Clark 