JAC is BACk

Check out the latest issue at: http://armybarmy.com/jac.html

December 2013 - January 2014
Issue # 88

Editorial Introduction
Editor, Major Stephen Court

Margins
Major Danielle Strickland

Everlasting Covenant
Captain Scott Strissel

A Test For Faith: How Do You Know That You Really Are A Christian?
Captain Michael Ramsay

Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?
Major JoAnn Shade

Making Way For The Younger Generation
Stephanie Parker Chargas

Top Ten Ways to Quench the Spirit
Sergeant Steve Simms

8 Reasons Churches Don't Grow
Lieutenant Peter Brookshaw

JAC Interview: Lieutenant Andre Mere-Bara Togo

Off To Work?

Major Robert Evans

The Salvo Way
Major Stephen Court

Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38: De Vine Final Quiz

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 24 Nov. 2013 
by Captain Michael Ramsay

This morning is our final morning of our teaching on the lineage of Jesus as laid out in Matthew and Luke. One thing that always comes with a teaching unit is a final exam: so let’s see how we do.

 Matching Test[1]

1. Adam and Eve     
2. Noah                                       
3. Abraham
4. Judah and Tamar
5. Rahab
6. Ruth
7. David and Bathsheba
8. Josiah
9. Zerubbabel

     
  A.  He built an ark

2. He built a temple
3. He died in battle
4. She was a Moabite
5. He was from Ur of the Chaldeans (Iraq)
6. She was a Canaanite prostitute
7. They were the first people
8. He may have been their child’s legal father and grandfather
9. He was a king; she may have been a Hittite

answers and more at: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/11/matthew-11-17-luke-323-38-de-vine-final.html

2 Kings 22:1-23:30 (2 Chronicles 34-35): Josiah’s Preparation for Israel’s Life after Death

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 10 November 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

...Today on Remembrance Sunday, quite by providence, certainly not through any intent or design on my part, we are looking at a good man, who like Stanley Richard Shore, and like so many other good men throughout history, was killed in battle when he was still young.

.

Today, in part, we are going to eulogize King Josiah. Josiah was the last great King of Judah and Israel. He was a good man, who was used by God to do many good things and he really was the last significant ruler of Judah or Israel. Not long after Josiah was killed, his country was wiped off the face of the earth forever. It would never stand as an independent nation again.

.

So who is this King Josiah that we have added to our branch of the lineage of Christ that we are growing above the altar in the sanctuary here? Who is this King Josiah whom we are going to commemorate what the Lord has done through him today?

.

Josiah had an interesting home life growing up to say the least...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/11/2-kings-221-2330-2-chronicles-34-35.html

Ruth 1: Footprints in the Snow

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 27 October 2013 
by Captain Michael Ramsay.

Moving can be an interesting time. New places can be very different from old places. I remember when we moved from Victoria to the prairies. We moved in the summer and we noticed how nice and warm Winnipeg was – much warmer than summers in Victoria. I also remember seeing all of these man-made lakes around the city. These really perplexed me. We would look at them: they would be beautiful but there were signs all over them that said ‘no swimming’, ‘no boating’, ‘don’t go in the water’, etc. I wondered why do they have all of these man-made lakes if you can’t swim in them or you can’t boat on them?  Do you know what the lakes are for? When Winter struck we found out what they are for: they were outdoor ice rinks. I come from a city where we only get snow once every four years or so and it usually only lasts for at the very most a week. Who of us from there had ever heard of, let alone experienced, an outdoor ice rink?

Also we brought our children into pre-school in Winnipeg in their boots and coats from the wet coast and were rewarded with a note home explaining to us that those are nice but they aren’t real coats and boots: these might be good for rain but in Winnipeg they need to be good for temperatures down to –40c. I remember then calling home and explaining to someone how cold it was in Winnipeg and the Vancouver or Vancouver Island native thought of the coldest temperature that they could think of and they actually asked me: how cold is it there… -5c? At –5c in Winnipeg, I explain, people are wearing shorts. This was a little bit different from Victoria.

Another thing that was different and that is really quite a blessing is the sunlight. On the prairies here you can experience weeks straight with great sunlight and without any real clouds. That is really a welcome change from the Pacific North Wet where you can seemingly have cloud cover for a month or more straight. Every part of our country has such unique beauty and when and wherever you move there are a number of things to get used to, no matter where you go.

In our story today we read about a lady who emigrates from Judah to Moab with her husband and her sons and then her husband and sons unexpectedly pass away and she returns to Judah with her daughter – a new immigrant to a new country. The book of Ruth relays some of their experiences upon coming to Judah. We know in this day and age that immigrating to Canada can come with it’s own challenges, especially for some people. Immigrating to Bethlehem in Judah at the time Ruth did bring some serious perils with it but that was not the full extent of Ruth and Naomi’s difficulties.

Women did not have all the rights and responsibilities in those societies then as they do in our country today...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/10/ruth-1-footprints-in-snow.html

Rahab the Redeemed (Joshua 2&6, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25)

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 25 September 2011, the Weekend of Prayer to Stop Human Trafficking and 20 October 2013. By Captain Michael Ramsay

We have just been speaking about human trafficking in Canada and I am going to lighten the mood a little bit here before we briefly examine the story of Rahab today. Here is something that I ran across the other day when researching another topic.

A distinguished, prominent big city pastor cruised through a small town. As he did his eyes fell upon a child not more than two feet tall at the door of one of the houses. The boy was on tiptoes valiantly attempting to reach the doorbell. Amused and wanting to help, the pastor parked his car and went over to assist the boy. He reached up and pushed his finger onto the button and the chimes rang inside. Satisfied that he had done his good deed for the day, the pastor turned to the child, “Okay, what happens next­?”

With a smile the child replied, “Now we run!”

Another story: This lady goes to the doctor. She has been in serious pain for quite a while. The doctor asks her where it hurts and what is the matter. To which she replies, “It hurts when I touch my temple; it hurts when I touch my side; it hurts when I touch my arm; it even hurts when I touch my nose.”

“I think I know what the problem is”, the doctor says, “your finger is broken.”

Now, of course, today we have been speaking about the real pain associated with Human Trafficking. 

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/rahab-redeemed-joshua-2-hebrews-1131.html

Thanksgiving at Judah’s House

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 13 Oct. 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

... Now in that place and at that time there was probably not a more vulnerable person in society than a childless widow. A widow without a child has no one to care for her and Judah, while Tamar is in this state, Judah sends his daughter-in-law away. He says that his youngest son is too young for her and he sends Tamar away without providing for her the heir that is demanded. Judah puts himself before the commandment to provide an heir for his son and Judah puts himself before the commandment to look after the widow in his own household.

Judah sends her away. He doesn’t seem to concern himself with her again. His youngest child grows up and he never fulfils the opportunity to give him to Tamar and to invite Tamar back into his clan where she belongs.

Tamar, who is being the good widow at this point, even though she has been sent away by her in-laws, she has still been faithfully living in seclusion while wearing her widow’s clothing. She then hears that her father-in-law is coming to town so she puts on some nice clothes and goes to meet him. Judah sees her and mistakes her for a prostitute. Here is an opportunity that appears. Judah owes her a son and Judah thinks she’s a prostitute. Judah decides that he wants to use her services but he doesn’t have any money so Tamar – thinking on her feat here - asks for his signet and cord. A signet is like a signature in that it is unique to the individual so the reader at this point can see how Tamar is taking advantage of this God given opportunity.[4] Tamar does become pregnant. Some people find out about this and tell Judah that his daughter-in-law (who is supposed to be celibate) is pregnant. The law says that she should be put to death, especially as this happened, so the rumour has it, as a result of prostitution. It is at this point that she lets Judah know that he is the father. Judah then admits his sin, what he has done to her and to his family. She gives birth to twins. Judah takes responsibility for his children, one of whom is the direct ancestor of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Judah even admits that Tamar is more righteous than is he. Tamar is not a prostitute; she merely conceives the child promised to her.[5]

So why is this story in the Bible?...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/10/thanksgiving-at-judahs-house.html

Genesis 9:18-29: Idiomatic Noah

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 29 Sept 2013 
By Captain Michael Ramsay

Today we are speaking about Noah so I found a few riddles about that to share here[1]:

1. What did Noah say as he was loading the Ark?

Ø     
 

2. Why did the people on the ark think the horses were pessimistic?

Ø      
 

3. What animal could Noah not trust?

Ø      
 

4. Why couldn't they play cards on the ark?

Ø      
 

5. Who was the first canning factory run by?

Ø       
 

6. Was Noah the first one out of the Ark?

Ø      

Answers to riddles here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/09/genesis-918-29-idiomatic-noah.html

Matthew 10:34-39, 11:16-30: You Didn’t Dance

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 15 Sept. 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

I have a lot of respect for the church that I grew up in – of which Jake was the Head Pastor. From my old youth or young adult group, of the people that I know of personally, 6 or 7 of us now are clergy working for the Lord in anything from large Baptist churches to Alliance churches to Youth for Christ Ministries to hospital chaplaincies to The Salvation Army and that is not including our spouses - some of whom went to church with us - and that is also not including people of whom I no longer have any knowledge of their lives.

Now we could have up to 100 people at to a youth event when I was young. My Sunday school classes were often larger than our group gathered here today. I had great Sunday school teachers from the time that I was a teenager through university especially. We would discuss and debate everything.

Then as now I read my Bible a lot. We would often have theological debates about our lives. A common topic then was smoking as more than half of Canadians in those days smoked.  I was one of those smokers as a teenager. Whenever -in those days- someone would say that I was defiling my body as the Temple of God through my bad habit of having a cigarette, I would quickly respond from scripture that it is not what goes into a body that defiles it but what comes out of it (Mark 7:20-23) and I would often point to this part of today’s scripture. “Like you” I would say, Matthew 11:18, “…John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say ‘He has a demon.’ [Like me, Jesus], The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say he is a drunkard, a friend of …sinners”.

These days, I no longer smoke or drink, of course. Some of those there who didn’t drink then, now do but they still have very powerful ministries. I remember one person...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/09/matthew-1034-39-1116-30-you-didnt-dance.html

Matthew 8:1-9:34: You are Healed

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 01 Sept 2013 by Rebecca, Sarah-Grace, and Captain Michael Ramsay

“The Miracle stories in [Matthew] 8:1-9:34 should not be interpreted in isolation, but each should be interpreted in the context of the section as a whole, since it was constructed by Matthew as “Messiah in deed” (cf. 11:2), corresponding 5:7-29 as “Messiah in word”.[1] Today we will very quickly attempt to do just that while focusing on healings: the infirmity, the patient, who initiates the healing, what is the response, what is the directive, and then after we do all of this we will try to pull it together and ask ourselves how do all of Jesus’ healings here recorded apply to our lives today?

Matthew 8:1-4: When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Infirmity: Leprosy (any skin disease)

Patient: Leper (social outcast)

Initiation: “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2)

Response: “I am willing”, “Be clean” – Immediately the man was healed (v.3)

Directive: 1) Tell no one 2) Show yourself to the priest and offer sacrifices as a testimony (v.4)

This healing miracle is initiated by a man suffering from a skin disease. It may or may not be Hansen’s Disease –which is what we think of when we think of leprosy. This man, however, is shunned by his community: people with skin diseases are not allowed to take part in many social activities. He is an outcast. He is seen as unclean. There are a couple of important things that I notice off the bat about this healing. 1) The way the leper approaches Jesus: he approaches Him with deference and respect. He doesn’t command Jesus as if Jesus is some genie in a bottle. Instead the man says, Verse 2, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And, Verse 3, then “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’” And 2) as he is healed, Jesus tells the man to offer the appropriate sacrifices to God as a testimony to the priests. We need to thank God for what he does in our lives and we need to share that with our religious leaders so that they have the opportunity to offer Glory to God as well.

Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/09/matthew-81-934-you-are-healed.html

Mathew 7: A Short Walk Through Some Difficult Teachings

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 24 Aug. 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Today's sermon is going to be a little bit different than most of ours mostly because I haven't had a lot of time this week to find myriad stories to illustrate my points. I have been able to read quite a few different articles on this pericope so today we will take a little bit of a walk through Chapter 7. First I do have a story and a comic. The story is from Al Meyers:

With the new distracted driving laws in place across this country the RCMP are used to pulling over teenagers on their cell phones, making phone calls or even texting but what this one police officer saw was quite different. He saw an older lady knitting as she was driving down the highway. He put on his lights behind her but she didn't see him. She just kept driving so he pulled up behind her and yelled, “pull over”

“No”, She replied, “Sweater.”

This comic is one that was shared for us at Officer/family retreat this past week: There is this Baptist pastor about to baptize one of his parishioners. He goes to the tank. He holds his parishioner's hands. He says a prayer and then he looks at his friend and tells him that now when you are baptized all of you and everything that goes under the water belongs to God. This picture is the last frame of that comic.

We shouldn't necessarily judge the new convert for his actions in our story today - or should we? Let us look at our text today, Matthew 7:1-2: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (See Romans 2:1).

First thing here: What does it mean when it says do not judge? Does it mean that we are not supposed to discern right from wrong? Does it mean that we aren't supposed to make judgements at all? Does it mean that we are supposed to just go with the flow? No. The Apostle Paul is quite clear in calling us to judge the actions of other believers. 1 Corinthians 5, especially Verse 12, Paul tells us explicitly to do so.

Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/08/mathew-7-short-walk-through-some.html

Matthew 6 Sence and Non-Cents

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 18 August 2013

by Captain Michael Ramsay

Some one-liners for you:

Ø      Venison for dinner again? Oh Deer!

Ø      I used to be a banker…until I lost interest

Ø      England has no kidney bank but it does have a…Liverpool

Ø      I tried to catch some fog but I…mist

Ø      Broken pencils are… pointless.

Ø      I know a guy who says he’s addicted to break fluid but he says he can stop anytime.

Ø      How long do marriages typically last? 16 years: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poor

Matthew Chapter 6 is an interesting chapter. It is a portion of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, which does address times that are for better, for worse; for richer or for poor. Matthew 6 contains in its lines, the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), further teaching on prayer (6:5-15), teaching on fasting (6:16-17) and some of Jesus’ very clear teaching on money and possessions (6:1-4, 19-34). Chapter 7, which we may examine next week, also adds to this some of Jesus’ other well-known insights on the matter (7:7-12).

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/08/matthew-6-sense-and-non-cents.html

Test of Faith

Galatians 5:13-6:10: Test of Faith

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 04 August 2013
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Name that province associated with these items:           

1.      Anne of Green Gables

2.      Blue Nose

3.      Oil / Texas north

4.      Wheat / Watch your dog run away for 3 days

5.      Mosquitoes / Lois Riel

6.      Mountains / Lumber Jacks / Canucks and Lions

7.      The Rock / The Salvation Army

8.      The centre of the universe / Capital

9.      To separate or not to separate / Maple Syrup

10.  Bi-lingual Herring-choker

 

Answers and more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/08/galatians-513-610-test-of-faith.html

Complete

Galatians 4:8-11: Vs. Old Jewish Law

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 28 July 2013

by Captain Michael Ramsay

I heard this on the radio the other week: A man was nervously walking down the street in New York. A large intimidating man approaches him and asks ‘do you know where Central Park is’

‘No”

“Then I’ll rob you here…”

 A man in his car asked a police/by-law officer, ‘Is it alright if I park here?’

‘No’, the police/by-law officer replies

‘What about all of these other cars?’

‘They didn’t ask…”

In our pericope today we are speaking about the old Jewish Law. And just like Larry here enforces parking and other by-laws in our city, many of which probably didn’t exist 100 years ago, when The Salvation Army came to Swift Current; the Apostle Paul is saying that the old Jewish Law’s time has been fulfilled, it is no longer needed so they shouldn’t be enforcing it anymore. I’m going to read a few old Canadian Laws that have been fulfilled; some of which are still law on paper if not in practice:

Ø      You may not pay for a fifty-cent item with only pennies (Canada).

Ø      Citizens may not publicly remove bandages (Canada).

Ø      It is illegal to kill a sasquatch. (BC)

Ø      A law requires jailers to bring convicted debtors a pint of beer on demand.  (BC)

Ø      Driving on the roads is not allowed. (New Brunswick)

Ø      Bylaw states that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub.  (Ont.)

Ø      Businesses must provide rails for tying up horses. (Alta)

Ø      It is illegal to kill a sick person by frightening them. (Alta)

Ø      If you have a water trough in your front yard it must be filled by 5:00 a.m. (Ont.)

Ø      You can't drag a dead horse down Yonge Street in Toronto on a Sunday. (Ont.)

Ø      If you are released from prison, it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so you can ride out of town. (Alta)

A lot of these old laws sound silly to the post-modern person, as they are no longer required because the world has changed significantly since they came into effect. And today, even if it still is ‘on the books’, I wouldn’t want to try giving an Alberta ex-con a loaded handgun outside the prison gates. I can’t see how that would end well for him or for you. And if you have a trough in your yard, I would be very surprised if Larry gives you a ticket for not having it filled with water by 5am.

In the previous chapter, Chapter 3 of Galatians, Paul explains quite nicely this very point as it pertains to the old Jewish Law through the analogies of a student and a child

read more:

http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/07/galatians-3-4-vs-old-jewish-law.html

Do I Know You?

Galatians Chapter 2: Do I Know You?

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army 14 July 2013, by Captain Michael Ramsay.

Three weeks ago now, when we were in Toronto, the new Chief Secretary of the Canadian Salvation Army told us this story:

There was a man who was new to town. He just got transferred to a new city. The company was having a softball game and he thought that this would be a good time to get to know people in the company and the town. He went up to bat. He missed the first pitch and someone yelled, 'good try Mr. Moore'; he didn’t think that he knew anyone; he looked around; he struck out and someone yelled, 'we're cheering for you Mr. Moore.' Who is calling him? Again and again he goes up to bat, inning after inning and each at bat he is just as bad as the previous one but each time he hears someone yell, 'well done Mr. Moore', 'Doing good Mr. Moore', 'We're cheering for you Mr. Moore.' He is looking around. He can't see anyone he knows - except his wife and son but each time he is up to bat - even though he can't hit anything someone is cheering him on, 'Good game Mr. Moore.'

      After the game he asks his family, 'Did you hear that person cheering me on?' 'Do you know who it was?'

      'It was me', his son says, 'I wanted to support you and make you feel better.'

      'Why did you call me Mr. Moore instead of dad like usual?'

      ‘I didn't want anyone to know I was related to you. You were terrible.’

‘Thanks, son.’

This is not entirely dissimilar to Cephas (Peter) in Galatians 2, which we read earlier.  We notice that he at first enjoys associating with the Christian Gentiles but then the Christians show up from Jerusalem and it is almost as if he pretends that he isn't related to the Gentile Christians at all. Whereas Peter was eating with the Gentile Christians and relating to them positively in culturally appropriate ways before, now these Christians show up from Jerusalem and everything is different.

Read More:

http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/07/galatians-chapter-2-do-i-know-you.html

Does Acts 10, recall the first time that the Gospel is brought to the Gentiles?

Acts 10:1-11:18: It's All In Who You Know

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 02 June 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Acts 11:17 : So if God gave them the same gift [of the Spirit and therefore of Salvation] as He gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?

Today's talk is going to be a little bit different than most of our Sunday messages. Today will be more of a teach than a preach and this is for a couple of reasons. 1) There was a question that has come up a few times in people's Bible study as we have been looking through the book as Acts that I tough we should look at and 2) I wasn't planning on preaching today so I decided that I would re-write an academic paper that I had previously written rather than just wing it from the pulpit here.

Acts 10, which we are going to look at today, has been considered a very important chapter because it is understood to be the place where the Good News of Christ is brought to the Gentiles. Peter is recorded as declaring after this encounter with God and the centurion, Cornelius in Acts 10:34ff., “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35). Acts 10:1-16 contains the visions the Lord gave to Cornelius and to the Apostle Peter.

In Acts 10:1-8 the reader is introduced to Cornelius and the vision that God gave to him. Cornelius is not only a foreigner but also a commander of the occupying military forces. The Romans were known to tolerate foreign religions and even invoke the names of regional deities before they attacked a city;[1] however, it is quite another thing for Cornelius to be “a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God” (Acts 10:2). This brings us to our first question of the text before us today:

1) Does this pericope, Acts 10, recall the first time that the Gospel (Good News of Christianity) is brought to the Gentiles (who had not already converted to the Israelites religion)?

Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/06/acts-101-1118-its-all-in-who-you-know.html

Salvation Army High Council Appoints Commissioner André Cox as New International Leader

For Immediate Release Toronto, ON August 6, 2013 – The Salvation Army’s highest court appointed Commissioner André Cox as the 20th General for the organization on August 3, 2013. General Cox, a Swiss-British officer was elected by the High Council and sworn in as the new international leader for The Salvation Army. The High Council consisted of 117 senior leaders of The Salvation Army from around the world, making it the largest in the history of the organization. As the new international leader of The Salvation Army, General Cox will lead The Salvation Army in its Mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet the needs of suffering humanity. In his role at the organization’s International Headquarters in London, General Cox will be joined by his wife, Commissioner Silvia Cox, who is the World President of Women's Ministries. Together, General and Commissioner Cox will direct the 1.5 million strong world-wide church of The Salvation Army. “This is truly a memorable moment for The Salvation Army world-wide,” said Commissioner Brian Peddle, Territorial Commander for The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “General Cox is fulfilling his calling as an officer and servant of God, to guide the ministry of The Salvation Army.” General Cox was born in Harare, Zimbabwe to an English father and Swiss mother, and spent his childhood in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. He eventually moved to Switzerland, where he met his wife. From there they entered training to become Salvation Army officers, taking up their first appointments in 1979. The 59-year-old General has vast experience of the international ministry of The Salvation Army. In the early years of his Salvation Army officership, General Cox held appointments in Switzerland and Zimbabwe. More recently, General Cox has served as the Territorial Commander in the Southern Africa Territory, the Finland and Estonia Territory and the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland. In February 2013 he was appointed as Chief of the Staff – second in command of the international Salvation Army. On being announced as The Salvation Army's 20th General, the new international leader told more than 10,000 people from around the world watching via a live webcast that he was thankful to God, but aware of the 'awesome task that has been placed upon our shoulders'. He continued: 'I pray that The Salvation Army will be known for being a force for good in the world ... that The Salvation Army will be a force for positive change and transformation in the communities in which we serve ... [and] that Salvationists will live up to the spiritual values we proclaim.' He was welcomed to International Headquarters on Monday, August 5. About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca For further information please contact: Captain Les Marshall Territorial Public Relations & Development Secretary The Salvation Army Phone: 416-422-6131 Les_Marshall@can.salvationarmy.org www.SalvationArmy.ca

SC (Swift Current) Open Air Centennial Preach by SC (Stephen Court)

Swift Current Centennial links

From the Prairie Post:

http://www.prairiepost.com/component/k2/item/4306-salvation-army-celebrating-100-years-in-swift-current.html

From the Prairie Division:

http://www.salvationarmy.ca/prairie/2013/05/swift-current-salvation-army-will-celebrate-100-years/

From Swift Current Online

http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22108%3Asalvation-army-celebrates-100-years&Itemid=408

From Sheepspeak.com

http://www.sheepspeak.com/Swift_Current_Centennial_Program2013.pdf

Swift Current Salvation Army Centennial Dinner

Saturday, June 8^th at 5:30

At the Salvation Army Corps

Reserve your tickets today.

We only have room for 150 and tickets are selling fast.

There is a musical performance by The Saskatoon Temple Band. If you have never heard a Salvation Army brass band before, you are in for a real treat. Almost one hundred years ago it wouldn’t have been an uncommon event to see the Salvation Army Band marching down the streets of our community here.

There is a musical performance by Larry Jaster. Larry, a local celebrity, is an accomplished musician specializing in gospel music, who has performed in many locations over many years. He has also been a regular feature around the Swift Current Army here for many years.

The Guest Speaker is Major Stephen Court. He and his wife, Major Danielle Strickland, founded The Salvation Army's 614 Urban Ministries on Vancouver's notorious downtown east side. They started the War College (an evangelism training college) in that same neighbourhood. Major Court was principal of a Salvation Army Training College (seminary) in Australia. He has authored more than a dozen books and he and Danielle are currently serving in Edmonton Alberta.

Suggested donation $13

Please RSVP to 306.778.0515 or reception@swiftcurrentarmy.com

More information: www.sheepspeak.com