Social justice, wartime projects, bikie garden makeovers and flood relief
Reflections on Justice launched at IHQ
The International Women’s Ministries team is delighted to share Reflections on Justice, a daily devotional written by Salvation Army women from across the world for this month of November 2024.
Each daily devotional provides Scripture, reflective reading, prayer, and a challenge to do something for others. From 1 November to 1 December, International Women’s Ministries invites everyone to take part in a global reading event by sharing the collection with friends, families, teams, and corps.
The month of November is of great importance to justice-seekers as it marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), followed by the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, also known as the #OrangetheWorld campaign.
“We pray that this reading plan, and our united participation in it, will prepare our hearts and minds so that we can positively impact the world around us,” shares the team.
For all resources, click here.
Reflections on Justice is available to read alone or in a group on the Bible app by YouVersion. To start a plan, click here. (Also available in French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili).
Ukraine: Building faith in the future
In Ukraine, Salvation Army corps are working to create safe spaces and day programs for children (and adults) where their mental, physical, social, spiritual and aesthetic development can be nurtured.
According to statistics, around 61 per cent of children are experiencing symptoms of stress due to Russia’s war in the country and multiple related traumas.
Corps and their teams are working to ensure children feel safe in their programs, and to provide psychological care, assistance with after-school homework, English classes and craft workshops.
“Doing homework under the supervision of professional teachers is an interesting and joyful process through the selection of interesting exercises and tasks, game techniques, use of non-standard class formats, balanced regulation of students’ mental and physical activity, rest time, nutrition and outdoor activities,” they explain.
Excursions are also taking place, with more planned, for those students attending the extended day programs.
The teams believe that, by assisting young people now in the dark days of war, they will be better equipped to build happy lives in a just and better world.
Bikies give UK garden complete makeover
A group of bikies from the Unsanctioned Motorcycle Group in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil recently gave a local Salvos corps’ garden a much-needed makeover.
Members of the motorcycle club roared up at the church in Glebeland Place earlier this year, clad from head-to-toe in black leather with an unusual request: “How can we help?”
The group spent weekends cutting back the overgrown gardens to the front and sides of the church, as well as planting flowers, to transform the wild patch into a beautiful area.
A member of the group, Addy, says the way motorbike gangs are portrayed in films and on TV can give people the wrong impression of their club: “There’s a lot of motorbike clubs out there who want that hard, outlaw image. But that’s not us. We want to give back to community and help people in the same way The Salvation Army does. They have been wonderful in our community. It’s brilliant that they are celebrating 150 years in Wales and it’s good we can help them.”
To read the full story, click here.
Typhoon assistance in the Philippines
Following severe tropical storm Trami, The Salvation Army in the Philippines, with assistance from the Barangay local government unit, has distributed meals to 790 individuals, including 310 children, at three evacuation sites in Barangay San Roque, Legazpi, Albay.
The storm, also known as Typhoon Kristine, made landfall in the province of Isabela in northern Luzon on 24 October.
The Legazpi Corps was severely affected in southern Luzon. Corps Officer Lieutenant Aristotle Casumpang, reports on how some regions in the Philippines experienced the “calamitous effects” of Typhoon Kristine.
“The storm caused widespread devastation across the Bicol region, central Luzon and northern Luzon,” he said. “Its destruction has been significant in the Bicol region, impacting 119,257 families, including members of our local church community in Legazpi, Albay.”
Salvation Army teams continue to work with those impacted by this disaster.
To read the full story, click here.
