TODAY IS MY SADDEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

WE HAVE TOO MANY MEMBERS IN OUR FELLOWSHIP!

This week nine additional persons asked to join our fellowship, the largest one-week increase in members in recent months. Ours is a fellowship where even one new member a week is too many! And, speaking for the majority of our members; “before giving thought to coming onboard, consider the options and God’s leading before taking that final step that qualifies you for membership”. Many of us wish we had…

 

And, no less sad is that a few days ago I was asked if 'we' couldn’t have a Spanish language site and invite persons to join with us and consolidate our ministry. My mind immediately went to an old Swedish SA chorus that translates roughly; ‘though miles and language separate us, we will join with each other at the Mercy Seat’. I’m told the chorus was sung when Swedish SA missionaries were fare-welled and sent to distant lands. My grandparents were a part of that special band of servants. 

The word “policy” has been tossed around recently with regard to a question I posed relative to the Single Spouse Officer provision. I was informed that "policy" doesn't allow for me to know such private info! If challenged, I believe certain persons will be scrambling to uncover a ‘policy’ from a cobwebbed HQ basement to lend credence to their stand. For the record, I found the stats in a recently discarded Dispo and with "a little help from my friends" and shared them.- (sorry, but we live only a stone's throw from Penny Lane and at 5:14 AM I couldn't control the temptation.) 

Well here’s a policy statement over a century old, but I wonder how many have ever seen it? Or better yet, accept and honour the founder's sentiment. What incredible foresight God gave him...


"The (former) ex-officer, no matter what was the cause that resulted in his loss to our fighting forces, is still a child of the Army. He entered the sacred circle. He became one of us, sharing our joys and sorrows, losses and crosses. He received the commission of a divinely-appointed authority to proclaim Salvation, build up men and women in their most holy faith, and help to win someone to God. He received the spirit of officership, whereby he mingled amongst us, for a season, as one of us, and go where he likes, and do what he likes, the imprint of the life he lived will remain. Time will not efface it; sin even will not blot it out. So that in a sense which we ought ever to remember, the ex-Officer still belongs to The Salvation Army".

Field Officer (December 1900) pp. 453-4.


I wonder how many are familiar with the Founder’s definition of former officers? And am I naïve to believe that one day we might be asked how we treated those he considered family… What a wonderful claim of assurance we have- those who once served under the same tri-colour remain members of TSA family. 

Our fellowship is not a secret one. More than 83,000 persons, mostly Salvationist have found our blog site – ranging from 70 – 120 visitors per day. Here’s how one SA leader describes our blog;

“As a retired TSA officer, in some ways I feel like a former officer. And as a retired Commissioner, I probably get a little more respect than others, but believe me there are a lot of similarities between “former” and “sent out to pasture.” I’ll not bore you with the parallels, except to say that since being “pasturized”my understanding and empathy has increased greatly.

This said to plug a blog site for former Salvation Army officers,www.fsaof.blogspot.com. I drop in periodically becausethe well-written posts and discussion following helps me keep everything in perspective. I would recommend the same for every not yet “pasturized” leader because your day is coming soon (considering the age at which most top leaders are appointed), but more importantly because the insight gained there will provide balance to your personnel related decision making during the interim.”

Joe Noland, Commissioner

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How many SA leaders have read our almost 1,000 articles? From comments heard it's clear that our presence is known, but our purpose has been badly distorted.

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And this from another visitor;

I enjoy your blog so much!

It is the best unofficial Army blog I've seen on the internet yet! It always has such good, in-depth and timely articles. Most of the others almost all have a pentecostal flair to them with a skewered sense of SA history and the writing isn't all that great either.

Journalist, Chicago

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We have good reasons for having members. Among them; assisting them to no longer qualify. And we rejoice that in the last few weeks several have been disqualified, with our help, and have returned to their first Love serving as SA officers.

My wife, a SA officer in the UKT, is regularly approached by active officers on learning her surname, who share that it was the support and healing ministry of the FSAOF that moved them to rethink and seek reinstatement to substantive rank. The very same sentiments have been received via email and telephone calls from Australia, the USA and UK.


Most in our fellowship feel excluded and alienated and to at least a degree, and some for good reason. And many of us have no doubt made ourselves deserving of SA leaders’ and comrades’ disdain. The question then: who ought to take that first step? It’s a question Jesus wants a direct answer to! 


Could our fellowship possibly have done any more than we’ve already done in proffering dialogue and reconciliation? What is it that makes TSA so standoffish to our offer to assist in stemming the flow of officer losses?


I'm going to open my birthday cards now - but hoping there'll be an email or two during the day telling me that; 'we're considering a return'. That would truly make my day!

 Sven Ljungholm

selmoscow@aol.com

0151-733-7378