'Forward! In
Confidence, Unity and Power' was the theme of a gathering which celebrated what
God is doing in the lives of his people throughout Europe. The three main
sessions each picked up on an aspect of The Salvation Army's International
Vision: One Army, One Mission, One Message. The General was supported by
Commissioners Robert and Janet Street (Europe Zonal leaders, International
Headquarters) and Commissioners Hans and Marja van Vliet (territorial leaders,
The Netherlands and Czech Republic Territory).
The opening
meeting, 'One Army – Speak your Heart', gave opportunity for a number of people
to talk positively about the kind of Salvation Army they would like to see. A
young Moldovan Salvationist, Yana Miheeva, said she would like her country to
be 'famous, as the country where Jesus lives!' She shared her dreams of an end
to human trafficking and poverty before concluding by telling all present:
'Pray for your country.'
Vocal
ensembles G-Thanks (France) and LivingSoul (Switzerland) thrilled the congregation,
which also appreciated the beautiful a cappella singing of Hallelujah Quartet,
made up of Russian and Romanian officers.
Commissioner
Robert Street held up a piece of the Berlin Wall, serving as a powerful
reminder that, until recent years, The Salvation Army was proscribed in 12
countries in Europe in which it is now operating. It was a miracle to see
uniformed Salvationists from those countries participating in the congress.
On Saturday
afternoon an open-air meeting in Námĕstí Republiky (Republic Square) was
introduced by Captain Josef Knoflicek. The large crowd that gathered was
fascinated as the General showed a pearl necklace, which she used to illustrate
her testimony that 'Jesus is the real thing'. Vocal groups from France,
Switzerland and Sweden participated, along with UK Brass.
In the
evening, 'One Mission – Celebrate what God is Doing' was the theme. There was
great excitement as all the territorial and command leaders of the Europe Zone
marched in with their Salvation Army and national flags. The 150-strong Europe
Choir made its debut, led by Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (Territorial
Commander, Finland and Estonia). The group's singing was fantastic – even after
just one rehearsal!
'This is
Europe' gave a glimpse of the Army's work in each country through five
audiovisual presentations. The congregation responded with enthusiasm,
especially when photos of growing numbers of cadets were shown.
The Sunday
meeting, 'One Message – Forward in Faith', was a challenging and inspiring
conclusion to the celebrations. A choir of Czech children and a Spanish group
called Básico, whose youthful members sang and played timbrels, brought great
delight with their items. The Spanish young people had travelled by bus for 30
hours to attend the congress. Cadets from the Italy and Greece Command, Denmark
Territory and Norway, Iceland and The Færoes Territory were featured during the
weekend. Sports ministry and anti-human trafficking work in the United Kingdom
and Greece were highlighted, and powerful testimonies to the transforming power
of Jesus Christ were shared by men from Lithuania, Poland and Hungary.
In her final
message the General challenged the 1,300 congress delegates to go forward with
faith that God will bring revival to Europe, staying certain of God's grace
from generation to generation. Many people knelt at the mercy seat to dedicate
themselves to God and pray for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit as they
serve him in future days.
As 'O
Boundless Salvation!' was sung in full, flag bearers went forward spontaneously
and Army colours from many countries were waved in unison across the platform;
a wonderful finale to a God-glorifying event.
The gathering in the Czech
Republic had begun on the Thursday before the congress with a Central and
Eastern Europe Conference. The General addressed the 85 delegates on Friday
morning, before attending a reception at the British Embassy in Prague. The
British Ambassador, Her Excellency Sian MacCleod, welcomed the General and
spoke warmly of Salvation Army work in the Czech Republic and its leaders,
Majors Mike and Ruth Stannett. Conference delegates met ambassadors from other
countries, including Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova and The Netherlands.
Report by
Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts
The main
sessions from the congress can be watched online at: sar.my/forwardeurope
2 comments:
I've heard the congress referred to as the 'Rent a Crowd' get-together. Cadets flown in at the last minute. UK officers required to attend, etc.
Why Prague? A beautiful city no doubt, but practical? Why not Amsterdam or Brussels, cities within easy traveling distance and where the SA could benefit greatly by a major presence event.
As a former SA missionary officer one often envisioned how just a small percentage of moneys spent at home could impact our work many times over if IHQ would think outside their walls.
UK
Oh dear! A somewhat sad view on, what was, an inspirational occasion.
Easy travelling from where? It was a Europe Congress and locating it within central Europe seems eminently sensible as it allowed relatively easily travelling for the whole of Europe and not just those of us on the western fringe. Could not Prague also benefit greatly by a major presence event?
I am unsure of the finances of the event but … to see and hear participants from countries where, until the fall off the wall, the Army was proscribed and to allow new soldiers and a fledgling army to see that they were part of something far bigger than their local expression and representation was, to my mind, money well spent.
Thirty-four years ago I was part of the cast that presented the musical – Blood of the Lamb – at the International Congress. Chris Pender played the part of Colonel Victor Dolghin in the segment that contained the song “I’ll make my promises …” Those of us participating and present will, probably, never forget his ad-libbed line in the middle of his script as he, in character, recounted of the latter days of the Army in Russia prior to proscription: ‘ … and please God, one day, we will be back there …’ We all murmured our agreement with the sentiment of his prayer but this was 1978 and few of us really had the hope or the faith that it would be seen in our lifetime. When we sang ‘They shall come from the east, they shall come from the west’ we all envisaged heaven being full of Chinese, western Europeans and North Americans. I do not think many of us cast our minds eastwards across our own continent. Prague demonstrated powerfully and profoundly, how wrong we were!
Prague revealed all too clearly the missionary spirit of the Army: on this occasion, IHQ did think well outside of their walls and there is no quantitative or qualitative knowing, this side of eternity, just how much the gathering will impact on the lives of those who come within the ambit of the Army’s ministry across Europe. Chastened, somewhat, by my own lack of hope and faith in 1978, I would guarantee that Prague 2012 will have immeasurable kingdom-benefit. The cost might be counted: however, the value of such a gathering is inestimable.
DW
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