It was a Salvation Army Congress but in another territory

What can one expect from a weekend away? Major Glad Ljungholm

'It was a Salvation Army Congress but in another territory and country: The twenty-year celebration of the Salvation Army re-opening and opening fire in Eastern Europe. I always look forward to traveling with Sven, it is always eventful, and leading up to this weekend was no exception. Journeying to a new country for me, Ukraine, an old but very special one for Sven. He and Kathie Ljungholm had opened fire and planted  the Army colours there. The thought of meeting new people for me and old and very precious ones for Sven.  

I had heard the stories over and over again of Sven and his then-wife Kathie's early days in Russia; Leningrad, Moscow: in Kyiv, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, I had seen the photo's… watched the video's, had Sven's Grandad's diary, written in Swedish, read to me of his early days in Russia too. My soul was deeply moved and thanked God for their love, commitment, faithfulness, and what appeared to be blood, sweat and tears and sheer hard work to bring about God's will in what I understood to be hard hard countries.

We arrived at the airport in Kyiv, and I found people to be warm, friendly and prepared to go out of their way to help my disabled husband and me. (This is not always the way when we are traveling and arriving in different countries)                     At our hotel, we very soon met some ex-pat officer colleagues of Sven's whose brief conversations of their past work began to tug at my heartstrings. On listening to their stories, I felt as if I was amongst some spiritual giants. And, I felt both humbled and privileged to be in their midst. As I continued to listen to and observe these people throughout the weekend the words: 'faithful, committed, unchanging, inextinguishable' kept coming to mind, and I thanked God for their stubborn determination to help bring about the will of God in what appeared to me to be against all odds. BUT GOD!                                                                             It wasn't long before I found myself being introduced to some 'miracles'. Some had joined our ranks twenty years ago, initially knowing little of God and nothing of The Salvation Army but had turned their backs on communism and the Red Army to join the ranks of the Yellow, Red and Blue Army. Others will be able to repeat their stories far better than me, but I know I witnessed row upon row of miracles as I sat in their Officers Councils on Friday evening.                                  The leaders for the weekend were The Chief of the Staff Barry and Commissioner Sue Swanson, friends of Sven’s dating back to his teens.                                                            The challenge they brought to the Officers that Friday night was the concept of 'Immeasurably More'… 'God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ever imagine or ask in our wildest dreams'… 'Immeasurably More' as this young territory moves into adulthood, maybe having been through the rebellion and difficulty of teenage years and now 'growing up' into Christ and moving forward with Him.  

       I asked Sven about the' new' pioneers, those who left home, family, and the comforts of 'the west' in the early to mid-1990s. The names numbered 20 or so, those Sven himself hold as reinforcement officers  and defenders of the faith. Today's officers are mostly indigenous joined by soldiers who continue to plant, nurture and serve in new fields of harvest.

            Sven shared with me the story of how visitors to St. Paul's Cathedral in London will gaze at the third largest Cathedral in the world in awe. The architect commissioned to restore the Cathedral following the Great Fire of London in 1666 was Sir Christopher Wren, and chose as his theme RESURGAM, 'I shall rise again'.                               Visitors to St. Paul's are often surprised to learn that there is no statue honouring Sir Christopher. Instead, next to Sir Christopher's tomb in St. Paul's there is a small plaque placed there by his son and is inscribed; "Reader, if you seek his memorial – look around you."

We were seated in a large auditorium with 5-600 other uniformed Salvationists. The next item on the program was the entry of the accepted cadets to enter the training college – seminary. One sensed the buzz of excitement as the Oslo Temple band ensemble played. It was a solemn, moving moment as the Army colours were carried into the massive hall, preceding the Cadets entering one by one.

Colonel Ken Johnson, the CIS Commander, had instructed everyone to remain seated during the Cadet's entry.                                                                                                As the flag bearer swung down the central aisle I felt Sven stirring next to me as he struggled to his feet. A massive stroke caused a severe weakness on his left side and saps his energy. He tires quickly becoming unsteady, making it difficult to stand and balance. His immobility left him wheelchair-bound.                                                             He gripped the seatback in front of him firmly, pullrd himself upright,steadied himself, raised his right hand and saluted the colours as they were solemnly carried down the aisle.                                                                                                                                          As he sat down, he informed me that the Moscow Command headquarters had requested that photographs and stories honouring the pioneers from both the early 1920s and also 1990s be forwarded to be shared in tribute on the congress weekend. One of those I sent was a graveside photo of the Army's first martyr with the uniformed flag bearer and Salvationist mourners.  My grandfather officiated at the Promotion to Glory gravesite committal. No apparent attention was given in sharing the hard-fought battles in which a handful of those present had been engaged.                                                         Even though no public mention was made of the achievements of the visiting handful of pioneer officers, an authenticated tribute was beheld by observing, by looking around at  the many hundreds of uniformed Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian and Moldovan Salvationists.                                                                                                                                       Army missionaries had suffered and died; martyrs buried under an earlIer Russian SA flag. I understood well why he struggled to stand and salute. Were the current leadership ignorant of their predecessors’’ struggles? Why weren’t the historic photos and remnants displayed?                                                                                                                     Sven shared with me the veneration observed when the first SA colours sewn in Russia led the small contingent of elderly Finnish officers marching solemnly, attempting with dignity to keep in step behind General Burrows, in the return to battle celebration conducted on July 6, 1991 in Leningrad’s 7000 seat Jubilejny Stadium.                   ‘The assembled crowd seemed confused. The combined thought of the audience seemed to be, could this be an army assigned to battle, and with any hope of victory ? The torn standard leading this all female group of marchers looked more like one signaling defeat! What few knew was that the banner born by this representative group of Finnish Salvationists had hung in a SA historical display for more then 70 years in Helsinki. And fewer yet knew that at the front of the group marched Commissioner Ingrid Lindberg, and who was the General's catalyst to pave the way for the army's return to Russia and The Soviet Union. The tattered remnants was what remained from the battles conducted on the streets of Leningrad, from whence the assembled public lived.The veneration in which that tattered remnant was held and the inspiration it summoned was evidenced by the spirit it engendered.’ ‘The use of (Army) flags has done more than anyone could have imagined to bind all our soldiers together and to encourage and develop the spirit of enterprise and resolution’, wrote George Scott-Railton in Heathen England in 1880. His father, General Booth, saw the need for the movement to have one standard flag design. A century earlier SA flags had a ‘sun’ in their centre, but from 1882 the standard flag has had a yellow star in its centre. This star represents the Holy Spirit.The crimson colour of the flag represents atonement, and the blue colour God’s chosen emblem of purity. The motto ‘Blood and Fire’ stands for the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. There was a slight lull, and then the spotlight swung 'round and sought the group standing in the stadium wings. The crowd followed the spotlight, and there it was, a banner in the same colors, but brighter, sparkling in the light, carried high, and behind it, the General of The Salvation Army. The tempo appeared to quicken , and the marchers confident. The crowd rose to their feet and began to clap in rhythm with the march music, Onward Christian Soldiers.                                                                                                                                                          Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

- 1 Thes. 5:12,13

If Not Us, Who?

We are called to share the good news.

COLONEL EDWARD HILL

Chief Secretary - Canada & Bermuda

The Australian evangelist Alan Walker told the story of driving through the countryside and seeing a hawk circ­ling above. As he turned a bend, he saw a herd of sheep—and one little she, standing alone. The hawk swooped to attack this sheep. Walker parked his car and ran onto the field, and the hawk flew away. When he reached down to help the injured sheep, it fell over, dead. It was then Walker noticed that the sheep had been protecting a newborn lamb. The Iamb was alive, but stained by its mother's blood.

This story illustrates the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. He shielded us from the consequences of our sin, at the cost of his shed blood. Romans 5:8 says, 

God demonstrates his own love for in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Salvationists must tell about the necessity of a response. John 1:12 reminds the listener that the But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,Salvationists have a sacred calling to share with family, friends and neighbours, the love of God, the sinfulness of humanity, the shed blood of Jesus and the necessity for a personal response to his offer of amazing grace. We are called to share the good news.

Let's commit to living out and sharing the value 

of evangelism wherever God takes us in the 

coming days.

If not us, who, If not now, when?

Colonel Edward Hill

Cohabitating Women are 'Unpaid Prostitutes'

Russian Priest Sparks Firestorm By Calling 

Cohabitating Women 'Unpaid Prostitutes'

February 17, 2020 14:52 GMT

• By Robert Coalson

7.9 cm

Russian Orthodox Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov (file photo)"I woke up this morning and found out that I am a prostitute," a Moscow-based Twitter user who goes by the handle; A Lady Who Has Had Too Much, posted on February 16.

She was referencing controversial remarks the previous day by Russian Orthodox Archpriest 

Dmitry Smirnov, who declared bluntly that women living together with their partners 

are comparable to "unpaid prostitutes."

"Our women do not understand themselves what marriage is," Smirnov, who is a member of 

the Russian Orthodox patriarch’s Commission on the Family, told a gathering of a society 

called Orthodox BRO. "No one wants to say, 'I am an unpaid    prostitute,'

so they say, 'I am in a common-law marriage.'   Really? You are just providing free services –

 that's all. And no one considers you a wife.

"Is it really so hard to get registered?" he added. "No, it isn't   hard at all."

The comments quickly ignited a firestorm on social media.

Metropolitan Ilarion, head of the external affairs office of the Moscow Patriarchate, the church’s leadership body,

 issued an apology on February 

17 – but also defended Smirnov by suggesting that he meant no harm.

"I apologize to the numerous women who felt personally offended by the latest shocking statements

 by this priest," the  metropolitan said. He added that although Smirnov frequently makes such

statements, he does so "from good intentions" in order to "attract public attention to the topic

 of defending marriage and the family."

Nonetheless, even some socially conservative and pro-Kremlin commentators said Smirnov

had offended millions of Russian women.

"The decision not to register one's marriage does not rule out mutually respectful relations or the

 love of two adults for one another," said 

Irina Kirkora, deputy head of the Kremlin’s advisory council on human rights and civil society,

 according      to Interfax. "It does not alter their arrangement regarding property arrangements

 with one another and it does not      deprive their children of the right to support from both of

 their parents."

Smirnov's comments were "crude and insulting, unworthy of    the great traditions of the 

Christian church," said pro-Kremlin political scientist Sergei Markov -- a former deputy 

from the ruling United Russia party in the State Duma, the lower parliament house.

"Common-law marriage is the norm for tens of millions of people," he added.

"Quit sticking your nose into the beds of people who love each other and are not offending anyone."
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointedly

 asked the church what men who live in such unions should be called.

And Margarita Simonyan, editor in chief of the 

state-funded RT television network, said every 

time she considers getting married, someone 

from the church comes out with such a statement.

"Again, I am not going to get married," she wrote on 

Facebook. "Simply out of principle."

O Boundless Salvation - Boundless Congress 2015

LONDON; ACTIVE OFFICER

Just wanted to write and say thanks for your efforts for former Salvation Army officers. Looking down the list of members on the blog I realise that there are many familiar faces and names. At the end of the day, many people are listed, who I still love and respect and who shouldn't have been put in a position where they have become former SA Officers. Anything which can harness the positive contribution they can bring and bring some care and support in what is often a very challenging decision, can only be applauded. Well done for doing this. CO UKT

The 15 most frequently mentioned concerns of more than 400 responses from former officers...

 Ljungholm said...

The 15 most frequently mentioned concerns; most common of more than 400 responses

------------------------

1. Not receiving pastoral care while we were officers, nor after we resigned.

2. We felt unwelcomed in the corps that we attempted to get involved with after we resigned, including our home corps. 

3. The Army's neglect of personnel structures, legal policy, etc. 

4. The SA sees personnel (or HR) as basically two things: moving people and damage control. 

5. No/little Counseling/dialogue prior to resignation

6. Access to personnel files/final evaluation/recommendations

7. Officer friends unable to keep in touch with me when I resigned; lack of contact info 

8. I didn't feel like I could reach out to Army people - it would have been comforting if Army people could have reached out to me.

9. A recommendation be made that when an officer resigns and THQ sends out a memo directing everyone to "remove from dispo", the very same memo include the 'formers' contact information. 

10. We request that the dispo include the 'former's' contact info for 24 months subsequent to resignation at the discretion of the former.

11. Private ombudsman at THQ for formers to maintain official contact

12. A newsletter with pertinent SA information focusing on 'formers', including internal SA employment opportunities.

13.Make leave of absence OPTION available with an open door for return

14. A system should be introduced whereby officers (of any rank) can file and process matters that concern unethical/unjust abuse, physical and/or psychological.

15. Officers who have discussed resignation not being offered the alternative appointments that were offered/promised to them

Anonymous said...

Following a multi-year poorly evaluated HQ assessment, our corps leadership skills were deemed disappointing; lacking any sign or hope of reform. 

We have found a welcoming denomination and are both active members of the ministry leadership team. My husband is an ordained pastor, working to complete his theology degree.

We were active officers in the far northwest of the USA West Territory, but apparently not ‘active’ enough. We were stationed at several corps with only a handful of soldiers, with no apparent growth or future according to DHQ; negative reports were shared with THQ. Our corps’ social services were well known and appreciated by the public.

DHQ harassment, with regular stressful oversight visits caused constant aqngst and we sought consultation  with THQ leadership. Our requests were denied and funneled instead (as nuisance?) to the Field/HR Department and referred to a lay employee consultant. We never received a fair hearing and the TC and CS both underperformed in their responsibility to care for their flock!

Months upon months of visits by DHQ resulted in their mistrust of our promises, and we were dismissed. 

We were both well overweight and believe our appearance was a prejudicial cause in our dismissal. 

We felt abandoned.

Anonymous

How do you respond when you are supporting a member of your congregation who is accusing a soldier of sexual abuse when they were a child, and you are listening to the stories of at least a hundread others who say the same thing but are too ashamed/scared to do anything. In that situation, your DC gets up in court in full uniform (with the support of THQ) as a character witness for the accused and testifies that he couldn't have done it because he is a friend of his. The judge then says in his summation words to the effect 'it was only the testimony of the DC - Bishop - that swayed him to consider a verdict of 'not guilty''?

What do you do, when in a different division, you as a single male officer, are being stalked by a young woman who starts making accusations that you are the father of her unborn child. When you cry out to the DC for support her response is 'what did you do to encourage her?' (making the assumption that you are the father given you are a single male)?

As an Officer, how do you handle it when your Personnell Secretary, after hearing your views are more liberal than standard SA orthadoxy, places you in an appointment where you have no direct ministry activity, and lets it be knwon that you are not allowed to special at any corps, lead any bible studies, or do any counselling etc?

There are many other issues involved in my leaving as well - too many to go into in a short response.

For me, such mediation as suggested would not have made a difference, as most of the people suggested would be the ones that pushed me to leave. There needs to be fundamental changes in TSA - pastorally, theologically, organsiationally etc. - if we are to have a hope of stemming the flow of Officers becomming 'formers', and win some of us 'formers' back.

I thank you for your suggestion, but for many, the answer is not so simple.

Former Australian East

Anonymous said...

I resigned on divorcing my wife, who has now returned to active service. I was asked twice if I'd be interested in returning to active service, and to which I replied in the affirmative. Two weeks later I was informed that the Commissioner would not review my case as I had re-married, and my spouse was 'only a soldier". My territory does not permit officers to marry non-officers. In the UK, and perhaps elsewhere, the antiquated regulation had been revised. I was more than a little surprised that the CS, FS, etc., etc. didn't know this...

Former

USA

I find that there is too much secrecy and decisions made by one or two people at the top end of leadership. Just because someone is appointed to a position, that does not make them an expert or qualified for the position. Many of usover the years had to experience officer leadership that was poor and out of place.Too many hard feelings or vendettas got in the way. Unfortunately the Army has some people that are power hungry and jockeying for position. All I ever wanted was to serve God through the Army and man kept getting in the way. I felt more like I was serving the "man" with the demands and edicts. People are people , but the Army should be different. It should be a great organisation to work for and not settle for the standards of the world. 

I would only return if women were treated fairly and the position of corps officer was supported as it should be, with respect and honor. After all it is the place on the front lines and DHQ is needed to support the corps not rape it. Demand , push and micro management of corps officers will be the slow death of the Army. Look out YMCA , here comes the Army. So sad.

Former Officer USA East

Anonymous said...

I appreciate your stand and opinion. Not too many active officers will speak up about imparity and injustice within an organisation like The Salvation Army.When friends and relatives outside the ranks hear of some of the things that go on they become very upset and often debate whether to support such malarchy. 

I had two close friends tell me that it sounded like I was part of a cult because of the control and intimidation. They are happy that I am no longer an officer after several years and many appointments. 

Several Biblical principles have been broken and the law of judgement is not far away. Yes , much good comes from The Salvation Army. It can be much better. It just so happens at this time to have poor leadership and men that think that they are leading, but they are only leading astray. Good leaders need the filling of the Holy Spirit and the deep love of Christ. Seriously , look around. Good men are hard to find. Many are spiritual wimps. Several officers are waiting on the sidelines to catch a new wave. Many officers are afraid to speak up. If they do thay are reprimanded and placed in an appointment that causes grief. I am not speaking of troublemakers. I mean good , hardworking sensitive people.

Maybe it is time for refounding a new movement? Too bad that this one has a very slow adaption rate and may die.

Failure= Lack of true discipleship training, holiness teaching, true leadership training-Biblical, lack of using truly gifted officers and promoting buddies to cushy positions…. How about dealing with the worst sin of all....pride.

Former, USA Eastern Territory

Major JoAnn Shade, (now retired) wrote, "To those who’ve been hurt through the system, I’ve seen enough over thirty-plus years to know that there are some leaders who will risk their necks to find solutions." You've been fortunate, until the most recent change, to have had such exemplary caring leaders in your Division. However, in order for any DC to step out from the pack requires that he/she be already well established or 'in the family'!

ET USA

Anonymous said...

I feel if I had been male I would have been treated differently. I was vulnerable and nobody walked along side me, no local support, no divisional support and I was hurting so bad!!

So called friends wanted to know all the details of my resignation and then ran a mile when they didnt have the necessary skills to support.

I am still without work and the emptiness is painful and the question I ask myself over and over again is 'Where is the forgiveness...... the man on the street is supported, loved and cared for'. Why am I discriminated against because I am on the 'inside' and not outside.

Please someone listen, please support even if we say no, please help, please... please... please...

Sven Ljungholm said...

Dear Anonymous, if you and I haven't already spoken, please contact me at selmoscow@aol.com. All communication will be confidential.

Our fellowship has a number of 'formers' in various corners of the world, and who have a wealth of support experience all willing to share time with you.

Anonymous:

Please know I make myself available to connect with you. I can be reached at pastor@livingwaterchurchministries.org

Will be praying for you!

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous,

Once again (to let you know there is a lot of support for you) I also can be contacted at thunderchest@hotmail.com (my email). I don't know where you are (I live in London UK) - but if you are near one of us 'formers' then please feel free to contact us if you want 'someone with skin on'. This is a fantastic fellowship designed for such support.

former Australian East.

Anonymous,

I hope that you realise that there are people on this site that care. Many have experienced some of the same feelings as you and yet many are moving on to various stages of their lives.Please be in touch with someone and seek fellowship. I know that many are praying for you now. If you feel that female officers have been generaly mistreated , I would say that I and a few others would agree.

The Lord loves you and I am praying for you.

My e-mail is n3fsa@yahoo.com

Blessings!

Sven Ljungholm said...

In thinking back on my own experience as a corps officer, I see that several of our corps were indeed autonomous congregations, not subject to episcopal or presbyterial control. Interestingly though they were all start-up congregations in the former Soviet Union, and revitalizing corps in the United States (New York) and 4 corps in Sweden that had been in existence for over 100 years and consequently, steeped in tradition with little room or allowance for experiments. Nonetheless, innovations and a semblance of freedom granted or simply assumed by us, moved each and every corps to new and exciting ministries. 

AUTONOMY

The independence we enjoyed when pioneering the work in Russia and later in Ukraine was the result of our work being far distant from any HQ, with communication difficult and often sporadic at best, and in being almost totally self-funded and sufficient. (family, friends, and Kurt Weishaupt & other SA Board members) While we operated under the strict Salvation Army code of conduct we applied democratic principles in large part to celebrate with the Russian populace, who were for the first time in their life, given the freedom to worship where and how they liked. The army's joyous freedom of expression in worship, our uniforms and the warm welcome extended by sharing in tea following our services with the many visitors became infectious with scores of newcomers every month. The NT makes it clear that Christians are all one in Christ and there is no room for any absolute human authority and that is a mandate we sought to abide by.

Within a very short time our three separate congregations had grown to several hundred persons with many being recruited, trained, and enrolled as soldiers. The tasks were too many for just two officers. Consequently, networking groups were formed among the soldiers in accordance with talent and interest. These groups included teenagers who took on the role of publishing a weekly Junior Soldier magazine, a drama department, a group of ladies who established a corps “trade department”, several musical groups each with their own group of leaders, a War Cry unit that published monthly, a youth department that coordinated excursions and all of the corps’ camping programs, and a department coordinating evangelistic outreach and providing social support to vulnerable groups, and that in turn resulted in the swearing in of more than two dozen hearing impaired soldiers. We had a signer in each of our meetings and who today serves as an officer with her husband.

While we operated in accordance with a congregational polity we did not seek independence from, or refuse to be subject to any outside SA authority. There was only silence…

When, many months later, leaders from THQ in Norway, and RHQ in Leningrad came to Moscow to bring our three large and growing corps under TSA reign and control not all of our local leaders saw this as a positive move and made it well known. Two of the three corps we planted were closed; an increase in the number of officers but no corps growth?

A few months later we saluted and bid our farewell from Russia as we sent to “open fire” in Ukraine, again two officers, a Toyota van, Bibles, recruit material, and a contact name. The Ukraine history mirrored almost exactly what we had experienced in Moscow. 

Conclusion

I believe the growth experienced resulted from encouraging net-working, finding and securing  the resources necessary to succeed. I will share further on this in a brief article and how a similar method may well benefit equality in TSA.

Anonymous said...

Thank you to those who have given personal email contacts its very kind.

I don't want to explain my pain, maybe when something starts to go right for me then maybe I can start to live again and deal with things.

Please pray as I try to come to terms with my children moving to live with their father. Please pray that I will get work which I desperately need to stay alive.

My pastor met me at a local event... he didnt know what to say!! ... so simply said nothing.

I don't know what the answer is but what I do know is that we need to demonstrate better care for our own!!

Anonymous said...

Some time ago we were having a pastor's meeting… It was basically "free churches pastors" from various parts of ‘our country’. There was much that was interesting and different

We were composed mainly of middle-aged and older men. The only two women who were present (except those serving food at the tables) were from the Salvation Army.

When I look at the picture I am also thinking of something else that is completely unique to the Salvation Army's way of working. The joint service. Both husband and wife are ordained pastors. It does not appear in any other Christian context.

All the others had to leave the wife at home, while the Salvation Army has the opportunity to serve together. To stand side by side in a joint service on equal terms.

What strength! - Strange that nobody else got it yet!

Active Officer