The Salvation Army Chatham

The short Easter holiday period is over and the children start back to school this week. For a number it is the start of the term in which their future will be decided, culminating in stiff examinations aroung June and July. Some have been taking extra tuition during the holidays and all are working very hard to achieve the best they can.

But there are those who have been able to enjoy a genuine holiday this week and amongst them are our own Major Kathy who has had the week off and returns to work this week. Majors Drew and Beverley were also absent yesterday being on Divisional Headquarters duties.

Major Kathy Woodhouse

Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe

So, leading our meetings yesterday were Majors Nigel and Linda Govier. Major Linda led the morning meeting and took as her theme ‘Not the end but the beginning’

Major Linda Govier

Major Linda’s current appointment is Mission Development Consultant (Mission Development Unit) at Territorial Headquarters in London. She used the final verses of three of the gospels as her scriptural references and developed these to show how this was not the end of the story of Jesus but the beginning of Christianity. ‘They worshipped Him but some doubted. Jesus instructed them to go and make disciples. If we waited until everybody in the church was fully convinced of the gospel would we ever make disciples?

For each of us to make disciples we need to target people we already know. In addition our corps programme must allow for learning and development. In the biblical account the women said nothing because they were afraid. Its the easy option. But God does speak to us and we must respond. We must become accountable for what God is telling us to do’.

The songs used were 553 and 1205 from Songs of Fellowship together with 158 and 136 from The Salvation Army Song Book. The Singing Company brought ‘On this Rock’ and the Songsters ‘Shine on Us’.

In the evening Major Linda was joined by husband Nigel and they jointly led our meeting. Nigel is also a Mission Development Consultant and additionally is the Planned Giving Co-ordinator for the Territory.

Major Nigel Govier

Songs 141 and 725 from The Salvation Army Song Book were used together with 1187, 290 and 544 from Songs of Fellowship. The Songsters contributed ‘Become aware of Him’ and the Band ‘Let me love Thee’. Six personal testimonies were given and regular readers will have noticed the numerous testimonies heard every time the opportunity is given. No doubt some readers will have guessed that some of those willing to testify do so every week, such is the enthusiasm of those concerned.

Major Nigel gave the address and took as his scripture the end of the remaining gospel (John) thus completing the four during the day. He asked ‘Has the world changed this week because of the events of Easter? On the face of it – no, but the resurrection of Jesus changed everything! It took the world out of its comfort zone. Peter went back to fishing because he felt comfortable doing that. When we do things Christ’s way we get results. In our own strength we frequently fail. God calls us to move forward and forget the failures. We must let Christ meet us where we are and move us on’.

Next week-end our Songsters will be visiting Kettering Corps and our prayers and best wishes go with them. We shall miss their ministry here at Chatham but we are sure they will be effective in the spreading of the gospel in Kettering. Click here to read details of the times of meetings at Kettering.