The Salvation Army Chatham

It’s been a busy week with all usual rehearsals resuming in the evenings, and mums and children’s groups during the day, after the summer break.   Cameo has continued to hold its meetings and membership is growing.  Thursday was the Prayer Day Away (see separate report), Friday evening was the first rehearsal of the Community Gospel Choir (see separate report), and Saturday was the Farewell to Candidates at Croydon Citadel SA (separate report to follow later).

On Sunday morning we were again in a different venue, at Lordswood Junior School due to a previous booking at Fort Pitt School.   For some this meant that they could walk to church instead of having to drive whereas for others it meant having to drive, but in a different direction.   However, although our venues are changing and people are struggling to come to terms with this, we are reminded that God never changes, so we put our anchors in Him.

Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe

Major Beverley led the morning meeting and used the following songs to enhance the theme ‘The impact of the Cross – I can endure’:  SOF 1346, SOF 721, SASB 136 and SASB 734.   She asked for illustrations of both good and bad times people had had during the week and then read the Scripture in 2 Cor.12:9 when the Lord said to Paul ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’

Cadet Mel Scoulding gave her testimony and said that Matt 28: 19, 20 were verses which had been placed on her heart when she was sworn in as a Salvation Army soldier and she felt had been imprinted into her DNA so that she felt compelled to go out and tell people about the Lord.   She urged us never to lose the sense of joy which God gives even when we go through some dark testing times but to delight in the Lord, Psalm 37:4. She asked for prayers for her and Steve as they go into the Training College:   1.  That as they learn about the theory they do not forget the passion;  2. That they will take the opportunity to make relationships with other people and 3. that she and Steve will work together as united people.

The Songsters sang ‘Here am I’ and the Singing Company ‘More precious than silver’ as their music ministry.   There was a presentation of how the money donated through the Annual Appeal helps those in need in our country.   Major Beverley based her message on the scripture verses in Hebrews 12: 1-11.  Major Beverley said we should think of the difference that the cross makes to our lives here and now.  We need to carry on following Jesus even when things aren’t going well.   Remember the early days when you became a Christian and keep persevering.   She said that the Christian life is like a race although the greek word for race in this instance is ‘agona’ from which we derive the word ‘agony’.   The Christian life isn’t just a stroll but is a race we have to run – for our lives.   God has equipped us for our race.   The cross is there to help us to endure to the end.   Here is where our concentration should be – Jesus is our best example.  He will make us perfect.   When it gets tough – think of Jesus.  He went there too.  He chose to go through the sacrifice on the cross because He knew He would obtain our salvation.  How can we do anything less?

Cadet Mel Scoulding

To complete the day’s farewell to Mel and Steve there was a celebration tea with a cake with Salvation Army symbol decorations for the Ambassadors of Holiness, the sessional name.   (See photographs below.)   The tea was held in our secondary hall and the Band led a march through the High Street to the Emmaus Church for our evening service.

Major Drew led the evening service based on the theme ‘Sending Out!’ and used the following songs to support this:  SA298, SOF168, SOF755, SA699, ‘I’ll not turn back’ and SA955.   Three verses of scripture were read to illustrate the purposes of God:  John 3:16,17;  Matt 28: 18-20 and Romans 1:16. Major Drew said These verses tell us that God is a missionary God seeking out the lost and giving them salvation.   If these are God’s purposes we can have confidence in our prayers. The Band’s ministry was a band arrangement by Ray Maycock of the Songster song ‘Compelled by Love’ which he had dedicated to Mel and Steve.   The Songsters sang a witness ‘I’ve been changed’.   Cadet Steve Scoulding testified and said that there were two verses which were very important to him and which he felt were inexplicably linked:  Isaiah 41:13 and Psalm 139: 11,12.   God has been in the middle of his life, through the good and bad times.   He explained that the only way we won’t reach our reward is if we give up.   We need to persevere, embrace it, love it, and celebrate it.   He said we should choose the difficult path because God can turn darkness into light.  He is an awesome God and a loving God.   We must not be afraid.   Three things he asked us to pray for: 1. understanding and patience; 2. the other cadets and officers and 3. for the Salvation Army and worldwide church.

Major Drew’s message was based on Acts 10:1-9. He commended anyone who tried to build a bridge in the community.   God is a bridge builder – His heartbeat from creation has been to seek us out.  He is a missionary God and so when we become Christians it is implanted in us to be missionaries.   We can’t do without each other and we need to work together, giving up our prejudices.   We should reach out and extend hospitality to our community.  We should build a bridge of love.   Remember what it cost God to build a bridge to us.    God wills His church and community to hold hands.

After the singing of the song ‘I’ll not turn back’, Major Drew invited Mel and Steve to come forward and invited members of the congregation to lay hands on them to bless and send them out.  It was a Spirit-filled time which concluded with the singing of ‘Send the Fire’.

Cadet Steve Scoulding

Blessings of the congregation