The Salvation Army Chatham

Major Drew McCombe writes:

Simples! – For or with?

One of my favourite adverts of late is the one contrasting ‘compare the meerkat.com’ and ‘compare the market.com’ ….and the now famous line to end ‘Simples!’

It may have taken me a long time but I have a growing conviction about a rather simple, but nonetheless profound way of engaging with people in the mission of God. Here it is, wait for it…..It is better to do things ‘with’ people rather than ‘for’ people. As The Salvation Army we have for long time done community work for people, soup kitchens, hostel accommodation, community support etc., etc. That is not wrong per se, but a far better way of engagement is to do things ‘with’ people. This year we have stumbled on this as a way of mission.

First we have growing links with Endeavour House in Shipwrights Avenue which is a supported housing foyer for young people aged 16-23. This relationship has led to us working with some of those young people, providing them with accredited learning and skills in the area of healthy cooking and healthy eating. This has been done by Val Smith and Linda Tout for the last 3 months. It is going well and is leading to further links and the building of relationships.

Val Linda

Building on this we hope early next year to run a children’s holiday club in the foyer with some of those young people helping to do something with their community in Shipwrights Avenue. Secondly, we are in the middle of our community gospel choir rehearsals which has brought in 80+ people to the rehearsals. The idea is for them to take part in our Central Theatre event which again is not something we do ‘for’ the community but this year we want to do it ‘with’ the community and we pray that together we will see God at work.

You see  – simples!

Major Drew McCombe