What sort of an Army ? (4)

...An Army that looks for opportunities to befriend the friendless, clothe the naked, feed the hungry'

Over ther last couple of weeks it has been great to share at various Corps through Sunday ministry, PCC meetings and appointments consultations. Almost without exception these have been inspirational times with moments of deep spirituality as well as times when our humanity is also laid bare: the image of a retired affluent company director sharing harvest lunch with a family from the local social housing estate is one that is absolutely representative of the Corps fellowship at it's best. To know that both have come as a result of community ministry and are now established as part of the Corps worshipping community is indicative of where we are getting it right - linking people in an intentional way into exploring their relationship with Jesus.

General John Gowans had it absolutely right when he described the mission of the Salvation Army as 'Growing Saint, Saving Sinners and Serving Suffering Humanity'. In his own way, and style, he was prompting us to fulfil Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 61), quoted by Jesus :

'The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God...'

This passage, more than any in my opinion, makes our mandate clear: the poor have an inescapable role in the Salvation story - we are to serve them.

Poverty takes many forms, not all material. Poverty of education, poverty of relationship, and poverty of work all debilitate individuals who already attend our Corps - how much more then does the family who live near you, or the businessman in his car, or the mum pushing her baby buggy need good contact with God's people - our relationship with others starts where they are not where we are. The Gospel is about going and finding the friendless, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. We need to look for the opportunities constantly, for in serving them we are serving Christ. Go.