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E Q U I P P I N G w O M E N F O R M I N I S T R y + M I S S I O N
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CRY FORJUSTICEGLOBAL CALL TO PRAYER
A LIFE OFPURPOSETEEN RESOURCE
JANUARY-MARCH 2011
free love&EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
OPEN ARMS FREEDOM
TO READEARTHQUAKERESPONSE IN CHILE ADULT LITERACY
2 Revive
AT SEA wITH GOD
by Margaret Silf
Amazon.com
Described as a ‘self-guided spiritual
retreat’, this book is a clear, gentle
yet challenging handbook for anyone
wanting to journey with God and
develop in spiritual reflection.
Margaret is an engaging writer who
includes many personal illustrations.
This book can be a devotional guide
for personal use and a valuable
resource for small groups.
THE DIvINE MENTORGrowing your faith as you
sit at the feet of the Saviour
Wayne Cordeiro
Amazon.com
Life can be wearing. What we need is
protection deep within; that part of us
that connects us with God. This book
will help you hear God speak to you
through the Bible. Embark on an
adventure as you learn of God’s
handpicked mentors who will help you
on your faith journey. Be challenged to
develop a lifelong habit that will
preserve your soul and hide God’s
living Word inside.
PURITY OF HEART
by William Booth
www.amazon.co.uk
or your nearest Salvation Army
supplies or trade
The first of a series of pocket-sized
books intended to help a new generation
of readers become familiar with works
that have come to be regarded as
‘classics’ in Salvationist circles and
beyond. Featuring letters from General
William Booth to Salvationists this
stresses the importance of a clean heart
in Christian ministry.
PRAYERThe Communication of Love
by Lieut-Colonel Ian Southwell
www.salvationarmy.org.au/supplies
Lieut-Colonel Southwell’s book is
for those who want to deepen their
relationship with God and also with
people. He uses the development
of human relationships and the
image of a spiral staircase to
explain a method of developing our
relationship with God. Questions
and activities for each chapter
provide starting points for reflection
and action.
THE THANK YOU PRAYER
by Captain Tracey Davies
and Major Ros Elms
www.salvationarmy.org.au/supplies
Most of us have recited this traditional
prayer as children or in teaching it to
children. Its singsong rhythm makes it
easy for a child to remember and its
simple words fit a child’s understanding.
The illustrations appeal to their
imagination. The last page presents a
conversation starter for further thought
on God’s love and provision for
each of us.
THE SHACK
by Wm Paul Young
Amazon.com
Mack, struggling through the
pain and anger caused by a
personal tragedy, comes
face to face with God –
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This book challenges our
ideas of who God is and
what he wants of us. It
makes the reader think
outside the traditional ideas
of God.
release
Revive 3
23
Front cover: Photo of Colonel Eva Kleman
Back cover: World Day of Prayer, Mark 6:38 in Spanish and English
05 A day and night cry for justiceMAIN FEATURE
20 Freedom to readSOCIAL ISSUE
FEATURES
REAL LIFE
RESOURCES
COLUMNS
09 The mark of a leaderLEADERSHIP
17 Crying out to GodSPIRITUAL LIFE
22 Pressure risingHEALTH
15 Heart2HeartMY STORY
19 ChileSPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE
11 Free and lovedCHILDREN’S MINISTRY
12 African prayer BIBLE STUDY
14 A life of purposeTEEN MINISTRY
04 The editor’s page
10 News
18 The prayer house
23 Coming events/ iQuote
IN EvERy ISSUE
Articles on any subject of
interest to women in ministry
are welcomed by the editor.
To send an article, write to
Subscription details at
www.salvationarmy.org/revive.
JANUARY-MARCH 2011
18
10
2319
A RESOURCE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY AND MISSION
THE SALvATION ARMy
International Headquarters
101 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4EH
United Kingdom
0505
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
Publisher: Commissioner Helen Clifton, World President of Women’s Ministries
Communications Secretary, Editor-in-Chief, Literary Secretary, IHQ:
Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson,
Editor: Lieut-Colonel Carolynne Chung
Designer: Berni Georges
© Shaw Clifton, General of The Salvation Army, 2009
Founders of The Salvation Army: William and Catherine Booth
Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd
4 Revive
the bells of St Paul’sLieut-Colonel Carolynne Chung EDITOR
reactivate
t happens every morning without fail. The quiet toll of the bell
enters my thinking with a soft, calming clang. The sound lasts
just a few seconds but it causes me to stop and take a breath.
I work in the city, surrounded by trains, buses, and thousands
of people hurrying on their daily errands. Quiet it is not! Yet into
this busyness around me and in the office comes a moment of ‘stop
and listen’ when the bell rings.
From my office window in London I can see the bell tower of
St Paul’s Cathedral. The bells have rung for hundreds of years,
marking the passing of the hours and calling
people to prayer.
I find myself wondering ‘Who heard those
bells a 100, 200 years ago? Was their life then as
hectic as mine? Did they long sometimes for
peace and quiet amid their daily life? Did the
bells remind them, like they do me, to stop and pray? Did the bells
remind them that we can be so busy with what seems important that
special moments are missed?’
Often I find myself hurrying from one thing to another, from
project to project, from the office to the shops to the train to the
house to prepare dinner, only to start all over again the next day.
I need to stop and hear the bells. In life’s busy times I need to
stop and pray.
The bells make me look up from the computer and notice
my co-workers – to pause and chat around the coffee table for
a few minutes. They remind me to walk a little slower to the
train station and to be available to show the way to the
many tourists looking for directions in the city. They tell
me to allow God to surprise me in the little moments of each day,
to nudge me to pray for those I meet.
My moment of prayer may be for a weary-looking ticket
collector, or for a co-worker who shares a burden. It may be for the
hundreds of tourists on the bridge across the River Thames just
outside our office building, that God will bless their time in the
city. It may be a prayer of thanksgiving at the sight of the dome of
St Paul’s reflected against a cloudless blue sky (a not-so-common
occurrence!). And I may have missed God’s moment if the bells
had not rung.
I must admit I don’t always hear the bells.
Some days the toot of car horns, an emergency
siren, the chatter and laughter of a group of
children on their way to school – many things
may block out the church bells from my
attention. Some days I am so engrossed in my own thoughts as to
be oblivious to the soft clang of the bells. Something is lost when I
don’t hear them. Gone is the chance to stop and refocus, to pause
and pray.
I hope this issue of Revive will be like the bells of St Paul’s, a
gentle reminder to pause and pray. As 2011 is to be a year of prayer
many articles will help us in our prayer walk. Other articles will,
like my bells, bring specific issues to our prayer attention. As you
read articles about adult literacy, teen girls, and the World Day of
Prayer, pause, thank God, or pray for those you know who face
similar situations. May this issue bring new adventures in your
life of prayer.
As I write the bells are ringing. They are like God’s
quiet voice in my heart, always there, ever speaking. If I
would only anticipate his voice, only take the time to
pause and take a moment to pray, what surprises await!
‘THE BELLS MAKE ME LOOK UP FROMTHE COMPUTER’
I
Revive 5
reveal
A GLOBAL CALL TO PRAYER
a day and night
cry for justice
‘And will not God bring about
justice for his chosen ones, who
cry out to him day and night?
I tell you, he will see that they
get justice, and quickly’
Luke 18: 7-8
report compiled by the United Nations Development
Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 2000 states that more
than one in five women in the USA (22 per cent) is the
victim of physical violence from an intimate partner;
in Turkey, that figure is 58 per cent; in Kenya, 42 per cent; in
Canada, 29 per cent and in Mexico, 27 per cent. Worldwide,
domestic violence is the leading cause of death among girls and
women age 14 to 44 (http://unifem.org). The United Nations
Statistics Division has indicated that, abortion based on gender –
specifically because the fetus was female – has led to as many as
50,000,000 missing girls from India and China, two cultures where
males are preferred due to social and economic structures that
devalue females. Globally the number one reason for abortion is
gender – that the baby is a girl (http://unstats.un.org).
A
Lieut-Colonel Janet Munn
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
6 Revive
reveal
Abuse and violence against females in the 21st
century is just one of the countless issues we face
in the world today. It is certainly one of the
powerful reasons to pray, to cry out night and day,
to the God-of-Justice, on behalf of the oppressed.
The parable told by Jesus of the persistent
widow, as recorded in Luke 18:1-8, is a passage
about the struggle of the powerless for justice (vv
2-3). Jesus’ selection of a widow, a vulnerable woman, as the
protagonist in the parable flies in the face of oppression of females
in our world and fuels our imagination of what can be. This vision
requires nothing less than relentless perseverance until justice is
meted out (v 3:7).
The Struggle of the Powerless for Justice In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared
what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept
coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary’
(Luke 18:2-3).
Jesus’ parable tells of a widow in need of justice but the judge
arbitrating her case was unjust. In Jesus’ day legal cases were always
a matter of a judge deciding to vindicate one party or the other. Such
judges were usually appointed by King Herod or the Romans and
were notorious in their corrupt practices, particularly the expectation
of bribes. The widow is without resources of any kind and has no
hope of ever extracting justice from such a judge.
This woman is a symbol of all who are poor and
defenceless in the face of injustice.
In her book Choosing the Better Part?
Women in the Gospel of Luke, Barbara E. Reid
says that this widow is virtually powerless in that
she has no status compared to the judge or
relative to others who would plead with him.
Widows such as Ruth, Tamar and Anna and the woman in Luke are
biblical women of action and persistence who are vital in
challenging assumptions of widows as poor and helpless as they
demonstrate assertiveness in their willingness to take critical action
for justice and salvation.
This paradox of strength and weakness is intrinsic to the
Kingdom of God and manifest in the essential nature of Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom of Heaven, like a woman with yeast (Luke 13:20-21)
comes not in power and glory but in ‘hiddenness’ and insistence.
The Image of God – As Judge or Vulnerable Widow?Finally [the judge] said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or
care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will
see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out
with her coming’ (Luke 18:4-5).
Here is an unexpected twist in the parable. That God would be
relentlessly pursuing justice is not a new image of the divine. But
‘ABUSE ANDVIOLENCE AGAINSTFEMALES IN THE21ST CENTURY ISJUST ONE OF THECOUNTLESS ISSUESWE FACE’
India Eastern Territorial youth Songsters
in prayer and praise at the world youth
Convention in Sweden
Revive 7
reveal
that God is more akin to a victimised widow than a
powerful judge is startling. She embodies godly
power in the midst of apparent powerlessness.
Followers of Jesus are invited to take up the same
stance: to draw on the power of weakness to
overcome death-dealing powers through intercession,
says Barbara Reid.
We identify with the widow persistently
challenging injustice, injustice meaning anything out
of line with the perfect will of God. In their book Just Imagine,
Major Campbell Roberts and Captain Danielle Strickland define
injustice. ‘Injustice is sin, systems, powers and authorities that
damage the world. Injustice is greed, desire and harmful practices
and beliefs that diminish people and society . . . Social justice is
about putting our whole lives behind the sacrifice of Jesus on the
cross, and partnering with him in redeeming the whole world.’
And so we thank God for his call to The Salvation Army. A call
for nothing less than Salvationists to be on their knees before the
one who alone can bring about a restoration of justice in the earth,
even a holiness revival – A Global Call to 24/7 Prayer: A Day and
Night Cry for Justice.
This call is issued from the office of the General. General Shaw
Clifton calls the Army around the world to non-stop prayer
commencing on 1 January 2011. This is an open-ended call, inviting
believers to focus their prayers globally on justice.
You are invited to join in the day and night cry for justice, with
the same spirit of persevering prayer honoured by Jesus in Luke
18:1-7. Sign up at www.SAGlobal247.org where
monthly prayer topics and information will also be
available.
There is a spiritual readiness among us for this
call. Additionally, the great need of the time in which
we live and serve urges us toward day and night
prayer.
In Luke 18:8 Jesus concludes his teaching with the
question, ‘However, when the Son of Man comes, will
he find faith on the earth?’ Jesus is looking for evidence of faith on
the earth upon his return, in his chosen ones crying out to him day
and night. May The Salvation Army be part of the faith that he finds.
As we look to the future with vision infused by faith let’s dream
God’s dreams, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who alone can do more
than we can ask or imagine.
Looking ahead by faithWhere could this Global Call to 24/7 Prayer lead? How might the
world be different as a result? Just imagine the possibilities
= Tens of thousands of believers will be praying – intentionally
and intensively!
= Prayer rooms will be actively utilised by every age group, by
friends, soldiers, strangers, visitors, those coming to us in need, and
by leaders.
= Prayer rooms will be established as a permanent part of life in
thousands of Salvation Army centres around the world.
= Countless stories of people coming to know the love of
Clockwise from top left; international volunteer workers at Centre for Spiritual
Life Development (CSLD) pray for the world; Salvation Army officers meet at
CSLD for the first International Prayer Leaders Gathering; Captain Young Kim
(USA Eastern Territory) teaching Korean-style prayer at ‘Time to Be Holy 458’,
an international youth holiness retreat prior to the World Youth Convention.
8 Revive
reveal
Christ, testimonies of salvation, stories of healings physical,
emotional, spiritual, and of reconciliation, and deliverance,
will be on our lips.
= Flowing out of the prayer rooms will be fresh and creative
ministries to the poor, the lost, the broken-hearted, children
and youth at risk, oppressed and exploited women and men
without hope.
= There will be a significant increase in people reached for
Jesus Christ. The many individuals and families who come
through our doors will encounter refreshed and revitalised
Salvationists, hearts enflamed with the love of God through
communion with him in prayer and hearts tenderised to the
needs of those around them.
= Every Salvationist will be involved in intentionally
growing in Christ through eager participation in Bible studies,
prayer groups, small group accountability, and spiritual
formation partnerships – to establish in discipleship what has
been ignited, strengthened and refreshed in the prayer room.
= The Salvation Army will be united as an Army on its knees,
crying out to God, night and day, for justice on behalf of the
vulnerable, the oppressed and the exploited.
SECRETARY FOR SPIRITUAL LIFEDEVELOPMENT IHQ
Lieut – Colonel Janet Munn
‘FLOWING OUT OF THE
PRAYER ROOMS WILL BE FRESH ANDCREATIVE MINISTRIES’
dear friends,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus.
This new Year message for 2011 is the last I shallwrite before retirement! I hope the theme inspiresyou, whether you use it personally or as yourwomen’s ministries theme for the year. The themeis Beyond Borders. As always, our hearts go outto you in prayer as we look ahead. my ownprayers will continue even when I am no longer inmy appointment.
We need to reach out in our prayers to those whoare across borders from us in the political world orthe cultural world.
We need to be praying for them, that they willsomehow hear the Word of the Lord and besaved.
Please make this your prayer and your desire inthe coming year with an intensity you have not feltbefore.
‘The earth and everything on it belong to the
Lord. The world and its people belong to him’
(Psalm 24:1).
The General and I send our love in Christ to youand our prayers for the whole world.
With warmest greetings.
Yours in Christ,
Helen Clifton, CommissionerWorLd PreSIdenT of Women’S mInISTrIeS
BEYONDBORDERS
Revive 9
Marion NdetaKENYA EAST TERRITORY
Columnist for 2011
redefine leadership
hoosing, finding or becoming a leader is a risky
business, because the future of all the people within the
leader’s responsibility is at stake. Leading means
making sure that your followers’ future is secure.
John MacArthur in Wanted: A Few Good Shepherds (Must Know
How to Wash Feet) states that ‘church leadership is ministry not
management. Those whom God designates as leaders are called not
to be governing monarchs but humble slaves. Not slick celebrities
but labouring servants. A leader must exemplify sacrifice, devotion,
submission and lowliness’.
Who then is a good leader? While
modernisation may present church leadership as
glamorous, the apostle Paul describes the
difficulties of leadership as sacrifice, labour,
service and hardship. These words do not in any
way express glamour. They eloquently speak of
the complexity and varied responsibilities of a
Christian leader, in this case referring to all facets of church
leadership. Remember, all may have a vision, skill and the will to
lead.
While we look on the outside, God looks on the inside. So what
does God look for in a leader? Anyone who claims to be a Christian
must know Christ. How can you tell they know Christ? First, one will
confess with her mouth and believe in her heart that Christ is Lord. She
will be in communion with Christ. Secondly, and most critical, God
must know her (the leader). Of Christ, God said, ‘This is my Son, whom
I love, and I am very pleased with him’ (Matthew 3:17). Christ said,
‘But if I do what my Father does, even though you don’t believe in me,
believe what I do’ (John 10:38). James says, ‘Someone might say, “You
have faith, but I have deeds”. Show me your faith without doing
anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do’ (James 2:18). The
words of Christ and James witness to their knowledge of God.
Therefore, a leader will give of self fully. She will not just sit and wield
power, barking commands. Church leadership is not for dictators. ‘No
flock can survive and prosper if its shepherds try to
trade their staffs for thrones,’ states MacArthur.
the mark of a
C
Leadership is influence. Take Moses for example, who led God’s
people out of Egypt. His job was not just to lead them across the
Red Sea, but also to lead them to God. His mission was not complete
until he had led them to God. They had to know God as he did. It is
one thing to lead people out of trouble and quite another to lead them
to God. Christ says, ‘Feed my sheep’ (John 21:15).
Giving an account of his work on earth, Jesus said, ‘While I was
with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name
you gave me. I protected them, and only one of them, the one worthy
of destruction was lost …’ (John 17:12).
He gave an account of what God had given him to work with. He
gave a report of what he had done – and the one who was lost. A
leader must be accountable – this is true stewardship.
She gives an account of what she has been given. A
steward must be faithful with what they have.
After identifying the leader, we want to know
what her agenda is. We have to know what she wants
to achieve. Christ says, ‘… these things I do are not
by my own authority but that I say only what the
Father has taught me’ (John 8:28). These are the
words of Christ, the leader of Christians, which sets the agenda for
Christian leadership. Before his crucifixion Christ said, ‘I pray that
what you want will be done’ (Matthew 26:42). He had a choice not
to endure death’s pain, but he surrendered to the will of the Father.
A leader has to seek God’s will and fulfil it.
‘The master answered, “You did well. You are a good and loyal
servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you
care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me”.
(Matthew 25:23)
…Are you a good steward? Are you faithful to your task?
Christian
‘CHURCHLEADERSHIP ISMINISTRY NOTMANAGEMENT’
All Scripture references are from
The New Century Version
leader
10 Revive
reconnect
newsAUSTRALIA
Townsville Riverway Corps
Memory Makers is a ministry to women at
the Townsville Riverway Corps in Australia
Eastern Territory. It commenced in 2008 with
eight members, it has grown now to 32. The
recipe is easy. Take a group of women with a
supply of photos. Mix liberally with good
food, a relaxed atmosphere and helpful
instruction. Sprinkle with encouragement and
stir with love. The result is a wonderful day
making new friends while preserving old
memories.
The corps and the Recovery Services share
the ministry. Officers from both centres share
in leadership. The opportunities for building
relationships and pastoral care are endless.
One woman new to Memory Makers has
since invited four others who are inviting
more women! And the inviting woman has
since started coming to church with her
daughter. Memory Makers Ministry!
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
To mark the General’s Calls to Prayer for
Peace and for Victims of Sex Trade
Trafficking in September 2010, officers and
lay staff participated in 40 hours of prayer at
International Headquarters. The prayer
sessions took place in the International
Headquarters chapel on the first floor that
had been suitably decorated by the zonal
offices, highlighting projects relevant to
prayer topics from their zones.
Participants spent 30 minutes at a time in
prayer. Some 57 officers and 13 lay staff
took part in these moments of faith.
Clockwise from top left: praying light into the
darkness; chapel at IHQ; praying for Papua New
Guinea; praying for world’s needs; praying for Africa
‘THE OPPORTUNITIES FORBUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ANDPASTORAL CARE ARE ENDLESS’
Clockwise from top
left: young Memory
Makers!; sharing
memories; Memory
Makers at work
Revive 11
CH
ILD
RE
N
resources
free and loved
linked to different expectations. Consider
the way we talk to babies. Girls can be
addressed in soft tones compared to the
more powerful way we talk to boys.
remember hearing the expression
‘boys don’t cry’? What message
does that send to boys who are
naturally more sensitive in nature?
Because of different treatment
from their earliest years boys and
girls may be given different opportunities
to develop skills, characteristics and
interests.
to some extent these are
generalisations, but we know that some
people are treated differently because of
their gender and, as a result of this, unjust
situations can arise. the views of gender
have changed over time, but despite these
changes it is still hard to alter patterns.
the challenge today is not really about
equality. it is not about forcing people to
do things they don’t like or have no talent
for, nor even to become perfectly equal.
Our challenge is to give children the
opportunities to choose.
Men and women, boys and girls will
always be different. and that is good! God
created it so. But he also gave us all
opportunities to develop and learn.
Jesus treated men and women,
children, the sick, the poor and the rich
with love and compassion. that is our
calling, to see the person behind age,
social status or gender, and to give small
boys and girls the same opportunities to
explore the future – free and loved.
Colonel Eva Kleman
TERRITORIAL SECRETARYFOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIESSWEDEN AND LATVIATERRITORY
Colonel Eva KlemanSWEDEN AND LATVIA TERRITORY
ssk
Read about girls and women inthe Bible – Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther,Mary, Mary Magdalene or Marthafor example. Put yourself in abiblical woman’s shoes andimagine the opportunities she mayhave been denied because of herposition or gender.
Pray for the children in ourfamilies, youth groups, andschools – that each is treatedwith respect.
.
Ta
Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes
each of you equal with each other, whether
you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free
person, a man or a woman. so if you
belong to Christ, you are now part of
abraham's family, and you will be given
what God has promised.
Galatians 3:28,29
Contemporary English Version.
in Christ's family there can be no division
into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male
and female. among us you are all equal.
that is, we are all in a common relationship
with Jesus Christ. also, since you are
Christ's family, then you are abraham's
famous descendant, heirs according to the
covenant promises.
Galatians 3:28,29 The Message
We are told that, in Christ, all people are
equal – but how do we show this in action
towards young girls and boys in our
ministry? What changes may be called for?
Do we tend to have separate behavioural
expectations for girls and boys?
When i grew up i knew nothing about
‘equality’. i had two brothers and one sister
and we all learned how to ride bikes and
how to hammer, as well as doing our own
laundry and learning to cook. i remember
my mother painting the walls in our
summerhouse, as well as knitting
sweaters, and my father was a skilled cook
even if he was an engineer by profession.
all that was natural to me. i didn’t know it
could be seen as ‘equality’.
My brothers cried when they fell from
the bike, as did my sister and i. My sister
was brave and often protected her twin
brother. i didn’t know that was about
equality. i just thought it was about being
fair. i remember our father talking to us
about what we wanted to become when
we grew up. My sister was skilled in
mathematics and my brothers were
interested in psychology and economics.
there were no boundaries, just choices to
make about our education and future, no
matter the gender.
Yet often men and women are treated
differently. From birth boys and girls are
12 Revive
frican Salvationists are greatly challenged these days
concerning prayer. They see many different ways of
prayer that cause them to consider their own prayer
expression. Observing how others pray can help us
all to grow in our understanding of prayer. It can sometimes also
cause confusion. Some Christians use loud
hand-clapping in prayer as if to catch God’s
attention or sometimes to keep themselves
awake! Others shout loudly, punch the air or
jump up and down – actions which may
suggest that God needs to be strongly
persuaded to listen and answer. Still others
repeat words or phrases, each time louder than
the time before – to drive out the devil or to
convince God that they mean what they say.
Some go even further, taking brooms and ‘sweeping out the devil’.
These exuberant expressions can tempt us to ask ourselves,
‘Should we also pray like this? Are our prayers weak when we do
not use these methods? Is this really how God wants his children to
talk with him?’
In Africa when we visit a local chief, do we enter with noise and
arm-waving to catch the chief’s attention and force him to listen to
us? No. That would be very disrespectful. Rather, when we visit the
chief we enter calmly, respectfully. We may remove our shoes or
we may kneel. We wait for him to prompt us. We listen intently
when he speaks. Often in Africa we speak to the chief through a
‘linguist’, a representative who goes between the chief and us. The
linguist knows how to present our words to the chief and enables
us to understand clearly what the chief is saying to us.
God is the Chief of all Chiefs (see Revelation
17:14). When we talk with him in prayer we do so
respectfully, as to a chief. We do not need to shout,
clap, or jump up and down. Indeed, to do so may
imply that we do not respect him. We pray in the
name of Jesus, like speaking through a linguist,
knowing that God will hear and answer (see John
14:13-14). We do this not by shouting Jesus’ name
with great emphasis but by speaking it confidently,
with respect, like speaking through a linguist.
PR
AY
ER
resources
‘OBSERVING HOWOTHERS PRAY CANHELP US ALL TOGROW IN OURUNDERSTANDING’
AfricAnimAgesof prAyer
Lieut-Colonel Margaret WickingsINTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Lieut-Colonel margaret Wickings is a British officer who served
in Ghana, Zambia and east Africa and is now under-secretary for
Central and West Africa at IHQ. Prayer is a vital part of her life.
Her memory is full of her African ‘family’ at prayer, in all its
fervency and spiritual depth. Her thoughts on what she has seen
in Africa, especially practices brought into the church from other
religions and traditions, may cause all who pray to examine their
prayer expression in the light of the nature of God.
A
Revive 13
Consider a child speaking to his father. Some children rush into
their father’s presence noisily, trying to force him to agree with
their ideas. Some feel they must compete with their siblings in this
way to catch his attention. Does a father encourage that method?
Not usually. A loving father whose child speaks to him like that
may say, ‘Slow down, calm down. I am here. I am not far away.
You do not have to catch my attention. I am listening already. Do
not try to force me. I will do what I see best for you.’
God says the same to us. He wants us to come close to him, to
share our thoughts and ideas with him. At times we may speak in
excitement. He loves to see our passion, our enthusiasm and our
love of life. He also wants to hear our anger and to share our pain.
But he does so as one who is close to us, not far away – as one who
understands and cares, not as one whose interest we need to stir
first. We do not have to impress him by noise or physical actions.
We do not have to ‘twist his arm’ to get him to do what we ask.
Do you remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount
Carmel (1 Kings 18:25-38)? The Baal prophets shouted and
jumped. They became more and more out of control as they
frantically tried to catch Baal’s attention – and nothing happened.
In contrast, Elijah took time and care to rebuild God’s altar. He
acted calmly and purposefully. He confidently spoke to God in
rational terms. And God answered.
As for driving out the devil – that is not really our work at all.
Jesus has already done it (John 16:11b, 33)! God has won the
victory over evil through Jesus’ death. We do not need to fight that
battle again. The victory is won! He has dealt with the devil
already. The devil cannot harm us when we stand with God. Use
the name of Jesus, not by excited shouting but in confident faith.
The devil likes to draw attention to himself and not to Jesus. The
devil loves to hear us ‘sweeping him away’ by words and actions,
because that credits him with a higher place than he deserves.
When we stand firm in Jesus, with a calm and strong faith, there
is no place for the devil to interfere. We stand with our Almighty
Father, with our ‘Chief of all Chiefs’. The devil is already beneath
God’s feet, where he belongs (see Ephesians 1:20-22). God is in
control. Shouting, arm-waving, clapping or jumping – and all the
other things we might be tempted to do in prayer – become
meaningless when we realise this.
Like a child who keeps calling ‘Father! Father!’ even though
his father is holding him in his arms, our forceful words and actions
in prayer may make God sad. He wants us to trust him, to speak to
him as to one who loves us deeply and then he wants us to live
confidently, knowing that he holds everything in his hands.
Afua Kuma, a Ghanaian Christian woman, prayed using
familiar images of life in her village. She approached God with
words natural to her experience – even speaking about the mamba
snake – confidently assured that God hears and answers. We too,
can pray out of our daily lives, as we approach our Heavenly
Father.
Jesus: you are as solid as a rock!
the green mamba dies at the sight of Jesus.
iron rod that cannot be coiled into a head-pad;
the cobra turns on his back, prostrate before you!
Jesus, you are the elephant hunter, Fearless One!
You have killed the evil spirit, and cut off its head!
the drums of the king have announced it in the morning.
all your attendants lead the way, dancing with joy.
PR
AY
ER
resources
[Kuma, Afua 1981 Jesus of the Deep Forest.
Accra: Asempa Publishers. page 7}
‘Opposite page: when a believing person prays, great things happen’ James 5:16New Century Version; this page, top to bottom; ‘If two or three people come togetherin my name, I am there with them’ Matthew 18:20. New Century Version; ‘And pray inthe Spirit on all occasions ... always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people’Ephesians 6:18. New International Version
Lieut-Colonel Margaret WickingsINTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Top left: Teen girls learning
new skills; centre: enjoying
‘Sketch night’; bottom:
studying God’s word
14 Revive
resources
he first camp for teenage girls
in Spain, planned by Lieut-
Colonel Aida Castillo, took
place on 4-10 July 2010
where 40 girls enjoyed four days with
activities especially prepared for them.
Guest leaders were Captains Marcelo and
Ximena Delmastro, South America West
Territory, who were in charge of the
programme. Every day the girls learned
something new. Each day began with a
devotional led by one of the Spanish
officers on staff and then Captain Marcelo
Delmastro brought us a dynamic and fresh
Bible study where the girls could share
experiences and opinions in groups.
Later Captain Ximena Delmastro
taught the various purposes of the Junior
Home League programme.
FELLOWSHIP – All the girls had to use
their creativity and imagination to create a
friendship card, which they later
exchanged with each other.
SERVICE – After putting on a headscarf
everyone participated in the practical work
of service to the camp by cleaning an area.
EDUCATION – We learned the
importance of taking care of the outside
and inside of our life.
After a mid-morning recharge with a small
snack, there was a time for workshops.
These included choral singing, dancing,
crafts and theatre. The girls had
opportunity to continue learning new
things they could implement in their
corps. They also discovered and
developed their talents.
After a full morning of activities they
had free time in the afternoon, enjoying
the swimming pool and also preparing for
the evening programme.
During the first evening programme,
the campers enjoyed different versions of
stories presented by the girls. Awards
went to the girls from Palomeras Corps
group with their presentation of
Cinderella, the girls from Valdemoro
Corps with another version of Cinderella,
and the girls form Barcelona Corps with
their presentation called A Different Story.
The second night was an extremely
happy time because it was Sketch Night.
The Delmastro family performed two very
funny sketches and the girls from
Valdemoro, Palomers and Alicante Corps
combined for a presentation of Waka
Waka, the official anthem of the 2010
World Cup. The Barcelona girls also
presented an entertaining version of the
story of Jonah.
During the final programme the girls
presented all that they had learned during
the week’s workshops. The programme for
that night was called My Offering to God
and included dance, drama and chorus.
The best thing that happened in the
camp was that all the girls took part in the
different activities. In the final programme
the camp staff recognised outstanding
representatives of the four Junior Home
League purposes.
= Service: Camilla from Alicante Corps
= Education: Daniela from
Barcelona Corps
= Worship: Magalis from Madrid
Central Corps
= Fellowship: Nuria from Valdemoro
Corps.
A recognition, called ‘Revelation’ was
given to the girls who made advances and
developed skills and qualities in their life
during the camp.
Friday was set apart for the fourth
Junior Home League purpose – worship.
Several girls shared about their
experiences of the camp. Captain
Ximnena Delmastro brought the word of
God in a clear manner. During the time of
prayer many girls came to the Lord
looking for a heart that pleases God. It
was a very moving moment with so many
girls renewing their commitment to God.
As a result of the teenage girls camp it
is planned to commence the Junior Home
League programmed in six corps in Spain.
There will be another camp for teen girls
in 2011.
We praise the Lord for these wonderful
experiences
‘don’t let anyone put you down
because you’re young; teach
believers with your life; by word,
by love, by demeanour, by faith,
by integrity,’
1 Timothy 4:12 The Message
T
TE
EN
S
purposea life of
Paula AguileraSPAIN TERRITORY
Revive 15
o doubt, many of us have often asked someone to ‘let’s get
together for coffee and a chat’. And if we think about it
there are probably many more women with whom we would
love to share coffee and conversation. Maybe there are
women we have admired from a distance because their love for the Lord
radiates and they have rich experiences to share. We would love to hear
what motivates them. Well, there is a way this can happen. We can
schedule a time for our own enrichment.
Heart2Heart on Ministry Matters is a podcast from IHQ offering just
these kind of meaningful ‘chats’ to help grow us in faith. Please join us
by going to the IHQ website (www.salvationarmy.org). Once there just
scroll down the right side to Heart2Heart and click.
The 2011 Heart2Heart season commences with a discussion with
Major Anne Read (Anti-Trafficking Response Coordinator, UK Territory
with Republic of Ireland). She graciously helps us understand issues
surrounding anti-trafficking by giving practical helps for our personal,
obedient involvement.
Major Read is the daughter of officers who have served in the social
services. From when she was a child Anne learned to have a heart for
people who were often marginalised. Her training as a teacher taught her
communication skills and her early years as a Salvation Army officer in
large industrial cities in the north of England further shaped her life for
her present appointment. A portion of the full transcript of the podcast
follows:
ON MINISTRY
MATTERS
Commissioner Sue SwansonWORLD SECRETARY FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
NCommissioner Sue: It’s amazing how God brings our
appointments and uses everything not just for the
present, but also for the future. How has he gifted you?
Major Anne: I get involved with causes and with people. I
love talking about things that mean a lot to me. even some
of my experiences in teacher training have helped me in
communication.
Sue: Tell us how you came to this appointment
Anne: When we knew we would be leaving our previous
appointment I was considering whether I should speak to
leadership – I wanted to have some role in the area of
social justice. I thought and prayed but never had that
conversation. When leadership talked to me about working
in this area [anti-trafficking] I could have fallen off my chair!
Sue: Well you did have this conversation with leadership
– with the Lord!
Anne: now I feel it incumbent on me to honour his trust in
me in this appointment.
Sue: Speak to us to me about anti-trafficking. What are
the issues?
Anne: All over the world today there are men, women and
my story
16 Revive
my story
‘IF THIS IS MODERNDAY SLAVERY GODWANTS HIS PEOPLETO BE SET FREE’
children who are held in slavery, who have
been trafficked – bought and sold into
sometimes domestic servitude, sometimes
labour exploitation but more often than not
into the sex trade. Women are the largest
number of victims.
It’s a very lucrative trade. It’s happening in
our cities, but also in our towns and even
villages and it’s got to be stopped.
Sue: What has contributed to this being
such a dire issue?
Anne: There are a number of factors why
this is: the ease of crossing borders,
people’s greed for easy money. You need no
skill to traffic women into the sex trade. You
need no qualifications – all you need to have
is that greedy, evil spirit.
And too, the prevalence of pornography
opens people’s minds to possibilities that
perhaps weren’t in their minds at one time.
Sue: What about the Christian community
– is there part of us in the Christian
community that has our eyes closed? We
don’t want to believe?
Anne: That could well be the case – even
talking about the sex trade makes us feel
uncomfortable. Talking about pornography is
not the kind of conversation we have over
coffee.
Sue: What do you see as God’s priority for
you now– how do you take this massive
topic and say, ‘Lord what is the next thing
you want me to do?’
Anne: I have opportunities to speak on
home office committees. I meet with police,
border agencies – I have a lot of
opportunities to be an advocate. In my first
year I have had a great deal to learn in areas
I had no knowledge and understanding of
immigration or the rights of the victims of
trafficking. my challenge is to mobilise The
Salvation Army to stop the trafficking.
Sue: How? What are some ways we can
do that?
Anne: As individuals there are lots of things
we can do. Sometimes we feel ‘this is too
big for me’ – but there are lots of small
things we can do. If you can afford to buy
two coffees a week then you can afford to
sponsor a little girl who could be the victim
of trafficking if she doesn’t receive education
and alleviation from the poverty she is living in.
If we buy chocolate that doesn’t have a fair
trade mark on it – there is a high chance
that the cocoa bean has been harvested by
a child who should be in education but is
instead working long hours with a machete
in their hands harvesting the cocoa bean.
We must think about how our children view
women – ensuring that they grow up
respecting women, even in their
conversations.
We need to be on our knees, really bringing
before the Lord the victims of trafficking and
asking for wisdom, how we as individuals,
as corps, as communities can engage and
actually do something that will make a
difference.
This is an evil trade – I think it goes to the
heart of God’s pain for his people. If this is
modern day slavery God wants his people to
be set free. He calls us to respond to his
heart for those who are held in slavery.
I network with people from other countries. It
is fantastic when I am sitting in groups at the
Home office I can say, ‘I know somebody. If
you need someone I can make a call to my
counterpart in ... , it’s an extraordinary thing
we can offer people.
Major Anne Read
UNITED KINGDOMTERRITORY WITHREPUBLIC OF IRELAND
’m comforted by the fact that I am not alone in the habit of
crying out to God, pleading with him – yes even begging
more than once.
It’s a familiar theme throughout the Scriptures, people
like you and me coming before the Almighty and laying out their
case. There is Moses, Job, Elijah and Habakkuk to name a few.
In 2 Corinthians 12:8 we find Paul begging God for something
he couldn’t work out for himself.
We know that in Paul’s case the issue is what he described as a
‘thorn in the flesh’. There have been many debates about what
exactly this represented for Paul but perhaps because Scripture
does not specify the problem we are able to relate more to his
begging. Yet his begging didn’t result in removal of the thorn,
although that is not to say he didn’t get an answer. He
did. But not the answer that a mindset focused on self
wants to hear.
Are you frustrated when you anticipate an answer
and it comes – just not the one you want?
In the case of Paul God chose not to take away ‘the
thorn’ which Paul saw as his weakness. Of all people,
surely Paul could have got God’s attention and gained
what he wanted. But he didn’t.
And despite the negative answer Paul received he
stayed following God, moved on in his thinking and the
encounter is recorded for our edification.
On the journey between begging (v 8) and boasting
(v 9) Paul must have changed greatly in his mindset. A
full stop at the end of verse eight and a new sentence
doesn’t explain the great change in his heart.
God did not want Paul’s life to be defined by the problem or the
process. A question to ask is: ‘What are we letting ourselves be
defined by?’ Is it:
= our hardships and difficulties – our areas of weakness?
= what the world says about us – the labels it gives us?
= or the grace God offers?
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul says ‘I will boast more gladly about my
weaknesses’.
Did he do this so that:
= people would feel sorry for him?
= others would do for him what he really could do for himself?
= he would operate in learned behaviours and remain the victim?
No. Paul said he was glad ‘so that the power of Christ may
work through me’ (New Living Translation).
Paul then has not only accepted his weaknesses and learned to
Revive 17
Columnist for2011
Major Beth TwiveyAUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY
refresh spiritual life
live with them but he also takes pleasure in them.
He says: ‘I am well content ... for when I am weak,
then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10, New
American Standard).
This is the paradox that leads from begging to
boasting.
The world says that without human strength we
are destined to fail and without personal courage
we are bound to falter. However wonderful these
qualities are they have the ability to push us to self-
sufficiency and away from God-dependency.
God knows enough about our character to
realise that if he always gives us what we beg for
our spiritual life and influence can become insipid
and have no power. We need to learn to lean more on his abundant
provision of grace and less on our own strength.
Let Paul have the last word then, as he boasts of the ‘surpassing
grace God has given .... thanks be to God for his indescribable gift’
(2 Corinthians 9:14,15).
‘WHYDOESN’T
GOD COMETHROUGHTHE WAY WETHINK HESHOULDWHEN WEBEG?’
God
Icrying
out
to
crying
out
to
Unless stated otherwise Scriptures are from New International Version.
18 Revive
‘THEY ALL JOINED TOGETHER CONSTANTLY IN PRAYER’ (ACTS 1:14 NIv)
1 Women from Chile prepared the World Day of Prayer resources used by WDP worship around
the world. Pray for the women of Chile as they give of their strength and talents in family and
community building.
2 The World Day of Prayer will touch millions around the world. Pray for women to respond
to the Bible stories and offer their talents to God.
3 Pray for members of the High Council – that they will perceive the will of God, that there will be
unity among them as they meet and that God’s grace will be evident in all proceedings.
4 Pray for the person who will be elected international leader of The Salvation Army,
that he or she will granted wisdom, grace and health to lead the Army in the future.
theprayerhouse
HigHCounCil2011
The 2011 World day of Prayer (WdP) theme is ‘How many
loaves have you?’ Programme and worship resources were
prepared by the women of Chile. It is based on two Bible
narratives that speak of God’s provision of daily food. Both
stories tell how God multiplies the resources we offer him.
The artist for the embroidery illustrating the theme was norma
Ulloa of Concepción. norma learned embroidery using flour bags
and wool. She was encouraged to use her imagination rather
than copying a pattern. Before starting her embroidery work on
the WdP theme she took into account what life would have been
like in Jesus’ time. The embroidery focuses on Christ’s praying
and healing as well as God’s provision of bread.
The High Council meets to elect a new international leader of
The Salvation Army in January 2011. Salvation Army leaders
from across the world will meet to elect the next General. The
High Council will meet at Sunbury Court near London, United
Kingdom. much time will be spent praying for spiritual
discernment, wisdom and understanding prior to the election
process. Prayer is requested for the 109 members of the High
Council as they seek God’s guidance in these important days.
for the first time in its history the High Council will have more
women members than men.Left: Sunbury Court conference building
Right: High Council chambers
PRAY FOR
wORLD DAY OF PRAYER
‘How Many Loaves Have You?
he year 2010 has been a year
that will forever be indelibly
inscribed in the hearts and
minds of every Chilean. It was
a year that brought incredible lows and
highs from the large earthquake and
tsunami to the country’s bicentennial
celebration and the miners’ rescue.
Through these events the fortitude and
perseverance of the people of Chile were
strengthened. There was a new unity as
citizens joined to celebrate victory and to
support each other in loss. Nowhere was
this unity more evident than in the actions
of the women of The Salvation Army’s
South America West Territory.
At 3:34 am on 27 February their world
was shaken by the 8.8 magnitude
earthquake. Within hours a team of women
from Valparaiso Corps travelled to
Concepción, the city nearest to the
epicentre. These dedicated women
sprang into action, wielding
shovels and wheelbarrows
to assist. They served food
and beverages to the
victims and, most
importantly, ministered
in prayerful support to
the families who had lost
so much.
A tsunami caused by the
earthquake brought even more
devastation to the already hard-hit area of
Concepción. Little remains of the once-
quaint fishing village of Dichato. The fierce
waves of the tsunami swept away the small
businesses and shops. Most of the residents
who remained now live in government
provided mediaguas or cabins.
Revive 19
T
Home League members from
Concepción and Hualpencillo Corps have
been actively ministering in small coastal
towns. The women – in spite of losing their
own homes – reached out to others, visiting
with food, clothing, towels and blankets,
even sometimes sleeping in the
camps with the residents.
As the relationship
between the women and
the families in Dichato
grew closer, the Home
League members saw
how lonely and hurting
the families were. The
solution? Yarn! Each
week, a group of women from
the local corps travels to Dichato
for the Club de Tejir (Knitting Club). The
purpose is three-fold: diversion from an
otherwise dreary day; acquisition of new
skills for possible family income; much-
needed outlet for sharing and support.
Meeting in the local plaza with a few
women, no needles and little yarn, they
taught each other how to knit using
their fingers. The group has grown to
30-40 members. They now meet in a
community centre and have
purchased the needed knitting
supplies. Many of the women in this
group are wives of local fishermen,
whose income was swept away when the
tsunami destroyed boats and nets. Some
lost homes, some lost their livelihood, some
lost both.
One member owned six small rental
properties in Dichato prior to the disaster.
She was a business-woman of means who
lost everything. She told me, ‘I left my
house in my pajamas, with nothing else’.
She was very depressed for weeks but has
found a sense of peace through the Club de
Tejir. She said, ‘I didn’t believe in God
before this all happened. Now I believe’.
The corps continues to offer support.
There is a Bible Study and a weekly
Sunday School for the children of the area.
The Territorial Women’s Ministries
Department sponsored a school supply
campaign in which home leagues
throughout Chile, Perú, Bolivia and
Ecuador raised funds to provide notebooks,
pens, paper, etc. to more than 300 children.
Even in difficulty we see the hand of
God. We salute these women of God who
live Christ in their community. ‘She opens
her arms to the poor and extends her hands
to the needy. (Proverbs 31:20 NIV)
TERRITORIALSECRETARY
FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
SOUTH AMERICAWEST TERRITORY
Lieut-Colonel Lorraine BamfordSOUTH AMERICA WEST TERRITORY
Lieut-Colonel Lorraine Bamford
open armsopen arms
From top: praying for comfort;
practical service amid devastation;
women learning to knit
spotlight
on service
20 Revive
reality
magine going to an important business
meeting where paperwork is
distributed as you enter the room. The
chairperson asks everyone present to
read the papers and indicates he will be
asking for comments.
You reach into your bag to get your
glasses (you can’t read without them) only
to discover they are not there. The room is
silent as everyone reads the information
they have just received. Feeling self-
conscious you pretend that you are also
reading.
When the chairperson opens the
meeting for discussion and asks people to
indicate whether they are for or against the
proposal you feel totally excluded and hope
you won’t be asked for your opinion as you
have not been able to come to any informed
decision. Any conclusions you come to on
the topic can only be based on what you
have gleaned from the discussion. You
leave the meeting feeling totally excluded
from the decisions reached because you
have not been able to take an active,
informed part in the discussion.
ILiteracy, the ability to read, is
something most people in the developed
world take for granted. It wasn’t until
October last year – when I met women who
were attending literacy classes, run by The
Salvation Army in rural villages in Tanzania
and Malawi – that I realised how excluded
and disempowered people who had never
been able to access even a basic education
felt. As I listened to what a difference being
able to read was making in their lives, I
realised how vital it is that women can
attend literacy classes so they can be
actively included in village life and able to
change the future for generations to come.
Here are some examples women shared
with me of the difference being able to read
makes to their lives:
= I can read street signs now and I can go
to town by myself.
= I can read my Bible.
= I don’t have to ask what bus to catch as
I can read where it is going.
= I know how much change to give when
I sell my produce; people used to trick me
when they knew I didn’t know the value of
money.
= Now people know I can read they don’t
make fun of me anymore.
= People now treat me like an equal.
= I can read and sign my name.
‘ABILITY TO READ, ISSOMETHING MOSTPEOPLE IN THEDEVELOPED WORLDTAKE FOR GRANTED’
now people know
I can read
Major Vyvyenne Nokes NEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TONGA TERRITORY
Revive 21
reality
= I am going to make sure my girl children
go to school so they can read.
An elderly woman of 68 in Malawi
attended our literacy classes last year, but
unfortunately failed the government
examination for certificate qualification.
Life expectancy for women in Malawi is 52
years so she has outlived her peers by 16
years. The people in her community
laughed at her, telling her she was too old.
During a community conversation
meeting she testified: ‘Although I am too
old, God has done great things in my life. I
am now able to read the Bible, something
which I never dreamed could happen in my
life. I can even read HIV/Aids messages,
and for that I thank Almighty God.’
Literacy classes have empowered this
elderly woman to be fully engaged in the
life of her community. She can read facts
about HIV/Aids and can informatively
guide younger people in her village.
Although elderly, she can now be totally
included in village life.
Regardless of our gender and whether
we live in a developed or developing
country, as human beings we all have a
basic need to feel we belong – to feel
valued and included in the life of our family
and community. The fact that
literacy/education is a universal human
need/right was recognised by the United
Nations in 2000, resulting in the second
Millennium Development Goal being to
‘achieve universal primary education’.
From an editorial in In Touch with the World
the salvation army nZF, July 2010
= one in four adults in the
developing world – 872 million
people – is illiterate (oxfam UK –
education now campaign)
= more than 100 million
children remain out of school
(UnfPA)
= 46 per cent of girls in the
world’s poorest countries have
no access to primary education
(ActionAid)
= more than one in four adults
cannot read or write: two thirds
of these are women (ActionAid)
= Universal primary education
would cost US $10 billion a year
(ActionAid)
= Young people who have
completed primary education
are less than half as likely to
contract HIV as those missing
their education. Universal
primary education would
prevent 700,000 cases of HIV
each year – about 30 per cent
of all new infections are in this
age group (oxfam).
Major Vyvyenne Nokes
OVERSEASDEVELOPMENT OFFICERNEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TONGATERRITORY
Did you know?
22 Revive
reshapehea
lth
hat is blood pressure and why is it
important?
Blood pressure is the pressure
produced in the blood vessels by the
heart pumping blood around the body. The measurement
of blood pressure comprises two numbers – the higher
number is the pressure when the heart is contracting to pump the
blood and the lower number is the pressure when the heart is
relaxing between contractions. A normal blood pressure is
120/80mm Hg.
If the blood pressure is too low then the blood is not
pumping to all areas, especially to the head,
which is the highest point on standing and so
requires the highest pressure. When this
happens it can be the cause of light-
headedness and fainting. It may be normal for
some to have blood pressures lower than
120/80 as long as it doesn’t cause a problem. Low blood
pressure does not cause damage, unlike high blood pressure.
If the blood pressure remains high for a long time it causes
damage to the blood vessels, which are then not able to carry the
blood effectively. This can happen to all blood vessels but some
organs in the body are more sensitive to the lack of adequate
blood supply, especially the brain, eyes, kidneys, heart and feet.
Because of this, untreated high blood pressure results in a much
higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness
and peripheral vascular disease.
We become aware of our blood pressure when it is either too
low or extremely high. If it is moderately raised we usually
remain unaware of this. This moderate elevation of blood
pressure is often known as a ‘silent killer’ as we do not
recognise the problem until we experience the complications of
a heart attack or stroke. Because of this it is recommended that
people be screened for high blood pressure from the age of 40
years old.
Blood pressure tends to rise with age as deposits of
cholesterol make the blood vessels less flexible. In addition, the
control system for blood pressure, located in the brain, becomes
less reliable. This means blood pressure not only
increases but also becomes more variable. Treating
high blood pressure aims to keep the blood pressure
below 150/90, below 135/85 for those with extra risk
factors such as diabetes or heart disease.
Several lifestyle factors can affect blood pressure.
Smoking, high alcohol intake, obesity and lack of exercise can all
contribute to high blood pressure. For this reason health authorities
always advise people to address these issues.
Many people need to take medication to control their blood
pressure. There is a large variety of medications and people
respond differently to the various types. There
are some clues as to which would be best for an
individual but sometimes it is a case of trial and
error until the correct medicine is found for a
person. The dosage may need to be increased as
our bodies age.
Once blood pressure medication has been started it usually
needs to be continued as a lifelong treatment. If it is stopped the
blood pressure can return to its previous high level. If medication
is stopped suddenly the resulting increase can occur rapidly and
cause serious damage, so it
is important never to stop
medication suddenly.
Major Eirwen Pallant
W
‘LIFESTYLE FACTORSCAN AFFECTBLOOD PRESSURE’
It is important to have
your blood pressure
checked regularly
wATCH YOUR
pressure rising?pressure rising?
BLOOD PRESSURE
Major (Dr) Eirwen Pallant is InternationalHealth Services Coordinator at IHQ. Her IHQappointment sees her working three days aweek at IHQ and two days practicing in thecommunity as a GP (family doctor).
Address any lifestyle issuesmentioned above with the help ofyour medical personnel. developgood practice in caring for your
health as you age
Revive 23
11th International
Wesleyan/Holiness
Women Clergy Conference
2011
How many Loaves
Have you?
Major Eirwen Pallant
MARCH 2011 MARCH-APRIL 2011 4 MARCH 2011
the 55th un COMMissiOn On
The status of WomenNEw YORK CITY, USA
www.un.org
ofCHILE
www.worlddayofprayer
How many Loaves
Have you?
Drop thy still dews of quietnessTill all our strivings cease;Take from our souls the strain and stress,And let our ordered lives confessThe beauty of thy peace.
JOHN GREENLEAF wHITTIE
Prayer is both journey and destination, yearning andfulfilment. Its mysteries are deep enough to keep usseeking for a lifetime the closer company of God.MARLENE CHASE
Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear,The upward glancing of an eyeWhen none but God is near.
JAMES MONTGOMERy
ST LOUIS MISSOURI, USA
www.whwomenclergy.org
SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2011 4pm|
WELCOME TO THE2011 hIGh CouNCIl
AND RETIREMENT SaluTE TOGENERAL Shaw ClIfToN AND COMMISSIONER hElEN ClIfToN
NINE KINGS SUITELANCASTER LONDON HOTELLANCASTER TERRACELONDON W2 2TYUNITED KINGDOM
AdMISSIon by TICkeT onLy: Tickets are available free of charge
(foC) from: SpeCIAL evenTS, 101 newington Causeway, London
Se1 6bn. Please apply with a SAe. for further information please
contact SpeCIAL evenTS on 020 7367 4860.
International callers: +44 20 7367 4860
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