When I was five, my parents took me to Disneyland. One of the highlights was the ‘It’s a Small World’ ride. I recall sailing past figurines of children from all over the world singing along to the simple happy tune, ‘It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears / It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears / There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware / It’s a small world after all’.
Now, perhaps more than ever before in our history, we’re conscious of just how small our world really is. We’re far more aware that what we buy and how we live can have a negative impact on the livelihoods and futures of those who are part of the production chain in other countries.
We understand how the policies of governments impact lives far beyond their nation’s borders. I’ve recently returned from The Kingdom of Tonga, where The Salvation Army celebrated its 30th anniversary. With its very flat land mass, it was obvious to me that Tonga is on the front line of global warming. This, of course, is not something that Tonga has much power to change. It’s an area where the global community must step up its game.
We’re also aware that the world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since World War II—and that tightening borders is not the solution. Again, this is a challenge that requires nations to work together.
In this edition, you’ll read about how The Salvation Army is supporting refugees in Solingen, Germany. Local Salvation Army church members saw the need—and so they went to authorities with one simple question: ‘What can we do to help?’
This week, The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga is kicking off its annual Self Denial Appeal to support the mission needs of the Army in developing countries and in places where financial resources are sparse. It’s a small world and we want to play our part. What can we do to help? We can give and ask God to bless and use our giving.
Christina Tyson
Editor
Leviticus 19:33-34 New International Version
‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.’
Rewitikuha 19:33
‘Ki te noho hoki te tangata iwi kē ki a koe, ki tōu whenua, kaua koutou e mahi i te kino ki a ia.’