Committed to God's mission

150 years since its founding, The Salvation Army is still a mission movement, says Commissioner Robert Donaldson

The Salvation Army has contributed to God’s rescue plan for 150 years, but our story really goes back to the start of human history. As we open the early chapters of the Bible, we find God creating the earth and the sky, the land and the sea, the plants and the animals, and people upon whom he could shower his love. Tragically, God’s gracious gift of freedom of choice was abused, damaging people’s intimate relationship with their creator. Sin had entered the world and was soon to spread through all of creation. God outlined the just consequences of sin and then initiated his salvation plan.

In Genesis chapter 12, God called Abraham (then known as ‘Abram’) to follow him. In doing so, God entered into a sacred covenant with Abraham, previously a worshipper of idols rather than of the one true God. God promised Abraham three things that formed the basis of a mission covenant:

1. God would give Abraham and his descendants a place to live.

2. God would make Abraham and his people into a mighty nation.

3. God would assign Abraham and his people the purpose of bringing God’s blessing to the world.

The place God gave Abraham and his descendants is known throughout the Bible as The Promised Land. This land was selected for its geographic placement at the centre of the then known world. It was a narrow land bridge, sitting between the sea and desert that connected the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. This small land bridge was to become the centre of God’s rescue plan. It was strategic because traders, rulers, wise men and armies used it to travel back and forth throughout the world.

Abraham and his descendants became a great people who were to live in the land God had given them. Through Moses, God gave guidelines on how to worship him, how to live as a good person, how to live together in God-honouring community, and how to interact with all those who would travel through the land.

Finally, God gave Abraham and his descendants their purpose for being. They were to share God’s blessing with all the people of the world. If they lived according to the guidelines God had given them, they would stand out to others as people who experienced love, joy, peace and goodness in their lives. By living in good relationship with God and each other, they would display the original intention of God for the people of the earth and ultimately lead others into relationship with the one true God.

The remainder of the Old Testament is the story of the success and failure of these people and their descendants to fulfil their mission covenant, as God reached out through them to save his fallen creation.

As a descendant of Abraham, Jesus of Nazareth—the Messiah, became the incarnated Son of God. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, died, rose again and ascended to Heaven to break the power of sin and death, once and for all. Jesus commanded his people to go to every place in the world for the purpose of telling his story and inviting all people into a forgiven and free relationship with him.

Jesus commanded his people to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. Because of this, Jesus said, ‘everyone will know that you are my disciples’ (John 13:34–35). He also promised, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). Jesus sent his people out with a simple purpose: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:19). In the East End of London, 150 years ago, William and Catherine Booth responded to this commission, founding The Salvation Army to further God’s rescue plan for the world.

Today, more than a million Salvationists serve in 126 countries around the world—in thousands of communities—through evangelism, education, health, community development, social assistance, emergency services, anti-trafficking, international projects, addiction treatment services, and more.

Our place …

In this territory of New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, The Salvation Army serves from Invercargill to Kaitaia, Suva to Taveuni Island, and Nulu’alofa to Vava’u. From small groups meeting in the homes of Salvationists to corps and social service centres around the country. From staff working in Education and Employment programmes to volunteers in our Family Stores. From local officers in corps to administration staff in divisional or territorial offices. From Salvationists in their workplaces, social settings and schools to professionals working in our many social services. The Salvation Army is at home in many communities. All of these allow us the privileged opportunity to advance God’s salvation mission.

As well as the geographical locations where The Salvation Army is placed within the three nations that make up our territory, we also want to think of our place in the hearts of the people of these nations. The Salvation Army enjoys high levels of public support and trust. We receive significant government funding, and consistently high levels of donor support. We work well with many large corporate sponsors. We also maintain positive ecumenical relationships, have formal relationships with several community partners and iwi, and enjoy a positive profile in the media.

This privileged place in the hearts of our nations has come as a result of many years of hard work and the consistency of living out our Christian values. This is something to be treasured, carefully protected and nurtured with absolute integrity and authenticity.

We need to recognise that some of our relationships are still in need of attention. Our relationship with Māori was deeply harmed when we did not carry through on the strength of commitment shown in our earliest years. This is taking time to restore and heal. The abuses inflicted on innocent children in our care, and our alienation and harsh judgement of LGBTI people have left deep scars in our communities. We have done a great deal that is good, but we must also be honest about and repentant for the mistakes we have made and the harm that we have done.

The Salvation Army is at work in whatever place you are at work. Wherever you are as a Salvationist or an active supporter of the Army, the Army is found! May each of us choose to honour the privilege of being God’s people where he has placed us.

Our people …

In 2009, I knelt and prayed at the ‘bend in the river’ outside of Philippi (see Acts 16). I was intensely aware of the generations of faithful people through whom the gospel came to me. From Abraham, to Joseph, to Moses, to David, to Jesus the Messiah, to Peter, to Paul, and to Lydia at that very spot. Then, from Lydia, the first convert in the Western world, down through history to John and Charles Wesley, to William and Catherine Booth, to Pollard and Wright, and then through generations of faithful corps and local officers in South Dunedin … to me! That gospel has transformed my life. How grateful I am for faithful people!

He aha te mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! It is people, it is people, it is people!

Today, all of us within The Salvation Army stand on the shoulders of those faithful people who have gone before. Salvationists and supporters of the past have gifted us their commitment, prayer, dedication, reputation, faith, good works and sacrifice. Over the years, thousands of committed Salvationists, employees, volunteers and supporters have contributed to the mission of The Salvation Army. They have given us the Army that we have today.

So, how do we—the Salvationists of today—honour their commitment? What legacy will we leave? To answer that question, we must first remember just whose people we are. We must remember that we name Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord.

Jesus was simple and direct in his teaching and expectations of his followers. He said:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. And, love your neighbour as yourself. (Luke 10:27)

As followers of Jesus, we each contribute our spirit, heart, abilities, passions and experience for the glory of God alone. We each contribute from our worldly wealth. We are equal, and so each of us wants to treat one another with respect and dignity. Those of us who are senior soldiers will each want to live according to the promises we made when we signed our Soldier’s Covenant. Those of us who are officers will each lay our Officer’s Covenant promises on the altar before God as well.

An organisation with a hierarchical structure has an inherent weakness associated with the abuse of power. And a movement with its roots in the holiness tradition also has the inherent tendency to emphasise judgement and inflexibility over grace. How careful we all have to be with our use of power, our criticisms, our interactions, the manner in which we disagree, and the way in which we help those who have made mistakes.

The promise of God to the people of The Salvation Army is that if we would show the same amount of love to each other that Jesus has shown to us, then people will see God through us.

Love one another as I have loved you … [and as a result] … everyone will know that you are my disciples. (John 13:34–35) … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Our purpose …

Crucial to deciding how The Salvation Army will be tomorrow is the way we operate today. Are we still aware of who we are as Salvationists, and of who God calls us to reach?

Much has been written about the mission of The Salvation Army —from long theological dissertations to a variety of short and memorable ‘mission statements’. For instance, in the 1980s, this territory created the following Mission Statement:

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical branch of the Christian Church, which expresses its ministry through a balance of spiritual and social programmes. In its founding it was mobilised by God, and in its continuance is totally dependent on him for the power to fulfil its calling. Everything it does is as an offering to the glory of God and for the worship and adoration of his name. The mission of The Salvation Army is:

• Caring for people: Salvationists follow the example of Jesus by identifying with the needy, standing alongside them and caring for people in all situations.
• Transforming lives: Salvationists believe that God can transform people and that the resulting wholeness is experienced through belief in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. This transformation is evidenced in discipleship and commitment.
• Reforming society: Salvationists seek to express the love and power of God in the community. This calls for the challenging of manifestations of evil, injustice and oppression, and for steps aimed at their elimination.

A short version of this Mission Statement is: ‘caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society’. Although catchy and motivating, it is important that while using this slogan, we don’t lose sight of the meaning and calls to action in the full statement.

However we might frame and define The Salvation Army’s mission, there are two key components to our purpose: spiritual and social. This is what we are known for, and in some ways it is also how we are structured. The Salvation Army is not only a church, nor is it only a social services provider. The intersection of these two makes us one Salvation Army—this is the uniqueness of our purpose.

Our current Territorial Strategic Mission Plan states that The Salvation Army will be ‘mission-focused, streamlined and connected’. In a large organisation, we will always battle with being streamlined (although we are making progress), but what we must never compromise on is the connectedness of the spiritual and social aspects of our mission. Our International Mission Statement reminds us that our mission, which is based on the Bible and motivated by the love of God, is ‘to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination’.

The spiritual and social aspects of our work are one mission, not two. They should not be separated! William Booth described The Salvation Army as being like a bird with two wings. With one wing it preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. With the other wing it meets human needs in his name without discrimination. He said that unless both wings are in operation, ‘The Salvation Army bird’ will not fly.

My prayer is that every Salvationist in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga would be captured by our holistic mission, which has its origins in God’s rescue mission for all creation. That we would make the most of the opportunities presented in each and every location in which we are placed—corporately and individually. That we would be people of integrity and authenticity, true followers of Christ who declare in word and in deed God’s presence in this world and his unending love for all people.

As we do so, we must always be seeking God’s voice, recognising that his divine guidance will not only provide direction and correction, but that his Holy Spirit will spur us toward particular areas of need and response. As it was for William and Catherine Booth and the early Salvation Army pioneers, we know God often plants a burning desire in people’s hearts that compels them to serve and inspires them to innovation and creativity as they do so.

The Salvation Army must always be open to the new things of God as he works in and through his people. This is our heritage. And because it is, I look forward with optimism and excitement to the future that lies before us, covenanting myself afresh to serve God as a true soldier of The Salvation Army.

 

 

 

Robert Donaldson is Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory.

---

(c) 'War Cry' magazine 150 Year Commemorative Edition, 27 June 2015, pp 24-26. You can read 'War Cry' at your nearest Salvation Army church or centre, or subscribe through Salvationist Resources.

• Read the full Commemorative Edition of 'War Cry', published to celebrate 150 years of Salvation Army mission and service internationally.