Southern Spirit September 30, 2014 | Page 3

Honored retirement Majors Grice and Lance honored as they conclude active service as Salvation Army officers ... Page 2 In Tuscaloosa, they’re digging in They’ll fight! Salvation Army gets started on erecting a new shelter after 2011 tornado devastated the previous facility ... . . thesouthernspirit Young people of the USA South look ahead to I’ll Fight Day. Page 7 A publication of The Salvation Army Southern Territory Volume 31, No. 15 news inbrief Page 6 September 30, 2014 Army ramps up response Salvation Army continues to battle Ebola crisis in Liberia IHQ OPENS ITS DOORS TO LONDON The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner William Roberts, and Commissioner Nancy Roberts, world secretary for women’s ministries, supported by staff and officers, welcomed hundreds of visitors to International Headquarters on Sept. 20 as The Salvation Army participated in Open House London 2014. Regent Hall and Maidstone Corps bands provided toetapping music outside of IHQ while the IHQ architects and Lt. Colonel Jenty Fairbank provided design and historical seminars to attendees. As guests toured the building they were greeted by the Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Nancy Roberts on the first floor, with the Chief providing a succinct overview of the global spiritual and humanitarian work of the movement. A highlight for many visitors was the opportunity to see the General’s office and a large number posed for pictures at his desk. Boundless team expands Jeremiah Hinson of the Clearwater, Fla., Corps is one of eight volunteers from around the world who have joined the team preparing for the 2015 Boundless congress in London. He joins Jodianne Lutcher, Mejee Lutcher, Carmen Magdaleno, Cameron Millar, Alexa Morris and Kelly Zvobgo from the USA West and Suzanne Barink of the Netherlands and Czech Republc Territory. DOING THE MOST GOOD www.uss.salvationarmy.org E Salvation Army relief personnel offload chlorine in Liberia. Mind the Gap initiative aids congress delegates By Brooke Turbyfill Southern Spirit pproximately 1,500 delegates from the developing world will not be able to attend the 2015 International Congress in London next July without support from the Mind the Gap initiative. Acknowledging there is a tremendous gap economically between developing nations and developed, the General has set a fund-raising goal of £100,000, or approximately $163,112 U.S. The hope is that all countries where the Salvation Army is at work will be able to send someone to Boundless 2015. Thankfully, the goal is almost already met, having reached £73,000 due to others’ generosity. The USA Southern Territory has a crucial role to play in the remaining funds, and this month a fundraising pack was released by International Headquarters to help. Inside the pack, there is a letter from the General about the fund-raising appeal; a promotional flyer; a profile of a sponsored territory and delegate; and an invitation to make a gift in memory or honor of a faithful Salvationist in your life, among other Mind the Gap resources. The challenge and encouragement is to share A Download the ‘Mind the Gap’ donation form by scanning the QR code, right. the resources in every home, workplace, among every advisory board and in all corps or service units. The International Congress, set for July 1-5, 2015, has a theme based on the admonishment from Ephesians 3:8, Preach to the nations the boundless riches of Christ. In addition to honoring Jesus Christ, the congress is designed to reveal the cultural diversity of The Salvation Army worldwide. As a territory rich in resources, the USA South is privileged to help every culture group within the international Army attend. To find out more about the International Congress, go to: www.boundless2015. org. To access the fund-raising resource pack just released, go to: http://sar.my/ mindthegap. bola is a health crisis “unparalleled in modern times” according to the United Nations, and President Barack Obama has described tackling the outbreak as a “daunting task.” The Salvation Army has stepped up its emergency response in the West African nation of Li beria. Nationwide curfews and travel restrictions have been enforced to limit the spread of the virus, with schools closed and non-essential workers being advised to stay at home. The Salvation Army’s primary focus is now on the Eternal Love Winning Africa Hospital, which has become the country’s main center for treating patients diagnosed with or suspected of carrying Ebola. In cooperation The with other agencies, emergency The Salvation response Army’s William comes at a Booth Clinic high personal team along with cost to trained emergency some of the responders personnel from the church involved. One and charity’s Salvation headquarters Army officer in Monrovia, in Liberia are partnering has lost to help around four family 5,000 affected members to individuals. The the disease, Army has access to and prayers a number of family are urgently homes that have sought for been quarantined, the situation. and clean drinking water, food packages and protective clothing continue to be provided. Commissioner Joash Malabi, international secretary for Africa, said: “This is a challenging time for our officers and colleagues in Liberia, and many thousands of lives have been deeply affected by this deadly disease. We encourage Salvationists and friends worldwide to pray for physical and emotional healing, and to pray for the health of all who seek to bring medical care to those who are suffering.’