Christmas Blessings!

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. he was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all manking. the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:1-5

Light Looked Down

Light looked down on darkness
Darkness everywhere
Light said 'I will go there'
Where light does not show
Darkness abounds, in all the world below
Light came in at Christmas
So we all would know.

Peace looked down on warfare
Fighting everywhere
Peace said 'I will go there'
To battle, death and woe
Conflict abounds in all the world below
Peace came in at Christmas
So we all would know.

Love looked down on hatred
Hatred everywhere
Love said 'I will go there'
To hate, disgust and fear
Emnity abounds, in all the world below
Love came in at Christmas
So we all would know.

So the Lord of Light, the Prince of Peace came in
Silenty he crept in, to this world of ours
Crept in beside us, the gracious King of Love
Humbly we adore him
Jesus Christ our Lord.


From Cloth for the Cradle

Fourth Sunday in Advent - LOVE

On the fourth Sunday in Advent we think of the Spirit of Christmas as the Spirit of Love. It was the love of God for his world and his people that brought about the miracle of the incarnation. Deity became flesh and lived among the people of the earth and it was a life of love that found its expression in the Son both emptying and humbling himself and maintaining that he had come, not to be served, but to serve and give his life for the salvation of the world. It was a sacrificial love that saw him lifted up and given a name above every other name; a name at which we are forced to bow.

The reality of the Christmas story is that it has eternal significance for each of us and it demands a response because we can be an on-going part of the story. We are the next chapter of a never ending story and the immeasurable value of Christmas means we are called to see our place in it

At Christmas we see God demonstrating reckless extravagance for you and me and in turn we need to risk our reputation if necessary, in order to love, to give, to care, to feed, to help a loveless world.  As Christ bridged the gulf to meet us, we are called to scale the barriers of our society and meet people where they are.  Christ demanded, ‘lay down your life for my sake’ or put another way, ’let my love take over your life’

In 1965 Hal David and Burt Bacharach wrote a song in the form of a prayer. The words of the chorus read,

 

What the world needs now is love, sweet love,

It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of,
What he world needs now is love, sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone

Throughout Christmas 2014 and the New Year of 2015, let us, through Christ, be that love to the world

 

Read; Philippians 2:1-18

Thanks to Lieut-Colonel Robert McIntyre for these Sunday in Advent posts.

 

Third Sunday in Advent - Joy

The Spirit of Christmas is a Spirit of Joy and is the focus for us today on the third Sunday in Advent.  It is rightly spoken of as the Joy-bringer or the Life-bringer reminding us of newness of life that comes to us, not just when the Christ Child is welcomed into the life of a believer, but by the renewing joy that is promised daily by the ever present joy-bringer

When young Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel and it was announced that she would bear the child who would be the Son of God, her response was a song of joy to the Lord which begins, ‘My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’.  Mary’s song, referred to as The Magnificat declares forcibly the greatness of God and the joy there is in finding him.  The song ends by affirming that ’this promise is to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever’

In the song Deck the Halls we sing, ’Tis the season to be jolly, fah la la la la la la la la’ and we conjure up in our mind pictures of people with happy faces having a happy time.  And where there are people who frown on it all we are quick to call them kill-joys who mumble 'Bah humbug' 

 
Christmas is special when we recognise that at the heart of it is the Spirit of God coming to man with unspeakable joy.  May we experience again the miracle of joy incarnate and be prompted to sing of our joy just like Mary.  In fact, read the lyrics of her song now for yourself and sense the joy it portrays

 Read:

Luke 1: 26-38

 

Joy To The World

As we approach the third Sunday in Advent why not listen to Joy to the World.

Christmas Carolling

It must be getting close to Christmas - the Salvation Army Bands are out carolling!

 

 

The East Scotland DHQ Band have been out on Princes Street recently, despite the weather!

 

Big Thanks to Liz, the Manager at Greggs for providing the East Scotland DHQ Band with free hot drinks as the rain and snow comes down on Princes Street.

 

The Band is playing every Wednesday and Friday between 11am & 1 pm leading up to Christmas. They are getting a good response from the shoppers and the money raised will support mission projects throughout the division.

Commissioner Robin Forsyth commented: 'It's great to be linking with the community and partnering with businesses in the area.'

 

 

 

All-Scotland Youth Councils

I'll follow, I'll not turn back.

We always say ‘time flies when you are having fun...’

Time certainly did fly at the All-Scotland Youth Councils; it’s happened and now we are over a week since the Scottish youth of The Salvation Army gathered in one place. So where to begin...

Well the easiest place to start is by saying that it was, as expected to be, an amazing weekend! God never fails to deliver and so I thank God for that! But I also say thanks for the time and effort put in from the Divisional Youth Officers and the forum of young people who helped plan the weekend. And finally a special thank you must go to our host Kathryn from Alove and guest speaker Lt. Mark Cotterill.

The Saturday night theme was, #throwback, a children's party, so as the youth descended upon Perth they came dressed as childhood TV characters or as person/job which they aspired to be when they were older. The costumes didn’t disappoint and there many excellent efforts! The night was fun-filled with the evening split between a Ceilidh and party games. The Ceilidh band, ‘Flung aboot’, were on top form and provided excellent music. The childrens party games were a real treat, nothing like a good round of pass the parcel!

And so, as quick as a flash, Sunday was here. The main reason for the weekend was to spend time with God. The day was filled with worship to our amazing God and we were helped by the worship group put together especially for that day. We were also treated to some drama items which were helpful in tying in with the day’s theme – I will follow.

One particular highlight for me was the time given for testimony. A group of the youth, from all divisions and ages spoke about what God was doing in their lives. It was encouraging and inspiring to hear young Christians testifying to the work of God in their life. It was a blessing to hear about difficult circumstances but learning to trust in the Lord, knowing that he doesn’t give up on you. And hearing how things are going great just now and being able to ‘delight in the Lord’.

Another excellent focus on the day was time spent praying, so we were able to pray for those who gave their testimony, praying for ourselves and for our Divisional Youth Officers. It was a beautiful scene as the youth gathered around their Divisional Youth Officers and surrounded them in prayer, asking God to bless them and equip them in their ministry.

It was also great to have the Candidates Unit with us over the weekend, and time was given for us to hear from two, Scottish, first-year cadets. We were encouraged to think about how we could be hero’s.

After fitting all this in to our two meetings, twice we were blessed and challenged by the opening of God’s word. Our guest speaker, Lt. Mark Cotterill, spoke with great passion about following Jesus and discipleship. In the Morning we looked at Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 9, at the account of Jesus calling the tax collector Matthew. We were challenged that God invites every single person imaginable to follow him. God is constantly inviting us on to the stage of life.

In the afternoon we looked at the question ‘What should a follower look like?’ Mark brought to our attention some thoughts about compassion, humility, patience and living gracefully. We were also challenged that we are to be good news to people. He urged us to consider the words of John Wallis that there has to be a consistency between the message and the messenger.

Time was then given, aptly, in both sessions to respond to the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to do its work. Whilst time was given to respond, my thoughts and response turned towards the songs that we had been singing as part of our worship. The song ‘I’ll Not Turn Back’ was used and also a song called ‘Christ is enough’. These songs, for me, helped to affirm what God was saying to me, and also inspire me on further in my walk.

Christ is enough for me, Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in you, everything I need

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back!

I thank God that I have decided to follow Jesus and by His grace I have all that I need, so for me…there is no turning back! I’ll not turn back whatever it may cost.

These events normally end in worship to our God, lifting the roof with His praise, but the Spirit was still working as our time came to an end. And so we left the Councils in an attitude of response and prayer.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit continues to do the work that needs to be done in the lives of those who gathered for Youth Councils and in particular those who were still kneeling before God.

And Father God I pray that you would raise up this generation to make a difference for you! May they take a stand as they follow you and not turn back!

Christ is enough for me.

Andrew Howe

Second Sunday in Advent - Peace

Look at our world and it is hard to see where good is overcoming evil.  Darkness is an integral and intolerable part of our world and we often ask ‘Where is God in this and that?’ or ‘Why the suffering and the sorrow, the hatred and war which is so prevalent?’

But the truth is that in the Christ child of Bethlehem the Inextinguishable Light has dawned on our world and however great that darkness, it will never snuff out the light of God. You may have to look long and hard at times to see where the Light is shining, but it is there because he is there Identifying with us where we are, however low, however sad, or however needy his people are.

In former times the prophet Jeremiah had called the people of God to seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which they had been exiled. With the coming of Christ, that call to be peacemakers in a dark and broken world is intensified, and we can be the very means by which that world is made aware of the Prince of Peace. We may not easily see how we could do that in the wider world of war and injustice but we can be lights strategically placed, intentionally reflecting the Light that can chase the darkness around us. 

The Spirit of Christmas is a Spirit of Peace and to possess it is not just the means by which we can live at peace with God and the world, we can share it in a myriad of ways with those who around us.  God helping us, may we truly be peacemakers.

Read:

Jeremiah 29: 4-14

John 1:1-14

 

 

 

Christmas Carols

As many of you are no doubt either attending or participating in various carol concerts, carol services or carolling out on the streets,  over the coming weeks, I thought I would share this short extract from the Celebrating Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall recently. I am sure it must be a fabulous concert to attend.

Book Launch at the Edinburgh Prison Visitors Centre

The Edinburgh Prison Visitors Centre at HMP Edinburgh, has launched a new series of information books, written by children for children. The books are aimed at helping make visits easier and less distressing. There are three books in the series - 'Visiting Dad', 'Visiting Mum' and 'A Parents Guide'

The Scottish Government minister Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, attended the recent launch at the Visitors Centre.

Ms Campbell MSP agreed the booklets were a fantastic idea and said: "I'd like to thank The Salvation Army and Scottish Prison Service for all their work in creating them."

The Edinburgh Prison Visitor Centre was initiated and funded by the Onward Trust and has been in operation from the early 2000’s. Firstly the WRVS managed the facility, but from mid-2004 The Salvation Army took on this contractual role in relation to the management of the centre on behalf of the Onward Trust and has been involved in this way over the last 10 years. Every year around 50,000 people, 8,000 of them children, pass through the Centre.

First Sunday in Advent - Hope

Many thought that John the Baptist would fulfil Israel’s hope of a Messiah.  Expectations for a better future were high when they saw and heard him. He seemed to fit the image well of the kind of person people would follow.  Hundreds came to see and hear him and he was asked frequently by religious leaders if he was indeed the expected one who would bring new hope to a hopeless world

However, he was quick to tell them that he was not the Messiah but one sent to prepare for his imminent arrival, adding that everyone was to get themselves sorted out for his coming.  He called people to repent and used baptism as a symbol of that repentance. This would have come as an initial shock to a Jew, as this was the means by which a Gentile was converted to Judaism.  Nevertheless many people from varied backgrounds responded to the Baptist’s simple but clear call 

When Jesus, the true Messiah arrived, John pointed to him, declaring that here was ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’.  It is worth noting that of all the descriptions that could be given to the Messiah, John speaks of the Lamb of God

As we journey through Advent we can listen well to the Messiah Lord as our Teacher, follow closely as our Example, offer allegiance as our King and serve him well as our Master, but never let us lose sight of him as the willing Sacrifice who is the Saviour for a hopeless world — a message we need to know and share in whatever way we can this Christmas

 Read John 1:29-34
 

Mary, Did You Know?

A song to start us thinking about Advent and what Christmas really means.

What are your favourite Christmas hymns or songs?

Whole Life Discipleship

For the majority of Christians most of their time is spent away from church or from church activities and the big challenge for them is how they live out their Christian lifestyle in a non-christian environment.   An even more relevant challenge is the issue of what their church is doing to help their members be faithful stewards and effective missionaries away from church environs.

For the past year in West Scotland Division of The Salvation Army, efforts have been made to work with around ten corps to address this very issue and the results, in the main, have been truly encouraging.  Small group work has provided opportunity for participants to see the potential for intentional learning and intentional practice in the matter of Christian discipleship

Objectives

The objectives of the training are clearly defined:

• Train Christians in Whole Life Discipleship

• Challenge Christians to influence others in Whole Life Discipleship

• Provide Christians with on-going discipleship support

• Equip Christians for meaningful ministry

• Work towards creating Whole Life Discipleship congregations

Whole Life Discipleship does not offer a quick-fix solution but it does offer a focus, and explores the implications of that focus for individual Christians and for our churches

Delivery of Study

The material used to date has been sourced from the LICC, The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and the sessions have been designed to help participants to discover their frontline and to be fruitful there for the Kingdom.  Participants are able to take serious steps to make small degree shifts in their personal spiritual developments as well as grasping opportunities to speak to non-Christians on their frontline.  An additional benefit is that of encouraging accountability in the group and this helps people to hold to their discipleship intentions. 

Story Telling

At the start of each monthly meeting there is opportunity to share stories of the spiritual journey individuals have been on.  These fellowships have proved powerful with many participants speaking of finding a new confidence in speaking to others about their faith.  A couple of corps are now implementing the TTT (This Time Tomorrow) slot in meetings where members speak on Sunday morning of what they will be doing on Monday morning.  This not only allows people to share their story as it affects their working life but allows others to pray for specific matters that the speaker highlights for prayer. 

Study Setting

The regular meetings tend to be on a weeknight every two weeks or once a month. However there are a variety of different settings according to the local programme.  These have included a Sunday afternoon or evening in place of a normal meeting or on a weekday afternoon with retired members or others not at work on that day.  Other alternatives include Quarterly Saturday or Sunday Seminars or Retreats. 

Measured Outcomes

It is envisaged that corps undertaking this process will continue to hold Discipleship Accountability Groups on a monthly or fortnightly basis following the initial teaching and so work towards being a Whole Life Discipleship Church.  In addition to the material provided by the LICC there is good teaching material  available from alternative sources which will allow groups to keep up the momentum of this kind of support.  It is hoped that the leadership of such groups will be local people who could well develop into spiritual directors for their fellowship. 

Imagine:

 Being part of a sending church

 Being equipped for ministry

 Being accountable as a Christian

 Being a catalyst for change

 

For details on available material from DHQ contact Major David Burns at West Scotland Division, david.burns@salvationarmy.org.uk

For advice and/or delivery of teaching contact Bob McIntyre, robert.mcintyre@salvationarmy.org.uk
 

Bob McIntyre

Divisional Support Officer

 

Employability in Ayrshire through George Steven Centre, Kilbirnie

 

 

 

This year has seen an exciting twist in our already established programme.  We have begun to widen our sights, hopes and dreams within the Training and Employability field to promote further partnership working with our local community and to offer a new innovative range of learning opportunities for our service users.

 

Over the past year, we have gone from strength to strength in our already established training placements.  We currently have 9 service users and 2 volunteers training in our purpose build community café which is attached to the George Steven Centre.  The café known as The Blend In Café gives real life training experiences to adults with learning disabilities.  The service users work through their person centred care plans to achieve their chosen outcomes. The dedicated staff are on hand to provide guidance, build bespoke training plans and offer support where required.  The café is a busy place with both a sit-in and take-away service.  Trainees therefore are able to immerse themselves within a busy lifelong learning environment which will equip them with every skill necessary to work in a café.

 

We also continue to work in partnership with The Salvation Army charity shops in Irvine, Kilwinning and Largs.  We have three service users training within this type of work.  This is a successful venture which also encourages independent travel to the locations in question.  Service users are learning the skills associated with the retail industry.  

 

We have a Domestic skills training programme running also.  Service Users are able to gather valuable transferable skills in which to use within their daily lives and own tenancies.

 

Through various funding streams, we have been blessed with some much needed cash which will aid us to expand our Training and Employability opportunities for Adults with Learning Disabilities.  From summer 2014, we are aiming to work with other charities and social enterprises in our local community and to create realistic, meaningful and fun training/work placements for the people in which we serve.

 

Watch this space!

Waiting with anticipation...

With All Scotland Youth Councils just a few days away, I cannot help but look back at my own experiences of various Youth Councils.

For many, Youth Councils and Summer School, hold a special place in our hearts for many reasons. Each event holding a particular memory which we will always treasure. I, myself, am such a person who has had great experiences, of fun and fellowship but also a transforming experience of God in my life through these events. I have so far been to four Youth Councils and two Summer Schools.

When I was a young teen growing up in a corps where I was the only young person, weekends such as these were an anchor in my fragile, young faith. My first two experiences exposed me to the wider 'army' of young people and was a great way of being able to connect with others my age, and see that I wasn't alone after all. It was reassuring to know there were others searching for their belief not just me.

Personally, East Scotland Divisional Youth Councils in 2011, was the greatest weekend of my life. I was only a couple months into my university life, in a new city, very much looking to experience all that life could offer for me. I received an invitation to attend the councils and I couldn't refuse for some reason (believe me, I thought I had better things I could be doing) so I decided I would go.
 
I thank God I decided to go, it was a weekend full of fun and fellowship but it was more than that, it was a weekend that transformed my life! Through fellowship with other young people, through worship and the word, God opened my eyes to the meaning of the weekend’s theme - "Worship 24/7". That weekend I properly accepted Jesus as my Saviour and I was able to accept him as Lord. I understood that following him is more than just a Sunday thing but a daily life of walking with him.

I thank God that since then I have been able to walk with him daily, through the difficult days but also the great days, where I have walked closer and closer with him.

And so as I look forward to what I know will be another fantastic weekend,  I simply "wait upon the Lord".

It is my prayer that all who gather, from the East, West and North will have a weekend they won't forget. I look forward to the creative costumes on the Saturday night party. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I look forward to the fun and laughter which will be had in bucket loads!

But most importantly, I look forward to another encounter with God, I do enjoy daily fellowship with God but these weekends always offer up something special. It is my prayer that all who attend will feel the presence of God throughout the weekend. I pray for our leaders and the word that is being prepared.

I pray that I would be refreshed, challenged and inspired by God. But my deepest desire, which I bring before God, is that for those who don't know him yet. I pray that, like mine was, young people's lives would be transformed with the knowledge of God. And for us who walk with him already, may we be renewed in our relationship with him.

So let us wait in great anticipation...

"...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

 Andrew Howe

Introducing ...

Major Brian Slinn and Major Liv Raegivik-Slinn, Divisional Leaders of North Scotalnd

 

Having been a corps officer for 33 out of my 37 years, only interrupted by an appointment at William Booth College for 4 years, taking responsibility for a Division and North Scotland Division particularly, present quite a change in ministry and ministry besides a completely different work life pattern. From a congregation of 300+ people in Bromley, who lived within a very few miles of each other, our constituency now consists of something over double that number scattered over 56% of Scotland’s land mass and including three islands. That involves a lot of travelling and also means we are out of the office and frequently staying overnight in those places distanced from our base in Aberdeen.

North Scotland Division presents with predominantly small corps and the majority of officers relatively new to ministry supported by Territorial Envoys. Having served on the Training College it is good to see the ‘finished product’ and how well our Lieutenants engage with the challenges of ministry and mission today, equally having helped train TE’s it is good to see how effective they are in their leadership. It is also remarkable to see the impact the Army makes in the local community far beyond the numerical strength of each corps or centre. It seems a cliché I know, but it becomes obvious that with more officers and more resources the possibilities are there to do so much more. The static view from previous corps leadership gave no real insight to all this but has come with this appointment and the opportunity to see and participate in the lives of the officers and corps as they engage with mission where they are.

For us there is something of a return to our earlier days in ministry when leading worship did not have the support of musical sections or local officers. We have been spoiled for many years in having resources which have enhanced worship for us. Now Major Liv and I sometimes have to be the North Scotland Staff Songsters and Liv’s guitar proves to be invaluable. Communication becomes different. Preaching in the grand style has to adapt to the conversational or invite more participation. Not everywhere of course, but in many places. Leadership itself becomes different. Encouraging and helping the corps leaders in their leadership replaces the hands on leadership of being the corps officer, and allowing them to make their decisions and work things out is important. I confess to a little paternalism and wanting things to be easier and better for them when I see the obstacles that sometimes come their way. It is not always the best thing to ‘make it better,’ leaders have to be grown and part of that is the learning which comes from experience. It is not always easy to allow that process. Equally for the corps and centres, transitioning ministry and mission into a Post Modern and Post Christian world is not always easy and the very concepts are not always understood, water from the old wells always seems sweeter.

For us, the comfortable and familiar have given way to new challenges and our skills have to be applied in different ways. There are frustrations. The mechanics of the job are not always easily understood and information not always easily available. It has been hard to find a Sabbath and distance from family limits our contact, especially since I do not fly – not in this life at least. We are sorry about that.

Transition and change always bring their challenges. The constant is of course an unchanging God. This part of the journey in North Scotland is part of a rich experience in ministry thus far. We embrace it all in a spirit of privilege and opportunity.

There Is A Hope

I thought I would share with you this weekend my favourite hymn - There is a Hope. As someone who has moved house several times and moved away from where I grew up and family, I never really feel I 'belong' to any particular geographical place. Life is a journey which we are all travelling on, sometimes the road is easier than at other times, at times we can be plunged into a pit and this hymn reminds us of the one who is with us, the one who whispers 'courage' in our ears. He travels this road with us until the day when we can know that we are truly home.  That last line speaks very strongly to me - I hope you like the hymn.

What is your favourite hymn?

New Futures

In July a New Futures Project was launched. This is run by Falkirk Corps,  and provides a variety of services, including a soup kitchen, community cafe and furniture shop. The biggest help it is providing is to those who are trying to find work or needing some assistance to improve their chances of finding a job.

The project is currently operating from a unit in The Howgate Centre, Falkirk, opposite the food court, but hopes to move to the first floor of the former Co-op building on the High Street, opposite Callendar Square soon.

Louise McKnight, project manager, who runs the initiative with the help of six staff and several volunteers, said "Our aim is to help people move forward and give them a goal in life, whether it is helping them prepare a CV, advice on interview skills or taking part in a course that will make them more employable. At the moment, we are seeing around 25 people a day come through the door. Hopefully, in our new premises we will have even more space to expand what we offer."

Those using the service have free access to computers, as well as the support of the team running the project.

Courses, open to 10 people at a time, are running two and three times a week, and include elementary food hygiene, health and safety, risk assessment and safe manual handling awareness.

Louise added "If we can give someone help that gives them a better chance of getting a job that's a positive outcome". We also provide support and are working in partnership with other organisations to help with issues such as homelessness and drug and alcohol counselling."

Remembrance Poem

Remember Me
(The voice of the dead)

Remember me
Duty called and I went to war
Though I'd never fired a gun before
I paid the price for your new day
As all my dreams were blown away

Remember me
We all stood true as whistles blew
And faced the shell and stench of Hell
Now battle's done, there is no sound
Our bones decay beneath the ground
We cannot see, or smell, or hear
There is no death, or hope or fear
 
Remember me
Once we, like you, would laugh and talk
And run and walk and do the things that you all do
But now we lie in rows so neat
Beneath the soil, beneath your feet

Remember me
In mud and gore and the blood of war
We fought and fell and move no more
Remember me, I am not dead
I'm just a voice within your head

Harry Riley

Commonwealth Games and Anti-Human Trafficking

During the summer there was a lot of publicity, excitement and support around the Commonwealth Games and they were good to watch and enjoy. It was also great to see how the Salvation Army brought together volunteers from various parts of Scotland to form Glasgow 2014 Mission teams who were actively involved with numerous community programmes.

I was a volunteer taking part in an activity which is one that a lot of people find either abhorrent or uncomfortable to hear or speak about. It is the Anti-Human Trafficking campaign. There were over 150 volunteers from all the Christian denominations in Scotland supporting the More than Gold campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking. We did this through the UN Gift Boxes which were strategically placed in Glasgow city centre.

 

 

The large, walk-in boxes were intended to symbolise trafficking with each one providing information and first-hand accounts and pictures from victims inside. Each box highlighted a specific aspect of human trafficking - domestic servitude (green), forced street crime (pink), begging and forced labour (blue), sexual exploitation (red). The boxes looked very attractive and inviting which is the whole essence of the human trafficking scenario. The victims are enticed, sold, forced into a situation which in some cases appears to be the answer to their dreams and problems; only to find they are trapped and become victims of human slavery.

 

It is a modern day horrific crime where millions of lives are being destroyed or are at risk. These victims have no voice and More than Gold together with the many other Christian supporters used the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to gather signatories to petition against human trafficking. Over 16,000 signatures were obtained from members of the public and the boxes significantly raised their awareness of this crime against humanity. The petition will be presented to the Scottish Government to ensure that a Scottish Human Trafficking Bill addresses the vital issue of trafficking within business supply chains.

Since July 2011 The Salvation Army and its partners have supported over 800 victims of trafficking thanks to a £2million fund from the Ministry of Justice. The Salvation Army has committed to raise around £200,000 a year to run the Anti-Human Trafficking Support Programme. This vital programme works together with local authorities, other agencies engaged in anti-human trafficking, the police and other faith organisations. Further information about this work is available online:

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/Anti_Human_Trafficking_Victim_Support_Programme

A Human Trafficking leaflet is also available that helps someone ‘read the signs’ and gives clear guidance as to what they should do. This is available to download:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/174967/human-trafficking?view=Standard

 

Please continue to pray about this global issue and let us be the voice for those who have no voice.

 

"Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth:Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me'". Matt 25:40 The Message

 
 

Major Kathy Betteridge