We Praise and thank God for this Great Historical day in our Territory. We Celebrated the 128th Anniversary of India Central Territory at THQ on 20 July 2023 at 8 a.m. Under the Kind leadership of our beloved Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel M. Stalin and Lt. Colonel Y. S. Kezial Stalin, TSWM.
Lt. Colonel B. G. Prakash Rao Secretary for Personnel Administration led this meeting. Opening Song ”O Boundless Salvation” was led by Lt. Colonel M. Abraham Lincoln Secretary for Program Administration. The Chief Secretary hoisted the Flag and talked about the Origin and Development of The Salvation Army in ICT. He praised and Thanked God for the Great Sacrificial services of the Pioneers Staff Capt Abdul Aziz, Staff Captain Ameena Bai and Mahanada. The Pioneer Officers stayed at Gandhi Hill of Vijayawada, and from there he spread the Gospel of Christ through Open Air meetings, For postal correspondence he named his address as C/O Postmaster Vijayawada. The Pioneer Officers preached the Gospel and begged on the Roads for the Ministry and for their existence because there were no allowances and grants for the Salvation Army in ICT. The Bible Portion Exodus 12:14 verse, he exhorted the word of God, Passover means exit from the bondage of slavery, The Israelites were freed from the Bondage of Slavery by Emperor Pharaoh, our ancestors once they were treated as slaves by Higher Caste people of then India, and they were transformed into God and became the servants of God. The Chief Secretary highlighted the message as four points.
1. THIS DAY WE NEED TO COMMEMORATE: Exodus 12:14 says This is a day you are to commemorate” We the Officers, Soldiers and friends should commemorate this day every year; we must thank God for the services during the Past.
2. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY AS FESTIVAL: Exodus 12:14 says you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord”. The Israelites all celebrated their exit from Egypt as a Big Festival because they were freed from the four hundred years of slavery, likewise our forefathers were freed from the sinful life, they were freed from Idle worship, they were transformed by the word of God and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, they became people of God, an account of that today we are here as officers, soldiers and employees. So we need to Celebrate this Historical day every year as the Festival of Joy.
3. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF PIONEER OFFICERS: Our Pioneer Officers shed their labour to develop the Salvation Army in the Telugu Field, they never had allowances, they never had houses, they never had proper rest, they never had proper communications and even though they did marvellous service. Our ICT Founder Staff Captain Abdul Aziz once went to the USA and Canada to raise funds for India along with Commissioner Booth Tucker, he shared his Testimony and explained his transformation from the Muslim Community to Christ and his testimony attracted many foreigners. We need to edify our Generations about History. With grateful hearts, we need to serve more in the days to come.
4. WE NEED TO RENEW OUR DEDICATION: We need to renew of Dedication to God, we need to evaluate our present services, with renewed Spirit and dedication, and we have to work hard for the development of our ICT in the days to come.
Finally, God established our Territory through Staff Capt Abdul Aziz, God gave us the great responsibility to serve HIM, and today we stand here to witness to God, Each one has the responsibility to carry out our Army Flag into many places and we need to do our services with sincerity and Dedication. Thus, our Chief Secretary concluded his message. The Officers and Employees were much inspired and blessed. Finally, Lt Colonel Y. S. Kezial Stalin, TSWM concluded this meeting with prayer and benediction. We give glory and honour to God.
GOD BLESS OUR INDIA CENTRAL TERRITORY. AMEN
Reported by Major C. Dani Samuel Raju, Editor, India Central Territory
