27 -29 January 2017 at Booth Tucker Hall, Batala, Punjab
The Territorial Executive Officer's Council led by Colonel Wilfred Varughese, Territorial Commander and Colonel Prema Varughese, TPWM and supported by Colonels M. Daniel Raju Mathangi and Rachel Mathangi, Chief Secretary and TSWM.
We praise God for His wonderful guidance during the council in which forty eight executive officers and departmental heads including Territorial Leaders helped each other to concentrate the matters importance related to bring the improvement in the Army work with great burden.
The Council was commenced with opening devotion led by the Chief Secretary and TSWM and the key note addressed by the Territorial Commander reminded all about the strategic plan formed in last 2015 for 5 years in which many aspects are planned and required for implementation for the betterment of the Territory in every corner spiritually and financially to be strong enough to carry the God's ministry through the Salvation Army with full loyalty. Also encouraged with the words of Army Spirit filled self-reliance and moving forward with integrity and principles.
” JOURNEY OF RENEWAL”
The Territorial Commander emphasized all about the Journey of Renewal, and its meaning to us, the Accountability, Transparency and Integrity which is a dream of our General that we should extend with each other without any hesitation, and for this need integrity, good steward for all the sources in every level in the work of the Salvation Army. Self reliance seminar has been conducted just because of to see the good and positive result in our ministry. It means to support and guiding the people in every stage in every appointment, and if we are failed to do this it means that we are not in this Journey of Renewal. Territorial Commander quoted some Biblical thoughts from Mathew 11: 28 – 30. Jesus is the only source of our passion and energy. Encouraged all in his sayings the purpose of our journey is “Boundless Salvation” which is the theme of the Congress. In every place we need to proclaim the good news, so that people may come closer to the Lord, need to keep our good relationship with each other. If we are not showing the integrity we are not fulfilling our journey. Key elements must be maintained in the journey of renewal. We need to correct ourselves to maintain our spirituality. Blood and Fire cleansed us from sins and help us to grow in the spirit of the Lord.
“PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES”
The Chief Secretary spoke on the subject and reminded in the council all about the principles and procedures- Principles means rule, belief and character, as we all are acquainted with the O & R of the Salvation Army regarding don'ts and do's. Reading the words of God, praying together in the family, we should be in time in our works, these all are principles. Being in the Salvation Army officer-ship it is important to cultivate the principles. As an example we can consider the life of Daniel, who did not defile himself in any cost, in the same way Jacob also promised to God to give his portion to God. (Psalm 35)
Army spirit is to work for others, intelligence & knowledge should be used in a proper way for God's ministry, and all these are learned from each other. No compromise which goes against the Salvation Army. No self glory, but humility in success and above all we do required to give glory to the living God. Instead of giving more importance in self during difficult and difference it worthwhile to put our confidence on God with loyalty and obedient.
“WOMEN'S MINISTRIES”
We are in a journey to go forward in many aspects of women's ministries as we shared and explained in the Executive Councils in the past and for 2017. We need to keep the uniformity, Bible recitation and raising the helping hand, requested the Army flag to be placed in the Salvation Army hall, Home league logo-by the INT. For the year 2017 logo with the theme is “Transformed by the image of God”.
Submitting regularly monthly report as well as going through the Home League lessons for senior and junior conducting meeting accordingly. Encourage to do the Bible study regularly and observing World Day of Prayer in every centre of our Territory. Apart of all these there were many subjects which are related to the cabinets were discussed and urge to continue the ministry with zeal and enthusiasm with passion and purity. We are glad to acknowledge thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for the progress of the Army work in every corner of the Territory and renewing our journey in every steps of work. On the final day of the council Territorial Commander introduced the flag of “ Whole World Mobilising – Go Forward 2017 campaign, and spoke from the Word of God Isaiah 60: 1-5 “ Arise and shine”.At the end a grand marching took place from Batala Central Corps to the city around and concluded with the Executive Council with prayer.
Reported by Major Samir Patra, Legal Secretary, India Northern Territory
