Dear General, Greetings to you in the marvellous name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today I am highly honoured, privileged, and blessed by being with our International Leader of the salvation army General Brian Peddle. Let me take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to ICT leadership for this wonderful opportunity and now I am sending the greetings from India National Office too!
Thank you and welcome to the interview!
Q: What made you take the decision to become an officer of this incredible Army of God?
I think I would have to say that I began to explore in my young soldiership what it meant to be a true follower of Jesus. And people around me were teaching me that it was about listening to God's voice to my heart. And as I experienced listening to God's voice, I really believed that God called me into the training college to serve as an officer in TSA. I never could have understood then what that journey would be through now 46 years, but it was a special response from my heart to God, and it was my own obedience to the calling.
Q: We know 3rd August 2018 was a very special day in your life as you were anointed by God to take the office of the General of the International Army. How do you feel when you look back on that particular day after completing 5 years?
That was a very personal moment, to wake up in the morning on the 3rd of August, and understand as I went to IHQ that day I would sit in The General's chair. We have had an incredible experience. First of all, we think we have tried very hard to embrace the Army. But what we never thought about was how the Army would put its arms around us. And this has been a wonderful experience. Even during Covid, when we were in London and could not travel, we still felt the prayers of God's people. You mentioned 'anointing' and we really believe that God has given us that anointing, and with the prayers of God's people, it's been a really good experience and we feel very privileged.
Q: General, in your period of time the number of countries the Salvation Army officially works raised to 133. Please comment.
I wish we were in all the countries of the world, but… We have seen the Army growing and experiencing new countries opening, and for all of our listeners today, we want them to know that the Army hasn't finished growing. We are exploring official registrations in three, or four more countries, and I hope that, if not during my General ship, in the early days of the next General, there will be even more countries where the Army flag will fly, and we will have the experience of introducing people to Jesus. Expanding the Army, growing the Army, is one of my responsibilities, so with the help of all the people, we are accomplishing that.
Q: Without social work, we have no spirituality. Kindly tell us about how TSA social services served during the COVID pandemic.
It would take me a long time to tell you the whole international story, but I'd rather celebrate what we did here in India. I am aware of how the government came to us and asked us if our hospitals could be Covid hospitals, and I am aware that in so many instances, these realities gave a good testimony to the community because we were able to them without discrimination. I remember hearing stories about all of the migrant workers being stuck and not having any food, and we were asked to come in with food and share it with the migrant workers. I think the sad part, if there is a sad part, is that during that time of service, some of our own people received COVID in their bodies and died because of that. They were promoted to glory as they served the Lord through the community. So, I think that India has its own story of the great accomplishment of how to serve suffering humanity in India, particularly during the time of Covid. It is an age of martyrdom that we've not seen ever in my life. So, thank God for the people who serve.
Q: We are living in a time of Post COVID pandemic. So many issues are there such as mental, financial, health, spiritual, etc. What are the main challenges being faced by churches in this Post-COVID era?
The main thing that we are facing is that many people, during Covid, kind of weren't connected with the church community, and, in fact, many people have not come back to church. But there is also the reality that those who are part of the church, who are committed, are more committed today than they ever have been. So, I think we are serving at a time when the fields are really white and ready for harvest. People have had to think more about their own mortality; people have had to think more about the disease and the attack on the body; people have had to think about spiritual things. So, I think there's a great opportunity for the church to find its place responding to the community while they are ready to receive. And I hope that the church will be a bright light of hope for many who have lost hope, even during this time of Covid.
Q: Do you think that the world realized the value of Fellowship?
Yes, it's what we missed, coming together. The General was locked up in London and we couldn't go and embrace The Salvation Army. It was very hard. Very hard. God has made us live together, support each other, and be a community of faith, and I think that many of us missed that very much. I did, and Commissioner Rosalie did, so we are very glad to be visiting India and enjoying the people again.
Q: What about the role of the South Asia Zone in the international Army?
South Asia zone is a very beautiful expression of the Salvation Army international family. Across the zone, which includes Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and six territories in India, moving over to the Middle East. It's a beautiful collection of expressions of faith in our Army. What we celebrate is that 30% of the Salvation Army is here in the South Asia zone. For me, what is a great testimony is that this is not the easiest zone to be a Christian, and our people are people of courage and resilience, and I celebrate that about the Salvation Army in the South Asia zone. As we serve, as we care for people's health, as we educate their children, we are doing many things.
Q: General as our young people are a vital part of our international army, what are the strategies or steps we can adopt to attract them to build a better TSA in India and in the whole world?
Wherever we go in the world, we go back to IHQ, and people say, “What was your best experience?” The best experience we have no matter where we go is seeing our young people. So, it thinks for strategy, every territory has to develop new strategies. But I think the overarching strategy is that we have to make room for them; give them the space; listen to their voices, and we have to make sure that they're participating in worship and in the life of the Army wherever they find themselves. Here in the India Central Territory, we held a youth rally, and double the numbers came – we couldn't get them all in. The General couldn't shake all their hands; we couldn't do selfies with everyone. But what a beautiful expression of our future. We have a future because our young people are beginning to take their place. I want territories, divisions, and corps to develop our young people, and encourage them.
Yes, if we give them a good army now, they will definitely give back the best one in the future!
Yes…Our best is not in the past; it is in the future.
Final Q: Apart from the roles of a wife or mother how Commissioner Rosalie, WPWM is supportive of the ministry of General?
She is my boss (laughter). We always have fun saying, “She is the senior officer.” She has one more year of officership than The General does. But my partner in life has been my partner in ministry for 44 years. We work together, we support each other. When The General is travelling around the world, and during our trip to India now, we will give thirty-something sermons. And I cannot do that all by myself, so Comr. Rosalie takes her place and helps and prepares messages, and together we minister to the people. We believe that God has made men and women equal. General William Booth said, “Any woman could hold any position in the Army, including General. And I applaud our women leaders in our Army, and I'm thankful to God for Commissioner Rosalie, who I could not be The General if she was not helping me day by day. So, we are partners in the gospel and partners in the mission as international leaders. So, I thank God for her.
