Within days of returning to International Headquarters from a series of rallies across the Australia Territory, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham (World President of Women’s Ministries) travelled a somewhat shorter distance to Kettering, making their first visit to a corps in the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory since becoming The Salvation Army’s world leaders. Kettering Corps (church), in the East Midlands Division, was celebrating its 140th corps anniversary.
Intent on enjoying the friendly family atmosphere, the General and Commissioner Buckingham quickly made themselves at ease during the Saturday afternoon ‘At Home’ fellowship and exhibition. They eagerly mingled with others viewing the displays of photographs, memorabilia and information revealing many aspects of corps life, and then happily opened up to their audience in a question-and-answer session with four teenaged members of the SAY (Salvation Army Youth) Group. The visiting leaders also clearly enjoyed ‘A Taste of Africa’ as some of the Zimbabwean Salvationists in the corps sang and danced to the accompaniment of timbrels, drum and hoshos.
Saturday evening’s celebration festival – referred to as ‘our birthday party’ by Corps Sergeant-Major Andrew Hunt, who compèred the programme – featured senior and junior music sections, also a singing group from the Home and Family Fellowship. Community service regularly provided midweek by the corps was highlighted in a video presentation, while a song specifically written for the anniversary – ‘Fall on your Knees’ (a Maori traditional melody arranged by Retired Bandmaster Richard Phillips, with words by Stephen Pearson) – gave opportunity for the massed music sections and full congregation to express their commitment to go on worshipping and serving the Lord.
Testimonies of thankfulness and challenge
Representative speakers were 94-year-old Joy Thompson, number one on the soldiers’ roll, and junior soldiers Rhoda and Ruth Jones, 10- and 11-year-old sisters. Their respective testimonies voiced reminiscences of corps history, thankfulness for present opportunities to love and serve Jesus, and a challenge of what could await for the corps. Such sentiments would later be echoed in Commissioner Bronwyn’s Bible message. She spoke of the evening being a clear and genuine example of ‘joyful praise for God’s goodness and faithfulness’, and went on to encourage the corps to continue displaying ‘vibrancy and dedication in new expressions of mission’.
Guests among the congregation included the newly elected local Member of Parliament, Rosie Wrighting (at age 26 the youngest female MP in the House of Commons), and Kettering Town Council’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alex Evelyn. Prior to the festival they met in conversation with the General, endorsing the efforts and influence of The Salvation Army locally and worldwide.
Divisional leaders Majors Mark and Lindy Rose led Sunday’s meeting, such a time of worship being described by the divisional commander as the engine room of the corps and powerhouse for its members. The point was endorsed in a segment especially for the young people as (suitably attired) Bandsman Sam McCoy and his wife Gemma introduced the SAS (Salvation Army Science) Division. Creatively using chemical experiments, they illustrated how God’s power can change people’s lives and make them effective witnesses for Jesus.
Response and rededication
Again, showing his warmth and friendliness in a corps family setting, the General stepped from the platform to stand among the congregation as he fervently delivered his Bible message. Taking the example and teaching of Old Testament visionaries, he spoke of the impact of God’s pioneers ‘in good times and bad’ and challenged the corps family to find their personal place in ‘the new chapter of your history you are about to write’.
During moments of prayerful response and rededication, there were those who made public their commitments to God at the mercy seat. It was then with regenerated confidence that the congregation sang ‘In Christ alone my hope is found…here in the love of Christ I stand’.