Our mission of love and service in Christ
I am all about collaboration and working smarter, so this month I have partnered with my husband Lt-Colonel Ian Gainsford, territorial secretary for Mission, to write this column (code for ‘he wrote it’) focusing on our mission.
Over the last few months, these columns have highlighted our vision and values, partly because they are new; it’s good to understand where we are headed, and to own the values that underpin the way we work and live alongside one another. Our other key strategic statement is older: our mission statement, which commits us to caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power. We care for people throughout our territory every day. We are motivated by the God who cares for us, and who reached out in Jesus to love us without condition.
Lives are transformed through the work done in our corps (churches), Community Ministries, Bridge centres and more. Increased freedom from material hardship; living healthier and more resilient lives; connecting with others in healthy relationships, all of which finds its end in an encounter with the love of Jesus Christ and the opportunity of a relationship with the God who is ‘mighty to save’. In our advocacy to government and our efforts in local communities across our four nations, we work to challenge injustice and oppression, to reform our communities and to provide a lived example of loving Christ-like community.
The history of the Army is littered with examples of these things. In this issue of SALT we read about work in the area of human trafficking, prisoner reintegration and the Prison Gate Brigade. Around Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa we are actively providing hope for those living in insecure situations. We provide housing for those who have no home. We’re helping people make more of their finances, and live positive and empowered lives.
Our mission is motivated by Christ’s compassion, especially for those who are vulnerable. We are seeing people set free—free from need, from loneliness, from sin, from fear. And in all of this, we know that it is God at work in us and through us that makes any of it possible. It is God’s love that frees us and calls us on; God’s radical compassion that we reflect; God who transforms and includes.
In a community near you, the Army is at work. Why don’t you reach out to see how you can be involved?
Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford
Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen (NIV).
Ki te kōrero tētahi, kia rite tāna ki tā ngā kupu a te Atua. Ki te minita tētahi, kia rite tāna ki tō te kaha e hōmai ana e te Atua; kia whai korōria ai te Atua i ngā mea katoa i roto i a Īhu Karaiti; kei a ia te korōria me te mana ake ake. Āmine (PT).
Kevaka e dua sa vosa, me ia me vaka na vosa ni Kalou: kevaka e dua sa kitaka na cakacaka, me ia ga me vaka na kaukauwa sa solia na Kalou: me vakarokorokotaki kina na Kalou e na ka kecega e na vuku i Jisu Karisito, o koya sa nona na vakarokoroko kei na lewa e na gauna kecega ka sega ni mudu. Emeni (FOV).
Agar tumhaar lage bole ke bardaan hei, to Parmeshwar ke sandes ke parchaar karo. Agar tumme dusra ke madat kare ke daan hei, to jon sakti Parmeshwar dewe hei, usse karo. Sab kuchh wahi rakam se hoy ke chaahi ki jisse Yeeshu Maseeh, jon hardam shaktimaan aur mahima se bhara rahe hei, se Parmeshwar ke baṛaai hoy. Aameen (FRHNT).
Kapau ko e fai malanga ‘a ha taha, ke ne fai ko e folofola ‘a e ‘Otua; kapau ‘oku fai ha tauhi ‘ofa ‘e ha taha, ke ne fai ‘o ngali ko ha toko taha kuo ne ma‘u ‘ene mafai mei he ‘Eiki; koe‘uhi ke fakahikihiki‘i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he me‘a kotoa pe ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi, ‘a ia ‘oku ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio ‘a e kololia mo e māfimafi ‘o lauikuonga pea ta‘engata. Emeni (TWB).
Afai e tautala se tasi, ia tusa ma afioga a le Atua; afai e auauna se tasi, ia tusa ma le malosi ua foaiina mai e le Atua, ina ia viia le Atua i mea uma lava, ona o Iesu Keriso; ia ia te ia le viiga ma le mana e faavavau faavavau lava. Amene (SOV).
