New Zealand—NZ Management magazine and global business consulting company Hay Group have rated The Salvation Army New Zealand’s “Most Reputable” not-for-profit organization. Evaluators based their decisions on effective leadership, well-developed strategic plans and objectives, transforming lives and reforming society.
“We work with New Zealanders in their darkest hours,” Commissioner Don Bell, territorial commander for New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, said. “Everything we do is guided by our mission statement and our belief that we need to be there for people when they need us most.”
Bell stressed that reputation is not something the Army strives to engineer.
“It’s really a by-product of our work. What we strive to do each day is put the Christian gospel—our beliefs and values—into action. Christianity with its sleeves rolled up,” he said.
Commissioners Don and Debi Bell are U.S. Western Territory Salvationists currently serving overseas.
PAKISTAN—The Salvation Army continues to provide aid to thousands of people affected by the floods that swept across the country. Distributions are taking place in several areas.
Families (2,407) in northwest Pakistan received bedding and cooking utensils. Similar items were handed out to 1,582 families in South Punjab with 85 families receiving tents.
People continue to relocate to relief camps in Sindh. Three hundred families received bedding and cooking packs; 350 tents were distributed.
Communities and local government representatives have welcomed The Salvation Army teams. A member of the Provincial Assembly was so impressed with the Army’s work that he made a donation of 10,000 rupees.
UNITED KINGDOM—Musician Peter Kendall, 70, recently completed a marathon 13-and-a-half hour cornet session—playing all 781 tunes from The Salvation Army hymn book to raise money for The Salvation Army and cancer research in Yorkshire. Kendall, who played cornet for years with the Army, held the fundraiser at the Hull Icehouse Corps. Although he played alone, he received support and encouragement from supporters throughout the endeavor. He said, “I started at 8 a.m. and by early evening it got very difficult….I am glad to have raised the money for The Salvation Army and also for cancer research.” He raised approximately $800.
CANADA—On Oct. 16, thousands of Christians will join in prayer and fasting to raise awareness that hunger in a world of abundance is a matter of injustice. More than a billion people are chronically malnourished. Followers of Jesus are called to respond in prayer and action; Jesus’ command to “feed the hungry” is not a metaphor.
Fast for Change 2010 challenges Christians to consider why so many in the world are hungry and then to act in solidarity and love. Developed by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank—a partnership of Canadian churches (including The Salvation Army) and church-based agencies working to end hunger in developing countries—the event seeks to:
• increase and deepen the involvement of Canadians in efforts to end hunger
• support partnerships and activities to reduce hunger on an immediate and sustainable basis
• influence changes in public policies necessary to end hunger
For more information, visit fastforchange.ca.From Salvationist.ca