Day 114: Praying for those who need practical aid (1987)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 114 of 150 days of prayer.

• 'God led Israel's people out of Egypt. Jacob's descendants left that foreign land. Then Judah became God's special place for his people. There he ruled over Israel's people' (Psalm 114:1 and 2, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1987

Lieut-Colonel Sandra Moran (R), a former corps officer and divisional leader in South Wales, writes:

‘The Salvation Army was held in high regard in Swansea. One year the council suggested that the word “Christmas” should be replaced by “Winter Festival” as it may be offensive to other religions.  This caused so much public protest that it was almost immediately shelved. Then it was suggested that The Salvation Army was having preferential treatment by being allowed to play carols in the town centre. Again, the public protested. Some of the privately owned shopping outlets allowed us to play on their property. By the following year things had returned to normal.

‘The best memory of the public’s support for me, though, was when a gentleman approached me one Saturday afternoon, when we were carolling, and I was feeling a bit jaded. He said “I am a Christian, and I so appreciate all The Salvation Army is doing in Swansea. The Lord told me to give you this as a thank you.” It was a big box of chocolates and, of course, I shared it with the rest of my colleagues!’

Major Peter Mylechreest (R), a former corps officer in South Wales, writes:

‘Wales is famous for its beautiful mountains. However, in 1987 a different sort of mountain was reported by the media – the butter mountain. This was a huge supply of surplus butter held by the European Union due to government intervention. The agricultural policies were designed to stabilise prices for farmers and consumers and to ensure that there was enough produce all the time. However, production varied from year to year, so in most years there was an excess.

‘The UK government announced that they would be willing to distribute the excess produce to the unemployed, pensioners and those on welfare benefits. Non-governmental organisations, including The Salvation Army in Wales, were asked to help. Many corps took up the challenge and articulated lorries delivered pallets of butter.  It was reported that at one corps the platform gave way because of the weight of the pallets of butter stored on it.

‘Having gathered various churches and voluntary organisations in one South Wales town, the Army took responsibility as the main distributor for that district. An empty shop in the centre of the town was commandeered and volunteers gave out free butter to those eligible – 24 tons in all. That was some mountain!’   

Prayer

• We are grateful for the way in which others trust us with the distribution of items that are seen as practical aid. Pray that, as food banks and other ways of distributing surplus supplies increase, we will have the volunteers to enable this to be done with love.