Day 83: Praying for the daily ministry of Salvation Army officers, corps leaders and centre managers (1956)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 83 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘God, do not continue to be silent! Do not remain quiet. Please do something! ’(Psalm 83:1, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1956

The Newport II Corps history book records several corps officer welcomes and farewells in the mid-1950s.

• 14 May 1953 – Welcome meeting of Major Bailey from Pontymister.
• 15 May 1954 – Farewell meeting of Major E Bailey to Shiremoor.
• 20 May 1954 – Welcome to Senior Captain and Mrs Tucker from Williamstown.
• 19 May 1955 – Senior Captain and Mrs Tucker farewelled … off to Pontymister.
• May 1955 – Welcome of Major Foster and Senior Captain Beales.
• 1956 – Welcome meeting of Senior Captain D Burgess.
• 2 Sept 1956 – Farewell meetings after a very short stay.
• 6 Sept 1956 – Welcome of Major Grace Simons and Envoy Dorothy Elliss.
• 24 Nov 1957 – Farewell meetings of Major Grace Simons and Envoy Dorothy Elliss.

In That Contentious Spirituality, Melvyn Jones says: ‘In 2019 a relatively small proportion of officers were single: 17 per cent. However, in 1906 most officers were single: 67 percent. Thirteen years earlier, in 1893, single officers accounted for an incredible 81 per cent of the officer corps. In the early years of the Movement, corps officers were predominantly single people: and single because they were young. Catherine Booth makes the same point. “A very important issue to be borne in mind in calculating the future of the Army is the – ‘Youth of its Officers’ – They are mostly under 25 years of age” [The Salvation Army in relation to Church and State].’

The revivalist outlook (short term) and the youthfulness of its officers (no family ties) meant that changes of appointment took place very often. However, the details above show that such an approach was still holding sway in the 1950s even though officers were older and often married.

Prayer

• Pray for the daily influence and ministry of Salvation Army officers known to you.
• List the local leaders in your corps and pray for them individually. 
• We have a number of centre managers in the Wales Division. Pray collectively for them, that God will bless, encourage, support and protect each of them.