The vision is rising from my heart to my minds eye.
The more I spend on the street?
The more I'm convinced.
That the Salvation Army has a place as part of the whole church.
We've got some history of helping the less fortunate.
We've got some experience.
We've got glimpses of the lengthening past that show heroic acts of compassion to the poor and the needy. Especially in Victorian England. Just to name a couple, William Booth, Catherine Booth, Booth-Tucker, the slum sisters, Fry and his mad band. and loads of other "mad for it" Salvationist missionaries.
Someone said to me the other day "but the need was greater in Victorian times."
They obviously don't get out much.
The need is right in your face!
Now!
Some needs are the same.
Some are different from those times.
Some are social.
Some are physical.
All are spiritual.
And.
Here we are.
The Salvation Army.
With our past. With our experience. With our resources. With our forces. With our people.
Still hovering over a sea of people in need of rescue.
The past is, well, past.
The now and the future are all that is left.
And fresh vision is still offered by God. A rock solid hope is still a reality, the chance to be a movement is always there as the Spirit of God breathes life into the church. But we're living in a time where I am sure God wants to raise up the "mad for it" missionaries once again. Those who would stop at nothing to rescue the perishing. Who would not be afraid to walk into the darkest corners of this world or the darkest recesses of people's lives to bring the life breath of God to them. Who would see everything we do as mission, live mission, breathe mission, and being ever on the look out for people in need. Those who would dare to be Spiritual people and talk up Jesus of Nazareth relentlessly. Those who would pray about everything, pray for everything, and listen out for the voice of God. Those would ruthlessly care for the less fortunate and those who live without knowing anything about hope. Those who would communicate joy to the miserable, dry the tears of the broken, listen to those who society closes its ears to, open their arms to the unloved, the lonely and those long suffering. Those who would operate on the opposite side of the bad side of the religion. Those who would be brave and courageous, who would step out of the mundane drudgery of going through the motions and step into the avenue of hope that God's mission inhabits.
Yeah.
I want to be a mad for it missionary.
Do you?
