EU: Gravy train or god-send?

Last weekend I travelled to Prague where more than 30 officers and SA project workers from around Europe met to learn about The Salvation Army's relationship with the EU. I went with anticipation and much interest. During my time working on IHQ I had been involved with others in developing positive links with the EU and particularly their humanitarian arm - ECHO. Having travelled to Brussels in 2007 with my then boss, Commissioner Don Odegaard, to sign an ECHO partnership agreement I was aware of earlier attempts to generate ECHO support and the subsequent struggle to access funding.

Certainly in the UK the EU is not always spoken of in glowing terms. Phrases such as 'gravy train' are regularly used; incidents of corporate waste are often quoted - not to mention the huge salaries and personal benefits that appear to be awarded to those who are able to secure the votes to represent us as MEPs or secure work at Brussels. Then there are the mountains of new rules ('elf n'safety spring to mind!) and bureaucracy which are regularly imposed by this remote office. I think it fair to say that if you say the words 'European Union' and 'Brussels' in the UK they are not likely to raise smiles or conjure images of a benevolent supporter.

Delegates of the EU conference

Despite that, the conference was a great success and personally very inspirational.  We learned that our colleagues in the Czech Region have nurtured a very positive and supportive relationship with the EU. They secured their first grant in 1999 - a small 1,000 Euro project, but have steadily and deliberately built upon this is subsequent years. Funding from the EU has been used to develop SA programmes, build new properties and provide financial stability for the SA's mission in that country. It was really encouraging to learn that EU money can be used so well. We were reminded early in the conference of William Booth's attitude to using songs of the music hall and adapting them for mission and worship ("why should the devil have all the best tunes?"). Well, why shouldn't EU funding be used to support God's mission?

I returned back to work on Wednesday and, after a little research, learned that a branch of the EU based in Estonia is inviting applications for small grants to support Estonian-based NGOs help build financial income and social entrepreneurship. That seems to fit our situation perfectly as we endeavour to develop  our firewood project and explore other income generating possibilities. The sums offered are modest, but we will try. After all, the Czech Region started with a €1,000 grant, right? I'll keep you posted on progress. Some might say, 'gravy train' - I say, 'godsend, possible mission opportunity' :-)

Endings and beginnings

It’s been another interesting week in Estonia.  Sadly, the week ended with emotional farewells as we waved Shelby off on her return journey to western USA. Having been with us for 20 months, Shelby has established 

Farewell prayers for Shelby

a special place in the hearts of the Estonian Salvationists. Last Sunday we said our formal farewell at Kopli corps and Shelby was invited to give the sermon. Although not an experienced preacher, Shelby’s message was just perfect – she spoke an encouraging and challenging word from God and it was wonderful to see a number of people respond when the appeal was made. Seeing God’s people kneeling in prayer at the mercy seat is one of those uniquely Army things – and such a sacred moment; evidence of the grace, mercy and approachability of God.

On Wednesday, Estonia region’s officers and centre leaders gathered at Tartu corps for our first ‘Ready for mission’ day. Having arrived during the summer when leaders take their holidays and corps programmes are usually curtailed, Lyn and I have been looking forward to our first opportunity to share in fellowship, worship and discussion with our team.  We’re shaping these days around a 5-fold focus:

1. ‘Building together’ - creating unity and support amongst those in ministry (Exodus 17:12)

2. ‘Spiritually healthy’ - providing opportunity for worship and spiritual retreat (Isaiah 40:31)

3. ‘Growing well’ - learning about our faith and our church (Colossians 1:10)

4. ‘Organisationally equipped’ – discussing business and organisational issues (Prov 24:27)

5. ‘Vision focussed’ - shaping strategy and planning programmes. (Genesis 13:14-15)

We have a wide range of leadership experience within our group; officers with 10+ years of service and candidates with only months of relationship with The Salvation Army. So, every time we meet for these special days, in addition to the inevitable moments of business and programme planning, we will be looking at

a chapter from the Spiritual life commission’s findings, ‘Called to be God’s people’.  We hope this will be a pertinent reminder for the ‘old hands’ and useful information for our newer leaders. For our first meeting we explored the chapter that looks at the mercy seat; it’s Biblical roots, its Army and church history and the central place that the mercy seats holds within Army worship. Colleagues shared testimony of their own mercy seat experiences. Others voiced prayerful concerns that the mercy seat is not being used regularly within their corps.

This morning as Lyn and I explored, for the first time, a large shopping centre in northern Tallinn, we found a shop selling home furnishings. It was one of those shops displaying quaint plaques and humorous signs with mottos and slogans. In it we found a large free standing room divider, decorated with the words, ‘Grace is not a short prayer said before meals – it’s a way of life’.

God’s grace is an amazing gift – ‘God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense’ was how I was taught to understand it. It’s such a shame when our mercy seat (or the ‘grace place’!) stands unused or even shunned.  Wherever you gather in worship this weekend my prayer is that you will encounter again God’s grace, love and mercy.

Small steps – big deeds

Thanks for dropping in again on us –I’d like to share a couple of exciting project updates with you this week.

Introducing Ljuba - the project manager

This week marked the launch of a new project in northern Tallinn. We were recently approached by the north Tallinn council who asked if we would help them with a project to support some of the neediest families in the north of the city. The partnership project is called ‘Small steps – big deeds’ (their choice of name) and offers families the opportunity to choose toys and clothes for their children. The council have been collecting items but discovered that they were legally unable to implement this programme themselves. We have a good relationship with them – so they turned to us and asked us to partner with them. The council provided a small facility which will act as the distribution point and we identified a project manager. 

Ljuba, a young Salvationist and member of the Kopli corps, has agreed to manage the distribution. A few display racks have been gathered and the clothes have been sorted and laid out. Families are referred to the project by social workers. They come to the centre and Ljuba helps them choose whatever items might be helpful to them. The project officially opened on Wednesday and around 35 families received help in the first couple of days. 

The project is only planned to run until Christmas but we are watching progress carefully to assess whether this might form the basis for our first Thrift store after the partnership programme concludes.

Regular readers of this blog might remember my ‘Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire(wood)’ posting of a few weeks ago. Well, the great news is that a Norwegian businessman helped set up links for us with the National forestry commission (RMK). This has resulted in RMK offering

The wood splitter in action

us a contract for a regular and reliable supply of wood. This will be at a fixed price – and with a small credit facility so that we do not have to pay for the materials ‘up front’.  A locally-based British businessman has even offered to cover the first 2-months invoices as a loan to help us with our cash flow as we build up a good stock of firewood for sale. So our prayers for a wood supply have been answered and we give thanks to God for friends who have come alongside to help. Additionally, the wood splitting machine that was not working has been repaired and is helping us as we ramp up our capacity. The wood yard has been hindered by not having its own electricity supply. Well, after months of hassling the electricity company, work has started this week on laying electricity cables along the main road. We hope this might mean we finally have our own electrical supply installed very soon! Further discussions are taking place with our Norwegian friend this week on how we might make other improvements to this project so we pray for further progress.

This week we look forward to our first ‘Ready for Mission’ officer and centre leader meeting. we gather together at Tartu on Wednesday. I’ll tell you how it goes next week. Thanks for your continued prayers and support. 

Hide and seek

Lyn relaxing by the lake

This week Lyn and I had the privilege of attending our first officer course in the Finland & Estonia territory.  It was held at Silokallio centre - about 5 hours’ drive north of Helsinki – an absolutely stunning venue. The centre is near Porri and right on lake Joutsijarvi (check it out on the map http://goo.gl/maps/z8QPB). The wonderful autumn weather was just perfect for strolls by the lake and brisk early morning jogs. It was rather strange attending a territorial gathering where all participants could fit into a fairly small meeting room. The territory has less than 30 corps - and 5 of those are in Estonia – so the assembled crowd numbered less than 40. The fellowship was close and we felt blessed to be welcomed so warmly and embraced into the group so readily. In such a small territory there are no strangers amongst the officer group.  My thoughts strayed to our home territory and the officers preparing to attend the bi-annual officer’s council at Swanwick. Gathering in 5 groups of 400+ officers it is rare you meet the same officer group twice -  and you certainly don’t get to speak with everyone at councils. Here in Finland life is very different.

Officers of the Finland & Estonia territory

 The testimony and sharing times were frank and honest. Joys and successes were celebrated together – struggles and health challenges were voiced openly and carried together to God in prayer. It was good to sense the unity, support and shared mission amongst the small group. Many officers serve in small, remote locations. There is not one single, commissioned local officer in the territory; so officership can be a lonely spiritual leadership journey.  Perhaps Lyn and I have taken for granted the blessing of committed local officers who have supported and encouraged us throughout our ministry journey.

Whilst at Silokallio I was introduced to a potential new hobby – Geocaching. My good friend Kati Kivesto has been a ‘cacher’ for some time and has over 500 ‘finds’ to her credit. For the uninitiated, “Geocaching is the real-world treasure hunt that's happening right now, all around you. There are 2,238,449 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide” (that’s taken from the official web site www.geocaching.com)  Kati discovered that there was a cache just a few kilometres away from the centre – too good an opportunity to miss. A free, early afternoon session provided just enough time to get there are record another ‘find’. I decided to tag along and see what the fuss was about. Kati shot off through the woodland like a rocket! GPS in hand, she forged a path (where there was no visible path) through undergrowth; across tree branches and boulders. I consider myself reasonably fit but I was puffing and panting like an old  man as I struggled to keep up with her! Eventually we reached the spot indicated by the GPS device. Then the search for the actual cache began. It was graded as an easy find so shouldn't have been too difficult to locate. After a few minutes rooting through tree trunks and other holes in the ground, Kati’s trained eye spotted a bird box. Unlocking the box revealed the small plastic box (the ‘find’).Opening it, Kati recorded her name and the date. On the basis that I was also now hooked on this new sport, I entered my name, too. Later that evening I signed up and registered myself as an official geocacher and logged this as my first find.  I’ve discovered there are many caches around Tallinn, so I’m going to make a start during this week to hunt for a few more as we take a couple of days off with Rachel and Charlie. Perhaps I can introduce Charlie (my 15-month old grandson) to this new hobby early in life!

I guess it was appropriate that my introduction to this new hobby should come during officers’ councils. The training course was a reminder of the spiritual journey we are each on.  God has chosen to make himself known to us and has given us ‘clues’ of how to find Him. Through His word he reveals himself, and we learn more of Him as we diligently search the scriptures and take time to discover him. We see Him in the lives of those we meet, work with and minister to.  As we have shared this week with officer colleagues we thank God for new friends and look forward to sharing the journey with them over the next few years. I thank God that through the testimonies of others and the impactful worship and prayer times I have been privileged to log up a few more spiritual ‘finds’ this week.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)