To celebrate its 150th anniversary in Wales, The Salvation Army has gathered 150 stories about theur mission to support vulnerable people.
From June 18th there will be 150 days of prayer and historical stories, one for each day, counting down to the anniversary on November 15th,1874.
Stories of Salvation Army’s mission in Wales includes:
How the Salvation Army worked alongside the emergency services at the 1966 Aberfan disaster, where killed 116 children
and 28 adults were killed when a coal tip collapsed onto a junior school.
Another recalls an incident from 1879, when 5,000 people gathered on the streets of Pentre in the south Wales valleys
to support Captain Louisa Lock and three members of her church on their way to prison after being arrested for obstruction while preaching in the town.
The experiences of Lieutenant-Colonel Agnes Swain who in 1922, set up a home for women in Cardiff called Northlands.
She was inspired to create a safe space for women after she had worked at a Salvation Army women’s shelter in the East End of London at the time of Jack the Ripper.
Wales’ Divisional Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Roberts, says this is an important landmark. “As
we mark the 150th anniversary of The Salvation Army in Wales, we celebrate the positive contribution that our members have made to their communities down through the years and we will be praying that this ministry continues to make a transforming impact across the nation.”
The anniversary year is called Dyma Gariad, meaning Here is love. It is focused on celebrating ‘God’s story, our story, your story’.
The importance of the Welsh Language is highlighted in many of these 150 prayers and stories. Captain Kathryn Stowers is Wales’ Ecumenical Officer. She says “On our 150th anniversary, we are recognising in new ways, the importance of speaking, singing and praying in Welsh with a greater awareness of the importance of incorporating the Welsh language in our work.”
The anniversary celebration is also rooted in prayer. Over the past year, the Dyma Gariad prayer box has been travelling around Wales, giving opportunities for our churches and their communities to reflect, share stories and seek God’s voice. Looking after the Prayer Box was Wales’ Divisional Prayer Co-ordinator Major Nigel Collins.
He says “It was like a beacon of prayer travelling the country. It was used during prayer walks and whole days of praying together. Some reflected on their journey with The Salvation Army, while others reached out to new communities, planting seeds of faith, hope and love.”
Visit The Salvation Army Wales Favook page: www.facebook.com/TSAWALES
