NEW BEGINNINGS?

Where is the beginning end of the skipping rope, and where is the ending of it? Captain Susan is her first address to the church, challenged the congregation to recognise that despite this being new leadership, and today was the induction and welcome to Susan and Ian and their family, actually this was a continuation of ministry that had been taking place in this area for many years, and indeed today recognised the celebration of 16 years of ministry. The celebration meeting was led by Majors Mike and Joan Parker, who also conducted the induction of Sue and Ian as the new leaders of Forestdale SA Church. The meeting included a wide selection of songs including:- Lord, I Lift Your Name on High; My Jesus, My Saviour; Lord of all Hopefulness; Jesus, be the centre; Breath on me breath of God; This is the air I Breathe. The children sang a wonderful song to the captains - welcome to the family, and they were also presented with a cake and a card, plus a welcome banner. Captain Ian then responded and started by thanking the church for the cards, flowers, chocolates and others forms of welcome they had received. He shared how over the last few weeks of waiting to come, they had visited and got to know the doctors and hospitals well, and now hoped to get to know the people!!!! He acknowledged the leadership of Captains Lynn and Matt, and thanked God for them and the preparation they had made for their arrival. He also thanked those who had helped in recent weeks in helping to fill the gap for a while. Captain Sue opened God's Word and reminded the community of words of Joshua, which GRace had read some minutes before - as I was with Moses, so I will be with you! God's promise is that whilst things might change, God has gone no where, and in the changes of leadership, the firm security remains God and His promises to us. It is a small new beginning on the journey of life of new beginnings, but indeed a journey which continues inpowered and infilled by God, and His Spirit. To conclude her thoughts, Susan encouraged the congregation to pray - Breath on me breathe of God, and then concluding with recognising that 'This is the air I breathe' - His Holy Spirit presence alone.

GETTING STARTED

This week Susan and Ian have been busy getting started in their ministry here and have arranged a number of open houses for members and friends of this church to come to their home and share tea and cakes with them, a good number have attended. We now wait for their induction on Sunday, at 10am, at the Courtwood School, which will be led by Major Joan and Major Mike Parker - who are part of our fellowship. Major Joan is the Assistant Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries, and Major Mike the Secretary for Administrive Review, based at Territorial Headquarters in London

Welcome to Forestdale, our new blog celebrating the work of God's Spirit, through this Salvation Army Church, in Croydon, Surrey. In February it was announced that our leaders, Captains Lynn and Matt Clifton were to leave us and take up leadership of The Salvation Army in Folkestone. We have valued their leadership over the last seven years and very much too their love and support, with their children - Hannah and Elijah. It was also announced that Captains Ian and Susan Woodgate, at that time in leadership at The Salvation Army in Ashford, were to join us with their children, Grace, Adam and Hope.