Christian Today recently spoke with Commissioner John Matear, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in the UK since his appointment in April this year. He shared with us some of his thoughts on how the year has gone for him and how he hopes to see God do His will in the UK through The Salvation Army in 2007.
CT: In the last five years before coming to the UK, you were Territorial Commander in the Caribbean. How has the transition between the two territories gone?
JM: I think in relation to the transition it's gone smoothly. We haven't been out of it for five years. We've been coming back annually and have kept a close interest in matters relating to the UK and also to The Salvation Army in the UK so there haven't been too many surprises in that respect.
In relation to my personal insights and development, I would say five years in the Caribbean impressed on me greatly issues surrounding poverty and hardship and have strengthened my resolve that where possible we should be addressing these matters from the relative comfort of the UK.
So that has been a deepening appreciation of how many in the world have to live and cope and an appreciation of being good stewards of our precious and limited resources when we have them.
Another privileged aspect of life in the Caribbean for The Salvation Army is that the territory over there consists of 15 different countries so I've had a greater appreciation and insight into internationalism within the Church and but I've also had the opportunity of meeting international politicians and prominent folks and that has all been a deepening development to my insights and understanding.
So you want to see The Salvation Army in the UK supporting The Salvation Army in the Caribbean on poverty?
I wouldn't say specifically the Caribbean. The Salvation Army is at work in 111 countries. My five years in the Caribbean were my first experience outside the UK so the insights gained and the impressions will be lasting. From my position now of leadership and influence I would want to see The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom continue to develop its project work to the overseas countries which are having to live in poverty with very few resources.
I have to say I have been impressed on my return with the work we do in this area but I want to give a very strong backing and affirmation that it continues.
Looking back since you took up the role of Territorial Commander, what highlights and challenges have you faced?
It's good to be back and it's been good to get into the swing and context of The Salvation Army in the UK after five years away.
I have been deeply impressed with what I would consider to be a seriousness about mission. The more and more places I go to the more evidence I see that people are prepared to pay the price involved in change, change in order to be more effective in reaching into their communities. And that has not only impressed me but it has reassured me.
I see a shift away from an exclusive 'come and join us' to an understanding that we have to go back to where we were in our beginnings which was to be increasingly focal in the communities and to be out there in the communities, in the heart of it, building relationships, building bridges, and I think that is where we get our credibility, that is where we ought to be.
