Hundreds Welcome New Salvation Army UK Leader

|PIC1|The new Commissioners for The Salvation Army UK, John and Elizabeth Matear, have been greeted by more than 400 leading members of the Salvation Army from across the UK today at the Lakeside Community Church in South Yorkshire.

Commissioner John Matear, who is replacing current worldwide leader of The Salvation Army Commissioner Shaw Clifton, was officially installed in a ceremony at the new church and community centre in Doncaster.

Captain Stuart Crane, local leader of the Salvation Army in Doncaster, said: "It is fantastic that Lakeside Community Church is to hold the official welcome meeting for our new UK leader.

"The evening will see lots of celebration, music and worship with people travelling from all over the UK to take part.

|TOP|"Our building has great facilities and the members here are very much looking forward to the event. It is a big day for The Salvation Army and the fact that we are holding it here in Doncaster makes it even more special to us."

Scotland-born Commissioner Matear, and his wife Commissioner Elizabeth, joined the Salvation Army 29 years ago and have spent the last five years as leaders of the movement in the Caribbean.

In the UK they will take responsibility for more than 700 churches, over 100 social work centres and thousands of ministers, church members, employees and volunteers.

|AD|While based primarily at the Salvation Army's headquarters in London, they will spend much of their time travelling around the UK and Ireland visiting churches and centres and undertaking speaking engagements.

Commissioner John Matear said: "We are very much looking forward to our official welcome meeting in Doncaster and have heard great things about the new building. We are also pleased to be returning to Yorkshire once more.

"At present we have been taking stock of the current agendas, challenges and opportunities that are facing the UK Salvation Army.

"The territory we have just come from has an entirely different culture and one which is
experiencing church growth.

"We are aware that there are different challenges here in the UK, but are comforted by the knowledge that it is the same God, the same grace, the same gospel and the same mission."