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Women’s Ministries Centenary Message
from The General and World President of Women’s
Ministries
William Booth, Founder of The
Salvation Army, had a big heart of compassion. He was known to
shed tears over the suffering of humanity … the women in his
life shared this vision. Catherine, his wife, along with her
daughters and daughters-in-law, longed for women to be
empowered and offered inclusion by The Salvation Army. The Army
is the place where they can shed their tears of spiritual
longing, repentance, sorrow and joy – and find acceptance,
faith for the future and opportunities for Christian service.
It is in this spirit that one hundred years of women’s
ministries will be celebrated and a logo for the year 2007 is
offered. The tear drop represents a softened heart. The phrase
‘while women weep…’ has been translated into many languages. In
English, the international language of the internet, the
initials are www. This is a challenge to us all, that even in
modern days, women need the network – the world wide web – of
The Salvation Army.
Women’s Ministries has been an area of vibrant activity and
witness for the Gospel with more than 500,000 members in the
various groups. The Home League, which is the basis of Women’s
Ministries, peaked at 431,000 in 1995. It is our prayer that on
the eve of the centenary year there will be more tears of joy
than tears of sorrow; that there will be tears of laughter as
well as tears of pain; but most of all, that joys and griefs
alike will be shared in the many fellowships around the world.
May the Founder’s fighting spirit – to work and pray for a
better life for all – continue to be a hallmark of Women’s
Ministries in every land.
W.W.W.
- While Women Weep
Written by Commissioner Pauline Banks
Imagine the scene. It is the 9th May, 1912 and in the vast
auditorium that is the Royal Albert Hall in London, a weary
white haired, white bearded man prepares to speak to a vast
crowd. The man is old, but he is still 'the General' of an Army
birthed by God.
It will be William Booth's last public speech before he is
Promoted to Glory and one that will be remembered for as long
as his Army wages war. Without any kind of amplification he
addresses the thousands who have gathered. His mind is still
very clear and his words are strong. He delivers a powerful
testimony to his passion for serving Christ and human kind.
Of all the memorable words spoken that evening, the text which
describes his great desire to continue fighting is of paramount
importance. He said:
"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while
children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to
prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight;
while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl
upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the
light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!"
Noticeably he did not overlook women at a time in the culture
of early twentieth century Britain when women were not well
placed on the social ladder. In spite of the very strong
matriarchal Queen Victoria who had died some eleven years
earlier and in spite of William Booth having a strong and
hugely influential wife it would still take some time to raise
the profile of women.
His voice boomed out to his audience. It was strong,
challenging, emotive oratory, yet laced with sensitivity and
emotion. 'While women weep ….. I'll fight.'
Little did he realise that the initial letters of those first
three words w.w.w. would, in the latter part of the century
become synonymous with his world wide vision. In fact w.w.w.
(the World Wide Web) has given many instant access to the
challenging needs of the world. It instantly brings information
on every imaginable subject right to a person's desk, assuming
they have the facility of a computer, a telephone line and
electricity.
Unfortunately the World Wide Web can be used for evil as well
as good. How telling is the word 'web'. Flies and other small
insects can be trapped in a spider's web by the sticky
substance that is part of its construction. Similarly the World
Wide Web can ensnare people in activities with the potential to
pollute their mind, strangle their spirit and destroy their
body. It can bring disenchantment to families and societies
worldwide. Women are particularly vulnerable. So in this part
of the twenty first century, William Booth's words should still
be heeded... 'While women weep....'
When the General gave that inspired speech he did not have much
time left to continue his fight. But those of us who comprise
the Army of today should, indeed must, continue his work with
passion. Economics and ecology have changed the world
enormously in the last hundred years. Global communication is
so easy and so quick. Egocentrics take centre stage rather than
followers of the Servant King. We travel in space. But women
still weep.
So with w.w.w. 'While women weep' as the background image to
our thoughts, let us see how they can be developed? Maybe we
should ask some basic simple questions and insert our answers
as may be applicable to our personal situation and cultural
circumstances.
• Where are women weeping?
• Which women are weeping?
• Why are women weeping?
• What can we do for these women who weep?
These are serious questions and do need careful thought. They
need to be considered in prayer and responded to with
commitment to a practical outcome. But without over simplifying
the seriousness of the subject, they can be answered just as
powerfully with sentences that use the same three letters,
w.w.w. For example:
While women are in want we will work for them.
Where women are wronged we will protest on their behalf.
While women feel weak we will support them.
While women feel wretched we will comfort them.
While women are weary we will hold them up.
While women worry for wayward sons and daughters we will cry
with them.
While women long for water we will dig wells with them.
While women suffer from war we will bind their wounds.
While women long for self worth we will struggle with them.
While women wait for the dawn of a brighter day we will watch
with them.
There is no easy way to surmount the things that make women
weep, yet it is not totally impossible. When a small boy, we
suggested to our son on one occasion that what we were looking
at was a lovely view. He replied 'Where? I can't see because
the mountains are in the way'. We must not let any mountain
cloud our vision of what the women of the world need.
This generation of Salvationists now, as never before, have
unprecedented access not only to the World Wide Web but to the
'World Wide Window'. The Web is in fact a window through which
we can see the needs of the world and which can, in turn, bring
enlightenment and stimulate our vision.
So let us join hands in this resolve:
We will work for and with them
We will try to walk in their shoes
We will welcome them into the family of God
We will witness to the sufficient grace of God
We will win!
Commissioner Pauline Banks
Territorial Commander’s Associate Representative in Scotland |
