It Takes An Army

O exampled love!  O all-redeeming grace!

How swiftly did thou move to save a fallen race;

What shall I do to make it known

What thou for all mankind hast done?

Charles Wesley

Ken and I recently had the privilege of leading a divisional meeting at the Kakamega Township Primary School, one of more than 800 that the Army sponsors in this Territory.  Having arrived a bit early, Ken took the opportunity to take a quick look around the school compound, while I was invited to sit down for a moment in the shade.  As I sat there, I watched one soldier walk around the field on which the meeting would take place, clearing away cow dung. Two other soldiers brushed off the dais and the reviewing stand with tree branches.  School children raced to see who could bring out the most benches and chairs from the various classrooms, and a group of young adults set up the sound system, stringing long wires from tree to tree.  All kinds of people were running to and fro, and I couldn't help but smile as I imagined the women back at Divisional Headquarters who were probably running after the chicken that would become my Sunday meal.

To put on a big event, I thought, it takes an army.

While in Nairobi at COAL (Conference of African Leaders), Ken and I decided that we would spend our free day doing some shopping at our favorite mall.  The plan was for our driver to drop me off at Westgate, take Ken to do a few errands, and then bring my husband back in time for lunch and a movie.  Approximately five minutes before Noon, Ken arrived at the mall, came up the steps, and met me just inside the front entrance.  He asked if I was ready to go upstairs for lunch.  I hesitated a moment, weighing a meal at my favorite restaurant against a visit to another shopping mall across town.  When I decided on the latter, Ken quickly got on the phone to see if he could catch our driver before he left the area.  Miraculously, he was still in the parking lot, and he promptly drove back to the front steps to pick us up.

As we drove away, the shooting started.  We had just missed being part of the tragedy that has stunned the world.

That night, as my husband and I lay in bed, we thanked the Lord for his protection.  We prayed for the hostages, we asked why we were spared, and we asked Him to show us what we should do as His servants.  We may never receive answers to all of our questions, of course, but the whole experience reminded me of the fact that, as scripture says, we are engaged in a war.

This war is not about religion, race, or politics.  It is not a war against certain people or any particular nation, but rather a war for all people.  Satan's desire is to steal, kill, and destroy, and he does this best when he seeks to destroy relationships, whether it is the relationship between God and man or the relationships we have with one another.  Hatred and intolerance are his greatest weapons.  But our God is Love, and that love is far more powerful than anything Satan can throw at us.

Kakamega soldiers on their knees, equipped for combat.

To win this war, I believe, it takes an Army.  And as one member of this great Salvation Army, which is motivated by, committed to, and loudly proclaims God's love, I for one am ready for battle. 

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. 

 Romans 8:37 TLB.