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Vision 2000–Business Administrator’s Conference
Lt. Colonel Peter Dalziel, international communications secretary, urged delegates to the Territorial Business Conference to maintain a focus on the “big picture” of the Army’s involvement internationally in the total life of humankind.
“Our visit to the Territorial Business Conference was a rare opportunity to witness first hand something we had long admired–the business and fund-raising techniques of the United States. We were able to share in seminars from “Planned Giving” to “Wall Street for Fund-raisers.” My own role in international communication and my wife’s role in nationwide education allowed us to contribute a wider perspective of the world picture,” Dalziel said.
With actual building blocks he revealed how the Army attempts to bridge our work in the field of evangelism and social work into an integrated ministry that fits our unique mission to the world. The stones of the arch closest to both evangelism and social work he identified as administration and communication. He indicated the commitment of the present Army leadership to strong, indigenous and innovative leaders welded together internationally with effective, state-of-the-art communication. He noted the words of General Paul Rader in the foreword of Mark Kellner’s book God on the Internet in which he stated: “Christian faith has always concerned itself with communication and community. At the heart of the Gospel is the affirmation that it is the very nature of God to communicate.”
The next stones in the arch were labeled “Finance” and “Personnel.” Speaking very bluntly, he noted that the international Army looks to America for significant portions of financial support. “I’m thrilled with the way you are willing to share your wealth and with your level of continuing commitment to the Army’s international work,” he said. “Be sure of your own picture before you share, but be very sure of the ‘big picture’ before your resist,” he added.
The key stone of the arch he labeled “Mission.” Fittingly, he needed assistance from Colonel George Church and Major Tom Jones to set the keystone–the final and essential part of the arch, which ties the entire work together–in place.