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New openings take Salvation Army work to 115 countries.
With the addition of African nations Namibia and Mali, The Salvation Army is now officially at work in 115 countries.
The Army previously worked in Namibia from 1932 to 1939. Now, 69 years later, both the local church and non-governmental organizations have welcomed its re-establishment. A South African national, Major Lenah Jwili, leads the work, and is already networking in the community and witnessing steady growth in meeting attendance. The Salvation Army has been officially registered. Namibia is part of the Southern Africa Territory, which also oversees Salvation Army work in Lesotho, St Helena, South Africa and Swaziland.
In Mali, after an invitation for The Salvation Army to establish a presence there, André Togo led the local response. Mali, a predominately Muslim nation, is situated in the most northerly part of the African continent in which The Salvation Army ministers.
Togo, a Malian, had no knowledge of The Salvation Army until he had a vision of millions of people wearing white uniforms, saying: “People of the nations, repent for we are coming with the Kingdom of the Lord.” Certain that God was calling him to join these white-uniformed people, his research led him to The Salvation Army. With help from Salvation Army leadership in Nigeria and at International Headquarters, he “opened fire” in Mali. Attendance at meetings has grown steadily, and The Salvation Army has been officially registered.
Majors Eugene and Odile Dikalembolovanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo were appointed officers in charge there, and Mali is attached to the Nigeria Territory. Togo and his wife, Nana, will move to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they will train to be Salvation Army officers.
Please pray for these new initiatives in Namibia and Mali.
From an international news report by the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Robin Dunster.
