This is my story - 70 (Hong Kong/Taiwan)

70 – International Conference of Leaders (1988)

We attended first International Conference of Leaders in 1984 a year after our arrival in Hong Kong. It was a great experience to interact with international leaders from all over the world. (see Chapter 64)

Four years later we were privileged to attend the next one, this time held at Lake Arrowhead, California, USA.

On 1^st September 1988 my wife and I left Kai Tak Airport by China Airlines for Taipei, Taiwan, en route to San Francisco. On arrival at our destination there was no one from the Army in sight. After waiting for more than half an hour we telephoned Divisional Headquarters. Good thing I had some American coins with me. We did not have hand phones so had to use a public telephone.

Finally, the Divisional Commander, Lieut. Colonel Bruce Harvey, came for us. It appeared that there was some miscommunication between the Divisional staff and the Corps Officer of the Chinatown Corps, Major Check Yee.  We had been scheduled to speak at his corps for the weekend.   

So, the Divisional Commander took us to a motel. Our son Stephen happened to be attending a course of studies at Santa Clara. We contacted him to inform him of our arrival. That same evening he drove all the way to San Francisco to see us.  By the time he arrived it was very late and we were dead tired after the longest day of our lives! The reason was we had crossed the international dateline, so that it seemed we had reached America before even leaving Hong Kong! It was well past 2.30 a.m. before we went to sleep and he stayed with us for the night. The next morning Stephen took me to the drug store to buy some grocery for breakfast.

Later that morning Major Check Yee came for us. We billeted with them.  It was our joy and privilege to speak at this well known San Francisco Chinatown Corps. It was founded in 1886. The corps is located in the Chinatown district of the city and has continued to serve the community since its founding.

Our next stop was Torrance Corps where we spoke at a weeknight meeting. From there together with other delegates we went by coach to Lake Arrowhead, the venue of the International Conference of Leaders from 6- 15 September.

The 115 delegates representing 90 countries came from all over the world. Right at the beginning of the conference General Burrows declared, “We are not a federation, but a family.”

The ten-day conference was led by the General assisted by the Chief of Staff Commissioner Ron Cox. Altogether 26 sessions were held. Each day commenced with devotions and ended with evening prayers.

General Burrows made it clear that it was a ‘business as usual’ conference but one that would tackle the hard questions and seek new solutions and new directions. She added “The one who guides us is the creative Spirit, the innovative Spirit, who wants us to do a new thing.” She also commented on a warning given by the Founder William Booth many years previously that “the Army should beware of three dangers: stagnation, secularisation, and self satisfaction.” Yes we all still need to be reminded today. It is so easy to become complacent.

The conference addressed subjects on “Our Spiritual Life as a Movement” as it relates to renewal, evangelism, the Scriptures and Articles of War.  I was tasked to present a paper on “The Scriptures.” It was announced after the conference that the Articles of War would be revised. We now call it “The Soldier’s Covenant.”

Other subjects discussed were “Our human resources relative to officers, soldiers, employees, youth and women: Leadership, its characteristics and needs; Structure, Administration and Management in respect to facing changes and accountability. Then there were a number of social issues also.

Study groups discussed issues on retirement, recruitment, training, evaluation, ecumenical relations, trends in Salvation Army music and literature, positional statements and the rank system.

I think the singing was just wonderful and I cannot find words to describe the atmosphere. I felt it was a foretaste of heaven when we shall one day join the heavenly choir to sing praises unto the Lord. We sang and prayed in different languages. I recall some of the songs used – Charles Wesley’s “Christ, whose glory filled the skies,” Catherine Baird’s “We’re in God’s Army and we fight wherever wrong is found” and some of my favourite songs by Albert Orsborn “My life must be Christ’s broken bread.” “In the secret of Thy presence” and “From a hill I know healing waters flow.”

O to be at Lake Arrowhead and to enjoy the beautiful scenery – the quiet seclusion, the azure lake, the grandeur of the hills and mountains. The General said, “We have come from the hustle and bustle of the cities, from the pressures our office to the quiet and beauty of the environment where we can pray, think and plan.” Our American friends certainly spared no effort to make us comfortable.  Coming from crowded Hong Kong, a highly pressurised society we appreciated Lake Arrowhead all the more.

Sunday was set aside for worship and was truly a blessing to all. The Army’s internationalism was clearly evident as the leaders prayed in different languages. We were truly united as the scripture says “with one accord in one place.” Quietly I sang to myself Edward Henry Bickersteth beautiful hymn

Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile,
Weary, I know it, of the press and throng;
Wipe from your brow the sweat and dust of toil,
And in my quiet strength again be strong.