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Andrew
Barton, Assistant Director of ALOVE, speaks
candidly over the phone with The Salvation
Army’s newest Divisional Director for
Evangelism, Captain David Eldridge, about
love, life, and above all else … cricket.
Andrew (AB): So
Dave, what went wrong with the mighty Australian
team this summer?
David (DE): Andrew,
I agreed to have this chat on the basis of
my new role in the Central North Division
and all the exciting mission that The Salvation
Army is involved with up here. Cricket is
not on the agenda this morning.
AB: Sorry Dave.
Let me ask it in another way. Do you think
your new appointment to Manchester and renowned
prayer life influenced the fact that the only
game the Aussie’s won was at Old Trafford?
DE: Andrew, come
on! So we can move on, let me just say that
while I am proud of my Australian citizenship,
I was always pulling for England this summer
as they were, from the outset, the better
team. I wouldn’t say that publicly,
but you know my heart. And of course Australia
is still hold the World title in Rugby ...
AB: actually…no….England
won the World Cup 20-17.
DE: oh yeah, but
we do hold it in curling!!...
AB: actually…no
Dave….Great Britain is the Olympic Gold
Medallists for that too….
DE: ok –
so we dominate in the pool!.
AB: Yes you do.
Australia does dominate in wearing Speedos,
tight plastic hats and pretending to be flighty
animals in the water. Yep, you can have that
one. Anyway moving on… There is a strong
undercurrent of ‘chatter’ going
on in ALOVE youth circles that you were given
a new appointment from ALOVE UKT because of
reasons other than the need in Manchester.
Do you know anything about this?
DE: I think you’ll
find this is childish conversations about
the fact that Fleet Management put pressure
on the appointments board because since arriving
in the UK from Melbourne in October 2003,
I had my first fleet car stolen in less than
a week, had a tire blow out on the M1, and
had a run in with a canister of superglue
at a petrol station resulting in a complete
car paint removal and respray! While all true
– has nothing to do with the move.
AB: Seriously
– how are you finding your new role?
DE: Gloria and
I are very busy and loving our new roles.
Gloria is the new Divisional Director for
Personnel (Officers), so we are still learning
our new roles and submerging ourselves with
all that is going on in Central North Division.
This year’s two-part summer school was
a great success with young people helping
tidy up areas and running a sports programme
for the community of Fitton Hill. We’re
excited to have two Bursary students, one
in their first year (Seven Brooks) and the
other in their second year (Oldham Fitton
Hill), along with a Timothy Student. It’s
going to take me some time to truly find my
feet, but feel this is where God wants me
for this time.
AB: Because this
has been such a beautiful summer – not
just for the weather – my working title
for this interview is “from Ashes to
Beauty”. What do you reckon?
DE: I think it
is a cheap shot and shows the depth of your
reading Andrew! As a DDE, when I think of
Ashes to Beauty, I think of the way in which
Jesus turns our personal ashes to beauty,
and reflect theologically on how as a movement
we are called to make ourselves available
to God to share this reality with those we
live, work and relate to.
AB: Ooh sorry,
did I hit a nerve?… Well we miss you
and Gloria around in Morden, and the bus drivers
certainly feel less like they are being followed
all the time, but wish you all the best in
Central North. Good luck with your carolling
this Christmas – let’s hope you
break last year’s fundraising record
for local youth work. |
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Youthwork -
The Partnership ...
ALOVE,
Youthwork Magazine, Youth For Christ, Spring Harvest and
Oasis are working together to equip and resource the Church
for effective youth work and ministry. |
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