An Army that serves God and humanity

The Salvation Army in Latvin media - 2
From “Latvijas Avīze”

AN ARMY THAT SERVES GOD AND SOCIETY
In elegant uniforms and with ranks- these are soldiers of The Salvation Army (TSA), working in more than 118 countries all over the world, in Latvia too. Since July of this year, TSA in Latvia is being led by Peter Baronowsky, his deputy being his spouse- Rut Baronowsky.
BY RITA RUSKA

-What is The Salvation Army and what does it do in Latvia?
P.B.: The Salvation Army is an international movement; a part of the Christian Church, its mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in His name to fulfill people’s needs without discrimination.
TSA was formed in London in 1865 by a Methodist pastor William Booth, who thought that it is hard to tell Gospel to a hungry and dirty man. First one should show the Christian love in action, then the person’s heart will open up to hear the Good News. The motto of TSA is soup, soap and salvation. Therefore in all churches parallel to the religious work, which includes services, Sunday schools, Bible studies, prayer nights, youth nights and women’s fellowship events at al, do the social work too: via soup kitchens and distribution of clothes. We want to reach out with a helpful hand to those people of Latvia and their families, who deal with difficult life situations. This area of action is very visible and also is the one that gets appreciated the quickest.

R.B.: Of course, we cannot solve all problems of Latvia, but our employees do a lot to attract private donations. This enables us to provide specific school children with a warm lunch, as well as to purchase food parcels for those in need. We started this work in November and will continue it next year too. Food parcels will be received by several hundred people.
- What products do you provide in food parcels? How do people assess them?

P.B.: Those are things necessary for a person to survive. Food parcels for families are prepared in the value of Ls 10, for individual people in value of Ls 5. Employees knowing the needs of the specific people, buy the content of the food parcels. Their content can vary besides food including also soap, washing powder and tooth paste. In many places the churches provide a possibility of taking a shower or do the laundry. These services are free of charge.

R.B.: In Cēsis District in Skangale Manor TSA runs a Children Support and Social Care Centre- boarding home “Skangali”. It provides services of permanent social care and rehabilitation for children-orphans and children without parental care, as well as additionally provides such a service as boarding home, although during the school time children from social risk families do not get to spend much time in Skangale. The other children home was opened in Riga, it is L. Gorksa’s Children and Youth Home. In January a crisis centre for families will open its doors in Skangale.

P.B.: The goal of TSA is to help every child and every adult until the moment when are able to take care of themselves.
- Do you often experience such a positive change?

P.B.: In Riga on Varaklanu street 1, operates our Russian speaking church or Corps, which was recently supplemented with app. 20 church members. A year ago they were in a severe alcohol addiction. Most of them still are without a defined living space, without a job, and it is a miracle that they survive in on the street or in shelters. The number of people looking for our support and help increases constantly.

R.B.: App. 120 people participate in services of this Corps every week. There was a woman and a man, who regularly came to the church, sat embraced and cried. We found out that both of them had lost job, flat, sleeping in separate shelters, but TSA for them was a place to meet with each other and be together. The leader of the Corps or the pastor helped them to find a job and a flat.

P.B.: We have high hopes that in cooperation with Riga’s Dome we will be able to set up a so-called “half-way house”, in which people like afore mentioned couple would be able to reside for a while, while they sort their life out. At the moment after a service they must take their uniform off and return to the street.
-Knowing that for many a warm meal is not that easily accessible how has TSA got involved in this work?

P.B.: Every week we distribute more than 1600 portions of food. The soup kitchen in Daugavpils functions 4 days a week, every time feeding about a hundred people. Twice a week a shower is available, clothes are distributed, Bible studies take place, evening meals and youth activities are organized, but on Sundays they are invited to take part in services. Such churches, for instance, are in Riga, Liepaja, Bauska, Iecava, Liepa, Drusti, Seda, Sarkani, Ilmaja and Daugavpils. These are places where churches or the corps function, doing the social work. It is the small local governments that appreciate the work of TSA, because for example in Liepa, Priekuli Region, on November 17 our officer was granted with an Appreciation Certificate for her contribution in charity and education of the society.
I would like to remind that TSA exists in Latvia since 1923. In pre-war Latvia it had 17 Corps or churches, in Riga it had a big night shelter, soup kitchen, TSA helped thousands of poor people. In pre-war Latvia TSA had a very good reputation and it was respected. By the way, our central building in Riga was built by TSA in 1939 for our own needs, yet never had the chance to use it before the war; the first service in this building was held only in 1991, when we claimed our property back and put it in order.
-Where do you get finances to help?
It is a support money of church members, donations or tithes. But knowing that many own nothing, the biggest portion of finances we receive from Sweden.
- From Sweden because that is the country that you come from?

P.B.: When Latvia regained its independence, Sweden agreed to take the responsibility of re-starting the work of TSA in Latvia. At the moment, the majority of TSA work is carried out by Latvian officers, who are Latvian pastors. We have wonderful employees and we are very proud of them.
- What do you gain from this work personally?
- The best reward is when we see people’s lives changing. Meeting with God for some people is so powerful that miracles take place- a person who has been an alcoholic for years, stops drinking. As it is said in the Bible: when that happens, you are born again. We have worked with alcoholics for many years in Sweden. We know how hard the battle is with oneself. But changes take place, and that calls us to continue what we have begun. Material world will never be able to satisfy a man to the depths of one’s heart. We personally know lots of wealthy people, who actually are desperate. And there are just as many people, who have nothing, yet they radiate in joy and happiness.