It was obvious that The People’s General had not lost her passion for people as she moved amongst those gathered, greeting and affirming each person in turn. She sang in language with the Zimbabweans, reminisced with the Sri Lankans and the Scots, told stories of Salvationist ‘heroes’ in China – and each person felt like she had been there just for them.
The number of people attending the Easter meetings at The Meeting House in Auckland grew as people left each successive event inspired and challenged by the words of General Eva Burrows (Rtd).
Together those who attended were led on the familiar Easter journey from the garden - where wills conflicted - to the empty tomb. But each person left with a challenge reverberating in their hearts – if Christ was not raised, then there is no gospel, there is no eternal life, there is no freedom – what we do and are is senseless – “but there was a resurrection!”
A highlight of the weekend was the dinner to raise funds for the Sri Lanka mission team. Over seventy people paid to hear the General speak of her experiences as the International leader of the Army. Those gathered sat spellbound as she recalled audiences with heads of state; embarrassing moments with African Kings and alcohol; engagement with the poorest and champions of the poor (Mother Teresa); moments of panic in airline mishaps; and times of thrill in worship and fellowship.
Regardless of who you were you could not help but be inspired by this unique woman of God – and by the way in which God spoke through her – as if to each person individually.
