I visited The Salvation Army's Hadleigh Farm this week. This was part of William Booth's 'In Darkest England and the Way Out' vision, to establish a farm colony. It operated for many years as a place for prisoners or recently released prisoners to work, learn skills and give them some meaningful to do to keep them out of trouble. It is a property of about 900 acres towards the south east of England.
These days it has over 200 people with intellectual disabilities who work there in a variety of fields, supported by a staff of 70 and 40 volunteers. Some do hospitality in the cafe, others learn skills in the kitchen, some in the carpentry shop or grounds maintenance or agriculture. (As an aside - it is also the site for the 2012 London Olympics Mountain Bike competition)
Also on site is a 'rare breeds centre' where sheep and goats and pigs and assorted other farm animals that are rare or endangered are cared for and bred. The photo above shows some Bagot goats who were quite friendly.
Rare Breeds - how appropriate on a number of levels. Firstly, I find it wonderful that The Army is playing a part in preserving God's creation. Appropriate too in relation to William Booth, and also The Salvation Army. I see William Booth as one of a kind, a rare breed, with enormous vision, and passion and drive and determination to match - and I don't think too many would argue that the whole Army is itself a 'rare breed'.
But it would be my prayer that every corps and mission centre would be a place for 'rare breeds' - rare in our holiness, rare in our devotion to prayer and spiritual growth, rare in our passion for the lost and our zeal to serve. Rare in the personalities of people who call our corps 'home'. Rare in our passion and drive and determination to see the Kingdom come.
Perhaps a sign over the door 'Rare Breeds Centre' might be taking things a bit far, but may it be a sign that hangs over the door of our hearts.
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