Who John Gowans Was

John Gowans (1934–2012) served as the 16th General of The Salvation Army from 1999 to 2002. Born in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, he grew up in a Salvation Army family and eventually became one of the movement’s most influential leaders and creative voices.

✍️ His Creative Legacy

Gowans is especially remembered for his partnership with John Larsson, with whom he co‑wrote ten full-length Salvation Army musicals—works that shaped the worship and culture of the Army for decades. These include:

  • Take-Over Bid (1967)
  • Hosea (1969)
  • Jesus Folk (1972)
  • Spirit (1973)
  • Glory (1975)
  • White Rose (1977)
  • The Blood of the Lamb (1978)
  • Son of Man (1983)
  • Man Mark II (1985)
  • The Meeting (1990)

These musicals blended theology, storytelling, and accessible music in a way that resonated deeply with Salvationists worldwide.

📚 Writing and Spiritual Voice

Gowans also wrote the beloved “O Lord!” prayer-poem books, which many Salvationists still use devotionally. His writing style—simple, honest, and deeply human—mirrors the reflective tone you often appreciate in hymn stories and devotional writing.

🌍 Leadership and Ministry

Before becoming General, Gowans served in a wide range of appointments across the UK, France, and the USA. His leadership was marked by warmth, creativity, and a strong pastoral heart.

The Simple Question

Mark 8 New International Version

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He came right down to me Albert Osborn

Albert Orsborn (4 September 1886 – 4 February 1967) was the 6th General of The Salvation Army (1946-1954).

Born Albert William Thomas Orsborn, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army in 1905. Albert served as a Corps Officer and in divisional work in the British Territory of the Army. In 1909, he married his first wife, Captain Evalina Barker.

In 1925, he was sent to serve as Chief Side Officer at the International Training College. In 1933, he was farewelled to New Zealand as Chief Secretary. He then became Territorial Commander of Scotland and Ireland in 1936. In 1940, he became British Commissioner.

Albert Orsborn’s first wife, Captain Evalina Barker, died in 1942. This was a very hard time for him. Two years later, in 1944, he married his second wife, Major Evelyn Berry. They were married for just a year when she died.

In 1946, the High Council of The Salvation Army elected Albert to become the General of The Salvation Army. He married his third wife, Commissioner Mrs Phillis Taylor (a daughter of General Higgins), in 1947.

General Orsborn served as General for eight years. He was the author of The House of My Pilgrimage. He retired on 30 June 1954.

General Albert Orsborn died at the age of 80 years and 5 months.

Throughout the course of his Salvation Army life Albert wrote many wonderful songs and books.

New Beginnings

Image result for A new life in Christ

2 Corinthians 5 The Message

A New Life

14-15 Our firm decision is to work from this focused centre: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

I want to be close, close to your side
So heaven is real and death is, a lie
I want to hear voices of angels above
Singing as one
Hallelujah, holy, holy
God almighty, the great I am
Who is worthy, none beside thee
God almighty, the great I am
I want to be near, near to your heart
Loving the world and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones living again
Singing as one
Hallelujah, holy, holy
God almighty, the great I am
Who is worthy, none beside thee
God almighty, the great I am
The great I am
The mountains shake before you the demons run in fear
At the mention of the name king of majesty
There is no power in hell
Or any who can stand
Before the power and the presence of the great I am
The great I am, the great I am yeah
Hallelujah, holy, holy
God almighty, the great I am
Who is worthy, none beside thee
God almighty, the great I am
Hallelujah, holy, holy
God almighty, the great I am
Who is worthy, none beside thee
God almighty, the great I am
The great I am
The great I am
The great I am

The real reason we give presents at Christmas

Matthew 2:11 New International Version 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The Wise men’s act of worshipping Jesus reminds us of the significance of worship in our Christian journey. Worship is not limited to prayer & singing but emcompasses every aspect of our lives. As Christians, when we wholeheartedly worship & surrender to God, we acknowledge His lordship over our leadership and recognise that our success is ultimately dependant on him. Let us approch our Christian roles with a heart of worship, giving glory to the one who empowers and guides us.

Prayer

Gracious God, we come before thee in worship & surrender, acknowledging your lordship over leadership journey. As Christians, help us to model a lifestyle of worship & devotion to you. May every aspect be an act of worship, giving glory to your name. Amen

Who is He?

1 Timothy 1:17New International Version

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Author: B. R. Hanby

Benjamin Russell Hanby was born July 22, 1833, the oldest of eight children, to Bishop William Hanby in Rushville, OH. The family moved to Westerville, OH where Bishop Hanby was a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. In his short life Benjamin graduated from Otterbein, taught school, became a United Brethren minister, started a singing school, was editor for John Church publishers in Cincinnati and composed many songs and hymns before he died of tuberculosis March 15, 1867. His home in Westerville was Ohio’s first memorial to a composer. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping to Canada and is a national historic site, a Methodist church Landmark and a Network to Freedom site for the National Park Service.

1 Who is he in yonder stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?

Refrain:
‘Tis the Lord! O wondrous story,
‘Tis the Lord, the King of Glory!
Ay his feel we humbly fall,
Crown him, crown him Lord of all!

2 Who is he in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?

3 Who is he to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?

4 Who iRuler

s he on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?

5 Who is he who from the grave
Comes to succour, help and save?

6 Who is he who from his throne
Rules through all the worlds alone?

Jesus is born!

Joy to the World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as, the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love

As Christians we can draw inspiration from the joyous message of ‘Joy to the World’ to infuse joy and positivity into our Christian approach. Christ’s birth bring’s the promise of eternal hope and salvation, and this assurance can empower us to lead with confidence and compassion. Just as the carol proclaims that “Heaven and nature sing”, our Christian lives should inspire those around us.

Moreover’Joy to the World’ encourages us to share the message of joy and salvation with others. As Chritians we have the privilage & responsibility to inspire an motivate those around us, helping them discover joy and purpose in their work. By leading with enthusiasm and joy, rooted in the truth of Christ’s redemptive love.

Prayer

Gracious God, as we reflect on these lyrics, we celebrate the arrival of Christ as the source of joy and salvation. As Christians help us to embrace the profound impact of His birth on our lives. May our actions & words reflect the hope and redemption we find in Christ, inspiring joy in the hearts of those we meet. Guide us, O Lord, to lead with enthusiasm & joy, rooted in the truth of your redemptive love.

Amen.

Starry Night

Matthew 2 New International Version

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

It Was On A Starry Night

It was on a starry night
When the hills were bright
Earth lay sleeping
Sleeping calm and still
Then in a cattle shed
In a manger bed
A boy was born
King of all the world.

Chorus:
And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born
King of all the world.
And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born
King of all the world.

Soon the shepherds came that way
Where the baby lay
And were kneeling
Kneeling by His side
And their hearts believed again
For the peace of men
For a boy was born
King of all the world.

Herod’s reaction after Jesus’s Birth

Matthew 2:16-18 New International Version 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

The events known as the massacre of the innocents following Jesus’ birth, remind us that the world Jesus entered was marred with darkness and suffering. Herod’s cruel actions brought immense pain and sorrow to many families in Bethlehem. In the midst of the joy of Christmas, this passage reminds us of the brokenness of humanity and the need for the Saviour’s redemptive work.

We are called to bring light & hope to a world that is often filled with darkness and pain. Our actions and decisions can impact the lives of those we lead, either positively or negatively. The Christmas season is an opportunity to extend compassion and support to those who are hurting, embodying the love and comfort of Christ.

Prayer

Father, we pray for those who are suffering and in pain, especially during this season of Christmas. Help us to be agents of comfort & hope, extending your love eto those around us. May we lead with justice & compassion, and the commitment to protect the vunerable. Amen.