Newmai News Network
AIZAWL, JANUARY 8
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 20th General of The Salvation Army, Andre Cox and his wife Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women Ministry arrived Aizawl Tuesday. The Salvation Army is a Christian denominational church.
Meanwhile, on their arrival, the General and his wife were received by Advisory Council of Salvation Army Laymen (ACSAL) at Lengpui Airport in Aizawl where around 500 to 700 people gathered to welcome their General. Girls were seen welcoming their general putting on a paper cap on their heads with a writing “ACSAL welcomes the General.” Besides offering a gift, ACSAL welcomed the General with placards showing their demands. The placards showed grievances and demand such as ‘General, please stop violation of O & Rs in IET,’
‘We want to go by O&R only,’ and ‘General solve our crisis’ etc.After their arrival, the General and his wife were received by a large crowd where the couples were carried on shoulders by a Mizo traditional banquette from Tuichhunchhuah Bazar (Tuikual) to Aizawl Temple where a warm welcome reception was held for the visiting General and his wife.
Addressing the gathering, General Cox who is here on a 7-day visit, thanked the people for their etiquette which he said “It is beyond my expectation. And I think as though I came to my home town and living amongst relatives as a member of Salvation Army and the people of Mizo Christians.”
Mrs Silvia Cox, who spoke at the welcome function, said the welcome reception was so great that it was beyond her imagination. She urged the people to be happy of being a church member “because Salvation Army serves as a missionary for the bereaved, healer to patients, and transformer of others through Christ,” she said.
During their stay in Aizawl, the couple will participate in Territorial Congress at Aizawl Temple and Vanapa Hall. They will also meet both the Governor and the Chief Minister. They will depart on January 13.
The General of The Salvation Army, Andre Cox was born on 12th July, 1954. He was commissioned as an officer in The Salvation Army on May 25, 1979. He was elected to the position of General by the 18th High Council of The Salvation Army on August 3, 2013.
He was the chief of the staff of The Salvation Army from 1st February, 2013 to 3rd August 2013, until he was elected General.
In the wake of the unexpected retirement of General Linda Bond, Cox fulfilled the duties of General for a little under two months until the High Council could elect a new General.
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe to an English father and Swiss mother, Cox spent his childhood years in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, before moving to Switzerland where he met and married Argentinean-born Commissioner Silvia.
Meanwhile, ACSAL called for informal discussion with the media at Hotel Regency on January 8 requesting the latter’s support to raise their misunderstandings, grievances and demand before the General when he will have a press conference on January 9 at the State Guest House.
