If you want to be inspired and feel good about life and the Army, just sit down for a moment with John Bate and listen to him as he tells of the amazing adventures he has had in the Lord’s service. He makes the events come alive, his sense of fun and zest for life lift the spirit, and his sensitive insights warm the heart. I know, for I have often been there myself. And now all of that potential for enjoyment and uplift is right here in the pages of Destination Unknown for every reader to share. Marvelous! —JOHN LARSSON General (Ret.) This remarkable book is an example of history alive! Written by the indomitable Colonel John Bate, who wrote in the preface that he gratefully accepted what God had provided and was excited about it, those who know this author will acknowledge that he still lives by that spiritual rule of life. This is not a book about Salvation Army leaders with whom John and Val Bate were associated, but a book about the unfolding of the life and ministry of leaders in the Army whom the Bates knew well and served well, all in the spirit of the servant leadership of which our Lord was the supreme example. This is also a book about the many faces of our shared human experiences lived out for the sake of the kingdom of God. The author skilfully takes the reader through the range of human emotion from pathos to hilarity, depending on the situations in which God had place him and his wife as their own leadership abilities were recognized by the Army. The Bates traveled the world for the kingdom of God, not as tourists, but as participants in kingdom life. The skill of the writing matches the grand vision of Salvation Army service, and that is what makes this book such a marvelous example of history alive, and so worth reading. —ROGER J. GREEN, Ph.D., D.D. Professor and Chair of Biblical Studies and Christian Ministries Terrelle B. Crum Chair of Humanities Gordon College Wenham, Massachusetts “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Ps. 37:23). John Bate is the personification of that truth. It is apparent that from his childhood, God’s plan for his life was carried out in minute detail. Even though not always apparent to him, he was always in the right place at the right time and for the right reason. Many of us have wondered about the “backstage” life of a General—what happens between Congress meetings, what are they like in the normal routines of office and travel? John has taken us to those inner-sanctums with humor, insight, sensitivity and, yes, reverence for the person and the work. This book is a fascinating read for anyone, but particularly for those who know this man, whose life has been so carefully ordered by the Lord. —RAYMOND COOPER Commissioner Destination Unknown provides a wonderful glimpse of God’s provisions for John Bate throughout a lifetime of service as a Salvation Army officer. God started a work in John’s life as a youth in New Zealand, which was expressed in serving people around the world. Readers will especially enjoy the detailed glimpses into John’s life as he traveled as the private secretary to General Arnold Brown, a beloved worldwide leader of The Salvation Army. The moving stories, the humor of Brown and Bates serving together, the joy and surprises God shared with John and his family as they traveled to unknown destinations through their obedience to God’s directions. What a partnership! And now, I would invite you to sit down and enjoy the journey! —PHILIP SWYERS Commissioner Destination Unknown k Memoirs of a private secretary to the General of The Salvation Army Colonel John M. Bate DESTINATION UNKNOWN Memoirs of a private secretary to the General of The Salvation Army Colonel John M. Bate © 2012 Frontier Press All rights reserved. Except for fair dealing permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from author/publisher. Bate, John 1934–. ISBN 978-0-9768465-4-3 The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Dedication and Acknowledgements This book is dedicated to my wife Valda who has faithfully and so willingly accompanied me towards the unknown destination; to our children, Beverley and Alastair, who thrilled in every journey and new home; to a host of family and good friends who have encour- aged me to set out so many of the tales which I have shared with them over the years; and to those eight wonderful grandchildren for whom the project was originally commenced. I also want to gratefully acknowledge Commissioner Robert Thomson’s careful editing of the original manuscript and Val for her graphic artwork on the cover. Table of Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................... iii Introduction .......................................................................................................v Preface ............................................................................................................. vii PART I 1. Saturday’s Child ..........................................................................................3 2. A Calling and a Wedding ............................................................................6 3. The First Big Journey ...................................................................................9 PART II 4. Shaping: South America West ...................................................................15 5. Lessons Along the Way: Panama and Jamaica ............................................22 6. Learning by Example: New Zealand ..........................................................25 7. Civil War and Curfews: Rhodesia ...............................................................31 8. Grace Abounds: Spain ...............................................................................39 9. Banners and Bonnets: IHQ ........................................................................43 10. Filming Catherine Bramwell-Booth: IHQ ....................................................55 PART III 11. It Began with General Arnold Brown .........................................................67 12. On the Road: South Asia Zone ..................................................................75 13. Behind the “Bamboo Curtain”: South Pacific and East Asia Zone ...............83 14. A Vision and a Burning Heart: South Pacific and East Asia Zone .................94 15. Expecting the Unexpected: Americas and Caribbean Zone .....................104 16. “I’ll Change it all in the Translation!”: Europe Zone .................................113 17. Fervor and Enthusiasm: Africa Zone ........................................................117 18. It was Only a Matter of Time!: Americas and Caribbean Zone .................123 i PART IV 19. The Land of Copihue Rojo: South America West ......................................131 20. It Takes Two to Tango: South America East ..............................................140 21. From Fern Leaf to Maple Leaf: Canada ....................................................147 22. The Stars and Stripes: USA West ..............................................................149 23. One Last Appointment and a General’s Final Sermon: USA National Headquarters .....................................................................154 24. A Tribute to General Arnold Brown .........................................................162 ii Foreword By General Eva Burrows, Retired WHEN I RECEIVED THE MANUSCRIPT to read before writing this foreword, I was quite elated, and looking forward to reading it for sev- eral reasons. First because I had esteemed General Arnold, who is THE General mainly referred to in the book. Apart from being a powerful preacher and spiritual leader, he was a great raconteur, and John Bate comes a close second as a skilled storyteller himself. I had been in their company on many an occasion, and had greatly enjoyed their accounts of their experiences as the General undertook his travels around the Army world. They both had an eye and ear for a good narrative, spoken and written. John and Val Bate have also had an extraordinary officership experience. With almost every change of appointment they moved to another country—either in Africa, the Americas or Europe—and always with a strong commitment to the calling that they first re- ceived in their homeland, New Zealand. I have admired them for that willingness and dedication, and also for their adaptability to new cultures, new environments and new people. This book will help you understand how the Lord upheld them in their acceptance of this amazing lifestyle. A resilient, resourceful and enterprising missionary officer, John showed the same qualities later when faced with the unexpected— such as massive radio and television assignments in Britain about which he had previously had no experience, or managing delicate situations in Burma in the face of political turmoil, or extricating the General from possible disasters regarding grilled monkey on the menu, or indescribable accommodation blunders, or translation fias- cos. Fortunately John’s innovative skills came to the fore, and usually with no little amusement for him and the General. They both had a phenomenal sense of humor, so that often as you read, you will find yourself laughing aloud. John brings to life many unforgettable characters in these pages, not just the two Generals but other famous names in present-day Army history, such as Commissioner Catherine Bramwell-Booth, some eminent and high-profile in national government,