The Salvation Army is encouraging the public to mark United Nations Day of the Family on 15 May by getting back in touch with loved ones with whom they have lost contact.

The month of May is Missing Persons Awareness Month and The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service and other missing persons charities including the Missing Persons Helpline and the Red Cross are raising awareness of the options available to help trace missing people.

The Salvation Army is renowned for its long history of helping those in need but perhaps but one of its lesser known services is its family tracing agency, which is one of the oldest in the world.

Dating back to 1885, The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service seeks to promote reconciliation with lost relatives and works closely with colleagues and volunteers in many of the 111 countries in which The Salvation Army operates.

"The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service is keen to encourage families who have lost contact to start a search and re-establish family relationships," says FTS director Major Mike Sebbage.

"People lose touch for all sorts of reasons, for instance when relationships breakdown, or simply failing to keep in touch when moving away for a new job, a new home or to travel.

"As a Christian organisation, The Salvation Army is keen to encourage strong family relationships, and the Family Tracing Service is an important aspect of our work, helping people to re-establish relationships with their relatives. This can often fill in the missing parts of their lives."

The Salvation Army has an extremely high success rate. Out of the more than 3,500 cases, or searches for loved ones, initiated each year, around 85 - 87 per cent are successful - resulting in around 10 to 12 people being reunited every working day.

Claire Lee, 37, from London contacted FTS to find her mum Kathleen after 31 years apart. "It's been fantastic, my children now have a grandmother, and mum and I talk nearly every day. We're celebrating the second anniversary of our reunion by going on holiday together later this month."

Richard Daniel, 37, from Bedford says finding his father gave him the courage and strength to turn his life around. "I was living in a hostel, but dad's support and encouragement helped me move on. I see dad at least every fortnight and I'm also in touch with my step-sister and brother who dad named after me."

Donna Hutchinson, 24, from Crewe had her most memorable Christmas present two years ago: "Two days before Christmas I got a call from my brother. I couldn't believe it. Our first visit was so nerve-wracking. After 20 years apart I thought he wouldn't recognise me but he did. By my second visit we were family again and all those lost years were forgotten."

Major Sebbage encouraged more people to get in touch with the FTS: "Whatever the reason for family separation, it's important that affected people get in contact with us as soon as possible before it is too late.

"With an 87% success rate, the likelihood is that we will be able to help reunite that family.'



If you think The Salvation Army could help you find a lost relative contact visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/familytracing

To find out more information about Missing Persons Awareness Month, please go to www.look4them.org links these agencies in the UK.




This article has been re-published in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army UK.