Cadet testimony: 'I found my home, I found my people'

Cadet Emily Hague of the Messengers of Reconciliation session shares her story ahead of Commissioning this Sunday 17 July at Together 2022.

In 2011, at a time when I was struggling desperately with life, I had an encounter with Jesus that changed everything.

I suddenly seemed aware of God, that I needed to say sorry and that he’d somehow saved my life. When I asked how I could repay him, he simply asked me to tell people about who he is and what he has done.

At this point I hadn’t much awareness of The Salvation Army beyond a distant memory of the corps band in Canterbury marching down our road to play Christmas carols when I was young. It was in 2013, shortly after watching a documentary about the Army, that I received an invitation and was led to Regent Hall one Sunday morning.

It was there that I finally found what I hadn’t realised I’d been missing and searching for all along. I found my home, I found my people – and God was asking something of me that felt bold and beyond anything I’d experienced.

I knew immediately that I needed to enrol as a soldier. It wasn’t long before I realised, along with a clear vision that he had already given me, that this would also involve me serving him as a Salvation Army officer.

After much questioning, testing and further confirmations and affirmations at Clevedon – where I have spent most of my Army years – I finally entered William Booth College in 2020, despite the barriers and a global pandemic that tried to get in the way.

It hasn’t always been easy, and I have faced challenges, hurts and upsets throughout the process. God’s grace and abundant love, however, have not changed – strength that comes from the Holy Spirit continues to guide me and help me to trust in him.

I love being where I am and doing what I am doing. I am passionate about learning and discovering even more of who God is and what he has done so I can tell it to the world with great joy!

I very much look forward to serving him and the people of Snettisham in my first appointment.

• Tune in to Commissioning at Together 2022 on Sunday 17 July at 10.30am via youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo