Together 26: Keepers of the Covenant

As the new officers are ordained and commissioned, four of them share their testimonies.

My journey leading up to Commissioning has been anything but straightforward. There have been numerous challenges along the way but all I can say is that God has been faithful through it all. Even though it hasn’t been straightforward, it has been a beautiful journey that has shown God’s immense goodness. From the lows of illness to the highs of ministry, the journey has been varied but the result has been a strengthened faith in my life. In the healing I have received, I have been encouraged. In the classes I have sat, I have been inspired. In the placements, I have seen God at work. Through every part of my training journey, I have seen God move and this has strengthened my faith in him and grounded me deeper in him.

A piece of Scripture that has encouraged me has been Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ God has used all parts of my life to this point to glorify him. Whether it has been using the difficult parts to help others or using the good parts to bless him, God has been faithful to his word and has used all things in my life for his good.

As I prepare to be commissioned, I am determined to be rooted deeper in Christ so people can see more of him and less of me. I pray God will use and guide all of us being commissioned to help others see the incredible goodness God has brought to us.

Three words that simply define my entire journey are: God is good!

What is the most asked question on a journey? Are we there yet! I understood my journey as having an end destination: becoming a Salvation Army officer. I am the kind of person who makes an itinerary for any journey I go on, which means I treated my journey as something I could control, rather than a journey to be on. I thought becoming a cadet would bring anxiety and worry. However, I have been surprised in the best way possible, as God has shown me this is not my journey I am on, but his journey for me.

God’s journey has invited me into a lifelong adventure, planned by him not me. God’s journey has challenged me beyond anything I could imagine and helped me discover things I never thought I could do. God’s journey has brought me alongside people I never would have met and allowed me to see the beauty in all God’s children. God’s journey has taken me to the highest heights and some lows and yet he is beside me all the time. God’s journey calls me to quiet contentment, rather than endless striving for the things of the world.

I have been on a journey to officership – a destination to reach. But truly, this journey is just beginning and continuing, not in my own strength and wisdom but in God’s. Wherever he leads me, be it from the north of Scotland for my summer placement to taking up my first appointment in Belfast, God has always given me – and he gives you – what is needed for his journey, wherever he calls us to be. So the question isn’t ‘are we there yet’, but … where shall we go next?

There have been a few significant times in my life when it seemed that God laid an opportunity at my feet, like an open door. I clearly sensed his invitation: go ahead, walk through it. Becoming an officer is one of those.

In 2001, Major Ken Morey described our ministry at that time as a ship that was being built as it sailed. As travellers aboard this ship over the years, it has proved to be an apt description. We have loved our journey, but it was never really about the title or what we have been called – the ship – but about the One we follow and journey with.

It’s a perplexing transition, from territorial envoyship into officership. My role won’t change, my passion for Jesus won’t change, so what will? It’s still my vocation. It’s still my life’s calling. For me, this is a step of personal obedience as I take the opportunity God has laid before me. The consequences of this, as always, are in God’s hands.

For as far back as I can remember, I have desired to follow Jesus. I haven’t always done this well, but I have always found him to be my faithful Master, loving Saviour and closest friend. I have tried to serve him in whatever job, role or capacity I have found myself and, even though I have considered alternative careers over the years, I haven’t found a better way for me to serve God than spiritual leadership in The Salvation Army.

As I walk through the door God has opened, the adventure continues, another significant moment ensues and I thank God for the epic journey he has brought me along so far, trusting him for what lays ahead.

Since I was young, I felt an uncomfortable niggle when officership was mentioned. I had always wondered what happened at the training college, but I wanted to do something different. In 2020, I realised I needed to explore officership.

After applying, I felt assurance I was going where God wanted. My first year of training was an extended placement at Bexleyheath, which I loved. My second year has been more academic. The biggest blessing has been knowing that journeying with people is what I love to do. I have enjoyed the learning, too, which I didn’t expect – I don’t really do classrooms!

Two verses of Scripture have grounded and reassured me. Psalm 139 tells me that God knows me and that ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (v14). Jeremiah 29:11 promises: ‘I know the plans I have for you ... plans to give you hope and a future.’

Moving away from everything I knew to a new area meant I had to trust and rely on God more, and he’s been faithful the entire time. My daughter loved it at the college, which we didn’t expect – that was a real answer to prayer. There have been so many answers to prayer. I’m grateful for those and for the support from the tutors at the college.

As I approach Commissioning, I feel a mixture of excitement and being terrified, but I’m secure in the knowledge that all I need to do is listen to God. I’m looking forward to meeting the people at my first appointment, getting to know them and journeying alongside them.

Now, I don’t feel that uncomfortable niggle anymore. If you feel it, speak to somebody about it so you can explore what it is.