Commissioning 2023: Defenders of Justice

WORDS Jules Badger, Kelly Cooper, Holly Morton-Chong

PHOTOS Ben Mack, Major Mat Badger, Jules Badger

Graduation Service for Defenders of Justice |Ngā Kaiwawao i Te Tika | Kau Taukapo ‘O E Fakamaau Totonū

The weekend of official public events celebrating the commissioning and ordination of the Defenders of Justice session of cadets began with a graduation ceremony on the evening of Friday 8 December at The Street Church in Hania Street, Wellington. Hosted by Booth College of Mission (BCM), family and friends gathered to witness and support Cadets Andy and Tamsyn Connor, Cadets Amelia and Mosese Kava, Cadet Naomi Tong and Cadet Initi Tuiono.

In attendance were Salvation Army senior leaders, BCM staff and the academic board, as well as Dr Stephen Garner, the academic dean of Laidlaw College (BCM’s key training partner). Special mention was made of those watching online, especially Lt-Colonels Garth and Suzanne Stevenson, the previous training principal and assistant training principal, now serving in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.

A pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) took place at the beginning to welcome special guests for the weekend, particularly international Salvation Army leaders General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham. Rūnanga Kaumatua Rangi McLean (Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, Waikato-Ngāti Maniapoto) spoke warmly to the leaders and welcomed them home to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Cloaked in a korowai (Māori cloak), the General responded in te reo Māori, giving thanks and expressing gratitude to people from around the territory for their prayers, messages of encouragement, and love and support since coming into his new role in August.

Graduating cadets received certificates, including the BCM Diploma in Christian Studies (Theology, Level 5), BCM Diploma in Christian Studies (Leadership, Level 6), and the Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training. Alongside the cadets, Salvation Army Youth Work LAB Apprentice Sarah O’Brien (Manukau Central Corps) received the Certificate of Salvation Army Youth Work Training, having previously completed a Bachelor of Ministries (Laidlaw College) and Diploma in Youth Work (Praxis). Salvationist Soora Lee also received the Diploma in Christian Studies.

Six officers also received awards for completing further education studies during officership. Captain Andrew Wilson (Queenstown Corps) received the Postgraduate Diploma in Faith-Based Leadership and Management (University of Otago); the Bachelor of Theology (Laidlaw College) was received by Captain Veronica Rivett (Hastings Corps), Captain Bevan Reddish (Albany Bays Corps), Captain Rochelle Reddish (Albany Bays Corps) and Captain Cameron Millar (Hutt City Corps). Major Bronwyn Aldersley (national mission director for ASARS) received the Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management (Open Polytechnic).

BCM’s Education Officer Susan Howan introduced each of the graduating cadets before they received their certificates, drawing attention to their individual strengths and their unique passions. Susan spoke of Cadet Naomi Tong’s curiosity which ‘enabled many an outbreak in learning’ among the session. Susan highlighted Cadet Mosese Kava’s perseverance with study, given English is his second language. Cadet Amelia Kava always knew God had ‘more’ for her and Susan praised this ongoing responsiveness to God as well as Amelia’s strong commitment to her Tongan cultural values. Susan emphasised Cadet Initi Tuiono’s deep passion for pastoral visitation, and similarly Cadet Tamsyn Connor’s tender pastoral heart. During the second year of training, Cadet Andy Connor received a formal diagnosis of ADHD and discovered he was on the autism spectrum, and Susan affirmed that ‘neurodiversity is no barrier to responding to God’s call on our lives’.

Cadet Naomi Tong was the graduate speaker for the session, and she spoke of her growing awareness throughout her life that she would one day be graduating and becoming a Salvation Army officer. Naomi confessed that alongside a sense of excitement about that awareness was the fear that she didn’t have what it would take. But she testified to being able to look back at that time and now stand in awe of how much she’d grown and changed, and especially of how faithful God had been.

Naomi spoke on behalf of the session, explaining that they have not only grown in knowledge and skills, but that ‘God has used this time to affect our hearts and draw us closer to him’. She thanked the tutors and staff of BCM, saying, ‘We are so thankful for the way you have shared your knowledge with us, guided us, listened to us and helped us get to this point’. Naomi also thanked friends and whānau (family) who had supported the session during the past two years of study and preparation for officership. ‘Thank you for the prayers you’ve prayed, for the conversations filled with encouragement and the countless ways that you have shown that you were with us.’

Naomi concluded with a challenge: ‘My prayer is that during this evening, or over the weekend, you will be encouraged by our journeys and our stepping out in faith into something new, and that might spark some new thing in your life. And I hope that this will be the same for each of us graduating tonight. That we will continue to learn, grow and step into whatever God calls us into next.’

The keynote speaker for graduation was Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, who testified to God’s goodness and faithfulness. ‘Jesus can be trusted,’ she said. ‘My life and ministry journey testifies to this truth.’ Drawing on The Message paraphrase of the book of Matthew, Commissioner Bronwyn offered three very practical but profoundly life-giving ‘unforced rhythms of grace’ for self-leadership as followers of Jesus. ‘As you prepare to step into the life of spiritual leadership, please remember that the first person we are called to lead is ourselves,’ she said. ‘Committing to this important and often most difficult leadership challenge becomes the gift that we offer to those we are privileged to serve and lead. So guard your soul, feed your mind, look after your body. Circumstances from without and expectations from within will conspire to keep you from incorporating these as regular unforced rhythms of grace.

‘Although others can encourage and challenge you regarding healthy personal habits, in the end, it is your decision to make—only you can do it. From my heart to yours, I pray that you will commit to prioritising these rhythms so that you will stay strong and healthy through the ministry adventures ahead. This is God’s desire for you as you step further into your yes to his calling and purposes.’

Silver Star Brunch

The annual Silver Star Brunch was held at Booth College of Mission on Saturday 9 December. The brunch honours the parents and those who have supported the lives of the graduating cadets. Each cadet presented their invited guest with a Silver Star in acknowledgement of their contribution. Commissioner Julie Campbell led the event, accompanied by senior leaders of the territory as well as Training Principal Major David Noakes and other key college staff and tutors.

BCM kitchen staff prepared a delicious brunch, with first-year cadets from the Champions of the Mission session graciously serving the families of the Defenders of Justice session.

Cadet Andy Connor spoke on behalf of the session, expressing gratitude for the influence and input of parents upon the lives of the cadets. Acknowledgement was made also of spiritual parents and other formational influences. For some cadets whose parents have passed away, the Silver Star Brunch offered an opportunity to honour others who had played significant roles in their lives.

It was especially tender for Cadet Andy to present a Silver Star to his father who had travelled alone from the UK, following the recent passing of Andy’s mother. Cadet Initi Tuiono presented Silver Stars to Majors Janette and Kevin Waugh, who had been significant spiritual parents to her during their years of service in Tonga. While Cadet Amelia Kava was able to thank her parents and present them both with Silver Stars, Cadet Mosese Kava presented Silver Stars to his beloved spiritual parents who had stood in the gap and supported him since his parents passed away.

Cadet Naomi Tong presented Silver Stars to both her parents, Majors Kylie and Stuart Tong. It was noted and celebrated that Naomi makes up the fifth generation of Salvation Army officers in her family—a strong heritage for the Tong/Herring families, many of whom were present over the ordination and commissioning weekend.

Commissioning and Ordination Service

The Defenders of Justice, Ngā Kaiwawao i Te Tika, Kau Taukapo ‘O E Fakamaau Totonū, were ordained and commissioned by territorial leaders, Commissioners Mark and Julie Campbell, at The Street Church in Wellington, on Saturday 9 December.

Joy and celebration filled the room as cadets, wearing korowai and traditional Tongan dress, were musically welcomed to the ceremony by the Territorial Youth Band. With broad smiles, each cadet greeted those in the room with a salute as a symbolic gesture of their pledge to the mission of The Salvation Army.

Kaumatua Rangi McLean greeted the cadets and congregation with a mihi whakatau (welcome speech). Colonel Gerry Walker welcomed those in attendance, including General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, leaders of the international Salvation Army, as well as those watching the livestream presentation from the four nations of our territory: New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. The congregation joined together to sing ‘Whakaaria Mai’, followed by a karakia (prayer) led by Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford.

Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham addressed the soon-to-be-ordained cadets, thanking them for ‘every yes given in surrender of [their] will to God’s purposes and plans for [their] lives’. She encouraged them as ministers of the gospel in a world that desperately needs to know Jesus, and concluded with a favourite prayer from Colossians 1:9–12, asking that the Spirit would fill each of them with knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Cadets Mosese and Amelia Kava led moving prayers in Tongan, te reo Māori and English. Major David Noakes, training principal at Booth College of Mission, then encouraged and congratulated the cadets on completing two years of training and invited them to formally receive their appointments.

The six cadets spoke the Affirmation of Faith and were ordained and commissioned as lieutenants, followed by much applause. Friends and family were invited to come forward and to pray with the newly ordained and commissioned officers. Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham dedicated the lieutenants, praying for strength and wisdom as they take up their positions as leaders within The Salvation Army.

Amelia and Mosese Kava’s children performed a graceful Tongan dance, bringing a vibrant sense of celebration to the ceremony. Family members and friends joined the dancers on stage and, adhering to Tongan tradition, discreetly tucked gifts of appreciation into the dancers’ clothing. The six new lieutenants then formally received their appointments from Commissioners Mark and Julie Campbell.

Lieutenant Initi Tuiono shared her testimony about her calling to officership. From a Pentecostal background, Initi did not know anything about The Salvation Army when she accepted a job offer within the movement. She felt God calling her to leadership for some time but put it to the back of her mind. In 2019, she finally decided to ‘stop running and respond to God’.

Initi acknowledged that she arrived at BCM with no confidence, low self-esteem and lots of fear and doubt. However, despite all this, she was absolutely sure that God had called her to officership. The words of 2 Timothy 1:7 guided her during her training: ‘For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline’. She shared a discovery that she is part of God’s big meta-narrative. ‘I am in this season, in this episode, and I am ready to tell others to come and be a part of this story,’ she expressed. Captain Hana Seddon responded and acknowledged Initi with a karanga (ceremonial call).

General Lyndon Buckingham preached an inspiring message, celebrating the new lieutenants as heroes who are unashamed to share their faith with others. He welcomed them as leaders to the movement and called them to be ‘Romans 12 kind of leaders’ who have ‘been called to lead by example and deed’ and humbly accept the invitation to serve God in love.

Lt-Colonel Alberth Sarimin prayed a benediction. The new lieutenants, together with cadets from the Champions of the Mission session, brought the celebrations to a close demonstrating pride, strength and unity with the soul-stirring Salvation Army haka, Te Haka a te Pōti.

Long Service Order Recognition Dinner

On Saturday 9 December, the annual Long Service Order Recognition Dinner took place to honour 16 officers for their committed service to The Salvation Army.

There was a range of years of service recognised at this year’s dinner, from 25 years to 40 years, with a combined 544 years of service to The Salvation Army. Sessions represented were Builders of the Kingdom, Heralds of Jesus, Guardians of the Truth and Heralds of Hope.

Lt-Colonel Rod Carey and Major Afolau Toluono shared their testimonies at the dinner and reflected on their many years of service. Rod expressed his gratefulness to God for his goodness and love over the course of his ministry of sharing the good news of the gospel. ‘Forty years in the Bible is a whole generation, and it’s been a privilege to serve this generation and leave a legacy of faith to the awesome power of God.’ He reminded those at the dinner of missionary William Carey’s invitation: ‘“Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God” ... I have endeavoured through the presence and power of Holy Spirit to live this out in my service for the Master.’

Commissioners Mark and Julie Campbell presented the Long Service certificates to those attending. The evening concluded with a short devotional thought from Captain Bryant Richards, and a prayer from Colonel Gerry Walker to close out the night.