Reflection

The forgotten class

As she prepares to start university, Grace Moir looks back at how God stood by her during uncertain school years

THE class of 2020, my class, is sometimes referred to as the ‘Covid cohort’, or even the ‘forgotten class’.

When my peers and I were due to sit our GCSE exams the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in teacher-assessed grades as opposed to exam results. It was an uncertain time, as the tests that we had spent five years studying for suddenly changed and the usual festivities and celebrations that mark the end of term were cancelled along with them. It would have been easy to feel disappointed, frustrated, even heartbroken.

Like many corps during the pandemic, my corps had moved online, and we were all trying to do our part to provide worship content that would bless our fellowship. My family and I were asked to record the song ‘Goodness of God’ by Bethel Music, a song that really resonated with me. The lyrics speak of the importance of rejoicing in God’s goodness and trusting in his plan for our lives and the joy we can find when we put our trust in him.

At the time, though, the song seemed hard to believe. How could God use these moments to shape my life in a positive way? How was it possible to trust him with what lay ahead when the whole world was surrounded by such uncertainty and fear?

One of my favourite lines in the song repeats over and over: ‘Your goodness is running after me.’ This reminded me that there is nowhere I can go where God’s goodness and love cannot find me. Even the Covid cohort, the forgotten class, were not forgotten by him.

Now, in 2022, I have completed my A-levels (I actually got to sit the exams!) and I have been accepted to study at my top-choice university to become a teacher. The uncertainty and struggles of the past three years, although worrying, taught me that there is always a way for God to use me and bless me, even when I’m not sure what will happen next.

In those times of anxiety and the unknown it was a real comfort to know that I could put my faith in a faithful God who would always use me for his good and wonderful plan. Romans 8:28 says: ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him.’ We cannot always see it, but we do have to trust it.

As I enter a new chapter in my academic journey, I am glad to go into it proud of what I have overcome, grateful to God for his goodness and confident in my faith that the God who loves me and rejoices in my happiness has never failed me and will not start to do so now. I will continue to sing of the goodness of God at every stage of my educational journey and continue to pray for people who are also progressing into a new academic phase, that they too can rejoice in the goodness of God.

Perhaps the class of 2020 should be referred to as the ‘courageous cohort’.

GRACE MOIR

Regent Hall

THE support and wellbeing of Salvation Army officers and employees are the key to the longevity of their service in The Salvation Army. In order to be good stewards of them, it is important to have key people and processes in place to support, encourage and challenge them, and keep them accountable in their ministry.

Leadership development expert Nancy Kline said in Time to Think: ‘Perhaps the most important thing we can do with our life and with our leadership is to listen to people so expertly, to give them attention so respectfully, they would begin to think for themselves, clearly and afresh.’

The Salvation Army believes in equipping people for effective participation in God’s mission. It is committed to developing a culture of learning where people can engage in personal and professional growth that transforms not only their own work but also that of their colleagues and the wider Movement.

Coaching is a powerful tool that can help to bring about this change and transformation. The Salvation Army Coaching Programme provides officers and employees with a safe space to engage in empowering, challenging conversations that can lead to greater personal effectiveness and professional development, as well as the space to reflect and explore current issues and next steps to take.

The Coaching Programme directly responds to one of the six strategic priorities identified in the territory’s People Strategy: empowering people. It is an effective approach for supporting individuals and teams to reach their full potential. It is rooted in The Salvation Army’s values of integrity, passion, accountability, compassion, respect and boldness. It is delivered by trained, accredited coaches who are provided with regular professional development, ongoing supervision and affiliation with the Association for Coaching.

The coaching strives to be embedded in and framed by the word of God and

The value of being coached

Major Tracey Davies explains how the Army can maximise the effectiveness of its mission by supporting and releasing the potential of its people