LEADERS

What renews your strength?

Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main answers:

Psalm 18:19 says: ‘He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.’ The concept of God bringing us to a spacious place is repeated in the Old Testament, often following a time of exhaustion, challenge, trial or opposition – a reminder God does not intend for us to constantly live at full pace; he wants to bring us to a ‘spacious place’ where we can breathe deeply.

If we are self-aware, we know the signs to slow down. For me it is when I feel the pressure of having too much to do in too little time, when I am always running late, making poor decisions or apologising for forgetting things. It is at this point I know that it is time to find that spacious place God wants to bring me into.

However, how much better life is if I measure my pace. Measuring my pace is about leaving margins, creating spaces in my diary to do things that energise and refresh me. For me, this can be preparing for sermons or Bible studies just as much as meeting with friends or family, spending time Going Deeper with God alone or with colleagues or working as part of a team on a project. Living simply also energises me. Intentionally creating margins is essential.

I have a ‘Pause’ app on my phone that buzzes twice a day, reminding me to pause and know that God is in control – although admittedly there are times I skip the reminder because I am too busy! At particularly stressful times I set an hourly alarm. A favourite ‘alarm verse’ is Psalm 16:8: ‘I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me’ (New Living Translation).

A regular Sabbath rest renews my strength. Sometimes this is a Sunday, but often it is Friday evening until Saturday evening when I intentionally rest, laugh, sleep, feast, walk and spend time with family or friends celebrating the goodness of God.

Read a longer answer at salvationist.org.uk

IF you are planning for a trip, or going to buy a new car, you might first search online for more information. Believe it or not, I first started to search about Bristol after Major Liz Church asked me: ‘Did you know about Bristol before you came here?’

My answer was no and yes. I knew Bristol was a city in the UK, but besides that I really didn’t know much. You may ask, then, why my family and I came to Bristol. One of the reasons was that we have friends here, but the most important reason was that we knew there was a Salvation Army here. Being part of Staple Hill Corps makes me feel so blessed and peaceful.

When we were living in Hong Kong, we were privileged to be able to travel to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia. If our travel schedule allowed, we would try to visit one of the Salvation Army corps in those countries for a Sunday service. Of course, we couldn’t speak Japanese or Korean. However, when the band or pianist played from the songbook, we would sing along in our own language. We would then be in unity praising our Lord, just as we are in Staple Hill Corps when we are singing together, which always makes us feel at home.

Thirty years ago, when I first went to Wan Chai Corps in Hong Kong, it was because of the Self-Denial Appeal. After all these years I know more about what The Salvation Army is doing than before, as I know how faithful our God always is. Leaving our hometown for a new place was not easy to deal with, from language barriers and different food to weather conditions and transport networks. However, I remember how good God was to me in the past and I continue to believe he is and will be the same faithful Lord to me. This brings me peace.

In the Bible, there are two verses that give me courage to face challenges and difficulties. Joshua 1:9 says: ‘Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’ (New Revised Standard Version). In John 16:33, Jesus says: ‘I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’ (NRSV).