Pictures: Andrew King Photography
essage of reconciliation THOMAS MORGAN Appointed to Aberystwyth GROWING up in a Salvationist family, I have always been aware of God’s love for me. I became a junior soldier aged seven but drifted away from the Army in my teenage years. Aged 19, I went to university to study music and found a spiritual home in the Anglican Church. A few years ago I faced a crossroads in my life. I had a successful career as a teacher in a Birmingham secondary school, where I was also involved in teacher training. While the daily challenges were immense, it was a rewarding place to work. However, I felt I could no longer ignore God calling me to be an officer. God had called me several years previously, but I kept finding excuses not to act on it. This changed when I was offered the opportunity to do a doctorate in education. It would have been a huge step forward in my career. I spent much time in prayer, although the answer was clear from the start. I stayed in the school job, but began my application for officership, knowing that it was in God’s hands. Not long afterwards I met my future wife, Joanna. I relocated from Kidderminster to Swindon when we got married. It was from Swindon Gorse Hill Corps that we entered William Booth College. It is a unique establishment and the training was continually adapted to cope with ever-changing Covid-19 regulations. Training also gave me and Joanna opportunities to develop our individual giftings and ministries. There have been many highlights and I have grown spiritually in ways that have challenged and surprised me. However, a few months ago, at the thanksgiving service for the life and ministry of General John Larsson, two themes emerged that felt as if God was speaking directly to me. First, that Joanna and I need to be wholly available to God and the Army in whatever appointment and in whatever territory. Second, that God’s wonderful love is new to me every morning. Both themes have sustained me through the highs and lows of training and will remain with me throughout officership.
MATT STONE Appointed to Southampton Sholing WHEN I’m driving I don’t like the feeling of not knowing where I am going and I definitely don’t like it when I’ve followed the sat-nav’s instructions only to hear: ‘Redirecting...’ As I reflect on my calling to officership, there have been a number of times when I thought I knew where I was going, only to hear: ‘Redirecting…’ I recently heard someone share their testimony having been accepted for officer training. When asked what they would say to someone who thinks they might have been called to officership, they replied: ‘Just say yes!’ It’s a response I had heard before. It might be the response you need to hear today. But for me it triggered another thought: what happens when you say yes and things don’t work out the way you expected? That was my first experience when I explored my calling a number of years ago. In hindsight, I recognise that I was exploring God’s calling on my life, but spending too much time going in the direction that I thought was right. I thought that I’d heard the instructions correctly, only to hear: ‘Redirecting…’ I stepped away from the application process and felt I didn’t know where I was going. But God used that time to shape and equip me for what was to come. In time, the right moment came to explore again. Except it wasn’t about exploring a set route. It was about exploring who God had made me to be, whatever that looked like and wherever that took me. It was a process marked by peace and a sense of heading in the right direction, even if I didn’t know the exact direction that was. Stephen Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, wrote about our circle of concern – things that concern us but we can’t do much about – and our circle of influence – things we can do something about. I encourage you to explore who God has made and called you to be, whatever that looks like and wherever that takes you. Recognise your part and trust God for the rest. He’ll take you to some wonderful places!
SAVE THE DATE Commissioning 2022 WHEN: 17 July, 10.30am and 3pm WHERE: The ICC, Birmingham
WATCH: youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo Salvationist 16 July 2022
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