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ICO testimonies 10 and
want to go, but they insisted that I did. When I got there, Monchu preached and talked about Jesus and his wonderful work for us. His words reached my heart so directly and encouraged me so much.
It was at that very moment that God decided to turn my life around, because I then understood that he had used that pastor to bring me to him.
Now I can live my life with Jesus in my heart because I have understood God’s infinite love. I can say that I live with peace and joy, despite the trials, because God is greater than any problem. My wife, Francesca, and I are serving as officers and God is blessing us so much. It is a beautiful thing to be able to serve God for ever. To God be the glory!
MAJOR VERONICA CHIOMA OKPALAIHEDI Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries, Anambra West
Nigeria Territory ON 5 August 1992, as a young girl, I was weeding my aunt’s garden. Suddenly I heard a voice: ‘Do you know I can weed and beautify your life, just like you are weeding and beautifying this garden?’
I turned to see who was speaking, but I found no one. The voice said: ‘Allow me to weed your life.’ I asked: ‘Who are you? What have I done?’ Then I said reluctantly: ‘Come and do whatever you want to do.’ I felt a strange atmosphere and found myself kneeling in the garden and pleading in tears for God’s mercy.
I heard God saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’ (Jeremiah 1:5). I knew I was having an encounter with God, so I surrendered my life to him. The joy of the Lord became my strength and ever since that time I have been walking with him. Even though sometimes I fail, he is always there to pick me up. God is amazing.
A few years later I had the call of God upon my life. I came from a poor, humble background and didn’t know that God could call people like me for mission. During an Easter retreat in 1995, an altar call was made for those God was calling for full-time ministry in The Salvation Army. The urge was strong in me, but I refused to give in and asked God to change this plan for me. Then someone from the congregation
said: ‘Be obedient to the voice of God.’ They led me to the mercy seat, where I surrendered to the will of God. I then realised why Jeremiah 1:5 was given to me on the day of my conversion.
I got married in April 1996 and my husband and I entered the training college in 1997. After our commissioning we were sent to a corps where we received this greeting: ‘So many captains and majors have resigned and some have died, what can lieutenants like you do?’ Well, this amazing God used us to break boundaries. Muslim families were converted and lives were transformed by God. We neither resigned nor died!
We have served as officers for 24 years and several times he has delivered me from the dungeon of death. I want to introduce people to this God who transformed my life and made me his instrument. He can do amazing things in your life as well!
WHAT IS THE ICO?
Located at Sunbury Court, the ICO exists to further officers’ personal and leadership development. It provides an environment for them to flourish spiritually through teaching, prayer, worship and fellowship.
Churches Together look towards reconciling hope
THE HAYES CONFERENCE CENTRE, SWANWICK
THE Salvation Army joined representatives of the 52 denominations that make up the Church family in England at the Churches Together in England Forum, writes Territorial Ecumenical Officer Major David Evans.
The largest ecumenical conference in England was attended by archbishops, church leaders, lay Christians and umbrella groups under the theme Reconciling Hope: A Broken Church for a Broken World. Cadet Chelsea Huddlestone said the theme was relevant to her as a member of the Messengers of Reconciliation session:
‘The most powerful and challenging part was the final worship session, when people were sharing what the theme meant to them. God was challenging me about what it means to be a Messenger of Reconciliation and how this is going to be the basis of my ministry.’
During this session the outgoing moderator of the Free Churches Group and one of the six CTE presidents, the Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, used the story of the feeding of the 5,000 as an example of how the 52 different denominations and organisations can work together.
He said: ‘Jesus didn’t take crumbs and form a loaf of bread, he took a loaf of bread, blessed it and split it into crumbs to feed the multitude.’ As God’s Church, we have been blessed and broken into different denominations so that we can go and feed others in the ways they need to be fed.
Hugh continued: ‘If we think in this way, we can accept our differences and understand that we are all part of the body of Christ and use our strengths to share the Kingdom of God.’
Delegates heard time and time again that, as churches with different theologies, they needed to be able to disagree well and celebrate differences, but still be able to develop strong relationships and partnerships, serving their different communities.
Chelsea, alongside Lieutenant Luke Cozens (Wallsend) and Pioneer Leader Bethany Munn (Faversham), identified reconciliation with the Earth as a major challenge for The Salvation Army. Chelsea referred to one of the Army’s mission priorities to ‘care for creation’ adding: ‘We need to be willing to make a change now and show others that this is possible to do.’
Bethany, Chelsea, Luke and Major Paul Robinson (Norwich Mile Cross) saw that one particular challenge the Army faces is just how welcoming it really is. Chelsea asked whether people had lost sight of the vision of a church for the whosoever. How can diversity be represented within the leadership of The Salvation Army and show others that this is a welcoming and caring church for all people of every age, race, sexuality and gender?
Paul admitted that he struggled with some aspects, but that the networking at the forum helped enormously. Speaking to one of the bishops, he said: ‘My view has completely changed and I have been challenged to stand up against all abuse as it affects people.’
Those gathered were challenged to focus on Jesus as central in their conversations and not to be shy in doing so. Paul said he wants that self-same fire to be increasingly seen in the Army.
Representing the Association of Christian Counsellors, Gill Stuart (Stapleford) found it a joy to meet with other members of The Salvation Army.
‘It was a time when God did a work of deep reconciliation within my own heart,’ she said. ‘I kept thinking of the phrase “let it
The territorial commander with Salvationist delegates
Lizzy Kitchenside (Addlestone), third from left, joins in a tree planting ceremony
