News feature

New cadets challenged to live and speak the message of reconciliation

Commissioner Anthony Cotterill welcomes the session

Colonel Lee Graves

Cadets Lesley Holland and Matthew Stone speak to Captain Ben Ellis about their calling

WILLIAM BOOTH COLLEGE

THE cadets welcome meeting usually begins with an excited congregation, packed into the assembly hall, enthusiastically greeting the new session, writes LieutColonel Jonathan Roberts.

Family and friends were not able to attend this year, but there was still a sense of eager anticipation among the small group gathered, and no doubt by the thousands watching online.

Accompanied by an International Staff Band recording of ‘Praise’, the Messengers of Reconciliation marched in, saluted Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill and took their seats.

After the song ‘Great Is The Darkness’, with its reminder of the world’s desperate need for reconciliation through Christ, Training Programme Director Major Malcolm Martin opened in prayer.

The cadets introduced themselves informally in a video, before the TC gave words of welcome, saying: ‘You have the assurance that God is with you. He called you and is equipping you and is going to walk with you.’

The TC also acknowledged the influence and support of those who had been part of the cadets’ journeys, including families, corps, divisional staff and the Candidates Unit.

The TC then formally handed the session over to the college, charging Principal Lieut-Colonel Judith Payne and the staff with the task of preparing the cadets for leadership and ministry. In response Assistant Principal Lieut-Colonel Karen Shakespeare welcomed the new session on behalf of everyone at WBC.

Cadet Diane Johnson read verses from 2 Corinthians 5, with the declaration, ‘he [God] has committed to us the message of reconciliation’ (v19), before the International Staff Songsters presented the sessional song, ‘You Have Reconciled Our Hearts To Yours’.

In his message, Chief Secretary Colonel Lee Graves told the cadets: ‘Your sessional name takes us to the heart of Kingdom work.’

Referring to the Bible reading, he said: ‘God is the great reconciler, wanting that all of his creation would be reconciled under himself.’ He challenged them to ‘speak this text by life, by example, by word’.

While the tune ‘All Heaven Declares’ was played, images of each cadet were shown and viewers were invited to share prayers on social media. Secretary for Personnel Lieut-Colonel Beverley McCombe then concluded these reflective moments with a prayer for the session.

As part of the Candidates Unit’s challenge for people to respond to God’s call, Cadets Lesley Holland and Matthew Stone spoke about their calling.

‘I feel excited, I feel nervous, but I’m also really feeling an underlying sense of peace,’ said Lesley. To encourage others to respond, Matthew said, ‘Talk to people, talk about what God is stirring up inside of you and explore it.’ Each of the session then recited a line of the prayer of St Francis, while lighting tea lights arranged to spell the word ‘peace’.

In conclusion, Cadet Emma Guest thanked people involved in bringing the session to this point and those who would support in future days, before ‘Praise’ was again brought by the ISB as a video of the cadets arriving and settling into college was shown.

Although different from previous years, the meeting was still a fitting celebration of God’s calling, which assured the Messengers of Reconciliation of his continued presence and the prayerful support of Salvationists and friends across the territory.

O The Welcome Meeting of the Messengers of Reconciliation is available to watch at youtube.com/user/salvationarmyvideo