The Right to Provoke

The artist Lars Vilks was brutally attacked at the University of Uppsala in Sweden when he gave a lecture on freedom of expression, which included showing some pictures of Mohammed. He was physically attacked by Muslims chanting Allahu akbar. (Allah is the greatest) What are we to make of this?

Freedom of expression is designed to protect views and expressions that can provoke and shock - that's a fundamental principle regarding freedom of speech and expression.

Furthermore, freedom of expression is the very foundation for other democratic rights and freedoms. Without it there is no political freedom, no religious freedom, no press freedom and no freedom of assembly. Thus it is extremely serious and totally unacceptable that anyone is physically attacked because of opinions or images.

It is necessary to protest against the Islamic assault against a Swedish citizen and the attack on our democracy. But will leading politicians do it? Will the Swedish Christian Council or the Swedish Muslim Council? What about editorial writers and other cultural workers – Lars Vilks’ colleagues? Don’t hold your breath. But if we don’t protest we give in to threats and thus freedom of speech is limited in praxis.

Freedom of speech also includes the right to question Lars Vilks and what he does. Sure, he has the legal right to do what he does and the state must uphold his right to freedom of expression. But in a civilized society and daily human interactions we would strive for good manners and to avoid intentionally causing anger. It feels a bit childish and immature to have as a primary goal to provoke and offend. But it is the smaller problem.

The attack on and threats against Vilks is just one of a growing number of examples of how some Muslims in Europe are threatening and harming democracy. That is the major problem.

Mats Tunehag
Sweden









( Vilks has been forced to live under police protection after having received several death threats, including a statement by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq which has offered up to $150,000 for his assassination)

Kazoo Player Livens up Praise Band

Portland, Or - USA

Paul Dooley loves what he does. While he lives the life of a single, mild mannered 42-year-old accountant who lives with parents during the week, on the weekends he is nothing less than a minor sensation at his home church. A life-long member of Cornerstone Church in Portland, Dooley had longed to be a member of the Praise and Worship band since his early days, but met rejection over and over again.

"I remember when I was 14, I tried to join the Praise Band, but they said that they didn't need a Tuba player" Dooley told TBNN. "Then when I was in college I asked if they would let me play the theremin in the band, but they nixed that idea too. After that I tried the accordion, the washboard and finally a crystal glass array, but each time I was rejected. It seemed that no matter what instrument I played they were never interested."

But finally in March of this year, Dooley approached the band leader once again this time thinking he had finally found a winner. Dooley's instrument of choice? The kazoo. And since his entrance into the band, the church's time of praise and worship has seemingly been raised to new heights.

"At first I was reluctant," said Praise Band leader John Conway. "But, surprisingly, in all my years of knowing Paul, this was the most reasonable instrument he'd presented me with, so I thought I'd at least give him a shot. I'll admit, though, I didn't expect much."

But to everyone's surprise, Dooley's kazoo playing has served to only heighten the worship experience at Cornerstone. Each Sunday now, Dooley stands in front of his microphone, kazoo in hand and offers his own musical interpretation of the songs as he accompanies the band.

"Sometimes I just play the melody and sometimes I'll play some harmony or throw in a descant or counter-melody," said Dooley. "Sometimes I'll even do an intro or a solo to set the mood."

"Ever since Paul has joined our band we've been taken to new heights in our worship," said Cornerstone's pastor Alex Paulson. "When he does that slow moving intro to Storm I get tears in my eyes every time."

God's in the shuffle !

My playlist on my Mp3 player has challenged me this evening; strange comment I hear you saying !! And I have to say it isn’t because it’s too technical for me to work or understand.

The playlist on my Mp3 is in alphabetical order, and it seems that every time I’ve decided to listen to a song lately, the preceding song has spoken to me. A coincidence some would say, however, I believe that it’s a “God – incidence”!
Let me give you an example... This evening I was in the mood for some uplifting music from the ‘ Musical’s’ genre. I quickly decided to play that fantastic song from “Annie”, called ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life ‘. The song makes me smile every time I hear it; I love the enthusiasm of the children singing and actually love the words of the song. I strongly believe that music speaks when words don’t quite make us understand. The orphanage girls are talking about how hard their lives are - no one cares, no one loves them because they are in an orphanage. You can hear the desperation in their voices; a need to be accepted and equal, “ No one cares for you a snitch, when you’re in an orphanage. “

We all know that feeling don’t we, when we feel that nothing further in our lives can possibly go wrong: things can’t possibly get any worse !!! But experience and reality tells us that often it can get much worse.

In any event, back to the Mp3 playlist – I usually let it play on from the initial song I have chosen, but I had evidently knocked it accidentally on to “shuffle”, so it then plays random tracks from the whole of my playlist.

Amazingly though, the next track took my breath away because it was the beautiful Bette Midler song ‘ Wind Beneath My Wings ‘. When I heard it, all I wanted to do was play that song to those desperately unhappy orphanage girls from “Annie” !!!

“ Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
You’re everything I would like to be.....
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings !! “

The mistake that I made initially, by switching the player onto shuffle, was becoming a very special “God – incidence” for me.
Some people might struggle with, or may not agree with Christians looking at the words of secular songs and applying them to their Christian life and experience. I personally believe that God speaks to us in many different ways, and music is a beautiful way that God often speaks to me personally. In fact, y return back to faith was through a Salvation Army band meditation. Yes, miracles do happen !!!

Again, back to the Mp3 player !!! ...... My musical taste is unbelievably eclectic; I love many different genres of music including classical and rock music, brass bands, musicals – I even have some modern stuff on my player that my very modern daughter put on for me ( that I usually skip very quickly when it comes on ! ). So when I have the playlist on shuffle, I have no idea what will play next, I suppose that’s the exciting part of this whole story that I am sharing with you.
I listened to the “Annie” song, then heard the Bette Midler song straight after. I felt that God was saying to me that the second song was a solution to the first song. It’s a ‘hard knock life’, but ‘God is the wind beneath my wings ‘

I know that life deals us some very difficult cards to play. Some would say they are testing experiences, to test how strong our faith is. I have to say though that I don’t ever believe that God would ever wish us any harm, or would ever test us beyond our limitations, because that’s not in His character, or in His will and purpose for our lives.

In the words of a beautiful Salvation Army song
“ In the testing moments of my life, where the way is hard to see. There, my saviour stands and gently speaks, eternal words of Grace for me “

So in those testing times, those hard knock life moments, we can rely on someone who will never let us down, someone who will never let us fall.

I know this from experience, when everything else had fallen apart around me, everything I had ever put my trust in , God never let me down. He held me!

And now God’s amazing Grace is helping me overcome problems in the past, God’s work of Grace is helping those feelings of unforgiveness. I have, feelings of guilt and unresolved sin ..... and I am confident that same Grace will help me to completely let Go and let God !!, ( so watch this space ! )

I believe my life has plan and purpose now, and I have complete hope in Him, that my life wont be a hard knock life any more. It will be a faith filled life .... I will put my trust in Him; He will be the wind beneath my wings, and I will fly higher than an eagle because I trust completely in Him . God really is my hero, He like those superheros in films has rescued me. He is everything I need, and I can say along with scripture – fully believing with all my heart .......

Psalm 121 v 1 – 3 “ I will lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from ?. My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber ! “

What better hands can our lives be in – whether hard knock lives, or easy happy fulfilling lives - if we put our faith and trust in him – then He promises complete protection, complete assurance, satisfaction guaranteed !

Isaiah 40 v 28 – 31 is a very fitting conclusion to what I have been trying to convey through this article. If you are experiencing a hard knock life , or if someone you know is - then there needs to be assurance of the wind beneath our wings – because with that assurance , we can rise above our circumstances, and through God’s Grace at work – we can be more than conquerors in every situation. Once we know and believe that for ourselves, we can in turn help those who don’t yet believe.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Thank God for those incidences – those times when we really don’t expect Him to speak - He can use so many means to convey His truth to us – even through our Mp3 players , even when we accidently put them on shuffle !

Tina Jones
Former
Acting Songster Leader
Mirfield Corps, UKT

Officership: A Lifetime Call?

Statistics don’t lie—for an increasing number of people, the years of service as an officer are short.

In an age when most people change careers four or five times, can we realistically expect a lifetime commitment to officership? Does God call different people for different periods of time? Is our approach to leadership biblical? Is it practical?

This is the fourth in a series of Point Counterpoint debates in which a variety of Salvationists will explore two sides of an issue that is critical to Army mission.

Officership is not a career, but a covenant relationship designed for the long haul. Of course if we want people to sign up, we need to change our approach.

It may seem a no-brainer for someone in her 27th year of officer service to answer this question. Like others, I enjoyed a successful career in business prior to choosing officership. Since commissioning, have I ever been offered another career? Several times. Recently? Yes. Why then continue to commit to a lifetime of service as an officer?

Let me quickly affirm that much has been gained by the Church from using a business model in terms of management and stewardship of resources. I wonder, however, if we have inadvertently made a mistake in using business language to describe officership—specifically the use of the word “career.” Career speaks of experience and expertise that provide opportunity for power, independence, financial gain and “self.” Officership is not a career. More accurately, officership might be described as a “service path,” originating out of a covenant relationship with God and a vehicle within which to serve The Salvation Army.

The Army’s military terminology and imagery aside, ordination is not a new idea within the Church. It finds its roots in the Mendicant orders of the 13th century where groups of people offered themselves as a model of God active within a community. They took vows of obedience, poverty and chastity so that all of their time and energy could be expended on the religious work of preaching the gospel and serving the poor. Sound familiar?

Seven hundred years later, all Salvationists commit to evangelism, discipleship and service. Officers voluntarily choose additional covenant vows of obedience and simplicity of lifestyle. After more than 20 years in leadership development and training, I have yet to meet anyone who begins officership thinking, “Well, I’ll see how it goes.…” But statistics don’t lie—for an increasing number of people, the years of service as an officer are short.

Based on this reality, I’d like to ask another question: Under what conditions might the Army expect an individual to commit to a lifetime of service? Aside from the theological issue of covenant, I’d like to suggest some pragmatic components that facilitate productive “long-termers.”

Consultative Leadership: While we are making progress in consulting officers on a variety of issues, consultative leadership is more than asking officer personnel for thoughts or opinions regarding issues. These days, people not only want a voice, they want a vote. If people do not believe that their voice is truly heard and valued, they will vote with their feet. The best form of consultative leadership involves what I call “mature conversations,” discussions where deepest need and deepest passion intersect, where both parties recognize capacity and contribution as well as challenges and limitations. People choose to commit to the long term when what they experience in the short term tells them there is a future and they can envision their place in it.

Professional Development: Our Army provides a myriad of opportunities to fulfil one’s calling to serve community. While I’ve served in corps and social services, most of my officership has been in international education and training. We live in a world where accreditation and credentialing increasingly demand a high level of professionalism. While a growing number of people enter officership with extensive skills and education, it is critical that we adopt lifelong learning and equipping of officer personnel for present and future service. While limited financial resources will always be a factor, our strategic-planning lens must be one of “investment” and not “cost” at strategic points in an individual’s service.

Sabbatical Refreshment: I’m not talking about a year lounging on the beaches of Bali (as beautiful as they are!). Studies show that within the ministerial professions, frontline workers experience burnout regardless of how well they have attempted self-care. This is a particular danger for our movement as we expect 24/7 availability as well as multiple appointments from individuals.

Are we guilty of abusing God’s grace when we ask people to commit to a lifetime and then fail to provide for the biblical precept of intentional re-creation? Several territories have in recent years implemented a variety of sabbatical forms. This is resulting in longer years of productive and energized service of officers. I’d love to see this become a reality here in Canada and Bermuda.

Consultative leadership, professional development, sabbatical refreshment—that sounds like an Army I’d want to sign up for—long term of course.

MAJOR WENDY SWAN

Major Wendy Swan is the extended learning program director at William and Catherine Booth College in Winnipeg.

Reflections on Mother's Day

Ah, Mother’s Day. Breakfast in bed, clumsily wrapped presents, a fistful of drooping violets: a priceless day for the perfect mother. Yes, that’s what I set out to be. Thirty years ago, I was determined to be the best mother ever. I would breast-feed, make my own baby food, read to my sons at least twice a day, and create the perfect home for my precious children. Even though Robert Munsch’s beloved words wouldn’t be written until Greg and Drew were 5 and 3, I knew instinctively that I would love them forever and like them for always.

It didn’t take too long for me to discover that I had a rather skewed view of motherhood. While an old Salvation Army song may have promised that “there’s an angel in the house, when there’s love at home,” a colicky first-born quickly disavowed me of my resemblance to any angelic being. I soon found that while I might love my sons forever, there were times when I wasn’t sure that I liked them very much – such as when their newborn clocks insisted that 2 a.m. was a perfectly good time to be up for 2 hours, and later when their teen-age clocks thought that 2 a.m. was a perfect time to sneak out of the house. Come to think of it, the issue wasn’t about liking them for who they were – it was about being concerned over what they did.

And that, says the preacher within, will preach. God loves us forever – in fact, we can make a case that God even likes us “for always.” Jeremiah said as much: “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” while Zephaniah teaches that God “takes great delight in you.” While I hope and pray that I will love my children forever and that nothing they will ever do will keep me from loving them, God promises to love us no matter what. And as much as I love my children, God loves far beyond that love (see I John 3).

Yet the picture isn’t quite complete. “As a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings,” said Jesus, “I have longed to gather your children together.” A beautiful sentiment had he stopped there, but scripture adds another phrase: “but you were unwilling” (Matthew 18). Yes, God longs for us to be content under the mother hen’s wings, but God does not force us to gather there – or to stay there. Therein lies the pain of a mother’s heart, indeed, of the heart of God. Love doesn’t bind – it only can offer, extend, reach out, touch.

That’s the irony of a parent’s love. Despite the flowery sentiments strewn across the racks of Mother’s Day cards, true love isn’t syrupy-sweet and is seldom as perfect as the card-writers suggest.

In the midst of our Mother’s Day celebrations, there will be mothers whose sons have run away and whose daughters are estranged from them. There will be mothers with empty arms and aching hearts. For every mother who sits in the pew this Sunday surrounded by three or four generations of her family, there will be mothers who sit alone. That’s the reality of life.

Love given is not always returned.

Somehow mothers know that, yet love anyway. A mother’s wisdom recognizes the truth of the Swedish proverb: “Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.” And even more, as Salvation Army song-writer John Gowans reminds us: “If human hearts are often tender, and human minds can pity know – then how much more shall God our Father in love forgive, in love forgive!”


Major JoAnn Shade ministers with her husband Larry as the corps officers and Directors of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. She received a B.A. in sociology from S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton, a M.A. in Pastoral Counseling, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in June, 2006. She is a prolific writer, lecturer, and busy counselor and has been a valued contributor to this blog since its inception.

Leadership in the Army is no longer one-size-fits-al

Leadership in the Army is no longer one-size-fits-all. If we truly accept the “priesthood of all believers,” then we need opportunities for lay leaders to take a greater role.

It is entirely reasonable to expect that officership will be a lifelong commitment. After all, it’s not a calling to a particular service path or vocation, but rather a covenanted life—or, to use the language of the Church, a joining of holy orders. The question we should ask ourselves is whether or not officership is a prerequisite for spiritual leadership.
Given our belief in the “priesthood of all believers,” the response seems obvious to me. However, our tradition of reserving certain roles and functions for officers seems to call our belief into question.

Throughout Africa, the ever increasing number of converts and soldiers necessitates the appointing of lay leaders. Constraints faced by territories in the training of officers make it impossible to produce an officer for every ministry unit. These lay leaders are selected on the basis of their spiritual maturity, competency and potential for future development. While considered a local officer, these individuals do not fill the traditional local officer positions but rather take on the role and function of the officer appointed to lead a particular ministry unit. These lay leaders serve on officer terms, but only for a specific time of service.
This practice replicates the early methodology of John Wesley. Having formed a small group of believers who studied and prayed together, he would then appoint a leader to encourage and monitor the group. The leader would be provided with organizational instructions and a small library of books to encourage their development and capacity. Wesley never intended these leaders to be ordained or take on the vestments of clergy.

For the first time, the Canada and Bermuda Territory is faced with the reality of fewer active officers than there are retired officers. This means we may soon have more ministry units than officer personnel to serve them. Unless there is an increase in cadets entering the training college, the gap between the number of available officers and the number of ministry units requiring leadership will only grow.

It would seem that for many potential candidates, a lifelong commitment is not something they are prepared to make.
One solution might be to prioritize mission opportunities and then close ministry units that are only marginally productive but are high consumers of mission resources. Alternatively, a proactive recruitment of lay leaders for a contracted service period may attract willing hands to the task of discipleship and mission expansion. This approach has worked in Australia and Hong Kong. New corps and ministries have been built and, in time, handed over to officer personnel. Similarly, Africa heavily relies on its envoys (lay leaders) to minister to its many congregations. The contracts for these envoys are reviewed annually and are subject to divisional and territorial approval. This process provides great flexibility and control while encouraging performance reviews and evaluations to be based on mission achievement.

When it comes time to release these lay leaders from service many have asked: What is the advantage of appointing a commissioned officer rather than a lay leader?

The advantage of officer leadership over lay leadership lies not in the “priestly function and role” but rather in trained leadership ability. Let me give an example from the field of project development. When building a school, a leader oversees the overall project and its component parts. However, that leader will gladly welcome assistants who complete the various components, be it the foundation or roof. Similarly, in mission, where there is not long-term consistent leadership, the broader vision and individual objectives may be lost.

Lay leaders on contracted service would need to demonstrate capacity for their particular ministry appointment or take training which would equip them for the task. They should also be under the care and supervision of qualified, informed leaders who understand the mission objectives and can ensure that short-term mission leaders contribute to the whole.

Lay service contracts have existed for overseas appointments where need is recognized and local resources are lacking. Perhaps it is time we recognized the need in our own backyard and provided a means whereby willing hands may be encouraged to serve without requiring them to commit to a lifetime.

Major Ian Swan is the associate dean for extended learning at William and Catherine Booth College.

OUR NEVER ENDING ROLE...

I have finished my course, Pastor! It was with great excitement and anticipation, which I came to the Ribinge creek near Uppsala. It started with me again, mostly because of the Community. It's probably the first time I feel I come as directly into a group. It's not always the easiest. There is much to be maintained. The give-munity that we have built up since October 2008 to today is something we are keen to continue. What (special) people I have come to know. All have paid a price for following Jesus. Being a Christian is not just a lifestyle or accepting/adopting affinities. It is a spiritual struggle. It costs to be a servant in kingdom of God. You are fighting for good against evil in yourself and in others.

There are many humans who lives in ignorance today. They do not know how to find God. I read the other day about hieroglyphics involving an Egyptian who told about pain as strong on-reminiscent of the plagues that struck Egypt through Moses…If there anything that I have been strongly reminded of in the course, it is that you and I are the difference between life and death for our non-believers. We know who God is and can present Him in Helsingborg in a relevant way. I as a pastor, our parish leadership and the congregation, together we are really important for Helsingborg. We, together with all believers in Helsingborg are all-important.

In this course, my self-confidence has grown more and more. I've started to see what I do is not in vain. The time I have invested in education, personal calls, money, planning, cleaning, renovation, camps, evangelism and mission makes a difference. What you do for Jesus means something. We can and must do much more. We can become more and more like Jesus and to be there. We are the Living God church, which stands against the whole power of darkness. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. It is so wonderful. What you do means something; you make a difference!

Every morning when you wake up and go to meet a new day, there's a meaning to it. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Give yourself to Him every day, love your fellow human beings and provide them with what you have, share with the Community of believers in church services, meals and recreation. Invite unbelieving friends to your cell group or church service, tell your neighbors about Jesus, put the hands on the sick and pray in faith and they will be healthy. Get to know God and deepen your relationship with Him. Deepen your knowledge through regular Bible study. Give your whole life to the Lord's service. Do you work in a hospital; do it for Jesus. Are you working at a childrens nursery so make it for Jesus. Whatever work you have to do, do it for Jesus. Let all that you are and do take place because of your love for Jesus.

Now it's summer and there is much to do. Summer conferences are many. We have church services every Sunday. 10:00. Every Friday we have youth events. 18:30 down to Gröningen open air services along with the other churches in Helsingborg. We will meet in the summer for the church to prepare the children for the autumn relaunch of the premises youth programming. But most importantly, take your time with your Savior Jesus. It has strengthened me during the course schedule: My time with God. Not a lot of strategies and plans, simply quality time with the Father.

God bless you
Alejandro Gallardo
Ramlösa Church Pastor
Former, Sweden

(I had the privilege of enrolling Alejandro and his then fiance’ as soldiers while serving in Sweden. His parents are retired SA missionaries having served and pioneered SA work in South America.)

SINGLE SPOUSE OFFICERSHIP Part -2-

Are there negatives to being a single spouse Officer, yes I am sure there are, As there are to being a married Officer and constantly living and working with your partner. For me the advantages far out weigh the disadvantages. However, there are times when I would ask ‘leadership’ to look at our individual situations before making a policy decision that affects us all. One size does not fit all. I began by stating that our situation is possibly somewhat unique. We asked for and were granted permission from the Army for us to marry while my then fiancé’ was still in hospital recouperating from his stroke. At the time none of us knew how things would work out medically (we heard nurses and doctors confer behind a screen agreeing, “he’ll never walk again!”) and yet the Army still gave us permission to marry.

Two years after his stroke there is no similarity between those early days and now and I thank God for the massive progress Sven has made. However, he is still disabled and in the light of this there are things I chose to do for him and want to do for him as a loving wife. I want to be the best Officer I can possibly be and have a husband who supports me totally. At the same time, I want to be the best wife I possibly can be too and would ask ‘the Army’ to support me in this but not just me, other single spouse Officers too.

I am grateful for Officers Councils, Retreats and Training opportunities we are given and over the years have received a great deal from these events. I have found they spiritually refresh me and recharge my batteries. It is good to be in a position of being ministered to. However, now I find it increasingly difficult to attend as I will not leave my husband at home alone and would want him at least to be able to share my accommodation at such times and have his meals provided. Is it really out of the question for our spouses to attend such events with us? Is it really out of the question for the Army to offer the hand of fellowship and ministry to our partners as a thank you for their support? While we are in councils or retreat could something not be offered to the non-Officer partner in the same venue that could help feed them spiritually, bring them together so they too could meet with other like minded people and share fellowship with the Officer fraternity too?

In some ways there are times when it would appear I have my own confidant, counselor, prayer partner, trainer, mentor and much, much more living under the same roof. Yes, it is me who is the Officer. Yes, it is my calling being fulfilled, but it is being enriched by a husband who if he had his way would have an Army flag by the front door in our quarters as a constant reminder of our mission, and what we are about as we leave the house. I thank God that we, are: ‘Called by God to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ And we have the opportunity of fulfilling our calling separately and together to the very best of our ability.

Glad Ljungholm
Major
Exeter Temple (on the way to Hamilton, Scotland, via Latvia)
UKT

SINGLE SPOUSE OFFICERSHIP Part -1-

If someone had asked me five years ago what I thought of the concept of single spouse Officership I would have said it had been too long coming in the UKT. As far as I could see, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, but, it wasn’t for me. I could never have imagined marrying someone who was not a Salvation Army Officer, someone who was not 100% committed to mission and ministry within the Army and for me I could imagine it creating split loyalties and conflicts. However, now, I find myself a single spouse Officer and I thank God I have been given the privilege and opportunity to marry my now husband and continue with, and expand my ministry.

Our situation is possibly somewhat unique but in its uniqueness I believe it affords my appointment, the Army and me many advantages. My husband is a life long Salvationist and a former Officer having served as a Corps Officer, a Pioneer Officer and a Regional Commander and so comes Into our marriage with a vast experience of ministry. Initially we had hoped to serve together as Officers but now this is just not possible. A week after we got engaged my fiancé’ had a massive stroke and is now disabled. However, this does not stop him or me and possibly if anything drives us even more to be and do the best we can. Life is precious and has to be lived to the full and so we give it everything we have got. Mission, ministry and the Army is what we are about.

Scripture tells us ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ (Gen 2: 18) and let’s face it, ministry is lonely business. The disciples were sent out in twos (Matt. 10) and even when there are two of you it can still be a lonely existence as we shoulder the weight of Kingdom responsibilities and the fragility of peoples lives. Sometime ago a retired Officer told me Officership used to be high profile and low stress but these days the reverse is true, it is low profile and high stress.

Shared ministry is the better way, the preferred way. But these days it is becoming less unusual for married couples to be given separate appointments for numerous reasons and therefore possibly working alone even when both partners are Officers. Single spouse Officership affords some of us opportunities that would otherwise be denied. And although one partner is not an Officer it does give us support, understanding, companionship, and a spiritual partner who believes in us and encourages us to be the best we can be for the Kingdom and the Army.

For me being married to a non-Officer has opened up doors to opportunities that are unlikely to have been mine otherwise. It has introduced me to people from different walks of life and cultures, with interests that were previously unknown to me. It has given me a whole new realm in friendship evangelism because prior to marriage my life evolved simply in my ministry and my people, there was not time or space for others.

Now there has to be, and this has given me an understanding and a richness to life that otherwise could have passed me by. Ministry is a lonely business and I have no doubt for all of us at times whether single, married, single spouse or other, we know what it is to feel so very, very alone. Those of us who have been Officers any length of time know what the Sunday evening syndrome is like. No matter how good a day we have had, possibly through exhaustion, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual we know what it is to hit rock bottom, possibly because we have given so much of ourselves throughout the day. Coming home to an empty house can be devastating. I wonder over the years how many Officers have been lost through sheer loneliness?

As a seven year old I knew that God wanted me to be a Salvation Army Officer. As a child, a young person preparing for my future, career officers at school were somewhat bemused at me being so adamant that this is what I wanted to do and everything else was merely preparation for the great day when I could begin to fulfill my God given calling. It is now twenty six years since my commissioning day and I am as certain of my calling now as I was then. Today I thank God because of a change in SA policy I am still able to fulfill my calling that has not changed. Had this not been the case, I would have had to decide between my life long calling or the opportunity of love. Should people really be put under such unnecessary pressure to make such impossible choices? ‘Two are better than one’ as we read in Proverbs …

Was I fulfilled as a single Officer? Yes! Did I enjoy my ministry? Yes! Are there advantages to being single that are lost in marriage? Yes! Do I believe single Officers have a valid and important ministry? Yes! Would I do it all over again as a single Officer? Yes! Nearly two years into married life, knowing what I know now would I do it all over again? Yes! Has marriage added to my life? Yes! Has it added to my ministry? Yes!

I have been introduced to a ‘bigger’ Army through travel, through the introduction of new friends from different cultures, backgrounds and traditions within TSA. I have been privileged to preach in the United States on three occasions … attend the Swedish Congress … visit TSA in Latvia, take humanitarian supplies and 49 uniforms for new soldiers and now be a part of my husband organizing a mission trip to Latvia in the summer arranging for people to do both practical work and ministry. My eyes have been opened and more than ever I have been reminded how proud I am to be Army as I have witnessed more of the ministry and work we are involved in. All of this in less than two years of marriage. No wonder I feel my feet haven’t touched the ground. I have no doubt other single spouse Officers could record many other experiences that have been theirs and has brought about a different insight to their ministry too.

PART -1-

Glad Ljungholm
Major
Exeter Temple (on the way to Hamilton, Scotland,
UKT

Broken Covenant…? -2-

She had relapsed and this time felt genuine remorse for her actions. Maybe it was caused by the emptiness felt since her father’s death at age 5, or perhaps it was because of her new boyfriend (a drug addict himself and currently attending our church with his mother). Whatever it was that triggered the relapse she knew she had hurt her mom, and 2 brothers, but most of all realized this brand new relationship with Christ meant things could be different.

I asked her how things were going and she proudly shared that she had been reading the Max Lucado Study Bible secured on that second visit to our church. She said she’s been journaling about God, and sharing about her new life with new friends at the rehab.

She introduced me to the guard who had recognized me when I first came in, followed by her new best friend, a woman who was searching for God. “This is my pastor, Pastor Jeff, you would like it at our church.”

Before I knew it the hour was up and we spent the last 60 seconds praying that God would continue the work of healing and grace He had begun in her a few weeks ago.

On June 7, 1987 I signed my Officer Covenant which said…

CALLED BY GOD
to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
as an officer of The Salvation Army

I BIND MYSELF TO HIM IN THIS SOLEMN COVENANT
to love and serve him supremely all my days,

to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life,

to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and, by God's grace to prove myself a worthy officer.

Almost 2 years ago Jessica and I sensed that God was leading us into new opportunities and possibilities to fulfill the covenant we made while kneeling at the altar in front of our Saviour, our session mates, the Territorial Commander, and our Training Principal. In an attempt to validate this change to many who still serve as officers I have continued to compare our new ministry to the years we served as officers.

It is different…not better, not worse, not more spiritual or less ordained…just different.

As we enter into the Advent season I thank God every day for The Salvation Army and the special impact it will have on millions of people this year. And now I can also thank God every day for our new little church Living Water Church Ministries, knowing that we may only minister to one recovering crack head, but it’s what He has called us to do!

Blessings!



Jeffery Bassett

Jeffery is the Founding Pastor of Living Water Church Ministries. He has a BS in Bible and MS in Organizational Leadership from Philadelphia Biblical University where he teaches as an adjunct professor. Jeffery is employed full time by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association where he serves as the Director of Development.
Living Water Church Ministries
1813 Central Avenue
Wall, NJ 07719
USA 1-732-280-1690
pastor@livingwaterchurchministries.org