Chief Secretary Colonel Willis Howell delivered the final challenge of the weekend when the Messengers of Light Session was commissioned. He asked, ‘Are you available if the Lord were to ask you about envoyship, auxiliary captaincy or officership?’ (All of which are ways of serving God within The Salvation Army.) ‘Have you left that door open?’
It was a timely question for New Zealand Salvationists. On Saturday, 19 men and women filled the Wellington City Corps platform. Having completed two years of training, they were being sent out to full-time mission roles. On Sunday, there were just six cadets on the platform, about to enter their final year of training. In no way am I expressing any lack of confidence in their quality, but with only seven more cadets entering training this year, The Salvation Army in New Zealand has a pressing need for more leaders.
If you enjoy the fulfilment of employing your talents in your corps or centre, but you’ve also experienced the frustration of trying to squeeze these tasks into just an evening or a few hours when you’re tired and stretched, officership might be for you.
Did you realise as an off er you no longer need to balance work and mission but can be fully devoted to growing God’s kingdom 24/7? Did you realise being an envoy officers a way to perhaps test the water of officership? Did you realise that if you’re married, it’s possible for just one spouse to serve as an envoy?
Not everyone who officers will be accepted—there is an application and assessment process. But if you know the great satisfaction of serving God through the Army part-time, would you at least consider if full-time service might be for you? Would you open that door?
Christina Tyson
Editor
John 8:12 New Living Translation
‘Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”’
Hoani 8:12
‘I kī atu anō a Īhu ki a rātou, i mea, “Ko ahau te whakāmarama o te ao; ki te aru tētahi i ahau, e kore ia e haere i te pōuri, engari ka whiwhi ki te mārama o te ora.”’