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Getting the call
On Sunday 27 May, we celebrate Candidates Sunday—a chance to explore whether God is calling you to be a Salvation Army officer. We spoke to Malcolm Herring, who was in active service as an officer for 31 years. In retirement, he serves as assistant candidates secretary.
Malcolm, tell us your story—how were you called to officership and how did you know this was genuine?
I was 18 years old. It’s a little hard to explain. To say ‘God spoke to me’ sounds frightening to some people, but for me it was an unmistakable and specific call to be a Salvation Army officer. To say I was surprised by this call would be an understatement, but I knew without a single doubt that God had called me. I have never been able to forget it. My initial response was two-fold: firstly I did not want to be a Salvation Army corps officer and, secondly, I did not feel adequately equipped to live up to this ‘high calling’.
I was, however, hungry to know God better and pursued him. I desired to please him in every way I knew by busying myself in all manner of ways at church. But, because I was resisting my call to officership, it was some years before I surrendered my life fully to God’s will for me. Since being obedient to the call I have never regretted it.
What do you mean when you talk about ‘calling’?
For a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ, I believe whatever occupation, profession or career we are engaged in, it is a calling. We’re all called. As William Booth famously said: ‘ “Not called!” did you say? “Not heard the call,” I think you should say.’
Our prayer should be, ‘Lord what is it you would have me to do?’ and then pursue his leading. One of the finest examples of this is Booth himself—when he was a teenager Booth was converted to Christianity. Soon after that, as a 15-year-old, he made a promise to God, saying, ‘God shall have all there is of William Booth!’ This was an important moment in his life and helps to understand what he went on to do.
The evidence of a calling from God is shown in the good consequences of that calling. It will honour God and bless people. Some feel strongly called to vocations other than officership—such as to areas and levels of serving, or leadership in or outside the church. These are just as valid as a call to officership.
Do you need to be ‘called’ to officership?
Everyone’s calling to officership is a little different—but each one testifies to a calling. A calling gives us a mandate. A calling gives us the ‘why’ to our ‘what’. To quote comedian Michael Jnr: ‘When you know your “why”, your “what” will have more impact because you’re walking in or towards your purpose!’
When the going gets tough, we need to know we’re called. In tough times (we all have them), remembering our calling can be reassuring and can reinforce why we are doing what we are doing, which in turn helps us to stay on track.
Why should someone consider officership?
We are called by the police to join them as a vocation. The army, navy and airforce call us to consider joining them. The call goes out regularly for teachers, nurses and doctors. People are being called to give their lives to these vocations. Why should we not consider serving God, as a leader of his people?
In fact, according to God (as revealed to us in the Bible) perhaps we should consider this first. We read in Matthew 6:31–33 (TLB): So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.
So, with so many ‘calls’ in this day and age, it’s crucial that every dedicated and committed follower of Jesus Christ consider these verses. I wonder if this will mean many more people will hear God’s call to officership? ‘Not heard the call you say … ?’ Is it possible that the noise and beckoning of so many other options can make it difficult to hear the still small voice of God?
In your experience, what have been the biggest joys and greatest challenges of officership?
Without any hesitation I can say the greatest joys have been in seeing miracles happen, literally—lives changed for the better and totally turned around. To see God do things by the power of his Spirit that amaze us—transformed marriages, families made whole and happy, seeing God at work by the power of the Holy Spirit, seeing people healed and delivered in the name of Jesus from all manner of evil, just as we read in the Bible.
The greatest challenge is to keep the main thing the main thing. As specifically as possible, I have had to stick to whatever it was God called me to do when I first heard the call. I found it a huge challenge to not allow the work to cut me off from the One who called me to it. Being and staying in a close, intimate relationship with the Lord has been of absolute paramount importance for me.
Why do we need Candidates Sunday?
Jesus talked about the need for workers, saying ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few’ (Matthew 9:37). This is what Candidates Sunday is—a reminder of the (increasing) crowds of people who are confused and helpless, and the corresponding need to pray for workers. From this, we’re praying many will consider God’s call on their lives as future officers or local officers who could become the ‘workers’ that are so greatly needed.
Next edition | Is it possible to miss your calling?
by Ingrid Barratt (c) 'War Cry' magazine, 19 May 2018, pp20-21. You can read 'War Cry' at your nearest Salvation Army church or centre, or subscribe through Salvationist Resources.