of the Holy Ghost, who will go and force these same ideas upon the world about them.” He then went on to address the active role the community of faith must play in nurturing young people toward their sense of God-focused vocation. “Let everybody help God to speed it! Mothers and fathers, captains and lieutenants, sergeants and soldiers … put them on the altar. Spend money and time and strength in teaching and training them. Nurse them for God. When they fall down, pick them back up again. Get them saved. Get them into uniform. Write their names on the roll. When they get carried away by childish impulses … fetch them back again.… Fill their mouths with your songs. Teach them your music and hurry them in every way possible to get ready for the fight.” While some might question how directive we can be in hurrying people to the fight, particularly in our postmodern/ post-Christian context, the point is well taken. Our corps have a responsibility to encourage young people to at least consider the vocation of officership. And those of us currently serving as officers have an increased burden to speak about the things that inspire and motivate us as we fulfil our calling. As I reflect on my past and present appointments, I am amazed at all the places ministry in the Army has taken me. My life is richer for all the people I have met and the lessons I have learned. Yes, there are days when the challenges seem overwhelming. Yet, there come these wonderful moments when you see God’s Spirit bursting forth in a human life and
you know the journey has been worth every step. Certainly it has been a life of sacrifice, but also a life of adventure. I have placed myself at the Army’s disposal. Yet I have learned nothing can outweigh the joy of being a part of God’s unfolding plan for the world. It’s also essential that we foster a commitment to membership in The Salvation Army. In order to have officers, we must
It’s also essential that we foster a commitment to membership in The Salvation Army. In order to have officers, we must first have soldiers first have soldiers. Challenging people to step up and sign up, as General Linda Bond has said, is one of our greatest needs. Only as people are invited to align themselves with the mission of The Salvation Army, and find their role within it, will we find the means to open conversations about full-time service in the Army. Over the past year at Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple, we have seen an incredible influx of community children
into our congregation. As we have brought them along the discipleship spectrum, some have reached a point where they are considering junior soldiership. A recent conversation with one parent will always stand out in my mind. “You are inviting my son to enlist? Wow! Cool!” he said. “My son just loves The Salvation Army!” While it was important to help this parent understand we would not be shipping his child off to missionary service any time soon, the father recognized the significance of belonging to something. On Easter Sunday, we enrolled eight junior soldiers who have come directly from community ministry contact. Who knows? Maybe among the mix there will even be a future officer of The Salvation Army. The point is that we have learned the importance of opening the door for these conversations and seeking to be a community of faith that will nurture Kingdom possibilities. Officers are needed—people who will make themselves available to be used by God in any way and at any time for the mission of reaching the world for Jesus. Maybe ministry will never make the top career choice on the Gallup poll. But in Salvation Army terms, we will find increased ways to strengthen the recruitment of officer candidates in the context of our faith communities. In so doing, we assist the young, and even the not so young, in more actively discerning the will of God for their lives. Major Julie Slous is the corps officer of Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple. Read her columns at Salvationist.ca/tag/julie-slous.
Vision Critical Partners on Dignity Project Public opinion study examines Canadian attitudes toward poverty
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n March 1, The Salvation Army launched the Dignity Project, an initiative that engages Canadians about the reality of poverty in the 21st century. The project features online events, street outreach, traditional advertising and social networking. To coincide with the launch, Andrew Grenville, chief research officer at market research company Vision Critical (Angus Reid), conducted a public opinion study that looks at some of the myths and misconceptions that Canadians hold about poverty. Grenville, a member of the Army’s National Advisory Board, found that more than a third of Canadians believe the poor “still have it pretty good,” and that nearly half believe that if poor people really want to work, they can always find a job. Canadians ranked poverty the third most important issue in
the country today, behind health care and the economy. But while 89 percent agreed that “people living in poverty deserve a helping hand,” 37 percent felt there was “really nothing [they] could do to help.” “It’s clear from this data that many continue to believe well-worn myths about what it means to live in poverty,” says Commissioner William W. Francis, territorial commander. “Our hope is that by educating the public through the Dignity Project, we can debunk some of these myths and help put dignity within reach for every Canadian.” Read the complete report, Debunking the Myths About Poverty in Canada, at SalvationArmy.ca/dignity_project_report. Salvationist I May 2011 I 25