One of the things that happens during these two years we’re spending in college is that occasionally we are let out onto the unsuspecting public. In our first year we get 3 placements, 2 in local corps and one in a social service centre. In the last couple of weeks we’ve received information about the first two of these.
The first will be in a little over 2 weeks when we go to a Social Service centre for a week. Because of the girls we are staying in London and are heading off to the King’s Cross area to Faith House which has an outreach to the homeless, drug addicts, and into the sex worker community in that area. I’m feeling really excited and totally terrified all at the same time as it is exactly where I wanted to go, but will be totally out of my/our comfort zones!
The second placement is where we will spend 7 Sundays between February and May! For this we are heading off to North London, in fact Camden, to go to Chalk Farm Corps. I don’t know much about the corps other than like many it is smaller than it used to be when I lived not so far away. It’s also very traditional in its worship but has some interesting activities during the week.
So that’s what we’re up to, along with the various subjects we’re studying in the classroom!
Can it really be that it is only a week since we actually officially started this college? The almost frightening truth is that it is! Well actually today was day 9 if you are seriously counting, but that’s not quite as dramatic is it?
Anyway, in the last few days we’ve been well and truly inducted; have got study skills coming out of our ears; have attempted to learn our Sessional song which is ok but tends to get stuck in the mind a little; and have also been faced with a Practice Essay that was of such possible breadth as to blow the mind a little!
So far though the highlight was Sunday, which in college parlance was a Spiritual Day! The Training Principles were responsible for the day and they spoke on the need to be attentive to and orientated towards Jesus. Three things in particular spoke to me during the day: a song, a flag and another song!
First, a song! During the morning meeting we sang Graham Kendrick’s “Knowing you” which of course speaks about knowing Jesus. What came to mind as we sang was that the last time we had sung that particular song in the Assembly Hall was on our wedding day. I couldn’t help but consider how much has changed since that day just over 9 years ago. I certainly wouldn’t have expected to be stood there again as a cadet, in fact it wasn’t even on the radar back then. What I do know though is that I have never been let down by God in the intervening years even though I’ve let him down far too often.
Second, a flag! Yes, you’ve read me right and all those who know me really well can have a laugh at my expense! As part of the afternoon meeting, The Salvation Army flag of the Session is presented. Now despite being a 5th generation Salvationist, I can’t say that the flag has the same meaning for me as for some Salvationists. However, as the flag was marched down the hall and presented to the flag bearer, and then dedicated, a tear came to my eye. For the first time I suddenly realised that I was standing in the same hall in which my mum, dad and grandad has stood and witnessed a similar ceremony. For just a moment it seemed that the decades slipped away and I was stood shoulder to shoulder with them; that I was stood beside Zoe at the time just made it more wonderful. It is a moment that I will long remember!
Finally, the 2nd song! One of the officers on the college had written a song especially for the day with the title, “From this moment on…” and it spoke about the fact that from now on we were dedicating ourselves to the Lord anew for a new task. Again the significance wasn’t lost on me! Whilst my previous work for the Kingdom has been important I really believe that from now on the work I will be training to do and will eventually do as an officer is what God has been leading me towards for many years. I really do want to go for it from this moment on!
A lot of those writing in the Salvation Army blogosphere are expressing the need for a return to the militant attitude of the past. It has to be all or nothing and we must keep up with the best examples to be of any use in this Army of ours. Whilst I have some sympathy for this position I’m growing increasingly worried about the way this must be affecting those faithful soldiers who have fought the fight for many years, yet do not have the same sense of urgency in their expression. Is this their fault or are they simply the innocent victims of the malaise that has affected the Army for decades now?
Something I have understood from my very short time in ministry is that we need to give time for people to grasp the vision of a better discipleship. It is not going to happen overnight for everyone and we have many people in our congregations who are open to learning but who are not going to be transformed in the time that we want them to but instead will be in God’s time!
Taking terms from the theatre of war is common in our Army so here’s another. I wonder how many of our potentially best troops are being injured by ‘friendly fire’ from well intentioned but inconsiderate and careless forces within their colleagues!
It’s now more than 10 years since the International Spiritual Life Commission reported their thoughts to The Salvation Army. Unfortunately, in some areas the emphasis has been placed more on what they didn’t do, especially in terms of baptism and the eucharist, than on the calls that they made to Salvationists and the corps they are part of.
I’ve been looking at them recently and within the Call to Soldiership I discovered this:
“We believe that soldiership is discipleship…”
The reality is though that for many soldiers, soldiership has actually been a route to playing an active part in the life of the ‘club’ rather than a commitment to radical, life-changing service. The Articles of War, or Soldier’s Covenant, that they signed hasn’t really made a significant impact on their lives. Why this is the case has been discussed a lot in recent days and in my opinion is a combination of poor teaching, an emphasis on ‘Army’ subculture rather than mission, poor leadership and changing times.
When you read the Soldier’s Covenant it really requires a radical commitment. Too often the emphasis has been placed on the commitments not to drink and being active as is possible in the corps programme, rather than on those of response and obedience to the Holy Spirit and living by Kingdom values.
I heard today of two corps which are well known in this Territory that have changed the format of their evening meetings. The band and songsters are now only on duty about once a month and when they are not taking part the majority of the members are absent. When one of the corps has a Bible Study they only get about 25% of the number of people who go when the band or songsters are taking part. Is this radical commitment to the Lord, or is it membership of an interest group?
Real discipleship is costly not cosy. Yet despite this cost it ultimately leads to a life that is defined by the beauty of a relationship with the Father and assurance in His promises.
Over the last 3 days (Monday to Wednesday) the centre leaders and divisional leaders in my division have been on retreat. It’s been a wonderful 3 days in which it has been possible to take a short time away from the corps and recharge the spiritual batteries.
One thing that always happens to me though, whenever I go away, is that I have a bad night the first night. I don’t know what it is but I can never sleep properly the first night in a different bed! Anyway, as I lay awake I remembered something that a fellow Army blogger wrote about being on retreat. I can’t even remember who it was now, but they didn’t like the word retreat because it symbolised going backwards (i.e. retreating from the enemy!) As I lay there thinking I started to consider what retreating meant and I suppose on one level that blogger has a point. To retreat does mean to back away from the battle, and I suppose with our emphasis on military metaphor this is the first meaning that come to mind!
To retreat actually has an alternative meaning, in fact it has several but I want to concentrate on just one right now. To go on a spiritual retreat doesn’t actually mean that we are stepping away from the battle. In fact, in some circumstances it actually can allow us to focus on the spiritual battle that often gets overlooked in the day to day work that all Christians should be involved in. This opportunity to concentrate our energies on the spiritual side of things is invaluable for anyone who is aware of the spiritual battle that is going on.
For me these 3 days spoke to me in ways that I am going to be working out in my ministry. They spoke to me of things I hadn’t considered before and they allowed me to continue to build relationships with others in the division. These days gave me an opportunity to share my thoughts and have them tested by people I respect. Above all I came back feeling refreshed but knowing that despite being on retreat, I had actually advanced in my faith by taking some quality time to worship and study God’s word.
Well we’re home from the Assessment Conference and are completely shattered. 7 interviews (2 of which were as a couple), one essay, one piece of group work and a discussion group later, plus constant assessment outside of these things, we’ve got through the weekend and now sit at home with our two beautiful daughters!
It is possible that we will get a phone call tonight to let us know what the recommendation for our future is, but it might be tomorrow or even later.
Right now though all we both want to do is sleep! More news as we get it!
Well it’s finally come around again. Tomorrow Zoe and I head off to Sunbury Court for our Assessment Conference. Despite a few last minute hiccups we are about ready! We’ve written our introductions to ourselves that we have to deliver tomorrow afternoon and are as prepared as we possibly can be for the various interviews we will be having.
As this is my 2nd one in 13 months, so I have a good idea of what to expect and also what not to say! However, I’m also sure that there will be differences as well.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the weekend just as much as I was last year. God and the assessors willing the decision will be more positive that last time around and come Monday we’ll be able to let anyone who’s interested what is going to be happening in the coming months.
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