Being the best soldier you can be

Both my parents and grandparents were Salvation Army officers, so I come from a rich Salvation Army heritage. I was never called to be an officer, but I feel called to be the best soldier I can be. I have been a soldier in the Salvation Army for 50 years!

As Christians, we’re not protected from hardships. One of my children was born with a very rare disease and initially didn’t put on weight; another child dabbled in drugs. In 2001, my sister died of cancer and soon after I had a mild stoke. But in every hardship, I’ve experienced how much God cares for me.

I’ve seen miracles too. One grandson was born blind, and was told that he would never see because he didn’t have the rods that connect the nerves to the brain. I believe that through prayer God healed him and the rods began to grow, so that he has some vision.

Ever since I was a young girl, I always wanted to be a teacher. But I have a bad speech impediment, so I never thought I could stand in front of a classroom—even now it’s hard to say my name in public, or read the Bible out loud. However, I had a very successful career in the education sector, and had what I considered the ‘cream’ job. In the midst of it all, I felt the voice of God say, ‘Fay, I want you to be significant, not successful’. So I took a step of faith and resigned. I worked for a year as an administrator at my local Wellington South Salvation Army Corps (church). 

One year later to the day I received four separate phone calls, each one telling me about a lecturing job at Teachers College. I thought this was strange, so I applied almost nonchalantly—and couldn’t believe it when I got the job! I was there for nine years, doing what I thought I could never do: standing in front of a classroom lecturing. God made my dream of being a teacher come true.

Then, I felt prompted to again seek significance, not success. That’s when I began working for The Salvation Army at the Centre for Leadership Development, and now at Territorial Headquarters in the Personnel Section. 

I have a real heart for my local corps, where my husband Vernon and I have attended for 44 years—all our married lives. One of the many highlights has been working with the young people. For me, it’s just about being part of the family and being a mentor, the way I was mentored when I was young.

I was absolutely blown away when Commissioner Don Bell presented me with a ‘Certificate of Exceptional Service’ at Mission 2010 Congress. Humbling is not even the word for it. Like I said, being the best soldier you can be is a true calling.

By Faye Clark (abridged from War Cry, 11 February 2012, p9)