Record Number of New Mission Leaders
In 2010, The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory was blessed with the most cadets in training since 1983. Twenty cadets in the Ambassadors of Holiness Session were commissioned and ordained on Saturday 11 December at Wellington City Corps. A further 20 cadets of the Friends of Christ Session—14 in New Zealand and six in Fiji—are now in their second year of training.
This is a testament to God’s faithfulness in answering prayer. And to concerted efforts to arrest a decline in officer numbers by recruiting quality leaders for the future.
Graduation Night
The weekend began with the Booth College of Mission (BCM) graduation ceremony, which marked the academic achievements of the Ambassadors of Holiness and School of Bible and Mission students.
The evening’s speakers emphasised that academic learning had to go hand-in-hand with God’s wisdom, love and understanding. Commissioner Don Bell, Chair of the BCM Governance Board, was confident the disciplines of study learned by the cadets and students while at BCM would serve them well in the future.
Cadet Sarah Healey was the year’s valedictory speaker. She shared a light-hearted poetic reflection on the cadets’ experiences at BCM.
The evening’s guest speaker was Lieut-Colonel Wilfred Arnold, who was just weeks away from retirement. Commissioner Don Bell saluted the outgoing Secretary for Personnel as a strong supporter of BCM during a period of ‘incredible change’. Major David Noakes, Training Principal, praised Lieut-Colonel Arnold for his ‘vigour and forthrightness’.
Lieut-Colonel Wilfred Arnold then presented his perspective of Salvation Army education over the past 10 years, highlighting the many people of influence who had helped to shape the ‘centre of excellence’ that BCM had become. The College was a ‘place of warrior building’, he said; one that supported learning ‘as a lifelong journey’.
Silver Star
Saturday morning began with a buffet lunch for those joining the Fellowship of the Silver Star. This international fellowship links all those who children are serving as Salvation Army officers and, in some instances, others who have helped to shape officers for God’s service. The Friends of Christ Session were on hand as gracious hosts for the occasion.
Representative speaker Cadet Jaunita Jamieson, who became the territory’s youngest officer over the commissioning weekend, said that while college life had not always been easy, the key was ‘being in the centre of God’s will’. Her great satisfaction had come from ‘doing life with people and sharing in their journey’. While none of the cadets knew what 2011 and beyond held for them, God knew – ‘and he is good and faithful’, she said.
Commissioning and Ordination
Major David Noakes introduced the Ambassadors of Holiness as ‘a strong session, with the qualities needed to take the Army into the future’. Of those being commissioned, three had spent their second year of training in corps appointments: Lieutenants Chris and Lisa Collings as leaders at Porirua Corps, and Lieutenant Jeffrey Miller as assistant to the corps officers at Whangarei Corps. The Ambassadors of Holiness were leaving BCM with an abiding sense of God’s presence, said Major David Noakes.
Signifying the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power in their life, the cadets lit candles in the shape of a flame while reciting The Salvation Army’s 11 Articles of Faith (doctrines). They promised to serve God faithfully.
The Ambassador of Holiness were ordained and commissioned, receiving their first rank of lieutenant. Commissioners Don and Debi Bell reminded each of ‘God’s calling and equipping and gifting for sacred service’.
Commissioner Don Bell reminded the territory’s newest officers that as Ambassadors of Holiness, they were to follow the example of Jesus, who made himself a servant to save others. ‘We are proud of you because you have given your lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and because we see God working through you. You are indeed servant leaders,’ he said.
The session’s determination to fight for God’s work in the world was emphasised in an impassioned performance of the ‘I’ll Fight’ haka, with both sessions combining with Maori Ministry members in a memorable finale to the commissioning and ordination service.
Celebration Service
Sunday morning’s celebration service included a bright performance by the BCM children that brought smiles to every face. Major David Noakes interviewed three of the new lieutenants, asking them about their time at BCM.
The faithfulness of officers who have served the Army’s mission over many years was acknowledged on the Sunday morning when six officers—Majors Peter Roberts, Susan Jarvis, Jocelyn and Ray Gordon, and Glenton and Pam Waugh—were admitted to the Order of Long Service for 25 years of active service. Majors Ivan Bezzant, Brent and Marlene Diack, Laurel and Malcolm Herring and Ruth Froggatt were recognised for 30 years’ service; Lieut-Colonel Susan Daly and Major Geraldine Johnson, both serving overseas, were honoured for 35 years’ service; and Majors Glenys and Terry Heese were honoured for over 40 years of active officer service. Eleven of these officers were present.
The deepest meaning of the word ‘ambassador’, explained Commissioner Debi Bell in her Bible message, was ‘servant messenger’. In Roman times, an ambassador came under the protection of the ruler they were representing. Christians were God’s servant messengers, she said, ‘so wherever we live, the Kingdom of God has been extended to that place.’
The celebration meeting became an oasis of prayer as people came forward to pray in family and friend groups around the new lieutenants and the now second-year cadets. The Army’s salvation mission was emphasised again with an unscheduled repeat performance of the ‘I’ll Fight’ haka.