In The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, February is known as Call and Commitment month. It’s a time intentionally set aside to explore and discern God’s calling. This year, the invitation to consider God’s call is centred on Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It is an invitation to be who God made us. As followers of Christ, our primary calling is by him, to him and for him. The calling of God isn’t a goal to be pursued or a voice “out there”—it is a voice speaking to our soul.

During the month of February, you are invited to listen and respond to the bold, loving call of God and allow that love to shape your life. How is God calling you to BE HERE, BE YOU and BELONG in transformative ministry within The Salvation Army?

Be Here
by Jessica Mackenzie

God has given you a purpose. Simply being a Christian means that you have a sacred mission to share the gospel (see Matthew 28:19-20) and to do everything in response to the love that God has shown you. As you go deeper in your relationship with the Lord, you will discover more and more that he has given you a specific set of skills and abilities to use for building the kingdom of God. These were intentional. Remember, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). We are all different, and that is a beautiful thing. It means that God uses our gifts and passions to create a mosaic of ministries in and through the church. 

There are many different expressions of ministry within The Salvation Army because God has called and equipped Salvationists with different skills, passions and vocations. For some, it means committing to full-time ministry as an officer or auxiliary-captain. For others, it means taking on leadership within a corps as a lay leader or volunteering for a specific ministry. For others still, it means being an encourager, whether through sharing kind words or actions, or in the simple gift of presence. We have a purpose. We have a mission. We are all called. Where will you show up?

Jessica Mackenzie is a member of the ministry placement program at Cross Bridge Church in Winnipeg. 

Be You
by Daniel Yarn

As someone who is accepting God’s call on my life in The Salvation Army, it speaks deeply to me to know that I can remain true to who God made me to be. When I find myself getting caught in the trap of comparison, I remind myself that the body of Christ is made stronger through our different talents, spiritual gifts and personalities. Not one person is the same as another, but we are united as the priesthood of all believers. This unity is a powerful component of The Salvation Army, and we strive to foster it through affirmation, encouragement and opportunities to serve in areas that align with personal callings and abilities. 

When I reflect on The Salvation Army around the world, it is apparent that being true to who God made you to be is the driving force behind the Army’s ministry. We are a global ministry comprised of millions of individuals, each with their own unique contributions for building the kingdom of God. No individual is more significant than another. Regardless of gender, race, financial status, background or life experience, everyone has a place in God’s kingdom and The Salvation Army. 

We all have things we don’t like about ourselves. Insecurity can so easily plague us, tempting us to give up on what God has called us to do. Perhaps if we started seeing our weaknesses as strengths, and continually reminded ourselves of the significance of our individual callings, we would experience a deeper sense of confidence and daily fulfilment. Rest in the knowledge that the power of God is at work through your individuality. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Daniel Yarn is the youth and children’s pastor at Encounter Community Church in Lower Sackville, N.S.

Belong
by Major Jodi Dunstan 

In the spirit of belonging and being my true self, I begin by sharing that I’m one of those geeks who love when numbers or letters match up in unique ways. For example, I love when the time reads 12:34. I’m also a big fan of acronyms. So, when I was asked to write this article on what it means to belong in The Salvation Army, I started contemplating an acronym for this word. Here is what God laid on my heart: BELONG = Being Encouraged, Loved, Observed, Needed and Governed by Grace.

True belonging encompasses all the words in this acronym in diverse ways. Brené Brown, an American research professor and author, is known for her work on the idea of belonging and our Call and Commitment theme this year is inspired by her Dare to Lead initiative. Her writing reflects some of these words from my acronym: “True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging does not require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” What an amazing thought. It’s a quote worthy of our reflection as we consider the idea of belonging and living in the light of our own genuine person.

But for me, there is an even more significant place where I want to “belong”—with my friend and Saviour, Jesus. When I live in the light of Jesus’ belonging, I can be the authentic self that he created me to be, and I can also embrace the truth that he wants me to become more like him. As in the last letter of my acronym—G for Governed by Grace—his grace works within me to transform my life and make me a vessel of belonging for others as I lead within The Salvation Army. 

As you contemplate “belonging,” you, too, can be a vessel of belonging for others. I encourage you to explore what it means to live for him and to lead others in full-time ministry within the mission of The Salvation Army.

In conclusion, I’m reminded of a beautiful hymn by Norman J. Clayton:

Now I belong to Jesus
Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone
But for eternity

When I belong to Jesus and walk with him daily, I know that I belong to something incredible that makes an impact on the lives of others and lasts forever. Being Encouraged, Loved, Observed, Needed and Governed by Grace—into eternity. May it be so.

Major Jodi Dunstan is the divisional children and youth secretary and divisional candidates secretary, Ontario Division, and the assistant executive director for Ontario Camping Ministries.

For more information and resources you can use during Call and Commitment month, visit https://salvationist.ca/candidates/call-and-commitment/.

Captain Kristen Jackson-Dockeray is the secretary for candidates and the assistant territorial children and youth secretary.

Call and Commitment 2023 - Video Testimonies

This playlist includes video testimonies from people engaged in ministry throughout the territory. You can use them to highlight Call and Commitment on social media sites, during worship services, in weekly email blasts or wherever else they can be an encouragement to others.