Generations of Salvationists have carried the banner of salvation for the lost, holiness for the convert and service to all. They have pledged to use their time, talents, gifts and abilities to fight the salvation war—to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. Our mission remains our motivation; the movement is vibrant and strong. Yet moving forward, the Canada and Bermuda Territory will need to be brave and willing to be even more flexible if it is to remain vibrant and continue to fulfil our mission. 

Vocational service in Christian ministry is a unique calling and worthy of our consideration. Sixteenth-century Protestant reformers such as Martin Luther argued that all work, even so called secular work, was as much a calling from God as the ministry of monk or priest. Luther puts it strongly in On the Freedom of a Christian: vocations are “masks of God.” On the surface, we see an ordinary human face—mother, doctor, teacher, waitress, pastor—but, beneath the appearance, God is ministering to us through them. God is hidden in human vocations.

The Army’s strength is in recognizing that every vocation, when consecrated to the Lord, is ministry and service. Prior to the Reformation, the word “vocation” referred specifically to church-related callings, such as priest, monk or nun. Luther reclaimed this word and used it instead to refer to every calling a Christian might legitimately fulfil: cobbler, farmer, baker, blacksmith, wife, mother, civil servant, and so on. To Luther, the cobbler’s work was just as valuable as the priest’s.

God and the church “call” people to ministry. Our ecclesiastical term for such “callings”—vocation—means just that. Vocare is the Latin word meaning “to call.” All Christians are called to ministry. Some mistakenly believe that call only pertains to ordained ministry, but that is not true.

Ephesians reminds us, “For 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). Recognizing our value as his creation motivates us to live out our vocations with intentionality. Every calling, whether grand or humble, is part of God’s design, allowing us to showcase his handiwork and to affect the world positively through our lives. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

The Lord continues to call men and women to officership and they continue to respond. But we must also remember that vocational service in Christian ministry is a unique calling, too. The Call and Commitment theme chosen by our territory’s candidates department this year, “Harvest Hands,” is taken from Matthew 9:36-38: “When [Jesus] looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. ‘What a huge harvest!’ he said to his disciples. ‘How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!’ ” (The Message)

There is much to be accomplished for the kingdom’s sake, and our dear Army calls officers and non-officers to be part of the brigade fulfilling the Great Commission. The Soldier’s Covenant reminds us that all have a vital role to play. It reads: “I will be responsiveto the Holy Spirit’s work and obedient to his leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.”

As we celebrate the ordination and commissioning of the Champions of the Mission Session, let us also acknowledge that the Lord is raising up other spiritual leaders for such a time as this. Men and women who are willing and prepared to assume greater spiritual leadership in their corps setting, or who are perhaps willing to step out of their local context and assume leadership in other areas for a season. In recognition of the harvest before us, the Lord is leading the Army to examine every possibility, inviting our soldiery and committed people of faith to step forward for service—full time, part time, for a dedicated season or a defined number of years.

Dare we ask each other to consider what we might be willing to offer to keep our movement vibrant and strong?

Commissioner Lee Graves is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

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