Back in July, the Corps Mission Department had the privilege of welcoming Captains Johnny and Carolina Valencia to its team. We took a moment to sit down with them to learn more about themselves, their heart for ministry, and what God has placed upon their hearts in supporting our corps across the territory.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue the call to officership?

Both of us were born in Colombia, but moved to the United States in 1999. Soon after arriving in the US, we became engaged in ministry specifically pastoral ministry and church planting. In 2007, we met a couple of retired Salvation Army officers who introduced us to The Salvation Army and later that year, we received the first invitation to consider officership. There was no doubt in our hearts that the Lord was calling us to full-time ministry and The Salvation Army's mission, vision, and passion for souls were aligned with what we believed God was calling us to. In 2010, we moved to Canada where we entered training college.

What are you most excited about in this new opportunity as we look to serve our corps officers and lay leaders?

The fact that we came to the Corps Mission Department straight from corps ministry permits us to bring a fresh perspective of how the Army is advancing in mission on the front lines. Being aware of the current challenges in corps ministry and the diverse worship expression across the territory provides us with an exciting opportunity to join corps officers and lay leaders in their efforts to thrive in ministry. In our current appointments, we see ourselves as extended staff of every corps in the territory and our hope is that corps officers will see us the same way. We are here to serve and support each of them and their ministry in any capacity we can.

What do you see as the most critical challenges facing corps, corps officers, and corps leaders today, and how do you envision our department addressing these challenges?

Although the challenges faced in ministry vary from corps to corps and from region to region; most of the common ones are:

• Isolation and loneliness: We know we are pastors to a congregation, but we often forget that we too need spiritual guidance.
• Digital Ministry: Technology is moving faster and more often than not, the church is playing catch-up.
• Multiculturalism: This one is not necessarily a challenge; it is actually a gift. The challenge is not having the answers to the questions about embracing and promoting diversity in the church.
• And lastly, declining attendance ... just to mention a few. 

In the midst of these and perhaps many other challenges, it is easy to lose sight of what really matters, which is our identity as the beloved children of God and as the body of Christ. We believe it is necessary for us as individuals and as a movement, to constantly re-focus, re-centre in Christ again and again, to seek God’s presence, to be filled with His love and to hear and follow Him in all we do. We are nothing without Him!

The way we see our department addressing these and other challenges is by journeying with corps officers and lay leaders as we seek and serve God together while also providing resources and tools. However, we don’t want to provide them the resources as an “IKEA” item that they have to figure out and put together on their own. Instead, we want to walk alongside, do the heavy lifting for corps officers, be available, support and celebrate with them.  

Lastly, can you tell us about a book, movie, or hobby that has recently inspired you or brought you joy? 

Johnny: I enjoy running and biking. One of the fascinating things about exercising is realizing how each part of your body participates in the process; the heart pumps blood, the eyes monitor the path, the lungs expand to allow more air in, and so on. What brings me joy in light of this conversation is the opportunity to join corps officers across the territory and be “the body” helping one another run the race. I am currently reading, "The Power of the Other" by Henry Cloud.

Carolina: I enjoy going out for walks, spending time with loved ones, taking care of my plants and watching them grow. I love spending time in solitude, journaling, lettering, drawing and painting. More recently, I have been exploring digital art. I am currently reading, "My Body is not a Praying Request: Disability Justice in the Church" by Amy Kenny.