An officer’s ‘God moment’ on a train
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
At Red Shield Appeal time, we hear many stories about how The Salvation Army has impacted the lives of everyday Australians who may be doing it tough. But our Salvation Army officers can also experience ‘God at work’ during the campaign, as one Sydney officer shares.
BY CAPTAIN SEAN LI
Hornsby Corps Officer
If you ask me whether I would recommend Salvation Army officership, I wouldn’t quickly say ‘yes’, because this path is not easy.
Officership is very different from a career in business or industry. But if you are clear that this is God’s calling for you, then I would say it is a challenging but very worthwhile journey. I can honestly say that I am still being shaped through it.
Let me share a story that might help explain what I mean.
After attending the Red Shield Appeal Sydney launch, I was on the train heading back to the office. I walked past a few rows and chose an empty seat further down to sit.
During the trip, I noticed a woman sitting in front of me who kept turning around to look at me. I started to feel a bit uncomfortable. I was wondering, “Is something wrong with me? Is my Salvos uniform too noticeable? Did I spill coffee on myself? Or is there something on my face?” It made me quite uneasy.
When the train reached Hornsby, the final stop, I stood up and prepared to get off. Suddenly, this woman also stood up and started walking towards me. I felt a bit nervous, wondering what she would do.
But then she asked, “I saw your uniform – are you from The Salvation Army?” I nodded, still feeling unsure. Then she said, “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank your Salvos for saving me. I had lost myself and almost killed myself before, but the Salvos helped me. Because of that, I was able to find myself again, and now I’m in a much healthier place. God bless you.”
After saying that, she simply walked away.
I was deeply moved. In that moment, I felt how meaningful and significant this calling [to be an officer] really is. Through an ordinary stranger, and through the legacy of Salvos, God encouraged me – a very ordinary Salvation Army officer.
It reminded me that what we do is not ordinary at all, for both the people we serve and those who serve.
That moment has stayed with me deeply. In some ways, it was just as meaningful as the day I was commissioned [as an officer].
And it gave me a strong sense of assurance – that I made the right choice.
More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.
Interested in volunteering for the Red Shield Appeal?
We would love to have your support – just two hours of your time over the weekend of the 30-31 May can make a huge difference! You can sign up to volunteer at the links below. Don’t forget, you can volunteer with a colleague, friend or family member to make the experience that much more enjoyable.
If you would like to donate to the appeal please go to: https://digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au
All donations will be automatically issued with a tax-deductible receipt.
