Countdown to Commissioning
- deansimpson7
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
It’s that time of year on The Salvation Army calendar when our cadets and auxiliary-lieutenants prepare to be commissioned into full-time service as officers of the Australia Territory.
This year, seven Salvationists will be commissioned as part of the Keepers of the Covenant session across two Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out services.
Commissioning is essentially the formal conclusion of officer training and the beginning of a new vocation as Salvation Army officers.
The first group of five will be commissioned on Sunday 23 November at Parramatta Corps in Sydney (2pm (AEDT). They are Cadets Jonathan Abdulai, Soonsun Kwon and José Porcia, and Auxiliary-Lieutenants Amanda and Matthew Pethybridge.
Throughout next week, Salvos Online will share their testimonies.
The second Commissioning service will involve Auxiliary-Lieutenants Belinda and David Dobbie at Mackay Corps in Queensland on Sunday 7 December (12pm AEST). Leading up to that service, Salvos Online will share the Dobbies’ testimonies.
Before the Commissioning service, however, the seven cadets and auxiliary-lieutenants will take part in Covenant Day on Saturday 22 November at Stanmore House in Sydney, where each cadet signs a sacred covenant, a solemn promise to love and serve God, proclaim the Gospel, and care for those in need.
“This covenant represents a deeply spiritual relationship with God and a lifelong commitment to ministry,” said Captain Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation and Senior Training Officer at Eva Burrows College in Melbourne.
“Over their formation journey, cadets have grown through three spheres: personal and spiritual, mission and ministry, and education and theological, preparing them for leadership and service.”
“Please join us in prayer as these people step confidently into this sacred calling.”
Following the Commissioning services, the cadets will assume the rank of Lieutenant, and the auxiliary-lieutenants will assume the rank of Captain.
Both services will be livestreamed. The link to the Parramatta Commissioning service is here. The link to the Mackay service is here.
Keep following the Salvos Online website, Facebook and Instagram sites for information and stories on Commissioning, culminating in our reporter Lerisse Smith’s coverage of both services.
For more information click here
To find out more about Salvation Army officership, click here
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