Dobbies enter officership with a resounding ‘yes’ to God’s call
- deansimpson7
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
BY LERISSE SMITH
With one courageous word, everything shifted the moment they said ‘yes’.
That single word – and message – became the heart of the Ordination, Commissioning, and Sending Out service for the Keepers of the Covenant, inspiring everyone who gathered on Sunday 7 December at Mackay Whitsunday Corps in Queensland.
Taking the next step into full-time service, Auxiliary-Lieutenants David and Belinda Dobbie were officially commissioned as officers and assigned the rank of Captain, following the couple’s signing of the sacred Covenant on Saturday.
Their ‘yes’ echoed far beyond the ceremony – it marked a resounding commitment to officership and a new chapter of faithful service.
Against a vibrant and colourful Christmas nativity backdrop, the officers’ family and friends filled the church auditorium to celebrate the couple who were not only commissioned but took a major role in the service, sharing deeply moving testimonies and reflections and leading the congregation in worship.
One of many poignant moments was when their parents were awarded a Silver Star (an order expressing gratitude to parents of commissioned officers in The Salvation Army) by Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who commissioned Belinda and David. The couple’s daughter also brought three different readings.
Reflecting on his journey, David spoke about both the highs and lows of the past few years.
“I need to be honest and say that this is an occasion that has given me some mixed feelings,” he told the congregation.
“Having served in ministry for the last seven years, I feel as though today is an acknowledgement of the ‘yes’ that I gave all those years ago. I must admit that back then, I probably didn’t fully understand what that yes meant, but I think God clearly did, and he’s been shaping that ever since.”
He explained that his seven years of ministry had taught him that if there were not days when he felt like giving it all up and returning to teaching, he probably wasn’t doing the work the way it was meant to be done.
“There are days that I have a good heart-to-heart with God and say, ‘Why on earth did you send me? Why? Why am I doing this?’” he shared.
“But one of the biggest things I have learned is that full-time ministry isn’t something you can do unless God has actually called you to do it. There are far too many challenges, far too many moments that stretch you for it to be something that you manage in your own strength.
“… Life and ministry are full of frustrations, and although there are things we don’t understand, we need to put our trust in a God who does. Each time God and I have our little chats, he finds, often, quiet unexpected ways to remind me that he is the one who started this, and he’s the one who’s carrying it.”
Turning to Scripture, David reflected on Peter, chapter two, noting that God’s divine power had given them everything they needed throughout the journey. He added that God provided the strength and courage by sending people into their paths, making life and ministry enjoyable.
“We’ve been blessed with some incredible people along the way,” he said.
“Communities who have welcomed us in, and friends who have walked with us through life’s joys and challenges. We truly believe that those relationships have been God’s provision just as much as anything else … I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to reflect and to say thank you to everyone who’s supported us along the way.
“So today, it isn’t just about a Commissioning. It’s about recognising that first ‘yes’ from seven years ago and choosing to say ‘yes’ again, still trusting, still committed, still believing that the God who called us then is the God leading us now. As we step forward, I want to commit to continually relying on God’s leading, trusting that he has a plan, not just for us and for our family, but for the communities that we serve.”
For Belinda, the turning point came when she remembered being clearly unsure about what to do in her life about 10 years ago, in her 30s.
So, she phoned her sister.
“I was about to go back (to work) after having the two kids, and I rang her, and I probably cried, and said, “I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up”, like I’m 30-something, and I still don’t know,” she said. “And I said, “I’m too old to start anything new, and I definitely don’t want to study. And I had no idea what I was going to do.”
A decade later, Belinda found herself doing two things she never thought she would do.
“One of them is to have red epaulettes (indicating their rank). I was never going to be an officer,” she remarked.
“And I never wanted to study again. I am now an officer and finished a Diploma of Theology! None of this would have happened without God working in my life every step along the way, and he has a funny way of pushing me into doing things I don’t want to do … but I don’t do this alone.
“And I say to people all the time that I’m walking proof of what the Holy Spirit can do through you. God has taken someone who preferred to stay behind the scenes and use me in ways I could have never imagined, and every step of this journey has shown me that when we say ‘yes’ to God, he does amazing things through us.”
A particular moving moment of the Commissioning service was a special painting taking centre stage on the platform, depicting Belinda’s favourite verse – Romans 8:28.
“This verse has been a message of assurance to me, and has guided me to where I am today,” she said.
“Now I’m ready to make this calling a more permanent part of my life … Saying ‘yes’ means trusting God even when I don’t have the answers. It means stepping out of my comfort zone, knowing he will guide me. It means that every challenge, every fear and every doubt becomes an opportunity for him to shine through me. I say ‘yes’ to being used by God, not for my glory, but for his. And I hope that in saying ‘yes’, I can inspire others to trust him and to see that his plans are always greater than anything we could imagine for ourselves.”
Reflecting on their growth, Major Tracey Davies (First Five Years of Officership and Auxiliary-Lieutenant Lead Coordinator) said she had the pleasure of journeying with both Belinda and David as Auxiliary-Lieutenants, and it was her privilege to hand them over to the Commissioner in preparation for commissioning.
“It has been a privilege to witness and be a part of these sacred moments that we’ve had already this weekend at Covenant Day, and what a special time that was,” Tracey said. “And so, it is a privilege to be a part of this with Belinda and David today.”
Tracey explained that there were now a variety of pathways to becoming a commissioned officer, and for the majority, they would take a traditional route, become a cadet, and complete two years of training.
However, for Belinda and David, their journey came through serving as Auxiliary-Lieutenants, bringing previous experience, training, knowledge, and skills.
“Belinda and David have served faithfully for two full terms, and they are now well into their third term as Auxiliary-Lieutenants,” she reflected.
“As David has already spoken about today, this has been a season of ministry that has allowed them to lead and to serve faith communities while engaging and learning alongside of that, and to have built their formation.”
She then offered a heartfelt message for the couple.
“Belinda and David, today, as you are commissioned, you will join the Keepers of the Covenant session, a name that reminds me of the intimate bond that God has called you to,” she said.
“A covenant, a bond, a positioning of oneself to be fully dependent on God, showing faithfulness in your service and orienting your lives towards God’s kingdom and his values ... My prayer for you is that you will continue to live out your calling as you step into this covenant that God has invited you to and made with you. Colossians two, verse seven says, ‘Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.’ We are thankful for you today, and we pray God’s blessing upon you.”
Adding to the sense of celebration were Colonels John and Lani Chamness, who sent video messages of encouragement and prayer from the United States. (John and Lani are still awaiting their visas to enter Australia before taking up appointments as our new Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Leader Development.)
And bringing the service to a close, Miriam emphasised how special it was to attend the Covenant signing with Belinda and David on Saturday 6 December, and then to officially commission the officers. She also spoke about the importance of the New Covenant.
“It is Christ-centred,” she said.
“Jesus is right at the centre of it. It’s life-giving. It’s relational. It’s faithfulness-oriented. It’s underpinned by mercy … God is a God of grace, a God of forgiveness, a God of love. We don’t run away from him. We run toward him. It’s a covenant about loyalty and fidelity and holding together when everything else is driving us apart. My covenant transforms.”
