Dreams, weddings and baggage laid at the cross in Coffs Harbour
- deansimpson7
- May 16
- 3 min read
Updated: May 16
BY LAUREN MARTIN
When Liv was a child, she had an unforgettable dream. In it, she was standing in front of the mirror, and suddenly she saw the face of Jesus on her chest. He looked at her and said, “Liv, place me in your heart and make me your King.”
Liv is one of 13 Coffs Harbour Salvos who have been enrolled as senior soldiers this year, and at her enrolment, she declared: “Today I stand here in front of you to declare: Jesus is not only in my heart, he is in my mind, in my soul and in every part of me. He is my king, and he is the life I need. To him belongs all the glory, all the honour and all the worship because he made me whole again.”
The NSW corps of Coffs Harbour has experienced many God-filled moments over the past five years. Not only have there been many enrolments, but in 2023, the corps sent two cadets to training college – Jose Porcia and Benn Nicholson – and witnessed senior soldier Soseh Cowham being commissioned as an auxiliary-lieutenant and now serving at Northern Rivers Ballina Campus.
Coffs Harbour Corps Officer Major Andrew van Gaalen says the culture of the corps has undergone a dramatic shift.
“There’s a hunger amongst our people to go deeper with God. They see becoming a soldier as part of going deeper with him. He is calling them,” he said.
With many corps demographics indicating that congregations are aging, Coffs Harbour has seen an increase in the number of young people interested in soldiership and officership.
“Some of them do want to become officers,” says Andrew. “Others just want to become local leaders and, realistically, they want their witness to be seen in this community as a soldier of Jesus Christ through The Salvation Army.”
Andrew says the book “Aggressive Christianity” by Catherine Booth is very clear about the importance of intentional discipleship and leadership development for new converts. “Get them involved and get them moving.”
Soldiers’ testimonies
And that’s what’s happening at Coffs Harbour Corps. People who come to faith are invited to serve in various ministries and deepen their relationship with Jesus through small groups.
“On Friday night, there is no place I would rather be than out serving the community and doing the work of the Lord,” said newly enrolled soldier Dayna in her testimony. She not only found Jesus and a “beautiful church family” at Coffs Harbour Salvos, “but my friendship with my best friend also blossomed into a wonderful marriage to my now husband” (who is also a recently enrolled soldier at Coffs Harbour Corps.)
For Elle, her journey with the Coffs Harbour Salvos allowed her to lay all her hurts, fears, shame, and guilt at the foot of the cross. “I just remember,” she says of the first time she came to a Sunday meeting after being invited by Corps Officers Jeanette and Andrew, “the worship team came up, and I sang, and I can’t really sing, but I did sing, and I just got absolutely lost in it. I felt the Holy Spirit just resting upon me. I felt enveloped in this unspeakable peace.
“Feeling love like a daughter has been the most healing thing for me. He listens to me, and he never judges. He sees my scars, and he looks at me and he says, ‘Oh, child, you are just so beautiful and precious to me’,” she shared at a special service the night before her enrolment.
Please keep these 13 new soldiers in your prayers. And stay tuned – there are more enrolments planned at Coffs Harbour Salvos!
Palmerston enrolments
On Tuesday 22 April, Palmerston Corps in the Northern Territory enrolled four senior soldiers during the Journeys Church service.
This event was celebrated and supported by 50 community members from within the congregation, and also extended family of the soldiers who hadn’t previously been to church before.
“These four people come from all walks of life and are incredible members and contributors within both the Palmerston and Darwin Corps,” said Captain Sherrelee Gray, Palmerston Corps Officer.
