Keepers of the Covenant – Commissioning Testimony

From: Auburn Corps (NSW)

Appointment: Corps Officer/Team Member at Rockdale Corps (NSW)

Silver Star recipients: Sia Bangao and Amadu Kargbo

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I was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and my childhood was marked by war and trauma.

During the civil war, my mother and I were caught in a rebel attack while shopping. Amid the chaos, we were separated.

Days later, someone told me my mother had been killed. I was forced to live with my uncle. Life became harsh. He treated me like a servant, often locking me in a room without food.

At school, I was bullied, and when I sought help, no one listened. Perhaps the most painful part was never knowing my father. He abandoned me, and I never had the chance to see his face. 

I grew up Muslim, but my experiences with religion were painful. As a child, I was beaten for failing to memorise the Qur’an in Arabic, a language I did not understand. Worship was never in my heart language, and I often felt judged and excluded, cast out for mistakes. I grew angry at people, at religion, and at God. 

Years later, an unexpected encounter changed everything. A woman from Australia visited Sierra Leone and recognised my uncle. She told him she had seen his sister (my mother) in Australia; that she was alive, living there as a refugee! She had been told her children were dead.

When word reached me that my mother was alive, I refused to believe it. I felt abandoned and bitter. But with encouragement from community members, I agreed to travel to Australia in 2016 to be reunited with her. 

Soon after arriving, my mother invited me to her church, The Salvation Army in Auburn. I told her it would be my first and last visit. I had no interest in religion. Yet she did not give up on me, and along with the corps officers, she continues to encourage me to come. Gradually, I began attending church.

The people were welcoming, but I still felt restless and depressed, often sitting alone in my car and weeping. Then I sensed God speaking to me. As I began to read the Bible given to me by one of the corps officers, it was as though Christ himself spoke: words of hope, purpose and love. The anger and isolation that had defined me began to lift. 

The corps officers and congregation patiently walked with me. They never forced faith on me. They simply loved me. Through their example, I learned that my worth comes not from rules or human approval, but from God’s grace.  

Over time, I became involved in ministry. I saw how many people, even in a wealthy country like Australia, carry hidden pain and loneliness. My own experiences of war, abuse and rejection had opened my eyes to their struggles. I realised that God was calling me to reach out as others had reached out to me. 

The Salvation Army has been God’s grace alive in my life. It gave me a family of faith and a place to serve. That is why I feel called to become a Salvation Army officer: to share the love and hope of Christ with people who feel lost, unloved, or forgotten, just as I once did. 

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife who has stood beside me throughout my journey. Her prayers and encouragement remind me daily of God’s love. Together, we are raising our three-year-old son, Emmanuel, whose name means ‘God with us’.

Emmanuel is a living reminder of God’s presence and faithfulness in our family. My wife and son are both a source of strength and joy in my life, and I know that ministry will be something we share together as a family. 

I once believed I was alone and unloved. Today, I know I am a child of God, redeemed and called to serve. My prayer is that through my ministry, others will encounter the same transforming grace that changed my life. 

Bible verse: “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and decrees. (Psalm 25:8-10).