Major Darrell Wilson installed as the new Divisional Commander for WA
- deansimpson7
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
Updated: May 2
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Major Darrell Wilson was installed as the new Divisional Commander for Western Australia at Perth Fortress Corps on Sunday 27 April.
Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas conducted the installation ceremony in front of a packed hall.
Darrell will officially take up his role on Thursday 1 May. His wife, Major Chelsea Wilson, will remain the Corps Officer at Rockingham, where she and Darrell have served as corps leaders since 2011.
About 25 members of the Rockingham Corps were at the installation ceremony to ‘cheer on’ Darrell.
The installation service, under the direction of Perth Fortress Corps Officers Captains Aaron and Lauren Stobie, hosted prayer, worship and musical messages.
Major Nikki Curtis opened the meeting by sharing a passage from Romans 8:1-2: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus,” she said. “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you.”
A video message followed, in which Darrell was welcomed to his new role by various leaders, volunteers and soldiers from across Western Australia.
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas then invited Darrell to join her on the platform before thanking Commissioners Peter and Jenny Walker for their interim leadership of the division.
“I’d love to be the DC in Western Australia,” Miriam quipped, “because you’re so far away, and you can try new things. Imagine what God will do!
“In welcoming you (Darrell), this congregation acknowledges your many years of dedicated service, given freely and willingly to God. The new appointment with which you are entrusted, a further expression of your lifelong covenant with God.”
Miriam affirmed Darrell in his new role, sharing from Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Commissioner Peter Walker was invited to the platform to pray over Darrell and his family.
“I want to pray for Darrell and Chelsea and for their family, that in taking on this new role, there will not be loss, but there will be wonderful new experiences together,” he prayed. “Lord, I pray that you’ll bring peace, that you’ll bring protection, that you’ll bring a vision for the state of Western Australia and the work of The Salvation Army here.”
Darrell was further welcomed by the Kids and Families ministries, Youth and Young Adults ministries, and other groups representing the Army’s diverse work in WA.
In response, Darrell said, “I am deeply humbled and deeply honoured to be able to serve God in this way. The Church is consistently looking for better methods, looking to tweak our programs, but God is seeking people who are humbly devoted to being Christ-centred, Spirit-led, who will reveal the hope of God to the world. And I believe the methods will take care of themselves.
“I’m a big fan of frontline mission, and I think Local Mission Delivery is going to be what we’re seeking as we move forward in WA.”
Originally from Ballarat (Vic.), Darrell grew up in Western Australia and served the majority of his roles in the division. These included working as a youth worker at Morley Corps and in the youth and mission departments at DHQ before taking on the corps officer role at Rockingham.
To view the livestream of the service, click here
Click through the slideshow below to view more photos of the installation service:
