Meet the Officer – Aux-Lieut Katrina McIntosh

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? 

My current appointment is at Townsville Corps with a focus on community engagement and support. There are many hats as a corps officer that you wear on a day-to-day basis, but where I see the Kingdom of God flourish on Earth is when I am privileged to journey alongside others. I have been fortunate with the community engagement focus and being in the corps for several years to meet many who think they are coming to gain experience for other jobs, help out a charity or just to meet mutual obligations with government agencies. Working alongside them, conversations naturally flow and ‘God moments’ and ‘God questions’ inevitably arise. I am always amazed at what God does in the hearts of others if we are obedient and allow him to do the work in the lives of those we live and work alongside.

2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? 

I am a huge reader and will devour anything with words. There have been many a day of self-inflicted weariness because a book was too interesting to put down, or I was just going to read another chapter. I also enjoy time with family Binge-watching our latest series.

3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? 

One of my current favourites is It is Well by Horatio Gates Spafford, Kristene DiMarco and Philip Paul Bliss. I had always loved the old hymn by Fanny Crosby, but this reworking, which I heard for a while when things weren’t going well, reminded me of where my strength came from. It was also played one Sunday when I was wrestling with my decision to take up officership, and it was a confirmation that this was the next stage in my journey of faith.

4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? 

I love Nehemiah. Over the past few years, I have heard teaching and had devotionals come across my desk that have focused on him and the work he did to rebuild the walls. I would love to chat with him about the whole process from start to finish. If time were a factor, I would want to know most about his journey as a person and how he stayed true to the course despite having to wait for God’s timing and then facing constant opposition and setbacks.

5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?  

I have found officership to be a place of privilege to walk alongside and shepherd those I have been called to serve. Officership is not for everyone, and it is hard work. However, if you have been called, take it seriously. It might take a few years before you are ready (it took me 10 years of ministry before I made the decision). Listen to the voice of God, get a good mentor, and learn all you can, and the way will be made clear in God’s timing.

To learn more about becoming an officer in The Salvation Army, click here