Meet the Officer – Captain Kimberley Featherston

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

Alongside my husband [Lieut.] Shaun, our current mission and ministry field serving as corps officers finds us in Sunraysia, Victoria. (Almost the pinpoint location of a three-state borderline). This is a new appointment for us moving into the new area and role at the start of 2025. So, in essence, what I find satisfying in the appointment now would likely be a different answer in 12 months’ time.

But being so fresh into the appointment and learning much about the local area and the people of our community – and jumping straight into what already is – also comes with seeing so much new potential, which can only enhance and continue doing what God has already started in this place.

This also might sound like an oxymoron statement, but the fact that we still see brokenness, injustice and people in the community living without God means that we are in the right place. A place where we can continue to show God’s love and compassion and see lives transformed for the Kingdom.

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

Ah, yes, the possibilities vs the realities of time away from the appointment can be found and enjoyed. I’m a firm believer that ministry starts at home before you walk out the front door. And home for me at the moment is my husband, two-year-old daughter, Hannah, and baby #2 just around the corner (and who knows, by the time this is published, I may have a snuggling little babe in my arms!). We love to make use of our day off to find family adventures and make memories, honouring the precious time we have as we grow our family. When we honour and respect this time ministering to our family, we ultimately are sowing seeds into our community as they watch on and see the characteristics of Christ in our example, which then creates and fosters an intimate opening for those we minister alongside and to.

But if I were to answer this also for me personally as an individual, I love to sit in a creative space but not limited to one specific craft, etc. Sometimes it might be the rhythmic motion of the crochet hook weaving a single strand of yarn into a gift of warmth and comfort. Sometimes, it will be repurposing objects and giving them a new life, and other times it will be messy. But in the clean-up process, as long as I remind myself of the joy found in the making of it, is all worth it. This or finding treasures whilst thrift shopping.

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

This is a very hard question, and the more I think about it to nail it down to one song, the more and more great songs keep adding themselves to my list. In saying that, I can see at least three common themes from the great list.

I love music/songs with a Celtic sound. Some great ones from this Celtic worship space are the Keith and Kristyn Getty and the wonderful Rend Collective Band. I love songs that give us encouragement on the uneven roads. Life, in general, before addition in any form of ministering, isn’t the smoothest road – so listening to songs like ‘Hallelujah Anyway’ (Rend Collective), ‘Glory on the Otherside’ (Nuel/Redman) and ‘Great is His Faithfulness’ (Charity Gayle) all present the challenges of life but are a reminder that when we go with God, there will be life and there can be praise.

And last, but not least, I find I gravitate more to the songs that speak who God is and what we can do/bring to Him through our worship and life, rather than the songs that speak first about what we get from God.

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?

Once again, there is a plethora of options one could choose from with this question! My mind mostly gravitates towards many of the inspiring women of the Bible. But maybe towards the top of my list would be one that may not be seen as inspirational than others – Martha, the one who was rebuked and told she wasn’t doing things the right way. I think I’d ask her if she ever did find the balance of service and doing and sitting in the presence and teachings of Jesus and living a devoted life. But I would also encourage her that, on one hand, she wasn’t completely wrong in her doing either. If we keep in mind the cultural and societal expectations of the day, that they had the VIPs in their house, and that she is a mere human, then she didn’t do anything wrong. But if we keep in mind, on the other hand, the lesson of Scripture that God needed us to hear, know and practise of stepping away from expectations of others, and to give him our full devotion, which then provides the wisdom and clarity for what is to come. In her ‘wrongdoing,’ she actually provided key instruction and education by her actions to a world of people to come after her time. God truly has been able to use Martha’s example for His good.

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

Know your calling and stand firm. If you know you have been called by God to live a life building His Kingdom via the form of officership, then do it and don’t delay. Yes, there are and will be days along the way where you question yourself why? But there will be harder days ahead for you if you know you are called. Don’t do anything with it and see God work through others what he had intended for you. And if this is for you, remember that first day/moment you felt/knew your calling. This will help you stand firm and see you through. And as honest as I’m being in acknowledging the rough days ahead in ones calling, there is also much beauty that too will come living in step with God and according to His will for your life.