Meet the Officer – Captain Lesley Newton

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

My present appointment is Corps Officer at Umina Beach Corps on the Central Coast of NSW. In my time here, we have commenced a children’s group 0-5 years old. I absolutely love this group. We get to watch and participate in the children’s lives prior to school. We have had babies come at just a few days old. We get to watch them grow from baby through toddler through to going to school. We take great delight in the families who come, and we get to engage with them all each week. 

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

When I get some downtime, I love to watch British television. I also get in the kitchen and do some baking. The corps folk benefit from this in many different ways over morning teas and the occasional lunch.

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

As a person who loves music and was a professional singer prior to becoming an officer, this is a really hard question to answer. I have learnt not to say “this is my favourite song” when introducing a song. I normally say it is one of my favourite songs. If I really have to nut it down, it would be ‘He Leadeth Me’. I honestly believe that God has led me my whole life. Even when I wasn’t close to God, He blessed me constantly. He used that time to grow me and realise that life with God is way better than life without 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?

My favourite biblical character has always been Joseph (one of the sons of Israel). I think I would mostly ask him about his dreams. How he found forgiveness for his brothers. The extremes of his life.

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

My first question is always, “Do you feel God has called you to officership?” As an officer’s kid and now an officer, one thing I know is that if you are not called to be an officer then the ‘job’ is too hard to do. But if you are called to officership, then God will equip you for the tasks and you will find enjoyment and completeness in this role.