Meet the officer – Captain Mark Schatz
1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?
My current appointments are Bunbury Corps Officer and Busselton Corps Officer with my beautiful wife, Zoe. We call it the SouthWest Salvos, and we have three thrift shops, plenty of community engagement with drop-in centres and other services and groups meeting each week with over 150 staff and volunteers. I mention the staff and volunteers because working and ministering with these incredibly talented people is one of the greatest joys and parts of the role.
2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?
Now that my kids have grown up and are fairly independent, a few times a week I go to our local indoor beach volleyball centre and play a number of rounds of indoor beach volleyball on a few teams. I find the exercise and participating on a team fun and relaxing (attached is a photo of me winning the pair of aces championship with my teammate in that round).
3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it?
Oh, there are so many great songs over the years, and I have a number of songs that I have enjoyed and that have spoken to my spirit. A current one is ‘Holy Forever.’ The idea of joining with the angels as they sing about how the God of the universe is Holy, and the highest and greatest and above everything and everyone, and how God has redeemed me and forgiven me, just fills me with awe and wonder. So, I start to lose myself in worship and sing louder than I should. But knowing my singing voice, which sounds like a dead cat being swung around at high speeds with the last amount of air coming out, joins with all creation, allows me to let loose and worship without inflicting my voice on anyone else.
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 a lot of the Old Testament characters, and there would be a number of them that I would love to talk to. Jonah and what it is like in the whale. Elijah and seeing the fire from heaven come down on Mount Carmel. The Samson story is fascinating too. But one person I would love to talk to most would be Joseph. I would love to talk to Joseph about how he kept his unwavering faith and trust in God over the years when sold by his brothers, locked in prison, and then what it was like to become one of the most powerful men in the world. And what it was like to have the assurance of God in all circumstances. I just think Joseph would be able to give us some great insights into how we can live and work in today's world.
5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?
If I was talking to anyone who is exploring officership, the first thing I would say is "make sure you are called to The Salvation Army and officership.” Over the last 15 years, I can honestly say that it hasn’t always been easy, and there are times when life and ministry is great and times when life and ministry is hard. It has only been the call of God on my life that has anchored me to The Salvation Army. But if God has called you, then go for it. Don't waste time because it will be the greatest thing that you will ever do. God could send you anywhere and ask you to do many different things. However, more than that, I have seen God perform so many signs and wonders, seen God answer prayers and perform miracles. I’ve seen God do things that are out of this world, and because of that, I am sold out to him. I can’t see myself doing anything else because today, I serve the God that saved me from death and destruction and given me life. So, if you are called, say yes and allow God to show you just how awesome he is!
