Meet the Officer – Captain Richard Hardaker

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

For the past seven years, my wife, Leanne, and I have been appointed to Southern Downs Corps. The corps is about two hours west of Brisbane and includes expressions in Allora, Stanthorpe and Warwick. The thing we find most satisfying is our Saturday afternoon service called the Gathering. It starts at 4pm and includes a 45-minute chapel service followed by a meal. We currently have about 60-70 people attending this service, and most of these people are new to the army. It is great doing life with them and helping them in their Christian journeys.

As of 30 March, Richard has taken up an appointment as Team Leader at Streetlevel Mission – Logan (Queensland Division).

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

I love to watch sport, and in particular rugby league. I am a long-suffering St George supporter. I also do Lego, and in the new place we live in, I have my own Lego room otherwise, known as my office!

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

I really like ‘10,000 Reasons’ by Matt Redman. Often, we have to stop and look at how good our God is and how much he has done for us. In the stopping, it helps me to reset and be grateful to God for his abundance. 

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 would probably be David. He was a man who made mistakes and was full of remorse for what he had done wrong. God chose to forgive him and use him in mighty ways. I love the way he expresses that in the Psalms. I like people who live their lives authentically.

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

My officer journey is a bit different. I spent two years as an officer at Tweed Heads, then married my wife and spent over 20 years as an employee of The Salvation Army through the Tweed Heads Corps. I was happy doing lay work and being involved in the life of Tweed Corps, but I felt a stirring from God to commence full-time service again. I can honestly say that the last 12 years have been the most fulfilled I have felt in ministry. I love doing life with people and journeying with them. I have had so many opportunities to use my gifts in the last seven years, particularly in my current appointment. So, I would definitely say step out and see what our God can do. 

More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

*Meet the Officer interviews are conducted by Salvos Online journalist Lerisse Smith