Meet the Officer – Lieut Crystal Lee
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?
I am one of the corps officers here at Mandurah (WA), alongside Major Karina Wood. Recently, we have joined Rockingham and Kwinana and have become the Southwest Metro Salvos Hub.
Here at Mandurah, we have a Sunday Worship Gathering, where most of our congregation are elderly. We have a few young families starting to join the church, which is exciting because it brings in the next generation. We have our Community Connect Centre, where we engage and support our local community, especially those who are doing it tough. We provide breakfast, food emergency relief, showers, free clothing, Friday meals, and much more. We have lots of partnerships – our Doorways Case Worker and Moneycare Financial Counsellor provide much support, Orange Sky for free laundry … etc. Lots of different groups of people use our facilities to build community as well. So, it’s a busy place.
There are two things that are most satisfying about the appointment. I always find that it's such a privilege to journey with people in their life story. I have two opportunities where I get to journey with such diverse backgrounds of women in two different settings. One is a Chinese Bible/Christian faith study group, where we speak Mandarin and Cantonese. The other is just with a small group of Australian ladies. It’s such a privilege to be able to hear people’s stories and share in their vulnerabilities, in their hardships, in their crisis moments. In their most vulnerable moments, they are willing to share with you their experience and their feelings. I think it’s being able to listen and to be able to help them to feel that they’re not alone, and that they are heard and seen. And seeing those women whom I have been journeying with, experience real transformation, is very fulfilling – from difficult backgrounds or past hurt, to now volunteering, having a relationship with God, and giving back to others. It is what gives me life the most – being able to lead people to Christ and lead people to flourish.
I’m also part of a really good, strong, all-women team here in the office that supports and empowers each other to help bring projects to fruition and be on mission together for our local community, which makes the work even more meaningful. It’s life-giving.
2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?
I watch rugby – something I’d never in my life thought I would ever say, because before I met my husband, I wouldn’t even know what the rules were when it came to rugby! There’s something about watching rugby; people running and training on an open field – I think it just switches off my brain. Watching sports is a big thing for me – the thrill of a game is exciting. Catching up with friends and family also unwinds me, and playing with my young daughter, Leilani. I am a movies person, too. I love watching some good movies and trying new foods.
3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?
It comes in seasons. At the moment, the one that keeps coming into the back of my mind is ‘The Power of Your Love’ by Geoff Bullock. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. I think it just reminds me that I’m loved by God. That’s been a good reminder for this season of life and just being surrounded by His love. It centres and grounds me in what I do. The lyrics talk about this waiting period: As I wait, I will rise up like the eagle. Sometimes, life has waiting periods and waiting moments, and we’re always waiting for the things we would like to happen. But in that waiting period, knowing that God is with me, and knowing that God’s love is still surrounding me, helps. I also like a few old hymns and the song, ‘The Goodness of 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?
At the moment, I would love to talk to Mary, the mother of Jesus. I’ve become a new mum for nine months, and that song ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ has this whole new resonation of like, “Oh my goodness!” It will be interesting to talk to Mary about how she parented Jesus when He was little. What was it like to be a mum to watch all the miracles and events unfold? An interesting thought is that Jesus is also God. So, then, I’m wondering if Jesus ever had moments where He ministered to Mary? But also, for Jesus as the son to give back to Mary and what that would have been like for Mary.
5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?
I would say definitely yes – if they’re called. I’d also say that The Salvation Army is always looking for leaders so, even if it doesn’t look like officership, if God has given you a passion, follow that passion. To also think – what floats your boat? If there’s something that you’re passionate about, if there’s something you think God has given you a particular skill or talent in, pursue that. There’s always a need for leaders, even if that means talking to your local corps officer or your youth leader to say, “Hey, I’ve got this skill, I’ve got this passion. Where can I help? Where can I serve within The Salvation Army?’ We are all called to live out the mission. But to answer the question, I would recommend officership. I would also recommend being a leader, in whatever format, within The Salvation Army, because we’re always looking for more.
VIEW MORE: Lieutenant Crystal Lee talks about English language classes at Mandurah Salvos, click here
More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.
