Meet the Retired Officers – Colonels Kelvin and Julie Alley

2 hours ago

4 min read

Retired officers play an integral role in the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army for many years after their active officership has ended. Most continue to be involved in meaningful ways in their local corps and community, drawing on experience gained over decades of service. Salvos Online today launches a new regular series focusing on some of these amazing retired officers.

1. Colonels Kelvin and Julie Alley, which corps do you both currently attend, and how are you involved?

Kelvin: The Gold Coast Temple Corps and very committed to the ministry of the corps. I play in the band and lead meetings from time to time as required, and serve as a volunteer gardener every Tuesday at the corps to help maintain the vast gardens and lawns in good condition. In addition, with Julie, I am Padre to the local RSL Runaway Sub-Branch, attend their monthly meetings, participate on Anzac Day and other memorial days, and also conduct funerals and other ceremonies as required.

Julie: We have returned to the corps we led in 2000 for five years. I am very blessed to be able to lead a vibrant group of women (mainly community ladies) in patchwork. This is my main ministry and is extremely rewarding. For many of the ladies, it is their ‘church’ where they find support, care and prayer. As well as that, I regularly help with welcomes, morning tea and worship involvement. It is so good to be back at the Gold Coast Temple Corps.

2. When did you both attend Officer Training College, and what was your sessional name? Did you like that name (why or why not)?

Both: We attended the Training College in 1985 and 1986 at Bexley North in Sydney along with our little family of four children (ages 1-5). We had a rapid lead-up to attend Training College (the process took a mere six weeks!) and were delighted when we heard that our sessional name was Proclaimers of the Gospel. The name resonated strongly with our renewed and refreshed spiritual journey at the time and the sheer strength and confidence in God’s calling upon our lives. It sat well with us!

3. Looking back on your years as active officers, was there a particularly memorable appointment, and why?

Kelvin: This is very hard to answer because all of our appointments have been memorable for a variety of reasons. However, on reflection, I would have to say that our final appointment as Territorial Leaders of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory stands out. It was a sheer privilege to serve a total of seven years in the Territory, with almost four as Territorial Leaders, from where we entered retirement. It was what I call adventurous and dangerous, but probably the most fulfilling of our appointments. We had to settle into the colourful culture, give wise guidance to a spiritually vibrant territory with limited financial resources, seize opportunities to travel extensively to visit our remote corps and health posts despite difficult terrain, punishing roads and high probability of hold-ups and roadblocks. However, to play a part in the peace celebrations of remote communities now seeking to live in harmony despite the terrible atrocities associated with years of tribal fighting will long remain as a valuable memory in my heart and mind.

Julie: Every appointment we have had has carried the fragrance of God. Each appointment has had highlights, and each one has been so different and difficult to leave. However, thinking back over the many years of ministry, serving in Papua New Guinea comes out as the most challenging, spiritually rewarding and memorable. To be able to sit in a river early in the morning in the most remote parts of that beautiful country with women, singing, laughing and praying together was truly amazing. Worshipping with over 2000 women and listening to their singing, seeing them searching for God at the Mercy Seat and soaking up God’s Word, felt like being transported to heaven. Most people in Papua New Guinea live with nothing, yet give everything they have to God. Words cannot express the impact that these people and country had on my life. I really do miss it.

The Alleys say their appointments in Papua New Guinea were a highlight of their officership.

4. Is there a specific Bible verse or passage, or even a song, that has anchored your spiritual lives over the years, and if so, why?

Kelvin: Lots of verses have carried me at different times of my officership; two have had lasting meaning. It took me many years to be obedient to God’s call on my life, and when at age 30 I responded, I was saddened to think that I had wasted all those years of indecision. But the Lord showed me His promise in Hosea 2:35 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” And He has done that! And at a mid-term in my officership I was feeling greatly discouraged, and the Lord took me to Job 42:12 “The Lord blessed the latter half of Job’s life more than the first.” I took it as God’s promise to me personally, which gave me fresh vision and hope for the remainder of my officership.

Julie: The verse that I have hung onto throughout my officership is one of victory, and not merely “making it to the end”. No matter what life throws at me, I know that God is there and nothing can ever take that from me. Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things (hardships, persecutions or danger) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” More than conquerors for me means I am not going to merely fall over the line at the end but run through the finish tape with all my strength through Him.

5. If you were speaking to a young Salvationist who asked whether you would recommend officership, what would you say?

Kelvin: If you sense that God is calling you to serve in Salvation Army officership, obedience is the only pathway to follow.

Julie: It will be the most rewarding path you could follow. God calls, and He will equip you for every task. There is nothing like being in the very place God needs you to be. Wonderful things will happen.