This evening I attended our Eastern Victoria divisional welcome and installation meeting to incoming Divisional Commander, Lieut-Colonel Jocelyn Knapp, and Major Cilla Bone, who takes up an additional appointment as Divisional Women's Ministries Secretary.The new divisional leadership duo encouraged us to seek God's heart as we work together to become an 'Isaiah 58 Division' focussed on:
- loosing the 'chains of injustice'
- setting the 'oppressed free'
- being compassionate and responsive to the needs of our communities
- trusting God whole-heartedly to release the power of His healing, redemption and restoration in the lives of those we serve and minister to.
What a vision! ...and, together with God, what a sure reality!
Our incoming leaders shared their thoughts of GOD'S HEART, OUR DREAM...
For Our Mission Centres: Corps, Social Centres, Divisional Headquarters...
God desires...
- that there be plenty of prayer - less bickering and put downs
- that reputations are to be left intact - and harmful gossip has no place
- that fairness and justice be the standard - less inequality or positional exploitation
- that the focus is on the needs of the marginalized - less concern about preserving status/position
God wants...
- human dignity, justice, hope, compassion and community to be values which guide all decisions
- that money, personal ambition, personal preferences or personal satisfaction take a lesser place
- all personnel - volunteers, employees, officers, male or female - know that they are made in God's image and equally respected by all in leadership, and all given opportunities for self-development
God asks...
- that the atmosphere will be open and welcoming
- attitudes will be accepting and non-judgmental
- that all age-groups, from children to retirees, will be listened to, appreciated and encouraged to serve
- that opinions will be valued, without others taking a defensive position
- that language will be inclusive, in both the spoken and the written word
Psalm 37:4 (NIV) ~ "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires."
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