Commissioning

This is more an update on my week that my typical thought process as I am currently in Atlanta celebrating with the "Witnesses for Christ" Session. Being a tuba player in the Territorial Band I am part of the supporting cast to this weekend which sees 50 or so new Lieutenants Commissioned as Salvation Army Officers. The rehearsal process is long and hard, but tonight the weekend really begins with the commencement service, for which we are praying for clear weather as the ceremony is outside. On Sunday each Cadet is ordained as a Salvation Army Officer, ready to go into the world. It's a remarkable cycle that has existed for 140 or so years, yet the demands of Officership are so much greater and the snares of the world make Officership so much harder than, perhaps, ever before. Statistics show that, of the 50 or so Cadets Commissioned, there might be 28 left in 10 years and for many of the 22 or so who drop out, a divine calling will be affected by a human reaction. Life only works with God in it, so let's pray that these 50 break the mold and prove the statisticians wrong. May God bless the Witnesses for Christ.