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One of the classes for the Prayer Warriors this semester is Homiletics where we study the process of writing and delivering sermons.  We are privileged to be under the leadership of Major Julie Slous, who has recently received her doctorate in ministry from Luther Seminary in Minneapolis.  We are grateful for her wisdom and guidance as we cultivate our own preaching styles.

Last week, we learned about preaching the Epistles.  We took on a group exercise to in drafting a letter in similar form as Paul wrote in the letter of Ephesians with salutations, thanksgiving, body to address concern, exhortations and conclusion.  Our task was to write as if we were the Principal of CFOT adressing a concern within the Cadet body.  Each group was given a different topic and a few examples of our class work are included below for some light reading.  We hope you find these letters as informative and entertaining as we did.

Please note: these letters are not official and are in no way endorsed by CFOT or the actual Principal.

Concern: Cadets who have been falling asleep in class

I, Major Booth, principal of the College For Officer Training, to my beloved cadets, those faithful in fulfilling the call of God upon their lives. I bring a message of hope and encouragement to you.

I thank God everyday for your willingness to pursue the call on your lives. I am encouraged by your dedication to God and your commitment to The Salvation Army. Your passion for the Lord is evident and your enthusiasm is contagious.

I give thanks for you and remember you in my prayers daily. I pray that you would experience God’s guidance, love and strength and may He give you wisdom so that you may know Him better. I appreciate your eagerness in fulfilling your duties here at CFOT in knowing God, knowing yourself and knowing your mission.

It is in this spirit that I want to persuade you to be diligent in having a respectful attitude within the classroom. I have been made aware that cadets are falling asleep in class. I appreciate the great demands on your time and recognize the impact this has on your alertness, however, this behaviour implies disrespect towards your professors and those around you and is unacceptable.

If this behaviour continues, the issue will be addressed personally with the Academic Director. Perhaps your attention to better time management will assist you in resolving this problem.

Be encouraged that we are supporting you on your journey and continue to stand firm, pursuing your studies with utmost integrity.

Yours in Christ.

Concern: Cadets who have been careless with uniform wearing

I, Colonel Booth, Principal of The Salvation Army College For Officer Training, offer greetings to you, the cadet body.

I thank God and the Territorial Candidates board for sending you here and your willingness to pursue the call upon your life. God bless you in your journey.

You know, as Principal, it is my role to address concerns that require your immediate attention. Due to the scale of this particular problem, it is assumed that there is an issue of discipline that is affecting the entire cadet body. This is the concern that the staff has brought to me – cadets have been increasingly careless with their uniform.

As for you, who in a former life and in a different vocation, used to get away with wearing whatever you wanted; surely you have heard about the candidate’s manual, which outlines our expectations of you during your sojourn in the hallowed halls of CFOT.

For once you were a people who wore cut-offs, tank-tops and flip flops, but now you have been made into new creatures – cadets – who wear the marks on your shoulder of a new life in which you now live.

Let us put away the clip on ties of the former life, and brothers, press your shirts and learn your Windsor knots. Sisters, deploy the nightshade panty hose and do not be a “hole-y,” “run-y” people. But adhere to the appropriate minute in the operating policy, which will be your constant companion from this day forward, henceforth, and for evermore.

I implore you to hold unwaveringly to the decorum set before you.

The Territorial Commander and the Chief Secretary send greetings and warnings on behalf of the General.

May God continue to use you and bless you.

Concern: Cadets who have been consistently late for class

I, Major Booth, principal of CFOT, called by the will of God, through Christ Jesus, and commissioned by The Salvation Army of Canada and Bermuda Territory. To all cadets under the College For Officer Training in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And are in faithful covenant both to God and to The Salvation Army in Canada & Bermuda Territory.

All thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ who has given us spiritual blessings in heavenly places. I thank each one of you for accepting the call to become a Cadet in training for Officership in His great Salvation Army. I continually pray that the Spirit of wisdom and grace will open your understanding to your call and to your studies.

Before arriving, you were free to come and go, according to your own desires and schedules. Now that you are in dedicated service to Christ at CFOT, you are free to follow the schedule laid out by your humble leaders of CFOT in order to be optimally effective for the cause of Christ.

Here at CFOT we have high standards, as is worthy of those following the call of the most High God. By reason of your calling, I, the principal of CFOT, would like to draw attention to the extreme importance of being on time for al classes, field appointments, chapel services, and other related CFOT events. As we all know, people’s time and needs must be our first priority. Therefore, in response to the issue of tardiness, that has been brought to my attention, I encourage you to set enough time aside to enable your timely arrival, in order to maintain a good and Godly representation of CFOT and the greater Salvation Army within the community. As such, you will show an example of righteous character and Godly living to those you serve and to those who follow after you.

I thank you very much for your cooperation and I know you will do me proud in the future.

Blessings.