As a 2nd year cadet I was fortunate to spend my winter assignment at Weetamah in Winnipeg. From kettle shifts to setting up toys, and then the process of helping people coming in to pick-up their toys, it was a very busy few days. Through it all I was able to experience the true meaning of Christmas over and over again. Of all the experiences that took place however, one stood out the most.

It was early afternoon on December 24th and the laughter that comes after days of hard work could be heard all around. I then heard a voice behind me as a man and little boy approached to make a request. My first thought was about what I could do to help them. What toys that were left had all been boxed and put away days ago and yet there was no way I could look into that little face on Christmas Eve and say there was no toy for him.

As my mind quickly ran over ideas of what I could do, the man spoke again, telling me his son wanted to donate a toy he had just bought with his allowance so another little boy could have a toy for Christmas. Moved more than I can say, I promised that I would make sure the toy found a home. Needless to say that everyone there who had witnessed/heard of the story couldn’t hide the tears or the smiles from that unselfish gift. For myself, I only wish I could thank that little boy again, as well as all the people who gave toys that helped the Salvation Army bring Christmas to so many for another year.

Lorri-Anne Butler (Cadet) * now Lieutenant
In Christ Alone

The final days before Commissioning were busy times at CFOT as we prepared to travel to Newfoundland for the commissioning of the Prayer Warrior session.  But on Sunday, June 13 we took a bit of time to acknowledge the “kidettes” of the Prayer Warrior session with their own commissioning ceremony.

Beginning with a march-in to the rousing song “Dare to be a Daniel” accompanied by the Cadet Band, the nine Kidettes of the Prayer Warrior session stood at the front of the CFOT chapel and were commissioned by Territorial Commander, Commissioner William Francis.  The Commissioner addressed each kidette individually and presented them with a special plaque.

The Kidettes gave a fantastic black light show during the afternoon as they sang a music rendition of 1 Timothy 4:12 which says, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Commissioner Marilyn Francis shared a special prayer for the kidettes as they prepare to move to their new homes and make new friends.  She gathered the kidettes around her as she sat in a chair and lifted their precious lives up to their Heavenly Father.

Please join the Commissioners, staff and cadets in praying for these young people as they join their parents in exciting new adventures in ministry.

Each year 11 cadets sit on the Council, 6 second years and 5 first years.  The second year cadets fill the Director roles for each committee, plus a business director and the council president.  The first year cadets fill the Secretary roles for the committees as well as the vice president for the council.

A staff representative joins the 11 cadets to act as an advisor and liaison.  This year’s council was made up of Michele Elsasser (President), Kyla McKenzie (Vice President), Kristen Gray (Business Director), Carolyn Reid (Missions Director), Peter Kim (Missions Secretary), Lorri-Anne Butler (Community Life Director), Jason Waters (Community Life Secretary), David Bond (Curriculum Director), Grace Kim (Curriculum Secretary), Elizabeth Knight (Yearbook Director), Joshua Downer (Yearbook Secretary), and Captain Deana Zelinsky (Staff Advisor).

Over the next couple of weeks watch for posts highlighting the work of each committee and the role they play in CFOT life.

The Prairie Division also took this time to honour divisional leaders, Majors Junior and Verna Hynes who are moving to take up appointments at THQ in July.

Residents of a provincial housing community in southeastern Winnipeg have experienced sewer backup in their basements following heavy rains in the area over the past couple of weeks.  The Salvation Army has been able to help these families and the cadets were privileged to be able to join the team.

Cadet Joshua shared his thoughts from the afternoon:

Pulling up to a part of Winnipeg I had not been to before when responding to an emergency because of flooding; I did not know what to expect. As soon as we got out of the van, I could smell almost to the point of tasting it, water-ruined furniture and anything else that the flood had consumed in peoples’ homes.  Workers came out of the homes covered and wearing masks because of the flooding and piling things outside the homes into one large pile. I walked into the community centre where there were people folding clothes, setting up tables for the distribution of toys, blankets, towels and also food to be handed out.

For the next 5 hours the four of us cadets, along with around 15 other people, prepared food, and helped to give out everything we had just to assist with meeting peoples basic needs.  I will always recall one woman coming and getting 12 hotdogs for her and her family, and just the look of sadness on her face almost broke me down.  But then to see her children smiling and running around with a new toy, with a bag full of some clothes and food as simple as hotdogs and apple juice, I saw hope in the mother’s eyes because of how the community had come together to support and help one another.  And the part that got to me the deepest was when she took the box of hotdogs, looked straight into my eyes and said, “God bless you.”

I may never meet the same people I did that day, or get a chance to know how the woman and her family are doing right now; but all I can say is that we gave something as simple as a toy, yet within that small act of giving, hope was given for months to come.

This opportunity to serve also provides cadets with ministry insight as they come into close proximity with those who have suffered personal losses because of the recent flooding.  During a training program that sometimes seems largely academic, opportunities to engage in ministry keep the cadets grounded in the calling to service that they have felt upon their lives.

I was born 16th May 1976. My parents are active Salvation Army officers. I was captured by God’s calling in 1995.
I studied Mechanical Engineering and Material Engineering from my High school and university (Mar 1992-1996) for five years and worked as a full time engineer for six years until 2002. I ended up as an engineer of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Government Facility) for my Engineering career.

I graduated Korea Baptist Theological Seminary, BA. Feb 2002 for night class while I was working daylight.
And I move to London for my desire to get Master course in Spurgeon’s College (University of Wales).
While I was in England, I served the Korean Corps as an assistant of the officer.

After having some basic English Language course, I entered small bible college (New Life School of Ministries) for one year course in Practical theology. I met my wife Hye young in the college. I married to her 10th Jan2004.
I entered the Spurgeon’s College for Master Course in 2004. But I was not able to get that course for my lack of English skills. So I quit the course in 2005.

My son Joon was born on 2nd May 2006. I and My family came back to Korea November2006.
I worked as an assistant of the officer in Young Chun Corps in Seoul before I entered the Training College. I entered the training college Feb 2008. And I came to Winnipeg 2009 for my second year of training.

I have often said that my journey to training college was a long one and that there had been many twists and turns on the road leading here.  I entered training as a divorced, single mother of a child with special needs (autism) after often having wondered if I would ever make it to this place.  However, God had a plan and since we know that “all things work together for them that love the Lord” it is not really surprising that in the end, God’s plan worked out…and what a great plan it has proven to be.

It is so hard to believe that my 22 months of training will very soon come to a conclusion but I can rejoice that this time has included some of the most forming moments in my life thus far.  My son Josh, now 11 years old adjusted beautifully to the changes that once promised to be very difficult for him and God has been ever present in our lives during our time in Winnipeg.

Since arriving here, there has been lots of studying, late night Dutch Blitz games with fellow cadets and life changing experiences in my field placements spent in Parry Sound, Saskatoon and at my brigading corps, Heritage Park Temple.  Not to mention, all day scrapbooking marathons and wonderful fellowship over many meals shared together.  I have met people who have impacted me in so many ways and made lifelong friends who I know will be with me on the remainder of life’s journey.  But probably most importantly, through this time of academics, field training, community living and spiritual formation, God has taught me much about myself and others and continues to shape and mould me into the person that he wants me to be.

My personal testimony can be easily summed up in the words of a Darlene Zschech song, The Potter’s Hand:

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands, crafted into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life through Your eyes
I’m captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart, I know you’re drawing me to yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Take me, Mould me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter’s hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter’s hand

I look forward with anticipation to what lies ahead on the road of life and know that wherever He sends Josh and I for ministry or otherwise, God will continue to go ahead in preparation of our arrival.

Well today, I’m happy to report that the journey of training college has been nothing but a positive and rewarding experience for both Josh and I. God has continually amazed me by the ways in which He has provided for our every need since arriving in Winnipeg by putting people and resources in our path. As a result my faith has been strengthened by the knowledge that, in the words of one of my favourite choruses, He is able to do so much more than I could ever dream.

In particular, community living has turned out to be an excellent opportunity for Josh’s social skills to be developed as he has made real friends for the first time in his life with many of the cadet children with whom he spends significant time with. Josh has also gone from barely grunting at my fellow cadets when they greeted him in September 2008 to actually initiating conversations with many of them on a daily basis. I firmly believe that this unique environment has allowed development that may never have happened for Josh otherwise and I am so blessed that God’s hand has been at work even in his life as I followed God’s plan for our life.

Eighteen months ago I wrote that I was pleased to have arrived at the part of my life’s journey where I would get to spend a two year layover at CFOT filling my mind and heart with knowledge of God’s word. And here I am now, nearing the end of this part of the journey, Josh is now 11 years old and I am again looking forward to what God has in store for both of us in 2010.

So today, I quote again the same verse that I carried with me to CFOT – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) God has indeed, once again, proved Himself worthy of my trust since my son and I began what I thought would be a difficult transition. As it turns out, every change has brought blessing rather than challenge and I have no doubt that God will continue to go ahead of us as we look forward to finding out where the next phase of the journey will take us when I begin full-time ministry in six short months.

May God richly bless each of you in 2010.
Cadet Kristen Gray

Last Christmas season was quite different from past years. I enjoyed time with the Christmas kettle and packing and delivering hampers, and  Christmas hampers were quite new to me. I could see how the Salvation Army works in local community.

For this Christmas, I had a special experience. It was  about baking cookies. I baked Christmas cookies for two days during the winter assignment with my fellow cadets and together we delivered 150 bags of cookies to new neighbors near the Corps.  It was first time that I ever baked cookies in my lifetime. I never thought to bake cookies as ministry before simply because I didn’t know how to bake. When I heard the plan to bake cookies I was a little worried, but during the baking I enjoyed myself so much, and realized that it is not so hard to do it.

Sometimes I feel such a heavy burden on my shoulder for my future ministry, but God does not want me tobe burdened about future ministry.  He wants me enjoy to see how He works through me.  I learned this Christmas that loving God and loving neighbours is not so hard.  It is like baking cookies, I need to show interest for God and neighbors, and I need little more attention so I don’t burn cookies.  For winter assignment God eased a burden from my shoulders while teaching me to bake cookies.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

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.