Back to the fight!

Jennifer and I have been experiencing that wonderful "F" word "Furlough" for the last 14 days. So today has seen lots of catching up, particularly on the email front.
Furlough aka holidays aka vacation has seen us catching up with family and a few friends.
One of the great activities we were able to attend was the Retirement Service of Majors Athol and Ursula Jackson. There were so many people we knew that were present to pay tribute to these good people's service as Salvation Army Officers, including Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs.
I was reminded and impressed by the memories of past appointments for these fine, hardworking officers. There were slides of people being involved in various activities at the variety of small and often difficult corps they led. Indeed many of these corps reached their peak under their leadership. I was reminded that there were no large or prestigious appointments amongst them. Immediately prior to retirement they had served as Chaplains to Retired Officers.
Serving and potential Salvation Army Officers have much to learn from Athol and Ursula about gaining the most from their people. Their ministry could be described as being about people. They worked with and alongside of people and people were touched by their ministry. They cultivated people and improved their corps appointments. People entered the Kingdom of God because of these hard working Overcomers.
"In the fight say does your heart grow weary?" are words from an old song. The answer must always be yes if we are putting our whole being into the fight. The people business is tiring. But Athol and Ursula remind us that we can through Christ, be more than overcomers.

Back to the fight! You've rested long enough!