This month the Canada and Bermuda Territory welcomes 13 new captains of the Visionaries Session who will be commissioned on June 24 during the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Congress in St. John's. This historic congress marks the closure of the St. John's college, leaving a lasting legacy after 116 years of officer training in Newfoundland and Labrador. Remember them in prayer as they move out to minister in their first appointments.
Cadets Tony and Beverly Brushett
Children: Alex (13)
Home Corps: St. John's Temple, Nfld. & Lab. E Div
Appointed to: Green's Harbour, Nfld. & Lab. E Div
Ministry Aspirations (Tony): I hope I can make a difference to those who are in need. I aspire to be a good shepherd who can take people out of the valleys of their lives and help bring them to the mountaintop experience of knowing Christ.
Favourite Scripture: ' 'For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they bagan to celebrate' (Luke 15:24).
Ministry Aspirations (Beverly): My hope is in Christ to keep me faithful to my calling, enabling me to serve and share the good news of God's love and redemption. My ambition is to express the joy I have through my relationship with him and to be a transforming influence through my ministry.
Favourite Scripture: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine' (Isaiah 43:1b).
Cadets Robert and Laura Burrell
Children: Kourtney Bailey (married, living in Nova Scotia), Samantha (attending university in Nova Scotia), Brettney (17), Rebecca (15)
Home Corps: Bridgetown CC, N.S., Maritime Div
Appointed to: Executive director, Quinte Region CFS, Ont. E Div (Robert); associate officer, Belleville Citadel (with responsibility for Tweed), Ont. E Div (Laura)
Ministry Aspirations (Robert): Through God's strength and the Spirit's inspiration I hope to accomplish his perfect will for my life. I desire 100 percent of what he wants me to be, and believe that this can be accomplished through The Salvation Army wherever I am chosen to serve.
Favourite Scripture: 'And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them' (1 John 4:16).
Ministry Aspirations (Laura): I want to to show the love of Christ through my life and be able to make a difference in the lives of others. I am making myself available to God for his use, his plans and his purposes, and am willing to go where he sends me to do his work.
Favourite Scripture: 'I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service' (1 Timothy 1:12).
Cadets Ben and Isobel Lippers
Children: Crystal (attending university in Alberta)
Home Corps: Terrace, B.C. Div
Appointed to: Fort St. John CC, B.C. Div
Ministry Aspirations (Ben): I want to be a light for God's Kingdom, to be used to touch the hearts of the unchurched in a loving, comforting way. I will go wherever God sends me so that I can help those in need physically and spiritually.
Favourite Scripture: 'Each time he said, 'My gracious favour is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me' (2 Corinthians 12:9 LB).
Ministry Aspirations (Isobel): My hope is that others will see God's love through me and that I will be able to listen, encourage and support the people that God places in my path. I want to be a guiding influence in bringing people to Christ.
Favourite Scripture: 'I can do everything through him who gives me strength' (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
Cadet David Rideout
Home Corps: Seal Cove, Fortune Bay, Nfld. & Lab. W Div
Appointed to: Charlottetown, Nfld. & Lab. E Div
Ministry Aspirations: I pray that God will use me to extend his Kingdom. I want to be faithful to him in every aspect of my ministry, encouraging God's people and working until Jesus comes.
Favourite Scripture: 'Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus' (Philippians 1:6).
Cadets Rick and Jennifer Robins
Children: Thomas (12), Helena (8), Timothy (3)
Home Corps: Lloydminster, Alta. & Northern Ttys Div
Appointed to: Powell River, B.C. Div
Ministry Aspirations (Rick): My greatest hope is to fulfil God's call on my life and encourage others to live their lives for him, so that one day I will hear the Lord say to me, 'Well done, good and faithful servant."
Favourite Scripture: 'As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received' (Ephesians 4:1).
Ministry Aspirations (Jennifer): I want to share God's love with others through living, listening, and learning together, and by equipping and mobilizing God's people to serve the community. I want to inspire those in my community to know Christ by serving in pastoral care, multicultural, ecumenical and youth ministries.
Favourite Scripture: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight' (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Cadets Kristian and Lesley Simms
Home Corps: Triton, Nfld. & Lab. W Div
Appointed to: Glace Bay, N.S., Maritime Div
Ministry Aspirations (Kristian): God has called me to proclaim the gospel and if I can influence just one person along the way, it will be worth it all. I pray that I would be a true visionary in seeing the needs of those around me and that I will be all that God intends for me to be.
Favourite Scripture: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
Ministry Aspirations (Lesley): I pray that I would be an extension of Christ to a hurting world that needs his love and hope. I am open to wherever God wants me to be.
Favourite Scripture: ' 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' ' (Jeremiah 29:11).
Cadets Andrew and Stephanie Watkinson
Children: William (2)
Home Corps: Etobicoke Temple, Toronto, Ont. C Div
Appointed to: Stratford CC, Ont. GL Div
Ministry Aspirations (Andrew): I am happy to go wherever God needs me.
Favourite Scripture: ' 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' ' (Jeremiah 29:11).
Ministry Aspirations (Stephanie): My hope is to be a genuine Christian influence on those in my community. I will continue to lean on Christ for his support and guidance.
Favourite Scripture: 'I can do everything through him who gives me strength' (Philippians 3:14 NIV).
Unless stated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible, Today's New International Version (TNIV) ' 2001, 2005 International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.