Date: Saturday 5 December 2020
Location: Online
Eva Burrows College invites all Salvationists and friends to participate in the 2020 Commissiong of the Messengers of Grace, by joining online on Saturday 5 December at 7pm (AEDT) where you can view the Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out of the Messengers of Grace in a premiere created by Salvo Studios to mark the occasion.
Premiere will be available on SalvosStudio YouTube Channel on Saturday 5 December 2020 at 7pm (AEDT)
Images from Left to Right Top Row; BJ Baillie, Bethany Baillie, Wayne Collyer, Graham Kennedy. Images from left to Right Bottom Row; Wei (Beth) Shao, Alison Templar, Sarah Walker.
View the Commissioning Brochure here to read the reflections of the Messengers of Grace.
Reflections on the 2020 Commissioning
“Who could ever have imagined that 2020 would be the year of the pandemic and that one of the repercussions of that would be a virtual commissioning?” said Captain Brenda Young (Leader, Officer Formation).
“The challenge for us has been to strip back, to refine, simplify and figure out what really matters. Naturally, we are sad at our inability to gather, but this year’s commissioning event is no less significant than any other year. As covenants are signed, and as people are commissioned and ordained as officers, the celebration is found in each person’s readiness and willingness to serve God as they participate in bringing and revealing the Kingdom of God to their communities. The Messengers of Grace are ready to live, love and fight and not even a pandemic could hold them back.”
Cadet Beth Shao reflected on the necessary change from a grand to a simple, virtual ceremony. She notes that there are some regrets, such as not being able to invite family and friends to be physically present and missing the opportunity for professional photos, to which she had been looking forward: “Nevertheless,” she said, “my focus has gone beyond the ceremony. Instead, I pay more attention to the future ministry I will carry out after commissioning.
“The commissioning marks the end of our two years’ training and the beginning of a new journey of serving God. The future is beckoning to me. I can’t wait to ‘press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:14).”
Cadet Wayne Collyer knew that entering Officer Formation in the early days of the new Australia Territory would make for a different college experience, but said he could not have imagined just how different it would be: “Who would have thought the first commissioning event in 10 years that I wouldn’t be able to ‘turn up to’ would be my own!
“COVID has brought with it the need to re-evaluate the way we do things: online worship services, Zoom church or Bible studies and now commissioning.” He cheekily commented that since he’s being commissioned on Zoom in the comfort of his home, “I may just be the first officer to be commissioned in my pyjama bottoms, but you’ll never know!”
We encourage you to take part in being a virtual cloud of witnesses, praying and cheering our newest Lieutenants. Our prayer is that they will embrace their sessional name and be worthy Messengers of Grace as they step into the ranks of commissioned officership.
