This past Sunday, the homily given at the Salvation Army Harlem Corps. was given by Major Moore, a pastor from divisional headquarters. He shared that both he and his brother are Salvation Army officers, but their lives were very different leading up to this point.
Growing up, Major Moore feared breaking the rules. Something inside of him made him never want to wrong his parents in any way. In his own words, “I smoke once and drank once in the same week, which caused my mother to cry, and swore I would never do it again.” He held true to that promise.
Major Moore’s brother, on the other hand, chose a very different lifestyle. He got wrapped up in the party lifestyle that many college students do. He lived life on the wild side. Later in his life, however, he came into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and became an officer in the Salvation Army.
As he shared this story, Major Moore pointed out that his testimony feels inadequate sometimes.
His story isn’t exciting.
His story isn’t emotional.
His story isn’t gripping in any way.
But it is still his story. A story that shows the love, providence, and grace of Jesus Christ in someone’s life. His testimony still connects with hundreds of people as he leads several Salvation Army churches in their ministry! His story may not have glitz and glam, but it’s still filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
I’m wondering about you, the reader. As you’re sitting on your computer reading this blog, where are you at in life? Maybe you’re the parent of a student on this trip who’s back home working their normal 9-5 job. Maybe you’re on of our friends who was unable to go on the trip, and you’re currently sitting at home on the couch. Maybe you’re somebody who’s on another trip right now, and things aren’t going as you thought they would.
You may be looking at our week right now saying, “I wish I could be in New York with them right now! I want to be a part of that!”
YOU CAN!
You can be a part of the ministry that we’re doing here. Not by driving cross-country to physically be with us, but by extending our ministry wherever you’re at. All that we’re doing here is serving others with the love of Christ. You don’t need to be in New York for that! You can do that anywhere! You can show the love of Christ to others in every single place you’re at!
I firmly believe that God can use wherever you’re at in life for his glory. Whether that’s on a mission trip, sitting at your desk at work, or whatever it might be. God can use you, and He wants to use you! Open yourself up to Him now.
