The Salvation Army Chatham

A further contribution from Major Andrea at  the International College for Officers

Major Andrea Still

Ode to the ICO – a response to a ‘Creative Day’ challenge during morning prayers

Explanatory notes:
The principal always addresses us as colleagues,
CSLD is the Centre for Spiritual life development, situated here at the college.
Servant leadership and ‘tasky’ people as a management style featured in some lectures.
There are large pictures of the Booths in the lecture room
Messing with our meaning was a phrase that stuck from the managing change lecture,
we were all given an uninflated football at the sports ministry day
Hooley-Dooley is Earle from Australia’s favourite phrase!
Called to be God’s people and Deep in the Word are course titles
We all meet for the General’s world wide prayer meeting on a Thursday morning
9 items refers to towels etc we need to take to the laundry once a week

‘Colleagues!’

We’ve met so many people during session 213
from IHQ and THQ to C for SLD.
Some are servant leaders, some tasky, others fun,
It’s all drama in the lecture room, as Bill and Cath look on.

The cry

‘You’re messing with my meaning’ is common, as we face
the complexities of finance, ethics, history, law and grace.
We’re encouraged to be sporty, though the footballs were all flat,
We’ll walk or jog instead, and play with cards or ping pong bats.

The weather meant the Field Trips were filled with lots of ‘may be’s,
Huddled in the rain, we wished that brollies could have babies.
From Wesley’s house to Nottingham, the sun must come out soon!
Walking in Booth’s footsteps in the Whitechapel Monsoon.

The preaching is so pow’rful, no theology is woolly,
We all shout ‘Hallelujah’, though from Earle it’s ‘Hooley Dooley’
We’re called to be God’s people and go deep into the Word
Satan’s out to spoil things so God’s Armour we should gird.

The General calls for fervent prayer, One Army, Message, Mission
Early on a Thursday morn, to all who’ll rise and listen.
Petition, thanks, confession, we can all make recompense
But miss one of your 9 items, that’s a sack-able offense.

With leaders, Ric and Janet we made this a house of prayer,
For justice, restoration, peace, our kids and healing power.
Urgent prayer is called for like we’ve never prayed before,
So we worshipped, fasted, sang, and prayed until our knees were sore.

We’ve learned new culture, food and dance, on nights when we went zonal,
Sampled Starbucks coffee and ice-creams from MacDonalds
The food is always tasty but I say without a lie,
The extra special days are when we have Banoffee Pie!

The time will come too quickly when we’re scattered once again,
May mem’ries of rich fellowship, help us new heights attain,
May Booth inspire our mission as our homeward way we wend
‘While there remains one sinner, I’ll fight, to the very end.’