Servant Leadership has been a buzzword that's been spoken of from time to time within The Salvation Army. I've witnessed it in many over the years. The divisional leaders who came to visit an officer family with a seriously ill child - one stayed behind at the house to stay with the other children - and the laundry was caught up by the time they left. Exchanging the tunic for an apron to flip pancakes at the corps breakfast. Cancelling Sunday plans so they could fill our pulpit as a firstborn decided to arrive on a Sunday morning.
Say what you want about social media, but I've observed so many glimpses of servants in ministry this past month. They've been everywhere - some were people who could have been home in front of the fire, but instead, they've served at the kettle, in the nursery, in the sorting, packing and distributing of gifts, in coming alongside just when the time was right. Local leaders have done the same, as have staff, volunteers, and so many in community after community.
There've been heavy burdens on Salvation Army leaders at all levels this year, but still, they've served. They've been the last ones out of the building, the first to offer a hand.
Woke? Some choose to use it as a bad word, but these servants of Jesus are truly woke - to the heartache of people, to the needs of those on the margins, and to the Son who comes, again and again.
Isaiah's words may have been written to Jerusalem centuries ago, but they ring true to those who serve today.
Arise, shine, for your light has broken through!
The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you.
2 See truly; look carefully—darkness blankets the earth;
people all over are cloaked in darkness.
But God will rise and shine on you;
the Eternal’s bright glory will shine on you, a light for all to see.
Thank you, faithful ones, for shining so purely.
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