Celebrating growth at Waverley Temple with multiple dedications and enrolments
BY CAPTAIN PAUL CHEN*
During the final two Sundays of September, Waverley Temple Corps celebrated two significant milestones in our faith community – the dedication of 10 children and the enrolment of 14 senior soldiers from our intercultural congregation.
These moments represent individual commitments to Christ and the collective journey of our community towards growth and transformation.
Our newly enrolled soldiers are Carol Cheung, Elva Qiu, Erik Hung, Jeff Liu, Jenny Hsieh, Joey Zhou, Peilin Chen, Philip Lian, Shelley Liew, Vivian Wang, YiLu Song, Yvonne Ding, Elsa Du and Derek Du.
They have begun a transformative path, motivated by a deepening relationship with Christ and a desire to serve. At Waverley Corps, this spiritual growth has been nurtured through various evangelical programs throughout the week, at weekends and during Sunday services.
Our ministries and intentional focus on intercultural engagement have been vital in supporting these new soldiers on their spiritual journeys, which have been influenced by two key elements.
Firstly, it is the unwavering faith of our corps members, who consistently live out their beliefs through acts of service. Evangelical programs such as Companion Club, Home League, Playgroup, Emergency Relief, the PLP (Positive Lifestyle Program) course, and Community Lunch have served as key touchpoints for many of our new soldiers – whether as volunteers, attendees or recipients of support.
The resilience, humility and servant-hearted nature of our members have deeply inspired these individuals, drawing them into the embrace of Salvationism. They have not only heard the message of salvation but have experienced its transformative power firsthand. As a result, they are now ready to actively join our faith community, living out the same examples of love and service that were extended to them.
Secondly, for those from Asian cultural backgrounds, the spiritual journey has been especially meaningful due to the strong emphasis on teaching and learning. Our new soldiers have connected deeply with the core values and spiritual significance of various Salvation Army traditions, such as the flag, the uniform, the brass band, timbrels, hymns, and appeals like the Red Shield, Christmas, and Self Denial.
At Waverley, we have taken a simple yet profound approach – consistently and authentically sharing God’s message as revealed in each season. In this current season, our focus has been on the territory’s rallying cry: Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed. We continue to explore how these teachings apply to our present context and circumstances, allowing them to deepen our understanding of the faith journey in real-time. These elements have nurtured their spiritual growth in ways that resonate with their cultural values and mindset.
As these new soldiers embark on this new chapter, our hopes for them are immense. We pray that they will continue to grow in wisdom and strength, remaining anchored in the love of Christ.
May their lives shine as beacons of hope and transformation, reaching out to those in need and embodying the very heart of The Salvation Army’s mission. Our goal is that by this time next year, we will see at least another seven, if not 14, new soldiers enrolled – a testament to the continued growth and vitality of our faith community.
*Captain Paul Chen is the Corps Officer at Waverley Temple Corps
