Clarks reveal the twists and turns on the ‘long road’ to being commissioned
BY LERISSE SMITH
A road less travelled – guided by God’s amazing love.
This profound and inspiring message echoed through the testimonies of Lieutenants Karen and Tim Clark as they shared reflections on a road less travelled during their Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out service at Caloundra Corps on Sunday.
The Clarks, who have served as Caloundra Corps Officers for the past six years with the rank of auxiliary-lieutenants, were commissioned as lieutenants under the sessional name ‘Champions of the Mission’.
Their journey resonated deeply with family, friends and the church community, who gathered for the commissioning service to celebrate the momentous occasion with the couple along with their three sons.
“Our very strong calling has come a little later than most,” Tim reflected. “But it’s still just as strong and valid for us. It has been a very slow revelation of where God wants us to be. Nothing has happened quickly.”
The calling spanned a decade from the first inkling that God might want them to do something else other than Tim’s profession as a pharmacist and Karen’s career in teaching.
“There have been turns and bends in the road, which have led to here, and blind bends where I did not know what was around the corner,” Karen added. “I would not have imagined that this is where we would end up. But having said that, we both really love where we are and what we are doing.”
The celebratory commissioning occasion signified an exciting new chapter for the couple, who remarked that they felt “ridiculously loved and supported” by their community. The service was filled with uplifting messages, worship, multimedia presentations, and an impassioned plea from Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas for all to go out and preach the good news of Jesus.
“The Gospel is good news,” she emphasised. “There is nothing better than sharing our beautiful Jesus!”
Both Karen and Tim know firsthand the power of sharing the Gospel as they grew up in encouraging and supportive Salvation Army families. They have the deepest gratitude for the legacy of faith-filled homes, parents and grandparents who have played a huge part in their lives.
Their ministry at Caloundra Corps has been strongly supported by a great team of staff and volunteers. Together, they have seen how deeply impactful it can be to build relationships that offer hope and have dedicated themselves to walking alongside those in their community – from all walks of life.
Empowered by God, the couple added they long to see greater spiritual growth in the congregation and effective, accessible community engagement programs that show the love of Jesus. Caloundra aims to live out its vision statement: “No one should do life alone; there is hope and freedom in Jesus.”
Tapped on the shoulder Tim and Karen's pathway to Caloundra Corps began after spending 27 years being soldiers at North Brisbane Corps with their family. It was a great training field for their future journey. After being “tapped on the shoulder” for ministry, they committed to an initial three years. Their plan was to then go straight back into their professions.
However, they decided on another three years before making the pivotal decision to become commissioned officers through the guidance and the grace of God and saying yes to their next journey and chapter.
“We anticipate great times ahead,” Karen said. “We don’t know what the future holds for us as a family, for our family and our friends, for this corps, for this place – but we trust in God for that.”
Tim’s slow move towards God
During the commissioning service, Tim shared with the congregants the headline he had chosen for his testimony.
“I feel that throughout my whole life, God has constantly been calling me to him, slowly and surely,” he said.
“I think I’ve always felt his love and his presence. I remember quite strongly, as a seven-year-old, hearing the call of God in my life in a Salvation Army meeting where there was an appeal given (to give your life to Christ). I was at the back, and I slowly made my way forward. It wasn’t a bold move. It was one row and then another row, then another row. Fortunately, the appeal went on long enough so I could make it to the front. Someone prayed with me, and I had a real sense, as much as a seven-year-old could, to understand that God was calling me to himself.”
It marked the beginning of a lifelong discipleship journey – and one of discovery, too.
Tim remembers questioning his future at 17 years of age before becoming a pharmacist, a career that provided for his family but consumed much of his life. He recalls the tension at home about where he was and bringing work home with him.
However, a pivotal decision to not open his pharmacy on Sundays allowed Tim to reconnect with his faith and family.
Another life-changing moment came in 2010 when he attended a Christian Missionary Society summer school and heard a life-altering statement: “If you want to be used by God, you have to be prepared for when he wants to use you.”
Inspired by these words, he began studying at the Brisbane School of Theology and for the first time, the Scriptures opened up to him.
It was a major turning point in his life.
“The Holy Spirit just showed me that the story of Jesus is just so amazing, just so fulfilling, so wonderful, so deep, so wide,” he said.
“This was a new experience for me. Now, it didn’t change me to the point where I went outside and became a bold street preacher or anything like that, but it was one of those moments where I crept slowly, row by row, towards the front, with more study, offering myself to in ministry spaces at North Brisbane Salvos where we were soldiers.”
Teaching Religious Instruction in schools was also to become a significant moment: “When you’ve got to teach 100 Grade Four children week after week the stories of Jesus, it makes you really think what they are all about.”
Karen’s embedded faith Karen reflected on God’s faithfulness during the service and a childhood deeply steeped in faith.
“I was thinking this morning about the faithfulness of God, and how from the very beginning, God has been present and setting things in place,” she said.
“I don’t recall ever not knowing God. I don’t recall a time where I went, ‘Oh, wow, this is God’, because I think it was so taught to me and embedded in my family all my life. And I’m so grateful for that, then moving into my childhood and my teenage years and marrying this amazing man … the knowledge that God all my life has been faithful is so comforting and such an assurance.”
As they reflect on their time in Caloundra, the couple expressed deep appreciation for the community they have come to know and love.
“The highlight is just the people,” Karen said.
“Getting to meet people all over the place and really building those relationships from not just a hello, see you later, or I will give you something, but really investing into people’s lives so that that’s been the highlight for me over the last few years.”
Tim agreed, adding Caloundra was very mission and community-orientated and outward-looking.
As the couple steps into their new chapter, they are focused on continuing to serve their treasured community, loving people, and meeting their needs wherever possible – and they are excited about what God does in the future.
