Meet the officer – Captain Ashley Biermann
1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?
From January 2024, I was co-appointed along with my wife, Rita, to Logan Salvation Army. It has been a challenging appointment with no corps, no volunteers just a building (in a derelict state) in the centre of Logan Central. It is out of this I have found both satisfaction and comfort in the wise words of Solomon: “…Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 127:1a). Building from the ground up a new faith community and new mission centre is challenging yet satisfying. It is an appointment that is continually leaving me to seek God and his purposes because unless he builds it, the labour is indeed in vain. Eyes fixed on Jesus.
2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?
I am an avid online gamer and enjoy nothing more than my current favourite game (Marvel Strike Force). It allows me to switch off from the demands of frontline mission and ministry. Other favoured pastimes that allow me to relax and unwind are our garden, walking with my wife, Rita, the movies, and I just love a great science fiction/fantasy book. Anthony Ryan, Brent Weeks and Tad Williams are among my favoured authors.
3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it?
Not trying to avoid the question, but being what Gary Thomas (author of Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God) would call an ‘Enthusiast’ is the way I connect best with God. I do find that if the song celebrates God or declaring the name of Jesus, it has my attention. Singing of God’s goodness, his mercy and his love is the best way to spend time.
Last year, one of my favourites was the ‘Goodness of God’ by Bethel Music. It reminds me of God’s love that leaves the 99 sheep and goes after the one. It reminds me of a God that is good and pursues us with his love. It reminds me of a God who gave his son for the whosoever.
So many more I could list. This year has had very little worship leading due to the nature of this appointment so most of my worship has been in the car. I am looking forward to 2025, as we begin our church/corps plant in Logan to again have a place where I can declare God’s goodness, mercy and love in song. Hallelujah!!
4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be, and what would you talk about?
The book of Job was the first book of the Bible I ever read. Such a strange choice. Suffering beyond measure yet vindicated and restored by God. I would love to speak to Job. The transforming power of suffering is one that the modern church seems to shy away from. Yet Jesus, Paul and James all mentioned that there would be trials and tribulations. I think I would love to hear in Job’s own words how he made his way through those days of suffering. To just listen to his take on traversing the storms of life still carrying his faith. That would be just the best chat over a coffee. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).
5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?
One cannot say it is an easy calling. Officership has experienced great challenges over the past six years with an international pandemic and a time of crisis in housing. Personally, a local flood event provided a great challenge. Yet, in all this challenge, I see an Army that is moving away from identity and form. There is a renovation that has a strong sense of Holy Spirit leadership and eyes focused on Jesus. There are the buds of new hope in contrast to a world that struggles to provide hope. Officership is a transforming journey of discipleship with Jesus. Keep the eyes fixed on the author of our faith, and one never knows where you will be ministering in his name. What would I say? Keep listening to the Spirit and walk where he invites.
*Interview by Lerisse Smith
