Meet the Officer – Captain Brad Whittle

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? 

Helen and I are currently serving as Corps Officers at Carindale Salvos in Brisbane. We love the diversity of ministries at the corps. Journeying in life with young and old; those new in faith and those with vast experience. There’s a real spectrum of demographic here. We love the opportunity to serve alongside a great team through seasons of change and transition.

2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? 

Yodelling, throat singing, ultra-cross fit and liturgical dance would be my mainstay pastimes bringing me and others untold joy … Nada! (no) ... [thankfully Brad was only joking!].

I love spending time with Helen and our daughter, Hedy. I enjoy relaxing with the latest Grisham, Connelly, Child, or Harper novels. Watching sport or binging a Netflix series. Replaying Seinfeld for the thousandth time. I really enjoy live concerts and musicals or watching comedians. Travelling and exploring new places. I do enjoy the natural feel good that exercising like running, biking, or squash engenders – to my chagrin, I just do it uber spasmodically these days. I’m more into chair yoga now minus the yoga!

3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? 

That’s tough. All time or now? I probably don’t have one all-time favourite, but one key song that comes to mind is ... And Can it Be (to the more recent tune). Why? Rich, inspiring lyric, compelling music. We sang it acapella as cadets in India and a host of times during key moments in our training, at Commissioning and since. It challenges and inspires whatever circumstance or season I’m in. I always feel the tangible sensation of God’s presence when worshipping with this song. 

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?

Any of the other disciples (aside from Luke, Matthew and John and Peter), whose accounts of Jesus were not included in the biblical record. Their life and journey with Jesus in ministry and life post resurrection, and ascension. 

5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? 

I would say pursue and embrace the adventure that is God’s will with all that you are. Officership for us is part of God’s dynamic call to follow Jesus and invite others to do the same. It’s servant leadership. It’s compelling. It’s challenging. It’s diverse. It’s dynamic. It’s revealing. It’s joyous. It’s a journey of discovery and faith. It’s an abject privilege. Would I recommend officership? Absolutely! I’d recommend following Jesus wherever he leads, whatever he calls you into.

*Interview by Lerisse Smith