Pre-eminence in poetry – Adelaide soldier inspired by General’s message
BY LAUREN MARTIN
The General’s message on making Jesus pre-eminent in our lives sparked a spirit of creativity in newly enrolled Adelaide senior soldier Alison Fallaize.
The world leader of the Salvation Army, General Lyndon Buckingham, has been challenging Salvos across Australia to ask themselves this question: Where is Jesus in your life and ministry? Is he just present? Maybe a prominent figure? Or is he pre-eminent – the King and rightful leader of our lives?
Alison says she came home from the Adelaide Rally on Tuesday evening feeling excited and sat down in the presence of God with her Bible and journal. The Holy Spirit spoke to her, and she wrote this poem:
In shadows cast by doubt, we seek the light,
Yet oft we place the Lord upon a shelf,
To linger there, a figure out of sight,
While life unfolds, we centre on ourselves.
But let not God be merely present here,
Nor just a voice that whispers in the night,
His presence calls us forth, dispelling fear,
To make Him pre-eminent, our guiding light.
In Jesus-centred, hearts ignite anew,
The Spirit leads us forth with hope revealed,
In every breath, His love and grace imbue,
A tapestry of faith that is concealed.
So let us rise, His glory to proclaim,
In pre-eminence, we find our truest name.
Alison was enrolled as a soldier earlier this month after journeying with The Salvation Army at Marion Corps for the past eight years.
She says a miracle brought her to the corps. After losing someone close to her, she fell into a pit of anxiety. “I had to give up work and also couldn’t leave the house.”
Her mother was offered two volunteering opportunities – one with the Salvos at Marion and one with another charity. For no particular reason, her mum chose to volunteer at the Salvos. Alison would drop in to visit her from time to time and got to know the people there.
“Gradually, I became more confident about coming in as it was a safe place for me. I was asked one day if I wanted to volunteer and help bag up the bread for the community. I said yes. I started my volunteer role and began meeting people from the church who invited me to church on Sundays. I felt this push for me to go, so I did. Since then, I have never looked back,” she says.
She could now see God’s hand in drawing her mother to volunteer at Marion Corps.
“God knew I needed the help, and this was where I needed to be. We did the Alpha course, and I gave my life to Jesus on the Holy Spirit Weekend.”
Alison is one of hundreds of Salvationists who have gathered at rallies across Australia this week to mark the visit of the movement’s world leaders. There has been a celebration of what Jesus is doing in and through the movement and openness in people’s hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to lead the movement into what the General calls “a new chapter.”
NSW corps officer Lieutenant Cindy Roehrig couldn’t attend her divisional rally but received a copy of Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas’ new book, Our Rallying Cry. She said she was inspired by the stories in it, and in prayer, the Holy Spirit gave her this poem:
In quiet moments, Spirit leads,
Guiding us through our deepest needs,
With Jesus at the centre’s core, we find the strength to seek and soar.
Hope unfolds in every dawn,
With light that breaks where shadows hide.
In faith, our path becomes revealed,
And love’s pure truth is gently healed.
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