‘Trust and Obey’

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When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

(John Henry Sammis)

187 delegates participate at Future Officers Fellowship Retreat

By Jay Koebel, Lt. – 

The lyrics to the traditional hymn “Trust and Obey” defined The Salvation Army Western Territory’s Future Officers Fellowship (FOF) Retreat Feb. 6-8 at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont with 187 delegates from all 10 divisions.

“It is a privilege to serve in the Western Territory, guiding and encouraging God’s people to follow his will,” said Major Bob Louangamath, territorial candidates’ secretary. “With the support from the field, 23 candidates have already been accepted with six more months to go. All glory to God as he leads his people to fully trust in his will for their lives.”

Emotions ran high for many delegates as they considered decisions that would shape their futures.

“Leading up to the weekend we were praying on a few decisions that we had to make—decisions that we knew others wouldn’t understand, but it wasn’t about other people; it was about our walk with the Lord,” said Dan Garrett of the Sierra del Mar Division’s El Cajon Corps, a preliminarily approved candidate. “At the opening meeting, Commissioner Knaggs asked, ‘Are you prepared to follow Jesus?’ With tears in our eyes, my wife, Taneya, and I walked up to the altar and left our decision there, at the foot of the cross, and that’s when we prayed together. Now we are prepared to follow Jesus.”

As the weekend progressed, the message of God’s spirit continued to unfold for the delegates. Each division’s candidates met for Bible studies based on the theme, “Trust and Obey.” Workshops covered a wide range of topics, including how to study the Bible, stewardship, holiness, cadet and officer life and the Army worldwide.

On Saturday night, “The Brain Show” entertained and challenged participants, testing memory skills and even dance moves with questions on the Bible, Salvationists and other topics.

The retreat concluded Sunday in a service that combined messages from the weekend.

“God spoke in that quiet, calm voice that pierces heart and soul,” said Lt. Ashley Koebel, associate divisional youth secretary for the Sierra del Mar Division. “It was moving to see as each person expressed the passion in their hearts to simply ‘trust and obey.’”