by Captain Blake Fewell
If you stand with your nose pressed against a mural, your view is limited to a small section of the whole. The colors and brushstrokes may be vivid, but without stepping back, you can’t fully appreciate how each part fits into the grand design. In many ways, this is how we often see our work and ministry—through the lens of our immediate surroundings. However, stepping back provides a broader and richer perspective. Serving as an officer at International Headquarters has given me that opportunity, allowing me to witness the worldwide impact of The Salvation Army.
Since last September, I have been privileged to serve as the assistant under secretary for the Americas and Caribbean Zone. While my role focuses on a specific set of administrative responsibilities within the zone, my interactions with officers from around the world have widened my perspective. Seeing how The Salvation Army operates at a zonal and global level has reinforced the truth that we are part of a much larger mission.
One of my favorite ways to gain this global perspective is through the delegates of the International College for Officers (ICO). This six-week session, held at Sunbury Court in London, is a transformational experience for officers. It provides leadership development, spiritual growth and an opportunity to build relationships with fellow officers from diverse backgrounds.
My responsibility is to support delegates from the Americas and Caribbean Zone through the approval stages and the logistics of traveling to and from London. The interactions I have had with them and other delegates from around the world have shown me the great collage of culture and Christian expressions within the global Salvation Army. The stories and experiences of ICO delegates remind me that Christian ministry is not isolated; it is part of a much greater mission.
The global perspective is also strengthened through territorial and international leadership. Last October, territorial leaders from the Americas and Caribbean Zone convened in Dallas, Texas, for a Zonal Conference with The General and the zonal team. This was a time of vision casting, collaboration and encouragement as leaders from across the zone considered the future of ministry in their context.
ICO Zonal Day
A significant moment in the conference was when some of us recognized the USA Central Territory’s lasting impact on the Americas and Caribbean Zone and the international Salvation Army. Several officers at the conference were connected to the USA Central Territory in one way or another; some are in territorial leadership, others have family who are cadets or officers in the Central Territory, and a few even did their training at the CFOT. These global connections are a reminder and testament to the continued investment of the USA Central Territory in developing strong officer leadership with a global perspective and for the global mission.
Stepping back to see the bigger picture is both humbling and inspiring. It reminds us that no matter where we serve or what we do, we are connected in mission, united in purpose and privileged to be part of God’s unfolding story through The Salvation Army.
