- It’s an adventure of discovery
- It provides ongoing transformation from “I” and “me” to “Him”
- It resources my spirit and strengthens my resolve
- It engages and stimulates my head (perspective) and my heart (passion)
- It guides my life and daily engagement and relationship with others
4 things that have influenced your spiritual development over the years:
- My father’s consistent, profound and active faith
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s short but powerful, obedient and well lived life in the midst of chaos and pain
- My bilingual and intercultural roots, upbringing and service which influences the synergistic confluence between practical and passionate
- Salvation Army officership with all its blessings and challenges, including the influencers that I’ve had the privilege of meeting on the way
3 things that keep your spiritual life on track:
- The Word in all of its expressions – written, spoken, meditation
- Historical and biographical literature of heroes of the faith; ie. Railton, Bonhoeffer, the Booths
- Prayer, fasting, and meditation in general and sometimes as I run
2 good news things you see happening in the Army right now:
- Mission emphasis that stimulates us internally and expresses itself externally – More People, More Like Jesus
- The ever-increasing multi-hued and multifaceted internationalism of The Salvation Army
1 final thing you would say to encourage someone else on their spiritual journey:
- We are invited by the Spirit of God to engage in the battle for truth. We’re not called to retreat and wait for the end of the world––for God to show up and straighten out this mess of a world we live in. We’re called to be salt and light. We’re called to infiltrate and penetrate every area of society with His compassion and truth, by serving the Lord faithfully, by shining the light of Jesus and living as citizens of Heaven while we love and serve the lost, the least, the last, the left out and left behind in this broken and dysfunctional world. The only way we can be in ‘spiritual shape’ to accomplish our divine destiny is by being actively and purposefully engaged in personal spiritual formation which leads to ongoing transformation into the image of Jesus. Go for it and never look back!
Commissioner Brad Bailey is the USA Central Territorial Commander and a soldier at the Oakbrook Terrace corps.