In one or two paragraphs, please describe your calling to officership.

My calling to officership began at Camp NEOSA when I was just seven years old. I wasn’t raised in the church, but The Salvation Army became the first place where I felt truly safe and loved. Over ten summers at camp, I experienced transformation emotionally, spiritually, and as a leader. Through the staff, I saw what it looked like to serve with humility and preach the gospel with boldness. I knew God was calling me to do the same.

Officership is not something I entered into lightly. Coming from a background shaped by generational struggle, poverty, and brokenness, I recognize that my story is part of God’s redemptive plan. I didn’t choose this path to escape where I came from, I chose it to go back and minister to those still in it. God made it clear: this calling wasn’t just for me, it’s for the ones coming after me.

How has your time at the College for Officer Training (CFOT) been transformative?

The College for Officer Training has stretched and refined me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s one thing to feel called; it’s another to be trained, tested, and held accountable to that calling. The structured spiritual disciplines – daily devotions, corporate worship, and service have deepened my relationship with Christ. The community has shaped me, and the classroom and field have equipped me to be a better officer and a more compassionate servant.

I’ve also had to confront parts of myself – past wounds, pride, insecurity – and surrender them to Christ. That kind of soul work is hard, but it’s necessary. CFOT has helped shape me into a leader who can minister from a place of authenticity and strength in the Spirit.

What was your favorite part of being a cadet?

My favorite part was being on the frontlines with people visiting with teens, leading youth nights, serving in community ministries, and getting to show up in real, vulnerable ways. The classroom has its place, but ministry outside the walls is where I come alive. I’ve also loved growing deeper relationships with my session mates. We’ve cried, laughed, prayed, and worked together we’re not just classmates; we’re family in Christ.

What does being a “Champion of the Mission” mean to you?

To be a Champion of the Mission means being faithful to Christ’s call no matter the cost. It means choosing obedience over comfort, servanthood over status, and truth over popularity. It’s about showing up for people who feel forgotten and reminding them that God sees them, hears them, and is still in the business of transformation. Champions don’t just wear uniforms; they carry the cross with humility.

What are you most looking forward to doing or experiencing in your first appointment?

I’m looking forward to building authentic relationships in the community and creating a space where people feel known and loved. I want to empower others, especially young people, to see that they have value, gifts, and a purpose in Christ. I’m excited to preach, lead, and just listen because sometimes the most powerful ministry happens when you simply show up and stay present.

What advice or encouragement would you give to someone who feels called to be an officer but hasn’t answered the call yet?

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” God doesn’t call the qualified – He qualifies the called. If He placed the call in your spirit, trust that He’ll walk with you through the process. It’s okay to wrestle, to question, to take your time but don’t run from it. Lean into the discomfort. There’s purpose there. And know this: your story, with all its flaws and chapters, is part of what makes you powerful in the hands of God.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse to share with readers? What makes it meaningful to you?

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV) is my life passage: “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives…” That’s not just Scripture – it’s my mission. I’ve lived it. And now I get to be a vessel of that same hope for others.

What person from Salvation Army history is inspiring to you? Or what current Salvation Army leader is inspiring to you? Why?

I’m deeply inspired by Commissioner Israel Gaither. As an African-American rising through the ranks of The Salvation Army at a time when leadership didn’t always reflect diversity, he walked with boldness, excellence, and faith. He paved the way for people like me to see ourselves in leadership. His legacy reminds me that representation matters, and that we must always lead with both courage and compassion.

How can anyone – any average reader of The War Cry – be a champion of God’s mission wherever they are?

Start where you are. You don’t need a title or a platform to be used by God. Love your neighbors, serve your community, pray with boldness, and speak truth with grace. The mission is all around us – in the grocery store, in our workplaces, on the street. Every act of love in Jesus’ name pushes back the darkness. That’s what makes you a champion.