Defenders of Justice Ordained and Commissioned
Atlanta Temple Corps echoed with offerings of praise as the Southern Territory’s music forces welcomed the Holy Spirit’s presence through selected songs of sacrificial worship on Sunday, June 2. Cadets, their families, Salvation Army officers, and all other attendees were invited to enter into a special time of worship, a time set aside to witness and celebrate the ordination and commissioning of the Defenders of Justice session of cadets.
Following musical selections such as “My All is on the Altar” and “All for Thee” presented by the Southern Staff Band (SSB) and “To Thy Cross I Come, Lord” and “Thou Art Holy” from the Southern Staff Songsters (SSS), Colonel Deborah Sedlar, chief secretary, asked all those present to remain in an attitude of prayer and solemnity for the first portion of the morning’s service.
The cadets of the Defenders of Justice then entered the chapel. Ushered in by a beautiful offering of William Himes’ “I Bring Thee All,” the cadets symbolically presented their lives as a living sacrifice to God.
Major Anthony Juliana, president and principal of the Evangeline Booth College (EBC), presented the cadets to all those present, asserting, “they will faithfully sustain and advance the purpose of God’s Salvation Army in the Southern Territory and give their all for Jesus as they walk like Him to love, serve, and disciple those with whom they come into contact.”
“They’ve sought the face of God. They have indeed determined that they would be defenders of God’s justice in today’s world of injustice.”
Together with the Territorial Arts Ministry (TAM) team, Cadets Michelle Cook and Michael Gutierrez visually presented testimonies of their ministry experiences. “Sometimes we get to see the results of justice and deliverance in the lives of people, and sometimes all we can do is continue to pray and hope for a brighter future for them,” Cadet Gutierrez shared. “But no matter if our people make progress or not, we continue to serve them all the same.”
As Cadet Criselda DeLeon powerfully claimed her covenant, each member of the Defenders of Justice approached the Mercy Seat, solemnly laying their signed covenants upon the altar. The group then recited the doctrines together as one.
Colonel Sedlar then addressed the group asking, “Do you promise by Christian example, holy living, boundless charity and adherence to the principles and disciplines of our movement to show yourselves faithful officers of The Salvation Army?” When the 12 replied in unison saying, “We do,” Colonel Sedlar declared them ready to be ordained as pastors and commissioned into active ministry as officers.
One by one (or by couple), the cadets entered and knelt at the altar. In this position of surrender, they received their ordination and commissioning from Commissioners Kelly and Donna Igleheart, territorial leaders, followed by a scripture of blessing.
Colonel Janice Riefer, personnel secretary, then prayed over the new lieutenants saying, “Lord, I’m reminded of the amazing things that you accomplished with 12 people. Father, here are our 12. We dedicate them to you. We lay them before you asking that you would bless them.”
As the newly commissioned lieutenants left the stage to receive their new officers’ trim, an offering was collected to help pay for the commissioning of officers in the territory of Angola.
With great fanfare, selected session flags from 1950 to 2023 were then paraded through the sanctuary, honoring the legacy and rich heritage of the officers of the Southern Territory. Then, accompanied by thunderous applause, the newest commissioned lieutenants of The Salvation Army, the Defenders of Justice, were welcomed back to the stage.
After a blessing from Commissioner Donna, representing the officers of the Southern Territory, and René Jarvis, representing the soldiers, Lt. Susan Garland rose to speak on behalf of the Defenders of Justice session. Emphasizing the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance, she quoted Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you say, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
She encouraged her session to think of those who have journeyed with them to this point and those they will walk alongside in their new appointments. “We can lead by example and bring others along with us… we will need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit and need to listen to the voice behind us that says, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
The newly commissioned lieutenants then sang a song together with the EBC officers and the SSS, confirming their calling with the words, “Covenanted in your love, we are called to serve as one.” Commissioner Kelly then addressed the new officers saying, “When you walk out those doors later today, we want that imagery to remain in your heart, because we are one. One Salvation Army. One mad group of people who love Jesus with all their hearts.”
Commissioner Kelly went on to speak of the cost behind the gift of salvation. “We cannot ignore the message of Christ’s suffering… to be a true disciple of Christ is free, but it comes with a cost.” Christ suffered and now invites us to share in His suffering. “It’s in the suffering that you really learn the beauty of Christ.”
“The Bible says that we are to follow Him intently,” he continued. We are called to reflect the example of Christ to the world, and we need to be disciples who are making disciples.
Commissioner Kelly then invited all in attendance to seek the Lord in prayer. “There’s freedom in following Christ. Our prayer today is that all of us here know freedom. It was a free gift – free to you, free to me – but it also comes with a price. He paid an ultimate price. Let’s not squander that.” The entire front half of the chapel was transformed into an altar as families and loved ones joined the new lieutenants to bless and consecrate them on the first step of their new journey.
After a beautiful time of prayer and worship led by transMission, Captain Jervonne Hinton, candidate’s secretary, called to the stage the approved candidates entering training in the Fall of 2024 as the Keepers of the Covenant session of cadets. Many more joined them as Captain Hinton encouraged those present to be faithful to whatever God’s call is upon their lives.
Lt. Colonel Mark Israel, program secretary, concluded the weekend of worship and celebration saying, “It’s been an incredible weekend. We would love to stay, but we can’t because the gospel says we’re to go into the world. We come together only to prepare ourselves to go into the world.”
“And now, it is with great excitement we send our newly commissioned lieutenants to their first appointments,” Lt. Colonel Israel announced. Underscored by the SSB’s rousing rendition of “I’ll Stand for Christ,” the new lieutenants were received by their divisional leaders. They followed their new divisional flags out of the sanctuary, taking the first steps on the next part of the journey of their walk with Jesus.