JAC Online

Interview: Commissioner David Edwards

Original publication - JAC# 14, August - September 2001

JAC is pleased, in this issue, to feature an exclusive interview with the USA Western Territory Commander, Commissioner David Edwards.

JAC: Please tell us a little about your conversion.

DE: I started going to The Salvation Army about the age of seven or eight. I began attending Sunday School at the nearby corps when we went to live with the aunt of my mother. Like most of us who have grown up in The Salvation Army, I also went through the process of responding to Decision Sunday invitations, becoming a Junior Soldier, Senior Soldier, Corps Cadet, bandsman, Songster etc. I grew up a Christian, in a Christian home, under the influence of a good Christian woman. While I cannot speak about conversion in the same way that someone else can who may not have been exposed to such influences, I did come to a point where I recognised the need for a personal commitment to Christ and to the life of discipleship to which He calls. I was in my teens when I did that. It was following that act of commitment that I first became aware of God's call to ministry as an officer of The Salvation Army.

JAC: Please tell us a little about your sanctification.

DE: For me the experience of sanctification is part of a process. Looking back I believe that it began when I made that commitment as a teenager to Christ. It was then I remember asking forgiveness for sin and seeking the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit to keep me pure and free from sin. I would however point to a specific time in my relationship with God when there was a definite awareness of the Holy Spirit's complete infilling of my entire being. That time is closely associated with a crisis that I experienced during the early years of my Officership. That crisis was resolved with the recognition of the need for complete surrender of my will and my complete submission to God's will and direction for my life. This is an ongoing experience and requires a daily renewal of that commitment.

JAC: What are the greatest challenges of your current appointment?

DE: There are challenges that are quite specific to my current appointment. They are definitely different to anything else that I have experienced In previous appointments. The greatest challenge in this one however is just the same as the challenge that I have faced in other appointments and that is the challenge to live up to the leadership expectations of those you lead and of those to whom you are accountable. Without a daily reliance on God for His help and direction I seriously question whether anyone in leadership today would be able to survive such a challenge

JAC: What books have had the greatest impact on you over the years? Why?

DE: Much of the reading that I have done over the years have related to my own Spiritual growth and development of leadership skills. Off the top of my head I would list such books as "The Celebration of Discipline" and " Prayer" by Richard Foster, "Seven Habits of Highly effective people" by Stephen Covey. Of course I would put at the very top my love for the Scriptures. I have made the reading of the Scriptures a daily habit. I highly recommend it. No one could read the scriptures and remain the same. There is something new every morning to learn from a daily reading of the Word.

JAC: Who are your heroes? Why?

DE: I am not sure about this idea of Heroes and Hero worship. I like to speak of people whom I admire greatly or of persons who might have had some influence on my life. If by heroes you are referring to people I admire greatly I would mention: From The Salvation Army - William and Catherine Booth, my reason should be obvious. General Edward J. Higgins I admire him for his outstanding leadership skills. He displayed the highest level of personal integrity and tremendous courage during some of the most difficult times in Army History. Others not Salvation Army- Nelson Mandela here again I admire him for his courage and integrity. Dr. Billy Graham. Here again Integrity of Character figures highly in my admiration as well as his more that fifty years of Faithfulness to the preaching of the Gospel.

JAC: What is the most significant part of your ministry today?

DE: I have been fortunate over the years that I have been an officer to find myself in positions of Leadership. In that time I have come to regard the role, not the positions so much, in terms of ministry. The most significant part of one's ministry as leader has to do with the people God has entrusted to one's care. One 's success or failure as a leader will depend on how well one handles this sacred trust. It is my prayer that when the time comes for me to give an account before God's throne for my stewardship in this area that I would hear "well done."

JAC: What are your dreams and burdens for The Salvation Army?

DE: An Army that continues to be Mission-driven. An Army whose leaders at all levels continue to rely heavily on God for his help and support in accomplishing His will in the world. More people being won to Christ through the ministry of this Army around the world. More people offering for full time ministry as officers of the Salvation Army. An Army that continues to reach out with care and concern for all whom they serve in every community where we exist. In other words, I dream of an Army that will daily and with God's grace become more effective in what it does, because we know and believe that what we are is what God would have us be.

JAC: What is God teaching you these days?

DE: One is never quite sure of God's intentions. All that one can be sure of is that His intentions towards us are always for the best I know what it is I am learning these days and that is how to praise and thank God for everything, how not to be anxious for anything but by prayer and thanksgiving to make my requests known to God (Philippians 4:6)

JAC: Can you tell us of any memorable preaching you have heard, and what made it outstanding?

DE: Dr. Bernice King and General John Gowans during the International Memorial Congress. General John Gowans throughout this event and on every occasion that he spoke communicated both in word and Action what it was that He believed that God was calling on the "Army next" to be and do over the next millennium. Dr. Bernice King, like her late father, is obviously a gifted communicator. Her challenge to Salvationists to accept the anointing from the Lord to be his special people in the world was one to which Salvationists from all around the world responded in large numbers. It was by and large the largest response to Altar that we witnessed during the Congress.

JAC: What is your most memorable spiritual experience?

DE: Coming under the complete control of the Holy Spirit. This occurred at the end of a long period of rebelliousness in the early years of my officership. Briefly put I had to make up my mind whether or not I wanted to continue doing what God had called me to do and to be. I only recognized it for what it was - a spiritual problem, when I finally said "yes! This is it.". It was only then that I recognized that my rebellious behaviour was symptomatic of my refusal to completely surrender to the will of God. It was only after I said, "yes" that I realize then that I was surrendering to the complete control of the Holy Spirit. Suddenly everything fell into place I confess that I still have questions now and then. But I know for sure whose I am and who is in full control of my life and that is a good thing to know and a good feeling to have.

JAC: You are currently leading your territory through a visioning process. Please tell us a little about that, the purposes of the exercise, and some of the challenges inherent in it.

DE: Vision2000 and beyond... recapturing the vision and restoring the passion is the result of a grass root effort that sought to involve every officer and soldier of the territory in finding out God's vision of what he wants His Salvation Army. It took about two years to get done, during which time the Corps and other program units were asked to work at developing a statement that reflected the vision they had for their own community. This was later shared with the group, known as the Guiding Coalition, that was charged with the task of pulling together a statement that would reflect the Vision for the Territory. This approach presented some challenges in that it was different to what we are accustomed. The usual approach has been for those at the Top to determine the Vision without any input from those who are expected to make it come alive. It does require a shift in thinking for those who have been accustomed to Command and control to thinking in terms of facilitation. For some it is still a bit confusing, but for the most part people have taken ownership of the vision and are striving to make it come alive just where they are.

JAC: You have served in several countries and commands. How has this breadth of experienced affected you as a soldier?

DE: In addition to the Caribbean, my wife and I have been privileged to serve in the United States and on IHQ. London England. We have served as corps officers, in the social services, in various appointments on DHQ and THQ both in the Caribbean and in the USA. We have served on IHQ first as the Under secretary, then later as the International Secretary for the Americas and the Caribbean. We have seen the Army at its best,. We have seen it when things have been most difficult But there is still a lot more to see and experience. This experience has helped us to be much more open and accepting of other people and their cultures. We have an appreciation for the world needs of the Army. We are very adaptable and are content with what we have and who we are at any given point in time .It has been a good life, we have done some good things and met some wonderful people. I believe that we are better people because of this experience.

JAC: Soldiers in your home territory seems much more familiar with all the gifts of the Spirit in their warfare. How can soldiers from elsewhere learn from their experience to become more effective?

DE: I do not know that I fully agree with your observations about the soldiers in the Caribbean being much more familiar with all the gifts of the Spirit in their warfare. I think that some of us tend to be much more demonstrative in our approach to worship than others are inclined to be. It is possible too that living in less affluent circumstances does make a difference in your approach to matters of faith. But having lived and worked in other societies and cultures and having observed the soldiers elsewhere I believe that the soldiers elsewhere are just as familiar or just as effective . There has to be a deep burning desire after God and things of His Spirit. We must want to be like Jesus. Prayer and the study of God's Word must be at the heart of our relationship with God . That is true for Caribbean Soldiers as it is for Soldiers in the Western Territory of the USA. As it is for soldiers in the most remote parts of Canada.

JAC: What advice do you have for younger soldiers who are wanting to optimize their impact for Jesus?

DE: Turn your life completely over to Christ. Try and discover as early as you can what it is God wants you to do with your life and do it. Make yourself available for Service. If He calls you to full time service as officers of the Salvation Army Be positive in your response. The Salvation Army needs officers.