Interview: Jennifer Burr
Original Publication - JAC#27, October - November 2003
Jennifer Burr, a soldier in Bangor Maine, USA, is currently
training and warring at The War College in Vancouver, Canada.
JAC: Tell us about your conversion…
JLB: The
way my life started out on July 30, 1985. I was born into The
Salvation Army with the best path laid out before me by God;
He had special plans for me.
Yet as I grew up I seemed to have a problem with
following this path because I wouldn’t allow myself to have
God to light my path.
I went along thinking that I could figure things out on
my own, just feeling my way around.
For years I went through the drill of waking up at
eight on Sunday mornings, singing, clapping, praying, and
trying not to fidget too much during the message.
Right up through eighth grade I was following this path
God made for me, but blindly and not really believing that
Jesus was my Saviour.
Then I hit
High School and what a different atmosphere that was!
In order to fit in you had to hang out with the “cool”
people, in order to hang out with the “cool” people you had to
be interested in the same things.
So I went along with this “cool” crowd taking up
drinking, smoking and an occasional pick me up pill (Ritalin,
Speed type pills).
By this point I had blindly walked off God’s path and
was stuck in complete darkness.
I was depressed a lot, sick most of the time, and never
really talked with my family.
All I wanted to do was be with friends, party hard, and
dig myself into a bigger hole.
I can honestly say that I was completely miserable but
Satan had me thinking that where I was in life was as good as
it gets. That
just proves what a liar Satan truly is.
When I
moved to Bangor, Maine from New Jersey things were still the
same. Same old
parties, just with different people that I liked to think were
my friends. I was
just getting into more and more trouble and bringing people
down with me. I
was in such a mess that it was affecting my family and true
Christian friends.
I was brought home by the police once and I was
constantly getting caught in lies.
I was slipping further and further into this hole I was
digging, and not really caring.
Finally my
parents sent me to this event called TAM (Territorial Arts
Ministry). I had
no clue what this TAM was or what I was going to be doing.
All I knew was that my parents were going to make me
go. Now I realize
that it was God who really wanted me to go and used my parents
to get that point across to me.
It just so happens that this week was the best week of
my life. Through
dancing, singing, messages, scripture, real friends and God’s
attractive Spirit I gave my life over to the Lord.
This was all in a simple little church service where
God was so very present to me and I knew that I had nowhere
else to go besides in his arms.
I realized that there is joy and God can provide that
for me! My life
was turned upside down in a good way and nothing could ever
wipe the smile off my face for the rest of that week.
That smile has seemed to keep up with me up until this
very point in my life.
I am soaking in all that the Lord has to give me and
praising him for the day He saved me from my self-dug pit.
My blindfold was removed by the hand of God and my path
is laid out before me brighter than ever!
The best thing yet is the Lord is by my side every step
of the way!
Praise the Lord!
JAC:
You’re a student in the first session of The War College.
What are your hopes and dreams for your year of
training?
JLB: The
War College has already been a life changing experience and it
has only been two and a half weeks.
It’s funny how when I first got to Vancouver I was just
thinking about myself and how I was going to make it, and why
I was actually doing this ministry.
The first night that I went to sleep in my bed that I
was going to be sleeping in for a year I cried out to God to
let me be confident and comfortable.
I knew that God wanted me to be in Vancouver and that I
wouldn’t be able to make it without him having complete
control. The next
morning I woke up and things were so different, I was seeing
things through the Kingdom perspective.
It was no longer about myself but about saving souls
for the Lord.
My hopes
for this year are that I listen to God clearly and gain wisdom
to share with others.
I know that God is going to stretch me and use me in
any way that He needs to and I am so excited to see the
outcome. I hope
to be able to draw so close to my Heavenly Father that I have
nothing else to share about but His love for others and His
word. I haven’t
been great at taking in the Word of God and throughout this
year I plan to have my nose dug into the Word and have verses
flowing out of my mouth all the time.
God’s Word has great power and I plan to put it to some
good use!
I have big
dreams for this year as well.
I always think about how just the handful of us
involved in the War College are going to go out in the
darkness where I once was and help pick people up out of the
dirt. I see that
God is going to move strongly in Vancouver and my dream is to
be a part of that.
I always dream of an extreme revival for Vancouver that
spreads all over and God is so extreme that people can’t help
but turn to him.
Forget the devil, God’s in control!
JAC: What
is Jesus doing in your life these days?
And what is He teaching you?
JLB: Jesus
is doing AMAZING things in my life these days.
Especially since I have been involved with The War
College. I know
that God has cool plans for the entire year but he has already
been so evident!
Jesus has been making some serious changes in my life that are
all for the best.
I have been learning how to hear His voice and the things that
I have been hearing are for other people as well as myself.
When I do listen and it is coming from God there is
power that is released.
At The War College we have had these prayer meetings
where I am so open to what the Lord is saying and what He
wants us to be doing.
At one of these prayer meetings the Lord asked me to
anoint my classmates.
God worked through that and touched some people to an
extent that I will never know- He was just using me as his
faithful vessel. How awesome the power of God is.
People were having glory fits, all because I was
willing to do whatever it was that God wanted to do with me!
To add on
to that, God is teaching me so many things along the way.
He has been teaching me how to be more and more humble,
how to listen, how to get along with other people of the body,
how to submit when needed, how to really read into the Bible
and overall how to become a Leader.
I am so excited to wake up every day for the simple
fact that God teaches me new things all the time.
I have learned to be slow to speak and quick to listen
to what He is sharing with me because God is constantly
talking, it is just a matter of tuning in to what he is giving
you.
JAC: What are your gifts and callings and dreams?
JLB: I
have had many people pray over me and receive things that God
is saying to share with me.
One of the main things that I have gotten is that I am
gifted to be a Leader for God’s Kingdom.
I have been checking out leaders in the Bible and
reading up on my stuff on how to bring out this gift.
Along the way with this process I have grown in my gift
and I hope to keep on taking it all in so that I can bring out
my gift even more.
How exciting it has already been.
I also
have found out from God that I am called to be among the
needy. My Dad had
prayed in 1996 that God would give him words about where his
children (meaning my brother and I) were going to be used for
expanding the Kingdom.
Way back then God showed him that I was to be helping
out with the needy, showing mercy and bringing these people to
salvation. Wow,
how cool is that that God can give someone a word for you
years before you need to hear it.
Now I am living in Vancouver among the needy and hoping
to save some souls.
I’m glad to know that I am right where God has wanted
me to be all along!
JAC: What books have impacted your life and warfare?
JLB: One
very important book that has impacted my life is the Bible.
I know people say that all the time but it is really
important for me to have that reading in my life.
I learn new things every day from the Bible and it
helps me out through life.
When the scriptures stick with me that is the best when
I can apply it to everyday life!
Two other
books that have really hit home with me were “The Purpose
Driven Life” and “The Hour of Prayer that Changes the World.”
I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who
is really digging deep into drawing nearer to God and making
some changes.
“The Purpose Driven Life” has shown me so many things that God
has in store for us and what things to be encouraged about,
also what to watch out for.
It is very scriptural based and explains things in
depth. “The Hour
of Prayer that Changes the World” is a book on how to pray.
Definitely a powerful learning book and teaches how to
make prayer a powerful thing.
JAC: Who influences you?
JLB: I
would definitely have to say that my parents are big
influences in my life.
They have taught me my ground basics of how to follow
the Lord. They
have been faithful officers in the Salvation Army and just by
their everyday actions and words of wisdom I am deeply
influenced. They
have taught me the right way to live and love.
Another person who influences me is Janet Munn.
She is also a Salvation Army officer and she has so
much in her that I look forward to the Lord teaching me.
She has so much zeal for the Lord and boy can she pray!
JAC: Tell us about an amazing spiritual experience you’ve had
in the last year…
JLB: The
amazing spiritual experience that sticks out in my mind is a
Healing Service that I was involved in at Camp Sebago in
Maine. The staff knew
ahead of time that this Healing Service was going to happen so
some of us prepared ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to
work. I fasted
that day and I had prayed so much asking God to use me in any
way He felt was needed at this meeting.
Finally the meeting began and it was amazing.
We started with worshiping the Lord and I was totally
into that because the Lord is worthy of our praise!
Then all of the sudden I got down on my knees and began
to shake. I
wasn’t really sure what was going on but I knew God was doing
something. As I
was shaking I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly that I didn’t
even want to move, and breathing was also a task.
Finally God wanted me to get up and share a word with
some people in the room.
It turns out after I shared this word He wanted me to
lay hands on them and pray for them.
So I was obedient, while still shaking like crazy, and
prayed. To this
day I am not sure what was being prayed over these people but
I know it was the Lord working through me!
That was the best night of my life (for now) and I
gladly welcome the Holy Spirit to take over at any point and
time!
JAC: What do you see God doing in your generation?
JLB: I
know God has huge plans for my generation.
He wants to raise up some extreme warriors that are
willing to fight and die for him.
My generation is to get out there and take back the
souls and territory that Satan has stolen.
I see God moving in powerful revivals and spreading.
There will be some scary times and things that other
people won’t want to accept, but as long as the Lord is in
control look out!
My generation is to keep strong and in keeping strong in Faith
God is going to move some HUGE mountains.
How exciting is that?
I know I am excited to be a part of something huge!
JAC: How do you see The Salvation Army moving to position
itself for what God is doing in your generation?
JLB: I
believe that it is going to get messy at times but God is
wanting to bring about some unusual things in order to rise
up. I see The
Salvation Army grounding itself on serious Revelation
scriptures and sharing them left and right.
The Salvation Army is going to have to be planted on
the rock and stand firm even when it gets to that messy point.
When these things get gruesome for non-believers The
Salvation Army is going to be positioned in a camp to pick
these people up and help them along their way to knowing the
Lord and putting their gifts to use!
I do believe that The Salvation Army is going to have a
big rising and be positioned in the most valuable places where
people need it.
This means war and The Salvation Army is standing on the Solid
Rock!
JAC:
Here’s an opportunity to convey a message to the whole world.
What have you to say to Salvationists in various
nations?
JLB: I
would have to relay the message to Salvationists all over to
put on the armour of God.
There are some wars ahead that Salvationists all over
will be a part of and we will need to be grounded with
scripture. Run
into things full force for God!
Like it says in Matthew 10:8;
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with
leprosy, and cast out demons.
Give as freely as you have received.”
Put this verse to use, make things happen!
As long as you have your ears and your heart open God
will lead you in the direction that He wants you to go.
Strive to make a difference for God because He is worth
it!
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