JAC Online

Interview: Aaron White

Original Publication - JAC #46, December 2006 – January 2007

 

JAC interviewed soldiers from five territories regarding battle issues that we all face. We expect that most of you will learn much on what the problems and solutions are in this great salvation conflict. We esteem the interviewees as those fighting hard and committed to glorifying Jesus as they capture, train, and deploy on very different fronts.

 

JAC: Quick bio:

 

AW: Aaron White, along with his wife Cherie and their 4 kids, live and minister in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside, labeled North America’s poorest postal code. He serves as the Youth Cell Coordinator and co-CSM at Vancouver 614, and spends most of his time working with at-risk teens and children, visiting schools, writing cell outlines, and helping lead the 24-7 prayer movement in Canada. He loves Jesus, loves authentic Christian community, loves reading, and loves eggnog.

 

JAC: Tell us, about your salvation and sanctification.

 

AW: I was brought up in a Christian home, and made my first public commitment to Christ at a Cub camp at the age of six. My first act after “praying the prayer” was to ask my friend why he wasn’t doing it too. Might have set a pattern for my life.

 

In university I realized that I really only had my parent’s faith. This was not entirely a bad thing; my parents love me, and I trust them, so at the very least it gave me the tools with which to make an informed decision about faith. But I did have to know the reasons for my own belief, especially in the face of peer and Prof. pressure at the University of Victoria. After a great deal of intellectual, moral, and spiritual struggle I made a recommitment to Christ.

 

Though I had been brought up in The Salvation Army, the mission to the poor had never really been brought home to me. I had stood on Kettles and been thanked for “all the good work I do”, but I had really no clue what good work The Army was doing.

 

It was only when I got a summer job working at a men’s shelter and halfway house that I began to understand the mission of The Salvation Army.

 

It was during this time that I started trying to figure out holiness. I began reading a bunch of spiritual classics, and everyone seemed to be all on about holiness, like it was something important. Then I started reading about the early Army stuff, and again, holiness, holiness, holiness. They wouldn’t shut up about it.

 

So I started praying for holiness, primarily in terms of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. I remember reading a C.S. Lewis book late one night after I got married, and he was describing the love relationship that exists inside the Trinity. He suggested that at the end of it all Jesus wanted to present His bride to His Father, to show Him how beautiful she was, kind of as a gift. I put the book down and began to pray for that beauty, to pray that I could be a art of that precious gift between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At that moment, I lost control of my head.

 

I know it sounds weird, but my head started tilting backwards, until it was positioned back as far as it would go, and my face was pointed towards the ceiling. At the same time my mouth was opening up as wide as it would go. Not painful, but definitely odd.

 

I remained stuck in that pose for awhile, hoping that Cherie wouldn’t come out, because I looked ridiculous. Then it ended, and I regained control of my head. I thought, “Hmmmm. That was strange. Thanks God for that, whatever it was.”

 

I looked down and continued reading. The very next line I read was a quote from Psalm 81:10, which says, “Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it with blessings.”

 

It was a moment of incredible Holy Spirit intimacy, the promise of His goodness and righteousness in my life, and that has been a touchstone in my life ever since.

 

JAC: What engages your passions and energies these days.

 

AW: Authentic Christian community, and through that community, prayer, justice and mission. I work mostly with kids and teens, and my desire is for them to come to know Jesus and to build just, missional communities that impact their families, communities and schools. I love introducing kids and teens to the concept of justice as it is presented in Scripture, and then watching them catch hold of it and run with it. You can’t beat kids and teens for passion and idealism.

 

My passion and energy is also engaged by my family. I have a phenomenal wife, and four awesome kids whom I love to bits and pieces. They teach me more about God’s Kingdom every day.

 

JAC: What is your role with The Salvation Army?

 

AW:  My wife and I serve as CSMs for 614 Vancouver, and I am also responsible for kids and youth cells at the Corps. I work part time for Vancouver Family Services as well, and help teach at The War College. I am a soldier.

 

JAC: What is your mission/calling?

 

AW: To be a revolutionary for Jesus. To teach others, especially kids and teens, to be the same. And to build community in desperate places, right now (and for the long foreseeable future) in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. To be a good Dad and Husband.

 

JAC: How does The Army support your war-fighting?

 

AW: With oodles of cash! Or, slightly more realistically, with some financial support, with the freedom to try things, and with the support of leaders and workers who are prepared to throw it all away after Jesus. It is a pretty ideal missions environment.

 

JAC: How do you influence people?

 

AW: With passion, lifestyle, prayer, encouragement, presence, and large, blunt objects.

 

JAC: What are your dreams for the next several years?

 

AW: I dream of four schools in particular being turned upside down for Jesus. I dream of Oppenheimer Park (nicknamed Needle Park) becoming a place where children can come and safely play (it’s happening!) I see a community in which people aren’t just evicted from their homes. I dream of drug rehab that actually works because people have community to support them when they are out. I dream of a Salvation Army that takes on injustice and sin and isn’t afraid to get dirty or scandalous. I see me still living in the DTES with my family, but our community is a lot tighter, hopefully bigger, more abounding in love (every day) and I have decent left-handed lay-up shot in the low post.

 

JAC: What are the keys to successful warfare on your front and the larger salvation war?

 

AW: Holiness, Compassion, Prayer, and Presence.

 

JAC: How are you and your comrades strengthening The Salvation Army?

 

AW: I am personally bringing up four children who will know (and already do know) what Blood and Fire means. And I’m trying, along with my comrades, to teach it to all those whom I influence.

 

Teaching and mentoring at The War College is also key here. I believe it is a model for training and missions and leadership that actually works, is cost effective, is reproducible, and that people are drawn to.

 

JAC: What are some of the dangers we have to face in the coming  years? (and how?)

 

AW: Huge danger of apathy. Always. Do we have endurance in this fight? Will we last? Or will we get world-weary, bored, too busy looking for the next interesting shiny bauble? We have to keep it before us that we are in a fight, the enemy is real, and the fight matters for our world, for the people around us. We need to stay hungry, and desperate for God. We can’t stop praying.

 

JAC: What final exhortation have you for this audience?

 

AW: If you are finding Christianity to be boring, then you are probably doing it wrong. Live lives of Holy risk for the King, put it all on the line, every day. Follow Christ’s model of compassion, love and grace for the unlikely and hurting, but also do not forget that we are also called to be dangerous to the dark things of this world.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

your shopping is guaranteed safe using SSL

eStore account - Sign Up Now! Contact Us - General. Technical Support. Sales Jesus is amazing!  If you see this image tag you should know that He is THE way... not a way!  Grace!
Home Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sitemap Contact Us
copyright ARMYBARMY
armybarmy