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Soldier Interview - Nicole Brindle
Canada & Bermuda Territory
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: What engages your passions and energies these days.
NB: I am currently winning the world for Jesus starting in
Victoria. We are attempting this via a cell-based community.
Right now we are focusing on youth and at-risk youth. One of
my biggest passions is to see chains broken and people freed
from addiction. Another passion is seeing youth mobilised into
mission. A lot of the youth we are working with in Victoria,
are struggling with addiction, greater than I ever did- that’s
for sure. We are meeting kids who are at thirteen, fourteen
years old totally dependant on crystal meth, heroin, cocaine.
As Isaiah tells us it's when we start bringing justice into
the world is when we will be free, it's not till then that our
darkness will be turned to light. I believe that this is true
for the youth we are working with. So my passion is to see
youth mobilised into mission so that therefore chains of
addiction and depression will be broken. A few justice
initiatives we have going include raising money for children
suffering in undeveloped nations, serving food to the hungry,
bringing clothes to the poor, and volunteering our time at
local soup kitchens or drop-ins. I suppose this is my passion,
because it is what brought me out of addiction and into
freedom so I know it works. Another good chunk of my time is
investing into youth with discipleship.
JAC: What is your role with The Salvation Army?
NB: I am leading a joint outpost with two Army corps.
JAC: What is your mission/calling?
NB: I think it has something to do with Canada and with
redeeming and restoring things. I have some blood relation to
the first prime minister of Canada, which, I think might one
day give me some spiritual authority in this nation. I
remember praying one night and asking God what my "calling"
was. He spoke redemption, taking something that the enemy has
perverted, and restoring it back to righteousness. As far as
specifics, the only specific mission I know right now is to
love, love the unlovable. I once heard that kingdom fruit
people see in me is that I go for the underdog, the invisible
person - so maybe that’s my calling.
JAC: How does The Army support your war-fighting?
NB: Locally, The Army is very supportive. Officers and
soldiers in the city are constantly praying for us, providing
employment or material needs to us, and taking us under their
wings. Across the water in Vancouver BC, it’s the same. The
Officers, soldiers, and corps at 614 Vancouver are constantly
cheering us on. Without their encouragement, support, approval
or love we would not have what we need to continue in the
fight. Divisionally, we are supported too. DHQ has approved
our proposal to invade downtown Victoria and win it for Jesus.
JAC: How do you influence people?
NB: I guess by living a real life. I had a friend recently
tell me the reason she gave up drugs and started living for
God was because I didn’t give up on her. But actually I don’t
really know how I influence people, all I do is make friends
and love them.
JAC: What are your dreams for the next several years?
NB: I am here in Victoria for a few years- I know that much. I
hold a high respect for the prophetic destiny of places and
would love to see Victoria live out her calling of "Victory"
before I move on. And I dream of seeing Canada live out her
prophetic calling as a healing nation. It might be fun to
serve and fight in each provincial capitol city for a time.
JAC: What are the keys to successful warfare on your front and
the larger salvation war?
NB: On my front, not giving up. Keep fighting, keep praying,
keep investing; Walking in a humble and submissive spirit;
Imitating my leaders as they imitate Christ; And loving - a
sacrificial and extravagant love – after all love never fails.
Networking is key, too, getting involved in other local
expressions of the body of Christ and teaming up with them for
the same mission. And we can’t forget faith. Faith is key-
you’ve got to believe God is a faithful God who promises to
fight for us, who promises the victory. On the larger
salvation war, I reckon the same answers are the same.
JAC: How are you and your comrades strengthening The Salvation
Army?
NB: It depends on how we are defining "strengthening". We have
a ‘capture, train, deploy’ model we like to follow. The
capturing part defines strengthening as numbers. As a
cell-based community we aim to be in continual multiplication
of our cells this looks like starting a cell at 5 people,
always meeting new friends and inviting them to cell, growing
our cell and when we are at a steady 10 multiply it and do it
all over again. The training part defines strengthening as
ability. On my front in Victoria this most often looks like
discipleship, investing time into cell mates so they are
trained, or strengthened, as opposed to being an unskilled
fighter in the war. And the deploying part defines
strengthening as territory. Once these cellmates are trained
up, we send them out to a new front, thus strengthening The
Army’s territory.
JAC: What are some of the dangers we have to face in the
coming years? (and how?)
NB: Independence - we are becoming a people obsessed with
self-help. We are believing that we can do things on our own
with out help, thus closing our eyes to the need of community
and more importantly the need of Jesus.
Being too nice - We don't like confrontation. We don't like
offending others. "You have your opinion and I have mine;"
"You have your religion and I have mine". This is dangerous.
By not confronting sin we are then enabling the enemy to
continue his dominion.
Dishonoring parents - We are a generation who thinks the older
generations are lame and boring; That they "don't get us". We
deliberately disobey not only our physical parents but our
spiritual ones as well, creating a generation that is
premature.
Death - The enemy is stealing life from our friends and
neighbors. Suicide is becoming all too common. Drugs,
AIDS/other diseases, and obesity are all on a rise.
How do we face these coming dangers? By walking in the
opposite spirit. These are a few of the coming dangers- I am
sure there are many more. But in all circumstances - walk in
the opposite spirit. Take a prophetic stance today, eat an
apple in McDonald's, call your mother today and tell her you
love her, birth a righteous anger, or ask your neighbor to
borrow a hammer instead of buying a new one. Walk in the
opposite spirit.
JAC: What final exhortation have you for this audience?
NB: Love until it hurts. And then love some more.
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