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Retirement Salute
by Captain
Nicola Poore
There are some people who leave such an imprint on your life
that you are forever changed because of their influence and
investment. The reality is, that a great deal of what people
appreciate about my character, leadership and ministry, is the
fruit of Janet and Richard’s investment in me over the years.
Please allow me the privilege of honouring you and your
ministry on this occasion of your retirement as Salvation Army
Officers.
I first met Janet in 2009 at a holiness conference for
creative types in Sydney (Brengle Create). Janet had flown
from London to be one of the guest speakers, and she led daily
sessions about Spiritual Disciplines. I was among the youngest
in attendance, and that week at Collaroy is an enduring
milestone in my life and spiritual formation journey.
Some 9 months later, The Salvation Army hosted a ‘World Youth
Convention’ in Sweden in July 2010. One thousand young Salvos
from around the world descended on Stockholm for teaching and
worship. Janet and Richard preached together at one of the
sessions. I mean, they literally preached together… they
shared the platform; giving space and honour to one another in
a kind of preaching ‘tag-team’ as their content and style
flowed seamlessly. It was beautiful and powerful. I had never
seen this kind of ministry partnership in marriage before.
It was also at the WYC in Sweden that I first surrendered to a
calling into full-time ministry as a Salvation Army Officer.
It was Janet who knelt with me and prayed the words of John
10:27 with me.
Fast
forward 4 years, and Janet & Richard moved to Sydney to take
up respective appointments in the Australia Eastern Territory.
No sooner had the appointment bulletin been sent, than I
reached out to Janet about journeying with me as my mentor. In
the ensuing months and years we would meet regularly to
discuss life and faith, leadership and discipleship. It was a
mixture of spiritual direction and coaching.
Those were sacred and transformative times; too sacred
to share. I’m so grateful, Janet.
It was in my second-year at Training College that Janet was
then appointed the Training Principal at SFOT. Thanks be to
God.
Richard and Janet – a few words for you.
Richard – your heart is stirred by a noble theme, “increase my
capacity to love.” May God answer your prayer. And may God
continue to anoint and strengthen your voice. You are a
bonafide wordsmith – with the ability to craft words with care
and with power, whether in spoken or written form. It’s a gift
that I hope you will continue to use.
Janet – I am yet to meet anybody quite like you. The
concentration of Christ in you has a gravitational pull that
draws others into his presence. It is rare and it is
beautiful. Thank you for living out your own words, and being
as “yielded to Jesus as you know how to be.”
And to you both -
Your
marriage and ministry partnership is ground-breaking. Together
you have broken virtually every mould there is and have set
new precedents, holy precedents, for egalitarian ministry
within The Salvation Army. In this way, you celebrate one
another, recognizing mutual giftedness in different ways, and
you release each other to function and flourish in ministry.
Your marriage is a blueprint, for which I and many others are
grateful.
Thank you, both. Thanks be to God.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Shared
with such a deep love and appreciation of you both.
🙏❤️
— with Richard Munn and Janet White Munn.
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