Where would The Salvation Army be without the support of local officers - lay people who take up positions such as elders of deacons in the church. Or even as bandsmen and songsters, worship team participants, Sunday School teachers. They have their own occupation to earn a living, but give voluntary service to the church. Some are undergraduates with lots of assignments to complete, burning the midnight oil.
On Monday the officers (pastors) many of them will be taking the day off to rest or to go sightseeing or do their own thing .I don't begrudge them. But these local officers cannot, for they have to start early Monday morning to go back to the office, the classroom, the factory, and fulfil another day's work. They work five or six days a week and give their evenings or weekends working in the church for free. They are not paid for work, but pay to work and many of them do so cheerfully. They do it unto the Lord.
While the officers can take a weekday or days to prepare sermons or Bible studies, prepare power points etc, the local officers have to do these things after work and work till the wee hours of the morning.
While the officers can charge bus fares (if they are thrifty) or take taxis in the name of convenience, they put through their expenses. Nothing wrong with that. But our local officers pay their own fares, use their own vehicles, pay their own parking fees and ERP charges. They contribute to the church without complaints at all.
God bless our local officers. I salute them and if any of our local officers, bandsmen, songsters, etc reading this, be assured there are people like me, salute you and call you blessed. We appreciate your contribution. Where would The Salvation Army be without these dedicated local officers and other lay workers?
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