Laurie looking forward to Eastern Territory homecoming
Lieutenant-Colonel Laurie Robertson will take up his new appointment as AUE Program Secretary in February 2013. Photo: Shairon Paterson
mySalvos talks to Lieutenant-Colonel Laurie Robertson about his new appointment as Australia Eastern Territory Program Secretary.
Lieut-Colonel Robertson began his career as a journalist at the Barrier Daily Truth in Broken Hill. He was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in 1980, the same year that he married Simone.
They have served at five corps in the Australia Eastern Territory. Laurie’s other appointments have been South Queensland Divisional Corps Program Secretary, editor of The Musician, National Editor-in-Chief (Australia) Central and North Queensland Divisional Commander, International Communications Secretary, Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary.
My.Salvos: What is your reaction to your appointment as Australia Eastern Territory Program Secretary?
Laurie: Excited about the Kingdom growth possibilities and challenges as we connect with God and what he is doing within the territory as well as how he is using the territory to impact the world.
MS: What is one thing you are looking forward to about your new appointment?
LR: Looking forward to the wide variety of ministry opportunities and praying that we grasp every one with all our being.
MS: What are some of the challenges you envisage in your new appointment?
LR: Initially getting up to speed with all that is entailed. While I have kept broadly up to date on what is happening in the territory, I have only been here for one year of the past eight years. As I learn more, then I will become aware of specific challenges.
MS: What are some of the things you are looking forward to about coming home to Australia?
LR: Being able to spend time with family and friends, being part of an innovative territory that is focused on bringing people into God's Kingdom, and developing them in their faith and daily Christian living.
MS: As you are joining the Australia Eastern Territory leadership team, tell us, what type of leader are you?
LR: Various leadership surveys have tagged my leadership styles as inclusive, decisive, consultative, entrepreneurial, re-engineering, serving, strategic and by example. My Myers-Briggs profile is ENTP. The principles outlined in Leadership and the One Minute Manager have greatly influenced me. As officers, we have to be able to adapt our leadership to best suit different situations and the people we are serving. This can be difficult and we don't always get it right, however I pray my leadership gifts, skills and profile will positively add to the AUE leadership team.
MS: Is there a verse of Scripture that is guiding you through this time of transition?
LR: Philippians 1:6: “… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” and Jeremiah 29:11-14a: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”
- Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson will commence his appointment as Program Secretary in February 2013, taking over from Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas who has been appointed as Chief Secretary to the Papua New Guinea Territory.
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