Carolyn’s new appointment sees her back in familiar territory
Envoy Carolyn O'Brien will undertake inner-city chaplaincy work in her new role at Sydney Congress Hall. (Photo: Lauren Martin)
Envoy Carolyn O’Brien sees her new appointment, as Assistant Corps Officer at Sydney Congress Hall, as something of a homecoming.
Having spent the past six years as Corps Officer at Hornsby Gateway Corps, Carolyn is returning to the place where, with her family, she had previously worshipped for more than 30 years.
Her new role will include chaplaincy care to some of The Salvation Army’s inner-Sydney services such as Samaritan House and William Booth House.
“I see my role as introducing people to Jesus really, helping them into a relationship with him and then if they need somewhere to worship, linking them into the corps,” she says. “It’s very exciting.”
Reflecting on her time at Hornsby, Carolyn identifies building relationships with the community and corps members, as a highlight. “We’ve got good relationships in the community with different groups like Rotary and Apex, and the Scouts,” she says.
However, most exciting has been seeing God at work.
“Seeing Jesus work in the lives of people who previously hadn’t had anything much to do with the churches and [seeing] people who come in from the community needing help in some situation and then starting to attend the corps and coming into a relationship with Jesus has been the biggest highlight,” says Carolyn.
Majors David and Kim Hawke, who have been serving in Zimbabwe, have returned to Australia as the new Corps Officers at Hornsby.
The Hawkes have served in various roles in Zimbabwe including social centre appointments and at Territorial Headquarters. Kim has been in Zimbabwe since July 2005 and, after they were married in 2009, was joined by David.
David says they share a passion for ministry with children and young people.
“A highlight of overseas service has been seeing incredible change in the lives of vulnerable young people through love, care and the message of Jesus,” he says.
Comments
what about all that creative artistic talent just oozing out of your veins.guess you will have to with Gods help pour it into a different type of ministry.?
i will pray for you and your work...