130 years serving the Hunter community
The ‘Hallelujah’ wind up at the 130th anniversary celebration service at Raymond Terrace corps over the weekend. (Photo supplied by Envoy Ron Petterson)
Nearly 100 people attended a joyous celebration service for the 130th anniversary of the Raymond Terrace corps on 17 November.
A celebration service was held on Sunday morning, with special guests Majors Bruce and Glenys Domrow and the Maitland Corps band. Emilia McKenzie was enrolled as a junior soldier on the day, and Rhonda McKenzie and Tom Lacey as adherents. The service ended with the singing of the founder’s song ‘O Boundless Salvation’, and a traditional Salvation Army hallelujah wind-up.
Raymond Terrace corps officers and Envoys Ron and Susan Petterson were excited to see new people and families come along on the day, and hope they will become regular attendees.
“We were blessed by the fact that everyone felt the presence of God,” says Envoy Ron Petterson. “We pray that people came with the view of not just celebrating God’s goodness over the years, but that they found God afresh, so that we can step into the future with God’s guidance.”
Following the service, a birthday party-style lunch was shared, complete with cake. The newest junior soldier, Emilia, and the corps oldest soldiers, Alan and Heather Markham, cut the celebratory cake.
The corps moved in to a new building in June, which they are leasing. “Over the years the corps has seen God provide for its needs, and we’re grateful for that,” says Envoy Ron Petterson.
Envoys Ron and Susan Petterson are very aware that the community they are ministering to suffers real disadvantages.
“People are probably more aware of their physical needs than their spiritual needs,” says Envoy Susan Petterson. “It’s a struggling community, but the people here are faithful. I think they really believe that God is going to do a new thing. It’s time for a new thing”.
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