Well done, good and faithful servants
The Bible verse “Well done, good and faithful servant” appears in Matthew 25:23. In this verse, a master praises his servant for being faithful with a small amount of money, and then gives the servant more responsibility.
The verse reads, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
I have always liked this verse. As an officer I held it close to my heart when things were tough. I imagined through every tough time and times of trials the Lord saying this. It gave me strength to go on another day.
As I set here at my desk today, still in tears, as I saw this in action. I have watched a pair of officers that I love and follow with my whole heart get recognized with a standing ovation at the Salvation Army’s annual dinner.
Let me put this in prospective for you. Majors Larry and Julie Feist have been my corps officers here in Kalispell. In the past three or four years they have gone way above the call of duty. They have stepped up and kept things going despite a shortage of staff. Past officers have had a business manager, an administrative assistant, a youth pastor, a janitor and a full-time cook. Over the past few years, we have lost most of those positions at one point or another, yet the day-to-day operations have continued to function.
How, you might ask? Through long hours and ceaseless devotion from the majors.
Being a former officer, I saw my friends struggling and started volunteering and praying. Having medical issues, I could only give five to 10 hours a week. What I could do is pray, encourage, and be there to listen and comfort when things got hard and hours got really long.
As time went by, they just kept their heads down and they just kept working. Employees kept coming and going, and they kept shifting and filling positions, and doing the many things an officer is required to do in their normal everyday ministerial and administrative duties. Their calling to be servants of our Lord and Savior kept them moving forward.
They received very little recognition for all the hard work and personal sacrifices they made.
Well on May 14, Lt. Col. Colleen Riley gave them recognition for all their commitment and hard work at our annual dinner. Her words were met with a standing ovation by territorial and divisional leaders as well as community leaders, volunteers and staff. Tears still well up in my eyes as I write this. I only wish I would have taken a picture of the standing ovation, but I was too caught up in the moment of joy for my dear friends, officers and leaders.
They were lifted in prayer, and I swear you could see the tiredness and weary faces become rested and glowing with energy and revitalization.
The point of this letter is two-fold.
1. To say thanks to our Territorial Leaders Cols. Doug and Colleen Riley as well as our Divisional Leader Lt. Cols. Cindy and Tim Foley for recognizing the Feists’ hard work.
2. Most importantly to remind those who attend Salvation Army Corps or serve in some way to help your local Salvation Army that there is a lot going on behind the scenes and a lot of work and countless hours being put in by your Corps officers. Please pray for them daily and thank them often. Tell them, “Well done good and faithful servants!”
May God bless all of our good and faithful servants of The Salvation Army, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers alike.
Monte Jones of the Salvation Army Kalispell Corps.