Emily, United Kingdom

Lieutenant Emily was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer (minister) in July 2022 and she is the leader of a church in Norfolk. She is ‘blessed with a life of singleness’ and loves being out in nature where she can walk, pray and listen to God in his wonderful creation.

‘I’ve known what it feels like to be lost, to be crippled by loneliness and anxiety; to look for love and acceptance in wrong places. I’ve known confusion about my identity, grief, depression, and I know what it’s like to find ways to numb the pain that comes with a life separated from God. 

‘This all changed on one particularly difficult night when I questioned the point and purpose of living, and I heard the still small voice of God saying that he loves me, and he always has. Once I could process this, I asked what I could do in response; he simply said to tell people about who he is and what he has done. From that day on, this remains the anchor in all that I do. 

‘God is using the bad things I encountered for his good purpose so that others may see and be drawn closer to him. Through the hard knocks of life, I have got back on my feet and have continued to want to learn. I want to learn about God, about myself, about my purpose and place in this world. I want the courage to live my purpose out to the best of my ability and trust in God for the rest. 

‘I recently discovered that I have ADHD which explains so many of the challenges I experienced and poor choices I made, especially in my formative years. I have learned ways to manage this and now have grown to accept, even delight in the fact that my brain works a little differently to others, and that it is not a mistake. I have grown to love who God has made me to be as I continue to learn who that is.’