My parents are ministers in the Salvation Army, and since 1991 they have been stationed in Upper Hutt (which is above Wellington at the base of the North Island — we live in the middle of the South Island). Dad has been teaching at the Salvation Army’s equivalent of a Bible College, getting people ready to be Salvation Army officers (ministers). And in the last five years, he’s been the University equivalent of the academic provost for the Salvation Army’s Bible College, responsible for some of the academic administration and regulatory tasks that an educational institution has to do here in New Zealand.

He has some changes coming up in his work life, and today was his last day of teaching. As he finished his last class, and stepped out to return to his office … he found a secret assembly of his colleagues waiting to acknowledge his teaching and his work …

I couldn’t be there … but this is my shout-out to say “I’m proud of you Dad. Well done!”