"Which of you will step forward?"

excerpts from http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/37A9A34F589276E5802573710030DD20?opendocument

The martial tones of the opening song – not normally associated with a funeral – were a powerful message to those gathered to honour the memory of an officer who had given most of his service in countries far from home: ‘See, the fields are white unto harvest,' the congregation sang. 'The Lord of mission is waiting for those who will go, risking their own lives ... who will take the gospel of Jesus where God leads. God give us grace to fight with passion and love for the Kingdom, for Jesus, until death.’ As in 1987, when Captains Bo and Birgitte Brekke were dedicated for service in South Asia, the challenging chorus resounded four times: ‘Join the ranks! Join the fight! Today when Jesus calls you, say yes and go!'

‘We see the Army at its best at moments like these,' the General added. ‘There has been an upsurge of prayerfulness following the untimely and violent death of an officer who showed courage, vision, compassion, strength and mercy, who was clear-headed and tender-hearted, ready for self-sacrifice. Colonel Bo Brekke is now listed among Salvation Army martyrs, and will hear his Master say: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome home.”’

He continued: ‘I have one more question. There is now a gap in the ranks of soldiers, officers and senior leaders. The Army is hurting. Which of you will step forward, ready to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice: “You must stand in the gap”? Out of evil, ugliness, sin and cruelty it is God’s nature to bring something of surpassing beauty that today we cannot see. Unmatched beauty will come from all of this. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.’

At Vestre Cemetery, with the sun shining gloriously on the autumn leaves and flowers, the funeral cortege of several hundred people, headed by the band, processed to The Salvation Army’s officer burial ground. Looking round at the many officer-graves, the General reminded all of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ surrounding them. Turning to God’s Word again, he quoted Isaiah 25: ‘He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.’