I like the song that says -

The unfailing love of the Lord never changes. His grace is sufficient for me every single day. On the days when I remember that - on the days when I am deliberately and tenaciously aware of these things - I am happy, satisfied, and effective. I am blessed.

The best sort of people are those who have learned the secret of keeping the main thing the main thing. I grew up going to the Army in Sault Ste. Marie. Some people might have said that I didn’t really have a lot. But I had parents who taught me to love the Lord. I had a bandmaster who taught me the value of discipline and instilled in me a great love for making music and listening to good music. I had a YPSM who showed me that people matter and that a life of ministry is not optional for Salvos. I had a Corps Cadet Guardian who taught me to love the Word of God. I had a DYS who convinced me that living for Jesus is all that really matters. And I had good friends who understood why all of this was important to me.

From these good people, and others like them, I learned that the most important thing is a relationship with Jesus. Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

This is a good heritage. It is true spiritual riches. I am blessed.

To be sure, these are lessons that I have practiced imperfectly. But, even so, these are lessons that have significantly shaped my life.

I have had plenty of opportunity to put these lessons to the test in the Army. Participation at things like youth councils, music camps (both divisional and territorial) and the annual Owen Sound Winterama were enormously influential. And later as a young Staff-Bandsman all the blessings of lessons well-learned were experienced again with a fascinating regularity.

And as an officer I have only found more of the same. Essentially it has all come down to three things: Jesus, songs, and people. The exquisite longings of the soul experienced at a youth councils: where did that come from? The Spirit of Jesus, surely. But the Spirit of Jesus was, without question, working somehow through the songs and the people. The heart-wrenching experience of hearing Songs of the Morning for the first time at “National” in 1969 was not merely a musical thing. It was the culmination of an intense involvement with Jesus, songs and people. The deep, deep satisfaction of proclaiming the gospel - of working hard to make the message clear and plain... surely this is all about Jesus. Of course. But for me it has also been about songs and people. For me there has never seemed to be one without the other… never Jesus without the songs and the people.

And if my love of Jesus, songs and people qualifies me to be the new Territorial Secretary for Music and Gospel Arts, the MAGA department should survive this transition.

I salute my predecessor, Len Ballantine, for his effective ministry in this role. By keeping the main thing the main thing, we at MAGA want to continue to serve the territory effectively. If there is anything we can do to help you - if there is anything we can do to resource your corps, your music section, or your ministry, please let us know. But we need your help. We need your friendship and encouragement. We need your songs and your expertise. We need your prayers. Why not write to us and tell us about your ideas? We encourage you to participate in the forum on this website. And we’d like you to submit articles, or ads for events at your corps.

Let’s help each other to concentrate on the things that really matter. And may Jesus be glorified in all we do.

Kevin Metcalf