Learning Together, Growing Together

(Photo/Dyana Van Campen)

Training to be a Salvation Army officer is challenging enough, but Cadet Delia Rojas also had her three children to think about as a single mother. She made it through with the help, support, and prayers of the College for Officer Training community.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” —Ephesians 4:16

Cadet Delia Rojas came to The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Suffern, New York, as a single mom with three children. While the journey hasn’t always been easy, she has found plenty of love and support that has her on the precipice of officership.

Along with a busy class schedule and ministry assignments, Delia has had to rise by 5:30 a.m. each day to have her kids, ages 17, 15, and 11, at the school bus stop an hour later. The job got harder whenever the kids were sick, but she soldiered on over the last two years thanks to the love and understanding of her classmates and staff at the CFOT.

“I learned to open up a little more and ask for help,” she said. “This is what I want to show to others, that I’m there for them. The love of God is going to give me the patience to help the people like me someday.”

When it comes to maintaining her private devotional life during such a hectic season, Delia said the CFOT staff was good about holding her accountable. She meets with God privately in the mornings but also often leads the family in devotions and spends alone time with God while her kids attend programming at The Salvation Army in nearby Spring Valley.

“The staff is good about reminding us what our calling is about,” she said. “We are reminded not to focus so much on grades but building a strong relationship with God. God provides the time. He knows what you need, and He gives it to you.

“The staff will say, ‘What is your mission?’ We can sometimes forget our mission and what we are really here for. When we pray together, I think that strengthens our hearts. It reminds me that we’re all walking on the same journey. This is what is preparing us to be officers in the future.”

They have her back

Delia, a native of Peru who came to the CFOT by way of the Port Richmond Corps and the Queens Temple Corps (both in New York City), said the training officers, faculty, and classmates have been a wealth of wisdom, guidance, patience, and love for her.

“God has used many people here,” she said. “My classmates have been a beautiful blessing in my life. Every time I have had any struggles as a single mom, they have been supportive and helped me with ministry assignments.

Cadet Delia Rojas (left) shakes hands with Training Principal Lt. Colonel James LaBossiere at the College for Officer Training in Suffern, New York. Looking on is Cadet Mario Dino Cedeno. (Photo/Dyana Van Campen)

“The friendship and the encouragement have been very powerful. We know, as Christians, that we are a family in Christ, but you really, really feel that in this community. They have been wonderful.”

The sense of family has been Delia’s favorite part of her CFOT journey. The cadets live in community at the seminary and support one another, celebrating life’s up and downs together and providing a support system as they train to become full-time Salvation Army officers.

“Being surrounded by so many people who love God and have the same calling, it’s been a great encouragement,” she said. “We learn together, we grow together, and we are one in God following His path.”

One overarching mission

The cadets also learn about other cultures. That comes not only from the intensive classroom training with cadets from other cultures but from field assignments at corps throughout the territory. They then share their experiences, learn from each other, and share the best ways to minister in a specific location.

Despite their cultural differences, Delia said the cadets are united for the same goal—to serve people and see them come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

“Knowing that we are united to serve Christ is beautiful,” she said. “I think that diversity comes from the heart of God,” she said. “His Kingdom includes so many people and backgrounds, and having that here has been such a wonderful experience.

Cadet Delia Rojas walks to class at the College for Officer Training in Suffern, New York. Her session of cadets will soon graduate and become full-fledged Salvation Army officers. (Photo/Dyana Van Campen)

“We learn to support one another as a team. Even though we are people who have different backgrounds, when it comes to the mission of God, we come together as one. The mission stays the same. The love of Christ remains the same. This preparation has been wonderful.”

The big day approaches

The Keepers of the Covenant cadets, including Delia, will learn their future appointments during a May 3 ceremony at the CFOT. It’s a dramatic time when the newly commissioned officers come forward and are told the location where they’ll be sent, which can be anywhere in the USA Eastern Territory, or even abroad.

Delia said her message to her new community—wherever it may be—is that she will serve with love and with no agenda.

“I come with a humble heart and a desire to live out my faith and be open to any need that the community may have,” she said. “I want to go with my heart open. Whatever need they have, I want to learn from them. Wherever God sends me or whatever He wants me to do, I will be more than happy to accept it and everyone who is there. I will serve faithfully wherever God sends me.”