We Are His Vessels

Captain Dustin Fitch, corps officer at the Columbus East Main Corps Community Center in Ohio, talks about his first EDS trip as a cadet, bonding with Salvationists over online video games, and difficult conversations he’s had with people in recovery.

I have great love for people in recovery, and doing Bible study at the Columbus Adult Rehabilitation Center is one of the biggest blessings of my ministries. Every time I walk in and see those gentlemen, I see my uncles, cousins, and all the loved ones in my family who have dealt with similar struggles. I can see that those men are in pain, and I know that they have families dealing with pain too. My own father had his issues with substance abuse and recovery, but I’m grateful that he found the Lord and got clean for five years before he passed away.

As a former police officer, I can come off a bit blunt or straightforward. But that raw authenticity is appreciated when I’m talking to a man who has overdosed six times, with the intention of taking his own life, yet is still here today. I tell him the truth: “The only justifiable reason you are alive today is because God has something planned for you. Even if you are done with yourself, He is not done with you. Our lives aren’t ours; they each belong to the Lord. When you realize that and put Christ first, then you’ll be ready to start your recovery.”

Officer life can sometimes feel like you’re alone on an island. That’s why I’m happy that I have hobbies that let me connect with others. I love playing video games like Madden and Rocket League online with officers, soldiers, and people who are thinking of joining The Salvation Army across the Eastern Territory and beyond. In Columbus, we also have a ministry of men who are into tabletop electric football. We design our sets, paint team players, and compete against each other. It’s important to show that as pastors, we can have fun and still be committed to our mission.

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, I was a cadet at the College for Officer Training. Even though I didn’t speak Spanish and wasn’t sure how I could be of help, I requested the opportunity to travel to the island with Emergency Disaster Services. At the first house I visited, I heard a woman call out to me from across the street. In minimal English, she said the resident of the house had just died from the storm. It took me some time to process that information emotionally, but that encounter still drives me to this day. Since then, I’ve answered the EDS call to Puerto Rico twice more, as well as to New Jersey, Florida, and various disasters here in Ohio. Like Isaiah in the Bible, I’m always ready to go where I am needed on behalf of the Lord.

In 2021, I lost my father, stepmother, grandfather, and uncle, all within less than six months. It left me questioning God about everything I was doing. I wasn’t even sure if any of this was for me anymore. The verse that carried me through this pain was the same one that I carried since I came to God at 12 years old—John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” All my value comes from Him. Alone, my best is not all that good. God Himself can do anything, but it requires all of us to show up. The Lord cannot work if we, His vessels, are not available to Him.

photo by Harry Acosta