New leader for the Yarmouth Salvation Army

 

The couple will be officially inducted into the church in a special service on Sunday 9^th August 2009 on Tollhouse Street, NR30 2SQ from 6pm. The Symons succeed Captain Nigel Byrne, who has been the local leader since June 2004.

 

 

This will be the Symons’ first appointment since graduating from The Salvation Army’s theological college this summer. They were recently ordained and commissioned as ministers of religion, officers in The Salvation Army.

 

 

The thirty-somethings testify to sensing a calling from God that was deep enough to wrest them from comfortable lives into full time Christian ministry.

 

 

Lieut. Rob, 33, says: “I was very happy at work as a training consultant in a bank, home, family and being part of The Salvation Army church in Oldham where I grew up. Gradually, after our 4-year-old daughter Naomi was born, something began to stir inside me. I felt there was more for me to do. I knew I had to serve the community and my sense of uneasiness didn’t settle until I applied for full time ministry.”

 

 

Burnley-born Lieut. Georgina, 30, sensed her destiny before her career as a district nurse even got started: “I had a deep inner feeling that I should be a minister while I was doing my A-Levels. My feeling was that I was far too young to take it seriously and forgot about it until about three years ago. I had run out of excuses! Rob and I decided that the time had come!”

 

 

The couple speak highly of Great Yarmouth having spent Easter in the area and getting to know their predecessor, Captain Nigel Byrne.  “Nigel has started some great work here and we are really excited to be coming to Great Yarmouth,” exclaims Lieut. Rob. “The Salvation Army is well respected here and we are looking forward to building on the links that have been made with all sections of the community.”

 

 

With a particular love for working with children and families, Lieut. Georgina expresses similar feelings: “Great Yarmouth will be our home so it will be wonderful to become an active part of the community, working within it in whatever form that may take.”

 

 

“I would like to express my thanks to the people of Great Yarmouth and beyond for their support and kindness during my time in charge,” says Captain Nigel Byrne, who has gone on to lead the Cwmbran Salvation Army church in South Wales. “I am sure the Symons will have a fantastic ministry and be a great success in Great Yarmouth.”

 

 

Lieutenants Georgina and Rob Symons will be appointed as Great Yarmouth Salvation Army’s new leaders on Tolhouse Street, NR30 2SQ on Sunday 9^th August 2009 from 6pm. All are welcome. For more information call 01493 858 069 or 844 229.