Major Martha Bone is a Salvation Army pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the Southwest Ohio and Northeast Kentucky Division.

Major Martha Bone

When entering the College for Officer Training in 1993, I had no question that God was calling me to minister to the poor and marginalized. In hindsight, I know now that I had only a clue what that meant. James 1:27 (TPT) puts it this way, “True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values.”

Both the Old and New Testament call Christians to lives of love, compassion, and justice. I have always been utterly and passionately in love with Jesus and have always longed to be more like him … to love as He loves, to have compassion for the people and causes that break His heart, and to fight for justice in Christlike ways.

God has offered me amazing ministry opportunities through The Salvation Army to serve the elderly, young adults, teens, and children. Through the ministries of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers, camp, and corps, the settings have been different, but meeting needs in Christ’s name and preaching the gospel without discrimination has been the calling on, and joy of, my life.

Moving has not always been easy.  Life’s circumstances have often been hard, even heartbreaking. But God, my Father, has always been faithful. As pastors, there are long and difficult days — sometimes long and difficult periods of ministry. But I can testify that our God provides strength in our weakness. He provides friendship in our loneliness. He provides wisdom in our questioning.

Our God is faithful! And He calls me to be faithful in serving Him! John 3:30 (NLT) says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

—2 Timothy 2:15

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we’d like to thank our Salvation Army officers — pastors — for their faith, their dedication, and the hard work they do for their communities and the Lord.