Captain Jessenya Alicea is pastor of the Beacon Corps in New York, in the Greater New York Division.

Captain Jessenya Alicea

I love developing relationships and connections with those around me. Being able to show them the love of Jesus through our interactions brings me so much joy. I want people to know they are valued, worthy, and deserving of love. Having people trust me enough to confide in me is not something I take lightly. Being able to pray with or for someone and knowing when we go before the Lord that He not only hears, but cares, makes the moment even more powerful.

I had a not-so-positive first encounter early on in my ministry with someone in my congregation. There were a few weeks of tension, but I continued to pray about the situation and tried to offer kindness in passing. One day during the altar call the person came up to me and asked me to pray with them. The person apologized for the ugly encounter and mentioned the Lord had been speaking to them and trying to change their heart those past few weeks. In that moment, and in so many moments since, God confirmed that He heard my prayers. It was so beautiful to see the seeds I had been trying to plant begin to take root and grow.

One of the Scriptures I try to live by is 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all you do be done in love.” It’s a core principle that I, as a Christian, try to strive to live for daily. After all, Scripture tells us the greatest command is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second greatest is to love your neighbor as yourself. Christian living and serving all centers around love. It’s the foundation for building relationships and serving those around me. I am not perfect, but I see a lot of growth in that area.

We’re people too. We might not have the same exact struggles, but we have a lot we’re handling. Please do not lift us up on pedestals, but instead lift us up in prayer. Come alongside us in ministry. We all have a part to play and we’re all an integral part of God’s mission on earth.

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

—1 Timothy 5:17

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.