The Salvation Army Benoni welcomes new majors
The new majors officially took their different posts in February.
The Salvation Army Benoni recently welcomed its new majors, Susan (fondly known as Mimmie) and Jonathan Payne.
Susan is the successor of majors Jeff and Margaret Stafford, and Jonathan takes care of the centre’s charity shop in Johannesburg.
The Staffords resigned from the Benoni organisation to take up a position in Kuwait as assistant regional commanders for the Middle East.
The new majors officially took up their duties in February.
“The Salvation Army is one of the biggest NGOs in the country. In Benoni we provide accommodation and meals for those less fortunate,” the couple said.
“We provide a hand-up, not a hand-out. Without the support of our generous donors, we would not be able to provide the services we do.
“Consequently, there would be more people sleeping on the streets. During winter, we provide soup and blankets to those on the streets.”
About Major Susan
What is your rank background in The Salvation Army?
“I was commissioned and ordained as a lieutenant in 1995, promoted to captain in 2000 and promoted to major in 2010.
How did you come to join The Salvation Army Benoni?
“As officers (pastors) of The Salvation Army, we are appointed by our head office to where they believe God wants to use us. In our case, it was to Benoni.”
Where did you grow up?
“I was born and grew up in Pietermaritzburg.”
What did you do professionally before The Salvation Army?
“I completed a computer secretarial course and worked for a firm of solicitors as a filing clerk and receptionist.”
What inspired you to join The Salvation Army?
“I was brought up by my grandmother in Pietermaritzburg and was introduced to The Salvation Army by my stepfather. While attending the Imbali Salvation Army, I felt God was calling me to full-time ministry, so I entered the training college in 1994 and was commissioned and ordained as a lieutenant in 1995.”
About Major Jonathan
How long have you been a major?
“I was ordained and commissioned as a captain in December 2005 and was promoted to major in December 2020.”
What are your responsibilities?
“I manage The Salvation Army’s charity shop in Johannesburg and am also responsible, along with someone else at our head office, for the implementation of a new financial accounting system, which will be happening soon. Susan and I live in Benoni, but I work at head office in central Johannesburg.”
Tell us about your life?
“I was born in Brighton, England, and spent the first 28 years of my life there. I attended Patcham Fawcett High School and then went to an IT college in Brighton. My parents attended The Salvation Army Church in Brighton and I grew up with The Salvation Army as my church.
“We first met in Vryheid, where Major Mimmie (then captain) was the corps officer, and I was there while in The Salvation Army’s Theological (training) College. We married in 2007 in Pietermaritzburg. Our children were all born in South Africa (Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth).”
Tell us about your professional life?
“I was a software developer for 18 years in the UK. I came to South Africa in 1998 with a group from The Salvation Army in Brighton. I was involved in a shooting incident in Soweto but still fell in love with South Africa. I returned in 1999 to work in Cape Town, writing software programmes for Sanlam.
“It was there I felt God calling me to full-time ministry in The Salvation Army. I entered The Salvation Army training college in 2004 and was commissioned and ordained in December 2005.”
The pair concluded that their long-term goal is to continue to serve as officers wherever God leads them.
“We would like to see The Salvation Army in Benoni as a vibrant group of Christians making their mark in their communities by serving God and their fellow man.
“It is also our goal to ensure the centre continues to provide for those less fortunate in our community,” they said.
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