Covenant Sunday 2025: A conversation with the Territorial Leaders

Territorial Leaders Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main talk to Major Jo Moir (THQ) about Covenant Sunday.

Jo I’m joined today by our territorial leaders, Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main. Thank you so much for being with me today to talk a little bit about Covenant Sunday. What is it and why is it so important? 

Paul Well, it’s become part of our new year focus, which often gives us the opportunity to think about our own lives, but in the Covenant Sunday, we think about our relationship with God, the promises that we’ve made, our commitment to him. So it’s an opportunity to stop and reflect and also to make plans for going forward. 

Jenine Also, it’s almost like an opportunity at the beginning of the year to make spiritual resolutions. I don’t want to minimise it, but, you know, it could be that opportunity to think: ‘How am I going to approach this year with the promises that I’ve made to God? How am I going to renew those?’ 

Jo Jenine, the theme this year is Step Up, Stand out. Can you unpack that a little bit for me? 

Jenine Well, we really want people to really step up in their discipleship, to make it a priority in their lives. For all of us, it’s essential that we start to look a little different, you know, personally, to make sure that there is evidence of the goodness and the faithfulness of God within us. 

Jo What does that look like for you in practical terms? 

Jenine So in reality of life, it’s often just a case of trying to be more patient in everyday circumstances. I mean, ask Paul about his driving and patience! But it is a case of, you know, really trying to practise those fruits and enable them to be evident in the ordinary. Waiting in a queue. When we meet other people in the road. When somebody frustrates us on the pathway. All those things to show that we stand out a little. 

Paul Life, it’s whole-life discipleship, isn’t it? It’s not a segregation in terms of what we do on a Sunday has no effect on our weekday. So it’s taking Scripture, taking the Spirit with us in everything that we do. 

Jo And do you always find this easy or is there a struggle sometimes, Jenine and Paul? 

Paul I was just going to say, Jenine’s mentioned my driving. So we’ll highlight that! There are things in life that do challenge us. When we’re disappointed. When prayers aren’t being answered. To keep hold of faith and hope, even when there’s no feeling, when God seems a long way away, that’s a challenge, isn’t it? 

Jo Jesus is really great at drawing parallels between everyday life and deep spiritual truths. What, kind of, other disciplines in life can you draw parallels to discipleship? 

Jenine Well, I think sometimes, even just putting the kettle on, to take that moment to think: 'Jesus said he is the water of life, that we never need to thirst again.' And so, as I put the kettle on: ‘Thank you, Jesus, that you are all I need in these moments.’ As I put my hand on the car door. Now, I don’t do this every time, but what a great discipline it is, a habit to get into as I get into the car, to pray that God will be on this journey, that particular journey, but on my journey of life, that he’ll continue to be with me in all that I do. So, some very, very simple things that we can implement in our everyday lives that can become a habit to draw us closer to Jesus. 

Paul And also, it’s not only about us. It’s what we read in the newspaper, what you see on your screens. Sometimes we can be so blasé. It’s just something we see, rather than us speak into or pray for or do something about. So, injustice: if you see injustice around us, we should be standing up against that. We should be speaking into it, challenging people’s comments or attitudes or behaviour. That’s something that we’re called to do. That’s part of our discipleship, that’s how we change the world. 

Jo Finally then, Jenine, what would you say to encourage people and inspire them on their journey of discipleship? 

Jenine I’d want people to really take it seriously. To really say ‘this isn’t just something I say I am', but for it to be something that’s deep within us. That we embrace practices to enable that to be an effect on our inner lives every day – no difference between the secular and the sacred, just living that life of discipleship to step up and stand out. 

Paul Don’t let the world squeeze you into its own mould. The life in Christ is different to anything else that the world could ever offer us. And, whilst it might be attractive, actually we see so much damage when people invest in the wrong things. So be radical. Stand out, step up, because the world really, it needs it. And the Army’s DNA has always been about being different, transforming the darkness and being who Christ has called us to be. 

Jo Thank you so much for sharing with us today. For sharing your heart, sharing the challenges and for inspiring us as well. Thank you so much.