A bronze statue of an Australian soldier stands in the town of Gilgandra.  He’s been cast with his hands to his mouth calling ‘coo-ee’.  The statue was erected as a memorial to a march that captured the imagination of Australians: The Cooee March.

World War 1, called the ‘Great War’, was one of the deadliest conflicts in history.  It raged from 28th July, 1914 to 11th November, 1918.  By the end of 1915, following the disaster of Gallipoli and the heavy casualties in France, enlistments had declined.

It was a plumber and a rifle club captain who came up with the idea of the Cooee March.  They, and some thirty three others, set out on a 515km march from the country town of Gilgandra in New South Wales to the city of Sydney, to enlist.  They stopped in each town and village along the route and called ‘Coo-ee!  Come and join us!’  The men arrived in Sydney with 263 recruits.  The ‘Coo-ee’s’ became national heroes.  The march was a ‘call to arms’.  A call to arms is a demand for a group of people to fight against an enemy.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Good Soldiers of Christ Jesus

We are called to be ‘good soldiers of Christ Jesus’. (2 Timothy 2:3)  That means we must be committed and obedient, and as determined as any soldier serving in the armed forces.  There should be no question as to where our loyalty lies.  It’s true our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) however we need the same training and discipline to be disciples and so we can disciple others.

Your Kid’s Church Needs You!

If ever there was a time for volunteers to rally around Kid’s Ministry that time is now.  Our children are suffering bombardment from social media and socialist education systems.  Family break ups, particularly the loss of father’s, are leaving a trail of destruction.  Progressive ideology is even infiltrating Kid’s Church curriculum!

What Can You Do to Serve Your Kid’s Church?

Well, let’s look at the qualities every good soldier needs!

• Punctuality: not just turning up on time but being early
• Maintaining fitness: pray, read your Bible, attend meetings
• Training: receive instruction, learn skills, practice godliness
• Use of open communication: share your needs and problems with your leader rather than giving up and walking away. Learn how to communicate with team members and kids and how to listen!
• Teamwork: combined action of a group leads to effectiveness and efficiency
• Taking a stand: soldiers need courage to protect and defend.  2 Corinthians 16:13&14 says, ‘Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love.’  Be tender without surrender!
• Having integrity: be honest in all things and uphold Christian principles

The plaque at the bottom of the bronze statue reads:  ‘In recognition of the 35 men who left Gilgandra in 1915 and their eternal footprint on the history of our community and our nation.’

Imagine your eternal footprint when you lead children to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour!  When you disciple them to be His life-long followers!  When you model what it looks like to be a soldier of the Cross!

Will you hear the ‘coo-ee’ call today?  Will you enlist to ‘fight the good fight of faith’?