On the 1st Sunday of Advent 2009 Garrey Varney was welcomed by Captain Pauline Milner as an Adherent. Garrey is a returning prodigal having had associations with our Corps as a youngster. He was delighted to be supported by friends and family and gave a moving and challenging testimony of his new found joy in the Lord and his growing Christian experience following a 'Freedom in Christ' discipleship course at the corps.

We include below edited parts of the testimony Garrey gave on this occasion.

Wow! Today - right now - this is my eureka moment. I've done it; and boy, what a wonderful feeling! Today the Lord has laid His hand on me and given me His blessing to become an Adherent of the Salvation Army. How will I suceed this time, where 30 years ago, as a uniformed Salvationist, I not only failed - but failed miserably. Was I a good Salvationist? Yes - in terms of performing the duties expected and required of me. Yes - in that I looked smart in my uniform and looked the part. Yes - in that I fulfilled my obligations to the Salvation Army. But was I a good Christian? As I reflect back, I have to say, no. Because of the duties I was committed to, there wasn't much time left for God. He became the easy part of the equation to leave out - to push to one side and not bother with. I certainly resembled the part of a Christian and simulated a dutiful spirit of reverence for God. But I was guilty of putting the cart before the horse - duty to 'The Army' first and foremost and God, well, taking second place, right at the back. Away from the citadel my Bible was never opened or read, I didn't spend any time with God in prayer. Out of sight, out of mind - so to speak. I was a sham. A sanctimonious hypocrite. It was all a facade. And so 26 years ago I turned my back on God and commenced a very different life in the 'outside world'. But the most wonderful thing is that the Lord Jesus didn't turn His back on Garrey Varney. He'd left the door ajar for me to walk back in and once again become part of His family. One year ago - one telephone conversation with the recruiting sergeant - one daily devotional book - one sermon on the 'Prodigal Son' - one discipleship course and everything begins to change. The Lord starts to gently prod at my conscience and begins to soften my heart that had grown so hard towards Him and so five months ago I unreservedly surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, sought forgiveness for my sins and invited Him into my heart. My life has turned a full 180 degrees and all beacause of one touch from the King.  I now need to cultivate a Godly life and this will involve discipline on my part. I have no intention of being a 'Sunday only Christian'. My daily devotional time is now specifically set aside in reading the Bible and Christian literature and enjoying intimate conversations in prayer. My prayer is to take my relationship with God to an ever deeper level. The world is now behind me - but the 'Cross of Christ' goes before me. What the Lord has done and achieved in my life - He, too, can do in yours. Give your life to Him and see what He can do with it. Just one touch from the King is all it takes. Just one.