For Real or just for Show?

asks Keith Hampton

On Friday night as I did my rounds in the pubs, just talking and inviting people to take a War Cry, a guy stopped me at the door as I was leaving. He must have been watching me for some time as he confronted me with “Is that for real or just for show” pointing at the cross around my neck. 

I wasn’t in my usual full blues because I was taking someone with me who doesn’t wear SA uniform and I thought I’d dress the same as him in the polo shirt and jacket and my wooden cross (usually under my jacket).
 
I was taken aback when the reality of his query struck me, “Is that for Real or just for Show?”
  
I answered quickly, “Yes it is for real, I’m a Christian and I wear it to remind myself and others who see it that Christ died for me on the Cross and for everyone who believes Him, and one day will live with Him in eternity” (at least I think that’s what I said in the surprise of the moment).
 
This guy was big. He looked like he could have been a lumberjack, but I was in Australia not Canada, and he began to raise his huge hand towards me … to vigorously shake my hand. ”I’m a Christian too,” he said, “I love what you guys do every week and I just wanted to thank you.”
 
As a third generation Salvationist I think I almost grew up learning by osmosis that anyone who drank in pubs were dreadful sinners who were ready recruits and were all going to the wrong place one day if they didn’t find salvation. In fact I’ve met some really wonderful people in the pubs since I started on Friday nights back when I was 18.  In church that Sunday morning I commenced with this call to worship - ”Are we real or Just for Show!” and I shared my story about the big guy.
 
I’ll never forget that split second feeling when his huge hand started towards me, until I realised that he was in fact one of us!  Yeah I know, not everyone should be in a pub on Friday night, but for him, like me, it was a ministry and he isn’t scared, to stand up and be counted as “real”.

 

Writer: Major Keith Hampton is a married man of 36 years to his childhood sweetheart Ruth (nee Terracini). Keith and Ruth have a grown up family, Daniel (31) and wife Emma and Rachel (26). Keith is currently the Corps Officer of Caboolture Corps on the outskirts of Brisbane and Ruth is the Salvation Army Workplace Relations Manager for Queensland. He was a member of the Overcomer’s Session and has served as an officer in both Australia Eastern Territory and New Zealand Territory in field, public relations and divisional youth work. With a fundraising, marketing and theological bent, Keith is always seeking ways to “Improve the Product” and has been responsible for new corps openings and building programs in various corps and plants in both territories.

3 Comments to For Real or just for Show?

1. Great article, Keith. Love that thing on your chin, too. For many years I’ve had a plaque on my desk that reads, “God doesn’t mind a little show biz, so long as it gets the message across.” But it can’t be phony; it must be for real or people see right through it. Thanks for that reminder. And congrats on that new corps facility; no question you’re going to fill it and then have to go find another one.
Joe Noland on August 13th, 2009

2. Keith,

   Through this short recollection of your encounter with this Brother in a pub, you have provided a powerful reminder that we must always consider the person behind the exterior image. Just as the large, potentially intimidating presence of the person you met in the pub could lead someone to jump to incorrect conclusions, so could an encounter with someone in a blue Salvation Army uniform.

   Although we would like to be able to safely expect that an individual wearing the uniform (regardless of trim color) stands for certain values and maintains a high degree of integrity between those values and their life, can we really? Through authentic fellowship in our Corps, we can and must support each other to rise to that high level of integrity, both individually and as bodies of believers called to reach “Save Souls, Grow Saints and Serve Suffering Humanity”. Our identity as Salvationists (whether through a polo shirt or blue uniform) must communicate our authentic commitment to God and a radical focus on the whosoevers that do not yet know Him. Engaging with, caring for and loving the whosoevers into the Kingdom must be our first priority - not our personal comfort and propriety for an hour on Sundays.

   Keep up the great work Keith!

   Dana
Dana Libby on August 17th, 2009

3. Great reminder that people are watching us whether we realize it or not!

   Your encounter reminds me of one that I had a few weeks ago. Earlier this year, I began a Bible study on Sunday mornings at a local coffee shop a few blocks from the corps. Each week, 6-12 of us gather to drink coffee, eat bagels and talk about the Word. At the beginning of July, my schedule took me away from our weekly gathering. Upon my return, the owner of the shop greeted me by asking where I’d been; he missed us for the past weeks. He went on to say that it simply doesn’t feel like Sunday when we’re not in his shop.

   Now, every Sunday I’m there I’m greeted with a hearty, “HAPPY SUNDAY!” Just this past week, he asked me to pray for him as he’s going through a rough patch. The silent question he may have had these last few months very well could have been, “Are you guys for real, or just for show?” I’m glad he found us to be for real!
Rob on August 18th, 2009

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