Major Robinson and his wife Isobel are moving back to the UK to take up an appointment at the Sheringham Corps.
Ian and Isobel are well-known all over the Army world as pastors, missionaries, and an incredible music and song-writing team. While they were stationed in Singapore, Ian and Isobel wrote a series of email "epistles" to the rest of the world entitled "Survivor Island". Those letters were always filled with poignancy, hope, and a love for the people for whom they worked so diligently to bring the love of Christ.
We are delighted Ian has agreed to write these articles for us and we hope you enjoy his journey as we publish it!
Major Ian Robinson
Life is a Journey – Part Two
The letter 'S' has played a critical role in our journey. We left Ayr in 1977 to live in Surrey, and five years later immigrated to the USA with our two girls. We had a simple plan – open an English pub to sell British drinks and food to Americans at extortionate prices, then retire to a Greek Island where we would write books in the Mediterranean sun! But as Burns once wrote, "The best laid plans of mice and men …"
After eighteen months in our California paradise our relationship was in trouble and our Catholic faith was failing to meet our spiritual needs. The dream was crumbling until one of Isobel's nursing friends suggested we read the Bible. Trial and error led us to the Living Bible and when she read the Gospel of John she was utterly convicted by the Holy Spirit and surrendered her will to God. Seeing a dramatic change in her I did the same. We then knew that we needed to find a church where we could develop this new relationship with God, so I made a list of churches in the area and suggested we visit one each week until we found one we liked. Isobel, ever the pragmatist, looked over the list and, seeing The Salvation Army at the bottom, said, "We'll just go there!" So I returned to the Army and we went to the Santa Ana Corps. Within six weeks I was in uniform and playing in the band. The girls loved Sunday school and we made many new and lasting friendships. Most importantly, we grew spiritually and our family bond was strengthened because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our journey was very pleasant and comfortable. We had a wonderful church home, a nice house, good jobs and a growing family. I played piano at the Corps and began writing music. We taught an adult Sunday school class, started a home Bible study and were increasing our understanding of God's will and purpose for our lives. Then I was made redundant and spent several months trying unsuccessfully to find a new job. I was told by more than one company president that I was the one they wanted then never heard from them again! It didn't make any sense until one day Isobel came down to breakfast and asked if I had been talking to God about Salvation Army officership.
"Don't be so absurd!" I said, utterly shocked.
"Well," she said, "I've just been arguing with God upstairs and He told me I was stopping you from becoming an officer!"
She had been praying and asking God why her talented and intelligent husband – her words, not mine – could not find a job. God answered that it was because she was stopping me. At first she was confused, and then she realized what He was saying. "You don't mean THAT job?" she asked incredulously. And God said, "Yes, that job!"
Isobel never wanted to be an officer so that avenue of service appeared closed. Now it suddenly opened up and within a few months we were appointed as Auxiliary Captains to Santa Barbara on the Pacific coast about ninety miles north of Los Angeles. After seven and a half years we were moved to Santa Rosa, forty-five minutes north of San Francisco in the Northern Californian wine country. Then in 2004, two and a half years later, the Army sent us to Singapore where we served for four and a half wonderful years before reluctantly returning to California. Now, following a few months at THQ we are ready to leave for Sheringham, the sixth 'S' in our journey.
We never achieved our dream but received something infinitely greater and more valuable. Instead of serving alcoholic drinks we have helped people overcome their addiction to alcohol. Instead of serving British food we have given out the bread of life to those who need it most. Instead of making a lot of money we have stored up for ourselves treasures in heaven. And instead of retiring to a Greek island we will spend eternity in heaven with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We have riches beyond our wildest imagination and the journey's not over yet!
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