ASR Olivier at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo © SASRA, 2026
We recently said a sad goodbye to Scripture Reader Patrick Steen as he and his family move on from their time with SASRA.
Patrick shares:
‘God used this ministry to reach into my life with the truth of His Word, and through it I came to believe in and trust Him. Through this ministry, I found fellowship and the love and support of other Christian believers who supported me throughout my military career. They shared God’s Word and taught me from it. They discipled and nurtured me in my faith and encouraged me when I went through challenging times. I will forever be grateful to God for the work that He has done in me through them.
SASRA was there at the end of my army career, in a difficult
season of trial and change, God opened a door for me to join SASRA and share in
its ministry. It has been a privilege to serve God and give back to a ministry
that gave me so much. It has also been hard, because making God’s Word known to
others isn’t easy. The challenges of ministry drove me to a greater
understanding of God’s Word and a greater dependence on Him, to work through me,
to reach others. I started from the beginning, gaining trust, building
relationships and in time, by God’s grace, there was fruit—opportunities to open
the Bible with soldiers—to see the wonders of God’s Word working in other
people’s lives and how it has changed them. It has been a privilege to be used
by God in this way.’
Patrick hands over the work he has been faithfully attending to at Salisbury Plain to our newest Scripture Reader, Gerhard Olivier. Gerhard says:
‘I am honoured to come into this ministry and get the chance to work with some of the Scripture Readers who have shaped me so much, and to spend my time sharing the gospel and studying the Bible with soldiers—it is incredibly exciting.
I will be based on Salisbury Plain, mainly working in the military towns of Larkhill, Bulford and Tidworth, but my first month with SASRA was spent with other Readers, seeing how they do things in each of their contexts with their specific giftings and personalities.
I’ve been able to spend a good portion of time with ASR Patrick Steen as he handed over the work on Salisbury Plain. His insight has been invaluable! I’ve now begun my theological training which I hope will better equip me to handle the word of God and communicate the truths found within its pages.
I am excited about increasing interest towards Christianity from the young troops and I am looking forward to helping them grasp the amazing reality of the gospel, equipping new believers to serve God, and supporting the Christians in the Armed Forces, to help them to reach greater levels of spiritual maturity.’
PRAY WITH US
- Give thanks for Patrick's time with SASRA and pray for him and his family as they leave us.
- Praise God for bringing Gerhard into the work at just the right time. Pray that the Lord would be with Gerhard as he takes over from Patrick and as he starts his theological training.
