December 2, 2025

A New Way of Ministering

By ASR Mike Blackstock, Scripture Reader at Aldershot Garrison

This article was first published in our Autumn 2025 Ready magazine.

In a season of change, Mike is stepping out into new opportunities, trusting in God’s faithfulness.

The recent closure of the Jackson Club created mixed emotions in me and many others as well. The end came quickly with 2 April being the last day of trading.

To be honest, the closure of the club has been difficult to navigate. Since becoming a Scripture Reader in October 2021, it is all I’ve known.

The club has been my safe space and has provided me with a solid working base, and the Lord gave me many opportunities there to speak of Him and His great love. The closure literally left me feeling like the carpet had been pulled out from under me.

I was given the option to continue using my office at the Jackson Club until its refurbishment began, but after much prayer and counsel I accepted a different offer of a temporary office space on camp. This was hard, as I don’t like change, but I felt a strong nudging from the Spirit that it was the right decision.

I moved to the new location just before Easter and all round it has been positive. It’s a big open-plan office shared by five, but we’re never all there at the same time. I’ve been made to feel very welcome by the others and was offered help if ever I need it. In hindsight, I’m grateful that I moved: (a) it would have been very lonely at the Jackson Club, and (b) it’s given me an opportunity to meet and connect with new people who I can potentially share the gospel with.

IMPACT ON MINISTRY

With all these changes, I had to carve out a new way of ministering. Previously, most of my work happened in the Jackson Club, but I now needed to get out more on the camp in search of opportunities. I was concerned that my little resource table in the Jackson Club wouldn’t be accessible. It has proved invaluable, and so I needed to decide where I could move it to. Through prayer and with permission from the Station Staff Officer (SSO) I set it up in the cookhouse entrance which is a prime spot.

REMINDERS

Over this time, I have been reminded of some core truths. Circumstances may change (that can be scary) but God never changes (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8). He is faithful and will continue to be faithful! Change is always risky because we don’t know how things will turn out, but God does, He knows everything (1 John. 3:20), and because of that, we can wholeheartedly trust Him!

FUTURE

Another Christian charity, the Church of England Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Clubs (CESSAC), has agreed to take the Jackson Club on, but it’s only scheduled to reopen after a refurbishment. The charity has indicated that they’re happy for me to retain my office and continue with my ministry there.