Others Magazine

Lieut-Colonel Bruce Carpenter, with his family at his side, was promoted to glory on Wednesday morning 30 November 2022, aged 65. He served as an officer for nearly 30 years.

Born on 7 June 1957 at Kogarah, Sydney, to Salvationist parents Kevin and Marjorie Carpenter, Bruce married Cheryl Lane on 29 July 1978 in Tamworth. They were blessed with three children – Andrew, Kasie-Ann and Simon.

Bruce was a TAFE teacher in computing and Cheryl was an aged care nurse when they entered Officer Training College from their home corps of East Maitland (NSW) in March 1991. Commissioned as ‘Followers of Jesus’ on 9 January 1993, they took up their first appointment as corps officers at Wanniassa (ACT).

Bruce and Cheryl shared a vibrant ministry, becoming a well-regarded and loved partnership in Australia and internationally. As they journeyed and served together, Bruce’s love for Jesus and his skill and strength in business and finance became the primary ingredients in his appointments.

Whilst serving with Cheryl as corps officers in Queanbeyan (1995), Bruce also became Chaplain Reserve in the NSW Rural Fire Service (1996), an appointment he retained and treasured for many years.

Between 1998 and 2005, and never losing sight of his calling to serve Christ, Bruce’s appointments were of a financial/business focus. These appointments included: Property Fund Accountant THQ Sydney (1998), Divisional Finance Secretary, Sydney East and Illawarra Division (1999), and Director Y2K Project (1999 short-term) before resuming the role of Divisional Finance Secretary, Sydney East and Illawarra.

Bruce became Assistant Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Finance Council, THQ (2001), followed by Divisional Business Secretary and Human Resources Officer, North NSW Division (2002), Manager of Bethany Residential Aged Care (2005) and Associate Chaplain, Port Macquarie NSW Fire Brigades (2006).

In 2008, Bruce became Director of Mission and Associate Manager at Woodport Retirement Village, Regional Manager Central Region, Territorial Aged Care Unit, as well as serving as Associate Chaplain Central Coast NSW Fire Brigades (2008).

In 2009, there was a return to corps ministry, serving at Dee Why for three years with his passion for fire chaplaincy again expressed as Associate Chaplain Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW Fire Brigades.

Then in 2012, now at the international level, Bruce and Cheryl served in the Caribbean Territory, Bruce taking on the appointment of Territorial Disaster Services Coordinator, as well as Territorial Development Secretary and Coordinator of Family Stores, Jamaica, Caribbean THQ.

Later in 2012, Bruce continued as Territorial Development, Projects and Sponsorship Officer. Still serving in the Caribbean, he was appointed Territorial Secretary for Business Administration. Then, appointed as a member of the IFAS Implementation Team – Business Administration Dept at International Headquarters, Bruce and Cheryl found themselves in London for two years (2018-2020).

Bruce’s next appointment as International Auditor (2020) brought them home for him to serve as the Australia-based International Auditor. Still serving in this appointment, Bruce, confident of Philippians 1:6b, “He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus” was summoned home by Jesus.

Bruce, a humble, gracious man of God and a Christian example of integrity and accountability, loved his family without limit. His deep love for Cheryl was expressed in their work, ministry, and journey together as a family. With time together so unexpectedly cut short, words cannot express the heartbreak. Wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandad and friend, Bruce will be missed beyond measure, and we eagerly wait to embrace you when we meet again in eternity.

Our love, prayers, and heartfelt sympathy surround Cheryl, Andrew and Wendy, Kasie-Ann and Mike, Simon, Lauren and their 10 beautiful grandchildren – Blake, Matthew, Thomas, Bryelle, Tyler, Charlee, Brodie, Sienna, Declan and Ariella.

The Master said to Bruce, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful ... Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:23).