Listen to this article
Supported and guided by The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, Justin Holbert has embraced a life of purpose in serving others, and won a scholarship to Asbury Theological Seminary.
Justin Holbert serves as Youth Ministry Coordinator at The Salvation Army Hayward (California) Corps, but said it has taken time and the support of others to get where he is today.
“I was living a bad life apart from God,” Holbert said. “I was sick and tired of my whole life, and The Salvation Army was the program that accepted me.”
On Oct. 3, 2018, at 29 years old, Holbert chose sobriety, and just a month later, he joined The Salvation Army Oakland Adult Rehabilitation Center program (ARC).
The ARC offers a 180-day residential program that provides spiritual, emotional and social assistance to individuals who are experiencing a variety of challenges, including issues relating to substance abuse.
Once Holbert committed himself to altering his habits, he began to witness the program’s impact, leading to his graduation in April 2019.
“The program worked for me,” Holbert said. “It gave me a relationship with Jesus and taught me a foundation of things that I’ve leaned on heavily throughout my recovery.”
During his time in the program, Holbert began attending the Hayward Corps. He then worked as the Oakland ARC Assistant Resident Manager and later served as the Intake Coordinator.
According to Holbert, these roles unveiled a new form of confidence in his abilities as a teacher, preacher and evangelist.
“Mentoring those in recovery was a privilege because I had been there and carried that sense of empathy,” Holbert said. “But I was honored and eager to branch out in serving other people, like senior citizens and children.”
“Because of the support I’ve received in The Salvation Army, I’m able to minister, advocate and connect with others in the community.”—Justin Holbert
In his present position, Holbert jumpstarted an after-school program that runs Monday through Thursday, which he now oversees. He assists with homework, offers a secure environment for children to engage in recreational activities and incorporates biblical teachings.
He highlighted the necessity of a youth-centered program in Hayward, particularly after COVID-19 eliminated similar programs in the area.
“Because of the support I’ve received in The Salvation Army, I’m able to minister, advocate and connect with others in the community,” he said.
According to Holbert, those who instilled spiritual guidance and wisdom while he was in the ARC made an immense impact, significantly contributing to his success and personal growth.
Among those are Majors Daniel and Doreen Freeman, who served as Administrators for Business and Program, respectively, at the Oakland ARC when Holbert entered the program.
“We have seen growth in Justin,” said Doreen Freeman, now the Silicon Valley Coordinator. “As he progressed in the program, he submitted to having Christ take over his life and put himself aside to lead his life in the way Christ would want.”
For Holbert, reaching that point marked the beginning of a new path.
“The Freemans kind of raised me up in the ARC,” Holbert said. “They helped me get to a better level.”
According to Holbert, Daniel Freeman conducted personal sessions with him, delving into the doctrines of transitioning into a senior soldier.
“It was a privilege to work alongside them because they guided me, led me through Scripture and emulated what a pastor should be,” Holbert said.
Today, Holbert attributes the person he has become to those who acted as role models and spoke God into his life when he needed it most. And he said the best part is that it has now put him in a position to serve others.
“In the ARC, they plant seeds into your life and hope it grows,” Holbert said. “Now, in my role working with youth, I have the opportunity to invest in them by planting similar seeds of hope and guidance.”
According to Holbert, his current role as Youth Ministry Coordinator led him to apply for a scholarship to pursue a certificate in Youth and Family Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
In the late spring of 2023, he found out he was one of 10 individuals in the nation who received the scholarship that would fully fund the two-year program.
Securing a spot was an unexpected delight for Holbert. He said it required continuous approvals and recommendations from corps officers and divisional youth secretaries. He also had to write a personal essay to share his experiences and growth with faith.
“I realized that only two individuals from each territory, or 10 in the entire USA, are selected,” Holbert said. “I initially believed that others were more deserving and thought, ‘There’s no way they would pick me.'”
The program aims to equip students with skills in counseling youth and families within the church. Some essential courses include Theology for Children and Youth, Family Development, Pastoral Crisis Intervention and Models of Youth Ministry.
Holbert will complete these classes online while continuing to serve as Youth Ministry Coordinator in Hayward.
“I love working with the youth and I like to say they love me, too,” Holbert said. “I’m fortunate enough that I can continue this role while also working toward my certification.”
Captain Quanna Brisbane, Assistant Administrator at the San Francisco ARC, met Holbert after he graduated from the program and became intake coordinator at the Oakland ARC.
Brisbane worked alongside Holbert and eventually officiated his wedding ceremony. She described him as well-deserving of the scholarship due to his commitment to serving others.
“Justin is very personable and God-loving,” she said. “He has a ministerial heart and is an exemplary model of what the ARC can do to those who surrender to God.”
Holbert’s enthusiasm is palpable as he looks forward to extending the same level of support and guidance that has helped reshape his life. He expects to graduate from the program in May 2025.
“I’ve learned that it’s important to not put a time limit on recovery,” Holbert said. “Things happen at their own pace with God’s timing, and never compare yourself to someone else’s recovery.”
Do Good:
- See how The Salvation Army supports rehabilitation.
- No matter how hard we try, or how much good we do—it’s his radical, unconditional love that will bring true and lasting goodness to our lives. If you’ve ever stared at the open page, not sure where to start or are wanting to read Scripture in a new way, then this is for you. Get inside the Caring Magazine Scripture Study Collection and find a suite of free, printable Bible studies to guide you through the good Word.
Download this page as a PDF
