For the first time in 13 years, two young people were enrolled as Junior Soldiers of Tenby Salvation Army, and a very special and happy occasion it was too (writes Marie Moreton).

The hall was packed with family, friends and fellow Salvationists who came to witness Faith Barcoe and Jasmine Lewis take this important step in their young lives.

The service began with singing which included a very lively and energetic performance by all the children at the service, led by Major Martyn Clements, as they sang, jumped and danced to a special song. Then it was time for the enrolment ceremony.

The ceremony was led by Major Martyn Clements and began with the girls marching in to a fanfare with Major Denise Clements and the Salvation Army flag carried by our colour sergeant.

Major Martyn explained how Faith and Jasmine had decided to be a friend of Jesus and the girls read out aloud their Junior Soldier Promises to affirm their decision.

After this, the girls then signed their promises and Major Denise Clements prayed for them. During the ceremony, we sang a song, 'Abba Father let me be yours and yours alone, may my will forever be ever more your own.'

This song was sung to represent the decision the girls had made to be a friend of Jesus and it was sung in English and in Welsh, as Jasmine attends a Welsh school.

The girls were then officially welcomed as Junior Soldiers to our corps, with great applause, and later performed their first act of service by taking up the offering.

The service then continued with an interactive message from Major Martyn as he spoke of the story of Noah.

Everyone joined in the storytelling, with animal masks, waving of flags to represent clouds and rain, a raven, a dove, the sun, waving of material to represent the floods and Mr. and Mrs. Noah.

Children and grown-ups thoroughly enjoyed this and everyone was laughing and happy.

The message of God's love for us was emphasised and we were encouraged to remember that God is love every time we see a rainbow.

After this message, the Major presented the girls with Bibles; Faith had one in English and Jasmine had one in Welsh.

The Major also gave the girls a final word of encouragement, reminding them that God loves them and that whenever they see a rainbow, to remember God is love.