Over the next few years we will be giving attention to the restoration of a soul saving culture throughout the Army. For example, one of the territory’s strategic initiatives will be to see an increase of spiritual expectations in social programmes.
We have taken the first steps in remodeling the Corps Programme Department at THQ that will be centred around ‘growing healthy corps’ as its primary business and providing resources to that end.
The Literary arm of our Editorial Department is working on books that will seek to reawaken our soul saving mission and holiness tradition. These will be intended for use as personal reading or for groups to use in study with reflection.
Soul saving has been a distinguishing characteristic of salvationism whereby, our soldiers would unashamedly profess their faith, share their testimony and intentionally seek to influence others to accept Christ as Saviour. Sadly, this is not as evident today in the life of our community, but God helping us, we will seek to be the Army He raised us to be.
If God has changed His mind in respect to who He wants The Salvation Army to be today, then I missed the message and no one else has passed brought it to my attention. So I can only presume that we are still called to be evangelicals, missioners and soul winners. That is our business and that is what should define us as part of the Christian Church.
Amen, Ray !
Words from a song:
“ We are an Army that can change the world
Your love and power is all we need
People are hurting and we hear the call
Send your Spirit to strengthen us all “
Commisioner,
As someone who has been brought back to the Lord by your current Officers, I feel that you have Officers and Soliders who walk strongly in the Lords ways.
My interactions have been nothing but positive.
I pray they and I can continue to do as you ask.
Dear Commissioner,
I am encouraged and excited bythis post. As a SALVATION Army, we must be soul winners. To do that we must first be souls who have been won to the Kingdom.
This is one of my “soap boxes” with The Salvation Army over the last 15-20 years or so. We have many fine people working in our Social Centres, but if they are not saved, how can they save others? I believe that this needs to be addressed (and that could be through our workers getting saved) so that they too can be saving souls in their workplace.
Thank you for sharing what is happening in the Territory, I believe we are in for exciting times ahead.
I too am excited to hear of such a strategy. Over the years, it has saddened me greatly that the mercy seat has become so unused the dust has settled and thickened. The need for a Salvation message becomes less and less because the Congregation is by and large, a community of believers. The Corps has, by and large stopped being “seen” in the community because of our high mobility rate. And few people seem to know or care about how to change that. And if we dont change this very basic aspect of our Christian experience, THE ARMY WILL CEASE TO EXIST AS A CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Ray, strategy, resources etc etc are all well and fine, but if these things are not talked about and then acted upon, it will be just another talkfest with no outcomes.
I believe we are still a ‘soul saving’ army, (althought I wouldn’t use this terminology), but use different strategies for a different time and culture. The methods of my years as a young adult would not be effective today. I see many committed soldiers, officers and adherents living out their faith in ways that challenge those they encounter and allow them through relationships to introduce others to Jesus. We want to move forward not going backwards to what was. I’m sure that is your intention. Integrated mission, well equipped and resourced chaplains in our social centres, encouragement to our people who are being Christ and bringing Christ into their workplaces and friendship groups, support for officers who are calling people to faith in Jesus week in week out, a serious ear to your youth and younger leaders who understand the coming generations … I could go on. I see lots of evidence of ‘soul saving culture’ – its just presented differently.
Beth Roberts
I sense Commissioner that whilst there may be an expression of the Gospel being shared at varying levels, the goal is still ‘TO WIN THE WORLD FOR JESUS’ , that is the mission and the great commission of the Church of Jesus Christ (of which we as an Army are a part).Sowing seeds are essential …BUT what farmer when sowing the seeds does not look for the harvest to come.Indeed that is the whole aim of preparing soil , sowing the seed , pruning etc,etc, that there may be a HARVEST . We need REVIVAL to occur in our midst for there are many yet who die going into a Christless eternity and we who know JESUS can introduce them to their SAVIOUR . This is our mandate , if we settle for maintenance then forgive us Jesus and once again bring the urgency of the Gospel as our priority as we serve suffering humanity JESUS’ LAST COMMAND MUST BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY(Matt28:19_20)
Praying and longing that we may be an Army that as LUKE 14:23 says “….GOING OUT INTO THE HIGHWAYS + HEDGES + COMPEL THEM TO COME IN, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED “.
I (by God’s grace ) live to this mission , God help us !