New Sessional Names Announced by General Buckingham

Salvation Army officers in training are known as cadets. Each session of cadets is given a sessional name, which unites cadets from across the international Salvation Army with a common name and vision. General Lyndon Buckingham—the international leader of The Salvation Army—has announced the following names for sessions of cadets from 2026-2032:


For those unfamiliar with the internal workings of The Salvation Army, these sessional names are unusual in that they are comprised of one word. As an example, my sessional name was ‘Messengers of Light’. The sessional names provided by General Buckingham are short, punchy affirmations of the Christian message which so desperately needs to be heard and believed in the world today. These sessional names serve as reminders of the profound impact of God's ongoing grace in my life, in the ministry of The Salvation Army, and the call to share that grace with others.


In the context of the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, where secularisation, uncertainty, and despair often overshadow hope, the need for Salvation Army officers is more vital than ever. Salvation Army officers are not only committed to serving the marginalised and offering practical assistance, but most importantly proclaim the Gospel message of salvation being found in nobody else but Jesus. The Salvation Army needs officers—what’s your excuse for not saying ‘yes’? Perhaps you need to say ‘yes’ today, and become part of God’s mission to point the world to their rescue, redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and renewal. 


In a world hungry for meaning and purpose, the Christian message offers a message of hope and ultimate salvation. The Salvation Army continues to be a beacon of light, inviting all to experience the life-changing power of God's love and respond to God’s call to service and discipleship. These are great sessional names from General Buckingham—perhaps you should sign up to join the fight! What’s your excuse not to? Count me in!


https://www.salvosonline.org.au/post/general-unveils-cadet-sessional-names-for-2026-2032?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0C7_FoihHD6a41gP5vNd8OksoBTZYqi3N7tevCbJxitp6bMAZSGttGnSY_aem_AdDSNjwbkUKLEQsPPjW2FU_NMvoozfTcz3AYHmSLobuh579p59-1ouvfhUfPA-EFt6fm9zB6B9n6M_y0Lu4kMf9D 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My last blog (for now…!)

Image
My last blog (for now…!) There are times when words alone can’t fully capture the story of our lives—the mountain tops and the valley bottoms. Often songs come into my head that help me better articulate what I’m experiencing, and this past weekend I’ve been singing these words; Jesus, What a Saviour You Are “ You are my strength When all my strength has ended You are my hope When all my hope is gone You are my joy When my world is full of sorrow You’re the peace in my tomorrow For I know that You’ll be there… ” These words summarise my testimony. The past 18-months have been fairly traumatic for me, filled with more change, pain, and growth than I ever could have imagined. I write my thoughts and reflections down because I find it helpful—and I hope that, in some small way, sharing my experiences might help others too. This is my last blog (for a while…!), as taking a break from writing is for me a symbolic act of closing one chapter and starting another. Recent months have been marke...
Read more

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army For over a hundred years, The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Ireland has provided vital homelessness services. In more recent history, these services have often been funded through contracts with Local Authorities. These contracts usually dictate how services operate, setting financial limits, service models, and key performance indicators (KPIs). While they ensure some level of support and accommodation is available, they also present significant challenges—challenges that make me question whether this is still the right model to be used. The Problem with Contracted Services At first glance, contracts appear to offer stability and reduce risk. They provide funding, structure, and a framework for homelessness service provision. However, they also force providers—charities, faith groups, and housing associations—into a competitive business model that simply doesn’t work for a people-focused sector. Inste...
Read more

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry I today had opportunity to have coffee with the one and only Andrew Vertigan. It was good to share with Andrew, especially as he co-leads my home church and was pivotal in my own call to ministry.  Afterwards, my mind turned to the following questions:  • What happens when leaders don’t fit into a box? • What happens when leaders don’t flourish on their own? • What happens when leaders have their skills, talents, and preferences assumed? These are vital questions for The Salvation Army today. As we seek to be a movement led by the Spirit, sent into the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus, we must consider how we release people into ministry and mission in ways that allow them to truly flourish. Some leaders flourish best in structured, clearly defined roles, while others, like myself, thrive in the messiness of life. I flourish best in messy, intergenerational settings where life is lived out in supportive, loving...
Read more