Come on, Salvation Army! Remain faithful!

Come on, Salvation Army! Remain faithful!

This past week, I’ve had a number of exciting and thought-provoking conversations with people outside of The Salvation Army. These were people from different backgrounds, with no formal connection to our movement, yet they shared their deep respect for The Salvation Army and all that it represents.

They spoke of how they see The Salvation Army as being uniquely placed, both as a church and a charity, providing support from cradle to grave. They acknowledged our history of pioneering, of innovation, and, most importantly, of faithfulness to God.

Each conversation was incredibly positive about The Salvation Army and its place in society across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

These conversations got me thinking…

Are we, as Salvationists, less confident and less sure about who and what we are than those external to our movement?

Have we, as Salvationists, forgotten our ability to impact, challenge, and change our communities for the better?

Have we, as Salvationists, become so focused on justice that we’ve forgotten the holistic nature of the whole Gospel for the whole person—social and spiritual salvation? 

These questions don’t come from a place of criticism but from a place of deep love and conviction. The conversations I’ve had this week have given me hope, they’ve inspired me, and they’ve renewed my passion to continue in our three-fold mission, as so powerfully articulated by General John Gowans:

Saving souls. Growing saints. Serving suffering humanity.

It’s not an ‘either/or’ ministry—it’s ‘both/and.’ It always has been, and it always should be.

As I reflect on this, I’m drawn to the words of Edwin Hatch:

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

fill me with life anew,

that I may love the way you love,

and do what you would do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

until my heart is pure,

until my will is one with yours,

to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

so shall I never die,

but live with you the perfect life

for all eternity.

I pray these words over myself as a disciple, as a follower of Jesus, as a Salvation Army officer.

I pray these words over The Salvation Army—this church, my church.

I pray these words over all who call Jesus their Lord and Saviour.

It’s a prayer of revival and renewal. 

If we remain faithful to Scripture, if we keep Jesus at the centre as the only one who can save, if we remain sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, and if we keep God central in all we do, there is hope! We need to be people who pray, people who read Scripture, people who dream, people who take risk, and people who hope!

So come on, Salvation Army! Remain faithful. Keep innovating. Keep pioneering. Keep hoping. Keep proclaiming exactly who and what we are—an Army of Salvation!