Soldier in The Salvation Army
Encyclopedia
A soldier
is a Salvationist who is at least 14 years of age and has, with the approval of The Salvation Army
Pastoral Care Council in each local Salvation Army corps
(formerly called the Census Board), been enrolled as a warrior in the Christian
denomination
- The Salvation Army - after signing the Salvation Army Articles of War
. The soldier expresses his commitment in every area of life, but more specifically through the ministry and work of a local Salvation Army corps
.
s exercising 'holy passion' to win the world for Jesus
. The covenant, known as the Articles of War, is a life-long commitment to God through The Salvation Army that is fleshed out by a full book of Orders
and Regulations called Chosen to Be a Soldier published by the International Headquarters of The Salvation Army. There is also a complete book, formerly called the Handbook of Doctrine, now titled Salvation Story, that explains the doctrines to which the soldier subscribes.
The text of the covenant, which is quoted below, reflects the Army's determination to remain faithful to its standards and principles. All Soldiers (including officers of all ranks) are urged from time to time to re-read the solemn undertakings to which they have set their hand and to reaffirm before God their dedication to Him and to The Salvation Army, so that their lifestyle and service will be in keeping with the Soldier's Covenant.
, a soldier is publicly enrolled under The Salvation Army flag usually as part of worship of a Salvation Army corps. The soldier makes a public declaration by reading the articles aloud and will often first wear a Salvation Army uniform on this day. An Officer of The Salvation Army, usually the corps officer of the corps into which the soldier is being enrolled, normally conducts this ceremony.
as a sign of covenant community. The uniform is a visible profession of faith in Jesus Christ and identifies the wearer with the Christian faith. The uniform also identifies the wearer as being a person who can be called upon to discover more about the Christian faith.
The uniform differs according to rank, nationality, and activity engaged in.
or girl
who, having professed
conversion
, having signed the junior soldier’s promise, and being between the age of 7 and 13, becomes a Salvationist.
In some places Junior Soldiers also wear a form of uniform which differs according to the locality.
A Junior Soldier uniform for a boy would be a white collar shirt, navy blue dress pants, black shoes, navy socks, Junior Soldier pins and tie. A Junior Soldier uniform for a girl would be a white collar shirt, navy blue skirt/skort, navy tights, black shoes, Junior Soldier pins. In Australia Junior soldiers have opted to wear a polo shirt reflecting the colours of The salvation Army flag (either blue, yellow or red). This gives the Juniors Soldier a sense of individuality while still belonging to the Junior corps. Often a uniform is not worn, but a Junior Soldier wears a badge (pin) with rings to indicate which level of activity or projects each Junior Soldier has attained (similar to a bar on a military medal).
The 'Junior Soldier promise' reads this:
"Having asked God for forgiveness, I will be his loving and obedient child.
Because Jesus is my Saviour from sin, I will trust him to keep me good, and will try to help others to follow him.
I promise to pray, to read my Bible and, by his help, to lead a life that is clean in thought, word and deed.
I will not smoke, take harmful drugs or drink alcoholic drinks."
Additionally, in the 2010 Year Book numbers have increased - Junior Soldiers total 378,009 and Senior Soldiers total 1,122,326 internationally.
As at 2010 The Salvation Army was active in 120 countries.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
is a Salvationist who is at least 14 years of age and has, with the approval of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Pastoral Care Council in each local Salvation Army corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
(formerly called the Census Board), been enrolled as a warrior in the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
- The Salvation Army - after signing the Salvation Army Articles of War
Salvation Army Articles of War
The Articles of War or A Soldiers Covenant is a document consisting of a series of promises and statements of belief in relation to the doctrines of The Salvation Army...
. The soldier expresses his commitment in every area of life, but more specifically through the ministry and work of a local Salvation Army corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
.
Covenant
Salvationist Soldiers are considered by their peers to be covenanted warriorWarrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s exercising 'holy passion' to win the world for Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. The covenant, known as the Articles of War, is a life-long commitment to God through The Salvation Army that is fleshed out by a full book of Orders
Standing order
standing order or standing orders may refer to:*standing order , instruction to a bank to pay a set amount at regular intervals from one account to another...
and Regulations called Chosen to Be a Soldier published by the International Headquarters of The Salvation Army. There is also a complete book, formerly called the Handbook of Doctrine, now titled Salvation Story, that explains the doctrines to which the soldier subscribes.
The text of the covenant, which is quoted below, reflects the Army's determination to remain faithful to its standards and principles. All Soldiers (including officers of all ranks) are urged from time to time to re-read the solemn undertakings to which they have set their hand and to reaffirm before God their dedication to Him and to The Salvation Army, so that their lifestyle and service will be in keeping with the Soldier's Covenant.
Swearing In of Soldiers
Having completed 'recruits classes', been approved by the Pastoral Care Council and having signed their Articles of WarSalvation Army Articles of War
The Articles of War or A Soldiers Covenant is a document consisting of a series of promises and statements of belief in relation to the doctrines of The Salvation Army...
, a soldier is publicly enrolled under The Salvation Army flag usually as part of worship of a Salvation Army corps. The soldier makes a public declaration by reading the articles aloud and will often first wear a Salvation Army uniform on this day. An Officer of The Salvation Army, usually the corps officer of the corps into which the soldier is being enrolled, normally conducts this ceremony.
Uniform
Soldiers are encouraged to wear the uniformUniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
as a sign of covenant community. The uniform is a visible profession of faith in Jesus Christ and identifies the wearer with the Christian faith. The uniform also identifies the wearer as being a person who can be called upon to discover more about the Christian faith.
The uniform differs according to rank, nationality, and activity engaged in.
Junior Soldiers
The Salvation Army takes seriously the capacity of children to have an authentic Christian experience. A Junior Soldier is a boyBoy
A boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
or girl
Girl
A girl is any female human from birth through childhood and adolescence to attainment of adulthood. The term may also be used to mean a young woman.-Etymology:...
who, having professed
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
, having signed the junior soldier’s promise, and being between the age of 7 and 13, becomes a Salvationist.
In some places Junior Soldiers also wear a form of uniform which differs according to the locality.
A Junior Soldier uniform for a boy would be a white collar shirt, navy blue dress pants, black shoes, navy socks, Junior Soldier pins and tie. A Junior Soldier uniform for a girl would be a white collar shirt, navy blue skirt/skort, navy tights, black shoes, Junior Soldier pins. In Australia Junior soldiers have opted to wear a polo shirt reflecting the colours of The salvation Army flag (either blue, yellow or red). This gives the Juniors Soldier a sense of individuality while still belonging to the Junior corps. Often a uniform is not worn, but a Junior Soldier wears a badge (pin) with rings to indicate which level of activity or projects each Junior Soldier has attained (similar to a bar on a military medal).
The 'Junior Soldier promise' reads this:
"Having asked God for forgiveness, I will be his loving and obedient child.
Because Jesus is my Saviour from sin, I will trust him to keep me good, and will try to help others to follow him.
I promise to pray, to read my Bible and, by his help, to lead a life that is clean in thought, word and deed.
I will not smoke, take harmful drugs or drink alcoholic drinks."
Numerical Strength
According to The Salvation Army Year Book 2008 as of 1 January 2007 there are 360,222 junior soldiers and 1,082,166 senior soldiers in The Salvation Army.Additionally, in the 2010 Year Book numbers have increased - Junior Soldiers total 378,009 and Senior Soldiers total 1,122,326 internationally.
As at 2010 The Salvation Army was active in 120 countries.