General John Larsson of the Salvation Army has delivered the annual address "State of the international Salvation Army" at "An Evening with the General" held on Friday 20th May at the Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London. General Larsson described that the state of the Salvation Army internationally, is "amazingly good".
Throughout General Larsson’s encouraging report, the work of the Salvation Army in each continent was reviewed, starting from Europe which General Larsson commented as the "new mission field". He complimented the resourcefulness of European Salvationists as well as the expansion of the Salvation Army work and influence in Eastern Europe.
Particularly in Poland, the latest country that the Salvation Army is trying to explore, the General said there are already 100 people meeting every week. If Poland is set up firmly, the total number of countries that the Salvation Army is currently at work in will be raised up to 110.
For Africa, General Larsson described it as the "wide open continent". The General was impressed by the spontaneous seeding of the Army to other African countries, and mentioned the All Africa Congress to be held in Zimbabwe, where the vice-president is a Salvationist.
The next country addressed was China. Despite the persecution by the Chinese government and restrictions on religious freedom, the Salvation Army has successfully set up many projects in China by promoting itself more like an aid agency. "Our prayer is that we might be able to go into China in the fullness of what The Salvation Army is," General Larsson said, adding that the number of Christians in China reaches 100 millions.
As an organisation known for its prompt response of aid at the site of emergency and disaster, General Larsson highlighted the Indian Ocean tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 which has devastated many South East Asian countries and claimed almost 200,000 lives.
The General confirmed that the Salvation Army was "in for the long haul", with work that will go on for many years. He also paid tribute to the efforts being made to combat the evil of human trafficking.
In addition, the Salvation Army’s focus this year is the International Year for Children and Youth. The General celebrated that there is a hunger among young Salvationists for the Gospel.
"The Lord is renewing his Salvation Army," concluded the General.
A lively question-and-answer session followed the General's address. The Salvation Army's stance on gambling and drinking were reaffirmed by the General. Chief of the Staff Commissioner Israel L. Gaither thanked God for the General and spoke about the Salvation Army's need to follow the will of God.
"I believe the Salvation Army is meant for divine greatness," he said. "We're not intended to be ordinary - we're a chosen people with a chosen purpose for a chosen mission."
Some other programmes in the evening included the opportunity for visitors to look around the new International HQ at 101 Queen Victoria Street, music in Café 101 from Vision Brass, led by UK Salvationist Paul Sharman, refreshments and a new exhibition featuring the Salvation Army's response to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.
