160 years and counting - IHQ celebrates significant Army milestone

simoneworthing
Jul 3
3 min read

Updated: Jul 5

Salvation Army international leaders, Commissioner Bronwyn and General Lyndon Buckingham, with soldier Krisna Puspita, who spoke on behalf of the Army’s young people.

The Salvation Army is celebrating its 160th anniversary!

On Founders’ Day yesterday, 2 July, International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, along with Salvation Army centres around the world, celebrated 160 years of The Salvation Army’s global mission.

Salvationists, employees, volunteers, ecumenical leaders and others gathered for the occasion.

General Lyndon Buckingham speaks at the celebration.

Not finished yet

“God has not finished with this movement and still has work for us to do on the planet, and that we celebrate!” said General Lyndon Buckingham to those assembled at IHQ.

“All around the world, under the umbrella of The Salvation Army, [The Salvation Army mission statement] is being lived out and enacted by our people, by officers and soldiers and adherents and staff and volunteers. This missional statement of The Salvation Army will result in transformation in the 134 countries in which our flag flies, and we give thanks to God for that reality.

Commissioner Patti Niemand prays for the international Salvation Army.

“We thank God because we understand that at the end of the day, what is helping this movement to accomplish its mission is people … I want to say thank you to the Lord for the people who make up the International Salvation Army. You are being used by the King to bring glory to his name and to extend his Kingdom … I simply want to say thank you. God bless you!”

Commissioner Patti Niemand, World Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, thanked God for the purpose and mission of The Salvation Army, as well as his empowering presence and hand.

“Lord, we believe you raised up The Salvation Army for a purpose, but even more, we believe you are still at work in and through us,” she prayed. “You haven't finished writing the story. So as we look to the future, we pray for bold Holy Spirit courage to continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in the name of Jesus without discrimination.”

Krisna Puspita spoke on behalf of youth.

Soldier Krisna Puspita spoke about the young people being the present, and the future of The Salvation Army, “the active heartbeat of our mission right now … You are not just preparing us for tomorrow, you are strengthening The Salvation Army of today, offering hope and solution to a generation that desperately needs it,” she said.

“When we combine the wisdom of seasoned leaders with the passion and innovative spirit of youth, there are no limits to

what we can achieve for God’s Kingdom.”

The Reverend Dr Leão Neto, Secretary General of the World Methodist Council, assured those gathered of prayer.

“My prayers, and the prayers of the World Methodist Council, are with you, that the spirit may come upon The Salvation Army,” he said.

For the full story, click here.

For more photos from the 160th celebration at IHQ, click on the arrow below.

WEEK 5 VIDEO: 160 years of education

In recognition of The Salvation Army’s 160^th anniversary, IHQ has created eight short videos chronicling the vast and varied mission of the global Salvation Army over the past 160 years, with one video being released each week, beginning 5 June.

The fifth video, released this week, focuses on The Salvation Army’s work in education.

The Salvation Army has a long history of engagement with education and currently works with more than half a million children in more than 2500 schools, supported by 20,000 teachers in 45 countries.

To view the video and learn more about The Salvation Army’s Joytown School in Kenya and Josfridah’s story, click on the arrow below.