• General attends France-Belgium Congress

General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham at the France and Belgium Territorial Congress.

General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham joined Salvationists and friends for The Salvation Army’s France and Belgium Territorial Congress, held in Brussels and Paris from 20–24 May 2026.

Under the theme ‘Transformed Lives’, the five-day congress brought together nearly 1200 people from across France and Belgium for worship, teaching, testimony, music, fellowship and celebration.

Music was a special part of the congress, in both Paris, as pictured, and Brussels.

Across the program, meetings, conferences, concerts, a commissioning of new Salvation Army officers, an anniversary celebration, a flag dedication and a Sunday marketplace all formed part of a rich and varied experience.

Organisers said that, beyond the program and venues, there was a strong sense that God was continuing to transform lives: ‘sometimes in visible ways, and sometimes in the quiet depths of the heart’.

Two conference sessions invited participants to reflect on the identity and mission of The Salvation Army in France and Belgium. In particular, the sessions explored how The Salvation Army has found its place within secular life in the two countries through helping vulnerable people in all walks of life, spiritually and physically. 

At the Palais de la Femme in Paris, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham led an evening entitled ‘An Army of Women’. Through testimonies from women actively involved in Salvation Army ministry, the event highlighted the vital contribution women continue to make to the mission.

The strategic reflection currently taking place across the territory was also shared with the General.

Sunday’s marketplace provided an opportunity for churches, centres, ministries, services and partners to showcase their work. Participants discovered more about the breadth and impact of The Salvation Army’s mission across France and Belgium.

During the event, the General was presented with the scarf of the ‘Porteurs de Flambeau’, The Salvation Army’s scouting movement in France, and visited the ‘CrossOver’ stand in the exhibition space, where he experienced virtual reality through the Army’s gaming ministry.

Reflecting on the congress, Colonels Claude-Evelyne and Jacques Donze said: “It was a very beautiful congress, with many high-quality contributions. We thank the General and Commissioner Buckingham for their contribution to the development of the spiritual life of our territory.”

For the full story on The Salvation Army's international website, click here.