- Soldier of The Salvation Army
A
soldier is aSalvationist who is at least 14 years of age and has, with the approval ofThe Salvation Army Pastoral Care Council in each local Salvation Armycorps (formerly called the Census Board), been enrolled as a warrior in the Christian denomination - The Salvation Army - after signing theSalvation 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 Armycorps .Covenant
Salvationist Soldiers are considered by their peers to be covenanted
warriors exercising 'holy passion' to win the world forJesus . 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 andRegulations called "Chosen to Be a Soldier" [Chosen to be a soldier : orders and regulations for soldiers of the Salvation Armyby Salvation Army. Publisher: London : Salvation Army, International Headquarters, 1989, ©1977. ISBN: 0854125183 9780854125180] published by the International Headquarters of The Salvation Army. There is also a complete book, formerly called the "Handbook of Doctrine", now titled [http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/50f73564cddae39480256cf4005d2262/f46673a32c86611a80256e4e00477c1f/$FILE/sastory.pdf "Salvation Story"] , that explains thedoctrines 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.
wearing In of Soldiers
Having completed 'recruits classes', been approved by the Pastoral Care Council and having signed their Articles of War, 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
Uniform as a sign of covenant community. The uniform is a visible profession of faith inJesus 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.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
boy orgirl who, having professed conversion, having signed the junior soldier’s promise, and being between the age of 7 and 16, becomes a Salvationist.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 skirt, navy blue skirt/skort, navy tights, black shoes, Junior Soldier pins.
The Junior Soldier 'promise' reads "Having asked God for forgiveness, I will trust Him to keep me good, because Jesus is my Saviour from sin. I will be His loving and obedient child, and will try to help others to follow Him. I promise not to use intoxicating drinks, harmful drugs and tobacco. I promise to pray, to read my Bible, and by His help to lead a life that is clean in thought, word and deed."
Numerical Strength
According to The Salvation Army Year Book
2008 as of 1 January2007 there are 360,222 juniorsoldiers and 1,082,166 senior soldiers in The Salvation Army.References
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