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FAREWELL MESSAGE TO

GENERAL JOHN AND  COMMISSIONER FREDA LARSSON

written by

LT. COLONEL SYLVIA DALZIEL

on behalf of all the Dream Army members.

General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson.

When the name of John Larsson is mentioned in Salvation Army circles, one could think of the man and his music – especially the many full-length musicals composed with his co writer (General) John Gowans. On the other hand, one might consider John Larsson and his writing for he is author of a number of books. However, one cannot mention the name of John Larsson and not speak of the man and his mission! Indeed his own call to mission, his love for mission and his charge to others to become involved in Christian mission runs throughout his writing, his music and his preaching.

When John Larsson was elected to be General on 6th September 2002 he pledged not to attempt to imitate any of the distinguished Generals who had preceded him, but simply to be the unique person and leader God had called him to be. He concluded with a reference to his grandfather, Commissioner Karl Larsson, who took as his motto “Work, for the night is coming.” “I want to dedicate every day, every hour, every power,” said the General-elect, “to advance the Lord’s work through the Army.”

General John Larsson retires in April, having spent much of the three years of his leadership visiting Salvation Army projects worldwide, and resolutely following that promise he made on his election to office. And he has been ably supported in his leadership task by his wife and soul-mate, Commissioner Freda Larsson.

In giving his personal testimony at the welcome meeting to the High Council at Westminster Central Hall in January of this year, the General stated that all it took for him to be there was to say, “yes” to God. “It all started” he said “when, as a young man, I decided to say ‘yes’ to God and ‘yes’ to life – and to go on saying ‘yes.’ And it is imperative that The Salvation Army, as one body and as individual members, goes on saying ‘yes’ to God and ‘yes’ to the sacred task to which we are called. Don’t forget about aggressive Christianity. Don’t forget about going for souls and going for the worst. Don’t forget about being a radical force for good and standing against what is wrong.” The words were spoken with conviction – a farewell challenge given from his heart.

Wherever he has gone in the world General Larsson has recounted stories about the growth of the Army but he has also been honest about the needs of our Army in the future, in order to maintain growth. In his preaching he has given a charge to his listeners by saying that the ‘go into all the world’ call is for every Christian. “Every one of us is a stakeholder in the salvation of the world – together we are fellow workers in the ministry of reconciliation” the General would emphasise, as he rounded up his message with an impassioned call for re-dedication to the Army’s primary mission – the world for God!

During these past three years in office, General John Larsson has seen the most extensive international response in the Army’s 140-year history following the South Asian tsunami, when local staff were mobilised in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. He has also seen the Army’s work expand into two new countries, Poland and Lithuania and has overseen the work of the redevelopment of International Headquarters in London’s Queen Victoria Street, which reopened in 2004. When he retires at midnight on 1 April, he will hand over three million soldiers in 111 countries to newly elected General Shaw Clifton.

John Larsson once stated that: “Recalling the Army to its mission to serve the poor is not just about establishing better programmes or getting new funding. It is primarily about rediscovering as a burning conviction that the relief of poverty is an essential and inescapable part of our mission.”

In a recent territorial conference he said, "Christianity is growing more quickly today than at any time in history and this is one of the most exciting times to be a Christian. There will never be a time when God does not want people to be saved. It’s beautiful when our halls are open, when people come and are welcomed into The Salvation Army."

There have been many memorable moments in his term of office but one of the most recent must warrant a mention. On 24 April 2005 General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson, as guests of the Vatican, attended the inauguration of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. This was the first time a General of The Salvation Army has been present at a papal inauguration.

On that occasion, the Pope concluded his sermon saying, “Today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and He gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open wide the doors to Christ—and you will find true life.”

This was an echo surely of what John Larsson had said himself when, as a young man, he committed his life totally to God for service, wherever that might lead. Little did this young man realise what saying “yes” to God would bring during his years of service as a Salvation Army officer.

And if asked would he do it all again, there is no doubt that his answer would be a resounding “Yes lord!”

WE WISH YOU A BRIGHT RETIREMENT LIFE,

GEE JO SAM, For Dream Army team -----> EMAIL