(Photo: The Salvation Army / Sebastian Leonardi)
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Salvation Army General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson spoke of the great pleasure they had received through service as Salvation Army officers at a special retirement thanksgiving service held last week.
At the low-key meeting at the International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, which the Larssons described as “a family occasion,” the two retiring officers thanked God for all He has given them as almost 50 years of active officer-service was brought to a conclusion, the Salvation Army reported Friday. Upon the Larssons’ retirement from the position at midnight on Apr. 1 – the date of the general’s 68th birthday - Commissioner Shaw Clifton, the territorial commander for the United Kingdom and Ireland, became the 18th general of The Salvation Army.
Friends and relatives of the Larssons as well as members of their IHQ family – the staff who work on the building – gathered Friday to pay tribute to the former international leaders that had guided the evangelical Christian organization at the front since 2002. The Salvation Army, which operates in 111 countries and provides services in 175 different languages, is the world's second largest provider of social aid – after the United Nations – helping more than 30 million people. Its membership includes more than 17,000 active and more than 8,700 retired officers, around 100,000 other employees and more than 4.5 million volunteers.
At Friday’s “family occasion,” the Larssons' retirement certificates were presented by Retired General John Gowans, who paid warm tribute to his successor's gifts. Commissioner Gisèle Gowans, in addition, read words of Scripture and added words of tribute of her own.
Contributions from Commissioner Larsson's sister, Major Brenda Sterling and General Larsson's sister, Lieut-Colonel Miriam Frederiksen (IHQ), gave insights to the international leaders' backgrounds. The son of officer parents, Larsson spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile and Argentina before he became an officer in 1957 from the corps in Upper Norwood, London, England. Aside from their service in the United Kingdom, Larsson and his wife also served in the South America West Territory from 1980 to 1984; the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory from 1993 to 1996; and the Sweden and Latvia Territory from 1996 to 1999.
In 1999, Larsson became Chief of the Staff, second in command of The Salvation Army worldwide. His wife, Freda, became World Secretary for Women’s Organizations (later Women's Ministries).
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When General Gowans retired, Larsson was elected General on Sept. 6, 2002.
At Friday’s service, Susan Turner, Commissioner Larsson's sister-in-law, gave a poignant link to the past with the vocal solo “What Shall I Ask of You?.” The song, from the Gowans and Larsson musical Hosea, received its first public performance on July 5, 1969, at the Larssons' wedding – sung by Susan Turner.
Commissioner Denis Hunter then drew proceedings to a close with a benediction before asking the General to accompany the congregation on the keyboard in singing the General's arrangement of the doxology.
According to the Salvation Army, the meeting was presided over by the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, who along with Commissioner Eva D. Gaither, was also given a special farewell meeting at IHQ the week before. On May 1, the Gaithers will take over as national leaders of The Salvation Army in the United States.
