From The General: Cadet Sessional Names Announced 2026-2030
As you may be aware, each General needs to provide sessional names for five sessions of cadets, and this is something I have wrestled with for some time. Sessional names have, in recent decades, focused on the members of the session and primarily what they do – ‘Messengers of Peace,’ ‘Ambassadors of Holiness,’ ‘Witnesses for Christ.’ In earlier decades, they were often single word descriptors which were sometimes about qualities – ‘Faithful,’ ‘Courageous,’ ‘Victorious.’
Sessional names need to say something about the needs of our times and the way in which the Gospel matches those needs. In a time when people are concerned about ‘mission drift’ and our identity, my heart was drawn to five words that express the core of who we are as individuals and as The Salvation Army. This may be a departure from recent practice, but the more I have engaged with the task the more my spirit is at peace with this approach.
With that in mind, I take this opportunity to share with you the decision I have reached after much prayerful consideration and reflection. The names and Scriptures to be given to future training sessions will be as follows:
2026-2028 — ‘Rescued’
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Colossians 1:13
2027-2029 — ‘Redeemed’
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us ... He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:14
2028-2030 — ‘Reconciled’
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19a
2029-2031 — ‘Restored’
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10
2030-2032 — ‘Renewed’
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
May these names and Scriptures provide a focus for the cadets during their studies and have a shaping impact on their ministry as officers. God bless you.
Yours in His service,
Lyndon Buckingham GENERAL