Candidates

What is an Officer Candidate?

A candidate is an individual who has a confirmed calling by God into full-time ministry with The Salvation Army. The person is in the process of completing the application and is working toward being accepted as a student at The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training. He or she is preparing to be trained as a Salvation Army officer. In the ensuing months before attending the College for Officer Training, this individual is designated as a Candidate.

What is the Candidates Department?

We read in Scripture in Matthew 9:37-38, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his field.” There is an urgency to cultivate workers for the harvest. There are many who are not receiving the message of the Gospel, simply because there are too few workers. Will you join us in cultivating workers for the harvest!

The Candidates Department of the Eastern Territory is dedicated to helping those who believe that God has called them to serve in ministry. The Candidates Department helps with the application process by working with the Corps and the Divisions in an effort to make a somewhat tedious process a smooth transition.

The Application Process

Relationship – The most important component for anyone wanting to enter Christian service is a strong, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is based on the understanding that our sins can be forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. It involves an understanding that “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God,” Romans 3:23, NIV. But by His sacrifice and death, Christ paid the penalty for all sins, thus allowing us the opportunity to confess our sin and enter into a relationship with Him.

Once this relationship is established the believer grows in his or her faith until they become a mature Christian. This growth continues throughout the life of all believers.
Soldiership – Active membership in a Salvation Army corps (church) is required for all those seeking to become Salvation Army officers. All members of The Salvation Army church are called soldiers. This is not simply a title. Salvation Army soldiers are expected to participate in the war against evil in our world. Salvation Army soldiers share their faith with unbelievers, participate in Salvation Army programs and activities, provide leadership as needed in the local congregation and financially support the local congregation.
Calling – In addition to the above steps each Salvation Army officer is called by God for a unique ministry. This calling may take many forms, but in all cases it is an inner conviction that it is God’s plan for you to serve Him fully as an officer in The Salvation Army. No one should aspire to become an officer of their own will or by the invitation of another. It is God who calls and then equips those who minister in this manner.
The Process – When a Salvation Army soldier senses a call to officership, he or she should discuss this with his or her corps officer (pastor). The officer will help the soldier evaluate his or her call, giftedness, and the possibility of becoming an officer. The officer will also assist the soldier in the application process.