MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army is an integral part of the universal Christian Church.
Its message is based on the Bible; its motivation is the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Its mission is to proclaim his gospel, to persuade people of all ages to become his disciples and to engage in a programme of practical concern for the needs of humanity.
Its ministry is offered to all, regardless of race, creed, colour, age or sex.

Vision Statement of the UK Territory of The Salvation Army:
We will be a Spirit-filled, radical, growing movement with a burning desire to:
Lead people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
Actively serve the community
Fight for social justice 

Mission statement of the Govan Citadel Corps of The Salvation Army
A welcoming Christian CHURCH,
leading people to DISCOVER,
joining together to EXPERIENCE,
and working together to DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE OF GOD FOR ALL 
 
THE DOCTRINES OF THE SALVATION ARMYWe believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved. We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

The Musical History of The Salvation Army 
FROM the earliest days Salvationists held meetings in streets so that their message would reach those who would be unlikely to go to church. Sometimes people shouted abuse to drown the speaker's voice, so Salvationists used music to carry the gospel message in a more effective way.
In 1878, in Salisbury, Charles Fry and his three sons formed a brass quartet which proved to be useful, not only in dealing with the noise of the hecklers, but also providing a great attraction to Salvation Army meetings.

In 1898 the first songster brigade (choir) was formed in Penge, South London, and soon such brigades began to spring up all over the country. A large number of Salvation Army corps (churches)in the UK have both a band and a songster brigade whose primary aim is to convey the Christian message through music. All members of these Army musical groups are committed Christians and uniformed members of The Salvation Army.
 
British Salvationists are usually encouraged from an early age in their music-making. Young people are active in singing companies (junior choirs), young people's bands and timbrel (tambourine) groups. Many also attend Salvation Army music schools held during the summer, when they aim to develop their musical skills and where they are made more aware of their personal relationship with God.
 
In the 1960s, stage musicals were introduced into The Salvation Army and these, together with the use of drama, have continued to develop. Contemporary music groups have also been widely evident, always attempting to reflect the styles and idioms of successive generations. Style and presentation of band and songster music continues to keep pace with changing trends in worship.
 
The aim is still that all music used might be relevant to those who hear, and help them to understand the Christian message in an intelligent way.

The Crest  
 In 1878, when The Christian Mission became The Salvation Army, Captain William Ebden submitted his design for a Salvation Army Crest that was the forerunner of today's Crest. He explained his design thus:-
The centre point in the Cross, the universal symbol of the Christian faith.
Twined around it is the 'S' for the Salvation which Christ has given by his death on that cross.
The swords are those of the war against sin. The roundels are the shots which represent the truth of the Gospel.

The crown is that of Glory and is the reward for faithfulness. The surrounding rays are those of the Sun of Righteousness and they also remind us of the fire and the light of the Holy Spirit.
'Blood and Fire', the Army's motto, refers yet again to Christ's sacrifice and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

The design must have found favour almost immediately as it was noted on headwear soon after the 1878 Congress. In 1884 William Booth applied to register the crest as a Trade Mark on a number of items including knives, soap and buttons. Since the submission of Captain Ebden's first design the Crest has been adapted for use throughout the world, most notably perhaps, in the U.S.A. where, around 1890, due to copyright problems, the crown was replaced with the American Eagle. The U.S.A. copyright on the original crest expired in the early 1980's and The Salvation Army in the U.S.A. reverted to using the original crest.
The symbolism of the present Crest is explained in the 1997 Orders and Regulations for Officers as follows:-
The round figure 'the sun' represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit.
The cross in the centre represents the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The letter 'S' stands for Salvation.
The sword represents the warfare for salvation. The shots represent the truths of the gospel.
The crown represents the crown of glory, which God will give to all his soldiers who are faithful to the end.
 

The Flag
The first Salvation Army flag was presented to Coventry Corps in 1878 by The Army Mother, Catherine Booth. Until 1882 the central shape was an image of the sun, but with the commencement of the Army's work in India it was changed to a star in deference to the Parsees, an Indian religious group, who regarded the sun as sacred. The Army flag itself is not sacred but is a symbol of the beliefs held by Salvationists.
The flag consists of a blue border surrounding a red background in the centre of which is a yellow star. The Army's motto 'Blood & Fire' is also inscribed on the flag together with the name of the corps, centre or section to which the flag belongs.
The blue border represents the holiness of God and the holiness of the life Christians are called to live. The red background is a reminder of Jesus' blood shed on the cross that all may live lives that are free from sin. The yellow star symbolises the power of God's Holy Spirit.
In the early years the Salvation Army and its' officers and soldiers suffered much persecution and the Army flag was often the target of anti-Salvationist groups such as the Skeleton Army. On many occasions in towns such a Folkestone and Worthing, the flag was strongly defended from attack, often at great personal risk.
Today, however, the Salvation Army Flag is regarded with reverence and respect wherever in the world it is flown.

The Shield  
 The first orders and regulations for Field Officers of 1886 encouraged every Salvation Army Soldier to wear uniform, even if it be but the wearing of a shield, so that they could be identified as Salvationists. During the First World War, a shield symbol was used on Salvation Army huts for servicemen. This shield was probably red lettering on a white background, although this is by no means certain.
It is unclear as to when the design changed to teh red shield with white lettering that we know today, but it was probably around the end of the First World War as in 1918 The Red Shield Club was founded for Salvationist servicemen throughout the world.
 
In 1919 Bramwell Booth declared that the Salvation Army Naval and Military Homes would in future be know as 'The Salvation Army Red Shield Homes'. In the United Kingdom Territory the name change did not take place until 1947 when the Navel Military and Air Force League was renamed 'Red Shield Services League Hostels.'
In 1945, at the end of the Second World War, the War Emergencies Department was re-named the British Red Shield Services Department.
The symbol of the Salvation Army's Red Shield has become known and respected by service men and women of many nationalities wherever in the world they served.