General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham made their first visit to the USA Western Territory for the 2024 Testify Congress held this past June at the Pasadena (California) Convention Center, which featured the commissioning of the Defenders of Justice cadets. The event challenged some 3,300 people to: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV).

During the weekend, the General enrolled 177 new junior and senior soldiers in the first main session.  Commissioners Douglas and Colleen Riley, Western territorial leaders, ordained and commissioned 14 officers.

“God, the Holy Spirit, is on the move in The Salvation Army and here is the proof,” the General said. He shared a four-part formula for the movement: Connect with God, share the good news, demonstrate care and concern, and pursue holiness.

The following day, simultaneous kids’, men’s and women’s rallies respectively featured an orange mascot telling the gospel story, an interview-style conversation with Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham and an NBA-themed free throw contest and message from Chief of the Staff Commissioner Edward Hill.

The 13th annual ENCORE! Territorial Music and Arts Celebration featured the creativity of 500 youth, and 28 youth competed in Bible Bowl, a competition capping a year of Scripture memorization.

“The story of Jesus is absolutely timeless and changeless,” Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham said in the second main session, noting there is no one way God reaches people. “But His protection, His guidance, His patience, His unconditional love and His amazing grace leading to transformation are the common theme,” she said. “When we share God’s grace, a little piece of the world is changed.”

In other sessions focusing on holy living, the General urged attendees to embrace their identity in Christ by referencing Colossians 3:12-17. “Don’t listen to what the world says about you,” he said. “Understand this: You are holy. You are chosen. And you are dearly loved. This is who you are in Christ Jesus.”  

He called on believers to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Heb. 12:1-2 NIV). Hundreds responded at the mercy seat.

In the final meeting of the weekend, the new lieutenants received their first appointments. In his charge to the new officers, the General said, “We need you as our leaders to be examples to the flock.” He ended with a reminder to them from  Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else guard your hearts, as it is the wellspring of your life.”

Report by Christin Thieme. Photos by Joy Yi and Carol Webb.