A Loving Commitment

(Photo/Courtesy of The Salvation Army IHQ)

A conversation with General Lyndon Buckingham about our holy covenant.

General Lyndon Buckingham, international leader of The Salvation Army, recently sat down with me via Zoom to share his heart for the Church, his deeply personal journey with the concept of covenant, and his hopes for the upcoming 2026 General’s Congress: Our Holy Covenant in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He believes this gathering has the potential to spark a new wave of spiritual renewal and covenantal commitment across the USA Eastern Territory and beyond. Our conversation ranged widely and included global challenges facing the Army. But these themes stayed the same: the meaning of covenant and the power of prayer.

‘Covenant is about relationship and love’

The General began with a deeply personal reflection. He explained that covenant isn’t a contract or a transactional agreement; it’s a loving commitment rooted in relationship with God and with one another. “Even before someone signs a covenant document,” he said, “they enter a covenant with God the moment they surrender to Christ.” He also referenced his relationship with Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham in the same vein.

For him, this journey started early. As a teenager, he signed his Articles of Faith—initially more for the senior band membership than from a deep understanding of God’s Word. But everything changed on August 12, 1979, at a Youth Councils event. There, he encountered God’s love so powerfully that he describes it as having “blind eyes made to see.” Later, he signed his call to officership, a paper he still keeps in his Bible, and eventually his Officer’s Covenant in 1990—a moment he describes as “absolute surrender.”

Last October, he experienced a health emergency while ministering in Hong Kong. The episode caused him to reflect on his covenant with God in earnest.

“If nothing else, it was a visible reminder of that very real encounter,” he said. “I think it’s an important distinction to make that we can be covenanted with the Lord in our hearts without having a formal piece of paper to say that we’re in a covenant relationship. But for me, that document became a reminder of experiences and encounters that I’m still living with and that I still want to honor.”

Recently, the General and Commissioner Buckingham made their first official visit for 2026 to Uganda.

“Everybody was a little nervous about it. But I received a complete clearance from my cardiologist in February. Today, I’m in the best shape of my life.”

General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham walk at the 2026 International Conference of Leaders in Nairobi, Kenya.
(Photo/Courtesy of The Salvation Army IHQ)

Facing today’s challenges with honesty and hope

General Buckingham didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges ahead. In much of the Western world, congregations are smaller, fewer young people are stepping into discipleship, and the Army is wrestling with how to communicate covenant in ways that resonate today.

“That means holding fast to our core beliefs while experimenting with fresh methods and forms that attract younger generations,” he said.

He emphasized that the International Conference of Leaders,* held in March, was taking a serious look at the Soldier’s and Officer’s Covenants—asking whether they remain effective, whether they need rearticulation, and how they can better support mission in the 21st century.

“There was great discussion at the ICL on these sensitive matters. At the time of publication, we are working through the various responses and planning our next steps.”

Across some territories, especially in Europe and North America, the Army faces difficulties in making new soldiers, raising candidates, and sustaining vibrant corps life. That reality, he said, calls for renewed focus on deep discipleship, effective storytelling, and creative innovation.

Innovation without losing our identity

While the need for fresh methods is clear, the General is equally committed to safeguarding the Army’s essence: the transformative power of Christ.

He believes the Army must become better at telling its story—using every available platform from the stage and printed page to apps and social media to share powerful testimonies of forgiveness, grace, and hope. Younger generations, he noted, respond to authenticity, creativity, and clear purpose. Innovation is essential, but we must always point back to Jesus.

Opportunities in the USA Eastern Territory

When asked about the USA Eastern Territory specifically, the General highlighted three pressing needs:

1. Education – Helping young people understand what covenant truly means.
2. Sustainability – Planting new congregations and revitalizing existing ones.
3. Support – Encouraging weary soldiers and officers to ground themselves again in God’s promise: “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31, MEV).

He reminded leaders and Salvationists alike to carve out quiet time with God, trusting Him to refresh and guide.

General Lyndon Buckingham leads a morning devotional for delegates from the USA South’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
(Photo/Jon Avery/Courtesy of The Salvation Army IHQ)

A threefold invitation for Congress 2026

General Buckingham extended a heartfelt invitation to all Salvationists:

1. Pray – Persistently ask God to move in our territory and around the world.
2. Come – Bring your joy, your questions, and your stories.
3. Expect – Arrive ready for the Holy Spirit to speak with power.

Having traveled the world, the General has already witnessed remarkable signs of renewal—young people stepping forward for officership, congregations reengaging in mission, and a growing hunger for deeper discipleship. His prayer is that the Congress will accelerate this momentum.

As we concluded our conversation, General Buckingham’s humility and passion shone through. His hope is simple but profound: that the Army will rediscover the beauty and power of covenant, and that together we will embrace what it means to be God’s people in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you, General Buckingham. We look forward to seeing how God continues to move across the USA Eastern Territory and around the world.

*The International Conference of Leaders (ICL), March 21–28, 2026, is a periodic gathering of senior Salvation Army leaders from around the world. Convened by the General and the Chief of Staff, it provides space to reflect, pray, and discern the movement’s direction within a dynamic global context.

The conference offers a private forum for the Territorial Commanders and other senior officers to share insights from their regions and to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Army. Grounded in a shared sense of mission and calling, and held in the presence of God, the ICL fosters unity, strengthens fellowship across cultures and contexts, and helps shape strategy while discerning priorities for the years ahead.