In a speech given during the Persian Gulf War, General H.Norman Schwarzkopf declared: “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” (1991). If you do a Google search of the word “leadership” you will see there is no shortage of ideas on the concept: One hundred and forty eight million responses for this one word.
I like the definition found in The Military Leadership Handbook (Canadian Defense Academy Press 2008). It defines leadership as “Directing, motivating and enabling others to accomplish the mission professionally and ethically, while developing or improving capabilities that contribute to mission success.” As The Salvation Army our mission is clear, we exist to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Throughout the training program cadets are challenged to wrestle with living out this mission professionally and ethically. Our goal, as a college, is to enable men and women who have been called by God to share His love, be their brother’s keeper and work to transform the world, one life at a time.
Below you will find a series of essays and posts written by CFOT staff and cadets reflecting on what it means to live out the mission for which God raised up The Salvation Army.
