Candidates Sunday 2026: Called to be...

Territorial Candidates Directors Majors Catherine and Jonny Smith share their thoughts with Lyn Woods on this year’s theme for Candidates Sunday.

Called to Be... follows the story of Simon Peter, a disciple of Jesus. Can you tell me about the series?

Jonny Peter’s is a beautiful journey where we see the best of and the challenges around discipleship. Called to Be… covers a holistic understanding of what people are called to be. If your corps hasn’t done the series yet, I would strongly recommend it! It’s designed to help you listen more effectively to God’s voice, his leading and his calling, with a focus on local leadership.

How can we help people find who they’re called to be?

Jonny We need to make different avenues available for people to explore. In corps and centres, we need to be looking at the context we’re in and discerning what will work. We need to be intentional and available for people, making sure we’re always asking: ‘How can I pray for you? How are you growing? How are you doing spiritually?’

It’s everyone’s responsibility to be in the business of making disciples. There are more resources available now than ever, and part of discipling people is signposting them. We’re also really encouraged by the divisional discipleship that’s happening through courses like Growing Leaders and Transformers.

Catherine There needs to be intentionality around listening. It’s about hearing God and being faithful to what he is saying. A beautiful example is the 9.38 prayer initiative, where we are praying daily as a territory for leaders in The Salvation Army and our spheres of influence. There are tangible answers to those prayers happening right now. That’s exciting!

Jonny For corps that do a retiring collection for the Candidates Fund on Candidates Sunday, we’re suggesting that 50 per cent of the money raised be sent to the fund as normal, but the other 50 per cent be put towards a local discipleship initiative. It’s all about discipleship!

What blessings and challenges are you seeing?

Catherine In the candidates process, we’re privileged to hear the heart of people’s stories. It’s quite beautiful to see the way God has taken people – some who have been very reluctant are now saying: ‘I’m all in!’ It’s important that the candidates process is rigorous and takes time to discern well for such a time as this. A big challenge for the Army across Europe is the need for leaders.

Jonny A blessing for me has been the real privilege of sitting in an assessment conference and talking to people who are simply saying: ‘We get a sense that God is calling us to be…’ It’s a privilege to sit and hear their stories. Assessment conference weekends are long and intense, but you go home overflowing because of the blessings.

What are you praying for?

Catherine My prayer is not just for candidates for officership, territorial envoyship and employed spiritual leadership, but also that we, as a territory, get excited about evangelism again. I pray that we are sharing the love of Jesus in communities and seeing people transformed by coming to know Jesus.

Jonny What we know is that prayer works – we see it! The 9.38 prayer initiative has helped corps really discern about local leadership in their settings. Most people who come through to officership have been local leaders. It’s an exciting time and God’s certainly doing something!