Candidates Sunday
Time to explore God's calling on your life
Candidates Sunday is an opportunity to intentionally explore God’s calling on our lives – what it might look like and where it might take us.
Corps across the territory will hold worship services, many on Sunday 4 May, to encourage and challenge people to respond to what God is saying to them.
Some people are called to be Salvation Army officers and territorial envoys, and space is given for people to consider these specific ministries.
Design for Life (DFL) is a weekend retreat at William Booth College to help you discover God's design for your life.
A course for 18–25 year olds to explore who God is, who they are and what that could mean for the world.
Here to serve and support all those in the territory who are exploring God's calling.
Articles and media
John 10: Saying yes
10 May 2025 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Stephen Oliver asks how much fulfilment you are getting from life.
Ep 119: Sunday Worship with Major Mark Sawyer
4 May 2025 | Podcast, Sunday Worship
On Candidates Sunday, Major Mark Sawyer (William Booth College) helps us to explore what it means to follow the call of God, our good shepherd (Psalm 23).
Candidates Sunday 2025: ‘When you follow God’s call, he adds so much to your life!’
3 May 2025 | Interview, Calling and vocation
Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Sawyer chats about Candidates Sunday and fullness of life.
William Booth College: Making training more accessible
3 May 2025 | Interview, Calling and vocation
Major Wendy Stanbury (William Booth College) unpicks some common misconceptions about officer training.
John 10: The Shepherd’s voice
3 May 2025 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Philip Garnham suggests we need to listen closely to God’s call.
Territorial Appointments Conference 2025: Praying for discernment
6 Jan 2025 | Viewpoint, Calling and vocation
Lieut-Colonel David Shakespeare calls us all to pray together for the 2025 Territorial Appointments Conference.
Welcome to the Cadets: A covenant to keep
19 Oct 2024 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Major Jo Moir reports from the welcome weekend for the Keepers of the Covenant session of cadets.
‘It’s about making a covenant with God’
9 Oct 2024 | Interview, Calling and vocation
Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Sawyer talks to Salvationist about officership, leadership and calling.
A priesthood of all believers
9 Oct 2024 | Feature, Calling and vocation
Major David Taylor reflects on the theology of officership and spiritual leadership.
Now recruiting
9 Oct 2024 | Feature, Calling and vocation
Major Beverly Baker introduces the territory’s new strategy for employing corps leaders.
Introducing the Keepers of the Covenant
28 Sep 2024 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
As they begin officer training, cadets of the Keepers of the Covenant session share their testimonies.
Covenant Day: What is it and why is it important?
16 Jul 2024 | Calling and vocation, Interview
Integrative Training Officer Major Wendy Stanbury (William Booth College) talks to Salvationist about the sacred moment when cadets sign the Officer’s Covenant.
Together 2024: Stories from the Defenders of Justice!
13 Jul 2024 | Together, Calling and vocation
As the new lieutenants are commissioned, four of them share their stories.
Commissioning preview: Are you called?
16 May 2024 | Feature, Calling and vocation
Major Jo Moir looks ahead to the Commissioning of the Defenders of Justice at Together 2024.
General announces sessional names
24 Apr 2024 | Feature, Calling and vocation
General Lyndon Buckingham has announced the cadet sessional names for 2026 to 2032.
Why Exploring Leadership Day is for you
16 Mar 2024 | Feature, Calling and vocation
Territorial Candidates Directors Majors Andrea and Mark Sawyer introduce the new format of Exploring Leadership Day.
We are the champions!
23 Sep 2023 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
As they begin officer training, cadets of the Champions of the Mission session share their testimonies.
Ep 11: Sunday Worship with Cadet Bethany Perkins
9 May 2023 | Podcast, Sunday Worship
Candidates Sunday: Cadet Bethany Perkins considers how we are each hired by God to carry out his work.
Distance learning cadets: 'I’m living out the theory I’m learning'
5 May 2023 | Interview, Testimony
Cadet Paul Sass explains how he became a distance learner cadet while leading Merthyr Tydfil Corps.
From watching Paul O'Grady to becoming a territorial envoy
5 May 2023 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Territorial Envoy Ali James shares how she followed her calling.
‘God is definitely still calling people’
4 May 2023 | Interview, Calling and vocation
Lyn Woods talks with Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Sawyer about spiritual leadership.
Exploring Leadership Day 2023: Showing our God colours
12 Apr 2023 | Feature, Calling and vocation
Captain Jo Moir reports on this year's Exploring Leadership Day.
Exploring Leadership Day: 'God really spoke to me'
2 Mar 2023 | Interview, Calling and vocation
Cadet Adam Barber explains how Exploring Leadership Day helped confirm his calling.
Territorial envoys share their stories
30 Nov 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Territorial envoys share their stories during the early days of their service as corps leaders.
Introducing the Defenders of Justice
7 Oct 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Members of the newest session of cadets share their stories as they begin officer training.
Stepping into officership: 'I know God will be by my side'
9 Aug 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Lieutenant Abigail Gray, of the newly commissioned Messengers of Reconciliation session, shares her story.
Heading in the right direction and not worrying about the route
4 Aug 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Lieutenant Matthew Stone, of the newly commissioned Messengers of Reconciliation session, shares his story.
New Lieutenant: 'I have grown in ways that have surprised me'
28 Jul 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Lieutenant Thomas Morgan, of the newly commissioned Messengers of Reconciliation session, shares his story.
Cadet testimony: 'I found my home, I found my people'
15 Jul 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Cadet Emily Hague shares her story ahead of Commissioning at Together 2022.
Gideon's calling: How can I?
4 Jul 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Mal Davies considers how Gideon went from threshing wheat to leading Israel.
Apest: Teachers
14 May 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Ian Mountford encourages us to identify those called and gifted by God to teach.
Responding to God's call: 'It’s not about what I want'
9 May 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Cadet Hannah Turnbull shares what the Candidates Sunday (8 May) theme Becoming means to her.
Apest: Shepherds
7 May 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Vikki Burr considers what we can learn from the Shepherd’s Psalm.
'Am I already what God intends me to become? No, I am a work in progress'
4 May 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Territorial Envoy Lee Highton-Nicholls shares what the Candidates Sunday (8 May) theme Becoming means to him.
Apest: Evangelists
30 Apr 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Bethany Munn asks whether we walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
Becoming who God wants us to be: 'Nothing is wasted in our journey'
23 Apr 2022 | Testimony, Calling and vocation
Major Vivienne Prescott shares what the Candidates Sunday (8 May) theme Becoming means to her.
Apest: Prophets
23 Apr 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Major Matt Butler highlights those who bring correction and challenge to God’s people.
Apest: Apostles
16 Apr 2022 | Bible study, Calling and vocation
Captain Callum McKenna highlights what it means to be ‘sent’ with God’s message.
Discover more
Introducing the new Territorial Candidates Directors and September’s Design for Life weekend.
A lifelong commitment to Salvation Army leadership that's taken after deep thought and prayer.
A prayerful commitment to serve as a Salvation Army leader for a minimum of three years.