The Harvest Is Ready: A Call to Action
The global Church—especially in the West—seems to have forgotten a vital truth: the Holy Spirit is active in this world, not just within the Church. The Spirit is moving, convicting hearts, stirring souls and awakening people to their need for salvation.
Right now, the Holy Spirit is working in the harvest field described in Matthew 9:37–38 (see below). Jesus uses the metaphor of a harvest to describe the spiritual readiness of people to receive the message of God’s kingdom. We are the workers called to go out and bring in that harvest.
Let us not forget: God has already gone before us. He has prepared hearts. He is waiting for His Church to rise up and get on with the work of harvesting souls.
In the natural world, harvest season is urgent and time-sensitive. Crops must be gathered at the right moment—wait too long and they rot. Likewise, we must recognise the urgency of sharing the gospel. Jesus said the harvest is ready but the workers are few. That means people are spiritually hungry and open—but they need someone to bring them the message of hope.
General Lyndon Buckingham has issued The Salvation Army a ‘…Global Call to Action’ (page 28). He asks us to ‘pray for the Holy Spirit to inject us with a divine sense of urgency about our missional and spiritual life’. He goes on to say, ‘The Global Call to Action also acknowledges the need to let go of the desire to control our movement and to make room for allowing our young people to lead us into a new day for The Salvation Army, commencing immediately’.
Also in this edition of SALT, we report on Together Congress 2025 (page 8). You will see from the photos that young people were front and centre—their passion was unmistakable. If the Army is to remain vibrant and relevant in this generation, we must intentionally prioritise young people—not just by inviting them in, but by empowering them to lead. The Holy Spirit is already at work in their lives, stirring vision, courage and a deep hunger for mission. Our role is not to control or delay what God has begun, but to nurture and release it. Prioritising young people means listening to their voices, trusting them with responsibility and creating space for their friends to find belonging and purpose in our movement—regardless of how they look, speak or worship.
The magazine can be viewed either as an online magazine on Issuu, or the bulk of the articles, leadership links, news, and shorter reflections (Grace Notes) have been added into their various sections.
I welcome your feedback and suggestions, and also your photos, letters, crafts and stories. Please email: [email protected]
Magazine Contents
Articles
Tino Taonga: A Vision for Our Movement
