4
May 30
The Results are in...
730 Survey Says
In 1991, Commissioner Kenneth Hodder
commissioned a survey to be taken of Young
Adult Salvationists of the Southern Territory to
better understand the perspectives they held of
Salvation Army officership. With such knowledge,
candidate recruitment efforts could be improved
upon to best communicate the vocation of
officership.
In the fall of 2014, the Territorial Candidates
Department thought it a worthy endeavor to revisit
this survey, as similarly as possible, to see where
those perspectives stand today. Commissioner
Don Bell sanctioned the project and the following
report contains that information.
It should be noted that much of the labor
involved with developing the current survey is
credited to the previous team appointed to build
the content of the questionnaire. We are grateful
for the many hours spent crafting the questions
and gathering the information, that we might still
be benefiting from it today.
1991
Survey reach
2014
991
1,134
Survey responses 295
322
Southern Territory responses
250
295
Central Territory responses
33
Eastern Territory responses
15
8
Western Territory responses
International responses
21
2014 Survey emailed to a list of 1,134 Southern Territory young adults ages
14-40. Additionally, the survey was posted on the following social media
outlets: Facebook & Twitter.
What are positive aspects of Salvation Army officership?
What are negative
aspects of officership?
73
What would
(or has) influenced you
toward becoming a
Salvation Army officer?
See responses here >>
Are you currently planning to become an officer of The Salvation Army?
If no, are you open to the possibility of becoming an officer?
Yes 90 (31%)
142 44%
No/Yes 141 (48%)
124 39%
No/No
65 (22%) 56 17%
Do you see officership as:
8% 248 77%
A calling 25
A career 6
2% 15 5%
A ministry 7
2% 59 18%
Calling, career, & ministry (1991)
180 61%
How do you see your calling to full-time ministry best fulfilled?
As an employee 6
2% 51 16%
As a soldier 29
10% 70 22%
74
25%
54 17%
As a local officer
As an officer
89
30%
147 45%
27
9%
As all of the choices (1991)
The idea of “life-long” commitment to Salvation Army officership has a:
Positive effect on me
153 52%
218 68%
Negative effect on me
40
14%
38 12%
No effect on me 68
23% 66 20%
If you pursue professional skills,
do you think these skills would be well-utilized as an officer?
Yes 214
73% 281 87%
No 53
18% 41 13%
Do you feel a woman’s potential is fully maximized in officership?
Yes 125
42% 212 66%
No 157
53% 110 34%
Regarding the issue of officership, I feel there i
Not enough encouragement given to young people
An appropriate amount of encouragement given to yo
Too much pressure on young people
I feel the invitation to officership given at Army
Effective & encouraging
A turn-off
Has no effect on me
I feel the visits of the cadets during campaigns
Encouraging
A turn-off
Has no effect on me
Do you feel God works through Salvation Army
Yes
No
Do you feel the 730 (Days) recruitment campaig
Yes
No
Not Applicable
730 Days - The two formative years spen