Revd Dr. Alison Morgan, author of Following Jesus: The Plural of Disciple is Church defines discipleship as, "[A] form of apprenticeship undertaken in community." As disciples of Christ, we are called to learn from Jesus to be like Him within the context of a community. It is this aspect of being part of a community that is vital. When we consider the depth of our spiritual lives, corps (church) membership emerges as a vibrant and critical element that helps shape and form fellowship, accountability, and growth.
Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This verse underscores the importance of regular fellowship within the community of believers. Through corps membership, we cultivate relationships that spur us on toward a life of worship and obedience to the Word of God. Ephesians 4:16 echoes this sentiment, it reads, "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Being part of a corps recognizes our interconnectedness in the Body of Christ and the vital role we play in nurturing spiritual growth not only in ourselves but also in our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ultimately, corps membership is not merely a transactional commitment or a statistic that we enter into our database, but a sacred commitment rooted in love, service, and mutual edification. The THQ Corps Mission department aims to come alongside you and build a discipleship culture together across our territory. For this reason, we have curated resources to help foster these conversations with those visiting and attending your corps.
Soldiership
Mobilized for Mission
This resource is an 11-lesson in-depth study of The Salvation Army doctrine and practices, written by Major Brian Slous.
This senior soldier preparation course contains five lessons on doctrine, three on Christian lifestyle and three on Salvationism. It is an updated and revised version of Preparing for Battle, which has been widely used and well received, both territorially and internationally.
These downloads contain the course book in three formats: English, French, and Spanish.
Exploring Soldiership*
Exploring Soldiership is a course that explores what it means to be a soldier within The Salvation Army. It integrates the eleven doctrines, or beliefs that are the foundation of The Salvation Army and the practical lifestyle commitments of the Soldiers Covenant. The course is designed so that it can be run in a one-to-one or small group context and we have outlined a range of delivery options to help structure your time together and facilitate discussion.
This course is available in English and Chinese.
*Shared with permission by our partners in The Salvation Army Australia Territory
Adherent Training
This interactive four-lesson manual was produced by the Canada and Bermuda Territory's Corps Mission department originally in 2016. Revised and updated in 2024. It explains the commitments of membership, what belonging to the Salvation Army means and that adherency can be seen as an on-ramp to soldiership. The manual explains Army history, culture, local mission and ministry, and works as a course for newcomers as well. Stay tuned for the updated copy with French & Spanish coming soon.
