Jarl Wahlström
Encyclopedia
Jarl Holger Wahlström was the 12th General of The Salvation Army
(1981–1986).
Born to Colonel and Mrs. Rafael Wahlström, he was the youngest of five children. He grew up at the training college in Finland
, as his father was the training principal. He became a Christian when he was seven years old. In 1937, he entered the International Training College London, England as a cadet in the Enthusiasts session, becoming an officer in 1938.
His first appointment was assistant officer at the Oulu
Corps. When World War II
began, he was conscripted into the military for four years. The last two years of his military service were spent as battalion chaplain. Upon his return in 1944, he married Lt. Maire Nyberg. He was appointed Finland's territorial scout organiser when the war ended. Seven years later, he was moved to the Helsinki
Division as the youth secretary. In 1963, he was appointed to the position of training principal for Finland. A year later, he became a Knight of the Order of the Finnish Lion because of his work in the Scout Movement
.
Jarl Wahlström's first overseas appointment came in 1972, when he took up the position of chief secretary for the Canada
and Bermuda
Territory. He went on to become a territorial commander, first in Finland in 1976, then in Sweden
in 1981. He was elected to the office of General later that year.
General Wahlström led the International Youth Congress in 1985 at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, USA. It was the first worldwide Salvation Army youth gathering since 1950 and the first international Salvation Army conference to be held outside the United Kingdom
.
In 1996, General Wahlström retired from active service, moving back to Helsinki. After a lengthy sickness, he was promoted to Glory
in 1999.
He wrote song 857 in The Salvation Army Song Book (1986 version), "Great Joy Is Found in Serving Jesus." He was honoured with the Order of Civil Merit of Korea
in 1983. He gained an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Western Illinois University
in 1985. The Order of the White Rose
was bestowed upon him in Finland in 1989.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
(1981–1986).
Born to Colonel and Mrs. Rafael Wahlström, he was the youngest of five children. He grew up at the training college in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, as his father was the training principal. He became a Christian when he was seven years old. In 1937, he entered the International Training College London, England as a cadet in the Enthusiasts session, becoming an officer in 1938.
His first appointment was assistant officer at the Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
Corps. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began, he was conscripted into the military for four years. The last two years of his military service were spent as battalion chaplain. Upon his return in 1944, he married Lt. Maire Nyberg. He was appointed Finland's territorial scout organiser when the war ended. Seven years later, he was moved to the Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Division as the youth secretary. In 1963, he was appointed to the position of training principal for Finland. A year later, he became a Knight of the Order of the Finnish Lion because of his work in the Scout Movement
Suomen Partiolaiset
Suomen Partiolaiset - Finlands Scouter ry is the national Scouting and Guiding association of Finland. Scouting was founded in Finland in 1910 as part of tsarist Russia, registered with the central organization of the tsarist Russian Scout movement Русский Скаут...
.
Jarl Wahlström's first overseas appointment came in 1972, when he took up the position of chief secretary for the Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
Territory. He went on to become a territorial commander, first in Finland in 1976, then in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1981. He was elected to the office of General later that year.
General Wahlström led the International Youth Congress in 1985 at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, USA. It was the first worldwide Salvation Army youth gathering since 1950 and the first international Salvation Army conference to be held outside the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In 1996, General Wahlström retired from active service, moving back to Helsinki. After a lengthy sickness, he was promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist.Earliest printed usage of the term seems to be in late 1882 in The War Cry, which included death announcements in the December 14 issue, with headlines such as 'Promotion of Sister Muxlow from Earth to...
in 1999.
He wrote song 857 in The Salvation Army Song Book (1986 version), "Great Joy Is Found in Serving Jesus." He was honoured with the Order of Civil Merit of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in 1983. He gained an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
in 1985. The Order of the White Rose
Order of the White Rose
The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
was bestowed upon him in Finland in 1989.