Jarl Wahlström

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Jarl Holger Wahlström (July 9, 1918 - December 3, 1999) 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 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 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 be the General later that year.

General Wahlström led the International Youth Congress in 1985 in the 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.

Throughout his life, General Wahlström became quite accomplished. He wrote Song No. 857 in the Salvation Army song book, 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.

Preceded by Arnold Brown

General of The Salvation Army 1981–1986

Succeeded by Eva Burrows