The Board of Reference has featured established leaders from around the world. These people offer recommendations and input into the composition and operation of The War College.

With the emergence of a global reference board, The War College Vancouver is reforming a local, divisional and territorial reference group to be announced by mid June.

Founders:

Danielle Strickland and Stephen Court
Captain Strickland and Major Court invest in several initiatives to help win the world for Jesus, including JUSTSalvos, an umbrella of Salvo Justice campaigns impacting many countries round the world; MMCCXX, a plot to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years; BE A HERO Campaign to raise up 10,000 heroes for children-at-risk; armybarmy.com, Journal of Aggressive Christianity, and books and CDs (the latest being JUST Imagine: The world for God, and ONE THING: Win the world for Jesus), all while seeking authentic Christian community and trying to incite a Jesus Revolution.

Recomendations:
General Eva Burrows (R) says: “The War College offers training in Bible-based, urban mission, gives opportunities to engage in down-to-earth, street ministry, spurs you to challenge social injustice and to live incarnationally as servants of Jesus. It’s for the daring, not the faint-hearted. It will transform your life.”

Commissioner Wesley Harris (R) says: “The War College is one of the best of Salvation Army innovations. I spent weeks observing the prayer, study and street ministry of young people in down town Vancouver that would be deserving of a corporate award of the Order of the Founder (if such a thing existed!) The programme of incarnational ministry is challenging and not for the fainthearted. But it is God-glorifying and an example of what can be done by young people with both passion and purpose.”

Commissioner Phil Needham (R) says: “The War College is founded on the premise that all Christians are called to real warfare. This premise isundeniable for all who believe with the apostle Paul that we battle ‘against the cosmic powers of the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.’ (Ephesians 6:12b) Our weapons are very different, our power is spiritual, our strategy is love. To walk into the kind of warfare to which our Lord calls us without adequate preparation, immersion in Scripture, mentoring by more seasoned fighters, and platoons of prayer, can lead to failure, and usually does. The War College is designed to be a training ground for this spiritual warfare and to nurture Salvationists who know how to fight and win. The graduates I know have not only been turned on to militant Salvationism, they have become effective warriors for Christ.”

Commissioner Joe Noland (R) says: “Unique, Innovative, Entrepreneurial, Opportunistic, Risky, Life-changing, Primitive, Contemporary, Aggressive, Incarnational” – adjectives describing, in part, what The War College is all about. The vibes coming out of this place are positive, Spirit-filled and earth-shaking, having made its presence felt around the Army world. Get involved if you dare! I do recommend it.”

Colonel Earl Robinson (R) says: “It was a privilege for me to be associated with The War College in Vancouver in its first years of operation by teaching two courses, one entitled “Warfare Doctrine & Operations: Past, Present & Future” and the other entitled “Extreme Holiness”. I sensed that the students of the college had a desire to learn more about the basics of The Salvation Army and how the war against sin and Satan in the beginnings of our Movement could be recaptured in the new millennium. I was especially moved in my own heart and soul to be able to join them in a prayer-walkoccasionally on East Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver and see the ways in which they were inter-acting with the destitute because of being recognized by them as caring friends. I am pleased to commend The War College as a place of new beginnings for new students who are being called by God to become part of the college and its adventures in Christian Mission.”

Lieut. Colonels Munn say: “In the romantic tradition of classic Salvationism The War College represents an innovative, bold work of incarnational grace in ‘the war with no discharge.’

At a time when seminarians are increasingly being educated and trained in the context of the local community of faith, God is birthing this same movement in The Salvation Army – with one added and startling dimension: the terrain is tough, the training is formidable and the teachers are courageous. Yes indeed, the ‘forts of darkness’ are being stormed. The end result is a vibrant ‘revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.’

In a world increasingly bored by excess, ease and entertainment is it time you – or someone you know – responded to the call for heroism and enrolled in ‘the great salvation war?’ ”

Colonel Don Copple says: “The Vancouver War College provides a unique opportunity to experience incarnational living while learning and engaging in urban Spiritual Warfare.”

Wesley and Stacey Campbell say: “We’ve been on the Board of Reference since the inception of The War College and heartily endorse it to all who want to challenge themselves in simplicity, in identification with the poor, in spiritual warfare, and in mission. These heroes are praying hard, fighting hard, and loving hard. Maybe God is calling you to join them for a year!”