Jarl Wahlström

From Sawiki

General Jarl Wahlström

Jarl Holger Wahlström was born on July 9th 1918 (Finland), the youngest of the three sons of Colonel and Mrs. Rafael Wahlström. During his early years his father was Training Principal, and the family home was on the same premises as the Training College. Young Jarl gave his life the Lord when he was just seven years old, completing his education while his father was Divisional Commander of the Finland Northern Division based at Oulu.

In 1937 he answered the call to Officership, and on august 19th left his native Finland for the International Training College which he entered as a cadet in the Enthusiasts session. Jarl Wahlström would become the Salvation Army's first General to have been trained at the Denmark Hill college. Upon completion of his training in 1938 he returned to Finland where he was appointed assistant officer at the Oulu Corps.

At the outbreak of WWII in 1939 he was called up for four years military service, the last two years being served as battalion chaplain. In August 1944, Jarl Wahlström was married to Lt. Maire Nyberg. At the end of the war he was appointed Finland's Territorial Scout Organiser, a position he held for seven years. He then served as Youth Secretary in the Helsinki Division, before being appointed Finland's Training Principal in 1963. The following year Jarl Wahlström was honoured for his work in the Scout Movement, when he was made a Knight of The Order of the Finnish Lion. April 1968 saw him appointed to the position of Chief Secretary, second in command of the Army in Finland.

In 1972 Jarl Wahlström received his first overseas appointment and left his native Finland to take up the position of Chief Secretary for the Canada & Bermuda Territory, holding this position until 1976 when he returned to Finland as Territorial Commander. In 1981 he became Territorial Commander for Sweden.

On October 23rd he was elected General of The Salvation and assumed command on December 14th. Being fluent in English, German, Finish and Swedish, the General brought a spirit of internationalism to his high office. Within minutes of his election he told a television reporter that he wanted to be a General who would bring a "spirit of enthusiasm and optimism". He was well fitted for this, as he was an accomplished musician, proficient on the cornet, mandolin and guitar, and composed both words and music for many songs published in the Musical Salvationist of Finland.

In 1985 General Wahlström led the International Youth Congress in the USA. With some 5,000 delegates, this was the first international S.A. congress to be held outside the United Kingdom and the first world wide S.A. youth gathering since 1950. Later the same year he led 1,500 delegates from 23 countries in a six day Holy Land congress. The new Salvation Army song book was issued just 2 months before the General's retirement, being the first revision for 33 years. Song No. 857, Great Joy Is Found In Serving Jesus is his composition.

General Jarl Wahlström retired from active service on July 8th 1996 and spent his retirement in Helsinki. During his leadership of the Army, and in retirement he had other honours bestowed upon him: the Order of Civil Merit, Korea 1983; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Western Illinois University, 1985; Commander, Order of the White Rose, Finland, 1989.

The General was promoted to Glory on December 3rd 1999 after a long illness. Mrs. General Maire Wahlström continues to live in Helsinki.

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