Salvation Army’s Youngest Spiritual Life Committee Member Advocates for Youth Voice

Grace Hall, a 26-year-old member of The Salvation Army’s North Brisbane Corps in Queensland, has become the youngest member of the national Spiritual Life Committee (SLC). As a senior soldier and executive assistant at Divisional Headquarters, Hall recently participated in the SLC’s “Divisional Listening Visits,” which aimed to gather insights on the spiritual life of the organization. These forums were inspired by the communal and egalitarian practices of Aboriginal First Nations yarning circles.

Hall expressed honor at being invited to contribute her perspective. “I’ve never been given a seat of responsibility like this before,” she said. “I am a soldier, I am an employee and I am a young adult in The Salvation Army. I am trying to be a good voice for my generation, a good voice for soldiers, and employees as well.”

The SLC, which guides The Salvation Army in aligning its operations with its mission to “share the love of Jesus by caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities and working for justice,” regularly meets and receives feedback from the Divisional Spiritual Life Forums (DSLF). These forums provide input to the broader SLC and, ultimately, to The Salvation Army board.

Hall emphasized the importance of integrating the church’s spiritual mission with its operational aspects. “We are a church and we are a business, and so how does this cross over, how does this coincide because it doesn’t feel natural sometimes,” she said. “The SLC is a key component in helping us work together seamlessly, in making sure we keep Jesus in the focus in everything.”

Fellow SLC member and Secretary for Spiritual Life Development Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane praised Hall’s inclusion on the committee. “Grace has been chosen to be on the Spiritual Life Committee not only as a young adult, but as a committed disciple of Jesus who brings a unique voice from her generation and helps us respond and listen,” Keane said. “I admire Grace greatly, and it’s a privilege to serve alongside her. I learn so much from her humility and spiritual authority.”

Keane highlighted the value of diverse representation on the committee, noting that it includes voices from various age groups and backgrounds. Hall has been assisting Keane in expanding the committee’s reach and impact.

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