The Salvation Army Announces Registration Open for Commissioning Youth Conference 2026

Anticipation is growing for Commissioning 2026, taking place from June 5-7 at the Atlanta Temple Corps under the banner of “Loving Like Jesus.” This focus continues the year-long theme of LOVE, with 1 John 4:11-12 serving as the central scripture passage. The weekend promises a meaningful gathering of worship, fellowship, and education, emphasizing the importance of love among believers.

The event features four general sessions, each highlighting different aspects of Jesus’ love. Friday evening’s opening session will center on witnessing the love of Jesus, while Saturday morning’s session focuses on experiencing that love. Saturday evening’s session will emphasize sharing the love of Jesus, and Sunday morning’s service includes the ordination and commissioning of the Keepers of the Covenant session of cadets as they become the newest officers of The Salvation Army.

Alongside these sessions, dedicated youth activities will take place on the property. Childcare is available for youth ages 6 months through 4 years, while children aged 5-12 will participate in a Youth Conference under the theme “Galaxy Quest: Searching for God’s Truth.” This theme aligns with the territorial Vacation Bible School offering for 2026, which adapts the five-day VBS curriculum into a multi-session program for Commissioning Weekend.

Melissa Powell, territorial children’s ministries coordinator, explains the decision to use the VBS curriculum. “By using this VBS curriculum, we really want to be able to share Bible stories with kids in an effective way,” she says. “The ones that maybe we grew up with and that we may know, like the story of Jonah and the whale or the story of Abraham, but a lot of our kids just don’t know those stories anymore. We are intentionally going back to the basics of discipleship and being able to share that biblical truth with kids from the very beginning, getting the stories in their hands and in their minds.”

Powell notes that the territorial youth department is focusing on biblical literacy throughout the year, which complements the Commissioning focus. “Overall, Commissioning aims to be a very focused, intentional discipleship weekend, not just for adults that are in the general sessions, but we also want to be able to pour into kids,” she continues.

On Saturday evening, the youth will have the opportunity to attend a visit and special program: Aurora Children’s Playhouse presents Science in Space LIVE! This event will feature a scientific focus, hands-on learning, and an entertaining experience for all. As the weekend progresses, the activities for adults and youth will continue to reflect the theme of loving like Jesus.

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