Hundreds Salvation Army faithful from all over South Africa and the neighbouring countries gathered at the Thohoyandou Town Hall last weekend, for their 2012 commissioning event.

The event was a blessing for the locals, who had had to travel to Johannesburg in previous years. It was the first commissioning event ever in Limpopo.

The gathering was blessed by the church's leader, Gen Linda Bond, who flew all the way from London to officiate. The gathering started on Friday and the highlight was on Sunday, when seven officers of the church were ordained.

Clad in their army-like uniforms, members took Thohoyandou town by storm when they marched, led by a brass band, along the streets of Thohoyandou. The procession started from the local town hall. There was another procession on Sunday, which started at the local police station adn continued to the town hall, where the function was held.

In her message, Gen Bond urged the newly ordained Proclaimers of the Resurrection to lead exemplary lives and “to continue proclaiming His resurrection through service and daily witness. People will need to see that Jesus Christ is alive in you, that you live in him and for him and that you find in Jesus the fullness of life that nothing else or no one else can offer,” she said.