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Commissioner Freda Larsson

Commissioner Freda and her sons brought family tributes. She said: ‘So many personal stories have been shared with us as a family of the way that John has had an impact on people’s lives through his preaching, teaching, writing, music or personal contacts.’

She spoke of their meeting, marriage, family life and ministry, and quoted a favourite song that would be with her in the days ahead: ‘You’re not alone, you’re in the Father’s hands,/ He knows his own, your steps his heart has planned./ You’re not alone, whate’er your lot may be,/ He’s watching tenderly over you and me.’ She added: ‘I rest in that assurance today.’

Karl spoke warmly of his father, describing him as ‘gentle, graceful and encouraging’ and saying that, even with his father’s many Army responsibilities over the years, ‘our family life never suffered – it blossomed, in fact’.

After sharing a few words Kevin sat at the piano and, as his tribute, played a medley of some of his father’s melodies, including ‘Someone Cares’, ‘How Much More’, ‘Hundreds and Thousands’ and ‘Love Cannot Fail’.

For the Larssons’ retirement meeting in 2006 Karl and Kevin had put together a video titled A Retirement Salute and this was shown in the thanksgiving service. Accompanied by a selection of General Larsson’s music, it interspersed photos from the couple’s lives and ministry with images from the countries they visited during their years as international leaders.

Major Mylechreest read from John 10:1–10 and Philippians 1:19–21 before Commissioner Banks brought his message. Referring to Philippians 2:22, where Paul writes ‘Timothy’s the real thing’ (The Message), Commissioner Banks said: ‘All of us who knew General John Larsson … knew that there was nothing false or fake about him. To be in the presence of John Larsson was to know that he was the real thing, he was authentic.’

Commissioner Banks described him as ‘an authentic friend’ and gave examples of the personal support General Larsson had given him, as well as experiences shared during their almost 60 years of friendship.

‘What helped to make him such an authentic friend was the fact that he was an authentic Christian,’ Commissioner Banks continued. ‘When he heard the Lord say, “Follow me,” he said yes. When the call came to live out the radical life that Jesus came to bring, with its call to holy living, he said yes. When he heard the call to ministry as a Salvation Army officer, he said yes. His yes to the claims of Jesus … permeated his creativity, it influenced his relationships with people and it shaped his public proclamation of the gospel. He knew for himself what Jesus meant when he said I’m come that you might have life in all its fullness, because this was the life to which he had said yes. When John wrote his book about Jesus, The Man Perfectly Filled with the Spirit, he was writing about someone he knew personally, and to whom he had given his life.’

Because General Larsson was an authentic Christian, he was an authentic Salvation Army officer, Commissioner Banks stated. ‘His faithfulness to his Salvation Army officers covenant is perhaps the greatest proof of his authentic Salvationism… He was a member of the Faithful session of cadets – and every appointment that he held together with Freda, not least that of General of The Salvation Army, was carried out faithfully within the context of that covenant and commitment. As a Salvation Army officer, he was the real thing.’

Commenting on Philippians 1:21 – ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ – Commissioner Banks said: ‘Death is not the end of the story for the authentic believer.’ In conclusion he referred to the song the congregation was about to sing, ‘They Shall Come from the East’, and said there is no ‘discrimination or distinction or exclusion’ in the Kingdom of God. ‘I urge you to be sure in your own heart that you will be included.’

After moments of prayerful commitment and the final song, the TC closed the thanksgiving service with a prayer and benediction.

Earlier in the day a committal service took place at Beckenham Crematorium, led by Major Iain Hudson (Bromley Temple). Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main prayed and Major Alison Hudson read John 14:1–6 and 27. Lieut-Colonel Miriam Frederiksen, the sister of General Larsson, read the poem ‘Death But a Door’ by Flora Larsson. The service included the songs ‘I Know Thee Who Thou Art’ by Albert Orsborn and ‘He Giveth More Grace’ by Annie Johnson Flint, which assured those gathered that: ‘His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,/ His power no boundary known unto men;/ For out of his infinite riches in Jesus/ He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.’

Commissioner Keith Banks

The thanksgiving service can be viewed at

youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo

Prior to the funeral and thanksgiving service, Commissioner Freda Larsson asked that donations in lieu of flowers could be sent to the Army’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal at salvationarmy.org.uk/ukraine-crisis-appeal.