John Larsson
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John Larsson (born April 2, 1938) is the Swedish-born 17th General, or International Leader, of The Salvation Army (2002-present).
The son of officer parents, he spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile and Argentina. He became an officer in 1957 from the corps in Upper Norwood, London, England. He graduated from the University of London with a BD degree.
After a year as a corps officer in the north of England, he served on the staff of the International Training College in London for seven years before returning to corps appointments.
He and Captain Freda Turner were married in 1969 while stationed at the corps in Ealing. They have two sons, Karl Larsson and Kevin Larsson, who both belong to The Salvation Army.
John Larsson and his wife were appointed to the South America West Territory in 1980, he as Chief Secretary and she as Territorial Home League Secretary. In 1984, they were appointed to the International Training College as Principal and Librarian. They were appointed to International Headquarters in London in 1988. John Larsson, as assistant to the Chief of the Staff for United Kingdom administrative planning, was given the task of researching and planning for the separation of the international and national administrations. Freda Larsson served as coordinator for married women officers.
The Larssons were then appointed Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Organisations for the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland in 1990. In 1993, they were appointed for the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory; and in 1996, they received appointments for the Sweden and Latvia Territory.
John Larsson is the author of Doctrine Without Tears, The Man Perfectly Filled with the Spirit, Spiritual Breakthrough and How Your Corps Can Grow.
He is also a composer and, together with General John Gowans, co-authored ten full-length stage musicals, Take-Over Bid (1967), Hosea (1969), Jesus Folk (1972), Spirit (1973), Glory (1975), White Rose (1977), The Blood Of The Lamb (1978), Son Of Man (1983), Man Mark II (1985), and The Meeting (1990).
In 1999, Commissioners John and Freda Larsson became Chief of the Staff and World Secretary for Women’s Organisations (later Women's Ministries).
When General Gowans and his wife, Commissioner Gisèle Gowans, retired, Chief of the Staff John Larsson was elected General of The Salvation Army by the High Council on September 6, 2002. His wife then became Commissioner Freda Larsson.