Asbury University welcomes Salvation Army General Shaw Clifton
WILMORE, KY—Asbury University proudly welcomed General Shaw Clifton of The Salvation Army on March 10, 2010. General Clifton addressed the student body during chapel services at 10 a.m. in Hughes Auditorium.
General Shaw Clifton, LLB, BD, PhD, AKC, and Commissioner Helen Clifton BA, PGCE became Salvation Army officers in London in 1973. General Clifton was elected the 18th General of The Salvation Army by the High Council in January 2006 and took over as the international leader of The Salvation Army on April 2, 2006. At that time, Commissioner Helen Clifton became the World President of Women’s Ministries. Commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 1973, the General and Commissionor Helen Clifton have held appointments on five continents, and are frequent guest leaders and speakers at events around the world.
Asbury University and The Salvation Army have shared a strong and mutually beneficial relationship for more than 80 years. The first “Sallie” came to Asbury University in 1924, and since then the University has been home to as many as 93 Salvationists at any given time. Through the years more than 500 Salvationists attended Asbury University, of those more than half became commissioned officers including corps officers and local officers, divisional and territorial leaders, three national commanders, and a former General.
Not only did Asbury University benefit the Army by equipping its officers, soldiers and lay employees for their calling, but the University also helped the Army add to its ranks. The Salvation Army considered Asbury University a place where students could obtain a good academic foundation in an atmosphere of holiness teaching, revival spirit and missionary zeal. The Army Chief of Staff once described Asbury University as the “most important educational influence on the Salvation Army in the world.” Today, Asbury University is the only college with an official Salvation Army Student Center, which was built in 1983 with the support of all four Salvation Army Territories.
As evidence of the historical and long-time relationship, members of The Salvation Army have raised $2.5 million in partnership with Asbury University to name the new Center for Communication Arts in honor of Andrew S. Miller ’45, Retired Commissioner of The Salvation Army.
