The following photo essay is a glimpse inside the Army’s ministry in the South America East Territory.

Shanty town communities spring up outside large cities in South America. Houses are built from abandoned construction supplies and materials found in scrap piles. As in many parts of the world, shanty dwellers take the risk that they will be asked to leave the land. The Salvation Army maintains a visible presence in the slum areas of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Evangalina Green Space program exists to educate and keep children away from drugs. It provides children and youth from poor communities the opportunity to participate in sports, crafts and receive anti-drug teaching that involves the whole family.

Rayito de Luz is a school support program located in an area known as the “Red Zone,” a neighbourhood full of gang activity. Rayito means “light beam,” signifying that the Army is providing light in a “dark” community. A daytime program runs for Grades 1 to 6, with more than 50 children receiving support. Approximately 30 children in Grades 7 to 9 attend the evening session. The children come from families caught in a cycle of poverty, violence and drugs. The Salvation Army charges $1.20/month per family to attend.

Elvia, a 60-year-old widowed grandmother, is visited by The Salvation Army. She earns money as a recycler, spending four to six hours a day pushing a cart through city streets gathering plastics and paper. She separates these at home and sorts them into large bags to sell to buyers. Paid according to the weight of the materials, she receives about $8 for one large bag (as pictured), which represents 15 days of work.

In some areas of the territory, such as Asuncion, Paraguay, the Army operates health centres and medical clinics that visit local communities to teach about health issues.

While a relatively new concept in the South America East Territory, Salvation Army thrift stores enable people in the community to purchase used goods at reasonable prices and are a great form of recycling. The thrift stores are making the Army more visible and helping to contribute to the cost of its other programs.

South America East has 42 corps and 13 outposts that serve in three countries. The officers’ training college is located in Buenos Aires.

Visit Salvationist.ca/pim to view photos and video from South America East. Additional Partners in Mission resources are also available online.

Describe the South America East Territory.
The Salvation Army has been here since 1890—that’s over 120 years of ministry. It’s been a rough history in many ways, as the three countries—Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay—have experienced challenges politically and economically.

We have three divisions: Buenos Aires, which is the largest; Central Argentina; and Uruguay. We also have four districts, which have fewer corps, but in the case of the south and central part of Argentina, the geography is so vast that these districts cover huge amounts of land.

We have 43 corps, 14 outposts and 25 social services institutions, including shelters, daycares, after-school programs and medical clinics. We have 131 active officers, 33 retired officers and five cadets now in their second year of training.

What do you see as the strengths of the territory?
We are developing a sense that we need to become more self-sufficient. We need to stop relying completely on outside funding and work harder to achieve local funding. We’ve been expanding our recycling program—we call it Red Shield—and have opened a number of new thrift stores that seem to be doing well. The public is responding with donations and that has helped tremendously.

We believe that God is just waiting to do something here. We recently held a territorial congress with General Linda Bond and we feel that this marked the beginning of something important in this territory (see sidebar). We’re trusting God to make that happen in all of our corps and in the communities where we serve. We minister in some desperate communities with extreme poverty and that’s a challenge for us, but it’s where we need to be. We need to carry the message of transformation, so we’re believing that God is going to bless our efforts and that things are going to happen.

What are some of the significant challenges facing the territory?
Economics are the challenge here. Argentina has a history of economic problems, with hyperinflation and recessions. At the moment the economy is fairly stable, but we are still experiencing considerable inflationary pressures. Trying to keep up with that in terms of financing the Army is not easy. Many of our people live in extreme poverty, so even if they give their tenth, it’s not going to finance our corps. Without Partners in Mission, we would be in trouble as we depend on those funds to maintain the Army’s presence in our three countries.

Another challenge is the size of our membership. We have about 1,700-1,800 soldiers in the three countries and 43 corps, so we need to grow the Army. There’s a lot of geography we haven’t covered yet and cities that we’re not in, so we need to have an Army presence in these places. We just celebrated the centenary of the Army’s work in Paraguay, but we basically only have three corps, two outposts and some institutions. These are all in the capital city, so we haven’t expanded out of there in a hundred years.

We need to be reaching more people with the message of the gospel than we do now. We’re asking ourselves, how do we grow? How do we staff this potential growth? And how do we finance it? One area that we’re focusing on is to place more emphasis on the work of local officers.

How does the expression of the Army in South America differ from North America?
One of the differences would be the type of appointments that our officers have. In North America you’re more likely to have an officer serving as a corps officer or in a social service centre. In our territory, officers tend to have several appointments, so they might lead a corps and an institution or a thrift store or all three. We have divisional commanders who also serve as corps officers or social service administrators. And at THQ, many of us have multiple appointments as well, so we are spread a little thin and that’s a challenge.

The format of our church services is not all that different. Brass banding is very much in vogue here and our young people are anxious to learn to play brass instruments. We have a number of bands around the territory, including an excellent territorial band. We offer teaching in our territorial and divisional music institutes every year. Creative dance is very popular particularly among our young women, as well as drama. And we have worship bands with electronic keyboards, guitars and drums, just as in Canada. These are more common than brass bands in some of our corps because the cost of getting instruments can be quite high. We also wear the same Salvation Army uniform as in North America.

Korean is one of the languages spoken in your territory. Do you have a Korean corps or outpost?
We have a Korean outpost here in Buenos Aires where there’s a large Korean community. A lot of the clothing merchants are Korean and the clothing stores are located all together in a certain area of Buenos Aires. We have officers from the Korea Territory serving here on international service. We’re hoping that they’ll enrol a few soldiers and commission some local officers so that we can make it a corps. In order to connect with the community, they’re offering computer courses, music training, English classes, Spanish classes and even a course in Chinese characters. The outpost is busy all the time with these outreach programs. They brought a group of Korean Salvationists to the congress, which was very exciting.

What are some of the challenges facing children and youth?
Drugs and gangs. We have programs in different parts of the territory where we’re trying to deal with that, particularly with young people living in shanty towns. Canada is supporting one of those programs—the Evangeline Green Space Project—where we use sports and crafts and other activities to offer kids healthy alternatives and also share with them the message of salvation.

What role has the Army played in combating human trafficking?
Particularly in Paraguay, young children and women are being trafficked through Argentina to different parts of the world. We’re trying to help those living in vulnerable neighbourhoods understand the dangers of this issue so that when people come to them offering opportunities of a lifetime, such as to study in a different country, they understand that they’re probably trying to traffick their children. For the past three years, we’ve held a women’s camp in Paraguary, and one year we held it in every division and district, that addressed domestic violence and human trafficking, trying to give women the tools they need to protect themselves and their children.

How does the Partners in Mission campaign contribute to the mission of the South America East Territory?
The funds raised go to International Headquarters who, in turn, send us an annual maintenance grant that helps us maintain the presence of the Army. Without these funds we couldn’t survive, so Partners in Mission is what keeps our territory operating. Your support is absolutely vital to a territory like ours.

How has serving outside of Canada enriched your faith?
I’ve learned that I have to depend on God a whole lot more than I would have thought. I’ve had to do things that I never thought of myself as being particularly adept at. I’ve had to rely on the Lord and let him manage the work through me. I suppose the first obstacle I faced was the language, and he completely saw me through that. It’s been interesting and enriching for me to be able to see the Lord at work in some difficult places.

How can Salvationists in Canada and Bermuda better support you and the South America East Territory?
First and foremost, pray for us. Pray that we will experience the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Pray that we would strengthen our people and provide our officers and local officers with the resources they need to keep going, even though they have a tremendous amount of work and perhaps face opposition in their ministry. Pray that in the midst of financial difficulties, God would meet all our needs and allow us to look beyond them to see where he wants us to go. Second, keep giving to Partners in Mission. The funds raised through your generosity enable the international work of The Salvation Army to continue in territories such as ours.

Top photo: Col Susan McMillan visits an Army ministry in Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in a walled area referred to by most residents as the “Hidden City,” where 5,000 houses are crammed into a maze of narrow streets.

These children in Liberia and hundreds like them around the world attend Salvation Army schools because of the Partners in Mission program

Salvation Army International Headquarters introduced Partners in Mission in 2002, a program designed to create partnership between territories with the intention of increasing the financial support of the Self-Denial Appeal.

The Canada and Bermuda Territory was placed in a partnership group that included Germany, Spain, Mexico, Liberia, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Macau, and Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Since then, Partners in Mission has highlighted each of these territories, provided funding support for projects and encouraged several short-term mission team visits.

Beginning in 2012, we will be partnered with a new group of territories, which includes some territories from our first grouping but adds the opportunity to develop new relationships. The Germany and Lithuania Territory (which includes Poland) will continue as one of our partners as will the Liberia Command (which includes Sierra Leone). Although the issues within each of these territories are significantly different, both are grant-aided territories requiring financial support from the international Salvation Army.

Our group will also include Latin America North, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The two African countries will be familiar to some as we have sent short-term and long-term personnel to assist the Army’s work. The Latin America North Territory includes Cuba, which has been supported by short-term mission teams from the Ontario Central-East Division.

While the Canada and Bermuda Territory responds to needs in more than 30 countries, we are privileged to support these five partner territories in prayer and the sharing of our resources.

Major Gillian Brown is the director of world missions, THQ.

What one thing in my life do I want to give up in order to further my relationship with Christ? Really, I don’t feel as though giving up one harmful habit or innocent indulgence will help me understand the significance of this specific event in my sacred journey. If I stop eating dessert for 40 days, will I really be able to identify with the true meaning of this spiritual discipline known as Lent? Or is it possible that the season of Lent is about more than just giving up something, and is instead about taking something on?

The purpose of Lent is twofold. The 40 days are a time for a probing consideration of our human condition, including sin and its deadly consequences. They also help foster an intense consideration of the new possibilities offered to us in Christ and their implications for practical living.

Time-Honoured Practice
The current experience of Lent in many churches begins with Ash Wednesday, which often includes marking ashes on the forehead as a sign of our mortality. The liturgy then moves methodically through five weeks of preparation, climaxing on Palm Sunday. The blessing and procession of palms, the singing of hosannas and the Gospel proclamation of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem all combine to create a brief festal interlude in the discipline of Lent. This same rite also intensifies our focus upon the sufferings and death of our Lord in the days of Holy Week.

The 40-day Lenten period originated in the early centuries after Christ. It was based on the time allotted for converts to make their final, intensive preparation for baptism. It was to be a time of particular devotion and discipline, including prayer and fasting as recommended in various New Testament passages. Jesus’ own preparation for ministry by fasting for 40 days in the desert influenced the idea of self-denial. Through the practice of going without, the individual can know what it is like to be with God in a new, intimate way—to hear his voice, to experience his presence without any earthly distractions.

For each person, a different pattern of devotion and discipline will be appropriate during the Lenten season. But whatever that discipline looks like, it should be intentional and sustained, and should proceed not from a sense of duty or obligation but from a sense of grateful devotion.

A New Approach
In the past, much was made of the idea of giving up something for Lent. At times it became a trivial, if harmless, pursuit—for example, abstaining from chocolate or from going to the movies. Maybe this was even practised with mixed motives—reducing sweets not for spiritual reasons but to shed some of the extra Christmas pounds. Yet this idea of deprivation doesn’t encompass the fuller Lenten discipline—a self-examination that seeks greater conformity to the mind of Christ, but also more effective ministry on behalf of the world!

How then do we fully encompass the Lenten discipline and engage in more effective ministry on behalf of the world? Rather than a season for giving up something, let us consider Lent as a season for taking something on. For instance, you could conduct weekly or bi-weekly visits with someone who is ill or confined to their home. You could add another Scripture passage to your daily devotions, pray while walking through your neighbourhood or increase your tithes and offerings for six weeks. At the heart of the Christian faith is our common participation in the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You may be participating in this Lenten discipline more than you know! Growing up in The Salvation Army, I am more than familiar with the concept of self-denial, though I never understood it to the extent I do now. I remember giving something up and putting the extra money in my offering envelope for Sunday school, knowing it would go to missionaries in faraway lands or other people in need.

In recent years, the former Self-Denial Appeal has been renamed Partners in Mission. The same idea of sacrificial giving is present, but now we are linked to specific areas of the Army world, so that the focus is not just what we can offer to them, but what they in turn bring to us.

Lent is a double journey—a journey together (and alone) toward the mystery of God’s redemptive embrace in the death and resurrection of Christ. This Lenten season, don’t just give something up for the sake of losing those 10 extra pounds. Instead, take something on for the betterment of this world.

During the two years we lived in Zimbabwe, the country faced considerable economic and political challenges. While we certainly never suffered, we were not immune to the ongoing shortages of food, medical supplies, water and electricity. More significantly, we lived alongside Zimbabweans who faced these challenges without the access we had to extra income or resources.

There are so many children in the world like Tawanda who die young, often for lack of access to basic medical attention or the resources to pay for it

Tawanda was one of my favourite people in Zimbabwe. Although only four, he would often show up at our home to visit. As he only spoke Shona, spending time with him helped me to learn the language as we worked in the garden together or watched movies on my laptop. Tawanda means “we are many” in Shona, signifying that he was the fifth and youngest child in his family.

Soon after we arrived in Zimbabwe, Tawanda’s family invited us to have a meal with them. While the cow intestines were a bit of a departure from our usual dinner fare, we appreciated the opportunity to share in fellowship with them. Over the next two years, we developed a close relationship with this family.

Just over two years later, when Rochelle was five months pregnant with our son, Kieran, The Salvation Army in Canada became concerned about our safety and suggested we return home. It was not easy to leave our Zimbabwean friends, particularly as it was a difficult time in the country. A few months later, Rochelle and Kieran required emergency medical attention during the delivery, so I’m grateful that we had returned to Canada and had access to exceptional health care. Kieran’s middle name is Tinashe, which means “God is with us” in Shona.

Last year, during Holy Week in a rural community in Zimbabwe, Tawanda woke up with stomach pains. Without easy access to qualified medical professionals—nor the means to pay for it—Tawanda’s family could do little for him. A few hours later, he passed away. In just a few short years, Tawanda had brought so much joy to his family and friends. For those of us who knew and loved him, we felt an immediate emptiness in our hearts. A void not easily filled or understood.

While I cherish the health benefits my family can access here in Canada, I’m saddened that there are so many children in the world like Tawanda who die young, often for lack of access to basic medical attention or the resources to pay for it.

The needs of the world are overwhelming, but we are not alone. Through the Partners in Mission Campaign, we can help ensure that The Salvation Army has the resources available to support the development of communities around the world. Now at work in 123 countries, the Army is poised to make a positive impact in those areas hardest hit by poverty.

Tawanda. We are many.

John McAlister is senior editor for The Salvation Army’s Editorial Department.

Extravagant, even outrageous, giving is found not only within Scripture, but from time-to-time we find ourselves surprised by the generosity of family, friends or even perfect strangers, challenging our own attitudes to giving.

Last year, Salvationists and friends of the Army generously supported the international work of The Salvation Army. Although we did not achieve our $2.2 million goal for the Partners in Mission (PIM) Campaign, we came close, with many ministry units across the territory increasing their giving by significant amounts.

As we launch the 2011 PIM Campaign, we invite Salvation Army congregations across the territory to raise funds to ensure that the infrastructure of The Salvation Army has the financial support required to carry out its mission around the world.

Let us know what your corps or ministry unit is doing to raise money for PIM. Your feedback could be an encouragement to others as we work together as a territory to support the Army’s mission around the world.

The difference these funds make can be seen in places such as Haiti, where the Army’s long history of ministry in the country meant that local Salvationists immediately responded to the earthquake last year, caring for neighbours even before the international community was involved. The earthquake in Haiti was only the first of a series of natural disasters that created chaos in countries already struggling with much of their population living in poverty. In every case, the long-term presence of The Salvation Army meant that there was an immediate response to those in need. The money raised through PIM provides a financial basis for The Salvation Army to maintain a presence in countries hardest hit by natural or man-made disasters.

Partners in Mission also positively impacts countries in Africa, Asia and South America, where many of our territory’s community development projects are implemented. The proclamation of God’s love is shared within the context of communities empowered to improve the living standards of the poorest. Community development projects require a solid infrastructure to be in place so that projects are well planned and managed, effective and accountable.

The Canada and Bermuda Territory partners with Mexico; Tanzania; Liberia and Sierra Leone; Germany; Spain; Hong Kong and Macau; and Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. While our territory responds to needs in many other countries, we have a special responsibility to support these seven territories financially and in prayer.

Every ministry unit has been sent a PIM resource package to help promote this important fundraising campaign. This year the focus is on Liberia (see pages 12-15), a country that has experienced many years of civil war. Liberia remains one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. Roads are impassable for much of the year and communication systems are primitive, isolating rural communities from basic health care, education and other supports.

For many Liberians, an unwavering faith not only carried them through these dark days, but continues to be their source of strength as the country struggles to rebuild. The DVD resource features the music of Liberia, as well as a unique partnership between Salvationist musicians in Liberia and young Canadian musicians from the National Music and Gospel Arts Camp in August 2010. Together, they sing the same song, Canada Joins In, that acknowledges we belong to God. As you listen, it will lift your spirit and perhaps inspire you to add your own voice.

The DVD resource and accompanying printed materials are packed with stories that will encourage us to pray for our extended family in Liberia and the many other countries where Jesus is proclaimed through the ministry of The Salvation Army. With prayer comes action, and you are invited to give generously to the PIM Campaign so that the territorial goal of $2.2 million will be reached.

Major Gillian Brown is the director of world missions, THQ.

Message From the Territorial Commander

Dear Friends,

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth.”

When was the last time you prayed the Lord’s Prayer?

This prayer that Jesus taught is full of meaning for me, matching my hearts’ yearning for God’s will to be done on earth.

This has been a year when we have been confronted with the suffering inflicted on millions of people worldwide, starting with the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and then to the devastation of the flooding in Pakistan. The forces of nature have not been the only cause of the suffering experienced through 2010 as we have witnessed man’s inhumanity to one another with civil war, acts of terrorism and ethnically based violence. The Scriptures speak of all of nature groaning for God’s will to be done, and there are days when we can almost hear the moans of creation itself.

The Lord’s Prayer gives us hope and is a glorious reminder that the Kingdom, power and glory belong to God. The timing is his as well as the assurance that weeping will turn to joy, and distress to peace. Through prayer we are invited to work in co-operation with God’s Spirit to usher in the Kingdom.

For Salvationists and friends of the Army, one of the opportunities to address the needs of the world as we long for God’s Kingdom to come, is by financially supporting the Partners in Mission Campaign. The Salvation Army has a caring presence in 122 countries worldwide. Many of these countries are dependent on our support in order to maintain their ministry, which combines sharing the good news of the gospel message with a practical response to social issues.

The goal for the 2011 PIM Campaign is $2.2 million. A resource package has already been mailed to every ministry unit, this year introducing Liberia, one of our partner territories. Take time to review the material and plan your local campaign.

I urge you to give prayerful consideration to ensuring that we meet our obligations to be good neighbours to our Salvationist comrades in grant-aided territories.

Sincerely yours,

William W. Francis, Commissioner
Territorial Commander

But thanks to the Army’s work on the streets on India, despair is being replaced with hope for a better future.

A Different Life
The Jeevan Asha project opened in 2004 as a drop-in centre for women and children in prostitution in Mumbai’s infamous red-light district. Counselling, health education, literacy classes and vocational training are offered to women desperate to provide a better life for their families. The project pays particular attention to the children of the women, offering schooling, meals and a safe place for them to be with caring staff members. Property in Mumbai is expensive to rent and own so the Army operates a small school in the loft of its office in the heart of the red-light area.

The Jeevan Asha project works in partnership with the Aruna Children’s Shelter. Sex-trade workers usually have few options for the care of their children, especially when evening falls. In addition to their exposure to the sex-trade business itself, the children often witness their mothers being abused and beaten. At the shelter, the children—primarily girls—are given a glimpse of how different life can be away from the sex trade. Within the safety and security of the shelter, the children learn that they are precious to God.

Sincerity of Faith
At the opposite end of the spectrum of vulnerable people are the blind. The Blind Working Men’s Hostel cares for an often-overlooked group who have little family support and who have been left to fend for themselves.

Most of the men have been blind from birth. Ostracized and neglected by their families, some were dropped off as children to a Christian organization. Others were thrown out of their homes with little thought as to how they would survive. That is what happened to Javed Warsy. An embarrassment to his family, Javed was still a child when he was no longer welcome at home. He has lived at the hostel for nearly 12 years and has blossomed. When a local organization provided the hostel with a special “speak-easy” computer for the blind, Javed was the first to teach himself how to use the new technology.

The 2010 Partners in Mission Campaign, launched in February, is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our generosity. The money raised will be distributed through International Headquarters to ensure that the Army’s mission remains strong in territories with limited opportunities to raise the funds necessary for their ongoing ministry. Without our financial support, The Salvation Army in many parts of the world would face significant financial burdens as they minister in Jesus’ name. Thank you for supporting the 2010 Partners in Mission Campaign.

Top photo: Children join in song at the Jeevan Asha project school in Mumbai; middle: Blind men find a home and security at the Blind Working Men’s Hostel; bottom: Mjr Gillian Brown distributes new clothes to the children at the Aruna Children’s Shelter

Major Gillian Brown is the associate director of World Missions. For more information, visit Salvationist.ca/partnersinmission

Leprosy treatment at the Mirpur Urban Health and Development Centre

A merchant and children at a train station

Literacy and Fair Wages

The literacy rate for men is 54 percent and drops to 32 percent for women. The Salvation Army offers several literacy programs. Whether for women in brothels or poor women from villages, the programs aim to first educate and then build on basic literacy. Participants are taught practical vocational skills, paid a fair wage for the products they make or are provided with an opportunity to join micro-credit loan programs.

Literacy and vocational training in Old Dhaka

Sally Ann Fair Trade wares in Dhaka

A woman in Jessore holds a pumpkin grown through a
micro-credit loan

A tailoring class in Old Dhaka

A Salvationist ministers outside a brothel in Jessore

Safe Water Projects

It’s estimated that half the population can’t access clean water and 60 percent lack proper sanitation. A major problem for many Bengalis is water contaminated with arsenic. The Salvation Army runs a number of water and sanitation projects that include working with local communities to build water filtration systems. In addition, the Army has built latrines and washroom facilities to help prevent illness and the spread of disease.

A water collection point for 17,000 people living in slums in Mirmur

Arsenic and iron removal in Kholadanga

Education

The Salvation Army is actively involved with education, supporting several schools with specific attention to children with special needs. An integrated school for the visually impaired as well as a school for the deaf ensures that these children have the same opportunity to achieve as others in the community. The Salvation Army also operates a home for orphaned girls.

A music class for the visually impaired in Savar

Integrated Child Care Centre in Savar

Integrated Child Care Centre in Savar

Health

The Canada and Bermuda Territory has maintained an active interest in Bangladesh since the country separated from Pakistan. As access to adequate health care is scarce, The Salvation Army operates a number of health clinics, including those that specialize in the testing and treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy, which continue to be problems in Bangladesh.

Men receive assistance at the leprosy clinic in Mirpur

Children benefit from Army programs

Sally Ann workshops, now known as The Salvation Army’s Fair Trade movement, began under the direction of a Canadian Salvationist serving in Bangladesh. The Army has also partnered in a variety of projects, including the construction of a new playground at Savar’s Integrated Child Care Centre. Captain Elizabeth Nelson, a Canadian officer, has been serving in Bangladesh as the projects officer.

Worshipping at The Salvation Army Savar Corps

Take time to learn more about the great work being done in Bangladesh and in our partner territories. Visit Salvationist.ca/partnersinmission for more information or click here to access additional Partners in Mission resource materials.