If you walk down any street and knock on 10 doors, you'll hear stories of marital discord, divorce, family breakdown, addiction, sexual abuse, eating disorders and so much more. We live in a broken world where life is messy. People are desperate to find ways to cope in the midst of their own personal pain and brokenness. Many are looking to the Church for a “whole of life” approach to help meet their needs.

With the desire to help people make the journey toward healing and wholeness, The Salvation Army is promoting Careforce Lifekeys. The program exists to see the healing love of Jesus Christ touch people within the Church and within the community.

Careforce Lifekeys was founded in 1992 at the Careforce Church in Melbourne, Australia, under the direction of Allan Meyer, senior pastor, and his wife, Helen, director of Careforce Lifekeys. The program:

• facilitates church growth as we touch the needs of unchurched people in our communities
• provides leadership development as ordinary people in the church develop the skills necessary for pastoral care
• offers opportunities for people to address the significant issues they face on an everyday basis

Careforce Lifekeys is a series of 10-week courses that help participants focus on the spiritual, cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of life. Grounded on the teachings of Jesus expressed in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5), the material is presented in a small-group setting to allow members to find support and accountability as they explore the truths they are hearing. Participation builds better self-esteem, enhances relationships and helps people find hope as they explore their spirituality. All discussions are led by trained group facilitators and are kept in strict confidentiality.

The program is geared for all ages and genders. Some of the courses available include: facilitator training; search for life; man to man; woman to woman; door of hope; healthy lifestyle; making marriage better; search for intimacy; parenting with courage; youth search for life; kids with courage; new beginnings.

The Careforce Lifekeys program provides opportunities for greater healing and wholeness among our congregations and communities. Since its introduction to the Canada and Bermuda Territory, many Salvation Army officers and soldiers have been trained to facilitate the program.

For more information about the Careforce Lifekeys program, please contact your divisional headquarters or Major Jean Hefford at Jean_Hefford@can.salvationarmy.org.

“Careforce Lifekeys is a wonderful opportunity to help bring the healing power of God into the lives of hurting people. As both participant and facilitator, my listening skills have increased and I have learned that trust is very important as people share and a bond develops.”
- Captain Bev Brushett, corps officer, Green's Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador East Division

“I have often desired to have a discipleship tool to help Christians who were dealing with difficult situations and were feeling stuck. I believe Careforce Lifekeys does just that.”
- Major Sandra Langer, divisional services to seniors secretary, Prairie and Northern Territories Division