As the world reflects on the London 2012 Olympic Games, Salvationists are remembering the part they played in a global mission opportunity on the streets of the city where The Salvation Army was born. Throughout the Games, Christians of all denominations, under the banner of More Than Gold, undertook a variety of outreach, hospitality and service activities including sports events, community festivals, water distribution, creative arts and prayer. And the Army was actively engaged in it all.

Joining in the More Than Gold campaign was a 20-member mission team from the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Six members of the team participated in a Stop the Traffik campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking (see stopthetraffik.org).

As part of the campaign, the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking placed large boxes, beautifully decorated as presents, around the city. Large enough for people to go inside, the boxes were lined with stories of those who had been trafficked.

“Our mission was to engage in conversations with people on the streets,” says Colonel Tracey Tidd, territorial secretary for women's ministries and team member. “We heard many stories from people who are facing difficult situations and were able to pray with them and give them some encouraging words.”

Fourteen team members ministered at the Army's Regent Hall Corps, located on Oxford Street in the heart of the shopping district, engaging with the crowds that flocked to the city and taking the opportunity to introduce them to Jesus.

“Members of the team stood on the street and provided music, offered free bottles of water and Olympic pins, face painting, Christian literature and much more,” says Graham Moore, territorial public relations and development secretary and team member. “We also participated in corps events, community concerts, Sunday worship and interacted with clients at Number 10, the corps' day centre for the homeless.”

Throughout the Olympic Games, Salvationists from a variety of countries, including Canada, Bermuda, South Korea, the United States, Brazil and Australia, distributed approximately 450,000 bottles of water.