In the pages of this issue you will find many stories of the work that Salvationists, employees and volunteers are carrying out across the territory. These are inspiring stories of compassion and God's power to transform lives.

General Albert Orsborn, The Salvation Army's “poet general,” wrote many of the songs in our song book, including The Saviour of Men Came to Seek and to Save (see below). This song was first published in 1922, when Orsborn was the divisional commander for South London, England. In an area where thousands of Londoners lived, the churches were empty. Orsborn asked, “What are we doing to reach and save them? Do we care enough?”

As I read this story in the companion to the Army song book, those last four words leapt off the page. Do we care enough? The articles in this issue remind me that we have compassionate people all across the territory that care deeply for the people around them. Where they see physical, emotional and spiritual need, they step in to make a difference. They are moved by the Holy Spirit to reach out in compassion and provide caring service. Whether it's a corps officer reaching into her community to meet needs, the director of one of our long-term care residences caring for seniors and their families during their final years, or a front-line worker in one of our homeless shelters, they are showing the same compassion that Christ showed. Christ reached out to meet needs wherever he went, as the following Scripture passage confirms:

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36).

This must be the motivation behind everything we do—a sense of Christ's compassion for others. When we lose sight of this, we lose our way; we lose the soul of our ministry. We become just another aid agency, or an inward-focused church. We must remember that we exist to reach out in love to people who are lonely, lost, poor, disadvantaged and dispossessed, and share the transforming gospel with them.

In an article published in 1928, Commissioner Samuel Hurren, the British commissioner of the day, wrote: “Our Lord's greatest force was divine love. His heart was large enough to take in the whole world. His arms were wide. He had room for every one … His requirement was simple and plain, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength and thy neighbour as thyself.' ”

The challenge we must always keep before us is this: Is our heart large enough? Do we, as Salvationists, employees or volunteers who come alongside The Salvation Army, comprehend the depth of compassion of the one who calls us to this work? Do we fully realize the potential of our mission to change the world by showing Christ's love in everything we do?

Commissioner Susan McMillan is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Follow Commissioner McMillan at facebook.com/susanmcmillantc and twitter.com/salvationarmytc.

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The Saviour of men came to seek and to save
The souls who were lost to the good;
His Spirit was moved for the world which he loved
With the boundless compassion of God.
And still there are fields where the labourers are few,
And still there are souls without bread,
And still eyes that weep where the darkness is deep,
And still straying sheep to be led.

Chorus
Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in thee.

Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)