When COVID-19 first put Ottawa residents in lockdown in March 2020, these Salvationists at Ottawa Citadel built a two-sided lawn sign to post encouraging messages for their community.

For the first time in 30 years thousands joined the Santa Shuffle online.

For 12 weeks, from September 30 to December 16, the Canada and Bermuda Territory engaged in a series of online study and discussions entitled Together in Mission. Led by Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, territorial leaders, the sessions were hosted by Salvationists from across the territory.

Showing thoughtfulness and kindness to the strangers in our church is to show our love for God.

On December 18, Salvation Army representatives met in a virtual roundtable with key federal government ministers together with other agencies that are addressing food insecurity across Canada. It was announced on the call that The Salvation Army will receive an additional $8.85 million in funding for COVID-19 relief in Canada. 

“I could keep going for years," says Salvation Army Officer Major Everett Barrow after more than four decades in ministry.

“Our question was, how can we help people feel connected—not only with us as staff, but with their friends?” says Park. “That connection to community is really important, so we started experimenting with different ways to keep in touch and move our activities online.”

The novel Jacob's Bell, about a Salvation Army bell-ringer reminds us how important the work of The Salvation Army is at Christmastime and all through the year.

The Christmas after giving birth to her first child, Salvation Army Officer Captain Laura Van Schaick began to wrestle with the traditional Christmas story.

Let us ask ourselves what we can do, especially in a year that may be one of the most difficult Christmas seasons in recent memory, to bring light to the darkness.