Forward Together

The Salvation Army is on the move. In 2021, we launched a new chapter, mobilizing under a new vision with a 10-year horizon and a strategy to guide us toward that future. Today, halfway through the journey, it’s time to pause, reflect and refresh around what matters most—and move forward together.

Our vision continues to serve as our north star as we rally “Forward Together: Christ-centred, Others-focused.” This plan will carry us through the final stage of our journey. It expresses our shared commitment to move ahead in unity, anchored in Christ and dedicated to serving others. It captures who we are and how we lead—as one Army, walking together in purpose, compassion and faith.

This affirms that our strength for the journey ahead comes from Christ, and our collective desire to live out his mission in every community we serve.

“As our ministries grow and adapt, we must ensure that everything we do remains Christ-centred and Others-focused,” says Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander. “This refreshed strategy calls us to deepen spiritual life and discipleship, strengthen leadership, support and equip our people, and align our resources so that they serve the mission faithfully and effectively.

VISION AND STRATEGY

Every journey has a destination. Our journey began with prayer and by listening to your voices across Canada and Bermuda, with a question in mind: Who are we in 2030? The answer gave us a destination, a vision: “We are an innovative partner, mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus.”

A vision tells us where we are going. A strategy tells us how we will get there. Our refreshed territorial strategic plan continues to be founded on the four pillars: Strengthen Spiritual Health, Design for People, Forge Innovative Partnerships and Optimize Mission Impact. Over the past five years, these pillars have laid a foundation for the future, and they remain our building blocks as we address the opportunities and challenges facing The Salvation Army.

At the midpoint of our journey, it is important to ensure our direction remains aligned with our vision, mission and current ministry realities. Refreshing our territorial strategy allows us to reflect on what we’ve learned, remain responsive to changing community needs and strengthen how we serve so we can move forward with clarity, unity and purpose.

This refresh has been shaped through listening to hundreds of diverse voices over the past few years: officers, employees, advisors and friends from across the territory, including focus groups with our front lines, Indigenous representatives, and youth and young adult participants. It reflects their experiences, your challenges and your faith in what The Salvation Army can be together.

MAIN PRIORITIES

While our vision, mission, values and four pillars remain unchanged, what has evolved are updated objectives and initiatives that reflect what we’ve heard from the field, what we’ve learned over the past five years, and what is needed to strengthen sustainability, discipleship, partnerships and impact across the territory.

Our refreshed strategy will focus on deepening spiritual life and discipleship, engaging with young people to deepen their relationship with Jesus, strengthening our team’s capacity, expanding mission reach through collaboration and partnerships, and aligning programs and resources for maximum missional impact—all grounded in a shared, Christ-centred, Others-focused vision for 2030. Our key focuses will be:

Corps and social ministry unit sustainability and strategic growth
Evangelism and discipleship that is grounded in Salvation Army doctrine
Relationships with diverse populations
Creating engagement opportunities for children, youth and young adults
Christian leadership—officers, lay leaders and employees
Recruitment and retention—officers and employees
Internal and external partnerships
Operational effectiveness and accountability

The strategy builds on a strong foundation while creating space for new ideas and approaches. Some current programs may be adjusted to better align with our mission, encourage collaboration and increase impact. Over time, new initiatives may also be introduced in response to emerging needs and opportunities.

CHALLENGES

Communities, ministry contexts and resources are changing, and we must respond with prayerful consideration, wise stewardship and thoughtful planning. The pillars, objectives and initiatives of our territorial strategic plan address key aspects of our movement. Our ministry units are vital to our outreach and community connections, and now is the time to strengthen and sustain them for the long term. We need to hold both sides of our mission in balance—sharing the love of Jesus and meeting human needs. If we lose balance, we risk drifting from who we are.

We are looking to the future with confidence and a clear long-term plan. Fewer officers, aging congregations and changing community realities mean we must invest in those who serve. We’re equipping and empowering officers, employees and lay leaders to grow and lead with confidence. By collaborating across ministries, stewarding our resources wisely and building strong partnerships, we’re ensuring that The Salvation Army remains united, resilient and ready to meet the needs of tomorrow. This underscores the importance of staying rooted in our Christ-centred, Others-focused purpose. Addressing these challenges helps us remain focused, aligned and prepared for the future.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

We are thankful for all that has been achieved already toward our vision. Those who have come before us had a deep passion for our mission and set us on a great course. We are thankful to our previous territorial leaders, Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, for starting this journey, and we can honour them and God by continuing to give our best.

We are looking to the future with confidence. We’re building for the long term—strengthening leadership, investing in our people and ensuring our ministries remain sustainable and effective. Our hope and strength for the future comes from our collective ongoing commitment to the mission, and the continued dedication of our officers, employees, partners, friends and volunteers who live the mission every day.

You are integral to this journey. Stay focused on what you do best—live out your calling with compassion and faith. Here’s what we’re asking of you:

Live the Mission: Continue leading with compassion, faith and service—your work is central to achieving our vision.

Engage and Contribute: Learn about the refreshed plan, ask questions and help shape how it comes to life in your ministry context.

Move Forward Together: Support one another, embrace new ways of serving and trust that we are building a stronger, more united future—together, as one Army. Your voice and commitment make this possible as we move forward together.

Learn more about the four pillars: