It was a rousing start to the Jesus Our Compass International Leaders’ Tour with General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, who visited St. John’s, N.L., this past weekend.

The moving of God’s Spirit was evident on Sunday morning as 500 Salvationists packed the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland for worship. Lt-Colonels Michelle and Scott Rideout, divisional leaders, Atlantic Division, and Commissioners Lee and Debbie Graves, territorial leaders, welcomed our international guests. Worship was enhanced by the Newfound Brass and Chorus, the St. John’s Temple singing company and a worship team.

During the service, four individuals and groups were recognized with the inaugural Others Awards for their sacrificial service to the Lord through The Salvation Army. In his message, General Buckingham urged the congregation to not only make Christ present and prominent in their lives, but also preeminent.

“Everything we’re doing, everything we’re engaging in, and everything that we’re about finds its crucible in the person of Jesus Christ,” the General said. “He is central to our life, to our being, to our mission, to our ministry. He needs to be in that place if we have any hope of fulfilling the missional mandate that’s been laid on this movement.”

Later on Sunday, the General and Commissioner Buckingham brought their energy to a Sunday evening youth rally at Conception Bay South Corps, followed by a late-night Tim Hortons run for a true taste of Canada.

On Monday, The Salvation Army’s international leaders were graciously hosted by Her Honour the Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, O.N.L., Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, at Government House in St. John’s. Elected officials from the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, as well as representatives from The Salvation Army’s territorial and divisional teams, were also in attendance.

In her remarks, Her Honour spoke of the tremendous impact The Salvation Army has on communities throughout the province. In particular, she thanked the Army for supporting the incredible volunteer efforts to respond to last summer’s wildfires and for the daily support and social programming provided at the Ches Penney Centre of Hope in St. John’s.

Later in the day, the General and Commissioner Buckingham toured the Ches Penney centre, a five-story facility that offers comprehensive social services and housing support for vulnerable individuals. Opened in 2020, it provides 20 permanent supportive housing units, a food bank, hot meals, clinical counseling, addiction services and employment training.

General Buckingham and Commissioner Buckingham concluded their time in St. John’s with a traditional “screech-in” where they kissed the cod before bidding farewell to “The Rock.” In their final evening in the Atlantic Division, they thanked divisional staff and Salvationists for their gracious hospitality.

See more photos and videos from the Jesus Our Compass tour on our Facebook page and Instagram account.