Susan Taylor 
Mississauga Temple Community Church, Ontario Central-East Division 

As CSM for three years, I continue to marvel at the ministry opportunities that come to me and feel privileged to be a leader in God’s church. This Easter, we held an EggStravaganza at the corps. Notices went out to the community, but mainly to our daycare and family services clients. More than 250 people attended, including over 150 children—many of whom had never come through the doors of our church before. It took 80 volunteers from the corps to make it happen. It was wonderful! 

At a recent corps council meeting, as we examined the reports submitted by various ministries, the one word we kept hearing and seeing was “outreach.” We acknowledged that we have to stay a healthy church spiritually in order to reach out to others. And we have plans in place to look at all the names on our rolls, break them down into categories and contact everyone in one way or another.

Kerri Cryderman
Saskatoon Temple, Prairie Division

I have served as CSM for just over a year but have held many different positions within the corps over the last 20 years. I was youth ministries director for more than 10 years, and I continue to be involved with many aspects of our youth ministry.

One girl who started attending our youth programs through our van ministry would have constant breakdowns week after week. We had been working with her to help her work through her outbursts and be successful at our programs.

Youth ministry is a passion for Kerri Cryderman, here with the corps’ drum band

One day I was sitting with her at the supper table, talking about her week, when she asked me, “Kerri, why do people throw rocks at me?” I was shocked and heartbroken. My answer was, “I don’t know.” She went on to say, “Kerri, why are you always so nice to me even if I don’t always act good?” This was my opportunity to share with her that because I love God, I want her to know that she is loved, too, no matter what mistakes she makes. The transformation in this young woman from outbursts every week to none in three years is remarkable.

Nathan Downer
Mountain Citadel, Hamilton, Ontario Great Lakes Division

I have been on the corps mission board for seven years and was commissioned as CSM in October 2016. I’m also involved with banding at the corps and with the corps’ public relations.

As the CSM, I feel that I am accountable for the corps people. As officers come and go, it’s the CSM who keeps the vision moving forward. Not only are you serving the Lord, but you’re also providing support to the corps officers, the congregation and the community.

As I’ve only been in the position a short time, I’m still learning the ins and outs. But it’s a great position—you get to know the people of your corps and learn about everything. I give a lot of time, but I know the final reward is worth it. It’s a calling—one that cannot be taken lightly.

Kerry Guy 
Glenmore Temple, Calgary, Alberta and Northern Territories Division 

I’m originally from Corner Brook Citadel, N.L., but have worked as a petroleum engineer in Calgary since 1983. For 16 years, I have been the CSM at Glenmore Temple, where I sit on the mission board and am an active band and choir member. 

My corps is a large urban church with more than 120 years of history. Among the most compelling questions we ask ourselves are: “What does our future look like? Where should we be in 10 or 20 years?” 

Kettles are a special time for CSM and band member Kerry Guy

We recently spent some time as a mission board and congregation laying out a strategic plan to provide us with the underpinning values that will help us build a more detailed plan for our future. This type of strategic work is important to help corps officers (current and future) continue a consistent “move forward” plan for the church. As the CSM, it was my job to lead this effort.

Ducer Kamgang
Centre Communautaire Chrétien de Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec Division

I became a senior soldier in 2007 and was commissioned as CSM in 2012. Along with my involvement with various ministries at the corps—including leading a prayer group at my home on Thursdays—I work at the Montreal Booth Centre, where I lead morning devotions every weekday. I am also a member of the pastoral committee of Le Phare—the corps at the Booth Centre.

I gave a sermon on grace and forgiveness at a recent prayer meeting at Le Phare. One of our new clients, who was not a Christian, fell to the floor and publicly confessed his sins in tears.

Ducer Kamgang is seeing lives transformed in Montreal

After that, we all prayed for him together. Something special happened to him that evening. He still attends various services at the Booth Centre and we keep praying for him, believing the best is yet to come.

Jerry Porter
Fairview Citadel, Halifax, Maritime Division

At my corps, where I have been CSM for 20 years, we are at a critical crossroad as we try to better understand where we can make the most impact in our community. Over the past two decades, Fairview has become a diverse, multicultural community with a high proportion of Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants. About half of our food bank clients are recent immigrants. Under the direction of our corps officers, we are networking with other churches, politicians and community support groups to define where we can best “meet the need.”

I enjoy assisting with the new café at our corps, a free service for food bank clients. It is an honour to have coffee with them and hear their stories.

Jerry Porter (second from right) meets many newcomers to Canada at the corps’ community café

I once met a young Christian family from Syria who left their homeland after their church was bombed during Sunday worship. We offered encouragement and practical help through the food bank and café.

Brent Hobden
Comox Valley Ministries, Courtenay, British Columbia Division

It has been my privilege to offer leadership in the various corps and churches I have attended throughout my life—from Saint John, N.B., to Port Alberni, B.C., as well as overseas in Nagoya, Japan. Today, I am the CSM and community ministries director for The Salvation Army’s Comox Valley Ministries on Vancouver Island.

As CSM, my role is to come alongside our corps officers as a support, confidant, friend and servant. A highlight of this is pastor appreciation Sunday in October. It can be a humbling experience for our officers and their family.

Brent Hobden serves up soup at Comox Valley Ministries

It’s also a time of growth for our congregation, as we recognize the incredible expectations we place on our pastors. As we express our love and gratitude through words of encouragement, we are brought into a closer relationship with God and the shepherds he has chosen to care for us.

Brian Fubler
North Street Citadel, Hamilton, Bermuda Division

I have been a local officer for 18 years and CSM for three. For just over a year, most of the leaders of our corps have been engaged in a leadership development process, which I have led with the assistance of the corps officers and two experienced coaches (both from the corps). The process has been transformational. It has reinforced the fact that we, as leaders, are directly responsible for the spiritual climate of our corps.

Leadership training is a hot topic these days and has sadly been neglected in the church for too long. That’s why I am so pleased that it’s one of our territory’s seven strategic priorities as we mobilize our great Army. I believe that when we get our leaders equipped, motivated and passionate about removing silos and working together to reach our communities, we will see both qualitative and quantitative growth in our congregations. All of the dreams and aspirations for our ministries will remain unrealized if there’s no one to lead them.

Feature photo: Timothy Cheng