Not long after I started my new role as chief external relations officer for The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, I had lunch with members of the communications team at territorial headquarters. I shared one simple idea that has guided me for years: leave it better than you found it.

I was quick to admit that this won’t always be easy, especially with a team that is already doing such strong, thoughtful and impactful work. In many ways, they’re already living this out. But this idea isn’t about fixing something broken. It’s about a mindset, a way of showing up with care, responsibility and intention.

This connects closely with Compass, the global strategic framework shared by General Lyndon Buckingham. It reminds us that we are “dedicated to leaving a God-honouring legacy” by focusing on empowering people, enhancing mission impact and establishing an enduring legacy. That phrase, “a God-honouring legacy,” sticks with me. It’s not about our own recognition. It’s about the way our lives and work point back to God.

The Bible speaks clearly into this kind of posture. Colossians 3:23 reminds us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” That idea of faithfulness, showing up and doing our part with what we’ve been given, sits right at the heart of this. Of course, this isn’t something we do in our own strength. It’s the Holy Spirit at work within us who shapes our hearts, guides our actions and helps us live this out day by day.

Our territorial mission says that The Salvation Army exists “to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.” Transformation is really what this is all about, seeing lives, communities and even small everyday situations changed for the better.

The good news is that this isn’t just about big initiatives or leadership roles. It’s something each of us can live out in simple, everyday ways.

As an officer’s kid, I saw this modelled at home. My mom made a habit of leaving the quarters we lived in a little better than when we arrived. Sometimes that meant fixing something small, making improvements or just taking the time to care for things well. It wasn’t about drawing attention. It was about doing the right thing and thinking about the next person.

That same principle applies across every aspect of our work and ministry. If you notice a piece of equipment that needs cleaning, why wait for someone else? If there’s an opportunity to improve something, encourage someone or help a process run more smoothly, you can step in.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 puts it simply: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Whether it feels significant or small, it all matters. Those small, consistent actions add up over time in ways we don’t always see right away.

As The Salvation Army, we’ve inherited a rich legacy from those who have gone before us, people who served faithfully and sacrificially to move the mission forward. Now it’s our turn. Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that a good person leaves an inheritance that reaches beyond their own lifetime. The impact of what we do today doesn’t stop with us. It carries forward.

That idea is captured in the familiar song, The Blessing, which speaks of God’s faithfulness extending not just to us, but to our children, and their children, and generations yet to come. It’s a reminder that what we build, shape and care for today becomes part of a much larger story that extends far beyond what we can immediately see.

In communications, that means telling the story of what God is doing with clarity, honesty and hope. Beyond communications, it means building systems, relationships and practices that will serve others well into the future. It’s a mindset we can all adopt.

It comes down to a simple question: Will this be better because I was here?

Sometimes the answer will show up in visible ways. Other times, it will be in quiet, behind-the-scenes faithfulness. Both matter.

In the end, this isn’t about us. It’s about honouring God with what he has entrusted to us. And as we do that, relying not on our own effort but on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, even the smallest acts can become part of something much bigger. A legacy of faithfulness that, by God’s grace, continues to bless generation after generation. 

GRAHAM MOORE is the chief external relations officer in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Photo: Jerimi Jones 

This story is from: