Two years ago this month, COVID-19 turned our world upside down. At the time, we didn’t know whether the pandemic would be like a blizzard, creating chaos and bringing life to a halt for a short period of time, or more like a winter season, with recurring blizzards of outbreaks across the globe. Today, we have come to understand that COVID has, in fact, been like a mini-ice age, dramatically changing the landscape in which we live and serve.

We were amazed at the ability of this movement to react swiftly in the earliest days of the pandemic’s blizzard-like entrance. As the weeks unfolded and a winter season set in, local expressions of The Salvation Army demonstrated agility, pivoting as needed to continue sharing the love of Jesus and meeting human needs. Together, the territory has been embracing the opportunity to reimagine our movement for ongoing ministry beyond the mini-ice age of COVID.

In the changing landscape, there is that which remains unchanged. In his letter to the early church, James reminds us that our God “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Who we are, those whom we serve and why we serve them, remains firmly foundational. But what we have discovered over these last two years is that what we do and how we do it must change. We have also proved that we have the ability to do so.

Mobilize 2.0 has provided a framework to guide our steps forward. To achieve the vision we believe God has given to The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory for the next chapter, we have developed a territorial strategy. We will adapt how we deliver our mission and update our approaches to support the delivery of that mission.

In these days, we cannot deny the grief and loss that so many are experiencing. As we approach Easter, we are reminded that grief and loss go together with vision and hope because they are the story of the cross and Christ’s Resurrection. There is no greater grief than the cross of Calvary. There is no greater hope than the empty tomb.

May vision and the hope that does not disappoint continue to inspire us for mission as we position for growth.