(Above) From left, Lt Almeta Ward, CO and community ministries officer, Moose Jaw, Sask.; Mjr Mike Hoeft; and Lt Lester Ward, CO and community ministries director, Moose Jaw, join for a Sunday service celebrating 134 years of Army ministry in the community 

The Salvation Army in Moose Jaw, Sask., celebrated 134 years of service in the community in March. The corps held events such as a women’s fellowship luncheon, a community barbecue and a visit from Major Mike Hoeft, area commander, Prairie Division, for a Sunday service.

The Salvation Army arrived in Moose Jaw in 1888. Since then, the goal has been the same: to spread the Word of the Lord while doing everything in the Army’s power to better the lives of others.

“We do our best to be the feet and the hands of Jesus in the community,” says Major Hoeft. “When we sit back and look at all the things that are going on, for the size of the group that we are, there’s lots of energy being expended, lots of people being served and that’s what we want to do.”

Major Hoeft delivered a special sermon titled “A Firm Foundation” about keeping the foundation of all Christian denominations—the Word of God—at the forefront of one’s mind, regardless of what congregation you are part of.

“The foundation of the work that we do is the church,” Major Hoeft says. “It’s where we get our source of strength, inspiration and motivation to go out and serve the people in the community.”

Now, the focus turns to the next 134 years and continuing the Army’s hard work throughout Saskatchewan and beyond. “Everything from long-term care to men’s shelters, girls’ homes, thrift stores, family services, food banks and churches, and even then, we’re rather small,” says Major Hoeft. “But we have great people doing great work. It’s really significant, the number of lives being changed.”

Reprinted from the Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com, March 27, 2022.

(Photo: Randy Palmer)