Music stirs the soul. For Christians, it’s a source of spiritual connection and worship. In The Salvation Army, it’s a hallmark of ministry, and brass and choral music is foundational to the identity of corps throughout the world.

The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda is finding fresh ways to help more people experience the power of music, where it connects people, forms memories and builds friendships—even in unlikely places. Here are just a few of those unique expressions of music ministry across the territory.

Hope Choir
Winnipeg Centre of Hope

One day, while sitting with participants at the Hope Café at the Winnipeg Centre of Hope, Captain Samuel Tim, chaplain, overheard a man singing along to some background music that played throughout the room. They struck up a conversation where Captain Tim learned that the man used to sing in a choir. Then someone else mentioned that they had once been part of a choir, too.

“As a former songster leader, this was like music to my ears,” says Captain Tim. He asked the men if they would be interested in joining a choir if he started one. “They both said yes, and it was not long before we realized that there were others who would love to be part of it.”

As a result, Hope Choir was born in the fall of 2023, open to both Centre of Hope participants and staff.

“The purpose of Hope Choir is for members to express themselves through music,” says Captain Tim. “Not only are we able to praise God through music, but the group is also a social circle where members feel like a family.”

The group quickly became a source of friendship and community for participants. They would share a cake after practice, ride a bus together to and from engagements, and look out for each other, offering support to newcomers.

While some members of the choir have singing experience, others have none. The only criterion is that they are willing to sing praise to God. Even after finding housing and moving out, some former Centre of Hope participants continue to sing with the group.

Hope Choir has participated in the chapel service at the Centre of Hope and sang at Salvation Army corps across Winnipeg and Brandon, Man. In May 2024, the choir hosted “An Evening With the Hope Choir” at the centre, supported by Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple Band.

“As a chaplain, I am always looking for opportunities to build relationships. What better way to do this than to have a group of people who share the same passion come together?” says Captain Tim. “It is interesting to watch the group come together to support each other and share the joys, and sometimes sorrows, of life.”

Operating on a foundation of faith, Hope Choir sings mostly Christian songs, and weekly practices often include time to reflect on the lyrics and meanings of the songs. The group prays at the beginning and end of each meeting, and members are reminded that Hope Choir’s purpose goes beyond just being a social gathering. It’s also an opportunity to worship God. Since its inception, two members of the Hope Choir have begun attending The Salvation Army’s Living Hope Community Church in Winnipeg and have been enrolled as adherents.

“Hope Choir has helped bring people together and given them the opportunity to get out and be a witness to others,” says Captain Tim. “I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to use the talent that God has given me to lead a choir and that people who had once been part of a choir have the opportunity to take part once again—in a most unusual of places.”

Jubilate
St. John's Citadel, N.L.

At St. John’s Citadel, N.L., the Jubilate Choir is a chorus made up of men who simply love to sing in praise.

It began about three years ago when Major Cathy Simms, then corps officer, asked if Derrick Moore would help put together a small group of men to sing on Palm Sunday. At the time, she had five or six men in mind but was shocked when Moore showed up with 25 singers.

“It was meant to be a one-off,” says Moore. “But then when it was over, the men came to me and said, ‘We’re not going to stop this, are we?’ So, we’ve been going ever since.”

The purpose of Jubilate is to worship the Lord, while also providing men a meaningful ministry outlet. Rehearsals include devotional time when members can share prayer concerns and encourage one another.

“Men, generally speaking, are not that great at talking about our feelings,” says Moore. “But in this kind of setting, where the Christian ethos is clear, we are becoming more open to each other. I think we’re developing a healthy male conversation.”

There are currently 27 members of the group, ranging from 15-year-olds to men in their early 80s. They come from St. John’s Citadel and surrounding Army corps, such as St. John’s Temple, Bay Roberts and Mount Pearl, as well as other churches and denominations.

“Many of us are retired, which comes with its own range of seasonal and recreational pursuits,” says Moore. “Many like to travel. I’ve got berry pickers, moose hunters, fishermen and lawyers. And despite all this, we come together on a bi-weekly basis with a shared purpose: to sing and worship.”

Jubilate’s repertoire includes pieces from The Song Book of The Salvation Army as well as contemporary songs and arrangements. They aim to perform at least once a quarter, whether it’s an afternoon sing-along at a local retirement residence or a concert in the community. For the last two years, they’ve put on a Christmas concert called Sing We Noel, where they invite a solo artist and a choir from the community to join them. Both concerts have had more than 400 people in attendance.

“The bulk of us come from St. John’s Citadel, but just because we go to the same church doesn’t mean we know each other. We say hello, but never really had a deeper relationship—until now,” says Moore. “We see fellowship happening and friendships growing, and we’re peeling back that outer layer of the onion. You can always tell when the comfort is rising by the level of banter, and there’s a lot of banter!”

Harmonies for Hope
New Hope Leslieville, Toronto

Ten years ago, Rob Dixon founded Harmonies for Hope, a charity that brings musical opportunities to people experiencing homelessness in shelters and drop-in centres. One of these locations is The Salvation Army’s New Hope Leslieville shelter in Toronto.

At New Hope, Dixon runs “jam sessions” where he brings several easy-to-play musical instruments, such as guitars and percussion, for residents to play. “Some people sing along,some grab an instrument, and some just sit and enjoy the music. It can get noisy at times,which is really beautiful.”

Dixon works full time in sales, but he’s also a street busker, and Harmonies for Hope began as a side hustle. One day while busking in the streets, he came across a man named Brad who was experiencing homelessness. He told Dixon that he used to play guitar and asked to borrow his.

“He played for me and he was super talented,” says Dixon. “The fact that he hadn’t touched a guitar in 15 years made it even more impressive,” says Dixon. “A crowd of people gathered around to listen. It was a really special moment.”

As Brad played the guitar, Dixon began to think, How can I create music opportunities for people experiencing homelessness?

Sadly, Brad passed away six weeks later. After his death, his sister, who lives in Leslieville, became an advocate for issues such as homelessness and safe injection sites. She knew The Salvation Army was preparing to open New Hope in 2018, and she connected Dixon with the shelter to help him launch Harmonies for Hope.

Now, Dixon runs the program in the main lounge space once a month. On any given night, there are usually about 10 people who join the jam session. “Some nights there’s more active participation than others, but every session is beautiful in its own way,” he says.

A plaque now hangs on the wall of the lounge in memory of Brad, who inspired the program.

Since Harmonies for Hope started, Dixon has witnessed powerful moments moved by the music. One evening, a man came in and sat quietly, seemingly uninterested at first. But after about an hour, he requested a song. By the end of it, the man was in tears. He shared with Dixon that it was a song from his past, and it held a lot of meaning for him. He hadn’t heard it in a while.

“Music is a real timeline to our lives,” says Dixon. “Someone said to me once, one of the powerful things that’s going to happen here is that you’re going to be bringing music to people, and they’re going to hear a song that brings them back, maybe to a happier time in their life, even for just a few moments. And that’s what happened there.”

Another time, a man who hadn’t touched a drum kit in years joined Dixon, playing the hand drums. “We went through a classic rock song book, and one by one he drummed along to each song perfectly. He had incredible rhythm,” says Dixon. “He drummed away, and after a few songs, I looked over to see him crying.

“I’m a big believer that music has a deep impact on people,” Dixon continues. “I see it all the time at Harmonies for Hope.”

To listen to the full Salvationist podcast with Rob Dixon and learn more about Harmonies for Hope, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1089779/episodes/18937052-giving-hope-through-music-at-a-salvation-army-shelter