(Above) Bruce Finkel receives the Others Award during a service at Calgary’s Glenmore Temple. From left, Commissioner Debbie Graves, territorial leader for spiritual life development; Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women’s Ministries; General Lyndon Buckingham; Finkel; and Lt-Col Donna Bladen, divisional officer personnel and divisional spiritual life development secretary, Prairies and NorthernTerritories Div (Photo: Geoff Moulton)

For more than 40 years, Bruce Finkel has quietly served The Salvation Army wherever there was a need.

As a first-generation Salvationist, Finkel came to the Army through a volunteer opportunity at a seniors’ lodge when he was just 14 years old, and it turned into a lifelong journey of faith, service and soldiership.

In April 2026, during the General’s Jesus Our Compass tour, Finkel received an Others Award, meant to recognize people who live out love through selfless service and dedication to helping others. He didn’t know that he would be receiving the award until his name was announced, and he was shocked but blessed to have received the recognition.

“People showed unconditional love to me, giving me opportunities and welcoming me into The Salvation Army,” says Finkel. “I experienced the unconditional love of Jesus Christ when I was saved. If I can do something that shows unconditional love to others, then I believe that’s what I’m called to do.” 

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

Finkel’s first contact with The Salvation Army was through volunteer work at Sunset Lodge in Winnipeg. At the time, the officers at Sunset Lodge took a chance on Finkel by letting him volunteer as a young teenager. “I’d read to the residents, take them out for walks and do all sorts of things,” says Finkel. “That was my first real exposure to The Salvation Army.”

Only two years later, he attended his first Salvation Army church meeting at Winnipeg Citadel.

Finkel came from a family of mixed Jewish and Christian backgrounds, but they didn’t practise religion, though Finkel’s exposure to The Salvation Army made him curious. His interest in The Salvation Army was not well received by his parents at first. The words of Matthew 19:29 spoke to him: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

“I almost used that verse with my parents to say that if becoming part of The Salvation Army meant making those sacrifices, then that’s what I had to do,” he says.

His first service at the corps was during the Self-Denial campaign, and he recalls a missionary showing images of his time in India. “I went because of the band—I liked the band and the atmosphere. I kept coming back week after week, learned more about the Lord and made a decision for Jesus on the August long weekend of 1965.”

Later, he met his wife, Irene, and the two began attending North Winnipeg Corps.

“Further education and employment took us to Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, and wherever we went, we were involved in the corps,” he says. 

TAKING A CHANCE

Finkel’s vocational background is nursing. He worked as a nurse for a few years, spending the rest of his career in hospital administration in both Manitoba and Alberta.

“Because of my health-care background, I was asked to step in as interim executive director at Grace Manor in Edmonton for a year while they were going through some changes,” he explains. “So, I started my exposure to the Army at Sunset Lodge and ended it at Grace Manor. It was a wonderful opportunity.”

Finkel has been involved in The  Salvation Army in many ways, but his  longest role has been as corps treasurer in  Wetaskiwin, Alta., for more than 40 years.  

“Wherever we were, we served as  Sunday school teachers, league of mercy  workers and, in those days, we also  did War Cry distribution in the pubs.  Wherever there was an opportunity to  serve, we served,” he says.

A DAILY WALK

“My faith journey has been one of growth,  thankfully,” says Finkel. “I’m certainly  more mature than I was when I first came  to faith as a young person.”

Throughout it all, Finkel has always  understood the importance of the mission  of The Salvation Army and that the source  of his strength is Jesus Christ. And being a  first-generation Salvationist has enriched  his life in ways he never expected.  

“What Scripture says about the  blessings that come from following  the Lord Jesus Christ is true,” he says.  “Whatever difficulties my wife and I have  experienced have been outweighed by the  blessings we’ve received from relying on  a daily walk with Jesus.”

For Finkel, the consistency of the love  of Jesus has been evident throughout his  life. He prayed for his family faithfully,  and when his father was 85 years old, he  finally accepted the Lord and became  a soldier. “We’ve seen tremendous  blessing,” he says.

ACTS OF KINDNESS

One experience that has stayed with  Finkel over the years involved a man in  Edmonton who was experiencing homelessness. His name was Richard, and the  Finkels would invite him into their home  occasionally, offering him a safe place to  shower, wash his clothes and take a break  from being on the streets. 

Today, the Finkels have been in touch  with Richard for more than 15 years.

“We’ve watched him go from living  on the streets to having a place of his  own. We’ve seen such a change in his  life through consistent love and support.

“Commissioner Christine MacMillan  once encouraged people that, if they chose  to give money to someone experiencing homelessness, not to toss it to them,  but to get down to their level and look  into their eyes, because when you look  into their eyes, you’ll see their soul,” he  says. “We had the experience of seeing  Richard’s soul, and that’s something that  has stayed with us forever.”

At one point, Richard fell into trouble  and ended up in remand, and he had a  cat that needed looking after, so Finkel  fed the cat for him. It was a small gesture,  but one that mattered deeply to Richard.

These small acts of kindness are  important to Finkel, whose life has been  shaped by the words of Lord, I Pray That  I May Know Thee and The Saviour of Men  Came to Seek and to Save—songs from  the Song Book of The Salvation Army with lyrics about showing God’s love and  compassion to others in word and deed.

MANY BLESSINGS

As Finkel reflects on his years serving in  The Salvation Army, he expresses gratitude for the officers and corps members who have supported him and Irene  through their faith journey. Because of the  support they’ve received, they’re inspired  to give the same to others. “All we can  hope to do is give back for the wonderful  experiences we’ve had,” says Finkel.  

“I am where I am today because people  chose to take a risk on me and give me  opportunities to serve,” he continues.  “As a result, my wife and I have had the  most wonderful experience serving God  through The Salvation Army. For that,  I’m eternally grateful.”

This story is from: