Captains Cathy and Scott Allen, then the pastors at Agincourt Temple Community Church, had suggested in the fall of 2024 that Tayo Oyerinde get his hair cut for a Partners in Mission fundraiser, part of an annual self-denial campaign that provides the necessary money to carry out the ministry of The Salvation Army worldwide. He readily agreed.

For an evening a week, over the course of each session, the fellowship hall at Georgina Community Church in Jackson’s Point, Ont., is filled with young people attending the Georgina Chess Academy. Community members have also become more aware of the church’s location and the building’s openness as they know the church, now with Lieutenants Jenny and Matthew Rideout serving as pastors, is donating the space and time to the free club. 

Matthew Allen is a 28-year-old hockey player and Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He’s a volunteer, a good friend, a team player and is often the face behind The Salvation Army’s mascot, Shieldy. On Sundays, he can be found at the Army’s Agincourt Temple Community Church in Toronto, greeting people as they come in the door and collecting the offering.

Jesus’ fourth statement in His famous Beatitudes sermon has as much to do with treating others with kindness and compassion as it does with worshipping God,  to live in the centre of God’s heart.

A Salvation Army church in Angola was in need, and a Salvation Army church in Toronto answered the call. “We need to put faith into action, and that is what we did at East Toronto for our brothers and sisters in  Angola,” says the pastor, Lieutenant Patrick Penton.

 Salvation Army Major Barb Pritchett is responsible for chaplaincy duties at the hospitals in St. John’s, N.L. Now 70, she struggles to lay down the mantle of ministry that she took up so many years ago. “It’s been a wonderful life,” she recalls. “I recently purchased a pillow that reads true for me: ‘Can’t stop, won’t stop.’ I am always very mindful of the fact that I represent God in these situations. There isn’t a lot I can say but my presence and prayer seem to comfort and support these families. It is indeed a privilege.”

Abubakar (not his real name), his wife and their five children immigrated to Canada in September 2024. As practising Christians in Nigeria, they had found joy in attending church back home. Now, they were looking for the same in Saskatoon, where they had settled. They found it at The Salvation Army’s Saskatoon Temple church.

When it comes to prayer, God will hear us no matter what we need or where we are. 

The Salvation Army's Saskatoon Temple’s Christmas hamper program has been going on for several decades.

“We’re a pretty busy ministry unit at Christmastime,” says Captain Derek Kerr, the pastor. “We help anywhere from 3,500 to 4,500 families, depending on the year. A lot of people come through.”

"I always care about people," says Justin Hewitt, 11. “There shouldn’t be homeless people at all. Everyone should always have a place to live.” This is why he donates all the money he has to The Salvatin Army Christmas kettle.