It started with a conversation.

When Lieutenant Patrick Penton was appointed to The Salvation Army’s East Toronto Citadel in June 2024, the enthusiastic pastor wanted to learn all about his new church.

“As soon as I arrived,” he says, “I talked to everyone I could about what made our church tick. Very quickly, I was made aware that our church enthusiastically supports The Salvation Army’s overseas efforts in general and Partners in Mission in particular, which is the annual Self-Denial Campaign that provides the funds to carry out the much-needed work.”

Starting every September, the church launches several fundraisers and raises about $20,000 for Partners in Mission.

But Lieutenant Patrick was truly taken aback during one conversation, when he learned that some of the congregation, expatriates and Salvationists from Angola, between themselves and without fanfare, had raised more than $30,000 to build essential facilities at The Salvation Army Damba Corps back home.

“We often hear about the needs in different places,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “But we’re a part of one big Christian family and we can’t just sit back and rely on good thoughts, because faith without works is dead.” LIEUTENANT PATRICK PENTON 

“They Did It!”

Lieutenant Patrick was stunned, to say the least.

“I couldn’t believe they did this over and above the rest of the church activities they contributed to, without the rest of the corps being aware,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “They had also reached out to the Angolan community in the Greater Toronto Area in their quest to raise the funds.” 

“Almost every member of the Angolan community of East Toronto is a recent immigrant, having been in Canada for barely a year when they took on this challenge,” says Edi Matondo, one of the leading participants. “Despite adjusting to a new country, language and culture, they united to contribute what little they had toward a cause much greater than themselves. Their collective effort reflected both their gratitude for new beginnings in Canada and their unwavering commitment to help their community in Angola.”

“They saw a need, they went for it and came up with the money,” concurs Lieutenant Patrick. “Despite everything, they sent the necessary funds home, through The Salvation Army, to build a centre of Christian worship. They did it!”

Birth of a Notion

During more chats, Lieutenant Patrick learned that there were no attached living quarters at the church for the pastor.

“He lives kilometres away from the newly erected church building,” Lieutenant Patrick explains, “and has to walk back and forth every day. But his tremendous faith and passion for ministry keeps him going.”

There must be something we can do, Lieutenant Patrick thought to himself.

In talks with Major Heather Matondo and Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray of The Salvation Army’s international development department, who had both attended a Sunday service at the new Damba Corps in September 2024 and had seen where the pastor was living, the three reasoned that if a few determined individuals could raise enough money to rebuild a church, the entire East Toronto Salvationist community could rally to construct a pastor’s quarters with running water and electricity.

“People Buying Bricks”

In December 2024, East Toronto started a fundraiser, over and above the Self-Denial Campaign, to raise money for Damba Corps.

“We had LEGO bricks,” smiles Lieutenant Patrick, “and the children would say, ‘We’re going to buy bricks for Damba!’ Each brick was $25. And so people just kept purchasing bricks every Sunday.”

By this past September, East Toronto had raised $11,000, “just people buying bricks,” he says.

Evening of Praise

Last summer, Lieutenant Patrick conceived of a way to highlight the campaign. He invited The Salvation Army’s Canadian Staff Band, the world-renowned group of musicians and composers, to perform at the church, with all proceeds going to fund the pastor’s quarters in Damba.

“It was a spectacular evening,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “There were a lot of special moments.”

Lieutenant Patrick started the evening off by pointing out why everyone was there. Then Major Heather showed a video she had produced of the church at Damba.

The Canadian Staff Band was out in full force, playing a rousing selection of upbeat pieces. East Toronto Angolan members—many of whom had been members of The Salvation Army’s Angolan national band—also took to the stage.

“They are part of a choir called Nzitusu, which means praise,” says Lieutenant Patrick.

“The people, the band, everyone was up moving and dancing, it was a great time but, throughout, peoplewere aware of the need. Many of the participants generously donated over and above their $15 tickets, and the fundraiser collected more than $5,000.”

A Deepening Commitment

The fundraising is still ongoing but Lieutenant Patrick and his flock hope to have their building goal of $50,000 collected by this year.

“We often hear about the needs in different places,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “But we’re a part of one big Christian family and we can’t just sit back and rely on good thoughts, because faith without works is dead.

“The evening epitomized that we need to do more than prayer,” he believes. “We need to put faith into action, and that is what we did at East Toronto for our brothers and sisters in Angola.”

“This new building project represents not only a continuation of the mission but a deepening of the commitment to strengthen The Salvation Army’s presence in northern Angola,” says Edi. “With the enduring faith of East Toronto Citadel and the Angolan community of East Toronto, the Damba Project stands as a living example of what it means to serve God through love, sacrifice and community action.”

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