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.

Abubakar’s sister had found the family an apartment, which happened to be conveniently close to The Salvation Army’s Saskatoon Temple church.

Welcoming Worship

“Brother,” Abubakar’s sister told him, “there’s a church nearby to the apartment you rented. You and your family could go there and worship God.”

Right before Christmas, she brought them to the church herself.

Abubakar and his family had never been to an Army church before, and they were pleasantly surprised by the reception they received from the congregation and the pastors, Captains Angela and Derek Kerr.

“The worship service was similar to what we’d been used to at home,” says Abubakar. “The pastors are wonderful. They preach the Bible. That’s one thing I like about The Salvation Army here. There is no diluting the truth or trying to say the truth in another way; they say it like it is. The Salvation Army is a church that leads people to Christ. That was why we stayed, and that’s why we still attend.”

“We came to Canada as immigrants, strangers in a strange land, with nothing.” Abubakar

Welcome Help

But Abubakar and his family found more than a place of worship at The Salvation Army.

“We came to Canada as immigrants, strangers in a strange land, with nothing,” says Abubakar. “We didn’t know our way around.”So, the family were surprised when they looked out the window of their apartment right before Christmas.

“There was the Salvation Army van, and Captains Angela and Derek were there,” Abubakar says.

The pastors had brought them groceries, gift vouchers and gasoline cards, as well as winter jackets for the Saskatchewan winter. Later, they took the family grocery shopping.

“They really helped us and gave us support when we needed it,” he smiles. “Who does that anymore? God does!”

Much-Needed Experience

That was not all.

Captain Angela hired Abubakar’s wife and one of their daughters to work at their Christmas toy shop over the holiday period, getting their first practical Canadian work experience.

“My daughter still works for The Salvation Army at one of the shelters downtown,” Abubakar proudly states.

Saving Christmas

“I can’t imagine what it must feel like to relocate your family to a new country,” says Captain Angela, “arriving with very little, not knowing anyone, settling into a different culture and often learning a new language.

“At The Salvation Army, we have the privilege of being able to welcome people by sharing the love of Jesus through practical gestures, such as a food hamper and toys at Christmastime. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces and the relief on parents’ faces as we help to bring a little hope to their Christmas brings us a tremendous amount of joy. 

“I often wonder who is more blessed when we are distributing our Christmas hampers. Is it the recipient, or is it me?”

As far as Abubakar is concerned, he knows “The Salvation Army saved our Christmas.”

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