It is important to ensure that our strategic direction remains aligned with our vision, mission and current ministry realities. As we have reached the midpoint of our 10-year strategic journey to achieve our vision, this refresh allows us to reflect on the foundational changes over the past five years and ensure we move forward while remaining responsive to current realities, changing community needs and strengthen how we serve so we can approach the next 5 years with clarity, unity and purpose.

This refresh is the result of listening, learning and prayerful discernment over multiple years. Hundreds of officers, employees, lay leaders, specialized advisors and focus groups provided input, ensuring diverse perspectives and lived ministry experience influenced the work that will build on our foundation and guide us to our destination.

Our vision, mission and values will stay the same. The four pillars of the territorial strategy will also remain unchanged: strengthen spiritual health, design for people, forge innovative partnerships and optimize mission impact.

What will evolve are objectives and initiatives that reflect what we’ve heard from the field, what we’ve learned over the past five years and what is needed to strengthen sustainability, discipleship, partnerships and impact across the territory to guide us to our vision.

The refreshed strategy focuses on spiritual life and discipleship, supporting and equipping people, partnership-driven ministry, innovation and collaboration, and aligning resources for maximum missional impact. These priorities are designed to help ministries thrive, expand reach and strengthen long-term sustainability.

Our key focuses will be: 

• Corps and social ministry unit sustainability and growth.
• Evangelism and discipleship grounded in Salvation Army doctrine.
• Increasing diversity by reinforcing our culture of welcome.
• Creating engagement opportunities for children, youth and young adults.
• Strengthening Christian leadership in our officers, lay leaders and employees.
• Recruitment and retention of officers and employees.
• Continuing to build internal and external partnerships.
• Increasing operational effectiveness and accountability.

The strategy’s refreshed objectives and initiatives address the core challenges facing our territory today: corps health, mission drift and leadership. 

Corps health is vital to long-term sustainability. The refreshed initiatives will address the strain many ministry units are experiencing due to changing community needs, fewer officers and aging congregations. They will leverage opportunities driven by the quiet revival of young people who are looking for meaning in their life.

The objectives and initiatives will ensure that our mission is fully evident in all our ministry expressions, and we are rooted in our “Christ-Centred, Others-Focused” purpose.

Strengthening strategic leadership will ensure officers, employees and lay leaders are equipped and supported to guide teams well, work collaboratively and lead with clarity. Developing stronger leaders will help us remain focused, aligned and prepared for the future.

Communities, ministry contexts and resources are changing, and we must respond with compassion, wise stewardship and thoughtful planning. This strategy refresh will strengthen sustainability across the territory by equipping leaders and teams, reinforcing ministry units and encouraging collaboration to meet spiritual and practical needs. 

With fewer officers, aging congregations and shifting community realities, it is essential that we invest in those who serve and work across ministries, steward resources well and build strong partnerships so we remain united, resilient and prepared for the future.

“Forward Together” reminds us that we serve as one Army in spirit and purpose, and that we are called to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

“Christ-Centred, Others-Focused” means that Jesus is at the heart of everything we believe, decide and do. This phrase reflects our values: to give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to reach out to support others without discrimination, to respect and value each other, to recognize everyone’s worth and to responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us. 

The strategy refresh builds on our strong foundation while creating space for new ideas and approaches. Some existing programs may be adjusted, and, over time, new initiatives may be introduced that respond to emerging needs, align with our mission, encourage collaboration and increase impact.

This strategy places an even greater emphasis on working together—within The Salvation Army and with others who share our mission. It encourages stronger collaboration so we can stand shoulder to shoulder, share resources and extend our collective impact in Christ’s name.

In 2024, General Lyndon Buckingham launched Compass the global strategic framework focused on people, mission and legacy. Our refreshed territorial strategy aligns with these priorities while reflecting local needs and opportunities.

Compass calls us to empower people, enhance mission impact and establish an enduring legacy to sustain the movement, which we are doing by strengthening leaders, investing in spiritual life and building long-term stability. The refresh applies these shared commitments in practical ways across Canada and Bermuda, equipping officers and employees, revitalizing ministries and partnerships and aligning resources for the greatest impact.

Stay focused on what you do best: living out your calling with compassion and faith. Every officer, employee, volunteer, congregant and partner has a part to play by:

• Living the mission: lead with care, faith and integrity in all you do.
• Engaging and contributing: learn about the refreshed plan, ask questions and help shape it locally.
• Moving forward together: support one another, embrace new ways of serving and build a stronger, more united future.

Your voice and commitment make this possible as we move forward together, as one Army.

We will see evidence in strengthened ministries, deeper discipleship, improved collaboration, clearer alignment of resources and greater confidence in how people lead and serve.

The best place to start is by speaking with your leader. They can help answer questions, share updates and pass along feedback to the appropriate teams. Open conversation is encouraged at every level—your voice matters and helps shape how the strategy grows.

Find out more at salvationist.ca/strategy