Frontlines

Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, territorial leaders, were in Sri Lanka in February to celebrate the completion of the Safe Water and Livelihood Development Project (SWALD), a partnership between the Canada and Bermuda Territory and the Sri Lanka Territory.

The five-year project, located in the Polonnaruwa District, directly benefits more than 25,000 people. Through the project: • 18 wells were established, providing clean water for 6,800 families; • more than 3,000 farmers received training and agricultural support; • 135 vulnerable women and families received business skills and livelihood support; and • more than 10,000 women participated in a program for teenaged mothers. The completion of the SWALD project was marked by a success celebration in Polonnaruwa. Following the event, Commissioners Tidd, along with Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, director of world missions, and Manjita Biswas, program director for overseas projects, conducted field visits and had the opportunity to hear from several beneficiaries. “We saw first hand the power of partnership, seeing community after community transformed as human needs were being met without discrimination and the love of Jesus was being shared,” says Commissioner Floyd Tidd.

The delegation also met with David McKinnon, high commissioner of Canada in Sri Lanka, to discuss The Salvation Army’s Sri Lanka-Canada partnership. “Our meeting with the high commissioner was a great opportunity to highlight our ministry in Sri Lanka,” says Lt-Colonel Murray.

Following their visit to Sri Lanka, the

Commissioner Tracey Tidd tests a well at the Safe Water and Livelihood Development Project Commissioner Floyd Tidd meets some young people at the Integrated Children’s Centre

delegation travelled to the Bangladesh Command, which is featured in the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s 2020 Partners in Mission campaign. They attended a holiness meeting at the Mirpur Corps, met with officers and Salvationists at command headquarters and the local training college, and visited two Army facilities: the Integrated Children’s Centre, which provides education and accommodation for underprivileged children, and the Old Dhaka Project, where The Salvation Army supports sexually exploited and vulnerable women.

Ground-breaking for New Corps Building in Ajax

Christmas came early for The Salvation Army in Ajax, Ont., as Salvation Army leaders, local politicians, Salvationists and friends gathered in December for the official ground-breaking for a new building.

The Salvation Army Hope Community Church and Jerry Coughlan Community Services Centre—named after local housing developer, Jerry Coughlan, who generously donated $2 million to the project in 2015—will provide a completely integrated missional space to serve the Hope congregation and communities of Ajax, Pickering and Uxbridge, Ont. Construction will begin this spring with an estimated completion date of fall 2021.

The new 20,000 square-foot two-storey building replaces the former corps/administration building and quarters. The increased space will allow for the expansion of current community support services, including client advocacy, employment assistance and emergency food, household provision programs and pastoral care, as well as the ability to host multiple worship gatherings. Overall, it will enable the Army to better assist vulnerable and marginalized families and individuals of all ages.

Breaking ground on the new Salvation Army building in Ajax, Ont. From left, Mjr Christopher Rideout, AC, Ont. CE Div; Greg McInnes, assistant executive director, CJS, Toronto; Cpt Jason Sabourin, CO, Hope CC; Jerry Coughlan; Mjr Isobel Wagner, learning development co-ordinator; Mjr Mark Wagner, corps ministries secretary; and Cpts Jodi and Mark Dunstan, DYSs, Ont. CE Div

When an historic blizzard hit Newfoundland and Labrador in January, many communities in the eastern part of the province were brought to a standstill. Residents of St. John’s experienced a record-breaking 76 centimetres of snow in a single day, along with wind gusts as high as 130 kilometres per hour. Several communities were forced to declare states of emergency.

As the storm let up and recovery efforts began, The Salvation Army provided assistance to those in need. Throughout the state of emergency, Steven Hynes, divisional co-ordinator, emergency disaster services, Newfoundland and Labrador Division, was in regular contact with the St. John’s emergency manager and was actively engaged with the provincial emergency team. The Army was prepared to operate warming centres in St. John’s and provide food assistance as called upon; however, due to the state of emergency, the city did not move in that direction because conditions were unsafe.

The Army operated a warming centre at Conception Bay South Corps, during power outages in that area. In partnership with the town of Conception Bay South, Majors Chris and Claudette Pilgrim, corps officers, mobilized a team of volunteers and, in no time, soup and coffee were prepared.

In Mount Pearl, which received 93 centimetres of snow, the corps’ food bank opened as soon as circumstances permitted. Majors Morgan and Lisa Hillier, corps officers, along with food bank staff and volunteers, remained available throughout the emergency to help as many families as possible, reaching out to vulnerable people and international students in the community to make sure everyone was taken care of.

As soon as the City of St. John’s gave the green light to food bank operations, Captain Tony Brushett, executive director, New Hope Community Centre, and community and family services staff were up and running. Over the course of two days, the Army’s food bank met the needs of 200 families.

When St. John’s announced it would be lifting the state of emergency, the Army held a community meal at the New Hope centre. “After a challenging week, there were many smiles and much appreciation from the 150 guests who enjoyed a hot meal and rich fellowship in a caring environment,” says Major Rene Loveless, divisional secretary for public relations and development, Newfoundland and Labrador Division.

A team at the warming centre at Conception Bay South Corps provides soup and coffee for those in need

On February 12, Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, launched a new international vision for The Salvation Army’s women’s ministries during a livestreamed event at International Headquarters (IHQ). “Women’s ministry is a strong force in The Salvation Army internationally,” noted Commissioner Peddle. “I want to challenge all women leaders to reimagine women’s ministries in their own context, to discover what new things we can be doing to speak into the challenges that women and girls are facing today. We have to stop doing what’s not working and start doing new things.”

Commissioner Tracey Tidd, territorial president of women’s ministries, says, “This is more than just a one-time event; it’s a vision that helps us celebrate what God is doing and will do among women in the Army. It gives women in this territory and around the world the freedom to design unique programs that meet the needs of people in their communities and share the love of Jesus in creative ways.” The launch event featured many exciting initiatives, including: • a fresh logo and vision statement, developed in consultation with women from around the world; • a photo gallery of women in ministry, unveiled in Café 101 in the IHQ lobby; • a new book of 24 Bible studies, Time to Be Holy, written by Salvationist women; and • new social media channels exclusively for international women’s ministries. Videos were shown to demonstrate some of the innovative programming that embodies the new vision.

As the event concluded, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, remarked, “We have been involved in ministry to women for about 135 years. But any organization sometimes needs a shake-up. Commissioner Rosalie Peddle has heard the Lord speaking into her head and heart that it’s time for women’s ministries to be reimagined. There are women out there who are doing amazing things, and we are just saying, ‘We want more, we want better.’ ”

Pick up the May issue of Salvationist for more details regarding the new international vision and its impact on women’s ministries in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle shows off the new logo for the Army’s international women’s ministries

New Vision Statement for International Women’s Ministries We envision women who are: • Transformed and empowered by the gospel to lead a Christlike life • Enriched mutually through local and global connections and support • Equipped to fulfil their potential through lifelong learning and development • Engaged in justice and action to positively impact the world

Yorkton Army Opens Revamped Food Bank

The Salvation Army in Yorkton, Sask., held a grand reopening for its food bank in February, with local Mayor Bob Maloney, town councillors and other community partners in attendance.

In his words of welcome, Lieutenant Samuel Tim, corps officer, thanked God for providing the space for the food bank, highlighting the Army’s partnership with Parkland Community Church, which provides the physical location for the food bank. The new location will enable the Army to do more than just hand out food as there is also space to offer programs, the first of which will be a basic computer training course.

The reopening event included a prayer of dedication from William Con, pastor of Parkland Community Church, and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, as well as tours of the food bank. The mayor and town councillors also had the opportunity to speak with some food bank clients who attended the ceremony. Following the grand reopening, the food bank received a visit from Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, who expressed gratitude for the Army’s work: “Like so many community-based

organizations across Saskatchewan, Yorkton’s Salvation Army is building stronger families and a stronger community.”