Written by: The Salvation Army
Article source: JOY! Magazine
“Heart to God – hand to man.” These six simple words contain the entire ethos of The Salvation Army. And they are just as fully lived and relevant today as when they were expressed by William Booth when he founded The Army in England in 1865.
A legacy in Southern Africa
The Salvation Army is both a worldwide Christian church and welfare organisation. And even though our presence was established in Southern Africa as long ago as 1883, the full scope of The Army’s influence and work may not be widely known.
Faith-driven mission and purpose
As an international evangelical movement, our work is motivated by faith and values. And our love for Jesus Christ inspires us to care for those in need. Our objectives are the advancement of the Christian religion, the relief of poverty, and addressing common issues in a way that will be beneficial to the community, and to society as a whole.
When natural disasters happen, as with the tornado that devastated the KZN Tongaat community, our Corps (churches) will be found on site to provide relief.
Core values and holistic community support
Our values of human dignity, justice, hope, compassion, and community are echoed throughout our work in a comprehensive and holistic way from childhood through life to old age. Our follow on from childcare is a step up facility to safely bridge the transition to independent adulthood.
OUR WORK
Early childhood development
There are 15 Salvation Army low-fee pre-school créches throughout South Africa providing safety, stimulation, and healthy nutrition.
All the love and care that a child needs will be found at our Joseph Baynes Home in Pietermaritzburg – one of four such homes for children and teens who are orphaned or committed by the courts.
Addressing gender-based violence
These safe havens take in abused women and their children and put them on a path to healing and capacity, building towards future self-reliance.
Substance dependency rehabilitation
Patients are accepted into this rehabilitation centre as volunteers, as the wish to free themselves from dependency contributes to a more positive outcome.
Christmas at our Beth Rogelim Home for Men in Cape Town. Our two Goodwill Centres serve families which have collapsed due to financial and emotional strain; those who find themselves homeless; have drug-related problems; as well as victims of rape and human trafficking.
Psychiatric care
Residential care is offered to psychiatric patients with emphasis on helping residents to care for themselves and develop self-worth.
Health services
Salvation Army health services exist through the Booth Hospital in Cape Town, as well as several clinics and wellness centres.
Our five Eventide and Age-Care Centres provide accommodation, food, clothing, healthcare and social activities for the elderly who are disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable.
Finances
Although a few of our services receive government subsidies, they barely scratch the surface of the costs. And it’s here that committed Christians and other people of goodwill step in to help with their personal donations. Our hearts to God are freely given. But it’s these personal donations that allow us to keep giving our hands to man.
Please would you open your heart now by reading about how you can bring Christmas joy with a “Bucket of Love” for those who need your compassion the most. Please click here to donate.
salvationarmy.org.za | 011 718 6700 | safpr@saf.salvationarmy.org
This article is featured in the December issue of JOY! Magazine, which is now on sale nationwide! Pick up your copy from any leading supermarket, or read a digital version of this issue here: https://joygifts.co.za/product/joy-magazine-december-issue-2024/
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 05/12/2024
Feature image: The Salvation Army is there when basic needs like food, clothing, and blankets are needed, as in sharing winter warmth with communities in the Eastern Cape.
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
