We asked corps around the territory what they are doing to raise money for Partners in Mission. Some of their answers may surprise you

Take a Cold Shower!
Captain David Allen, Ocean Crest, Campbell River, B.C.
As a community of faith we believe that taking the good news beyond our walls is as important as fellowship, discipleship and worship. Last year, our corps’ creative outreach at the Love Your City campaign and Family Kite Festival touched thousands of people. In addition, the Partners in Mission resource kit helped our people see the need in other Salvation Army territories, and home-spun ideas helped further our financial support.

Every year during Lent, families at our corps create self-denial calendars that remind us of the things we often take for granted. By restricting energy consumption and using only cold water in our homes, sacrificing Tim Hortons coffee or eating a modest bowl of rice for dinner, many do without in order to raise money for world missions.

Partnering in mission also means reaching out to our First Nations neighbours in a community called Esperanza (Spanish for hope). For the past three years, our men’s fellowship group has spent an annual long weekend rebuilding a cabin there. Last fall, it was dedicated under the name Ocean Crest.

Our missions team is setting goals for 2007, with the possibility of sending short-term teams to Costa Rica and Kenya. Ocean Crest has a mandate to go into the world, both near and far. As professor Paul Stevens noted, “The Church doesn’t merely have a mission, but by Christ’s Spirit it is a mission.”

Self-Denial Still Crucial
Major Rob Howard, Winterberry Heights Church, Stoney Creek, Ont.
When The Salvation Army changed the name of its fundraising event from the Self-Denial Appeal to Partners in Mission, it caused some angst amongst our congregation. The ministry board asked, “How does this new program fit our mission?”

The Self-Denial Appeal began when our Founder, William Booth, denied himself a Christmas pudding to support the Army’s overseas missions. It evolved into a Lenten program where personal self-denial was encouraged to raise money for missionary ventures.

The new focus on Partners in Mission acknowledges that the need is far greater than a short period during Lent. Our responsibility to our brothers and sisters overseas is year round. At the same time, our corps recognized that the principle of self-denial-giving something up for a greater good-was something we should keep.

For several years we’ve had a friendly competition among the various corps sections to raise money for this annual appeal. Each January we’ve distributed coin jars and asked our congregation to deny themselves for 40 days. We have witnessed children making some incredible changes in their lifestyle to support our overseas partners. One pre-teen has consistently raised over $100 by himself each year. Our target is to give a tithe of our Sunday offerings to missions. We aren’t there yet, but are well on our way.

Our ultimate dream is to sponsor a church plant in one of these countries. If the Army is to keep growing, we must continue to be good stewards of our resources, both here and abroad.

The 20 Percent Challenge
Major Fred Waters, Glenmore Temple, Calgary
Glenmore Temple has made an extraordinary leap forward during the past four years. Our annual giving to world missions has gone from $19,000 to over $70,000 due to our new philosophy of ministry. Historically, we used to think of giving to missions as a time-sensitive emphasis connected to local events or initiatives. But recently we asked our people to tithe faithfully and allow the finance team to allocate funds to corps ministry groups as they have need. This has allowed us to devote more to Partners in Mission and we have set a goal of giving away 20 percent of our income to this annual appeal.

Raising our goal of giving also means raising the profile of overseas personnel by contacting them for prayer requests and highlighting them through the Partners in Mission resource kit. Our senior band has created a considerable list of contacts from our partner territories for whom they pray regularly. Each week during Sunday worship, our corps treasurer includes a brief word of biblical teaching on stewardship. There’s nothing quite like giving people the opportunity to get their hands dirty to back up our financial support, so this year Glenmore Temple is launching a short-term mission trip to Jamaica.

Sunday School Heroes
Captain Cecil Mitchell, Labrador City/Wabush, Nfld. & Lab.
God needs people who will catch the vision of what the Self-Denial Appeal/Partners in Mission is all about. To rediscover the meaning of self-denial is to rediscover our first love-Christ himself.

Last year we used the THQ video presentation in our Sunday morning service. But it was our Sunday school that caught the vision first! They led our congregation in giving by hosting a Penny Sunday in May in which teachers and children brought in 27,976 pennies. One nine-year-old brought 6,300 pennies that she had been saving for six years. One teacher contributed all her tips from her food-service job. The total raised was $3,413-double the amount from 2005.

The Sunday school’s enthusiasm became contagious and spread to the senior corps. Weekly bulletin updates kept the congregation motivated and provided interesting facts about our partner territories. In the end, our corps was able to raise $9,659.86.

Blessed to Be a Blessing
Major Debbie Allen, Comox Valley Community Church, Courtenay, B.C.
Living in a land of plenty, we are constantly challenged with the need to share with those who are less fortunate. Comox Valley CC is a relatively small congregation, yet many members give as much as they can to world missions through their weekly offerings and during the annual ingathering.

Each year we hold a “mystery auction” to which members donate items wrapped as special gifts or stuffed in a paper bag. The bidding on these unknown articles is fierce as individuals vie for the opportunity to give. In 2006, a banner year in our thrift stores allowed us to share the blessings we received by contributing a percentage of our surplus to Partners in Mission. We feel that we have been blessed and desire to pass the blessing on to others.

A Personal Connection
Captain Paul Rideout, New-Wes-Valley, Wesleyville, Nfld. & Lab.
Our congregation has a special appreciation for overseas missions due to their personal connection with Colonel Joy Bungay, who over the years served with her husband, Roy, in Singapore, South Africa and Papua New Guinea.

Last year, we showed a different video clip from the Partners in Mission resource kit for six consecutive Sundays. Our people were highly motivated by being able to see the living conditions of those in the developing world and hearing first-hand about their practical needs. In addition, our women’s ministries hosted a movie night. A small fee was charged for the movie and popcorn, with all the proceeds going to Partners in Mission.

At the annual ingathering on the final Sunday of the campaign, people gave generously. Often they just need to see the need and their hearts will respond.

Small Community, Big Impact
Captain Weldon Hayward, Little Bay Islands, Nlfd. & Lab.
During Partners in Mission 2006, our corps increased its giving significantly, a remarkable achievement when one considers the size of our community. Since the 1950s, our population has steadily decreased from 600 to approximately 125.

Increased giving to mission was the result of a practical approach. In our Sunday meetings we showed the Partners in Mission video, which detailed the tremendous work God is doing through the Army. The congregation was able to see where their money was going. As a body of believers, we prayed for the specific needs of Canadians serving overseas.

When the need is great, our people respond. After the disastrous tsunami hit Asia on December 24, 2004, we raised an amazing $1,600 dollars in our little town to aid The Salvation Army’s international relief efforts. This year, we plan to promote Partners in Mission even more widely in our community.

Embracing Refugees
Captain Stephen McNeilly, Prince Albert Community Church, Sask.
Five years ago, our corps had the opportunity to sponsor three Bosnian families who moved to Canada from refugee camps. The months that followed were a whirlwind of adjustments in language and culture, not only for the 21 new arrivals, but for the congregation as well. Since that time two refugee families from Sudan, a family from Liberia and several families from Columbia have become involved in the Army’s ministry.

When it comes time to raise funds and awareness for the ministry of the Army in other countries, everyone at our corps comes on board. From auctions, dinners, unique incentives (such as dying hair green or shaving beards), talent nights and the generosity of people, it is not a struggle to reach the set targets.

We have discovered that increased giving equals increased blessing as we see adults and children of many cultures united in worship, play and the study of God’s Word. Baby dedications and the enrollment of adherents and junior soldiers are visible signs of commitments made to God.

We are increasingly aware that we live in a global village in which we all need each other. As we pray for and support our brothers and sisters around the world, we see first-hand the blessings that occur when that global village extends as far as northern Saskatchewan to become part of us.