Departments
within the Corps
The Salvation Army Men’s Fellowship seeks to:
- Provide men with a medium for Christian fellowship where they can grow together in their devotion to Christ through Bible study
- Promote prayer support systems among men and help them foster strong relationships, endeavouring to bring men into fellowship with God
- Encourage involvement of every man in the corps programme and in service in the community
- Promote strong family ties through education and discussions particularly in regard to the man’s role in family life. In addition, to provide education in vocational skills and promote recreational activities.
Mens Fellowship
Men of God
Men are encouraged to stop taking a back seat on spiritual matters. Not only are men responsible for the growth and development of their personal lives, they also have a contribution to make with regard to family and community spiritual life and development.
Men of Prayer
Paul writes to Timothy (1 Timothy 2.8), “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” Men’s Fellowship encourages teaching about prayer as well as the development of both personal and group prayer.
Men of Service
A practical aspect of Men’s Fellowship is to take responsibility for the maintenance of Salvation Army properties. Men are taught and encouraged in the use of maintenance skills as they care for corps buildings, officers quarters and assist at Salvation Army social centres. This ministry is also extended into the community as a form of service to individuals or deserving organisations.
Men of Fellowship
Men need time to be together; to enjoy recreational activities and to be of support and encouragement to each other.
The mission of Women’s Ministries is to:
- Bring women into the knowledge of Jesus Christ
- Encourage their full potential in influencing family, friends and community
- Equip them for growth in personal understanding and life skills
- Address issues which affect particularly women and their families in the world
Our motto is: ‘I will live a pure life in my house …’ (Psalm 101:2b – GNB)
The Salvation Army Women’s Ministries is an International Fellowship of Women of all ages. It was inaugurated in 1907 to provide a wide range of activities based on these fourfold aims: Worship, Education, Fellowship and Service.
In Nigeria, we have the following programs that seek to minister to different groups/grades of people in our society.
Home League
Women’s Ministries provide a programme of meetings and other activities based on the fourfold aims of the Army’s international women’s organisation, the Home League, which was inaugurated in 1907.
The Home League is a group of women who come together from time to time (once a week) to worship God, learn from each other, share fellowship and join hands in serving one another, their families and the community they exist. They also extend hands to others as needs arises and according to their ability.
The mission of the Home League is to provide opportunity to win women to Christ and assist in their spiritual growth, nurturing an awareness of the needs of the family, the community, the nation, and the world.
We seek ways to add value to life, to encourage and equip women of all ages, class, and race to be the best they can be in life for themselves, their families, communities and the world at large. We seek avenues of making them to catch the joy of Christian faith and fellowship. It is open to every woman – come join us.
The aims are worship, education, fellowship and service.
The motto of the Home League is: ‘I will live a pure life in my house ...’ (Psalm 101:2b, Good News Bible).
Cradle Roll is a program, which provides families with materials and resources on the development of children from birth to 3 years old.
Craddle Roll
Our informative, parent-focused resources provide ideas for age-appropriate activities to do with children, milestones to look for and celebrate, and ideas on how parents can create a God-centered home.
Babies are placed on the “cradle roll” at birth. Parents receive monthly mailings of resources until the child’s third birthday. When the child reaches the age of 3, they “graduate” and are invited to join the three year-old Sunday school class. To commemorate the transition from Cradle Roll to.
The mission of the League of Mercy
The mission of this unit of The Salvation Army is to provide a spiritual and social ministry to the sick, the handicapped, the aged, the shut-in and those who are lonely and discouraged, whether in institutions or private homes.
It seeks to comfort, cheer, and, when possible, provide material assistance. The League of Mercy always provides hope through an expression of God’s love.
League of Mercy
The League of Mercy began in 1892 in Canada and is made up of people of all ages whose mission is to engage in a caring ministry. The main objective of the League of Mercy is to respond to the spiritual and social needs of the community. ‘In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me’ (Mathew 25:40)
League of Mercy is a Community Care Ministries made up of a group of men and women who have dedicated themselves to be the hands of Christ reaching out in service to anyone in need.
All their members are trained for the job. They must complete a membership course; it is a fellowship made up of Salvationists, both men and women, who exhibit love and compassion for people, and whom the corps officer recommends, are eligible for membership.
This ministry is accomplished through organized groups and by individuals. By scheduled visitations, volunteers assure those they visit that someone cares for them. Whenever possible, they conduct activities and parties to celebrate birthdays and holidays, and they seek opportunities, with the appropriate permission, to hold Bible studies and/or religious services in the various institutions.
League of Mercy volunteers keep in their minds and hearts the basis for this ministry, which is found in Matthew 25:40: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This is the League of Mercy motto.
The Salvation Army Youth Department exists to:
Reach
The intentional process of cultivating meaningful relationships (with children and youth) through relevant creative communication seeking to connect their need with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.
Evangelize
The ongoing intentional process of engaging in the story of unsaved peers through sincere relationships, connecting their needs with the transforming Gospel and allowing them to accept Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.
Make disciples
Growing and maturing our youth and children through inspiration within the Biblical community of believers, teaching them to daily follow Christ, helping them discover and exercise their God-given gifts and ministry opportunities, in the process of becoming like Christ.
Youth Fellowship
We believe the voice of our young people should be listened to
Our purpose
In a world where children and young people are being bombarded with a variety of messages, many from unreliable and unhealthy sources, TSA seeks to send a clear message to children and young people that God loves them, values them and desires to use them (regardless of their ages) to impact this world. TSA desires to install in children and young people the knowledge that they are loved unconditionally and assist them in making Godly choices and developing Godly values that will stand them in good stead for life. TSA also seeks to grant children and young people the opportunity to serve and impact not only on TSA but also in their homes, neighbourhoods, communities, schools, workplaces and corps. We are committed to equipping children and young people for this task.
TSA encourages each ministry unit to develop vibrant and relevant programmes geared to meeting the needs of the children and young people in the community where they are based, while always pointing them to Jesus.
JUNIOR SOLDIER'S PROMISE
Children who join The Salvation Army as junior soldiers make the following promise:
‘I know that Jesus is my Saviour from sin.
I have asked him to forgive my sins, and I will trust him to keep me good.
By his help, I will be his loving and obedient child, and will help others to follow him.
I promise to pray, to read my Bible, and to lead a life that is clean in thought, word and deed.
I will not use anything that may injure my body or my mind, including harmful drugs, alcohol and tobacco.’
Junior Soldiers
A Junior Soldier is a boy or girl who, having professed conversion, having signed the junior soldier’s promise, and being between the age of 7 and 13, becomes a Salvationist.
This means children are just as capable to participate in the mission of God as adults. Local leaders in The Salvation Army nurture young people on their spiritual journey helping them to develop their faith, their understanding of God, the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and to equip them with skills and values for their everyday living including what they think, say, do and the decisions/choices that they make. Soldiers are challenged to think about the way that they engage with their community and also have the opportunity to participate in special projects that will make a difference in their local or global community.
Once a child has made a decision to follow Jesus as well as to become a Junior Soldier they can participate in special Junior Soldier preparation lessons. These lessons might be run over a five week period or run as a special intensive over a whole day. These lessons are based on the Junior Soldier promise and what it means to be a follower of Jesus within The Salvation Army.
When the lessons have been completed the child may be enrolled as a Junior Soldier of The Salvation Army. When the Junior Soldier signs their Junior Soldier Promise, they are presented with a Junior Soldier Badge. Some churches have regular Junior Soldier classes in which the newly enrolled Junior Soldier can participate. Each new Junior Soldier is connected with a Big Bud who is a significant adult that will pray for the Junior Soldier and also take an interest in what they do and take special interest in their spiritual development, supporting them in any way they can.