The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

The Salvation Army began as a ministry to the underchurched in 1865, when a former Methodist minister named William Booth began to preach in the slums of London’s East End. When converts from these meetings were sent to established churches, they felt ill at ease so Booth established Christian mission centers for them, which grew beyond expectations. The name, The Salvation Army, was adopted and military form of government was established, with uniforms and other distinctive features. Military terms have been used throughout the years to designate ranks of officers and to describe the activities of the organization.

In order to attract the multitudes who would not enter a place of worship, the Army organized street meetings and marches, using flags, brass bands and religious songs set to secular tunes. Those who became soldiers confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior from sin, and exhibited a sense of responsibility to win others to the Christian faith.

The Red Shield – instantly recognizable to so many – is a true branding success story. The Sally Ann remains active and operates in 106 countries where it maintains religious and social services centers, including schools and hospitals. Officers and soldiers preach the gospel in more than 136 languages.

I came across an article in a magazine one day, about a newborn girl being abandoned on the curb in China. The photos graphically depicted a newborn girl still reddish and covered with pasty coating, lying dead in the wedge of the pavement with no dignity. People walked by, as if it was nothing. The reason she was unwanted: she was born a girl. In some of the impecunious provinces in China, a household could receive a small amount of funding from the government for every boy born. Still in this day, it is a common act to desert a newborn girl because she holds no monetary value.

Not all children are as fortunate as we are. Too many of them are victims of abusive families. Children are vulnerable and defenseless against their most trusted people such as their parents. With the opportunity and the generosity of BWI, I have given the contribution to Salvation Army. I trust the organization and support that they provide shelters and psychiatric assistance to unfortunate children and abused women, to help them to stand on their own feet and to make better lives for them.

- Yolanda Li

Yolanda Li, Eugene Chan and Diwakar Dahal

Your donation made it into the hand’s of the Salvation Army’s Men Shelter. A good friend of our, Scott McCain, has hosted a mens’ only fundraiser the past three years for the charity and invited me to attend. The first year the event raised $200 and in the second - $500. Lorraine and I increased the BWI donation to $500 – a ripple effect- and the event raised close to $5,000!

Your generosity sparked ours, and ours sparked others to ensure that the Men’s Shelter programme generates much needed donations.

- Mark Weisdorff

Mark Weisdorff and Lorraine Bell Weisdorff

Jas Singh also made a contribution to the Salvation Army.