The Salvation Army is an international organization. Our ministry stretches around the globe to more than 130 countries. We are always awake, serving and sharing the love of Jesus somewhere in the world.

Ministries in other countries are similar to our work in the United States. We wear the same uniforms, though they may be a lighter color in warmer countries, and we have the same military-inspired terminology and infrastructure, including being under the authority of the General who leads from International Headquarters in London. Wherever we are located, The Salvation Army always strives to serve suffering humanity in whatever way makes sense in each specific cultural context.

There is richness in being an international organization that allows us to mutually benefit from interacting with people with vastly different life experiences. Individuals and missionary teams are regularly sent from all four USA territories to Salvation Army units around the world. They may not speak the same language, but common Salvationist practices, beliefs and terminology allow for productive shared ministry. Some teams help with physical projects like building or painting; others go to support existing ministries or to provide new ones, such as Vacation Bible Schools, music camps and schools. In return, the USA team members get to witness the way the Holy Spirit leads and how God provides for people in another country. This in turn inspires them as they return to serve in their local corps.

The U.S. territories also support ministries in other countries financially through several methods. Local corps, programs, headquarters and institutions raise funds specifically set aside for World Services. This is done through fundraisers, individual contributions and special collections, such as earmarking a specific day of red-kettle income. Territories internationally designated as “grant-aided territories” receive the World Services funds, which they rely on to continue the essential work of The Salvation Army throughout the world.

Historically, The Salvation Army has collected individual contributions through “self-denial offerings,” in which an individual or family commit to raising funds by giving up something that they might have previously paid for and instead set aside those funds for World Services. One example might be choosing to forgo an expensive daily coffee drink for a few weeks and donating that amount of money instead. Self-denial giving is a great discipline for not only fundraising, but also to help redirect thoughts and prayers to others who do not have the same privileges or resources. 

Another way that funds are collected to support international ministries is through The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), which has been in existence for over 40 years. This national office solicits funds through public and private sources on behalf of all the U.S. territories to be used overseas. SAWSO works directly with overseas units and territories to determine what is most needed and then attempts to direct resources available to where they will do the most good by supporting projects for community development and outreach. SAWSO simultaneously encourages programs toward becoming financially self-sustainable.

This work encompasses a variety of sectors, such as education. SAWSO supports The Salvation Army’s 100 formal schools in Indonesia, after-school programs in Gautemala and early childhood programs in at-risk neighborhoods in South Africa. SAWSO also works with the many Salvation Army hospitals and health programs in numerous countries. Other projects specifically address improving individual livelihoods by providing employment support and opportunities to develop micro-businesses. SAWSO is also involved in emergency disaster services, refugee support services, and anti-trafficking services provided daily across countless countries. SAWSO assists overseas Salvation Army units with essential administrative management to ensure that projects and proposals are well-developed, monitored, reported correctly and meet professional standards in order to receive and maintain funding.

It can be accurately said that the sun does not set on The Salvation Army because our ministry is global and we are at work in every time zone and in as many places as God’s grace has led us, with more to come as He continues to lead us on. Because we believe Christ’s atonement on the cross is for the whole world, we take seriously the mandate Christ gave to His disciples after His resurrection, found in Mark 16:15: “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’” (NIV).

Illustration by Berni Georges, The Salvation Army IHQ