What do you know about The Salvation Army in India? Is Kenya one of the countries in the midst of drought and famine? What are some of the social challenges in Hungary? Have you ever heard of Mali?
These questions are exactly the kind of interest the Partners in Mission (PIM) program encourages. Through the PIM initiative it is hoped that people involved in The Salvation Army in the Midwest (Central Territory) will be more informed and globally minded.
The money sent to these partner territories (regions) is raised by corps (centers of worship and service) and individuals from across the Midwest, specifically for World Services.
PIM encourages people to take an active interest in missions and get involved and excited about The Salvation Army’s work around the world. This program gives a “face” to giving—showing real people, real places and real needs.
The name Partners in Mission emphasizes the fact that the overseas territories are not just the recipients of money and expertise but are people and places we can learn from as well: true partners. There are Salvationists in India who can tell us something about joyful worship, and there are Salvationists in Kenya who can teach us about evangelism and corps growth. We can and should learn from them and pray for each other.
PIM encourages people to take an active interest in missions and get involved and excited about The Salvation Army’s work around the world.
Visits between the partnering territories have been arranged and there are more to come in the future. In some cases people from our partnering territories have visited the Midwest, gaining insight from our programs. From observing corps with integrated ministries to learning from specialists in property management and financial accounting, they’ve brought this knowledge back to their home territories. In turn, they've shared with us about the ministries and best practices from their territory.
Funding to these territories does not represent the total World Services giving. Thirty percent is used for other mission needs such as young adult Summer Mission Teams, care of Central Territory officers and soldiers serving overseas and other mission projects which might range from buying a van for a hostel in the Czech Republic to re-roofing a Salvation Army facility in Zambia, buying a corps in Brazil or funding an orphans’ home in El Salvador. Rest assured that 100 percent of the World Services money is used for missions work.
For more information on the Partners in Mission program e-mail missions@usc.salvationarmy.org.
Note: Information adapted from an article written by Commissioner Ken Baillie.