About The Salvation Army

No Ordinary Army

We're no ordinary army. Since 1883, The Salvation Army has fought poverty and social and spiritual distress in New Zealand. Our mission is to care for people, transform lives and reform society.

We fight with only one weapon - God's love.

> read the Mission Statement of The Salvation Army

Motivated by God

Belief in God is the source of the love that motivates our worldwide ministry. It is also the source of our strength.

We are an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.

Our message is based on the Bible.

Our belief in God, given expression through worship and prayer, leads to our belief in human worth and human potential.

This motivates our actions which aim to change individuals - and ultimately the world - for good.

"Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of people walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again - until you can scarcely distinguish which is the one, and which is the other." - General William Booth (Salvation Army Founder)

Supporting New Zealanders

Physically or spiritually, we all have times of weakness when we need the support of others.

Not everyone feels able to turn to God for help in these moments, but God shows himself through the actions of people, and The Salvation Army aims to be his hands and voice.

Through our nation-wide network of community and family service centres, addiction recovery programmes, employment training, aged care services, children and youth activities, supportive accommodation, chaplaincy, and disaster relief, our offer of support is unconditional.

Planting seeds of hope

Life damages and hurts people sometimes. Jesus was a healer and we take his ministry of healing as our model. Our approach - like his - is holistic. We aim to offer healing of mind, body and spirit.

We catch those who have fallen through society's cracks, and our educational programmes seek to prevent people falling.

As well, many people experience healing of mind and spirit through our Church-based worship and pastoral care.

We plant seeds of hope in their lives. This is God-given work.

Come worship and serve with us

The Salvation Army is moved by far more than a desire to do good works. Our deeds are driven by Christian faith and devotion.

Our work is fuelled by our worship - church services that feed the soul and cultivate compassion.

And there's a place for you.