The Salvation Army Mission Statement
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 Santa Rosa Corps Vision Statement
Improving lives In Sonoma County through an exemplary continuum of care.
Doing the Most Good is not just a slogan for The Salvation Army, it’s a promise we try to keep every day. Evangeline Booth, USA National Commander (1904-1934) said “There is no reward equal to that of DOING THE MOST GOOD to the most people in the most need." That is what we are about. We understand that people have trusted us with their contributions so that we can serve the needy, disadvantaged and hurting people in our community.
After the worst recession in 75 years has impacted so many of our neighbors, friends, and others who are struggling to maintain their lives. Many of us are only now learning about The Salvation Army, one of the world’s great source of compassion to those in need, even though this army has occupied Santa Rosa for 120 years.
Who are these caring people with the warlike name and their many dedicated supporters?
The Salvation Army began in 1865, a century and a half ago, when a young Methodist minister, William Booth, looked at England’s “others” who barely survived in the London of Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens’ London, and created The Salvation Army. In only 15 years the compassionate, caring organization was a major force for charity throughout England. By 1880, the movement arrived in America, landing on the docks of New York City. Nine years later, a Salvationist and his son rode into Santa Rosa, California to hold and open-air revival. The Salvation Army never left. The Army’s “Christian Soldiers’ have fought a never-ending war against evil and despair, hunger and poverty in the North Bay for 120 years.
Some of oldest yet most upbeat stories in this community lie in the remarkable history of The Salvation Army. Following the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, William Booth’s daughter Evangeline, who followed him as the Army’s commander, spent the entire Army’s world-wide budget to rescue the survivors there. During the Great Depression in the Thirties, the Santa Rosa’s famous “soup kitchen” operated. The Army’s devotion and service to World War One’s “dough-boys" and to the GIs of World War II is legendary.
Guru Peter Drucker called The Salvation Army “the most effective organization in the U.S.” and it is why in 1954, President Eisenhower named the second week in each May “National Salvation Army Week” with the proclamation “Among Americans, The Salvation Army has long been a symbol of wholehearted dedication to the cause of human brotherhood. Their work has been a constant reminder to us all that each of us is a neighbor and kin to all Americans. Giving freely of themselves, the men and women of The Salvation Army have won the respect of us all.”
In February 2011, we dedicated our new 44,000 square foot Corps Community Center at 93 Stony Circle. This beautiful and huge facility, a Larry Simons original, has housed Material Progress and Komag Manufacturing over the years. Now it is used to fulfill the “Dream Big” vision established a decade ago when The Salvation Army officers, staff, Advisory Board and congregation came together with community leaders and sought to see how the Army could meet unmet needs in Santa Rosa. As a result, we now have a Transitional Living Program for men in recovery, our Tutoring and Mentoring Program serves in 5 elementary schools and partners with a middle and High School, and we have a new facility to house all of our local programs –a one-stop center for worship and service for the thousands of families, youth, and individuals who come to us for help every year.
As we begin a new decade we have launched a new vision – 20/20 vision. We want to be proactive in our approach to helping our community. Our new Vision Statement, “Improving lives in Sonoma County through an exemplary continuum of care” sums up our pledge to you. There is much to do, in addition to all that we currently provide, we see needs for a child development center, vocational development Program, and possibly an Adult Day Care Center.
We hope you will enjoy learning about our ministry in Santa Rosa in the pages of this publication. We also hope that you will be inspired to join us in some way – either as a volunteer, supporter, or participant. If you know someone who would benefit from our services or if you would like to have a tour, give us a call at 542-0981. We are here to help.
