Vision, Mission and Values

Vision Statement of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory

Together we live out the good news of Jesus Christ so that everyone can experience hope, wholeness and ongoing transformation—the fullness of life as God intended.

International Mission Statement of The Salvation Army

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 love for God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

Mission Statement of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory

The Salvation Army is an international movement and part of the universal Christian Church. It expresses its faith through activities and services that address the whole spectrum of human personhood—spiritual, material, emotional, and relational.

It was founded to embody the love of God; to pursue the justice and righteousness of God that values and includes all people; and to help people experience life in all its fullness as God intended (John 10:10).

Its continuance is dependent on God for the power to fulfil its calling, and all it does is in response to the command to love God, and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40).

In summary, the mission of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa is: Caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power.

What do we mean by this?

• Caring for people: we follow the example of Jesus by working to alleviate human need in all its dimensions, standing alongside people and caring for them in their area of need. We are especially called to minister pragmatically and compassionately amongst those who are most vulnerable and marginalised.
• Transforming lives: we believe that God can and does transform people; and that the resulting wholeness is experienced through increased freedom from material hardship, healthier and more resilient lives, connection in healthy relationships, and a relationship with Jesus. In all these things we understand that transformation is sometimes experienced as a moment of change but is often an ongoing journey of salvation for the whole person—what we call ‘fullness of life’—and we will work to offer opportunities for people to encounter this transformation and wholeness.
• Reforming society: we seek to express the love and power of God in the communities of which we are part. This calls for the challenging of evil, injustice and oppression, and for steps aimed at their elimination. It also calls for a lived example of loving Christ-like community.
• By God’s power: we understand that all of this requires resources beyond our own. It is God’s love and practical compassion that we reflect; God who transforms and renews; God who can bring true and lasting change to communities. It is in God’s strength and through God’s provision that we have any hope of outworking this mission, and we are confident that God is more than enough for our needs as we work through God, in Christ, and by the Holy Spirit’s power.

Values of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory

Connected

We are better together

We will live, worship and work in a way that is inclusive, connected and open. We will practise mutuality: being with and for one another. We will practise hospitality: being not just welcoming but radically open and oriented to one another. We will celebrate diversity, believing that God calls us to be in unity, not uniformity. We will practise kinship: a belonging that is without condition as we answer the call to love our neighbour as ourselves despite our differences. Being connected is practising ‘love in action’.

We are connected to God and to the communities within which we work, worship, serve and belong. We connect through welcoming spaces, generosity and encouragement, and through seeing and embracing the whole person. We connect while honouring diversity of thought, culture and worldview. We connect by putting love before judgement, and by making space for each other’s voices.

Compassionate

We live out love in action

People are at the centre of who we are and what we do, and our processes will prioritise people. Wherever there is hardship, need or injustice, we seek to bring the heart of God—to bring ‘love in action’—to all people, but most especially to those in vulnerable situations and circumstances, and those who are hurting and who are marginalised.

We believe there is room for all. We will be open-hearted, respectful and kind to those we work and worship with, and all those we encounter in our living and our ministry. Because of our desire to model the compassion we see in the life and ministry of Jesus, we will demonstrate humble, passionate, intentional compassion that moves out into the world to bring all the flavours of Christ’s love.

Innovative

We respond to the changing realities of the world

We will be open, curious and innovative. We seek to respond to the changing realities of human need and not to simply do what we have done before. We serve Christ, not the status quo, and will cultivate a holy imagination as we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. We will seek God’s will, and seek to understand our times. We will celebrate what is and dream of what will be, as we follow Christ’s call to be his presence in the world.

We will strive to be more transparent and more collaborative. We will serve those we are called to, by being adaptable, eager to learn and focused on mission that responds to real human needs, rather than prioritising our own convenience or settling for the things we know. We seek the best ideas, not just our own ideas; and we see each other as partners in mission. We will practise partnership both within the Army and as we seek to be part of the communities in which we serve. As we become more open to one another, we believe that we shall also find hope, joy and peace in our service, our worship and our partnership with others.

Courageous

We do what’s right, not what’s easy

We will be people who stand up. We will stand up through our integrity. We will be accepting of ourselves and others, willing to learn from our mistakes, and realistic about our strengths, challenges and capabilities. We will ask for help, and be eager to lift up others. We will stand up with passion, giving our all and contributing our voice without insisting on our own way or simply holding to our own rights. We will stand up by saying what we mean, and practising what we preach. And we will do the right thing in the right way at all times.

We are genuine, honest, authentic and consistent. We will give our all and believe the best of one another. We will be holistic in our thinking and transparent in our practice. We acknowledge our motives and are generous in our giving of ourselves and our resources. We serve God who called us, believing that hope and love and pragmatic kindness can change the world.