Daniel

The Salvation Army: Preventing Mission Drift Through Movement and Agility  The Salvation Army, founded in the late 19th century by Catherine and William Booth, has always held a dual mission: to save souls and to serve suffering humanity. Its vision in the United Kingdom and Ireland, encapsulated in the phrase “fullness of life for all with Jesus”, underscores a commitment to holistic salvation—spiritual and social. However, in contemporary society, there is a real risk that The Salvation Army could experience mission drift, becoming more akin to a secular charity or NGO rather than maintaining its identity as a church and mission to the unsaved. To mitigate this risk, The Salvation Army must remain agile and reconnect with its foundational understanding of movement and adaptability. Rediscovering the Importance of Movement At its inception, The Salvation Army was a dynamic and agile movement, responding to the immediate needs of the most marginalised with the fervour and flexibili...

The Salvation Army: Staying True to Our Mission of Spiritual and Social Salvation The lines between charity work and Christian mission can blur, and The Salvation Army is not immune to this. The Salvation Army’s calling goes beyond reducing, preventing, and ending homeless, feeding the hungry, and caring the hurting; it is a profound commitment to the holistic salvation of individuals—both spiritually and socially. As The Salvation Army navigates the complexities of a post-modernism and post-Christendom, we must vigilantly guard against mission drift and remain resolutely Jesus-centered. The essence of The Salvation Army is encapsulated in our vision: "fullness of life for all with Jesus." This vision is not merely aspirational; it is the very heartbeat of our organisation. Likewise, the analogy of spiritual and social salvation being two sides of the same coin is not just a philosophical stance but a practical imperative. We cannot truly address the social needs of the peopl...

Commissioning Homelessness Services: From the bottom line to the human line  In recent years, the commissioning of homelessness services in England, particularly supported accommodation, has become increasingly dominated by cost considerations rather than quality and, most concerning, often lacks concern for the individual for which the service is being commissioned. Although not the case in all areas, while some commissioners may claim to prioritise quality, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. This focus on the bottom line of the budget spreadsheet often has profound implications, not only for the individuals directly affected but also for society as a whole. Underfunded and poorly resourced services struggle to provide the comprehensive, holistic support that people experiencing homelessness need. When services lack adequate funding, they cannot offer the stability and intensive support necessary to help individuals recover and rebuild their lives, let alone ...