World Services

Getting Prepared

• Review the World Services materials and theme.
• Preview the videos to decide how to best incorporate them in your Sunday programs.
• Form a World Services committee including corps members, corp council members, and/or local leaders and arrange planning meetings. (Consider asking a corps member to take on the local leadership position of World Missions Sergeant).
• Brainstorm and prepare fundraising ideas and events. Have these plans on the calendar, announced, and advertised well in advance.
• Involve the children’s ministry in Self-Denial/World Services efforts! Have the children brainstorm ways to raise money. For example, they could create art or decorate sugar cookies and sell them after church.
• Share the World Services theme, as well as the weekly subthemes, with those who lead worship and other corps programs to incorporate the theme into the various areas of ministry.
• Begin to prepare your congregation for the period set aside to focus on World Services. Post it on your social media pages, website, and corps calendar.
• Educate and involve your advisory board or council. You may be surprised to learn who has a strong interest in missions. The videos may be especially effective in this setting.

Encouraging Participation

At the Corps:

• Display the World Services poster
• Distribute the coin boxes to your congregation so there is time to use them. Encourage sacrificial giving.
• Set up a Global Prayer Room for the month with stations where people can learn about and pray for needs around the world. If you need ideas for this, contact our office!
• Prepare ahead of time for the Ingathering so it is an important, dignified but joyous time of worship, celebrating your commitment to World Services.

Sunday Services:

• Choose the weeks you plan to show the World Services videos in your Sunday morning service.
• Create sermons that coincide with each week’s subtheme and message.
• Incorporate the World Services themes into the lessons and activities for Sunday School and the weekly programs.
• Encourage the congregation to make a personal pledge (found on the provided pledge card).
• Include a testimonial time each week for the congregation to share about their experience of sacrifice in response to the needs of others.

Sustaining Engagement

• Research stories about the global ministry of The Salvation Army and share them with your congregation. You can find many stories at www.salvationarmy.org/ihq or reach out to our office. We would be happy to help!
• Contact Western Territory officers serving overseas to learn more about the ministry in the country they are in and to ask how your corps or center can pray for them. Share this information with your congregation.
• Learn about your Division’s Partner in Mission through their website or other connection. Ask how your corps or center can pray for them and set aside time in your Sunday morning service to do so.
• Throughout the year, continually promote the World Services campaign through newsletters, Sunday bulletins, posters, announcements, and web sites.