Glynden and Diane Cross are the new Salvation Army pastors on the Coast, and they are spreading their message of soup, soap and salvation.
"It's based on the vision of the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, who started up this ministry in 1865," Glynden said.
"The soup is symbolic of feeding the physical body. The soap means to clean the person's outward body and also clean them of any addictions they may have. And salvation is, of course, introducing them to the salvation of Jesus Christ. The idea is you can't minister to someone if their immediate physical needs aren't being met," he explained.
The Salvation Army's vision is to share the good news of Christ, encourage one another and accept everyone, which may sound odd if you hear Salvation Army and think thrift stores. Those stores are a means to raise money for the various outreach programs run through the Salvation Army, though not their main focus.
Glynden and Diane are responsible for about a dozen locally-run outreach programs. They stock the Gibsons Food Bank, provide a daily bread and produce program, run a Lunch With Friends outreach every Tuesday and Friday, provide a Wednesday night dinner and bible study including a 12-step recovery program for those in need, facilitate meetings with a pro-bono lawyer, coordinate a free yearly Christmas dinner, send underprivileged kids to camp and run a community crisis response vehicle. The crisis response vehicle is basically a "kitchen on wheels" Glynden said, and currently the pastors are talking with the regional district about ways to use the response vehicle in the event of an emergency.
"We are very, very busy but the people here have been so welcoming and helpful," Diane said.Diane and Glynden took over operations of the Sunshine Coast Salvation Army on July 18, shortly after being ordained as ministers in St. John's, Nfld.
"The higher-ups decide where you go based on your skills and abilities and this is where we fit," Glynden said.
The pair moved to the Coast with their three children aged nine, 14 and 15, and Diane said they all feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
"This is such a beautiful place and the people are so friendly," Diane said.
Glynden and Diane plan to be on the Coast for the next five years at least, growing local ministries and reaching those in need.
"This is something we feel God has called us to do. You can't always just put a Band-aid on a sore. We hope to connect to people and to accomplish the task God gave us to do," said Glynden.
For more information about the Sunshine Coast Salvation Army, their outreach programs or the food bank, or if you would like to volunteer with fundraising or ministries such as the food bank, go to www.tsaonthecoast.com or call 604-886-3665.
