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 Salvation Army was started in 1865 in London England.

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HOW I CAME TO KNOW THE SALVATION ARMY
by
Captain April Griffiths

When I was growing up, my family and I never went to church. That’s not to say we didn’t try to go. We (my mom, step-dad, 2 younger brothers and I) would plan to go to church. However getting up early enough to make it to church on time was a problem. It just didn’t happen. My brothers and I did hear about church a lot growing up. For some unknown reason my mom always said that we would start going to church when we moved into a house. Where that connection came from I have no idea but that’s what we heard growing up.

It was actually shortly before we moved into the home my parents still live in that we started going to church. The Salvation Army in my town had started a program called Kids Café, which is like a soup kitchen/drop-in place for children. Though not poor, but always just above the poverty line, my mom felt it would be good from my two younger brothers and I go down and eat there some times. When you have six people (I also have an older brother) in your family the food bill can get kind of high, so a few meals on The Salvation Army helped stretch that food a little longer.

Not only did the program offer a good meal, but it also offered a safe place to hang out and play games. It was way better to hang out at The Salvation Army they sit at home and do nothing. Then the director of the program started inviting me and my family to church. At first I didn’t really want to go. See Sunday was just another day to sleep in to me and I didn’t want to give that up. But the director kept asking and I kept resisting. Finely I want just to get the guy off my back. I figured I would go once and then he would leave me alone. Well the joke was on me. I went and instantly fell in love with the church part of The Salvation Army. It wasn’t easy getting up to make it to church on time but as I grew to love the army it became easier. Then I started making friends at church.

It got to the point that any time the doors were open at The Salvation Army, I was there. This is my hope for The Salvation Army of Hudson. That the army would be a place where people feel loved and cared for; where they can get a hot meal and a warm smile. I want The Salvation Army of Hudson to be a place where people feel welcome and that every time the doors are open they want to be here.

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Capt. April Griffiths - Hudson Salvation Army - 40 South 3rd Street, Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518.822.1602 - Email: info@salvationarmyhudson.org