As winter settles across Southern Africa, Salvationists in the Central Division joined the wider Territory this weekend in the Winter Relief Campaign, responding to community need with practical care, prayer, and presence.
The campaign was supported by the Chief Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Themba Mahlobo, and the Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, Lieutenant Colonel Nokuthula Mahlobo, who joined the Mission Team in visiting two communities in the Division.
The day began at Pretoria Corps, where clothing, blankets, and meals were shared with community members in Princess Park. From there, the team travelled to Letlhabile Corps, where Winter Relief efforts were combined with Child Protection Awareness activities and local feeding initiatives. Home visits added a special personal dimension to the outreach. A 105 year old Gogo received food, warm clothing, prayer, and encouragement, while another family was supported with groceries and a school uniform for their child. In each home, time was taken to listen, encourage and to share the love of Jesus Christ.
Across the Division, Corps, and Centres found many ways to serve their communities during the cold season. Several Corps combined food distribution with longer term empowerment initiatives. Orlando Corps continued their sewing project while distributing food and clothing, and Galeshewe Corps supported vulnerable families with food parcels, school uniforms, and a public soup kitchen in Chris Hani Park.
Other Corps focused on widespread feeding and winter support. Thaba Nchu Corps Plant served warm soup at five locations, while Daveyton Corps provided nourishing meals to community members facing the winter cold. Benoni Corps prepared 300 toiletry packs and distributed blankets, children’s jerseys, and beanies, serving soup and bread to 392 people at two sites. Witbank Corps concluded their Winter Drive by serving meals to 198 people at two community stations.
A strong emphasis on family care and child wellbeing was evident throughout the campaign. Many Corps and Centres combined Child Protection awareness with their Winter Relief Campaign. Atteridgeville Corps and Tladi Corps also combined Winter Relief with Child Protection Awareness, sharing practical assistance alongside information aimed at safeguarding children. Mountain Lodge Psychiatric Care Centre reached out to residents of the Buya informal settlement in Magaliesburg, distributing food, clothing, and blankets while also presenting Child Protection Awareness material and health education on autism and malaria. Through this outreach, 72 adults and 70 children were served.
In several communities, Winter Relief created space for deeper spiritual engagement. Krugersdorp Corps and Family Care Centre, partnering with Territorial Youth Secretary and the Mission Team, ministered in two communities through evangelism, worship through dance, shared meals, and the distribution of clothing and blankets. Katlehong Corps served a hearty meal to 106 people in the Hill Informal Settlement and prayed with seven individuals. Duduza Corps shared food, clothing, encouragement and the message of Romans 8:31 with residents of Tsakane Extension 10.
Some Corps reflected on the lasting fruit of ongoing outreach. Manguang Corps travelled through several areas of Bloemfontein, providing feeding support before concluding at the Khayelitsha informal settlement. Manguang Corps also noted that six people who came to faith during their 2025 Soup Drive are now serving as Senior Soldiers! In Soshanguve, the outreach began with prayer, followed by gentle exercise led by the Men’s Fellowship for elderly community members, before food and care were shared at two locations.
Support for vulnerable families continued across Soweto, Ekurhuleni, and surrounding areas. Soweto Central Corps visited a family with food, toiletries, and warm clothing. Kwa Thema Corps extended their Child Protection awareness and Winter Relief Campaign across the week, donating shoes to children, serving meals to more than 90 people, and creating opportunities for conversation and relationship building. Randfontein, Gauteng, Meadowlands, Mamelodi, and Peart Memorial Corps each responded with feeding initiatives, clothing distribution, and pastoral care suited to their local contexts.
Through warm meals, blankets, clothing, prayer, and community engagement, Salvationists across the Central Division lived out the calling of the Church to care for those who are vulnerable and struggling. Through warm meals, blankets, clothing, prayer, and friendship, Salvationists sought to reflect the heart of Jesus and to share His love with those they encountered.