Lt. Dalvius King-Harvy, Chicago Midway Citadel, Ill., corps officer, reports the Women of Purpose have been vital in keeping their corps programs going strong during the pandemic.
This women’s ministries group of 13 dynamic women is led by Ms. Mattie Green, corps sergeant-major (CSM) and corps council member; Ms. Mattie Williams, women’s ministries treasurer, senior breakfast cook and corps council member; and Ms. Lea Sims, assistant CSM and corps council member.
They are the backbone of the corps, tirelessly serving their community right alongside their corps officer, often five to six days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and then participating in worship and other programs on Sundays. Nothing happens without them, whether hosting a breakfast for seniors (pre-COVID) or holding fundraisers to support corps programs and World Services/Self-Denial. The events they would hold to raise funds, like rummage sales, have more recently been replaced with phone calls to hundreds of donors, an outreach which often becomes a ministry opportunity.
“These ladies have to have a profound knowledge of The Salvation Army, a great understanding about their neighborhood and its needs, and spiritual depth as they minister to donors who also have faced hard situations this past year,” said Lt. Dalvius. “They will offer to pray for them right then and there and then are committed to continuing to pray for them.”
“My favorite scripture passage is Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,’” said Lea Sims. “This passage is special to me because serving at The Salvation Army as a part of women’s ministries has brought a peace to my life, knowing that my service to God has made a life-changing impact for the less fortunate.”
She concluded, “My service, alongside of my corps officer, has been life-changing for me during the pandemic as it has reinforced to me how very blessed I am. I have seen the need for assistance increase, and my heart for the hurting has increased as well. Being a part of women’s ministries and living the four-fold mission of our group has impacted my walk as a Christian.”
