Self-Denial 2025: Growing in faith and service

In the fifth of five weekly videos, we round up this year's Self-Denial focus.

This year’s Self-Denial Appeal runs from 2 February to 2 March with a focus on the life-changing work in the Indonesia Territory.

We have seen how The Salvation Army is growing in Indonesia as young people join the corps. We’ve seen people who are rooted in their communities putting their faith into action and serving without discrimination.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard from four remarkable people. We met Dita, a nurse. We met Dedi, a youth worker, James, a teacher, and Flora, a Salvation Army cadet.ary school, which has 400 students. There’s also a nursery and secondary school here. Most days there are 1,300 students on site.

‘I think education is very important,’ asserts James. ‘Many children want to go to school but not everyone is given the opportunity. But all in all, when I see these students, their enthusiasm for learning is incredible.’

James teaches PE in a primary school in Palu, where he hopes to make a difference to every one of his students. The Salvation Army has shaped his approach to his life and work: ‘For a teacher, in my opinion, the most important thing is perhaps our mindset. We should teach with great sincerity and we should see it as a form of service. In my opinion it is the best thing.

Dita is a nurse in a Salvation Army hospital. She is serving people in her community through her work: ‘The amazing thing about this hospital is that many people in Palu City, even outside Palu City, know that this is the best hospital, the best atmosphere with very good service. In this hospital, we are taught to serve with love and to serve without discrimination.’

Dedi is a lecturer, but he also works with teams of young people in a Salvation Army corps that has been growing a lot. He’s committed to reaching out to young people and helping them to serve: ‘To see students who have graduated, who have finished studying, continue to serve others with loving souls, serving souls, nothing is more satisfying than seeing them thrive in real world ministry. And to equip young people, to equip everyone, to become servants of God.’

Flora is studying in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. She’s in her first year of cadet training and she’s on the path to follow God’s call: ‘I feel at peace in living out this calling. It’s different from my previous life, but there was something I felt was lacking in me and, after I decided to follow my calling and become a candidate officer in The Salvation Army, I felt peace in my heart.’

The Self-Denial Appeal is all about helping to make The Salvation Army’s mission happen all over the world, and the people we’ve seen over the last few weeks have been a real inspiration.

Your Self-Denial money will support the global mission of The Salvation Army. Some goes to our mission partners. The rest comes here to International Headquarters, who distribute it to the parts of the world that need it most. It funds the vital work that The Salvation Army is doing year after year, work that goes on all over the world at the heart of the community.

It’s not too late to give to Self-Denial. You may have already used this year’s collection box or the envelope. If you have a standing order set up, you can make a payment that way.

The Salvation Army is doing some incredible work in some of the most diverse corners of the globe. A lot of the work is only possible because of the money you give through Self-Denial. So many of you have been so generous in what you’ve given year after year. Your Self-Denial money is making a world of difference. And let’s remember: Self-Denial happens in Salvation Army corps around the globe. So while we reflect prayerfully about what we can give, our sisters and brothers worldwide are doing the same.