Self-Denial Session

• Invite a speaker from The Salvation Army (officer, member or employee) with experience of serving overseas
• Search for ‘Self-Denial’ on the Salvationist.org website to find resources to support the current Appeal, or click this link
• Plan to show at least one of the Self-Denial videos, or share a number over the coming weeks
• Encourage members to consider giving up something during February and bring their donation to an altar service, planned for a date at the end of February
• Hand out Self-Denial envelopes (email territorial.appeals@salvationarmy.org.uk if you need more)

Be sensitive in case this is a difficult topic for some members.

In 1886, as the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army was spreading around the world, General William Booth was trying to think of ways to raise funds to support this progress. In response, one of his officers, John Carleton, pledged to go without his pudding for a whole year and give the money he saved to the international fund.

William Booth considered this sacrifice to be too great, but he liked the idea of people deciding to give up an everyday expense for a short period of time and donating the money they saved to The Salvation Army. In this way The Salvation Army’s Self-Denial Appeal was born, and is still observed by Salvationists and friends to this day throughout the month of February.

VISITOR

Invite a Salvation Army officer or individual with experience of working overseas to share how the Self-Denial Appeal makes a difference to the communities they serve.

VIDEO

Show one or more of the available Self-Denial videos. Discuss what members learned or were surprised by from the video.

SELF-DENIAL

Discuss if members would like to raise money for the Self-Denial Appeal. There are many ways people raise funds for the Appeal during February, including denying themselves something and saving the money that they would have spent. Here are some examples.

• A daily offering: adopt a more frugal way of life and donate your savings each day.
• A specific sacrifice: many people forgo a luxury and set aside the money they would have spent for the Appeal.
• Donate one week’s salary/income: if members feel called to do this, speak to your corps officer or treasurer to find a way of donating that works best for you.

Remember to have some Self-Denial envelopes to hand for members who wish to support the Appeal.

ALTAR SERVICE

Plan an altar service towards the end of February and invite members to bring their Self-Denial offering and then offer a prayer. Play some appropriate music, eg SASB 1001 ‘Help us build a loving world’ or click the link for the video.

QUIZ

Can your group guess the missing word from these quotes about giving and generosity?

1. ‘The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its ______.’  (donation)

Corrie Ten Boom

2. ‘Those who are happiest are those who do the ______ for others.’ (most)

Booker T Washington

3. ‘I think people forget that it doesn’t take a big donation to help someone, just a lot of ______ donations.’ (little)

Hannah Teter

4. ‘Service to others is the ______ you pay for your room here on earth.’ (rent)

Mohammed Ali

5. ‘Everyone can be great because everyone can ______.’ (serve)

Martin Luther King

6. ‘Think of giving not as a duty, but as a ______.’ (privilege)

John D Rockefeller Jr

7. ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed ______ can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ (citizens)

Margaret Mead

8. ‘As we work to create light for others, we naturally ______ our own way.’ (light)

Mary Anne Radmacher

9. ‘Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the ______ that you are able to give.’ (happiness)

Eleanor Roosevelt

10. ‘There is no better exercise for your ______ than reaching down and helping to lift someone up.’ (heart)

Bernard Meltzer

Luke 21:1-4 

‘Just then [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all!”’

(Luke 21:1-4 MSG)

One of the incredible and powerful things about The Salvation Army’s Self-Denial Appeal is that nearly every Salvation Army corps around the globe gets involved! Even those living in desperate poverty are encouraged to consider what they might give up in order to contribute – a modern-day illustration of this Bible passage, the poorest giving their all.

The money raised by each territory is redistributed by International Headquarters to the places that need it most. It helps fund essential support services such as administration, IT and other operational costs that enable Salvation Army ministry. Even the smallest of donations can contribute to building God’s Kingdom here on earth.

• SASB 364 ‘Give thanks with a grateful heart’ Click the link for the video.
• SASB 998 ‘Beauty for brokenness’ Click the link for the video.
• SASB 568 ‘All that I am, all I can be’ Click the link for the video.       
• SASB 1001 ‘Help us build a loving world’ Click the link for the video.