Our Mission

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.

“DOING THE MOST GOOD”

“Service is our watchword, and there is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.” Evangeline Booth,
daughter of The Army’s founder, William Booth.

The Army in The Bahamas

The administrative offices (or divisional headquarters) for The Salvation Army are located on 31 Mackey Street, Nassau.  From this location The Salvation Army coordinates all of its programs and services rendered in The Bahamas.  The Divisional Commander is directly responsible for the Army’s work and business in The Bahamas, and is ably supported at divisional headquarters by other Salvation Army officers, advisory board members, employees and volunteers.  The Salvation Army in The Bahamas falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Caribbean Territory, with territorial headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.  The Salvation Army’s international offices are in London, England, where the General, the Army’s world leader, gives guidance  to the organization in 113 countries around the world.

How it all got started

In 1931 Colonel Mary Booth, then territorial commander for The Salvation Army in the Caribbean, was on her way to Bermuda from the territorial headquarters in Jamaica when the ship she was sailing in made a brief stop at the port in Nassau.   Colonel Booth disembarked the vessel, and a quick tour of parts of Nassau coupled with passionate pleas from several of the local residents were all it took for her to be convinced that the work of The Salvation Army was needed in The Bahamas.   On her return to headquarters in Jamaica, she quickly sent two Salvation Army officers to begin the work, which officially commenced in Nassau in May 1931.  The Salvation Army began its religious work and social service programs in Governors Harbour, Eleuthera, in 1932, and in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in 1985.

The Salvation Army in The Bahamas is widely known for its work with the blind and visually impaired.  The School for the Blind has its beginnings in Grants Town in 1948 and the Workshop for blind adults began a year later.  Both the school and workshop have had several locations over the years before settling at their current locations on Mackey Street and Ivanhoe Road, respectively.

Our Leadership

Clarence & Karen Ingram
Divisional Leaders

Major Clarence Ingram
Divisional Commander

Major Jean Miller Cantave
Divisional Secretary for Business

Major Karen Ingram
Divisional Director, Women’s Ministries

Captain Joan Cantave
Divisional League of Mercy Secretary

Major Carol Roberts
Corps Officer
Grants Town Corps

CAPTAINS
Roger and Cheryl Compton
Freeport Corp

Maj. Jean Miller Cantave & Capt. Joan Cantave
Nassau Citadel Corps

Turks & Caicos Islands
Captains Derek & Abena Miller

Major Vernitta Hepburn
Divisional Social Services Secretary

CSM Joseph Deal
Palmetto Point Corps