Young Adults Put Faith Into Action Through Yellowknife Ministry Experience
Six young adults from The Salvation Army’s Prairies and Northern Territories Division spent a weekend serving in Yellowknife, N.W.T., putting their faith into action through hands-on ministry, community engagement and worship leadership.
The trip marked the culmination of Living Sacrifice, a nine-month discipleship and leadership development program designed to help young adults deepen their relationship with God while preparing them for future service and leadership.
Hosted by The Salvation Army in Yellowknife, participants were introduced to the unique challenges and opportunities of ministry in the North. They toured local Salvation Army facilities, learned about the organization’s history in the region and gained insight into the social issues facing the community.
The group also took part in several service projects. Some participants assisted at the local thrift store, sorting donations, stocking shelves and supporting staff. Others worked at the Yellowknife Centre of Hope, helping with painting projects and attending a graduation ceremony celebrating four individuals who had successfully completed a withdrawal management program.
For participant Isabella Haskey, the experience highlighted the impact of simple acts of service.
“The most memorable part of the mission trip for me was getting to see the impact of small works,” she says. “Even just cleaning out a cupboard, seeing the joy that comes from a small act like that was something I’ll never forget.”
The weekend concluded with the young adults leading a Sunday worship service at the Centre of Hope. Participants took responsibility for every aspect of the service, including music, preaching, sharing testimony and leading the meeting.
“The focus is to take everything that you’ve learned over the year and the things you’ve discussed and now put it into action in an intentional weekend ministry opportunity,” says Major Ashley Bungay, Area Commander and former Divisional Secretary for Candidates, one of five leaders who travelled with the group to Yellowknife.
The Yellowknife experience was the capstone event of Living Sacrifice, a program launched in the Prairies and Northern Territories Division in September 2025 following the success of similar initiatives in other Salvation Army divisions across Canada.
Rooted in Romans 12:1-2, the program encourages participants aged 18 to 23 to grow spiritually, develop leadership skills and build meaningful relationships with fellow believers. Throughout the nine-month journey, participants engaged in spiritual disciplines, mentoring relationships, personal goal setting and community service opportunities within their home ministry units.
The group met regularly through online sessions and gathered for two retreats at Pine Lake Camp in Alberta, where they focused on spiritual growth, self-reflection and Christian leadership.
“One thing I learned throughout my journey in Living Sacrifice that surprised me was how impactful it is to have a community of like-minded believers by your side, who you can rely upon and share your experiences with,” says participant Tim Kerr.
For Isabella, the program strengthened her daily walk with Christ.
“I’ve learned a lot of ways to help keep God at the center of my life through Living Sacrifice,” she says. “Getting to read about different spiritual disciplines from our study has really helped me with staying connected to Jesus.”
Tim says the experience has inspired him to become more involved in ministry and community life.
“Something I will be taking with me going into my daily life is an ability to be open to new experiences in my faith, and trying to get more involved in my local community and ministry unit,” he says.
As the Prairies and Northern Territories Division prepares to launch another cohort of Living Sacrifice this fall, the program continues to help young adults grow in faith, leadership and service while equipping them to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
