Self-Denial 2026: Community

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

Over the last few weeks, we have caught a glimpse of the work that The Salvation Army is doing in Estonia. Last week, we visited Loksa, which was hosting a kids camp. We met Juri Põld, who led the camp and is passionate about the work with young people.

‘A child comes here for the third or fourth time and brings a friend, and the friend starts going to Sunday school too,’ Juri says. ‘Sometimes, even the parents start coming. We have testimonies of parents coming to church through their children.’

In Narva, we met Cadet Olga Rosca, who is hard at work serving the local community. Narva is on the border with Russia and, since the invasion of Ukraine, there’s been a nervousness among the city’s population. Olga has been focusing her efforts on the young people in the city.

‘My hope for the future is that the church will be full of junior soldiers, children and a team of people ready to serve that will be very strong,’ she shares.

We began our Self-Denial journey at Hope House in Tallinn.

‘This is a special place for me because it’s where I began my journey with The Salvation Army when I was still an addict,’ reflects Lieutenant Renno Rannamäe (Kopli).

So, I came through that door and I was a little bit intoxicated and they put me in this hall and said: “You can sleep it off and then we will talk.”

‘During my time here, I overcame my addictions, rekindled my faith and I was called to officership. This is a powerful ministry and it is a blessing to see how The Salvation Army continues to change people’s lives here.’

The assistant manager here is Janar Viilver, who has been through the programme himself.

Janar says: ‘The more I help others, the more I try to help others, the more in some way it helps me to grow.’

Every Sunday, men from Hope House go to Kopli Corps, and recently Vjacheslav Vakar (Slava), who volunteers at the centre, became a Salvation Army soldier.

‘Being a soldier in The Salvation Army is a huge responsibility, first and foremost,’ Slava asserts. ‘It’s not just about putting on the uniform and calling yourself a soldier. You have to show through your actions and your life what it means to be a Salvation Army soldier.’

The Self-Denial Appeal is all about helping The Salvation Army carry out its mission all over the world. Some of your Self-Denial money will go to support our mission partners. The rest is distributed by International Headquarters to Salvation Army territories throughout the world. Your sacrificial gift can bring hope to communities that need it most. It funds the vital work that The Salvation Army is doing. Work that is building hope 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. The QR code links to salvationist.org.uk, where you can donate. Or, 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 very diverse parts of the globe. A lot of the work is only possible because of the money you give through Self-Denial. Your generosity, year after year, has been incredible and your Self-Denial giving is making a world of difference.

‘For what you have given, and what you are about to give, I want to say thank you,’ says Renno. Remember, Self-Denial isn’t just happening here. It’s taking place in Salvation Army corps all over the globe.