The Salvation Army Self Denial Appeal 2025

Dear Friends,

It’s soon time for one of the most exciting times in the Salvation Army calendar: The Self Denial Appeal! The time of the year when we, through our actions, can show solidarity with the world and practically, in our corps, take steps against the ideas of nationalism and self-centeredness that are rampant in the world.
We are one Army, and we all have one saviour, regardless of nationality, skin colour, or language. Therefore, this is a time where we can show the world – and our people – that we mean it. Or as Bramwell Booth, the second general of The Salvation Army, said: “Every land is my fatherland, because all land belongs to my father!”

Message from the Regional Commander:

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Over the last few months, I have said and written a lot about being ‘together’. We stand together, we work together, we move forward together. In a few weeks we will also have the opportunity to give together. The Self Denial appeal allows us the opportunity to give something up and invest the money into the ministry of The Salvation Army around the world. If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than many people in the world. If you have a little money in the bank, and some spare change, you are among the world’s very richest!

Please do not miss this opportunity. Let us stand together, and give together.

Background

The Salvation Army Self Denial appeal began with General William Booth giving a speech in London, England about the need to expand the work of the Army to more countries around the world. One of the officers in the hall, Major John Carlton, heard the speech but did not know what to do since, as like most officers in those days, he was already poor and had no savings or extra money to take from in order to give. However, he really wanted to help the Army to spread the gospel around the world. So, he realized something: “Everyday I eat rice pudding as part of my meal – if I don’t do that for one year, I can save that money to help The Salvation Army to grow!” He quickly calculated that by not eating rice pudding for one year he would save 50 shilling – about 110 Euro in today’s value. Later General William Booth heard about this and was moved by his generosity. He therefore called all soldiers and friends of The Salvation Army to deny themselves of something for a short time so that the work of Army could grow around the world.

How does it work?

All territories, regions, divisions, and corps from the 134 countries that The Salvation Army works in, is taking part in this appeal for one month every year – including some of the poorest countries in the world. For The Salvation Army in Latvia, it begins on the 16th of March and ends with the Self Denial Sunday on the 13th of April. The money is then collected from all around the world and used to support the mission of The Salvation Army in countries where this would otherwise be impossible, for example when the Army is opening in a new country or working in some of the poorer countries in the world.

Why Self Deny?

There are two main principles behind the Self Denial Appeal:
The first principle is to give us, as officers, soldiers, adherents and friends of The Salvation Army, a chance to sacrifice something of our own, in order to help to spread the work of The Salvation Army. Many other times of the year we ask the public for donations, like with the Christmas Kettle, but with the Self Denial Appeal it is our turn to give from ourselves – to deny ourselves of something we like but do not need – in order to help others, just like Major Carlton did almost 140 years ago.
The second principle is to increase awareness of our internationalism in our people. They are a part of something larger than only their local corps and The Salvation Army is more than what they see in Latvia. We are one Army – with one mission, and one message – all around the world. The Salvation Army is working in 134 countries, so when we join the Army, we are joining a worldwide movement with more than 2 million Soldiers, Junior Soldiers and Adherents, serving under the same flag, led by one general and fighting for one goal: The World for Christ!

How to Self Deny?

Some might think it is difficult to know what to sacrifice and how they can participate in the Self Denial Appeal. Here are some tips and suggestions!
• Do you normally buy coffee at a café once a week? Deny yourself that and give the money you save to the Self Denial Appeal so that people can get access to water in poor countries.
• Can you have a hot shower at home? Millions of people in the world cannot. Every time you have a nice hot shower, give 1 euro to the Self Denial Appeal, and think of how blessed you are.
• Do you like chocolate and sweets? Don’t buy any chocolate or sweets during these weeks and give the money you save to the Self Denial Appeal so The Salvation Army can help children go to school.
• Do you like sugar in your tea? Drink your tea without it for these weeks, to remind yourself of those who cannot afford anything except the necessary. The money you save by not using sugar you can give to the Self Denial Appeal.
• Did you eat dinner today? Many people are going to bed hungry every day. Give thanks to God that you have food to eat and give to the Self Denial Appeal so that the Salvation Army can feed those who are starving.
• Are you on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram or some other form of social media? Decide that for every post you make, you pay 1 Euro to the Self Denial appeal. This can be an effective way to raise money, and at the same time, reflect on how much time we spend on social media.

Self Denial Sunday

Sunday the 13th of April is the climax of the Self Denial Appeal. It is the Sunday when we will bring the money we have saved and give it in a special offering that we do, specifically on that Sunday. You can also donate at www.pestisanasarmija.lv.