Site users Ruth Slinn and Ben Ellis explain what being in the Salvation Army means to them. It's not all about brass bands! Ruth Slinn  | | Ruth and Ben with other members of the SA |
I’m Ruth Slinn, I’m 19 years old and I go to The Salvation Army corps – another word for church – called Coventry City. In fact my parents are the corps officers (or church leaders) there! I sometimes get funny reactions when I tell people that I am part of The Salvation Army. I find that young people don’t know that much about church life in general. When some of them think of The Salvation Army, they think of brass bands a lot of the time. I am really enjoying my life in the Army because there is so much going on for young people. This year I went to Summer School which is an annual event attended by lots of young folk from all over the country. We do lots of interesting things like singing, drama, dance and music classes. We also get a chance to do things that are important for strengthening our Christian faith like praying, reading and studying the Bible. | "We get a chance to do things that are important for strengthening our Christian faith like praying, reading and studying the Bible" | | Ruth Slinn |
This was my first time at Summer School - it was great. Not everyone here is from The Salvation Army or any church but everyone has been accepted as they are.
I think it’s really important to show non-Christian young people that we do many of the normal things that they do. I enjoy working with my peers; I want to be a youth worker with the Army’s ALove programme. Ben Ellis Hi! I’m Ben Ellis, I’m 18 years old and just like Ruth, I go to Coventry City corps and I also want to work with young people. I went to Summer School this year for the fifth time and this one was the best one yet.  | | Ben from the Salvation Army |
Being here has helped my faith grow stronger and it’s great to be around my friends in a nice atmosphere. More on the Salvation Army Founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth - a Methodist couple who wanted to preach outside their local church building the Salvation Army is part of the Christian Church whose members’ lifestyle is based on the Bible. Its military name inspired members’ enthusiasm, uniforms were used and military terms given to Army life which remain today. Army churches are called corps, church leaders called corps officers and their members called soldiers. | 
