showing love for God and concern for the needs of humanity through a spiritual and practical ministry.

"The Salvation Army was invented to save souls, to grow saints and to serve suffering humanity,'' said John Gowans General of the Salvation Army, 2000.

Major Woody Hale is the divisional commander in Bermuda and the Royal Gazette's Beverley Causey-Smith interviewed Major Hale and the women who run Harbour Light, earth angels, Captain Susanne Fisher and Augustina Ibegbuna, programme director.

First, a little history. Late in the summer of 1895, three British sailors visiting Bermuda, who were also Salvationists, marched under bright blue skies from the Royal Naval Dockyard at Ireland Island to St. George's Bay in Southampton. A a result of the visit of those three sailors, the Army sent it's first Salvation Army Officer to Bermuda to begin the work later that year.

Dudley Butterfield donated the Harbour Light Addiction Centre, located at 44 King Street, in 1977. Initially it served male abusers addicted to alcohol and also included many of Bermuda's homeless. The initial leader was Major and Mrs. Tom Bell who ran the centre from 1977-80. Captain Susanne Fisher is the executive director today and oversees Harbour Lights, emergency housing complex and the food store with a team of about 25 people.

The agency exists to foster and support recovery of male substance abusers, irrespective of their ability to pay, race, colour, creed or age. Men who from drug dependence have lost their self-direction either socially, emotionally of spiritually can find rehabilitation and regeneration through spiritual guidance and counselling.

Some of the good deeds they do is promote street ministry three nights a week within the city limits of Hamilton where sandwiches and soup are given to the needy who may be wandering about. The Salvation Army Truck travels to certain spots and targets street people.

Every night except Wednesday Harbour Light serves a hot meal to the homeless on the Harbour Light premises at 5:30 p.m.

Programme director, Ms. Ibegbuna explained: "When someone is referred to the Harbour Light Centre an assessment is done by a professional counsellor and some men go straight to detox at `Turning Point' . The men are screened and body searched. Once assigned a room, the programme runs for each person for three to six months.

A part of the programme involves their work therapy, which means they contribute to cooking, cleaning, laundry tasks, and yard work.

Harbour Light helps men get their lives back following substance addictions and there are rules and guidance, which must be adhered to. Each man is assigned a peer. They accommodate a maximum of 10 men at once.

The men are provided with sparse living accommodations, though comfortable, and breakfast and dinner daily is served in their basic dining room. It is not the Ritz but it is clean, and safe with a bed, bathroom and laundry facilities. They have a lounge where they can watch television or socially interact with each other. Also there is a chapel where they take morning devotion daily.

The goal is that by the time residents leave their programme they will be ready to be reintegrated into society continuing to develop a healthy lifestyle and acquire the moral and spiritual principles of conduct and responsible work habits.

After they finish the basic three to six month programme they offer a continuum of care services which is an in-house programme focusing on training and social skills.

Captain Fisher said: "We are very grateful for our volunteers like Donna Gnomes, a teacher at Cedarbridge Academy. She helps the men with their reading, writing and math.

"Volunteers impact our agency and they are vital to us. Colonial Insurance provided a workshop on budgeting and mutual funds. This helps the men to be more aware of how to save money once they become employed they may invest for their children. It teaches responsibility.

"At the moment we need a teacher or someone with strong computer skills to share their knowledge with our programme.'' Captain Fisher shared that the biggest reward of her work is seeing lives change and watching the men become productive citizens in our community.

Ms. Ibegbuna added: "People come here in despair and without a lot of hope.

They are confused and sometimes very angry. It is rewarding to see such a person who was angry and confrontational become happy and turn his life around to that of a productive citizen.'' Commander Hale said the Salvation Army is partnering with the National Drug Commission to better prepare the only male addiction centre by adding 10 new beds. The strategy is to actively pursue moving the centre from Hamilton and its presence of drugs to someplace outside the city.

"I love Bermuda and I have a lot of hopes and aspirations for the community.

We have tremendous support here. The people believe in us and are willing to trust us by offering financial support. Bermuda has one of the records for the highest support of our red shield appeal in the world, based on its size.

"We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the people of Bermuda and it humbles us as we constantly try to do a better job helping people,'' he said.

The Salvation Army in Bermuda has planned a Congress under the title "Explosion 2000'' for the dates of October 19 through 22.

Commander Hale said: "I am very excited and pleased about the plans done by Bermudian Salvationists to convene this outstanding event which will include participation by people form both the US and Canada.

On Thursday evening October 19, at 7:30 pm in the City Hall Theatre a group from Harlem Temple, New York City called "New Sounds for Christ,'' will be in concert.

The actual launching of the Explosion 2000 Congress will take place at the Hamilton Citadel, 10 North Street at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, October 20 and all are welcome.

On Saturday and Sunday, all events will take place at the Whitney Institute Auditorium, Middle Road Smith's. Saturday will be a unique family day with a them "God's Ark of Protection''.

Tickets will be required. Please call the Army's Headquarters.

A humble bed at Harbour Light.

Major Woody Hale Left: Captain Susanne Fisher and Augustina Ibegbuna.

DRUGS DGS