Our mission is to serve every single individual, says new Salvation Army head

"Save souls, grow saints, and serve suffering humanity" - the motto of the Salvation Army - has been, in a nutshell, the undertaking of Lieutenant Colonel Devon Haughton for almost four decades.

Haughton, 58, was recently promoted to the rank of commissioner and appointed territorial commander (chief director of the work) of the 16 countries that comprise the Salvation Army Caribbean Territory, becoming the first Jamaican to lead the territory in its 131-year history.

While he has declared that it is no secret about him being a "proud Jamaican", service to suffering humanity will mean rendering help to every single person in need across the territory, regardless of race, colour, or creed.

"We're not going to get caught up with who is black and who is white, who is straight and who is not straight. We are not confused where that is concerned. Our mission is to every single individual whose life needs to be touched with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a practical manner," Haughton asserted.

"I am Jamaican because I was born and bred in Jamaica, and I'm a proud Jamaican. But I'm also cognisant that I'm not the territorial commander for Jamaica. I am the territorial commander for the Caribbean territory, all 16 countries," Haughton emphasised.

Lieutenant Colonel Verona Haughton, his wife of 36 years, was also recently promoted to the rank of commander and appointed territorial president of women's ministries (chief director of women's movements) for the Caribbean territory.

The Haughtons have served in Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaica in various appointments including corps officers (pastors), divisional leaders for Eastern & Western Jamaica Divisions, and training principals at different periods for the territory's training college.

In addition, Devon has served as secretary (director) for programme and territorial evangelist while Verona has served as secretary (director) for leader development and secretary for spiritual life development.

A public installation service will be held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew on Sunday, April 22, 2018, beginning at 3 p.m.