After almost two decades of caring for people through the Salvation Army, the executive director recently received a medal for his service.
"Primarily what we do here is emergency and transitional shelters," says Mark Stewart, Executive Director at The Salvation Army's Centre of Hope in Winnipeg. "We're the largest emergency and transitional shelter in Manitoba. At our high points we have just under 500 people a day that are staying in the building. A lot of the work we do is for people falling through the cracks."
Recently, Stewart received the King Charles III Coronation medal during a ceremony for all the work he does in the community.
"I work with a really great group of people that believe in our mission and believe that the work that we're doing here is important in our community," says Stewart. "I went to the event, and I was just humbled and honoured to see the other people in the room. I don't even feel on the same level as some of the work that they've done. As a Christian servant leader within our community, I felt humbled and honoured."
Interestingly, two of the medal recipients that evening came up to Stewart later on to share their stories of how the Salvation Army blessed them in a time of great need.
"We don't get into this business to earn medals. We get into this business to work with people and care for people. That's our goal. My family was very excited. You often don't think that you deserve these things, but the message from people around me is that I did. Sometimes, you just have to take that in. None of this could have happened without the work that God has done in my life."
Personal Testimony
Stewart started working for the Salvation Army 19 years ago.
"When I was in university, I became homeless," says Stewart. "I was living in front of the Salvation Army in my car. It was not a nice car. I felt a lot of shame. I was working, in school, and due to some really poor decision making, found myself in my car."
Stewart spent roughly a month sleeping and living from his vehicle. Friends of his found out that this was his experience and they took him in.
"After some thought and getting back on my feet, I came in and applied at the Salvation Army. I started at the front desk during the night shift, which is a very difficult place to be. I moved to British Columbia for three years as the Executive Director with the Salvation Army there and then came back to Winnipeg and was honoured to take on this position. It's been a 360 journey for me."
Stewart shares that the journey of working for the non-profit has been a growing opportunity both mentally and spiritually.
"I love the Salvation Army for many reasons. One is that they saw something in me that I probably didn't see in myself. That was through working with the pastors here. To see the way the Salvation Army officers worked with the people directly in need, the Salvation Army being a church that I belong to, we roll up our sleeves, get dirty, and get down on the ground with people who need us."
