Salvation Army takes up bow hunting

A band on the street corner performing hymns, a shelter for the homeless, a meal for the hungry, a group of bow hunters prowling the woods for The Big Buck. Not all of those things may seem directly related to Charlottesville’s Salvation Army, but believe it or not, they are.

“The bow hunters group is a church club, a fellowship idea I had because I’m a bow hunter. I’m not as avid as some, but I enjoy it,” explained Salvation Army Capt. Dan Matthews, who put the club on the Charlottesville section of Craigslist.com. “I thought maybe I could get some guys over and get some involvement. It’d be fun to talk a little bow hunting and share [Christian] fellowship.”

More than helping others

Charlottesville’s Salvation Army is a big player in helping the area’s poor. It’s known for its shelter, its meals, its long-term housing and programs to put homeless folks back on their feet and on the playing field. Helping others, however, is not all that the army is about.

“The army isn’t just a social services organization, although it’s certainly an extremely important part of what we do. We’re also a church and we have social groups and we enjoy doing things together like any congregation,” Capt. Matthews said.

Bow hunters aren’t alone. A softball team and a contemporary Christian rock/country band are other fellowship groups that Capt. Matthews hopes to create. It’s all in the name of friendship and worship.

“It’s not something most people think of when they think of the Salvation Army, but that’s OK,” he said.

The bow hunting group was not a stretch for the captain. He’s just carrying on an old family tradition.

“I grew up hunting. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed. I have three boys at home and we supplement our food with venison and we enjoy the taste. It also helps keep our budget manageable during the year,” he said. “One of my sons likes to hunt, although the other two don’t care for it and that’s fine.”

Bow hunting, he said, is a challenge.

“You have to get close to the deer with a bow and that’s not so easy,” he said. “You can shoot a deer from 100 yards with a rifle, but there’s not much challenge in that.”

There are, of course, some in society who object to eating meat or, at least, hunting it yourself. Deer, certainly, are beautiful creatures, but God does not preclude hunting God’s creatures, Capt. Matthews said.

‘Not biblically wrong’

“I don’t feel like it’s wrong to hunt and it’s certainly not biblically wrong. The Bible says all things are good for food.”

Even Brussels sprouts?

“I don’t know of any exclusion for those, although I’ll certainly look again. I know people have different views on hunting and I understand that. It’s a way to stretch our money and to feed people,” he said. “We serve venison here at the [Salvation Army shelter] as well. We accept donations from Hunters for the Hungry and we cook it in our kitchen.”

While there are no plans, yet, for a church-organized hunt, the club represents the army’s effort to serve not just those who need to be served, but those who serve those who need.

“We’re always looking to expand our church fellowship and the band and softball team are parts of that,” Capt. Matthews said. “It’s nice to find ways to not only get the army’s message out there and help people, but to have fun together, as well.”