We are driven to make a difference no matter the cost.
~
—Matt Jensen, Lieutenant
The Western Territory’s news source
for 31 years
April 5, 2013 Vol. 31, No. 6
Commissioning to feature “Army of Stars” n Unique event will recognize one soldier from each division. BY MARTIN HUNT For more than 30 years, The Salvation Army USA Western Territory produced a radio show and CD recording at Christmas called “Army of Stars.” Designed as an evangelical outreach for the Army, this popular tool featured notable Hollywood stars who lent support to The Salvation Army. Commissioning 2013, Proclaim!, will be an “Army of Stars” event with a twist. On June 15, the program features an Army of Stars banquet and awards show during which the Western Territory will honor one soldier from each division who has exemplified commitment, service and Salvationism to his/her corps and division. These recipients will be recognized as “Stars” of our Army. The Hollywood-style awards celebration will include a meal, music and celebration presentations outlining the work of the Army. Prior to the Army of Stars banquet, an Exhibit Hall of Faith will feature conversation spaces where delegates will be invited to share their testimony—to tell stories about the Army and God’s grace. Stories of transformation will be told in multiple languages, and guests will be free to roam the room listening in or conversing while sharing appetizers. Commissioning weekend also features a concert by Israel Houghton, Spiritual Life seminars on “Life with God,” the Territorial Bible Bowl finals, and Encore presentations. Delegates may register for Sunday lunch, which will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center, between the ordination and commissioning meetings. Registration for all events and discounted hotel rooms at the Pasadena Sheraton and Pasadena Hilton can be made at uswevents.org.
Inside: Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Prayer Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 From the Desk of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Life Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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L-r: Lt. Matt Jensen, Art Blajos (ex-Mexican Mafia) and Jose Moreno (Casa de Vida)
n Ventura Corps takes outreach into gang-controlled park. Ventura, Calif., Corps Officers Lts. Matt and Vanessa Jensen took the ministry of The Salvation Army into one of Ventura’s toughest neighborhoods March 16. They teamed up with Casa de Vida, a group of former members of the Mexican Mafia, and rap artist Second Chance, to conduct an outreach in an area controlled by three enemy gangs, coinciding with three housing sections. These urban missionaries set up camp in the park located in the middle of the warring factions, where last year eight unsolved gang-related homicides occurred.
Photos courtesy of Matt Jensen
Originally, the Jensens had planned to set up for the outreach the day before the event, but after receiving several tips that any preparations would be destroyed, the set-up took place early on that Saturday morning. “We are driven to make a difference no matter the cost,” said Matt Jensen. “The outreach proved successful.” The Salvation Army served 300 cheeseburgers and drinks to the people who came out that day. Second Chance rapped, then asked the assembled crowd if they wanted to know Jesus as Savior. Over 20 kids raised their hands to accept Christ. Every 30 minutes, ex-Mexican Mafia VENTURA, page 8
GENERAL BOND MEETS POPE FRANCIS
Local children take on the Kroc Center’s rock wall. Photo courtesy of Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center
Kroc Center Hawaii splashes into its second year
General Linda Bond greeted the newly elected Pope at the Vatican. Pope Francis emphasized the importance of the promotion of friendship and respect between men and women of different religious traditions during a meeting with ecumenical and interfaith leaders who had attended his inauguration Mass. Photo © L’Osservatore Romano, used with permission
Hodders installed in Kenya West n Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Silvia Cox install Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder.
HAWAII, page 8
Chief of the Staff Commissioner André Cox and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Silvia Cox visited the Kenya West Territory to install new territorial leaders
Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder. After their arrival at the airport, the Coxes held discussions with Kenyan government officials. En route to territorial headquarters in Kakamega, their convoy stopped at Mbale Market to greet Salvationists gathered there. At Saturday’s officers councils, the HODDERS, page 5
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April 5, 2013 New Frontier
NEWS BRIEFS OF THE WEST
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me (Ps. 119:133 NIV). BEAVERTON, ORE.— In March, Jason Zacher ran 100 miles—from Karen Portland to Lincoln Gleason City—to raise money for Editor two charities, including The Salvation Army Veterans and Family Center in Beaverton. He ran the “Angels Flight 100” in about 23 hours. Donations are still being accepted for a wheelchair ramp and a handicap accessible shower. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army Cascade Divisional Headquarters, 8495 SE Monterey Ave., Happy Valley, OR 97086, with “Angels Flight 100” in the memo line. Richard Stoller is director at the Veterans and Family Center. MONTEREY, CALIF.—Coffee Mia in Marina, Calif., celebrated five years of successful business with a gift to the Monterey Peninsula Corps. Business owner Horace Mercurio wanted to honor his deceased mother, Gloria Mercurio, who served for many years on the corps’ advisory board, holding many offices including chairperson. Mercurio held a birthday party raffle and was able to present a $400 check to the corps. Majors David and Gaylene Yardley are the corps officers. EL CENTRO, CALIF.—Corps Officers Captains Jerry and Vicky Esqueda reported that a newly-married couple called the corps to inquire if The Salvation Army does marriage counseling. After hearing more about the Army, the couple came to the Sunday service. At the altar call, both of them came forward to receive the saving grace of Jesus Christ. WRANGELL, ALASKA—The Adventure Corps Rangers are working on the lifesaving badge. Captain Debra Davis, corps officer with her husband, Ronnie, arranged for the group to take a CPR/first aid class with the local fire department. Five teens and three adults participated and are now certified. Guardian Flight (an air ambulance service) provided a grant to fund the class. The gentleman processing the grant remembered being helped by The Salvation Army and was eager to provide the assistance. ANTIOCH, CALIF.—The corps celebrated the one-year anniversary of its new building on March 3 with a celebration including a brief history of the corps’ early days. It originally opened in 1887, but closed in 1890. In 1991, 101 years later, the work reopened, first as an outpost of the Concord Corps and then as a corps. Since then, it has grown and now conducts programs for all ages and provides social services to Antioch and the surrounding Delta communities Majors Neil and Beth Saunders are the corps officers. MODESTO, CALIF.—Salvation Army youth director Wade Patton and seven kids from the corps, ages 7-12, created a full-color activity brochure and assembled 60 bags of candy to give to children who come to the corps’ social services office, hoping to interest them in the corps programs and activities. Lt. Colonels Richard and Bettie Love are the interim corps officers.
Army of Hope open invitation n Yuba-Sutter service campaign aims to involve the community. BY CHAYA GALICIA The Yuba Sutter (Calif.) Corps is inviting the community to be a part of The Salvation Army—to come alongside it bringing hope to people in need whether physically, emotionally or spiritually. The invitation is to join the “Army of Hope.” “My vision for the Army of Hope is that it will be a universal campaign,” said Captain Tom Stambaugh, corps officer. “We’re bringing in people from the community to help us provide the goods and services we’re known for, which in turn brings more impact and hope to those we serve.” The Army of Hope campaign offers four areas of service from which people can
choose. Giving: Encouraging donors to give financially to local Army programs, ensuring community needs will continue to be met. Volunteerism: Inviting people to actively join us in fulfilling our services, whether by
filling food boxes, stocking shelves or helping at outreach events. Engagement: Providing opportunities to help lead groups in the areas of life management (budgeting, nutrition, parenting), self-sufficiency (vocational education, high school diploma/GED, higher education) and youth mentoring (Salvation Army youth programs). Projects: Appointing groups to use their talents to sponsor a room at the shelter, refurbish a house at the Transitional Housing complex, conduct canned food drives or assist in landscaping and painting projects. The corps has challenged the YubaSutter community to find where they fit in the Army of Hope with a goal of community involvement, at various levels, serving people in need through The Salvation Army.
Caldwell’s Baby Haven strengthens families n The program helps approximately 120 families each year. BY VIVIAN GATICA The Salvation Army’s Baby Haven has provided a resource for families in Caldwell, Idaho, for the past seven years. In March alone, the Caldwell Corps, led by Lts. Brent and Kristy Church, linked five new families to the program. Baby Haven is an incentive-based two-year program that offers education, connections to local family resources and economic help for families with children under 2 years old. “Due to the uncertain job market, many clients do not have the education, skills or transportation to find jobs within their community, which may cause stress that can lead to neglect and child abuse as well as domestic violence,” said Rebeca Johnson, Baby Haven program director. “Baby Haven protects children from child abuse by helping to relieve some of the economic and financial stress caused by uncertainty in our communities.” Classes provided by the ministry are tailored to teach parents how to overcome obstacles that may come with parenting. They are taught in both English and Spanish, and guests occasionally speak on topics ranging from nutrition to budgeting. Childcare is provided so that parents can attend classes. “The goal is to educate families on how to become self-sufficient and advocates for their children by giving them value and support,” Johnson said. Ashley Kate Whittaker, a parent enrolled in Baby Haven, is a single mother who works part-time at Sizzler and attends school full time. Since joining the program, she has become an advocate
L-r: Lt. Kristy Church, Rebeca Johnson, Ashley Kate Whittaker and baby. Photo by Angie Tovar
on creating healthy lifestyles for families in her community. When Whittaker graduates from the program this summer, she plans to mentor new moms and continue to volunteer. “You [Baby Haven] are truly a godsend in my life,” Whittaker said. The program, created by previous Corps Officer Captain Ligia Ambriz, helps approximately 120 families yearly. As parents achieve their goals, they are rewarded with baby necessities, alleviating some of the economic stress. “The goal is to help parents, including single moms and dads, become the best parent they can be,” Johnson said, “and to encourage, empower and equip families through knowledge and community resources.”
SAROA welcomes West’s groups to Florida Risk Management n TYC and TCAE minister during annual aims to decrease meeting of retired officers. accident claims BY MEJEE LUTCHER The Territorial Youth Chorus (TYC) and Territorial Creative Arts Ensemble (TCAE) supported territorial leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs as guest speakers for the annual weekend meeting of The Salvation Army Retired Officers Association (SAROA) in Tampa, Fla. “It was fitting for the groups to interact with the retired officers at an event themed ‘Generation to Generation,’ emphasizing the need to intentionally pass on our faith to the next generation,” said Joy Lee, territorial creative arts director. After rehearsing for a day, TYC and TCAE performed in a series of concerts and spent time with young musicians from the Florida Division. Representing every division in the Western Territory, TYC meets a few times every year for ministry weekends. “Sharing our experiences with retired officers gave them an opportunity to share their stories and give advice to us,” said Alexa Morris, TYC member from the Salem (Ore.) Kroc Center. TYC member Kaila Ogletree said, “This weekend was a blessing and something has changed in our hearts. I can’t wait to see what God changes in our lives.” Four of the five TCAE soldiers traveled to Florida. During the main concert at the St. Petersburg
TCAE members (l-r) Isaac Fowler, Mejee Lutcher and Joy Lee perform a skit during the SAROA retreat. Photo by Todd Smith
Corps, TCAE member Alexandra Van Cleef gave a moving testimony, bringing many to tears and intensifying an already powerful spiritual movement. “No matter how faithful or unfaithful I may be, God is always faithful, and he has a plan for me that is bigger than I could have ever imagined,” she said. TYC member Sophie Yalden said “If...Then,” a song by Leonard Ballantine, captures the weekend experience: “I want to know Christ, his power in my life, his confidence to fight and win; for the struggle to take hold, to press on toward the goal is worth anything! He’s worth everything to me.”
BY CRAIG NICLES With a fleet of over 2,600 Salvation Army vehicles, the Western Territory reported over 500 auto incidents in 2012, including 100 incidents of the driver (not including ARC truck drivers) hitting stationary objects. These accidents cost the Army $2,000 each on average. This total exceeds the national average for similar fleets, and so the Risk Management Department at Territorial Headquarters, led by Lt. Col. Walter and Ardis Fuge, aims to decrease such incidents in 2013 with assistance from the field. The department also identified three other areas of loss— property (i.e. water damage to buildings), general liability (i.e. customer falls in thrift stores), Worker’s Compensation (i.e. employee injures back)—and will develop ways to decrease claims this year.
Doing the Most Good
April 5, 2013 New Frontier
Cadet Spring Campaigns 2013 n Cadets take to the field to assist corps and witness to God’s love.
al settings. They visit local communities and corps—conducting services, preaching and teaching, and assisting with children’s BY KEILAH TOY, MAJOR ministries, community outreach, The cadets’ annual Spring service projects, nursing home Campaigns are upon them—April visitations and more. 1-8—and they are ready, after a The Western Territory’s Spring time of active preparation at the Campaigns 2013 will take place in College for Officer Training at these locations: Crestmont (CFOT). Life Brigade—Glendale, Ariz. As part of their comprehensive Devoted Brigade—Watsonville, Field Training program, cadets Calif. minister in local communities Awakeners Brigade—Yuma, around the territory during the Ariz. “The Less Than Brigade” one of the 12 brigades of cadets serving in the week-long Spring Campaign Unified Brigade—Boise field this spring Photo by Chris Stillians exercise. Alongside experienced and Caldwell, Idaho officers, they not only gain practical ministry experience, but more Theosis Brigade—Victor Valley, Calif. importantly, they are able to share the love of Christ with others. Jars of Clay Brigade—Carson City and Reno, Nev. Traditionally, cadets travel to the front lines in Field Training ILKOP Brigade—Modesto, Calif. brigades, made up of both first and second-year cadets. The current Unity Brigade—Various locations on Oahu Island, Hawaii sessions—the Proclaimers of the Resurrection and the Disciples of Heirs to the Throne Brigade—Seattle the Cross—number 120 cadets and comprise 12 brigades. Brigade iServe—Portland members hold specific brigade and are led by a cadet sergeant and “Less Than” Brigade—Santa Barbara, Calif. a brigade officer. The “Last” Brigade—Denver CAMPAIGNS, page 4 Throughout the year, the brigades work in corps and institution-
Sermon podcast attracts hundreds n Envoy Roger McCort utilizes social media to expand his congregation. Envoy Roger McCort is spreading his sermons to 300 listeners each week beyond Envoy Roger McCort those who attend Photo by Frank Desplancke the service at The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center in San Francisco. “Several years ago I began occasion-
ally recording my sermons,” McCort said. “Mostly for my own use, but partly because I had a number of soldiers who were homebound and asked if copies of the messages could be passed on to them. I also tend to preach in series and some regular attendees liked to have the opportunity to hear what they might have missed if they didn’t make it.” Initially, McCort said, the response to his postings were meager at best, but he kept at it. He faithfully posted week after week despite little interest seen from the online community. McCort began posting links to the sermons on Facebook and Twitter to help spread his message. “For some time the number of down-
Photo courtesy Topanga Women’s Circle
Furnishing for families n Topanga Women’s Circle partners with the Army. BY DORIS HALL-TUNER The Topanga Women’s Circle (TWC), an organization of more than 60 volunteers, and The Salvation Army Westwood Transitional Village have partnered for the past four years to assist families with home furnishings including pots and pans, bedding, curtains and towels. “Homelessness is not tidy,” said Karen Sherwood, co-chair of TWC. “You can’t just wrap it up with a pretty bow and consider it a job well done, but we try.” TWC is the brainchild of Arlette Parker, whose husband was involved with housing the homeless on the west side of Los Angeles. Parker noticed that when families moved in, they often had no more than the clothes on their backs and a black plastic
bag full of their belongings. A group of 10 women volunteers emerged, believing every family deserves a place to call home. When the Parkers moved back to France, she approached Sherwood and Linda Ilsley, active TWC volunteers, to take over management of the charity. The level of community activism, membership and volunteerism has since quadrupled. In the last three years, TWC has helped over 150 families. “Our primary focus is serving veterans and families at The Salvation Army Westwood Transitional Village and young children at the Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center,” Ilsley said. “We have the absolute, very best volunteers in the whole entire world! We may be small, but through generosity, time and commitment, we are mighty!”
loads each week hovered at about eight to 10,” McCort said. “After about a year, I moved to a paid podcast host as I saw the number of downloads growing toward 50 a week.” Now, more than two years later, McCort’s sermons are pulling in over 300 listeners each week. In the past month, the site received more than 1,000 unique visitors. “Ideally, every pastor and officer would make all of their messages available online,” McCort said. “Not only would that benefit people from their home congregations, but it could reach someone they’ll never meet with the message that God loves them.” Listen to McCort’s sermons at rmccort.podbean.com
Front row (l-r) Lt. Colonel Helen Starrett, Alyssa Mauck, Nichole Wilson, Major Geraldine Leonard; back row: Kiani Mauck, Dawn Mauck (youth leader), Theresa Atwell (youth leader), and Tina Wilson Photo by David Leonard
Sheridan Sunbeams awarded Two Sunbeams, a character-building program for girls in grades one to five, from the Sheridan (Wyo.) Corps earned the Commissioner’s Sunbeam Award, the highest achievement possible for a Sunbeam. Lt. Colonel Helen Starrett, Intermountain divisional director of women’s ministries, awarded medals and certificates to Alyssa Mauck and Nichole Wilson during a holiness meeting at the corps with Corps Officers Captain David and Major Geraldine Leonard. “Both young ladies are outstanding examples of the youth of the USA Western Territory,” Starrett said. The girls said they liked learning about Jesus, going to camp and helping people. “I love to do projects and crafts to take to the nursing homes, and to see how happy it makes them,” Mauck said. Wilson said, “When I can I would like to be an officer for the Army and help others.”
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Sometimes, you can go home again n ARC beneficiary revisits innocence of his childhood. BY JERRY D. BLOOM, CHAPLAIN Max was a broken man, addicted to methamphetamines. He showed up Max at the doors of the Canoga Park Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) six months ago. Since then, the look, walk and talk of his old life have been fading. The smile on Max’s face, the strength in his voice, the sound of his laughter and his words of gratitude are evidence of the new man Max is becoming. In counseling sessions, Max often spoke of his childhood—as a teenager he was introduced to crack cocaine, and a life of crime and insanity followed. He spoke of other times— memories of growing up in the San Fernando Valley and the freedom of innocence he had as a child. He wished he could retrieve the reality of those days. One Sunday afternoon, Max was working at the ARC donation center. Two men drove up in a pickup truck with a couch to donate. While chatting with Max they mentioned that they had come from the eastern side of the valley—specifically, the city of Pacoima. “That’s interesting,” Max said. “Pacoima is where I grew up.” The older man inquired, “Where did you go to grammar school?” Max replied, “Telfair Elementary.” The older man responded, “That’s a coincidence. I taught school there for many years. Do you remember any of your teachers?” It didn’t take Max long. “My favorite teacher was Mr. Melon, from first and second grade. He would often help me put my skates on so I could skate around the schoolyard at recess. In my mind I can see the color of the skate wheels and the cracks in the pavement I skated on. Mr. Melon would give us a treat of ice cream when we were extra well behaved. I can almost feel in this moment the excitement I had seeing Mr. Melon scoop out ice cream for each us. I remember once when Mr. Melon took us on a field trip to the snow, and we had to return home because someone got sick on the bus.” With that, the older gentleman broke into Max’s recounting his memories of better days and with teary eyes put his hand on Max’s shoulder. “I am Mr. Melon,” he said. Suddenly, for Max, all the ugliness, wrongs, addiction and crimes— including 19 years of prison—weren’t there anymore. “I was 6 years old again,” he later said, “a small little boy looking up into the eyes of his hero, a good and kind man.” After the donated couch was unloaded, Mr. Melon climbed back into the pickup truck as the younger man reached out and shook Max’s hand, saying, “My dad needed that today. My mother recently died and he has been feeling down lately.”
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Doing the Most Good
April 5, 2013 New Frontier
Thousands run to support Sandy Hook families n The Army takes part in race and provides nourishment for participants.
Officers, staff and volunteers from The Salvation Army pass out water to participants in the Sandy Hook Run for the Families. Courtesy of The Salvation Army in Connecticut and Rhode Island
A record-breaking 15,000 runners—including a team from The Salvation Army—took part in the Sandy Hook Run for the Families on March 23 in Downtown Hartford, Conn., making it the largest inaugural run in the state. An additional 30,000 spectators gathered in the city to cheer on the runners. The Army’s team included Major Eunice Champlin, director of women’s ministries for the Southern New England Division; Lisa Cretella, director of development; and Rachael Bubbs, donor relations assistant. “Much like 9/11, everyone remembers where they were on Dec. 14,” Cretella said. “It was a moment when the world seemed to stop in unison. Being a church, The Salvation Army’s officers and employees stopped to pray for those whose lives were taken, the survivors, the families, and the Newtown community. Our prayers and offers of support have continued since that day.” Planning for the 3.1-mile run began when two women from Naugatuck called Hartford
Marathon Executive Director Beth Shluger and asked if they could get some help in staging a race to benefit the families of the Newtown shooting. The location was changed from Western Connecticut State University, to Danbury, and finally to Hartford, to accommodate the record crowd of runners. “Being a runner, participating in the race personally was a given,” Cretella said. “However, as many of my coworkers frequently ask what we can do in support of the Newtown community, participating on a larger scale was a great way to express our care and concern. While serving water or running is such a small gesture, it’s another way of showing the residents of Newtown that The Salvation Army cares.” Before the race began, Shluger presented a check for more than $420,000—a combination of entry fees and donations—to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund administered by the United Way of Western Connecticut. Just over 16 minutes later, the first runners crossed the finish line. Stephen Pretak and Scott Mindel of New London, Conn., were the official race winners.
Raising money through pottery
Chattanooga celebrates 120 years
n Annual “Empty Bowls” event raises $50,000 for its food pantry.
The Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga, Tenn., celebrated a milestone of 120 years of service. Hosted at the Hamilton Place Mall on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the birthday bash featured an eight-foot-long birthday cookie cake, caricatures in costume and music from several artists on the mall’s center stage. Inman Street Coffeehouse, a ministry of the nearby Cleveland Salvation Army, also provided free samples of its “120year blend.” “The most special thing was just having all of our friends, and even what I’d call family, coming out to celebrate,” said Kimberly George, director of marketing and development for the Army in Greater Chattanooga. “We’ve had some people that have been here 30, 40 years. There’s even a soldier who came out that’s been with us 60 years so it was great to see the generational support.” Major Algerome Newsome, Chattanooga corps officer, later shared history of the Army’s work in the area, telling the crowd that District Officer J. C. Smith arrived in Chattanooga on March 16, 1893, and greeted Chattanoogans the next day with, “We (come) with peace, charity and goodwill toward everyone, and we trust we shall succeed in doing good.“ George was pleased with the event’s turnout and lauded those
The Salvation Army’s annual “Empty Bowls” event held in Tupelo, Miss., raised $50,000 for its food pantry and expansion of its homeless lodge. On March 27, the event gave hundreds of handmade pottery pieces to attendees, which are made by The Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary and local potters. This year, Harry McBride and Bruce Johnson made more than 120 pieces for the event. The art of pottery did not come naturally to Johnson. After suffering a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body, he was unable to return to his job as a management consultant. “I had a real tough time adjusting,” Johnson told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. “I’m the type of person who’s never able to sit still.” His neighbor, Harry McBride, had been a skilled potter for years. His wife thought it would be a good idea if he teamed up with Johnson after seeing him around the neighborhood in his motorized chair. “My wife always knows what’s going on with everyone,” McBride said. “I didn’t realize at first that he only had the use of his right hand, but I tried to make something with just one hand, and when I found I could do it, I figured he could, too.” Johnson’s determination and strength helped him develop a strong bond and passion for pottery. McBride and Johnson made plates, bowls, mugs, and candlesticks, and were happy to help when asked to contribute to the Empty Bowls event. “I did it once and fell in love,” Johnson said. “I’m kind of an artistic type, and pottery is something you can really lose yourself in.”
n Many guests donated to the Army for each service year.
Majors Algerome Newsome and Teresa Newsome celebrate with a guest donning a Salvation Army officer caricature costume. Photo courtesy of Salvation Army Chattanooga
who helped to make it a success. “We had several folks donating a dollar for every service year, some friends of the Army donating $5 or $10 [per year],” George said. “We’re going to continue to celebrate this.”
Army receives needed mobile canteens CAMPAIGNS from page 3
n New vehicle is donated just in time for tornado season. Beacon Roofing Supply donated a $100,000 mobile canteen to The Salvation Army of Joplin, Mo., just in time for tornado season, which started in March. Stationed in Joplin and equipped with two microwaves—which convert to conventional ovens—refrigerators, sinks, and multiple stacks of warming trays—this full service kitchen on wheels has the ability to serve 1,500 meals per day to survivors, first responders and volunteers during times of disaster. In the aftermath of the devastating tornado that hit Joplin on May 22, 2011, The Salvation Army of Joplin provided relief to tornado survivors with a canteen that was shared with the Springfield and Branson
Salvation Army Lt. James Curry speaks during the dedication of the mobile canteen that was donated to the Joplin Salvation Army. Photo courtesy of The Joplin Globe
areas. Dave Evans, advisory board member for The Salvation Army, said that this new donation will shorten response time to the surrounding areas. “It is a tremendous asset to us to have this here because
Jasper County has the highest annual average of tornadoes,” Evans said. “We can be on the ground and responding as quickly as possible to people in our own backyard.”
This mission also affords exposure to advisory boards, prayer breakfasts, local radio and television programs, and children’s day camp or vacation Bible school. During Spring Campaigns, an active Home Brigade serves on the home front. Cadet parents, with children staying at CFOT, serve in different Southern California Division corps or institutions each day, including Leisure World, Bell Lighthouse, Alegria-Zahn, Santa Monica Corps, Long Beach Citadel Corps, Compton Corps and Whittier Corps. As the cadets minister across the Western United States, please join them in prayer not only for their continued training and growth to be the Army’s newest leaders, but especially that lives may be changed, transformed and growing in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The World
Doing the Most Good
The U.K. encourages: ‘Cut It Out’ n A Salvation Army anti-trafficking group campaigns against newspapers that run trafficking information. The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom recently launched “Cut it Out!,” continuing its campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking. With a goal to put an end to sexual services ads in newspapers, the Army focused its efforts on fighting big newspaper business by generating publicity. In conjunction with International Women’s Day March 8, the Army urged its members to scour their newspapers looking for sexual services ads. If found, they were to cut the ad(s) out and send them to the editor along with a letter explaining their reasons for wanting these advertisements removed, reminding them of potential
criminal liability in publishing materials that support or promote offenses associated with trafficking, exploitation or proceeds of crime. By doing this, they deprived the editors of making claims they were unaware of such ads. The campaign also targeted pop-up advertising on websites. “On the day that people across the world celebrate the rights and achievements of women, it is vital that we remember that there are women everywhere—possibly only a few doors away—who are being forced against their will to work in the sex trade,” said Major Anne Read, anti-trafficking response coordinator for The Salvation Army. “At The Salvation Army, we encounter the devastation to innocent people’s lives through sexual trafficking on a daily basis. We have been heartened by people’s
response so far to the ‘Cut it Out’ campaign and would encourage everyone who can to join us in combating this crime against humanity.” The desired campaign outcomes of ‘Cut it Out’ are: 1. Raise awareness of the global issue of human trafficking, 2. See the advertising of sexual services in magazines and newspapers made illegal across the U.K., 3. See an end to pop-up advertising of sexual services/pornography online, 4. Create an ongoing positive impact in communities throughout the U.K. due to the formation of ACT groups and new members of Start Freedom (both Stop the Traffik initiatives).
HODDERS
from page 1
The General chats with a group of young people at the Seoul Broadview Children’s Home. Photo courtesy of International Headquarters
The General visits the Korea Territory n General Bond leads commissioning meetings and addresses many groups in Korea. General Linda Bond shared The Salvation Army’s International Vision—One Army, One Message, One Mission— with Salvationists and others during her visit to the Korea Territory. She also visited social service centers, encouraging staff members and residents. Bond led the Territorial Silver Star Fellowship Meeting and Luncheon at the Officer Training College before conducting the Commissioning, Ordination and Appointments meeting of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session of cadets. At the invitation of Senior Pastor Lee, Young-hoon, of the Yoido Full Gospel Church (the world’s largest church), the General preached “Send the Fire” to a congregation of 20,000 people. The church gave The Salvation Army a donation of $10,000. Bond also led a United Divisional Rally at the Yung Deung Po Corps. At a welcome reception, hosted by the Territorial Corps Sergeants-Major Fellowship, she received approximately $26,000 for ministry in a non self-supporting territory. Korean youth gathered at the Territorial Youth Vision Rally, along with 57 overseas delegates from the Australia Eastern; Japan; Singapore,
Malaysia and Myanmar; The Philippines; Papua New Guinea; and Indonesia territories, from Taiwan Region and from Mongolia and the Kingdom of Cambodia, for a total of 1,300 delegates. The General opened the youth rally, leading the Spiritual Meeting and Welcome Festival, where she spoke about the Lord’s vision for young people. At a later meeting, Bond shared the International Vision Plan’s 12 Mission Priorities, followed by a two-hour question and answer session with the young people. Reminding them that they were the next Army as well as the present, she encouraged them to dedicate their talents and lives for the Army with one mission and one message.
Chief of the Staff Commissioner André Cox presides over the installation of Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder as Kenya West territorial leaders. Photo Courtesy of International Headquarters
Chief reminded the 400 officers present that good leadership requires commitment to one’s calling, purity of heart and worthiness in the Church and community. In the afternoon, the international leaders joined hundreds of Salvationists to officially open Shikulu Outpost. After dedicating the building, the Chief of the Staff congratulated members of the outpost and the community for diligently working to build the hall. On Sunday, the installation of the Hodders took place in Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega. Having previously served in Kenya, it was like a homecoming for them. “It is with joy and confidence that I commend to you your new territorial leaders. I call upon all Salvationists to receive your new leaders with Christian love and joyful expectation. Please support them in prayer and in dedicated service,” Andre Cox said. In his response, Kenneth Hodder said that he and his wife were humbled to be back in Kenya and serve as leaders in the territory. He told the congregation: “God will bless you more as you continue to work towards glorifying him...Our faith in God should not be swayed by earthly things and thoughts. Believe in Jesus Christ who answers all who call on his name.” The Hodders are USA Western Territory officers serving overseas. Thanks to the generosity of Woolworths Australia’s Fresh Food People and its customers, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory received a donation of $1 million. The check came in support of the Army’s Disaster Relief Appeal for recent floods and bushfires, and helped provide immediate assistance. Major Kevin Unicomb (front far right), Bundaberg corps officer; Major Glenn Whittaker (back second from left), Emergency Services coordinator, Central and North Queensland; and Major Heather Unicomb (on Whittaker’s left), Bundaberg corps officer, joined Salvation Army and Woolworths employees to accept the check. Photo courtesy of Australia Eastern Territory
April 5, 2013 New Frontier
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Elsewhere in the world
U.K.—The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd. (SATCoL) partnered with Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships to encourage increased clothes donations to the thrift stores. Customers, staff and passersby can now donate unwanted clothing at their nearest Harley-Davidson dealership in one of SATCoL’s “re:fill” containers. “We’re very excited to be working with The Salvation Army and encouraging our owners to give something back,” said Allan Brownridge, brand manager for parts accessories and general merchandise for HarleyDavidson UK. From SALVATIONIST CANADA—In Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, a crowd of about 50 people attended the grand opening of the Bedford MacDonald House, the only men’s shelter on the island. The Army acquired the sevenbed shelter in 2012 when an Island businessman anonymously donated $200,000 to help repair it and cover five years of operational costs. “Bedford MacDonald House represents a wonderful addition to our ministry,” Corps Officer Captain Jamie Locke said. “We are excited to offer this shelter and support to those in need in our community.” From salvationist.ca NEW ZEALAND—Territorial Commander Commissioner Don Bell and Public Relations Director Shane Chisholm traveled to Auckland to thank Heinz Wattie’s for their longterm support. Heinz Wattie’s, New Zealand’s leading food brand, partnered with The Salvation Army to sponsor the 19th annual “Wattie’s Cans Film Festival.” For the price of a can of food, a person received a free movie ticket. Heinz Wattie matched the number of cans donated; a total of 43,604 cans stocked the Army’s food bank shelves. From WarCry TONGA—Vava’u is responding to its new Salvation Army church plant. Known as the “Paradise of Tonga,” Vava’u is accustomed to tourists, but most residents were unfamiliar with The Salvation Army. Corps Officers Captains ‘Ofa and Sinoti Tomu found them eager to learn. They started prayer meetings with four families, including eight youth. The Magistrates Court referred four clients for counseling and training under the corps’ Alcohol and Drug Awareness Centre program. Land is available for the corps to farm to bring in income for future work on the island. From WarCry MYANMAR— Yangon Girls Home recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Territorial Commander Colonel Gillian Downer and regional leaders Majors Amaro and Susan Pereira attended the event, which began with balloons containing prayers and thanksgiving launched into the air. Children from the girls’ and boys’ homes entertained guests that included past and present managers plus community members and former residents. From WAR CRY
PAGE 6—NEW FRONTIER • APRIL 5, 2013
Media, including History Channel’s “The Bible” mini-series and The Salvation Army’s SAVN.TV, expand the church’s reach online. CONTRIBUTED BY SAVN.TV Mega-TV producer (think Survivor, The Voice, and The Apprentice) Mark Burnett and wife Roma Downey’s (who played the angel Monica on Touched by an Angel) new TV mini-series “The Bible” broke viewership records week after week as it aired on the History Channel in March, exploring five sections of Scripture in 10 hours. Its audience didn’t wane, growing as much as 11 percent a week, according to Grace Hill Media, the marketing firm responsible for promoting the series. Before the series’ debut, Guy Noland, executive producer at SAVN.TV, interviewed Mark Burnett and Roma Downey at their home in Malibu. SAVN.TV— The Salvation Army’s Vision Network—launched in 2011, but the leadership team considers it a “work in progress” as “Version II” is now on the drawing boards of designers and programmers. “I was so impressed with [Burnett and Downey’s] passion to share the gospel through prime time television,” Noland said. “They understand the power and influence of media, and we at SAVN share that passion.” According to Phil Cooke, media consultant at SAVN.TV, many in the mainstream media were surprised at the popularity of “The Bible” series. In a recent blog post at philcooke.com, Cooke wrote that he’d been questioned by secular reporters from major media outlets who were “baffled” at response to the program. Cooke pointed to three key reasons for its popularity: 1) It’s popular because it’s agenda-free. It’s not the normal, more controversial approach of “Jesus: Did He Secretly Marry Mary Magdalene?” Or “Jesus: Was He Gay?” It’s just the story of the Bible with no slant and no agenda. 2) It’s popular because it’s unifying. More than 40 scholars, theologians and pastors from the entire spectrum of Christianity advised the production. It was designed to appeal to the wide range of Christians, not divide the audience. 3) It’s popular because not only does each episode have a compelling story arc, but the entire series tells the meta-narrative of God and how he deals with humanity. This is similar to the Bible itself, where each book has its own theme and story, and yet all fit into a far bigger story of how God has revealed himself to his creation. But as media producers and creators, both Burnett and Noland know we live in a culture that doesn’t understand the impact of the Bible on our history. The truth is, the Bible’s influence on literature, art, music, education, and so much more is immeasurable, but every day, we seem to drift farther and farther away from our biblical moorings. We see the results of that loss in our schools, our communities and our leadership. That’s why SAVN.TV worked to spread the news about the series throughout the digital world and will also share the story of Paramount Pictures’ upcoming motion picture, “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe. SAVN.TV was birthed out of a commitment to evangelism, as Western Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs explored the future of sharing our faith with a digital culture. For example, Facebook in 2012 passed the 1 billion member mark, which by population makes it the third largest country in the world. From that perspective, the questions become: “Who’s sending missionaries to that country?” “Who’s planting churches in that country?” By allowing people to see and share stories of the remarkable work The Salvation Army is doing around the world, SAVN.TV is a digital version of the traditional Salvation Army concept of a “mission station.” In 1876 Founder William Booth put it this way: “It is not a building, or a chapel, or a hall; it is not even a society, but a band of people united together to mission, to attack, to Christianize an entire town or neighborhood…draw a line around the breath of population you can hope to reach, and make that your parish, and aim, with tears and prayers, and the trumpet-blast of the Gospel, to Christianize every soul within it.” Knaggs is determined to expand Booth’s vision, culturally, geographically and digitally into the 21st century. “[SAVN.TV] presents a pace-setting opportunity for The Salvation Army to be on the virtual missional and evangelical cutting edge,” Knaggs said. A unique combination of a video-driven website and social action network, SAVN.TV empowers users to connect to and present causes, share online tools for giving, and support and participate in social services across the world. “There are nearly 3 billion people online around the world today—that’s an audience that we’ve never had before,” Knaggs said. “With SAVN.TV in The Salvation Army it is my hope that—perhaps in this generation, I really think it’s possible— we will reach the world for Jesus.” As the world now shifts to mobile access, SAVN.TV plans to launch a mobile app and focus on creating short films that help people share the message of Jesus with friends, coworkers and family. “If you’ve ever felt awkward sharing your faith with a coworker or friend, then how easy is it to show them a movie?” Noland asked. “That’s why we’re creating a series of films we call ‘God Shots’ that ask the important questions of life: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Does God exist? Is there a purpose to life?” See more about “The Bible” at history.com/shows/the-bible and the SAVN.TV interview with its producers at savn.tv/campaign/view/554.
APRIL 5, 2013 • NEW FRONTIER—PAGE 7
SAVN.TV presents a pace-setting opportunity for The Salvation Army to be on the virtual missional and evangelical cutting edge. —JAMES KNAGGS, COMMISSIONER
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TAPPING INTO TECHNOLOGY
Above: Guy Noland of SAVN.TV interviews Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. Left: Diogo Morgado as Jesus in the miniseries The Bible.
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Doing the Most Good
April 5, 2013
Losing BIG in Alaska n Members of Petersburg Women’s Ministries fitness group selected for city challenge.
pion, chosen by popular vote. She lost 12 pounds during the competition adding to another 20 pounds lost previously in Fit Club. Her grand total weight loss was 32 pounds. “We learned a lot about overall health and wellness, including things that you know but don’t always keep in mind like stress relief, target heart
The Salvation Army Petersburg Fit Club started with the mission: to take care of the temple—the human body the seat of the soul. Founded by the Petersburg Alaska Women’s Ministries in 2012, members of the club meet three to four times weekly for an hour of aerobic exercise. Each session includes a devotional, time for prayer and encouragement. In January, the club saw increased incentive to join when the Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department accepted applications for a six-week health and fitness program called “Losing Big Petersburg,” inspired by the reality TV show “Biggest Loser.” During the program, which began Feb. 6, participants followed 12 rules including meal planning, exercising, journaling, drinking three liters of water per day Christin Fankhauser and maintaining honesty with L-r: Christy Ware, Veronica Maldonado, Lt.Photos by Veronica Maldonado and Christy Ware teammates and staff. Corps Officer Lt. Christin Fankhauser and club rate, and taking good care of your feet,” Fankhauser member Veronica Maldonado applied and ensaid. “We made some new friends through the procouraged the other women to do so. Limited to cess, and people in the community were genuinely 10 participants, Losing Big Petersburg randomly interested and supportive of the program.” selected Fankhauser, Maldonado and Christy Ware The grand prize included a one-year gym memas contestants for the city challenge. bership, a $300 fitness equipment package, an iPad, a Ware quoted 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and said, “I sport fishing trip for two, a jacket and a new pair of want to treat my body as Christ’s temple and to show shoes. Although the competition is over, Fankhauser my children that you can be healthy and an athlete and several of her team members are training for a even when you’re as ‘old’ as mom.” May 4 triathlon. Losing Big Petersburg split the 10-person group “The competition is over, but our desire for into two teams of five. All three women were on the achieving our health and fitness goals is still there,” same team. In the end, Fankhauser was the chamshe said.
City of Inglewood (Calif.) Police Chief Mark Fronterotta visits children at Inglewood Citadel Corps’ Spring Break Day Camp—Cool Adventures. A supporter and friend of The Salvation Army, the newly-appointed chief worked with the corps on major projects including the Miracle on Manchester and Operation Christmas Toy and Joy Center. Photo by Joanne Golden
VENTURA
from page 1
assassin Art Blajos gave his testimony, drawing out those surrounding gang members onto their porches to listen. They would not come to the park since it’s a popular battleground. The men of Casa de Vida continually walked around, evangelizing and praying. Thirty neighborhood children received new bicycles. Volunteers passed out Bibles and church flyers, while many prayers were lifted up in the prayer tent. Jensen had heard that many churches used to go into this area, but stopped in recent years as the violence increased. After seeing the potential during the outreach event, he said it is a new location on the corps’ ministry list. “As violence increases, and as the tensions between warring gangs and families rise, the church should feel the call to go in all the more,” Jensen said. “Apathy is not an option.”
HAWAII
from page 1
team pump-up and blessing followed by entertainment in the courtyard, featuring Hawaii’s own Kapena, a Tahitian dance team. In the Worship and Performing Arts Center, local illusionist Mr. O performed. The center’s first year had challenges, starting with a leak under the Adventure Cove swimming pool, which includes the water slides and interactive water features. The pool and slides were shut down for repair for several months, reopening March 1. “This first year has been quite an adventure,” said Corps Officer Major Phil Lum, Kroc Center administrator. “As the Hawaii Kroc Center presses forward into the second year—with the mission of The Salvation Army in the forefront of all that we do—we anticipate more growth and assimilation into the community.”
New Frontier • April 5, 2013—PAGE 9
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Doing the Most Good
April 5, 2013 New Frontier
prayerPower
Hope and a future “Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). You and I are not all that different from Katherine Ann Power. We have all sinned. We may try to conceal it, rationalize it or ignore it, but Jesus—our gentle, loving gracious God—persists. Mervyn The difference in the good news of Jesus is that we do not have to Morelock face justice—we have God’s mercy; Lt. Colonel we are declared “guiltless.” The penalty was paid for us by Jesus on the cross. What marks the difference in the life of those who trust God is that they have a newly kindled spirit of hope, hope that when God said he would answer prayer, he does! Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). It’s a wonderful thing to have hope. The people you see who have a happy, peaceful spirit are those who have hope. Hope is an essential spirit we must all possess to survive. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “Hope is fundamental to the way we, as Christians, live out our lives.” I tend to agree with him because I know that when my hope fades, or even shifts, I’m walking on sinking sand. In a time when we are bombarded with messages of fear and despair, hope is crucial. Job testified: “Though He slay me, yet will I have hope in him” (Job 13:15 NIV). Hope fuels our thoughts, inspires our actions and ultimately brings change. One of the key elements of prayer is hope. My mailbox keeps getting filled with messages of fear. The economy, war in the Middle East, the effects of the recession, cancer, HIV, gun control, Obamacare, the trafficking of innocent people, etc. The list goes on and on. If I did not have an abiding trust in God, a confidence in his sovereignty, mercy, love and forgiveness, life would be dreary and impossible. It is prayer that keeps hope alive. Some time ago, the editorial page of our Phoenix newspaper carried a story called “In from the cold.” The article told the story of Katherine Ann Power, a notorious Vietnam era radical, who had turned herself into the police. After 23 years, the FBI had taken her off their Most Wanted list. Her parents believed she was dead. For 23 years she had used the name Alice Metzinger. She became a cooking instructor, married and raised a son, and lived quietly in Oregon. Then, after 23 years in hiding, she turned herself in. Why did she come forward after all those years? The therapist who treated her diagnosed her as having “a lifelong condition of endogenous clinical depression.” Life for Alice had become unbearable; there was no hope. “A lifelong condition of endogenous clinical depression”—that’s a clinical name for guilt, unforgiven sin, carrying a secret past, the fear of discovery and an overwhelming feeling of being powerless, hopeless. After 23 years this woman had to come clean, face her past and accept whatever would be the result. She had come to a place where she found “hope” for a guilt-free life. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3 talks about an uplifting hope that is experienced when we accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to realize God’s power to forgive sin, and to accept our living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. To request prayer and view other prayer requests and praise reports visit saprayusw.com.
CELEBRATING OUR 30th YEAR
FIND US ONLINE AT newfrontierpublications.org facebook.com/tsanewfrontier
Precious moments The day she was born was one of the most contemplative and enigmatic days in my life. Her “Nana” and I had traveled over 2,454 miles from Jamaica to Phoenix, just to see her new face and hug her and kiss her. This breath of fresh air, baby Maleah, elicited the supreme delight of welcoming her into Victor the world and reactivated the insatiable pleasure of becoming grandparents. Leslie But this time, beside the unrestrained Lt. Colonel joy originally felt at the birth of our first grandchild, Adrielle, and now repeated in the jubilation of Maleah’s birth, there was a tinge of sadness. Soon, we would have to leave her and be gone, not knowing when we would see her in person again. Some may say that with all of today’s communication technology we have options for instant interaction. But it seems delusional to think that FaceTime and Facebook could replace the social interaction and natural affection that comes from being physically present. Spending live time with family is where love and nurturing occurs, where communal skills are learned, where values and beliefs are developed, and where we gel with each other as we play together, pray together, and produce together the experiences that forever shape our lives. These things cannot occur if relationships are left to develop through the medium of technology. It may be that as a result of these technological advances we have more lonely people residing together without knowing and relating to one another. From the beginning when God created man, he said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” So he created woman as a partner, and then he blessed them and told them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). God intended that we be relational in our daily journeys. We may not get to pick our parents, siblings, children or grandchildren, but we do get to choose how we relate to each other, how we invest in belonging to the family circle
and how we express the warmth and unconditional love that binds us together. Being close and intimate in real life with our family is without comparison and just simply precious. Each moment we have to touch a life is a moment to treasure, a moment to teach, a moment to linger, a moment to bless and a moment to love. Make every effort to add to your living: definite moments of conversation, laughter, tears, positive interaction or whatever it takes to have undivided time with family members. It pays huge dividends! We already know that the only moments we are promised are those we have now. James says in 4:14, You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. So choose to dedicate and cherish and make moments of significance with your family. Hear this: If any do not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their own family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8). Are you forfeiting precious moments with your children just to bring home a few extra dollars? Do you discount the daily opportunities to provide godly counsel to the next generation? Are you setting aside time in your over-packed schedule to create personal, interactive memories with your spouse, children and grandchildren? Did you postpone again the visit or call to your sister or brother? Or are you simply too busy to stop for a moment and put your priorities in the right order? Press the pause button! It does not have to be that way. Make the time! Family is a worthwhile commitment. That’s why we just made the 2,454-mile journey back to Phoenix, to celebrate Maleah’s first birthday, to enjoy some priceless bonding time with Adrielle and to unwrap the gift of amazing, precious moments with our family.
Hearing God As I am aging in place, I am finding one thing that is becoming dull is my hearing. My real hearing is just fine. It’s my selective hearing that is fading quickly. My wife will tell me to get a certain product at the store, and I come back with the complete opposite of what she told me to get. When I am asked about my rationale as to why I Tim came back with the wrong product, I Foley tend to use the default phrase: “I didn’t Major hear you.” If I were honest there is a better phrase that I could say: “I didn’t pay attention to you.” The noise level in my life has greatly increased. I find myself bombarded with information all day long. We all are interrupted with sights and sounds and smells that send our senses into orbit. Even while we sleep, our cell phones buzz away with incoming messages that just can’t seem to wait. Noise has invaded. To find a few moments of peace and quiet can be a struggle. Sometimes we followers of Jesus Christ use selective hearing. We only want to hear from God what we want to hear and not what God is truly saying to us. We think that knowing God is more important than listening to him. Or sometimes we tritely say that “God told me to do this and do that,” when it really wasn’t God at all, rather ourselves cloaking it all in God-speak. We can mistakenly think that God only works in the shouting—in noisy worship meetings and busy lives “full of ministry.” But, truth be told, God works best in communicating to us in the silence. Elijah had a hearing problem also. After battling the
prophets of Baal, this brave prophet of God went into a tailspin of doubt and depression. In his depressed state he attempted to run from God, but he certainly couldn’t hide. God questions him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9). Obviously a trick question! Elijah goes on to pout before the living God about how there is no one else that is as faithful as himself. He was the only one doing the right thing. God helped Elijah get some perspective by sending him away to Mt. Horeb where he produced some signs and wonders: hurricane force winds ripping mountains apart, earthquakes and even fire. The passage states that God was not in the wind, the earthquake nor in the fire. In 1 Kings 19:12 we find God speaking, depending on the translation, in a still small voice (KJV), a gentle whisper (NIV), a sound of gentle blowing (NASB), a sound of sheer silence (NRSV) or a light murmuring sound (NJB). God did not reveal himself to Elijah in a powerful way. On the contrary, he came to Elijah in the quiet, in a whisper. We can easily become enmeshed in the banner of “doing the most good,” which can make us too busy to truly hear from God. Perhaps it’s time for you and me to just slow down a bit—learn to hear God again. Taking time to step back from our busy lives is vital. To open up the ears of our heart to once again listen—truly listen to what God is quietly speaking to us. Listen for his guidance. His guiding hand moves in our lives when we least expect it.
Reflections of a Former Atheist New Frontier columnist Glen Doss journeys with the reader through his past and call to Salvation Army officership. Order your copy today at tradewest.com or amazon.com. Published by Frontier Press
Doing the Most Good
April 5, 2013 New Frontier
Never judge a brown paper bag by its color lifeLines Brown paper bags have been on my mind lately. I have discovered that every year Americans use about 10 billion of them, for which we cut down 14 million trees. And they are definitely less ecofriendly than plastic bags. Four times the amount of energy is used in manufacturing paper bags vs. Ian plastic ones, and 98 percent more energy is used to Robinson recycle them. They also create 70 percent more pollutants than plastic bags. Major “Brown Paper Bag” was a popular rap song in the 1990s, although the lyrics are morally questionable. I also found that Brown Paper Bag is the name of an event planning company in Glasgow, Ken., and an interior design company in San Pedro, Calif. You can steam vegetables in a brown paper bag, and a software design error was once called a brown-paper-bag bug because culprits would wear one over their head to avoid being recognized. As you can see, brown paper bags have been on my mind lately. Although these facts are fascinating—well, they are to a trivia buff like me—there is another reason that brown paper bags have been on my mind. Recently, a gentleman walked into our corps office and asked to speak to someone about a donation. In his hand he was holding—you guessed it—a brown paper bag! Most of us would have believed it to contain his lunch. Maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple and a carton of juice. Or maybe it was his groceries: a carton of milk, a loaf of bread, some cheese and crackers. However, when he handed it over, inside we found $713 in $1 bills. Some lunch! The gentleman refused a receipt and quickly left before he could be further questioned. Brown paper bags have been used to carry our groceries or our lunches for a long time, but I realized that now we need to change how we think about them. God used a humble brown paper bag and an anonymous gentleman to bless our corps. It reminded me of Jesus feeding the multitude. He took a small boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish, maybe from the biblical equivalent of a brown paper bag, and multiplied them to provide lunch for 5,000 men, plus countless women and children, who had come to hear his message. It was a great demonstration of how God can do so much with so little, and how he blesses the faithfulness of his followers in ways we can never imagine. Deuteronomy 7:13 says, He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you (TNIV). Never judge a brown paper bag by its color—judge it by its contents.
ENTREPRENEURS Great article on entrepreneurship [New Frontier, vol. 31, no. 6]! Well-written and fascinating to consider the Army getting involved with this. Love it. Chaz Watson Western Territorial Executive Director of Development COLUMN BECOMES RESOURCE Your article, “Was this his final
week?,” in the March 8 issue of New Frontier was so valuable. Our officers allowed me to share this in Sunday school at The Salvation Army in Warsaw, Ind. It explained [Jesus’ last week] clearly to people who had little or no church background and to soldiers who could use it to present to family and friends. Marilyn Ewen Warsaw, Ind.
CELEBRATING OUR 30th YEAR
ISSN 2164-5930 New Frontier is published twice a month by The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Commissioner James Knaggs, Territorial Commander Colonel Dave Hudson, Chief Secretary We welcome submissions of news stories of interest to the Western Territory. If you have something you’d like to share, submissions can be sent electronically to: new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org or by postal service to: New Frontier, P.O. Box 22646, 180 E. Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802 The editor reserves the right to edit material submitted. Articles should be roughly 300 words in length.
www.newfrontierpublications.org Facebook: tsanewfrontier
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What Easter teaches me about life This year, Easter ushered in April, the most beautiful month of the year. Hope is in the air. Choose to feel and act on it. Easter has become a time for celebration, for enjoying the flowers of springtime, the warm greetings of a Sunday morning, special events, sumptuous dinners, excited voices of happy children and the pleasures of family. I do not minimize these things. They are all wonderful and important. We must not, however, allow the meaning of this special day of remembrance to slip slowly away— along with memories of a very special morning—in the haste of preparation and the joy of celebration. Easter means “resurrection”—defeat for the tomb, new life for humanity, new beginnings in the critical aspects of identity formation, new personal power as we grow in faith. What did this historic event teach me that I need to hold dear in the forefront of my brain and the depth of my heart? People are talking about the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus more than 2,000 years after it happened. What did I learn from Easter? Let’s start at the beginning of the week as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Cheering crowds are fickle. Ask any athlete. Ask politicians. Audiences seem only to want to know what you’ve done for them lately. Change demands courage. Because the Jewish culture had matured, Jesus sought to teach a new revelation of God. It concerned a shift in a basic ethic—from rules and laws to love and principles of human relationship. As God in the flesh he shared the narrative of that ethic with stories. Change is not automatic. Someone courageous must lead it and keep it going forward in the desired direction. Usually, it’s risky. Most people don’t resonate positively to changing the way things work. This is especially true in matters of the spirit. In The Salvation Army we get almost accustomed to shifting corps officers around every few years. Sometimes, the abrupt change comes as a shock. We diminish that shock if the soldiers of the corps have strong, consistent and visible leadership, and the congregation perceives the officer as the facilitator of the member’s spiritual development as well as administrator of the franchise. Lay leadership must build family. The corps becomes a family when the schedule provides time and opportunity for the members to relate to one another. The corps becomes a family when members share their narrative—their past, present and future story with one another. The corps becomes a family when the narrative of the corps itself becomes visible to the members. This is the way
the corps (and a family) build identity. Crises and threat distress courage. The presence of Jesus brought courage to his followers. When push came to shove, however, Robert when knives and swords flashed in the evening firelight, only PeDocter ter followed the impulses of his Editor-In-Chief courageous spirit. When Jesus was absent, however, and the threat took a personal turn, even Peter cowered, and he and his colleagues found a hiding place behind locked doors. But with the resurrection and its conquest of doubt, these followers brought continuity to the change. They preached and sang the glories of a new way of life. Their courage was restored because Jesus was with them and stayed with them. Only John died a natural death—and that was because he spent so much time imprisoned. Hope trumps despair In the Fridays of our life, we must always remember that “Sunday is coming.” Loss happens. Loss demands respect. Ignoring loss maintains its pain. We recognize loss when we grieve. It is essential to grieve when you have sustained a significant loss. Tears lubricate our progress to acceptance. To despair is to live a life without integrity, an incomplete life. People without integrity fall into hopelessness. Hopelessness is the absence of faith. Without faith you’re “going it alone.” Your grief escalates, because now you feel isolated, lonely no matter how many people are around you. In your loneliness you grow disappointed, even disgusted with yourself. Hope remains in the wings, ignored and forgotten. You bring it out onto the stage by filling in the empty spaces created by your absence of faith. Love stands the test. When you are in a trough, at the bottom of your emotional sine wave, feeling low, where is your focus—on self or others? If it’s the former, the “poor me” syndrome becomes a reality. When things go awry, or you get hit with something unexpected, it’s natural to center your own pain and confusion on your self. Please remind yourself that you don’t have to stay there. If you are “full of yourself,” no room exists for thoughts about others. If you can push your mind toward otherness, you will discover that, truly, love stands the test. And so, this Easter, I have observed many lessons, and many more beyond those printed here. I suspect you have many to add to my list. I’d enjoy hearing from you. Have a wonderful April.
Building character
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Phone: 562-491-8723 Email: caring@usw.salvationarmy.org Online: caringmagazine.org EDITORIAL STAFF Robert L. Docter, Editor-In-Chief • 562/491-8330 email: bob.docter@usw.salvationarmy.org Christin Davis, Managing Editor • 562/491-8723 email: christin.davis@usw.salvationarmy.org Karen Gleason, New Frontier Editor •562/491-8332 email: karen.gleason@usw.salvationarmy.org Buffy Lincoln, Associate Editor • 562/491-8329 email: buffy.lincoln@usw.salvationarmy.org Erica Andrews, Assistant Editor • 562/491-8334 email: erica.andrews@usw.salvationarmy.org Edie Jenkins, Editorial Assistant • 562/491-8785 email: edie.jenkins@usw.salvationarmy.org Jared McKiernan, Editorial Assistant • 562/491-8345 email: jared.mckiernan@usw.salvationarmy.org LAYOUT & DESIGN/ADVERTISING Kevin Dobruck, Art Director • 562/491-8328 email: kevin.dobruck@usw.salvationarmy.org Adriana Rivera, Graphic Designer/Web coordinator • 562/491-8331 email: adriana.rivera@usw.salvationarmy.org CIRCULATION Arlene De Jesus, Circulation • 562/491-8343 email: arlene.dejesus@usw.salvationarmy.org new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org Member - Evangelical Press Association
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