New Frontier 3010a

CONGRESS SPECIAL The Western Territory’s news source

for 30 years

June 8, 2012 Vol. 30, No. 10a

The stage area is filled with participants at the opening meeting of The Gathering.

Photo by Ron Bawden

5,400 attend The Gathering Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs

Welcome to The Gathering Commissioner Carolyn Knaggs and I welcome you to The Gathering. Salvationists and friends are coming from all over the world and especially from within our territory to gather in the name of Jesus.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt 18:20 KJV).

Jesus said that, and he will prove it in these days.

We gather together with him, and we gather together with each other.

You really cannot separate these two realities as they are mutually dependent. Together, we will enjoy God's WELCOME, page 3

Inside: Spirit! II: Empire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Boot Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Find us on the web: www.newfrontierpublications.org Facebook: tsanewfrontier

BY CHRISTIN DAVIS For the first time in 15 years, 5,400 Salvation Army officers, soldiers and friends, with General Linda Bond, joined together for a Western Territory congress—The Gathering—at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif., June 7-10.

Bond, once territorial commander in the West, returned to the territory as the international leader of The Salvation Army and is preaching in each main meeting about one facet of her vision: “One Army, One Mission, One Message.”

In the first meeting, June 7, territorial leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs ushered delegates in the 55,000-square-foot exhibit hall into a time of prayer, and introduced The Gathering Prayer Chorus with music by Neil Smith and words by Lt. Col.

Diane O’Brien.

“For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst” (Matt. 18:20 NASB), James Knaggs read.

The Territorial Band and Territorial Songsters both provided music throughout the meeting, and in a surprise presentation Knaggs commissioned the groups as the USA Western Territory Staff Band and Staff Songsters, led by Smith. The Territorial Creative Arts Ensemble also participated.

“In the 14 months I have been General, I have had the privilege of traveling all over the Army world,” Bond said following a video introduction of her. “I have to say, dear friends, you belong to a great Salvation Army, not because you made it so, but it is great because it belongs to God.”

Warren Johnson

Warren Johnson • NEW FRONTIER EXCLUSIVE • named Order An interview with the General of the Founder WESTERN CONGRESS, page 3

BY ROBERT DOCTER said she had not entertained Roughly 14 months since even accepting nomination General Linda Bond became despite urging from several the international leader of high-ranking officers. Bond The Salvation Army and just said she spent the Sunday prior days following her return to to leaving for the High Council the Western Territory, New in prayer. “God spoke clearly to Frontier sat down with Bond me about being open to him, for a wide-ranging interview and not being inflexible,” she that included her deep comsaid. It was no Damascus Road mitment to the mission of the experience as she had previGeneral Linda Bond Army and her current role. ously said she would need. “I Photo by John Docter Elected General by the was reminded of Samuel missHigh Council in January 2011, Bond assumed ing the voice of God because it was an ordinary responsibilities in April 2011 from her prior voice and of Elijah hearing God in a whisper, appointment as territorial commander of the not in the dramatic,” she said. “The Lord Australia Eastern Territory. She also served as rebuked me for wanting the dramatic when his territorial commander in USA West in the early leading of me has always been by a whisper or 2000s. gentle nudge.”

Before attending the High Council, Bond GENERAL, page 2

n Western Territory Salvationist receives prestigious international award In the second evening meeting at the Western Territory’s 2012 congress, The Gathering, General Linda Bond conferred Warren C. Johnson with the Order of the Founder award, the 247th such award to be given in the history of The Salvation Army, and the 9th in the U.S. Western Territory.

The Order of the Founder is given to recognize meritorious Christian example, witness and service.

Johnson exemplified this service as business administrator and

ORDER OF THE FOUNDER, page 3

The Gathering

June 8, 2012 New Frontier

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Doing the Most Good

I do believe, humbly, it’s by the grace of God that I am the General.

—GENERAL LINDA BOND

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The General shares vision for the Army GENERAL LINDA BOND, from page 1

Bond said she received emails from around the world from people providing Scripture verses of encouragement and guidance and some of them felt an urge to pray directly for her. She said there was a sense of God’s leading throughout the High Council process, but nevertheless, she prayed: “Lord if I have this wrong, don’t let me get elected.”

“I do believe, humbly, it’s by the grace of God that I am the General,” Bond said. “He confirms this in his blessing on my ministry during these months and the joy I find in it. I continue to spend a lot of time with the Lord and the Scriptures continue to nourish me and encourage me. The Lord’s command on my life has for many years been ‘be strong and courageous.’ I am a coward at heart so I need him to ask difficult things of me. Obedience to him is the basis of everything I do. I have learned that his commands are his promises and he will give grace in every instance.”

Returning to the West, Bond said, it was heartwarming to have many say, ‘welcome home’.

“During my time here I felt very connected with the officers and soldiers of the territory,” she said. “I was born to be a Salvationist, and I love it. I love the Army because it’s his.”

In speaking of the West, Bond commended the territory for its construction of seven Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers. She recalled delivering news of the $1.5 billion bequest from Joan Kroc to the National Commander and colleagues in territorial leadership. “I’m thrilled to see reports of the progress and of our commitment to Joan’s dream,” she said.

“Upon receipt of our portion of the bequest, we put a plan in place to use the money for its intended purpose, which became the template for the entire country,” Bond said. “We were cautious and careful to fulfill that dream and get it right without being hurried.”

She said we need to continue to keep our focus on “the main thing.”

“Wherever there is a Salvation Army shield, we must take our whole mission to the whole person,” Bond said. “Every item in that mission is a must for anyone or any unit that calls itself The Salvation Army.

“If we take strands of that mission and separate

GENERAL LINDA BOND, the 19th General of The Salvation Army, assumed leadership of the Army in April 2011 as the third woman and fourth Canadian to become General. In this role, Bond directs the worldwide operations of The Salvation Army, which includes more than 1 million Salvationists and roughly 109,500 employees in 124 countries.

Prior to her election, Bond served as territorial commander and territorial president of women’s ministries of the Australia Eastern Territory. With 42 years of experience in the Army, Bond first served in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, entering training as an officer from Winnipeg, Canada, in 1969.

From 2002-2004, she directed the USA Western Territory as territorial commander and now returns to the territory for The Gathering 2012 as General. them—giving ‘service to suffering humanity’ to social services, ‘saving souls’ to the ARC, and ‘growing saints’ to the corps—we split the Army,” she said. “We would have ‘salvation’ in our name, but not in our ethos, not in our souls.”

As a leader, Bond said she focuses on relationships.

“Leadership is relational—I want to have people on board with me, to hear what they have to say, to let people fill in the blind spots,” she said. “But I’m also a person who wants to see something done; a leader has to set the course.”

Bond established mission priorities for The Salvation Army from soliciting input from the territories and commands from around the Army world—“One Army, One Mission, One Message”—which she said she will work to emphasize throughout her term as General. Upon retiring in 2014, Bond said she wants to serve as a recruiting sergeant in a corps.

“Relationship building becomes the means by which mission emphasis can happen,” she said.

Ultimately, Bond said, The Salvation Army must continually ask two questions: “Do Salvationists have a heart for the lost and are people being saved?”

Photos by John Docter and Tim Schaal

Obedience to him is the basis of everything I do. I have learned that his commands are his promises and he will give grace in every instance.

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With all Western Territory officers present for The Gathering, Territorial Officers’ Councils was held June 7. General Linda Bond spoke to her troops, and Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs issued a unique challenge—the “Rosetta Stone Challenge.” With 100 editions of Rosetta Stone, a language-learning software, strewn across the stage, Knaggs offered the discs to the first 100 officers to come forward, challenging them to not only be prepared to tell the gospel in English, but in other languages as well. Photo by Tim Schaal

The Gathering

Doing the Most Good

Spirit! II: Empire

The Southern California Division presented the world premiere of the musical “Spirit! II: Empire” Friday, June 8 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with music by Kevin Larsson, lyrics by Malcolm Westwood and script by Karl Larsson. The play takes up where the 1974 Gowans and Larsson musical “Spirit” leaves off, continuing the story of Paul as he seeks to solidify the early church and deals with issues of race, class, politics and theology—struggles that still reverberate today. “Spirit! II: Empire” follows Paul’s travels through the Roman Empire, performing miracles, battling demons, planting churches and facing increasing persecution from a nervous Rome.

Pictured here are cast members Lt. Colonel Isa McDougald (elderly mother), Jonathan Vasquez (demon possessed man), Major Steve Bradley (Paul) and Rachel Vasquez (Ananias). See more at thegatheringpix.com.

“Spirit! II: Empire” will be presented again Saturday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

WESTERN CONGRESS

from page 1

Knaggs presented the first "One Army" award to Majors Darren and LeAnn Trimmer, of the Murrieta Corps, and Captains Tony and Jessica Markiewicz, of the Riverside Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC), for the way they work together to welcome current and former ARC beneficiaries into the corps’ worship community.

Focusing on the first part of her vision, “One Army,” in her message, Bond said we must, first and foremost, be an Army of deep conviction.

“We have deep convictions about faith, salvation, and where power lies; the Army is doing battle against the devil and we know we’re on the winning side,” Bond said. “The battle is the Lord’s, but that doesn’t mean we sit at home and do nothing…We want the devil to know we are an Army on the move. We want the devil to know we will fight.”

She recited the words of Salvation Army co-Founder William Booth’s famous speech, “I’ll Fight.”

WELCOME

“This Salvation Army of the 21st century will never lose its passion; we will fight,” Bond said. “There's something happening in The Salvation Army. I believe there's going to be revival...that this is going to be a soul saving Army like we've never been in our history.” Salvationists today, Bond said, “do not want to do business as usual.”

She concluded with a quote from A. W. Tozer: “Anything that God has done anywhere else, he can do here. Anything that God has done for anyone else, he can do for you." Bond reminded delegates this congress is not just a “holy huddle,” but that “God called us together to open our eyes to what he is doing. Something is going to happen that is really going to surprise us.”

See more photos from the meeting and The Gathering at thegatheringpix.com.

June 8, 2012 New Frontier

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ORDER OF THE FOUNDER from page 1

assistant coordinator for Southern California’s Orange County Command for 33 years, retiring in 2008.

“As a Christian man, Salvation Army soldier and community servant, Warren is a living picture of a whole life devoted to God,” said Major John Van Cleef, corps officer at the Tustin Ranch Corps and Orange County coordinator. “His life is Christian mission, and he's the kind of man I want to be.”

Johnson served as a police chaplain for the Santa Ana Police Department, representing The Salvation Army, for 13 years. He received the Chief’s Award in 2001 and 2008. He has served as the senior chaplain for the Orange County Fire Authority since May 1997 and led the planning team, which designed the chaplains’ program for the Fire Authority. Johnson retired in 2008 from his position as president of the Southern California Chaplains’ Association, a position he held for eight years. He won the prestigious “Orange County Overachievers’ Award” in 1999 for his work as a Fire Service chaplain, and the Volunteer of the Year award in 2008.

Over the years, Johnson has led the Army’s Orange County disaster response team and assisted with fire, flood and earthquake disasters throughout Southern California. He responded to national emergencies including 9/11, Midwest flooding, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2008, Johnson received the William Booth award for outstanding service to The Salvation Army in Orange County.

“The success of the corps and county operation over the past 30 years can clearly be traced, in part, to the tremendous support and commitment of Warren Johnson,” said Major Lee Lescano, commander of the Sierra Del Mar Division, former corps officer at Tustin Ranch and former Orange County coordinator.

For 21 years, Warren was on staff at The Salvation Army’s National Seminar on Evangelism, and served as a member of General Paul Rader’s (Ret.) 15-member International Spiritual Life Commission that met in London in 1996-98. While traveling throughout the four U.S. territories as an instructor and featured speaker or at weekly services at the Tustin Ranch Corps, Johnson’s lifelong Salvationism and commitment to proclaiming the gospel is clear. He currently serves as executive officer of the Tustin Ranch Band.

“Warren is a man of integrity and has dedicated his service to making his corps and the greater Salvation Army better,” said Colonel David Hudson, chief secretary in the Western Territory. “As evidence, today, Tustin Ranch Corps is one of the largest and most vibrant corps in the Western Territory.”

from page 1

presence and observe his grace at work in the lives of many. Over 5,000 delegates are coming to share in this blessing. They will be from many of the cultures of the planet. In the every day of our regular ministries we reach out around the world in exceptional ways.

The meetings and the events of The Gathering are designed with everyone in mind. From the youngest to the oldest, we expect that each person will value this once in a generation opportunity. It's been 15 years since our last congress.

For those who cannot physically be present, you can join in the meetings online as they are

taking place (livestream.com/ savn). You can also chat online to engage with others viewing at the same time. It'd be like talking during the meeting without disturbing anyone else. If you can't join in during the meetings, they will be archived to watch at your convenience. Expect to be blessed. God is not limited to time and space. His Spirit will visit you as you join in when you can.

Thank you for praying for all that is taking place. We really need your support in this way and you will be participating in a God glorifying manner. Hallelujah!

VISIT US IN THE RESOURCE CENTER AT THE GATHERING

Now available at TRADEWEST www.tradewest.com • CD $15

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June 8, 2012 New Frontier

Boot Camp

Doing the Most Good

Left to right: Doug Fields speaks during a general session. Kara Powell addresses Boot Camp delegates. Audrey Assad leads worship. See more at thegatheringpix.com.

Photos by Tim Schaal

Boot camp 4 proves bold

BY CHRISTIN DAVIS A simple but striking white 6- by 11foot origami fish suspended on stage at Boot Camp 4 juxtaposed the conference theme—“Bold”—for nearly 500 youth workers from around The Salvation Army Western Territory.

“The general sessions were intentionally scripted in a way for the delegation to be ‘selfish’ and focus on their own spiritual walk,” said Jim Sparks, the West’s youth development and leadership director.

Sitting solo at a keyboard, Audrey Assad—whose debut album, The House You’re Building, was named Christian Album of the year in 2010—led worship throughout the conference. The songs, from “Holy, Holy, Holy” to “How Great is Our God,” were offered often a capella, in corporate prayer.

In the opening session, Territorial Youth Secretary Captain Roy Wild urged delegates to “come boldly into his presence.”

He reminded each one that youth ministry is not just a job, but a specific role from God with 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (NIV).

“We need to prepare ourselves, and live in a way that is pleasing to God,” Wild said. “We need to live a life of worship.”

Sparks said this Boot Camp is unique in its intensity of teaching. From the preaching, to elective lecturers, and leadership tracks, attendees were urged to be bold in life and ministry. General session guest speakers included Jonathan Acuff, author (jonacuff.com); Dr. Kara Powell, executive director at Fuller Youth Institute (fulleryouthinstitute.org); Doug Fields, pastor and author (dougfields.com); Dawn O’Brien, morning show DJ on 95.5 The Fish (thefishhawaii.com); Eugene Cho, co-founder and executive director of One Day’s Wages (eugenecho.com); Dr. Jim Burns, president of HomeWord and executive director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University; and General Linda Bond, international leader of The Salvation Army.

Powell, Burns and Dr. Amy Jacober, lead consultant with Youth Ministry Architects, led learning tracks, respectively, on Sticky Faith, helping kids develop a faith that sticks; marriage and parenting; and three questions in every adolescent’s heart: Who am I? Do I matter? Where do I belong?

Fields spoke to this as well, saying, “Today's teenagers are looking for relationships, they want to be amazed, they are attracted to and need to do something radical, and are looking for empathy and healing for their hurts. Everything today’s teens are looking for, Jesus is.”

Electives ranged from child safety, Adventure Corps, being parents of a gay child, avoiding burnout, to being married in ministry. Late night fun included salsa dancing, a concert with Audrey Assad and broomball on the ice.

Bond, preaching from Mark 10:17-31, challenged the youth leaders to figure out what might be holding him or her back from following Christ.

“I love this story of the rich young ruler, but find it sad, too. I wonder if there came a point when he thought, ‘I missed it,’” Bond said. “Soldiers of our God, arise.

Shake the slumber from your eyes. If

anything is holding you back from leading the charge, you need to give it up tonight.

Don't ask kids to do what you're not prepared to do.”

In the final session, Cho implored the delegates to intentionally and prayerfully invest in themselves, what he called the “greatest investment you can make for your ministry.” He said this includes getting enough sleep, physical health, deep study, enjoying life, and being honest in our temptations.

Cho said each of us have the capacity to do beautiful things, but also have to be aware that we have the capacity to do dark

things, reminding the crowd of drunkard Noah, deceitful Abraham, manipulative Jacob, murderous Moses, persecuting Paul, adulterous David, denying Peter.

“I fear if we’re not careful we become people that fall more in love with the idea of things we're teaching—of being bold— than in putting it into practice,” Cho said.

“The greatest sermon you will ever give is not from platform or pulpit but how you live your life.”

See more from attendees on Twitter with the hashtag #bc4, video reviews at sayconnect. com, and photos at thegatheringpix.com.