New frontier 3111

They are ready to accept their mission in The Salvation Army.

newfrontierpublications.com

The Western Territory’s news source

~

—Timothy Foley, Major

for 31 years

JUNE 21, 2013 Vol. 31, No. 11

Commissioner James Knaggs speaks to the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session during the Service of Appointments.

73 ordained, commissioned Israel and New Breed open weekend and appointed in the West n The gospel group teamed up with Salvation Army musicians for a memorable night.

BY JARED McKIERNAN Grammy-winning gospel ensemble Israel and New Breed electrified the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Friday night to kick off The Salvation Army Western Territory’s 2013 Commissioning weekend.

Led by frontman Israel Houghton, the group performed many of its hit worship songs, including “Your Presence is Heaven” and “No Turning Back,” alongside a Salvation Army brass band. The concert, CONCERT, page 8

BY CHRISTIN DAVIS A lone cello onstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium strung “All there is of me, Lord” as the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session individually marched through the audience and took to the platform June 16, red epaulets affixed and a Bible in hand.

The Proclaimers of the Resurrection, including 58 cadets and 15 auxiliary captains, come from a range of careers and experiences. Forty-two are first-generation Salvationists; one is a seventh-generation Salvationist. These 73 individuals represent 10 percent of cadets worldwide being commissioned this year, and the largest

session in the West since 1993 (which had 62 cadets).

“With these diverse backgrounds they have come to Crestmont and become a community, studying everything from recovery ministry to disaster services…

They are ready to accept their mission in The Salvation Army,” said Major Timothy Foley, College for Officer Training (CFOT) principal, in his commendation of the cadets to territorial leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs during the Commissioning and Ordination Service.

The cadets affirmed their faith, reciting The Salvation Army doctrines and their COMMISSIONED, page 7

Photo by Tim Schaal

An Army of Stars n June 15 featured festivities and a gala.

BY KAREN GLEASON Commissioning 2013—Proclaim!— shifted into high gear June 15 with activities for all.

The morning began with the Future Officers’ Fellowship Breakfast, hosted by Majors John and Pam Brackenbury, and the Recovery Breakfast, hosted by Captain James Boyd. At the latter, adult rehabilitation center (ARC) graduate, Scott Harkless, testified to completing a GED and eventually earning a doctorate in law; he now serves as senior vice president at Bank of America’s Dallas Corporate Headquarters, and is a soldier in STARS, page 6

LA Red Shield promotes community health and safety High Council n The center partners with various organizations and professional athletes.

Steve Nash plays soccer with children at the L.A. Red Shield Center while ESPN films.

Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Red Shield

Inside: Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 In Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

From the Desk of . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Spice Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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BY VIVIAN GATICA The Salvation Army’s Los Angeles Red Shield Youth and Community Center provides a number of resources to surrounding residents from ongoing classes to special activities. Recently, the center created significant partnerships and events to emphasize the importance of community health and safety.

A community favorite, the Red Shield’s soccer program provides intensive training to low-income, at-risk youth in the Pico-Union district, engaging them in a healthy activity that also steers them away from negative influences.

“We really have a great program

going,” said Irene Lewis, executive director of the Red Shield. “It’s really just about the joy involved in playing the sport [the children] love.”

The U.S Soccer Foundation (USSF) awarded the Red Shield a $15,800 grant for coaches, referees and training equipment. According to USSF Marketing and Communications Director Krista Washington, the foundation began supporting the Red Shield in 2004 by funding the synthetic turf soccer field.

“Our grants help provide vital support for non-profit organizations, and enable them to both impact their respective communities and engage children in a meaningful way, utilizing soccer,” Washington said.

Los Angeles Lakers basketball RED SHIELD, page 9

called to elect new General n Meeting to elect the 20th Salvation Army General will commence July 29.

The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner André Cox, summoned members of the High Council to meet on July 29 to elect the 20th General of The Salvation Army.

All leaders who are commissioners on active service or who are territorial commanders or territorial presidents of women’s ministries of any rank qualify for membership of the High Council.

This High Council will be the largest in the history of The Salvation Army, with 118 members— HIGH COUNCIL, page 9

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Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

NEWS BRIEFS OF THE WEST

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Gen. 28:15 NIV).

San Diego opens its Door of Hope n The expanded transitional living center has 24 new apartments.

Karen Gleason

BIG BEAR LAKE, Editor CALIF.—Captain David Kauffman, associate director at Pine Summit Camp, was enrolled into the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring with former Luv Hunter band members. The band was active in Vegas in the mid to late 1980s.

The day after the enrollment, eight bands participated in a benefit concert to support music programs in local schools.

Shortly after the concert, the band’s lead singer suffered a brain aneurysm. Kauffman, who had hoped to be used by God, began a Facebook prayer chain (search “LVRRHOF the 80’s”).

CHEYENNE, WYO.—The corps recently enrolled a new soldier, a 74-year old retired military officer and a longtime smoker. Originally, Corps Officer Lt. Doug Hanson suggested that this individual become an adherent, due to his smoking habit.

“No way, sir,” the new member said.

“I want to be a soldier.”

After nearly a lifetime of smoking, he quit, and hasn’t smoked in over a month.

After three years of planning and construction, The Salvation Army’s Door of Hope in San Diego is once again open with 24 new apartments for homeless mothers and children in need of transitional living assistance. Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs, Western territorial leaders, will dedicate the new buildings June 21.

The transitional living center, located at the Margaret A. Cargill campus, needed to expand to meet the community’s growing needs, as the facility was always full and the waiting list consistently averaged 20 to 25 families.

“The expansion was necessary in order to improve and enhance services to the community,” said Major Jessyca Elgart, social services coordinator for San Diego County.

In 2010, four unused buildings were torn down to make room for the expansion. Construction, however, did not begin until 2012. The completed campus includes the Haven Program (for pregnant and parenting teens), the Transitional Living

Door of Hope reopens with necessary renovations and expansions, including a new playground.

Photo by Suzi Woodruff Lacey

Center and the Adult Rehabilitation Center women’s residence.

“We are also looking into providing emergency shelter for women and children in the existing buildings,” Elgart said.

An ongoing Virtual House Warming drive is underway for people to donate to the restored campus, with registries available at Bed Bath and Beyond and Target.

SAW-ROA retreat offers ‘feasting and fellowship’

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA—Recent flooding caused the evacuation of a nearby village. The Salvation Army supplied 65 residents (43 adults and 22 children) with clothing from its family store, and provided gift certificates to Fred Meyer for clean undergarments.

Majors Kevin and Tina Bottjen are the corps officers.

STOCKTON, CALIF.—On a recent Sunday, the sound system broke and the PowerPoint song projection wasn’t displaying the songs properly. Everyone could feel a strong spiritual presence in the room. As Corps Officer Captain Cristian Sibaja encouraged the congregation to pray, the Lord changed his message to Jeremiah 29 and John 3:16.

The message was simple, but God moved in people’s hearts—many came to the altar and others were crying where they sat. Individuals shared their testimonies. No one wanted to leave church that day.

BAY COMMUNITIES, ORE.—The corps may no longer maintain a fully operational thrift store, but that does not stop it from helping to meet people’s clothing needs. The Clothes Closet is open in the corps’ office and word is spreading about it. Shortly after the Clothes Closet opened, the corps assisted 16 people through this simple, but necessary, social service.

Majors John and Sabrina Tumey are the corps officers.

CORRECTION—Lt. Mareah Morrow, pictured on the cover of the June 16 New Frontier with family members, is not the first cadet to be trained alongside her parents, as stated in the photo caption.

Debbie Osbourn was commissioned in 1971, and her parents, Ken and Dorothy Osbourn, in 1970.

New Frontier apologizes for the error.

Interested persons can buy items and bring them to Door of Hope for the new apartments. The drive will stay open until the dedication ceremony, which will include tours of the new apartments, community room, garden and offices.

A kick-off event is planned for September.

Commissioner William Francis leads SAW-ROA delegates in a celebration of the feasts of the Lord.

Photo by Ron Bawden

BY MARILYN L. BAWDEN, MAJOR Members of The Salvation Army West-Retired Officers’ Association (SAW-ROA) met in May at Camp Mt. Crags in the Malibu mountains of Southern California for the annual retreat. Fresh flowers and fruit in each room set the tone for the “Feasting and Fellowship” theme, chosen by current president Lt. Colonel Don McDougald.

Delegates “feasted” on messages and Bible studies by Commissioner William Francis—author of “Celebrate the Feasts of the Lord”—assisted by his wife, Commissioner Marilyn Francis. The couple recently retired as territorial leaders for the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Throughout the retreat the SAW-ROA band, led by Major Fred Seiler, and chorus, led by Major Carol Pontsler, played and sang.

Barbara and Steve Allen, of the Pasadena (Calif.) Tabernacle Corps, along with the Pasadena Tabernacle Songsters also provided musical entertainment.

SAW-ROA will hold its 10th anniversary retreat—themed “Not Weary Yet”—May 1-4, 2014. Under the leadership of future 2014 SAWROA president Major Ron Bawden, special guests will include Territorial Leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs and musical guest Carol Jaudes from the Eastern Territory. All retired officers are welcome to attend.

Northwest Division hosts annual women’s retreat n Women experience “extravagant grace” at the event.

BY LORA MARINI BAKER More than 300 women from The Salvation Army’s Northwest Division congregated in Pasco, Wash., in May, for the annual Women’s Retreat, led by Major Sheryl Tollerud, Northwest divisional director of women’s ministries.

Themed “Extravagant Grace,” the retreat was organized into four sections: Grace Remembered, Grace Restrained, Grace Reservations, and Grace Released.

Special guest Dr. Valerie Clemen spoke throughout the weekend, guiding the women on an exploration of grace in their lives. Clemen challenged participants to explore what God has planned for each of them, and to use that as empowerment to move forward as grace-filled women.

Delegates could experience “Stations of Grace” within two large meeting rooms transformed into sanctuaries for an exploration of grace. Women read Scripture, watched a slideshow, wrote inspirational thoughts and prayed.

Interactive workshops led by corps of-

Women celebrate grace at the Northwest Division women’s retreat.

ficers covered a variety of topics, all aimed at “Growing in Grace.”

During the weekend, women could bid on gift baskets, each created by a corps or women’s ministry group. Money raised this way helped fund the divisional project that provided a scholarship for women from the Seattle Adult Rehabilitation Center to attend the retreat.

The Spokane Women’s Worship Band, led by Major Lisa Brodin Smith, played throughout the weekend, and soldiers

Photo by Lora Marini Baker

from Seattle Temple Corps performed skits about forgiveness.

On Sunday, each woman surrendered an offering from her life and filled that void with its opposite. To symbolize their new commitment to grace, the women were encouraged to write down their transformation and place this note at the cross.

In closing, Tollerud reminded delegates “to let grace transform you, and go from this place changed.”

Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

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Shelter responds to community needs in Modesto n The Salvation Army facility is expanding to better serve patrons.

BY LAINE HENDRICKS The Salvation Army Berberian Homeless Shelter and Transitional Living Center in downtown Modesto, Calif., is undergoing improvements and expanding services to better care for the community.

The facility operates a 100-bed winter shelter, a 40-bed transitional living program, and a special needs shelter for 30 people.

In May, it unveiled nearly $1 million in improvements at a public open house. The event— which honored churches and community groups that provide meals at the shelter and organizations who assisted with the upgrade—welcomed a number of local and state elected officials, and featured a testimony from a former shelter resident.

Most importantly, the open house allowed community members to see the inside of the

newly renovated building. The improvements included building structure modifications, restoration of facility showers, the addition of dorms for those with special needs and a new activity room for transitional housing residents. Additional security cameras were also installed.

“As one of only two shelters in Modesto, the homeless turn to us for shelter, a hot shower and something to eat,” said Captain Lisa Smith, administrator of the facility. “We are able to provide those things and more, including case management, referrals, clothing and other needs, while treating them with respect and dignity.”

Funding for the renovation was provided by the State of California, and does not need to be repaid if The Salvation Army maintains the homeless shelter and its services for a minimum of eight years.

The Berberian Shelter features a medical clinic, built in 2011 by area service clubs to tackle some of the persistent health challenges

that homeless men and women encounter: first aid and medical treatment, women’s health, and dental and optical care.

The optical clinic began its services in 2011, and has supplied 25 clients with prescription glasses. The Salvation Army hopes to open the dental clinic

by July; it will provide teeth extractions, fillings, exams and other basics for shelter residents.

However, the dental clinic still needs supplies and equipment, dentists and other dental professionals to volunteer.

“I have seen patients of mine break down because they had their teeth fixed and felt so good about how they looked,” said Carrie Ann Pimentel, dental clinic coordinator at the shelter.

“It makes me feel really good that I was able to help someone to feel better about themselves.”

The Salvation Army is also working on the health care and women’s health clinics, though specific opening dates have not been set.

The Berberian Shelter provides various medical services, including optical care.

Photo by Lawrance Johnson

Army on scene at most destructive fire in Colorado history n Wildfire kills two people and destroys 473 homes.

A wildfire north of Colorado Springs burned 15,500 acres, killing two and destroying 473 homes, making it the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history. Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams provided meals, snacks and hydration to evacuees and first responders in the affected areas.

EDS teams also served evacuees of the Royal Gorge fire near Canon City and were at the scene of the Klinkus fire in La Veta, Co. The Army provided 4,000 meals and 13,000 additional food and hydration items to those in need.

To make a donation visit imsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

The children could hardly wait until this toy was usable.

Photo by Teresa Engle

‘Comcast Cares’ for The Salvation Army n Comcast employees volunteer a day to build a new playground for veterans’ children.

A group of 45 Comcast employees dedicated a day of labor on International Comcast Cares Day to work on multiple projects at The Salvation Army Veterans and Family Center in Beaverton, Ore. The volunteers secured the donation of a play structure for the veterans’ children. The kids gathered around the crew as they assembled the structure, and when it was ready they literally jumped on it.

Comcast volunteers also worked on the grounds, building a raised gardening bed accessible to wheelchair-bound vets. They planted flowers and fruit trees, and spruced up the landscaping. They even carried some heavy beds up two flights of stairs.

“While the work they did was important to the center, it was the attitude they brought that meant the most—treating the homeless veterans and their families with respect and dignity,” said Richard Stoller, Salvation Army Veterans and Family Center director. “[The residents] were able to see that others in the community were willing to give up a personal day to honor and serve men and women who protected our country.”

In addition to all the work they did, the volunteers supplied, cooked and served a picnic lunch for the residents.

“It is a profound joy to have a relationship with a company that is committed to giving back to the community,” Stoller said.

The Apprentice Series n James Bryan Smith writes on spiritual formation.

BY KEVIN JACKSON, MAJOR In the Commissioning spiritual life seminar (see story p. 8), James Bryan Smith presented workshops based on his Apprentice Series: “The Good and Beautiful God,” “The Good and Beautiful Life” and “The Good and Beautiful Community.”

Upon analyzing each book, then synthesizing the three books into a systematic approach to Spiritual Formation, the reader uncovers Smith’s attempts and accomplishments in this work as something special for any believer looking for such a resource.

All too often, faith-based literature simply informs the reader.

Instead, in these works Smith provides a powerful tool concerning the believer’s transformation into Christ’s likeness. Honestly, I appreciate spiritual formation resources, yet often after reading such works, I walk away with the nagging sense that the authors are just sharing

bookReview

the “same old-same old” principles that have been shared time and time again, just presented in a more upto-date package. Too often spiritual formation writing takes the reader back thousands of years, and shares ancient spiritual disciplines, but leaves the reader in that ancient world. There is little or no context presented, and often simply all too much repetition.

Not so for this series. Smith masterfully created a dynamic and relevant tool for the daily life of the believer.

The thesis of Smith’s works first focuses on the notion of “change” in the mind of the individual, and next on the change in the community (the Body of Christ) of the believer. The Apprentice Series utilizes the postmodern paradigm of small “power narratives.” The first narrative is portrayed in the statement that as a believer (individual) “I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights.”

The second narrative provides the context of living in the Christian

Community (the Body of Christ) as illustrated in the statement “I live in the unshakable Kingdom of God.” Smith dismisses false narratives regarding our faith while promoting change in the mind of the believer through spiritual practices. I favor Smith’s approach as he doesn’t imply that the person of faith needs to take on an almost monkish lifestyle, espoused by many other spiritual formation books. Rather, he presents a superior model seeking spiritual practices that foster the transformation of both the individual as well as the Body of Christ, providing a platform to effectively change the world. Smith’s work challenges some traditional methods and Christian worldviews, so be prepared, as he offers a positive and loving approach that may negate some from effectively implementing this model.

The Apprentice Series offers a real and dynamic approach to spiritual formation for the individual and the community who seek change for the good and beautiful life God desires for his creation.

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Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

Matt Adolfson: A veteran in need n The Salvation Army helps prevent veteran homelessness.

BY CRAIG DIRKES Matt Adolfson was flying somewhere over Germany on March 17, 2003, when President George W. Bush gave Saddam Hussein an ultimatum: leave Iraq within 48 hours or face U.S. military action.

Matt, then a 25-year-old U.S. Army medic, heard the news when he landed in Kuwait. Two days later, he was at war.

Adolfson would spend the next eight months using every bit of his medical training.

“I was part of a mobile hospital—like what you see on the TV show ‘M*A*S*H,’ only smaller,” he said. “I helped a lot of people who were in explosions; one guy had his leg blown off. My nerves were always going crazy. Everything was always happening fast, fast, fast.”

Adolfson’s tour ended that November. In August 2004, he completed his military career and moved to Michigan to live with his uncle; his parents had died years earlier and he has no siblings. Civilian life was difficult.

“I always felt hyper-vigilant, like I wasn’t doing enough,” Adolfson said. “In the military, I was doing more in one day than some people do all week.”

In 2007, Adolfson began suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Seemingly innocuous sounds, sights and smells triggered terrible memories.

“The smell of burning garbage, seeing a military vehicle—it all brought me right back,” said Adolfson, who is doing much better today after years of counseling. “At first I tried forcing myself to forget, but that didn’t work. I learned to embrace my past and not run from it. I learned

Veteran Matt Adolfson

to get used to things and adapt.”

Adolfson eventually moved to Minnesota to be near his other relatives and work his way through college. The war changed him, but he remains proud to have served his country.

In 2012, Adolfson had to adapt to another hardship: an empty bank account. While working that summer, several of his paychecks were delayed due to an administrative blunder. He fell behind on his bills and couldn’t recover. By November, he was facing eviction

from his North St. Paul apartment.

Thankfully, a friend told him about The Salvation Army Veteran’s Homeless Prevention Program. Since 2011, the program has provided financial assistance, case management, referrals and much more to nearly 180 veterans or veteran families in Ramsey County.

“Veterans have risked their lives serving us—giving back to them is our duty,” said Lt. Col. Robert Thomson, Salvation Army Northern Division commander.

Adolfson met with Salvation Army case manager Krystle Englund, who gave him financial assistance to catch up on his rent.

“She even called my landlord to advocate for me,” Adolfson said. “I’m not used to asking for help; I’m the kind of person who would rather bite the bullet. Krystle took away all my anxiety.”

Adolfson is no longer in danger of being evicted, and his life is looking good. After completing an associate’s degree in 2011, he plans to study for a bachelor’s degree in social work—a field he’s been inspired to pursue because of the help Krystle gave him. The lifelong volunteer also wants to start donating his time to The Salvation Army— particularly at its food shelf in Maplewood.

“Matt is a very strong individual who served his country and still wants to give back by volunteering,” Englund said. “He is always optimistic for the future. Working with veterans like Matt is the best part of my job, hands down.”

The Salvation Army operates a number of veteran housing programs throughout Minnesota, including a 10unit apartment complex in South Minneapolis.

“The Salvation Army is committed to serving veterans,” Thomson said. “Helping them is a privilege.”

Salvation Army and DRG Concepts make gourmet burgers n Food provided to tornado victims.

Working with DRG Concepts—a company that owns multiple high-end restaurants in Dallas—The Salvation Army and four professional chefs provided gourmet burgers to tornado victims in Moore, Okla.

“We’re grateful to The Salvation Army for lending their trucks and letting us do some cooking,” said Nafees Alam, vice president of DRG Concepts.

The Salvation Army’s canteen was used as a place to cook the burgers and then serve the food to 985 people. The chefs said they enjoyed providing meals to people in need and felt humbled seeing the damage caused in Oklahoma.

“Just seeing the devastation on the way in, that’s going to stay on my mind a long, long time,” said Fran Gallagher of DRG Concepts.

“This has been a really humbling experience.”

Salvation Army holds first fan drive n Fans will be given to seniors and families with small children.

The Salvation Army in Marshall, Texas, held its first ever community fan drive to prepare for the summer. Running in June, the drive aimed to raise 500 fans for seniors and families with small children in Harrison County.

Susie Witcher, office manager for Marshall, told the Marshall News Messenger she and the rest of her staff decided to join the annual statewide event because they felt there was a need in the community for it.

“There are a lot of families with children and seniors who need these fans and would otherwise go without them,” she said. “The purchase of fans may seem small to a lot of people, but it’s the difference between if they eat or not with how much they cost.”

Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Lowes, Fred’s and Family Dollar also participated in the “Beat the Heat” campaign. Those interested in purchasing a fan simply said the fan was going to The Salvation Army and the store delivered it.

“The stores listed have been wonderful in agreeing to be a convenience to us,” Witcher said.

“These stores came right on board to deliver the fans to us.”

Witcher said the Harrison County community has always “stepped up” when asked and believed this campaign would meet the same response.

Community garden fights poverty n The Army partners with the Tallahassee Sustainability Group.

The Salvation Army and the Tallahassee Sustainability Group of Tallahassee, Fla., joined forces to create a community garden in an effort to fight poverty and hunger. Their vision is to help families in need to grow their own food, help provide the Army with fresh produce for the food pantry boxes and to help families learn new skills to gain self-sufficiency.

The garden was originally located in a little corner of land behind a local Salvation Army Family Store and has since expanded to create more opportunity for the public to get involved.

The Tallahassee Sustainability Group has become a tremendous partner in

The Salvation Army’s fight against hunger and has taken strides in educating the public about food and agriculture, increasing accessibility to fresh, healthy

food, and strengthening communities by means of urban farming.

To learn more visit salvationarmyusa. org.

The World

Doing the Most Good

Salvation Army responds to flooding n The Salvation Army assists victims in Western Europe.

In early June, rising floodwaters from the Danube River in western Europe launched The Salvation Army into action.

Flood evacuations first hit Germany. Equipped with four vehicles, around 30 Army volunteers provided transportation across the region.

The Salvation Army coordinated relief activities with the local government and fire service. Army volunteers served food and coffee, packed sandbags, provided counsel and gave practical assistance as needed.

With the water still rising and moving north, more people and homes were in jeopardy. Heavy cleanup—shoveling mud out of homes, salvaging what could be saved and renovating—began when the waters retreated. The Salvation Army will remain, helping wherever it can.

After severe flooding in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, the swollen Danube River moved on to Budapest, the Hungarian capital. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán asked The Salvation Army to provide essential supplies and assistance during evacuations. The Army began working closely with disaster management professionals, water management experts, firefighters, soldiers and civilian volunteers.

This was the first time the Hungarian government officially requested Salvation Army help since its re-establishment in the country in 1990.

Salvation Army officers and volunteers supplied food and beverages June 6 to workers constructing emergency flood protection measures on Margaret Island in Budapest.

The Army’s Új Reménység Háza men’s hostel in the city prepared food and residents of the homeless shelter also assisted.

Hungarian authorities asked The Salvation Army team, coordinated by Captain Gabor Gazso, to remain at least until the river peaked, as more rain was expected.

Regional Officer Major Andrew Morgan praised the response of the Budapest team and called for prayer support.

“Pray that our responders would remain physically strong and spiritually alert as they minister in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and on behalf of The Salvation Army,” he said.

Donations may be made online at salvationarmy.org.

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Elsewhere in the world CANADA—The Salvation Army Ethics Center in the Canada and Bermuda Territory launched a new website to help Salvationists “go green.” The site, wegogreen. ca, offers readers practical tips and tools to help nurture and care for the environment. You will also find the Army’s position statement and resources such as music, reading and prayers.

By visiting wegogreen.ca/share, users can contribute their own stories and resources, including adversities and failures, so readers can share experiences.

From salvationist.ca ITALY—Salvation Army volunteers in Rome hoped to raise $7,000 during The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Benefit Walk on June 15. The morning walk was followed by an open house with food, free gift basket drawings and children’s face painting. The 1.7mile walk began and ended at The Salvation Army Corps Center.

Funds from the event went to benefit Emergency Family Assistance counseling, food and clothing, and Youth Enrichment Services’ after-school and summer drop-in center.

From uticaod.com

Top: Captain Gabor Gazso and a resident from the men’s hostel serve food in Hungary. Bottom: Salvation Army volunteers fill sandbags in Germany.

Photos courtesy of International Headquarters

Salvation Army in Chile responds to extremely cold weather conditions n The Valparaíso shelter receives help from government officials to house more people.

Due to extreme cold weather and rain in Chile, Superintendent (city manager) Raúl Celis and Regional Secretary of Social Development María de los Ángeles de la Paz are seeking to keep homeless people off the streets of Valparaíso by expanding the capacity at the city’s Salvation Army shelter through the donation of 80 mattresses, 120 blankets, clothing and food to get them through the harsh winter.

“It fills me with satisfaction to strengthen a Salvation Army institution that has served the community for more than 100 years,” Celis said in a public statement. “We are making this donation for everyone to take advantage of if they need a place to stay.”

This governmental contribution will increase the shelter’s capacity from 60 to 200 people. The relationship between The Salvation Army homeless shelter and Celis and Paz evolved through the Army’s strong ties to the National Office of Emergency Services and Public Safety, which arranged transport of the donations to the shelter.

“The measures taken by the government contingency respond to the need generated through the extreme weather conditions that surround the Valparaíso region, which are often accompanied by rain and strong winds,” said Captain Jorge Aicón, director of the shelter.

According to a Valparaíso Channel 13 tele-

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

Volunteers bring in government donations for the shelter amid rain and cold weather.

Photo courtesy of Salvation Army Valparaíso

vision report, two homeless individuals died last year in Chile from exposure to the cold temperatures and rain storms. Aicón said that the shelter is doing what it can to prevent this from happening again.

“Winter is the time when the shelter needs the most support,” Aicón said. “Thanks to this contribution, we will be able to better serve the people on the streets who need it.”

The Chilean National Socioeconomic Characterization survey records from 2011 reveal almost 17 percent of the Valparaíso region living below the poverty line, which is approximately a 2 percent increase from 2009.

This makes the shelter critical to the lives of these individuals, keeping many from sleeping on the streets and providing them with food, access to hygienic necessities and laundry stations, as well as physical and spiritual support

and guidance.

“The Army in Valaparaíso is a place that the community knows they can count on,” Aicón said. “They are grateful that we are here for them when they need it the most.”

Future projects for The Salvation Army in Valparaíso include generating resources to renovate parts of the shelter, and expanding outreach to people in neighboring cities who need a place to stay. Aicón hopes to also establish a canteen in the Valparaíso region to feed the community in case of emergencies or disasters.

“Our goal is to keep working hard for our community for another 100 years in Valparaíso, and expand our efforts to other communities to respond to the needs of mankind,” Aicón said.

SINGAPORE—The Singapore Conversation initiative between the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), The Salvation Army Family Support Services and other service centers in Singapore allows groups time to share and tackle current issues.

In a recent meeting at Family Support Services, attendees expressed feelings about Singapore at the present time and how they wanted to see it in 10 years. It was a positive and productive time, promoting understanding to all regarding the issues raised. The PMO representatives advised it will be ongoing.

From THE WAR CRY BRAZIL—The Salvation Army in Brazil participated in the global call to 24/7 prayer June 10 to 16.

The Army encouraged people to sign up online so every hour of the day would be covered by someone praying.

Testimonies, resources and videos were available online. Participants were then prompted to a link to share their personal experiences throughout the weeklong event.

From their web site AUSTRALIA—Australian Army officer Major Henry May, Order of the Australian Merit (OAM), is the Red Shield senior representative for The Salvation Army Southern Australia Territory.

May recently donated a set of his medals to The Australian Southern Territory Heritage Centre, including the Order of Australia medal, Australian Active Service medal, Australian Service medal, Australian Defense Force medal, The Salvation Army Long Service Order, United Nation medal (Cambodia) and the Timor Leste Solidarity medal.

From the Heritage Centre newsletter

JUNE 21, 2013 • NEW FRONTIER—PAGE 7

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COMMISSIONED

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the Southern Territory.

For those seeking to deepen their spiritual life, all-day seminars took place in both English and Spanish (story p. 8).

The territory’s young people competed in Encore!, which celebrated their musical and creative arts achievements, and the Bible Bowl finals, won by the Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center Corps (see extended stories for both at newfrontierpublications.org).

The Long Service Lunch recognized officers who have reached milestones in their Salvation Army service (see New Frontier vol. 31 no. 10).

Finally, the Hall of Faith transformed an exhibit hall at the Pasadena (Calif.) Convention Center into a celebration of the Army, its people and their stories. The day concluded with the Army of Stars Banquet.

“The idea behind the Hall of Faith is that we have stories to tell in all these areas of ministry,” said Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien, Community Care Ministries secretary. “Anyone can come in, visit any area they like, and enjoy food and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere—no pressure.”

The areas were interactive and ranged from a Museum of the West collection, a photo booth with historic Salvation Army clothes, to sharing camp memories. Two flash mobs surprised the crowd: one involved a massed singing company and a young timbrel brigade, and the other featured the cadets.

The Western Territorial Staff Band (WTSB) marched everyone into the Army of Stars Banquet—a celebration of the very essence of The Salvation Army: its soldiers. The West currently has 16,797 senior soldiers, 5,121 junior soldiers and 3,222 local officers.

One soldier from each division received an award for exemplary service from his/her divisional commander (see New Frontier vol.

31 no. 10).

The gala event, hosted by Lisa Guerrero and Gavin Schofield-Smith, included musical entertainment from the WTSB (BM Neil Smith), California Brass (BM Kevin Larsson), and soloists Barbara Allen, Matt Woods and Isabel Fairclough.

Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs praised award recipients as “examples of people who are holy and show up for work.”

He also recognized Bandmaster Ed Freeman for 40 years of service as bandmaster for the Santa Ana/Tustin Ranch (Calif.) Band and appointed Allen as Songster Leader for the Western Territory Staff Songsters (See New Frontier vol. 31 no. 10) “This has been a soldier’s night,” Knaggs said. “My hope—my dream—for this territory is for us to be the force we need to be.”

After referencing Luke 11:23 (MSG), he said, “I’m calling every soldier to be a Salvationist...a soul winner...to love your neighbor as yourself.”

Top row: Lt. Regina Verdugo addresses the crowd.

Middle row: (l-r) Lt. Troy Cook speaks for the session; a youngster poses in vintage clothing at the photo booth; Commissioner James Knaggs addresses the new officers. Bottom row: (l-r) A young timbrelist performs in a flash mob; Bob Docter interviews Barbara Newbould; Richard Zellmer accepts his Army of Stars award; Major Linda Markiewicz at the potter’s wheel; Christian Riesebieter plays with the Territorial Staff Band.

Photos by Tim Schaal, John Docter, Raymond Erickson-King and Armando Gonzalez

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PROCLAIM!

oath as ministers of the gospel before Knaggs commissioned and ordained them. A member of the Territorial Executive Council prayed with each one. “‘A greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender,’” testified Lt. Troy Cook, quoting Founder William Booth. “I would not be a proclaimer without full surrender to my Savior.”

Cook said he returned to Christ at 27, through addiction and frustration. “Through grace I finally found surrender,” he said.

“Training college stretched, pressed, pushed and formed us, but we’ve grown in leaps and bounds and learned that there is no challenge greater than our God. We are ready to close the books, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Throughout his message, Knaggs used a fishing boat on stage to illustrate a need to “get in the boat” (Luke 5:1-11) and then to step out of it (Matt. 14:22-23).

“Without the cross of Calvary, it all counts for nothing,” Knaggs said. “Resurrection power and authority provide grace abundant so that we may be fishers of men and change the world. To understand the truth, you’ve got to ask Jesus into your life and invite him ‘into the boat.’”

A clip from History Channel’s “The Bible” visualized the story of Jesus walking out on a stormy lake to the disciples, and Peter walking to Jesus on the water.

“The Word of God asks you to invite Jesus into your life and into the boat but then there comes a time when you’ve got to get out of the boat,” Knaggs said. “It’s not incidental that this wasn’t a serene lake in this scene…

We shouldn’t be waiting for a calm sea, but recognize him despite the howling winds and step out to Jesus.”

Knaggs read John 15:16-17: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”

Just hours later, in the Service of Appointments, the Proclaimers of the Resurrection displayed a willingness to step out in faith.

“Regardless of our past, we all were dead in sin,” said Lt. Regina Verdugo, session representative speaker. “I was deemed a prostitute, doomed to prison and despair but now through the power of the resurrection I am saved. Today we are ready to go forward and point to Jesus.”

In the charge to the new lieutenants, Dr. Robert L. Docter, O.F., editor in chief of New Frontier Publications, told the newest officers, “We’re turning The Salvation Army over to you for the coming generation.”

He returned to the story of Jesus and Peter in the boat in Luke 5.

“If what you’re doing isn’t working—if you’re not catching fish—stop doing it and do something else,” Docter said. He reminded the session that Jesus said to feed his sheep and outlined steps including simply stopping to talk to people, avoiding judgmentalism, and being kind. (Read the complete list in Docter’s On the Corner column, New Frontier vol. 31 No. 10.)

“Be anywhere in your town where people find themselves immersed in a world of hurt.

Be there. Empathize. Emulate Christ,” Docter said. “As Booth said, ‘Keep the flag up. Wear your uniform. Say something to some poor sinner every day and you will not go far astray.’”

Standing before Commissioners Knaggs and anxious onlookers, each one received his or her first appointment as a commissioned officer in The Salvation Army.

“These are people willing to step out in faith. It’s a demonstration to you as they present themselves and their family asking God, ‘Where do you want me to go?’ and answering yes,” James Knaggs said. “They are not appointed to the corps building or Sunday meeting, but are appointed to the whole community.”

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Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013

Commissioning seminars spark spiritual revival n English and Spanish-language seminars aim to develop spirituality.

BY VIVIAN GATICA Commissioning weekend’s Spiritual Life Development seminar on June 15, themed “Life with God,” was based on James Bryan Smith’s Christian Apprentice book series: “The Good and Beautiful God,” “The Good and Beautiful Life,” and “The Good and Beautiful Community.”

“The purpose of the seminar was to help equip, encourage and empower officers, ministry leaders and local officers to become more Christlike themselves so that when they return to their appointments and ministries they can serve as promoters of the spiritual formation concepts presented, and thus help our soldiers, adherents and friends experience total transformation,” said Major Steve Bradley, Spiritual Life Development secretary, who organized the event.

The seminar consisted of six sessions emphasizing several points: the most important thing between you (and your church), the definition of the kingdom of God, growing your relationship with God, the number one spiritual illness, the power of community, and discipleship. Speakers included Smith and Matthew Johnson, assistant minister at Andover United Methodist Church in Andover, Kan. “The sessions are meant to lead people to trust Jesus with their whole lives,” Smith said. “The best offer in the universe is to live as Jesus’ apprentice.”

Smith focused on discipleship, and how to implement the narrative of Christ at corps.

“There’s really no denomination that makes discipleship their primary focus, and I think that created the stage for what we looked at in the seminar,” said Captain Jonathan Harvey. “It is important that our congregations learn to be disciples, and obviously that starts with us as corps officers.”

Attendees said it was a reminder that spiritual growth is an ongoing process.

“I was spiritually refreshed and encouraged to keep moving forward no matter what,” said Major Victoria Shiroma.

Simultaneously, hundreds of Spanish-speaking corps members attended the Spanish Doctrine Seminars focused on The Salvation Army doctrines and how to handle controversial themes at corps.

“The seminars addressed problems existing in corps, and how to eliminate them,” said Lt. Colonel Zoilo Pardo, territorial multicultural ministries secretary, who led the seminar.

Speakers addressed topics including the danger of not discerning, apostasy, sects, judgement, false prophets, false doctrines, and controversial themes.

“The topics touched upon at the seminars are relevant to the times in which we are living,” said Major Gil Román, a speaker at the seminar. “These teachings are necessary in order for the Word of God to be taught effectively at our corps.”

Pardo said the goal of the seminars was to advise Salvationists on how to follow a healthy evangelical doctrine in dangerous times.

“I think the seminars helped prepare us for the problems that trouble our corps,” said Manuel García, youth leader at the Bellflower Temple Corps. “They taught us how to look to God to better serve our community and others.”

View additional photos from Commissioning weekend at pics.usawest.org Read more about Commissioning including stories on Encore and the Bible Bowl at newfrontierpublications.org

Above: Recording artist Israel Houghton performs at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Below: The crowd responds to the music.

CONCERT

Photos by John Docter

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which was part of the “Jesus @ the Center” tour, also served to benefit The Salvation Army.

“We’re here to celebrate the amazing Salvation Army and every individual that’s a part of it,” Houghton said.

The band’s signature sound—which fuses elements of gospel, rock, funk and soul—did not disappoint the raucous crowd, which sang and swayed to Houghton’s every move.

At one point, he even sent the crowd into roaring laughter, asking, “Who here speaks Spanish?” only to hear an underwhelming response. “I’m here to help you guys out,” he fired back. He then taught the crowd the phrase “te amo con todo mi corazon,” which translates to “I love you with all my heart.” Rapper T-Bone also made a surprise appearance to help perform the song “Te Amo.” The critically acclaimed group drew an eclectic crowd, vastly ranging in age. Among them was Major Moises Guerrero, chaplain at the Long Beach Adult Rehabilitation Center, who enjoyed the concert despite being unfamiliar with the group.

“I’m old-fashioned,” he laughed. “But I thought it was great.”

Houghton has achieved commercial and critical success, performing at venues all over the world. He accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and even performed at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. His most recent stop, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, has played host to countless high-profile artists and events, including Michael Jackson, Louis Armstrong, the Emmys, the People’s Choice Awards and several episodes of American Idol. When he’s not on tour with New

Breed, Houghton is a worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston.

Israel and New Breed closed the show with a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace,” accompanied by a Salvation Army children’s choir and a “Blood and Fire” backdrop.

“Thank you to Israel and New Breed,” said Southern California Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Doug Riley. “You’ve inspired me to see that God is alive in L.A. and that God is alive in The Salvation Army.”

Cadets honor parents and mentors n Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session say “thank you” for support.

BY BUFFY LINCOLN From as far away as Korea and Indonesia, parents and mentors of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session met sons, daughters and friends in the Terrace Room at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont June 14 for the Fellowship of the Silver Star Banquet, along with Western Territorial Leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs.

Lt. Colonel Shelley Hill, territorial Fellowship of the Silver Star secretary, welcomed the group and gave a brief history of the fellowship. Major Timothy Foley, training principal at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont, gave the invocation.

Following lunch, Hill led all four stanzas of “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” followed by the vocal selection “Promised Land” by a cadet ensemble.

James Knaggs spoke from Psalm 33:11—But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations (NIV)—tying it in with the story of his step-brother’s and mother’s separation and their attempts to reconnect through The Salvation Army’s Miss-

Cadet Joshua Hamilton pins a Silver Star to the lapel of his mother, Hilda Hamilton.

Photo by Tim Schaal

ing Persons Services.

Following the message, each cadet presented Silver Star pins, membership certificates and personally written letters to the guests and privately read their letters to them.

Hill took the podium to introduce the “White Rose” ceremony; Major Cindy

Foley read the names of parents and one spouse who had passed away. Members of the Disciples of the Cross Session passed out the roses.

In conclusion, Colonel Sharron Hudson led everyone in singing, “Christ for All, This Is the Army’s Call!” Major Cindy Foley closed with the benediction.

Doing the Most Good

Major Kathie Timpson, 66, was promoted to Glory from Sun City, Calif., May 22.

Kathie Crosby was born in Denver, Colo., April 23, 1947, to Edward and Evelyn Crosby, the first of three daughters. Her parents entered The Salvation Army Training College in San Francisco and were commissioned in 1953.

She went with them to appointments in Idaho, California, Montana and Washington.

Crosby graduated from Everett (Wash.) High School in 1965 and entered the Training School with the Witnesses to the Faith Session. She was commissioned in 1967 and served as an officer for eight years before stepping out to work in the private sector.

At the dedication of the Concord (Calif.) Corps in September 1978, Crosby was reacquainted with Neil Cal Timpson, and the two wed in 1979. Neil Timpson entered the training school in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., with the God’s Soldiers Session and was commissioned in 1981.

The Timpsons served in corps appointments in Colorado Springs and Englewood, Colo., and in adult rehabilitation center (ARC) appointments in Anaheim, Santa Monica and Long Beach, Calif.; Colorado Springs, and Portland, Ore. They returned to corps appointments at Juneau, Alaska; San Francisco Turk Street and Las Vegas Citadel.

The couple retired in 2003 to Sun City, where Kathie Timpson spent nine years as a real estate agent.

Timpson is survived by her parents, Majors Ed and Evelyn Crosby; her husband, Major Neil Calvin Timpson; sons, Neil Calvin (Samantha) Timpson II, and Edward (Steffanie) Timpson and their children Brooke-Lynn and Cameron; Neil’s daughter, Lava Timpson; and sisters, Karren Crosby and Linda Chamberlain.

Major Edward Covert officiated at a celebration of life service at the Riverside ARC on May 29.

Mary Clark West, 92, was promoted to Glory May 12 from Beaverton, Ore. Mary Clark was born March 12, 1921, in Peoria, Ill. She became a Salvation Army officer in the Central Territory, commissioned with the Crusaders Session in 1941. She later married Bill Kingrey (d. 2002), and they had five children.

Mary lived in Canada and California, and then moved to Beaverton, where she met David West. West’s sister, Major Carol Madsen-Yardley, officiated at the couple’s marriage in 2008 at the Salem Corps, where Mary West faithfully soldiered. She was known for her strong witness and

June 21, 2013

dedication to the Lord.

Mary West is survived by her husband, Dave; son, John (Anne) Kingrey; daughter-in-law, Pattie Kingrey (widow of son Bill); and daughters, Kathy Kingrey, Marguerite (Doug) Schmidt, Sheila (Gunther) Dihm; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Salem Corps Officer Lt. Jared Arnold conducted a celebration of life service at the corps on May 25.

Major Robert H. Rubin, 76, was promoted to Glory June 2 from Roseville, Calif.

Rubin was born in Manila, the Philippines, on May 11, 1937, to Felomino Rubin and Boromia Herrera, the third of six children.

He graduated from Normal High School, where he played tennis, and attended Far Eastern University on a tennis scholarship.

He continued playing tennis professionally on the Philippine tennis circuit.

Rubin received a bachelor’s degree from Baguio Colleges Foundation and taught high school physical education. He attended law school and a graduate program in business administration.

As a boy, Rubin attended a Salvation Army Sunday school outreach program and accepted Jesus as Savior. He became active in the ministries of the Manila Central Corps, where he met his future wife, Esther.

Rubin entered The Salvation Army School for Officer Training in 1957 with the Courageous Session and was commissioned in 1958, receiving one appointment as a single officer to Patnongon Corps in the Philippines. He married Esther Saguil in 1963, and they continued serving with The Salvation Army.

Along with appointments as corps officer in the Philippines, Rubin served as territorial public relations secretary and provided Tagalog translation for visiting officers and Army personnel. In 1985, he and his family transferred to the U.S. Western Territory, where he and his wife held corps appointments in Kaneohe, Hawaii; and Merced and San Francisco, Calif. They served as chaplain and older adult ministries secretaries in the Golden State Division. The Rubins retired in 2002 to Roseville, Calif.

Rubin is survived by his wife, Esther; sons, Herbert and Oliver Rubin; daughter, Sharon Joy Rubin Bach (Joey); grandchildren, Ashley Rubin, Charisse Bach, Rachel Bach and Nathaniel Bach; brother, Felomino Rubin; and sisters, Catalina Viaje and Salvacion Dahimmuddin.

The Roseville Corps held a celebration of life service June 9 with Major Fred Blundell presiding. Interment was June 10 at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, Calif.

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Delegates of the Come to the Water conference

Come to the Water conference urges women to ‘rise up’ n 498 women attended the event in Estes Park, Colo.

BY STACY CROSS, CAPTAIN “Rise up”—the call resonated in the hearts and minds of the 498 women who attended the 11th annual Come to the Water conference sponsored

by Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy Inc. at the YMCA conference center in Estes Park, Colo.

Women clergy and lay leaders from The Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, Brethren in Christ, Church of God (Anderson), Evangelical Friends International, Free Methodist and The Wesleyan Church worshiped together.

“Each worship meeting built upon the next, refreshing parched souls and encouraging those who had been standing firm against oppression and spiritual assault,” said Cadet Edith Dye-Mabie.

Commissioner Nancy Roberts, national president of women’s ministries, led the 157 Salvationist delegates from around the world. Colonel Janet Munn from the International Training College was

a featured speaker. Reverend Joanne Solis-Walker challenged listeners to be “in Cristo” (in Christ), and many, including Lieutenant Clarissa Ochoa, declared victory in Christ over crippling circumstances, such as gender and racial bias.

“When Colonel Janet Munn spoke, [it was] with great inspiration, and when she got down on her knees, it showed us all how God responds to us,” said Cadet Katie Breazeale. “Come to the water and be fed; thirst no more.”

The workshops clarified and solidified our call to “rise up” in our respective ministries. The workshop on responding to the LGBT community prompted Captain Judith Rockey to “gain a better understanding of the various concerns of people on both sides of the issue.” Commissioner Christine MacMillian led a social justice track, and Lisa Thompson from USA National Headquarters led a workshop that provided insight on the work of The Salvation Army in combating worldwide human trafficking.

Major Sylvia Hoogstad said, “I came away from the retreat enriched, blessed and full of wonder.”

Local Radio Disney station, KIIDAM, held a 90-minute interactive show at the Roseville (Calif.) Corps this spring. Sixty children attended, some from corps programs and others from the neighborhood. Of those invited from the community, about half returned to the corps the following week for kids’ programs.

Radio Disney brought six performers and its sound system.

Lts. John and Angela Morrow are the Roseville corps officers.

RED SHIELD

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player Steve Nash also contributed to the Red Shield by donating $7,500 to fix the swimming pool pump, without which the center would have had to close the pool for the summer. Nash also donated soccer shoes to children participating in that program.

The Red Shield will host the 2013 Steve Nash Foundation Showdown charity soccer game on July 14. Featuring NBA and professional soccer players, Showdown will support the charity work of the foundation. Lewis said that Nash will continue to support the center through his foundation.

The center also promotes health and safety by hosting health fairs and establishing community incentives.

The Red Shield is now the lead agency for the Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience Project (LACCDR) in the Pico-Union district. The LACCDR project is a citywide effort to create community resilience in the event of emergencies such as natural disasters and epidemics.

“Pico-Union is a low socioeconomic area, and in the event of a disaster, it will be faced with more challenges,” said Agnes Topacio, Pico-Union liaison for the LACCDR efforts. “We are trying to teach the community to be self-sustaining so that residents can help each other to recover from disasters.”

The center received $15,000 to fund the project, and the community decided to use the money to create efficient disaster preparedness toolkits that will include a guide to community resilience planning and community engagement, first aid, city mapping and emergency response training.

In August, the Red Shield will host a Community Emergency Response Team training to prepare residents for potential disaster so that if one strikes, they will be trained to take care of each other.

“Every community should have a resilience plan,” Lewis said. “If there is a united plan of action within the community, people will have some basic understanding so that there is no panic.”

HIGH COUNCIL

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64 women and 54 men with an average age of 59.

The meeting will take place at the Renaissance Hotel, near Heathrow to the west of London, instead of at Sunbury Court, the usual venue, which is being renovated.

Information is available at salvationarmy.org/ HighCouncil2013, on Twitter at @HighCouncil2013, and at facebook.com/HighCouncil2013.

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Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

Down by the sea

Jesus’ prescription for inner peace inProcess Struggling to regain his composure as he wiped tears from his eyes, the young man covered his face with his hands. “I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done with my life,” he said. “I came here to sincerely change. I would give anything to learn how to stay clean and sober and to get to know God. Can you Glen tell me what to do?”

Doss Billy was expressing a burning desire shared by Major virtually every beneficiary who arrives at our adult rehabilitation center doors. Like all the others, he sensed vaguely that the two goals were connected—to remain clean and sober and begin a relationship with God—but wasn’t quite sure how.

Emotional pain always drives our addictions, so over the succeeding days I took Billy along Christ’s prescribed route to inner peace, shared in John 14:23-27. The outcome: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid” (14:27 NIV).

I inform the beneficiaries: Jesus died to set us free from emotional distress. We don’t have to live like that anymore. His prescription is the one proven method for getting off the vicious addiction cycle: Pain a Reaching out to an Addictive Agent a Temporary Anesthesia a Negative Consequences a Guilt and Shame a More Pain a Reaching Again for the Addictive Agent. And so the ruthless cycle repeats itself.

The first step toward recovery is taken out of love, love for our Creator. Jesus informs us, “If anyone love me, he will obey my teaching.

My Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching” (14:23-24).

Genuine love for him, says Jesus, results in obedience. Our primary problem all along has been self-reliance: it is pride displayed by trusting only the object that gives temporary relief to our inner torment—be it drugs, alcohol or the one-armed bandit intermittently spitting out money, etc. We have not loved God. For decades, perhaps, we have been holding love-proof umbrellas firmly over our heads, vainly seeking to keep God’s love at bay; yet his great love for us has continued to rain down since before we were born. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Out of desperation, we must finally make up our minds to close those love-proof umbrellas and allow God’s pure love to soak us through and through. “I love you back, Lord,” our hearts cry out finally in obedience—the obedience that triggers our new life.

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching,” Jesus states quite bluntly. Scottish preacher George MacDonald once said, “A man’s real belief is that which he lives by. What a man believes is the thing he does, not the thing he thinks.”

The Bible never speaks of love as a warm, fuzzy feeling. To love Christ is to obey him. In the Bible, love is an action word. God’s Word teaches that love is always a very active thing, whether love for God or love for our fellowman. Love for God is obedience, while love for others is depicted as acts of service, as in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

As we obey Christ, we are told in verse 25 that God enters into us. As God takes up residence within us, we can bet he will not leave us as he found us—promptly the Holy Spirit commences a training regimen. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things” (14:26). The Holy Spirit is going to do some overhauling. His goal is for our will to line up with his. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose, explains the apostle Paul (Phil 2:13).

We can count on our Lord to provide for us. Our God never gives instructions without equipping us with the provisions needed to carry them out. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8). Through the power of God we finally achieve what we have repeatedly failed to accomplish on our own— to have a full and satisfying life (John 10:10). Sobriety is but one of our many gains.

Through the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, we face ourselves as we really are, uncovering defects of character that have ruled our lives for decades. These resulted in torturing emotions directly contributing to our troubling lifestyles. We have been lost. Plainly speaking, we have been a mess. Jesus sought us out in order to help us. Now as we rely on him, God helps us to find ourselves so that we may finally turn our lives over to him, something we have been vainly attempting for years on our own. I cannot give myself to God, no matter how badly I want to, until God helps me find myself. We cannot give away something we do not possess.

As God gently shows us where we have blindly practiced dishonesty and deceit, acting selfishly, he leads us into a whole new way of thinking and living. This may frighten us at first, for some of us don’t DOSS, page 11

In the cool of the evening, I watch the rain fall and scan the horizon as the sun suddenly dips below the edge of the endless ocean and hides its bright orange and red colors behind the splatter of grey and purple hues of clouds that unceremoniously cover the evening Victor sky.

I am in Antigua, the Caribbean Leslie island that boasts 365 beaches, Lt. Colonel and I have just returned from the meetings to celebrate 110 years of Salvation Army service in the island nation, which can only be described as a ballet of celebration, offering and pulsating praise.

The unique scent of colorful city streets resting against the arms of the turquoise sea water reaches me, and I inhale the fragrance of damp coconut trees swaying in the salty night air. Here in Antigua, where it is often said that “the beach is just the beginning,” my mind begins to walk a familiar route through the noiseless neighborhood of time to a place of refuge and reflection, a place where my spirit is regularly refreshed, a place somewhere—rather, anywhere—down by the sea.

Just being down by the sea, standing and gazing at the ocean, listening, reflecting, creating, learning, and discovering lessons I will never forget is freeing and edifying. Down by the sea, as the raindrops puncture the surface of the water, I notice how the ocean quickly heals itself and realize how God is able to heal the things that seem to puncture our daily lives. Down by the sea, in the pounding surf and choppy waters, I see twigs aimlessly being washed out to sea after the rain and remember that we should not simply drift with the tide—there must be purpose in our living. As the strong currents relentlessly play tug-of-war with the fishing boats down by the sea, I am reassured that it is fine to

sharperFocus sometimes go against the tide to win the battle.

Down by the sea, as the waves faithfully whip the milky white mass of sand, I rediscover that gentleness and strength are eccentric partners and smile at the paradox that uncertainty and constancy can co-exist and fuse in perfect harmony. I watch in awe as the ocean depths raise their voice…and roar (Ps. 93:3). I see the mighty waves jump out of the water with “fortissimopiano” power and smash into the blanketed coastline.

Yet, within the uncertainty of the cadence of the next wave, there is the moment of constancy as the smooth rhythms and patterns of the waves faithfully retreat in unending sequence stroking the sand below, incredibly unchanging, even laughing for a brief moment as the momentum begins again.

Down by the sea, in the stillness and tranquility of the evening, the huge cruise ships sail by and I confirm my answers to the theological debate of faith versus reason—there are things that cannot be explained and must be experienced! I ponder the mystery of the depth, width and magnitude of this vast body of water. My heart is in tune with Psalm 104:25: There is the sea, vast and spacious, with waters that are dark and deep, filled with pristine coral reefs and teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small; waters that create a sense of infinite space and delicate beauty as the glittering sea and the illuminated sky play with each other for the right to display the stars scattered across the universe. It is a mystery that is wondrous to behold and contemplate. I cannot explain it but I have experienced it.

I am tempted to leave my soul there—down by the sea where I find refuge in the eternal and unfailing faithfulness of God. But I must return to the reality of now, bringing with me the songs and stories found only down by the sea. I think—did not Jesus always go down by sea?

Set apart I am not sure about others; I, however, do not like being lost. I like knowing where I am, and where I am going. My life has been made much easier by the GPS. I cannot imagine how the children of Israel felt while being lost in the desert for 40 years— not knowing where they were going, Dave only hearing of promises of a land that “someday” they could call their Hudson own.

Colonel I equally cannot imagine their excitement when they came within sight of the river, and, on the other side, the land that God promised them. I am sure the people were overjoyed. “We are here!” “Home at last!” There would have been parties, dancing and celebrations of all kinds.

Amid all the excitement, Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Josh. 3:5). Consecrate means to “set oneself apart.”

If I had been there, I may have said something like, “Wait a minute, Joshua; 40 years wandering around and you want us to do what? If there were ever a time to party; this is it! Forget the ceremonies; forget the praying—this is the time to have a good time. Look, right over there; it’s the Promised Land!”

The Bible is full of imagery of washing one’s body and changing clothes; it symbolizes making a new beginning with the Lord. Joshua’s instructions on this day were different, he was speaking of an internal work, a heart purification. This was a turning of the heart to God, in faith and trust in his promise, and in willing obedience to his commands that they might rightly embrace the wonder of grace that the Lord would soon perform among them.

Setting oneself apart makes an individual fully available to God and his soul-cleansing work. This same thought is reflected in David’s prayer in Psalm 139:2324, Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. God’s revelation of sin in our lives must drive us to God, as

David expressed in his passionate prayer in Psalm 51, Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

In his words, Joshua was reaffirming that holiness is not just a concept or a teaching, but a command. It is a command with a promise attached; the promise depends upon obedience.

The Hebrew word behind “amazing things” is the closest word in the Old Testament for what we today call “miracles.” These folk would have heard the stories of God’s miraculous work: the plagues, the Red Sea and the wilderness. Joshua now was saying, “Tomorrow you will see.” Up to this point, the Lord’s amazing things had been through other people. But, tomorrow, Joshua told them, it was going to happen within them—no longer just stories of Moses, Joshua, Aaron...but YOU. Yes, in the days ahead, they would certainly see God doing many amazing things before them, including giving them the land, defeating their enemies, and enabling them to claim their inheritance.

But God’s greatest work is inside the heart of the believer. And, without that internal work, there is no pleasing God. Hebrews 12:14 states, without holiness no one will see the Lord. In other words, Joshua was asking, “Do you want to see God’s amazing things? Then, consecrate yourself, allowing God to do his holy work in you.”

This is not a bargain with God in order to be able to see his amazing works; rather, it is a statement that only those who consecrate themselves before God are truly able to see his amazing things. It is a spiritual principle; do you want to see God’s amazing things? Set yourself apart for his purposes; consecrate yourself.

May the words of William Himes’ song be our prayer.

All that I am, all I can be, all that I have, all that is me, accept and use, as you would choose, right now, today.

Take every passion, every skill, take all my dreams and bend them to your will.

My all I give, Lord, for you I’ll live, Lord, come what may.

Doing the Most Good

June 21, 2013 New Frontier

Grace seasoned with salt The Hebrews liked their spices! They were familiar with a variety of plants, herbs, seeds and spices useful in seasoning foods. Ancient manuscripts, including the Bible and the Mishnah, Sharon mention using cumin, Robertson caraway, mint, garlic, Lt. Colonel leeks, mallow, chervil, “bitter” herbs (probably wild lettuce or wild endive), dill, mustard, rue and another herb sometimes identified as an eryngo variety. (I had to look that one up, but my references say one variety is grown in Texas, so it must be OK).

Jesus talked about spices and herbs being tithed by the Pharisees, indicating that while they were meticulous in keeping the rituals of the Law, they were not so meticulous in practicing the more important matters of justice and the love of God (see Luke 11:42).

Yes, condiments were important to the Jews, but the most important condiment of all was not a vegetable. It was a common, but vital, mineral: salt. Salt was used as a seasoning, an antiseptic, a preservative, an element for preparing offerings for sacrifice and a commercial commodity. It was not a luxury, like the garlic and leeks of Egypt that the fleeing Israelites longed for. In a hot desert climate, like Israel’s, quantities of water and body salts were lost through sweat. Both water and sodium are essential to human life. Body salts aid the retention of water in the body; if they are not replaced, dehydration occurs, with devastating results.

Salt was relatively easily procured in Israel: all one had to do was travel to the Dead Sea and pick up the salt crystals along the shore. (Or, of course, if you had the money you could get it even more easily by paying someone to collect it for you.) Dead Sea salt was abundant, but not always pure. The crystals tended to be adulterated with other natural minerals. The salt may be dissolved, leaving the other less tasty minerals. That fact may be the basis for Jesus’ statement that if the salt has lost its taste, it is good for nothing, and is discarded. Pure salt is beneficial, but if what you have only looks like salt, it is of no use as a seasoning or preservative.

A curious New Testament reference to salt is found in Colossians 4:6 (NIV), where Paul exhorts his readers to Let your conversation be always full of grace, sea-

DOSS

Summertime

soned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. In today’s lexicon, a “salty” joke or conversation generally means one that includes references (presumably meant to be amusing) to mildly (or not so mildly) indecent behaviors or speech. Clearly that was not Paul’s intent, so just what was Paul asking of his readers?

The context of this verse makes it clear that Paul was advising his readers as to how they should interact with others, especially unbelievers. He wanted them to avoid some of the pitfalls we tend to fall into as we share our faith, including: 1) over-aggressiveness; 2) trying to impress by “doing people good,” whether they like it or not; 3) representing ourselves as unnaturally, unbelievably good (what my grandmother used to call “too sweet to be wholesome,” 4) letting our attitudes and actions seem to disprove our claims 4) presenting our faith as a panacea that will make the world go away.

Paul believed that to win others to Christ it is necessary to demonstrate the reality of Christ in our daily walk and conversation.

People should be able to see the grace of God reflected in us. But Paul also understood that we might have a tendency to perpetuate the myth that all is sweetness and light for the Christian—that we inhabit a world that is bland and uninteresting, when the opposite is true.

For the person who has found new life in Christ, life presents exhilarating challenges. We view his creation from a different perspective: we have available the power to see possibilities and potential victories in situations where others see only disaster and inevitable defeat. We haven’t lost our sense of humor, but instead of laughing at the blunders and mishaps that befall others, we delight in the good, the truly funny things that arouse our sense of irony and enjoyment of the unpredictable. Our conversation should reflect our interests in life, not simply those things we think we ought to be interested in. It should have “staying power,” keeping the message of Christ fresh in the mind of the unbeliever.

Jesus called us “the salt of the earth.” He expected us to be seasoning, arousing the appetite of an ungodly world to discover the “salty possibilities” available through life found in Jesus Christ.

from page 10

know what it means to live without fear and anger and guilt and shame. These have ruled our lives for so long they have become our identity, and we are frightened at the prospect of losing them—for at least they are familiar. But we can take solace in the realization that God never takes anything away from us without putting something wonderful in its place.

As he removes anger, he replaces it with 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 Member - Evangelical Press Association

kindness; he replaces fear with courage; instead of guilt and shame, he gives us peace of mind. Long dreamed of sweet contentment rushes in to fill the void left as we give our inner turmoil over to our Lord. He helps us to finally get out of the driver’s seat so that he may direct our lives as he sees fit.

“I do not give to you as the world gives,” Jesus reminds us, “so don’t be troubled or afraid.”

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 Vivian Gatica, Editorial Assistant • 562/491-8782 email: vivian.gatica@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

11

Today—summer arrives with its golden dawns that light an azure sky and brilliant sunsets where a gilded globe melts into a deep blue sea. This radiant star on which we ride, this magnificent home where we reside has finally achieved its maximum tilt of 23.4 degrees in relation to the sun.

The days grow longer and today, the summer solstice, gives us our maximum light and the longest day of the year.

Sirius, the dog star, shines more brightly than any other star in the heavens except for the sun. At this time of the year it rises and sets in conjunction with the sun and ushers in what we call “the dog days of summer”—40 days between July 3 and August 11 this year.

Unless you’re on the staff of a summer camp, the dog days tend to produce an easy ennui in each of us. Focus turns elsewhere.

Time crawls. Absent “hurry” has left for vacation. A single sunbeam searches out a pathway through the spreading shade and radiates the glory of the roses bursting their bounty on a nearby bush. The bees, undeterred in their tasks, dutifully fulfill their obligation to the garden, singing their own song of summer.

The long, lovely summer afternoons slowly meld into evening as the pleasant cordiality of a day resisting night spreads its hypnotic vapors and “genial friendship plays the pleasing game of interchanging praise.”

George Gershwin captured the essence of Dubose Heyward’s poem “Summertime” in the memorable opening aria of his opera, “Porgy and Bess.” The rhythm and melodic line introduce a feeling of summer’s luscious languor full of optimism and hope mixed with world-weariness.

Clara sings the lullaby to her baby.

Summertime And the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high Your daddy’s rich And your mamma’s good lookin’ So hush little baby Don’t you cry.

The opera, first performed in 1935 and based on the 1926 book, “Porgy,” by Heyward, sings of romance and tragedy among the population of Catfish Row, a small fishing village near Charleston, South Carolina.

Gershwin insisted that the entire cast be African American, and each succeeding presentation over the years has maintained that tradition.

For many Salvation Army youth, summer means “camp.” Because the Army wants to have strong standards to serve the youth in attendance, each Army camp is fully accredited by the American Camping Association.

This requires close attention to matters of institutional management and camper care.

Summer romances seem to imply a tentative relationship, not lasting beyond the summer. Such is not the case with many

Army marriages by members of Army camp staffs. It amazes me when I inquire where a couple first met how many of them met at camp.

Often, those relationships that seem to work, Robert in which a couple stays a couple throughout the Docter Editor-In-Chief summer, consummate with marriage.

That’s certainly true for me. Diane and I first met at Camp Elephant Rock in Colorado. (The Army no longer owns this camp.) She lived in Salt Lake City and I in Los Angeles. I discovered a gem and she discovered someone she could put up with—me. Colorado summers often light up the sky with bursts of lightning and sudden rain for short periods. Some of that lightning must have hit me. Sixty years and six children later, it’s still there.

Working at camp, however, provides much more than a summer romance, even if it turns into a wonderful marriage.

For the camp staff there is much to discover in areas of group leadership: discovery and insight into vast cultural differences, recreation as a meaningful skill, a group of songs you will never be able to forget, lessons in anger management and interpersonal communication. Some will learn much about personal hygiene, cooking, serving food and washing dishes. These jobs, some of which demand 24-hour days, produce maturity, personal discipline in the face of stress, tremendous growth and genuine exhaustion.

Each of the 10 divisions in the Western Territory owns and operates a summer camp program—both for Army youth seeking to master certain skills and general camp programs for children from low-income communities.

Here are the names and contact information of these camps.

DIVISION

CAMP NAME

PHONE

Alaska King’s Lake 907 357-2501 Cascade Kuratli 503 637-5089 Del Oro Del Oro 530 264-4701 Golden State Redwood Glen 831 461-2000 Hawaii/Pac. Is. Homelani 808 637-4131 Intermountain High Peak 970 586-3311 Northwest Arnold 253 847-2511

Gifford 509 233-2511

Lummi Island 360 758-2400 Sierra Del Mar Pine Summit 909 878-0140 So. Calif Crags

818 222-6327

Gilmore

818 222-6845 Southwest Ponderosa Ranch 928 535-5082 Spend the dog days of summer wrapped in the warmth of a friendly environment, nurtured by the joy of a loving Son, finding peace in the wealth of our relationships.

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