NF Vol 30 No 12

CELEBRATING OUR 30th YEAR

The Western Territory’s news source

for 30 years

July 13, 2012 Vol. 30, No. 12

Army responds to wildfires

Captain Tom Stambaugh, Major Steve Svenson, Lt. Colonel Dan Starrett and Commissioner James Knaggs pray over a burned-out home in Colorado Springs, Colo.

n Army remains on scene to provide longterm assistance.

The Salvation Army teamed up with the American Red Cross to assist with disaster relief.

Photo by Laine Hendricks

BY JARED McKIERNAN The Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, Colo., has officially stopped its path of destruction, but The Salvation Army has not stopped in its relief efforts for this devastating wildfire season.

With the two largest wildfires in the Western Territory now contained, The Salvation Army closed its evacuation shelters, but is still providing relief to evacuees, assessing their short and longterm needs. Colorado Springs, meanwhile, has reopened its town.

The 31 total fires claimed two lives and destroyed 18,000 acres and 350 homes.

Roughly 10,000 people remain evacuated, down from more than 30,000 at the peak of the fire.

Photo by Laine Hendricks

Over 1,000 firefighters remain on the lines.

The CW2 and FOX Denver teamed with The Salvation Army July 2 for a telethon fundraiser for those affected by the wildfires burning throughout Colorado and in parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. It raised $239,000 to provide food, clothing, gas and other necessities to victims, as the Army transitions to long-term recovery assistance.

The Army is serving not only those whose homes and belongings were damaged in the fire, but also those whose place of employment was affected, resulting in an inability to work and even layoffs.

Following the Waldo Canyon Fire and the High Park Fire—the two most destructive blazes in Colorado’s history—residents and responders are now cautioning another potential disaster”:

FIRES, page 6

“...there are individuals in The Salvation Army who have hurt others in the name of The Salvation Army, and they need to apologize.”

International Salvation Army leaders meet in Toronto

Apologies due

n General Linda Bond leads the International Congress of Leaders 2012.

BY JAMES KNAGGS, COMMISSIONER For some ways people have been treated in the precious movement known as The Salvation Army, they deserve an apology. This is not about me. The Salvation Army doesn’t owe me anything, but I know quite a few others who would do well to receive an apology.

Is it the movement that has offended?

Sometimes. There are systemic flaws that affect people and do harm. More commonly, there are individuals in The Salvation Army who have hurt others in the name of The Salvation Army, and they need to apologize.

If that’s you and you’re in the Western Territory, please trust me enough to contact me and see if we can give you the apology you deserve. We may not be able to fix the situation, but we may facilitate the healing. I believe that’s what Jesus would do.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt.

24:35 NIV).

From Knaggs’ blog TCspeak.com Communicate with Commissioner Knaggs through his blog or by email, james.knaggs@usw.salvationarmy.org.

General Linda Bond greets Mexican children outside the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City.

Photo courtesy of IHQ

Mexico Salvation Army celebrates 75 years n General Linda Bond leads Spirit-filled anniversary celebrations.

General Linda Bond led celebrations in June for the 75th anniversary of The Salvation Army’s ministry in Mexico. Touches of Mexican culture marked her visit, from her welcome at the airport by cadets and children dressed in traditional attire to mariachi music in worship and re-enactments of the Mexican Salvation Army’s early days.

Canadian Ambassador Sara Hradecky hosted a reception for the General and 90 invited guests, which included ambassadors, religious leaders and business people. A group of children from The Salvation Army's México City Children's Home performed cultural dances.

Ramses Beltran, an 8-year-old resident, shared how he MEXICO, page 8

“One Army on fire! One mission of love! One message of grace!” said General Linda Bond to the hundreds of Salvationists and friends gathered for the public welcome meeting of the 2012 International Conference of Leaders (ICL), held July 7-14, in Toronto, Canada, the General’s home country.

Western territorial leaders Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs were among the 127 participants—leaders of every Salvation Army territory and command, along with commissioners serving at International Headquarters and the USA national leaders.

The International Vision: One Army, One Mission, One Message, served as the conference theme.

Chief of the Staff Commissioner Barry Swanson salutes leaders gathered in Toronto.

Photo courtesy of IHQ

“The purpose of this ICL is for the leaders of the international Army to meet together to prayerfully and strategically consider the International Vision Plan [sar.my/one],” General Bond said. “The mission priorities of this plan form the basis of the presentations, focus group

LEADERS, page 4

Inside: Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Promoted to Glory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 From the Board Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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

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

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Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2012 New Frontier

NEWS BRIEFS OF THE WEST

His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lam. 3:2223 KJV).

OAKLAND, CALIF.— After The Gathering, Karen the Oakland ChinaGleason town corps family took a three-day trip Editor to Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon and Antelope Cave in Utah.

A volunteer—a professional photographer with no Christian background—was impressed by the way the youth helped the older folks and said he wanted his grandson to attend the corps so that he could grow up the way these young people have.

Major Grace Tse is the Chinatown corps officer.

HANAPEPE, HAWAII—Major Neil Saunders commissioned James Waldrep as the corps sergeant-major (CSM) at the Hanapepe Corps—the first CSM the corps has had in 18 years.

Majors Neil and Beth Saunders are interim corps officers at Hanapepe.

SPOKANE, WASH.—The Spokane Citadel Corps kicked off its Sunday evening outdoor worship and fellowship service, “Church in the Park,” at “Sally’s Park”—a grassy field on the corps campus—with a “School’s Out” celebration. The event featured a movie and popcorn; 175 people attended.

Major Lisa R. Smith and Captain Kyle Smith are the corps officers.

PHOENIX, ARIZ.—Although it has a strong senior program, the Valley of the Sun Korean Corps had no children’s program, so it started a summer study camp. Instructors teach math and Korean in the morning, and in the afternoon the children go to the Kroc Center for swimming and rock climbing. One family attended the Sunday holiness meeting because of its child’s involvement in the program.

Lts. Kihyun and Aeran Oh are the corps officers.

BELL, CALIF.—The Bell Lighthouse Corps held its first Celebrate Recovery Christian 12 Step meeting, with 25 in attendance. This was one of three goals for the year set by the corps during the corps review. The plan is to offer this meeting weekly in support of the overall ministry of the corps.

Envoy Roy Snapp-Kolas is in charge at the corps.

LEWISTON, IDAHO—The Salvation Army Family Store held a grand opening in its new 12,000-square-foot facility—almost twice the size of its previous location and close to the corps building. “With more space, we can sell more merchandise,” said Corps Officer Captain Ralph Guthrie. “We can fund more programs to help more people.”

The corps building is the former Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

The Salvation Army acquired and renovated the property.

WESTERN TERRITORY—The video of the world premiere of the musical “Spirit! II: Empire”—performed by the Southern California Division June 8 at The Gathering—may be viewed at the SA Dropbox: http://tiny.cc/z1a1gw.

Lodi’s Hope Harbor Emergency Shelter celebrates n Shelter’s four phases are complete, thanks to community help. .

BY SYDNEY FONG The Salvation Army in Lodi, Calif., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 20 for its Hope Harbor Emergency Shelter, celebrating the facility’s completion with the official opening of three new units for single parents.

“In the past, we were just able to help adult men and women [with the shelter program],” said Captain Dan Williams, Lodi corps officer. “We were getting three to four phone calls a week asking if we had something for single parents. Now if you’re a father with a child or mother with a child, we can assist with your needs.”

The new single parent family program allows participants to stay at the shelter for up to 56 days per calendar year. The family units were constructed in what used to be the Hope Harbor shelter warehouse.

“We had these new units in mind five years ago,” Williams said. “But we really needed to finish up some other shelter projects before taking on the new units.”

The Salvation Army raised $380,000 for the final phase of the shelter project: $194,000 from the city of Lodi Community Development Block Grant Funding, $118,000 from the public, $33,000 from Meehleis Modular, and $25,000 from the Michael David Foundation.

(L-r) Advisory Board member Pat Patrick, San Joaquin County Supervisor Ken Vogel, Del Oro Divisional Commander Major Bill Dickinson, Lodi Corps Officer Captain Dan Williams, Lodi Mayor Joanne Mounce, Captain Kim Williams and City Clerk Randi Johl, who made the first donation to the shelter’s final phase.

Photo by Sydney Fong

“It takes a community to get this done and Lodi is a special community,” said Lodi Mayor Joanne Mounce. “The Lodi City Council and the city are pleased to have played a small part in it. I’m glad we came together to do this.”

In addition to the new units, this final phase of the shelter program includes a classroom for the shelter’s culinary program and a workout room for program participants and staff.

“We didn’t have the best setting to host the culinary arts program,” Williams said.

“This new room does that. And we also wanted to have a gym so our participants and staff will be helped spiritually, mentally and now, physically.”

Originally built in 2003, the shelter expanded over the years to include 20 beds for homeless men, 28 beds for homeless women, 16 beds for a transitional living center and a culinary arts program.

Expect Change expands its reach n Features stories of redemption, courage, and love

(L-r) Karin Donaldson, president of the Women’s Auxiliary; Major Patty Brookes, new program coordinator and chaplain at the Door of Hope; Majors Michele and Lee Lescano, Sierra del Mar divisional leaders; Colonel Dave Hudson, chief secretary Photo by Ashlee Gonclaves-Hilinski

Door of Hope to offer more housing n Construction begins on San Diego’s new transitional living center.

BY ASHLEE GONCLAVES-HILINSKI The Salvation Army in San Diego kicked off construction of 24 new apartments for homeless mothers and their children at the Door of Hope campus on June 26.

Tanya Pemberton, a Door of Hope graduate, shared her story of how becoming homeless and staying at the Door of Hope turned out to be “the best year of my life.” She was part of a ceremony that acknowledged the donors making this project a reality, including Joan Waitt, Betty and Bob Beyster of the Beyster Family Foundation, Betty Ann Hoehn, Barbara and George Snodgrass-Mau, Leigha Hudson, Bill Gibbs and Joyce Glazer. Following the ceremony, guests toured the campus.

The centerpiece of the six-acre Door of Hope campus will be the new Transitional Living Center—four houses with six units each, totaling 12 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom apartments—along with a common house for offices, meetings, education and recreation, plus a 5,400-square-foot playground.

The $11.5 million Door of Hope Campaign plan includes $7.4 million for construction, permits and furnishings, and $4.1 million for endowment. The new apartments are scheduled for completion

by Matalon Architecture & Planning and Swinerton Builders within nine to 12 months.

BY KATHY LOVIN Members of The Salvation Army’s advisory board were asked which part of the recent meeting was the most impactful and meaningful. Almost to the person, they answered: “the video testimonies about lives changed through the work of The Salvation Army.”

There’s something about the personal stories of God’s love and the transformation possible when we trust him with our lives that speaks to all of us. We just can’t get enough.

Since a recent study showed that Facebook and YouTube are the top two online hangouts, The Salvation Army in the Western U.S. launched a project to feature video testimonies distributed through those two sites.

The video testimonies will be hosted on YouTube and then posted to our Facebook page for ease of sharing via your own social networks.

When you see one of our Expect Change videos in your Facebook feed, just click the “share” button to add it to your page. You’ll be helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and an encouraging word about how The Salvation Army can help people who are struggling or are in crisis.

Each story is told from a single perspective: that of the person whose life has been touched by The Salvation Army. We’ll hear from people who have received service from one of our ministries, soldiers who have committed to lay ministry with the Army, or officers and members of our staff who began their Army association on the receiving end of one of our programs.

One such testimony is from David McDaniel. He’s now a lieutenant in The Salvation Army, having completed our officer training school last year. He and his wife Lt. Shawn McDaniel just took leadership of our Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Canoga Park, Calif.

McDaniel grew up in a Christian family but got off track when his parents split up. At one time, he had all the trappings of a life funded by illegal activity.

When his behavior finally caught up to him, he knew God wanted his attention the moment the police officer slapped the handcuffs on his wrists. The court’s referral to The Salvation Army ARC in San Jose was exactly what he needed.

To view McDaniel’s transformational story and others like it, visit facebook.com/expectchange.

From salvationarmyexpectchange.org

newAppointments COLLEGE FOR OFFICER TRAINING Captain Emily Jones, Field Training Officer, effective July 8 ALASKA DIVISION Envoy Donna Bakke, In-Charge—Kake Corps, effective Aug. 1

Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2012 New Frontier

3

Siemon Center salutes its kids n Center holds first-ever awards banquet and a preschool graduation.

BY RACHEL VASQUEZ The Salvation Army Siemon Family Youth and Community Center in South Los Angeles recently held its first-ever awards banquet, followed by its preschool graduation a week later.

At the banquet, the center acknowledged more than 50 children for achievement in academics, sports and recreation (including the center’s basketball teams), technology and the performing arts. While parents and friends applauded, each child received a medal and a certificate. The center’s dance team, led by Patrice Walker, performed four numbers: an African dance, a duet, a lyrical dance and a praise routine.

“Many of these kids seldom receive praise or acknowledgement for any good things they do,” said Mortimer Jones, center director. “We want to develop children, molding them to be proud young men and women, and recognizing them publicly.

We want them to know that the sky's the limit and that they are not losers, but rather trailblazers. Even though we recognize the kids throughout the year for various other things, we want this banquet to be an annual affair that parents and kids look forward to.”

A week later, the center’s 28 graduating preschool students, dressed in graduation gowns, took to the stage for their ceremony. The children announced what they had learned in preschool and what they wanted to be when they grow up.

“What I learned in preschool is to count to 100,” said Joel Godinez, age 5. “And when I grow up I want to be a policeman.”

The celebration ended with the kids singing farewell to the teachers and the center.

The Siemon Center, where over 200 kids can often be seen running around, offers love and opportunity to children in South Los Angeles. Since it opened in June 2003, it has served over 50,000 individuals with programs including child care, an after-school program, a family service center, a gym, a dance studio and a computer lab.

Colonels Terry and Linda Griffin

Preschool graduate Joshua Escobedo, age 4, demonstrates his new knowledge of American Sign Language. He hopes to someday be a doctor.

Photo by Rachel Vasquez

n Western officers Colonels Terry and Linda Griffin retire from appointments in the Southern Territory.

BY DAN CHILDS

The Heat, champions in the Sooper Hoopers basketball league, accept their awards. (L-r) Andre Patterson, Tyler Powell, Nicholas Jones, Asia Cofield, Christopher Quintero, Aaron Bradford and Mortimer Jones.

Photo by Errol Brendford

Salvation Army helps reunite family n Western Territory’s Missing Persons office connects a ‘Booth baby’ and mother.

BY LOIS SELLERS Barbara, born at the Booth Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles in 1960 and adopted at birth, contacted the Missing Persons department at Territorial Headquarters hoping to reunite with her birth mother. She obtained non-identifying information about her birth from the adoption agency, including her birthplace, which is what led her to us and a confidential search for her birth mother.

At 22, Barbara learned that she was adopted. As a young child, she lost her adoptive mother and was raised by her adoptive father who did not reveal that she was adopted.

An avid genealogist, Barbara did an extensive family tree on her adoptive family and wanted to develop a history on her birth family as well.

When we located a current address for her birth mother, Barbara prepared a note and photo that were to be made available if the birth mother confirmed that she was the correct party. Dorla, the birth mother, called our office immediately upon receiving our letter.

“My heart is racing,” Dorla said. “She can ask me anything.

[I am] an open book. God is good! Please tell her that there will be no question about this reunion.”

After receiving Dorla’s signed and notarized authorization

Two territories salute Griffins in retirement

Barbara’s newfound family: (l-r) sister Teresa, brother Larry, Barbara, mother Dorla, brother Fred and Fred’s stepson Photo by Mark Colp

form, I released all of Barbara’s contact information to her. Following their phone contact, Barbara called me, saying that her birth mother sounded really “fun,” and that she felt like she’d known her all her life. Barbara and her husband planned a trip from Northern to Southern California to visit her.

Following the visit, I received an update from both Barbara and Dorla. As Dorla put it, “Only a newborn baby could have topped this...and, in a way, Barbara is a newborn to me!”

Seven Western Territory officers recently graduated from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colo., with bachelor’s degrees.

Shown to the right of Major Jeff Martin, territorial education secretary, and Major Eloisa Martin, assistant secretary for personnel, are graduates (l-r) Captain David Leonard, Captain Courtney Stratton, Captain Harold Laubach, Jr., Captain James E. Lloyd, Captain Stephanie Childs (Eastern Territory), Captain Dianne Ebel with Dr. Gary W. Streit, Nazarene’s vice president for academic affairs. Not pictured are Captain Jill Steiner and Captain Osei Stewart, who also graduated.

Photo by David Church

Western Territory officers Colonels Terry and Linda Griffin recently entered honored retirement after 42 years of service in The Salvation Army. They served most of their careers in the West; however, their most recent appointments took them to the Southern Territory, where they served five years as chief secretary (Terry Griffin) and territorial women’s ministries secretary (Linda Griffin).

Family and friends from both territories joined them on June 3 to celebrate their retirement with a dinner and ceremony at the Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts Ballroom in Atlanta, Ga. The Griffins received a certificate of retirement from Commissioner David Jeffrey, Southern territorial commander. Commissioner Ronald Irwin, former Western territorial commander, spoke words of tribute to the Griffins and challenged them to approach their retirement as “your next appointment,” and to continue to be active and effective Christian witnesses. Lt. Colonel John Roy Jones presided over the event.

The Griffins’ children Tim (Melissa), Todd (Lavonne), Troy (Heidi) and Melissa (Mark) shared recollections of Griffin family history in a video presentation, and the grandchildren joined in as well, expressing their own best wishes and congratulations to their grandparents. Following the video, the Griffins’ children also honored their parents in a special song.

Both Terry and Linda Griffin are the children of Salvation Army officer parents.

They entered training from the Seattle Temple Corps and were commissioned with the Undaunted Session in 1970. They were corps officers for 10 years, serving in Washington and Hawaii before an appointment of four years in youth ministry in Seattle. The next phase of their service took them to Southern California, where they served at the officer training facility and on the Southern California divisional staff. They later returned to the training school as principal and director of special services and campus life.

From Southern California, they were appointed to Alaska to serve as divisional leaders and later to the Pacific Northwest as divisional leaders. Later, they returned to Southern California to serve at Western Territorial Headquarters as program secretary and corps ministries secretary for two years. They were appointed to leadership positions in the Southern Territory in 2007.

In retirement, the Griffins will reside in Castle Rock, Colo.

From Southern Spirit

4

Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2012 New Frontier

Chicago Kroc Center’s grand opening n Center brings hope to Chicago community.

More than 4,000 Chicagoans attended the grand opening of the long-awaited Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center on June 16. The 167,000-squarefoot center has the city’s largest array of sports, arts and educational programs for the public.

“When there is no vision, the people perish,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

“The Salvation Army had a vision. As we bring people together, there is a spirit of family, a spirit of community. There is violence in our neighborhoods. We need to end the silence and speak out…we can do it as a community.”

Funded in large part by the late Joan

Kroc as well as community partners and supporters, the facility offers a sports training center, aquatic center, arts academy, educational center and chapel.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony brought together representatives from The Salvation Army, elected officials, community residents and donors.

A special presentation from Joan Kroc’s granddaughter, Amanda Latimer, included her grandmother’s words, “Serve others joyously and your reward will be great.

Carry with you the message of charity and brotherly love.”

The Salvation Army hopes the new center will curb violence in the West Pullman community, create jobs and offer a place of peace and safety for area children.

The exterior of the new Kroc Center in Chicago Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Chicago Metropolitan Division

Pathway of Hope

(L-r) Robert Frye, Mandi Stewart, Karl Bush, Ashley Delamar, Captains John and Andrea Sikes

Café turned mission station n Southern Territory uses new way to reach youth.

Salvation Army Captains John and Andrea Sikes in Greenville, N.C., have formed one of the first mission stations in the Southern Territory, renovating an old café.

“We will be offering contemporary worship services, perhaps at non-traditional times and days of the week to individuals who would come to an old café, but never dream of stepping foot into a building with a steeple,” John Sikes said. “It will allow us to reach out to a generation that finds the church to be not relevant to their community.”

Ashley Delamar, divisional development director, concurred, “The Salvation Army wants to be hip and cool to a point where we want to be an environment where people want to come and worship.

So this is very much a model for us.”

In the territory, mission stations can be opened and run by any soldier who is willing to reach others for Jesus in new ways, and a $5,000 grant is available through territorial headquarters to defray the costs of establishment. One must be a local officer or retired officer, have the local corps officer sign off on the proposal and send it to divisional headquarters for approval.

From Southern Spirit

n Helping to break the poverty cycle The Salvation Army’s new Pathway of Hope program in Kansas City is targeting families with children who are repeat emergency assistance applicants, providing long-term care toward financial stability. The program was partially funded by a $3 million grant from the Hall Family Foundation.

Pathway of Hope features one-on-one counseling, life skills training and resources specifically designed for a family’s unique situation to help increase stability and self-sufficiency. The program will seek deep connections with program beneficiaries in order to pinpoint the root causes of poverty within the home and build hope at each step of the process toward independence.

If successful, the goal is to initiate the Pathway of Hope in 30 additional corps throughout the coming year.

LEADERS

The Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Grass Hut (pictured above) was originally on the grounds of Princess Ka’iulani’s estate in Waikiki. Stevenson used it as a writing retreat during the six months of the year that he spent in Hawaii. When it went up for auction in the 1920s, The Salvation Army bid highest. The Army relocated it to its campus in Manoa and placed next to the Waioli Tea Room. The hut was flattened during a 2003 windstorm but was recently rebuilt with the help of dedicated volunteers led by Clarence Ing and materials from the University of Hawaii’s Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences department. Repairs to the hut are now complete and the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Grass Hut is available for viewing on The Salvation Army’s Manoa Valley campus.

Photo by Daniel de Castro

from page 1

discussions and recommendations.”

Knaggs, reflecting on leadership while at the conference, wrote: “Officers, local officers, employees and volunteers represent the leaders in The Salvation Army. ...We must lead as Jesus would lead with love, respect and purpose.”

Delegates presented papers on Women, Ministry and Leadership; Self-Denial and Self Support; Teaching Resources; Youth and Children; Evangelism and Discipleship; Leadership; The Marginalized; and Integrated Mission.

In her presentation on Women, Ministry and Leadership, Commissioner Sue Swanson (world president of women’s ministries) challenged the leaders regarding theology and practice, not only concerning women in ministry, but also regarding marriage and leadership within The Salvation Army’s organizational structures. She explained that the Army’s systems and structures contain barriers to married women officers being considered for certain leadership positions. The legacy of Catherine Booth, she added, is a gift from God that the Army should cherish and continue to

General Linda Bond leads the conference.

Photo courtesy of IHQ

develop. Delegates expressed many suggestions of how to do that in the plenary session.

Sessions were translated into Indonesian, French, Spanish and Korean. The July 8 public welcome meeting was live streamed and is still available online (salvationarmy.org/ihq/icl).

The last ICL occurred in London in 2009.

During the past two decades, ICLs were also held in New Jersey (2004), Atlanta (2000), Melbourne, Australia (1998), and Hong Kong (1995).

View daily reports from the ICL at salvationist.org.

From an international news release.

The World

Doing the Most Good

Poland soon to designate Salvation Army as registered charity n The Warsaw Corps experiences a change in favor and funding.

The Salvation Army in Poland, part of the Germany and Lithuania Territory, is growing in both numbers and government favor as the Army is in the process of becoming a registered charity. This will add credibility to its public image and allow taxpayers to designate a percentage of their tax funds to the Army.

“We are experiencing a season of blessing as we focus on Christ’s mandate of proclamation and discipleship.”said Major Patrick Granat, a USA Western Territory officer serving in Poland with his wife Captain Kitty Granat as Warsaw regional officer and Warsaw corps officer, respectively.

Initially, the Polish government denied the Warsaw Corps’ request for funding to cover operating expenses for its children’s center. After an official inspection of youth programs in Warsaw, the Kids’ Klub appeared on the mayor’s list of best-performing programs, and the attitude at the Youth Service department altered, resulting in a grant of 50,000 Zlotys ($14,925 US) to The Salvation Army. This contract will increase in 2013, and is authorized for the next three years.

Since receiving the grant, the children’s center expanded its programming—staying open longer, adding a daily meal program, and inaugurating a summer camp program. The grant also helps pay for the center’s rent, supplies, utilities and staff salaries.

Along with government funding, donations from the community have risen. The Granats hope this increase will lead to a reduction of reliance on support from International Headquarters and ultimately self-reliance for the region.

Young People’s Sergeant Major Tetyana Panauiuk with kids during “Cowboy Day” Photo by Kitty Lui-Granat

A generous Mission Project donation from another Salvation Army territory enabled the Warsaw Corps to purchase a van, now used to pick up food from the Warsaw Food Bank and carry young people to activities. One of the corps’ contacts, who owns a horse ranch, offered free rides to the youth allowing the corps to transport kids there.

The Warsaw Bible Society offered The Salvation Army a discounted rate on 20 new Bibles and donated 2,500 gospel tracts to the Army for distribution at June’s Euro Cup games. The tract label featured a Scripture reference and displayed the Army shield as a tulip flower, similar to the official logo for the games.

Salvation Army to minister at the Olympics n Western Territory’s mission team departs for London July 25.

BY KAREN GLEASON Salvation Army mission teams from all corners of the globe will travel to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (July 27-Aug. 12), where they will minister under the umbrella of More Than Gold, which unites faith-based organizations and church denominations to express Christian purpose and example at major sporting events.

The Salvation Army will maintain a water distribution program during the Games, offering not only water to drink but also the means to quench the soul’s spiritual thirst.

Representing the Western Territory are young adults: Andrew Fries, team leader (Gresham Corps, Cascade Division), Carmen Magdaleno (Modesto Citadel, Golden State Division), Amber Ulery (Kenai Corps, Alaska Division), Maryellen Walters (Kahului Corps, Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division), Mathijs Arens (South San Francisco Corps, Golden State Division), and Marianna Kleemann (Whittier Corps, Southern California Division). The team departs for London July 25 and returns Aug. 3. Team members will be posting to a blog on sayconnect.com.

The Salvation Army in the U.K. has a major part to play in the Games, with the Army’s Hadleigh Farm in South Essex hosting the mountain bike event Aug. 11-12.

Cyclists from Bromley Corps (l-r) Iain Price, Ollie Nunn, Laurence Pallant and Luke Nunn) prepare to take the London South-East Division prayer torch to New Addington Photo by Brent Forrest

The Sutton Corps will serve as a welcome center, where hosts will meet guests (athletes and families) when they arrive in the country. International Headquarters may also be used as a hospitality center, where athletes can meet with their families in a safe and calm environment.

While the Olympic Torch Relay made its way around the U.K., some Salvation Army

divisions in England organized their own relay, passing a “prayer torch” between corps and other centers. Every time the torch was passed on, the recipients were encouraged to pray for the work of the center they received it from and also for wherever it was going next.

The More than Gold team based at the U.K. and Republic of Ireland territorial headquarters (THQ) in London encouraged Salvation Army corps and centers to use the torch relay as a way to remind their communities of the Army's presence while demonstrating Christian love and hospitality. One way of doing this was to send out The Salvation Army’s emergency vehicles (canteens) to offer refreshments. The fair trade company Traidcraft provided free tea and coffee.

Special issues of The War Cry and Kids Alive! were produced and distributed at no cost at torch relay events and will be available during the Games. The Kids Alive! special edition was so popular that a reprint was necessary.

For details on the torch relay participants, including Salvationists, and route—and to watch a live-stream of the relay—go to london2012.com/torch-relay.

Updates on The Salvation Army's Olympic and Paralympic-related work can be found on the Sport for Good (the territorial sports ministry section) Facebook and Twitter pages: facebook.com/SASportforGood and twitter.com/SportforGood.

Thousands flee Democratic Republic of Congo n The Salvation Army assists people fleeing conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thousands fled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into neighboring Rwanda and Uganda due to ongoing instability and violence in the country, and The Salvation Army responded to the needs of both internally displaced people and refugees.

In Mugunga Camp, DRC, The

Salvation Army provided food to almost 10,000 people and more food is urgently needed.

“There is a great need for food,” said Captain Dieudonné Tsilulu after a visit to the camp, “because other organizations have not yet started food distribution.”

Plastic sheets are also needed to provide at some basic form of shelter.

In Rwanda, The Salvation Army started two projects: one to distribute clothes and supplemen-

tary food to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in refugee camps; the other, to address the provision of medication, since many of the displaced people suffer from major health issues. Both projects were implemented in coordination with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN agencies working in the camps.

Uganda also saw an influx of refugees. The Salvation Army provided food and drinking water

to 6,000 refugees, and planned further relief projects. A team deployed by the Army's International Emergency Services traveled to Uganda to assist with the task, including Major Comfort Adepojou, Nigeria; Major Ray Mackereth, the U.K.; and Willemijn Bijl, The Netherlands.

Donate to the Africa Disaster Fund online at salvationarmy.org.

From International Emergency Services

July 13, 2012 New Frontier

5

Elsewhere in the world

SWITZERLAND—The Salvation Army’s annual Family and Sports Days took place June 16-17 at the Sports Centre Grien in Lyss. Besides providing time for relaxation and family fun, the event offered the opportunity to participate in a football or volleyball tournament.

From salvationarmy.ch

UKRAINE—In June, the Kirovograd Corps held a festival to mark the International Day for Protection of Children. Children from the neighborhood, a local organization for children with disabilities, and a local orphanage attended.

The celebration included games and competitions with the children and their parents and guardians, and concluded with gifts and ice cream. Corps staff members invited all the children and their parents or guardians to the Sunday program.

From Facebook: Salvation Army Ukraine

THE PHILIPPINES—Chief of Staff Commissioner Barry C. Swanson and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Sue Swanson led the 75th anniversary celebrations of The Salvation Army in The Philippines.

Nearly 500 youth attended the youth congress kickoff.

Saturday afternoon included a praise party in the park subsequent to medical teams dispensing free medication and health advice.

The Sunday service included enrollment of 150 senior soldiers, a dance by residents of Bethany Children’s Home, and 75 officers reading Scripture in six Filipino languages.

From Lt. Colonel Robyn Clinch

U.K.—Hoping to encourage people to return to The Salvation Army, the Morriston Corps formed a community band consisting of present and past corps members.

Bandmaster Lyndon Kervin anticipated that corps non-attendees would be comfortable in an informal setting. He and Derek Brown, band secretary, assembled a large group.

The musicians gave a concert, presenting swing and film music with pieces from The Great Escape and Saving Private Ryan, then contrasted those numbers with “The Pearl” and “Sing Hosannah.”

From Salvationist

ITALY—Chief of Staff Commissioner Barry C. Swanson and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Sue Swanson joined the Italy and Greece Command in Rome to celebrate 125 years of Salvation Army ministry in Italy.

Congress events included a concert in St. Peter’s Square featuring the France and Belgium Territorial Band, workshops, an open-air meeting, a women's rally and a concert at the Waldensian Church.

From Lt. Colonel Daniel Naud

PAGE 6—NEW FRONTIER • July 13, 2012

FIRES

From page 1

floods. The Salvation Army is assisting the National Guard in assembling sandbags in preparation for possible flooding from expected rain. The Salvation Army is also gathering teams and supplies in case flooding and mudslides do occur in burn areas.

Cadet James Parks, who is leading an Emergency Disaster Service (EDS) team in Grand Junction, Colo., said, “Everyone has been really grateful of the Army’s work” ­—everyone, including the leader of the free world. While touring the damage caused by the blaze, President Barack Obama visited the YMCA where Parks was working.

“I said, ‘Hi Mr. President, it’s an honor to meet you and thank you for all the work you do,’” Parks said. “He put his hands on my shoulders, looked at my uniform because I was in full uniform and said, ‘Salvation Army...no, I thank you for all you do. You are on these lines doing this every day. God bless you.’...It was one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me.”

Obama also promised federal assistance for the Waldo Canyon Fire during his visit.

"We're going to continue to make sure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Forest Service, our military and National Guard and all the resources that we have available at the federal level are brought to bear in fighting this fire," he said in his weekly address when the fire was only 15 percent contained.

Commissioner James Knaggs, The Salvation Army’s Western territorial commander, also made a special visit July 2 to many of the relief and burn locations within Colorado Springs.

Accompanied by Intermountain Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Daniel Starrett, Knaggs visited two canteen operations providing meals, drinks and emotional care and support to Waldo Canyon fire survivors and first responders.

“I want you to know how grateful we are for what you are doing today,” Knaggs said to the relief teams.

The two mobile feeding units were staffed by local volunteers and emergency response teams from New Mexico and Montana. During his visit, Knaggs prayed with each volunteer group and shared words of encouragement with those who had served tirelessly since the fire outbreak in late June. Afterward, Knaggs and a small team of Salvation Army officials surveyed one of the neighborhoods affected by the devastating fire.

Robyn Morgan, coordinator of the Emotional Spiritual Care Team for EDS, has been volunteering since the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina came to Denver in 2005. She said she loves volunteering for evacuees, survivors and first responders because it inspires her.

“We were working with a man who had to evacuate his house,” Morgan said. “On the same day he found out his house got destroyed, he was also diagnosed with cancer. His faith was still so strong. It was amazing.”

Claudia Jackson, who works at The Salvation Army office in Grand Junction, was called into action to serve on a disaster relief team in Colorado Springs. She worked closely with a family who also lost their house to the blaze.

“Both of the parents have talked to us about getting involved with The Salvation Army’s [Emergency Disaster Services] once they are back in a place so that they can give back to others,” Jackson said. “They realized that there are people who care about others and want to help. They want share and give back as part of their healing process.”

Emphasizing that The Salvation Army will not desert the scene, Sherry Manson, Intermountain divisional EDS director, said, “This is going to be a long process and people are going to need some long-term help."

Several businesses, including Old Park Pizza and Albertson’s Market, donated food and money to the Army’s relief efforts, which includes providing over 31,000 meals since the start of this fire season.

"The best thing [people] can do for us is to make a financial gift," Manson said, adding that people have also been generous in volunteering. You can donate online at imsalvationarmy.org, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or send a check earmarked “Disaster Relief” or “Wild Fires” to your local Salvation Army office.

Photos courtesy of the Intermountain Division.

Find more photos at flickr.com/photos/tsaintermountain

JULY 13, 2012 • NEW FRONTIER—PAGE 7

8

Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2012

Revolution Hawaii continues to show love n Team members befriend Charley and help him heal.

Steve and Kris Pyatt celebrate their 25th anniversary by volunteering.

Photo by Sydney Fong

Hitting hunger head-on n The Salvation Army of Alameda County partners with Feed The Children.

BY SYDNEY FONG The Salvation Army of Alameda County, Calif., partnered June 5 with Feed The Children, an international hunger relief organization, for the fifth consecutive year of helping eradicate hunger in the East Bay with food and personal care boxes.

At the Oakland Coliseum parking lot, volunteers gave pre-identified families a 25-pound box of food and a 10-pound box of personal care items—each designed to last up to one week.

“This helps families who are up against it during these tough times,” said Major Joe Hoogstad, Alameda County coordinator. “It’s also a way to encourage people who are struggling.”

The distribution is part of Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped thousands of families across the country since 2009.

“This will help a lot,” said Alicia, a mother of three.

“We don’t have to go shopping [this week], so it helps with the budget.”

Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics sponsored the delivery of the provisions, while Feed The Children purchased the food and hygiene products.

Around 50 people volunteered to help, including Steve and Kris Pyatt, who celebrated their 25th anniversary by giving back to their community.

“I wanted to do something special,” Steve Pyatt said.

“We’ve been blessed, and I can’t think of a better way to help others than volunteering like this.”

Hoogstad said the joint venture and working in collaboration with other agencies is valuable. “You have an organization like Feed The Children, which is able to get things donated or purchase things at a reduced cost,” he said, “and you have The Salvation Army creating the manpower and getting those items out to the people.”

John Larsson plays Glory! and The Blood of the Lamb n Third in the series of CDs is now available.

The third in the series of CDs featuring General John Larsson (Ret.) playing piano arrangements of songs from the Gowans and Larsson musicals has now been released. The CD highlights music from their two musicals based on Salvation Army history and comes complete with a 32page book of the lyrics by General John Gowans (Ret.).

Glory! brings to the stage the classic stories of earlyday Army life told by Edward Joy in The Old Corps, and features songs like “There is a message,” “When the glory gets into your soul” and “As high as the sky.”

The Blood of the Lamb is based on Vachel Lindsay’s epic poem “General William Booth Enters Into Heaven,” and, fittingly in this the centenary year of the Founder’s promotion to Glory, portrays William Booth leading into heaven the great multitude he has won for Christ. Songs include “There’s only one flag for me” and “They shall come from the east, they shall come from the west.”

For sample tracks and further information about the CD series visit johnlarsson.com.

John Larsson plays Glory! and The Blood of the Lamb is available from tradewest.com.

BY JOE NOLAND, COMMISSIONER The current team in Revolution Hawaii (RevHi)—a one-year program of service for young adults (18-29) in an urban setting and in summer deployments to underdeveloped countries —recently spent a few nights living homeless on the streets of Honolulu.

They met Charley, a partially paralyzed drunk who spent his life atop a flattened cardboard box, begging for change.

With his long, scraggly hair and beard, he looked far older than he was.

“The first time I met Charley” said Rob Noland, RevHi director, “he was being carried into our Upper Room service [a ministry geared toward young adults and people in recovery and their families] by team members who placed him on one of the front row pews.

The smell was overpowering, causing everyone to move far back into the chapel, except for those few brave team members, sitting with arms around him so that he wouldn’t feel alone. Locating a battered wheelchair, they wheeled him back week after week.”

Five years earlier, a fight left Charley with bleeding in the brain that led to a stroke and paralysis of the right side of his body. Suffering deep depression, he decided to drink himself to death.

Unable to get to a bathroom, he soiled his clothing, and had no means to bathe or shower. The team found him this way every week.

Charley loved coming to Upper Room, and the fellowship and food that followed. One evening he said that the lasagna Ernie Ing bought at Sam’s Club was “the best homemade lasagna I have

MEXICO

Revolution Hawaii member Bill Sawyer checks up on ‘Mean’ Dean during Sunday night homeless outreach.

Photo by Rob Noland

ever tasted!”

During his fifth week, Charley said he wanted to get into a clean and sober house. John, a RevHi team member, took him to the dorms, helping him to bathe, shave and outfitting him with a set of clean clothes. Charley looked 15 years younger, and shared his life story; he had come to Hawaii to work on geothermal wells, got married and divorced, and had children and grandchildren.

Through the team’s efforts, Charley

was accepted into a clean and sober house. Now, five months later, his infected foot is healed; he walks with a cane, speaks clearly and praises God joyfully. He leads Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and is looking forward to reuniting with his children and grandchildren. Charley is a true 21st century trophy of grace.

For more information about Revolution Hawaii, visit revolutionhawaii.com.

from page 1

and his three siblings had been abandoned, ultimately ending up at the Army facility. “Now,” he said, “I have found friends, have good food, clothes, education and I am learning all about Jesus. I have everything I need.”

At the Salvationist celebration on Friday, 1,200 delegates watched as the General enrolled 97 new junior soldiers and 94 senior soldiers. She encouraged the congregation to thank God for the past, be committed in the present and believe for the future.

During the meeting, four outposts received corps status.

After Territorial Leaders Commissioners David and Grace Bringans donated a new territorial flag, flag bearers—cadets and a youth mission team from the USA Southern Territory—presented every corps officer with a new, nameembroidered flag and metal pole, gifts from the Southern Territory.

Joining the Mexico City musicians were 13 musicians from the Texas Divisional Band.

At the women’s rally Saturday morning, General Bond wore a brightly colored Mexican scarf with matching shawl.

After speaking about how her older sister had cared for her, she moved to stand by 95-year-old wheelchair-bound Margarita Martínez. Years ago, Marínez’s husband forbade her to attend the Army in Alvarado, but that one time she disobeyed him. The result of that disobedience is a family with 105 Salvationists, including officers and a cadet currently in training.

The General pinned her own brooch on the matriarch, thanking her for her obedience to God and her example to her family.

Men's and children's rallies also took place. Approximately 350 children attended their event with 74 making commitments to Jesus.

Again in traditional Mexican attire, General Bond attended Saturday evening’s “Mexico on Parade” event, featuring re-enactments of the Army’s beginnings in Mexico.

The General presented a new territorial award—the “Alejandro Guzmán Award”—to Major Angela Tavares and Maria Guerrero for their pioneering service in Mexico.

On Sunday, the Friends of Christ Session was commissioned, ordained and appointed. General Bond brought the message at the meetings, focusing on the International Vision of “One Army, One Mission, One Message,” and giving examples of the Army’s worldwide work, emphasizing that its mission remains that of Jesus Christ.

Commissioner David Bringans, Ramses Beltran and General Linda Bond

Photo courtesy of IHQ

Bringans presented “Others” awards to people and businesses that supported The Salvation Army in Mexico. The General conducted the retirement ceremony for the Bringans, who retired after 42 years and five months of service in eight countries.

After giving the new lieutenants their first appointments, Bringans welcomed 14 accepted candidates for the next session and 23 others who publicly acknowledged God’s call to officership. Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel Douglas Danielson—a USA Western Territory officer serving abroad—gave the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session their summer training appointments.

In her final message, General Bond exhorted everyone to bring sinners to salvation, in the realization that only Jesus can break the chains of sin forever. “This is the message we all should share!” she said.

More than 300 adults and 266 youth made life-changing decisions during the congress.

From a report by Commissioner Grace Bringans

Doing the Most Good

Major Marjorie Akin, 73, was promoted to Glory April 24, from Modesto, Calif.

Marjorie Helen Tibbens was born March 22, 1939, in Neosho, Mo., to Homer and Oral Kathleen Tibbens.

She was a Salvation Army officer for 27 years, serving with her husband, Gerry, until his death in 1993. They served at corps in Juneau, Haines, Anchorage and Wrangell, Alaska; and in Redding, Merced, Napa and Eureka, Calif.

After her husband’s promotion to Glory, Akin continued on in appointments at the Eureka Corps and the El Sobrante Silvercrest until her retirement in 2001. In retirement, she was active in the Modesto Corps and led home Bible studies.

Akin is survived by three daughters: Jeanette Hayward, Laura Akin and Jennifer Akin; four grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; and her sister, Johnnie Mae Tibbens.

Major Frank Brown officiated at a memorial service at the Franklin and Downs Colonial Chapel in Modesto. Her interment was at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka.

Lt. Colonel Elnora McIntyre, 91, was promoted to Glory April 21 from Novato, Calif.

Elnora Torgerson was born in Beloit, Wis., March 31, 1921, to a Salvation Army family. At 24, she entered the School for Officer Training in San Francisco and was commissioned with the Fearless Session in 1945.

Torgerson’s first appointment, in 1946, was as assistant at the San Diego Temple Corps. In 1947 she received an appointment in the Missing Persons department at territorial headquarters (THQ) in San Francisco.

In 1947, Torgerson married Capt.

Charles McIntyre. The couple remained at THQ in various appointments until their retirement in 1977.

Upon retirement, the McIntyres moved to Sonoma, Calif., where they lived until Charles McIntyre’s promotion to Glory in 2006, after which Elnora McIntyre moved to Novato.

Mcintyre is survived by her three sons: Charles, Jr., William (Roberta) and Donald (Carol); 11 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

The Santa Rosa, Calif., corps held a memorial service May 19 with Major Ralph Hood officiating. A private family graveside service took place at Cypress Lawn in Colma, Calif.

Edward Eugene World was promoted to Glory March 21 from Mesa, Ariz.

World was born Jan. 13, 1935, in Ventura, Calif., and grew up in Honolulu, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.

An accomplished musician, he played cornet in the Sacramento Corps Band and attended Salvation Army music camp at Camp Redwood Glen (Scotts Valley, Calif.) where he conducted the band concert.

World attended the School for Officer Training in San Francisco and was commissioned with the Soul-Winners Session in 1955. He met his wife, Helen, while in training and they married in 1957. The Worlds received appointments in eight states during their years of service.

July 13, 2012

World served as bandmaster at the Long Beach (Calif.) Temple Corps and joined the Vintage Brass Band in Southern California, playing the alto horn, after his years as an officer. He later became bandmaster for the Mesa Citadel Corps. He also played the euphonium, piano and ukulele.

World is survived by his wife, Helen; brothers Jim, Bob and Tom; children Susan, Alan and Steven; and five grandchildren.

Mesa Citadel held a celebration of life April 22. Major Michael Nule officiated alongside Tom World.

Major Sven Oscar Youngquist, 84, was promoted to Glory April 21 from Menifee, Calif.

Youngquist was born in San Diego March 25, 1928, to Sven Oscar and Ranghild Maria Youngquist. When he was a boy, his mother took him to church at the local Salvation Army corps. As a teenager, he attended Camp Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley, Calif., where he worked as the lifeguard and met his future wife, Lucille, whom he married in 1948.

In 1951, the Youngquists joined the Intercessors Session of cadets at The Salvation Army Training College in San Francisco and were commissioned a year later. During active officership they served as corps officers, on divisional and territorial staff, and commanded two divisions— Alaska and Cascade. They retired in 1993, making their home in Menifee.

Youngquist was active in the National Society for Fund Raising, at one time serving as president in San Diego, and in Rotary, becoming a Paul Harris Fellow.

He earned a Master of Theology from the American Divinity School.

The Youngquists have three children: Roy (Nora) Youngquist, Alice (Brian) Pockett, and Deborah Ann (David) Youngquist; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Lt. Colonel Doug O’Brien, territorial personnel secretary, officiated at a memorial service at the Murrieta Corps. Major John Randall, brother-in-law, conducted a private family committal.

Major Esther A. Ruml was promoted to Glory May 17 from Riverside, Calif.

Esther Ball was born May 25, 1927, in Ajo, Ariz., the young-

est of 10 children to Earnest and Berta Ball. The family relocated to the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles.

Ball married Frank Ruml, a Navy corpsman, in 1946 and the couple lived on various naval bases for several years before settling in San Diego. After Frank Ruml’s military retirement, the family moved to Whittier, Calif.

Esther and Fred Ruml were active in The Salvation Army their entire lives.

Accepting God’s call to officership, they enrolled in the School for Officer Training and were commissioned with the Victorious Session in 1971.

9

During their 22 years of service, they were officers-in-charge at various Booth Memorial homes and adult rehabilitation centers in California, Washington, Colorado, Alaska and Hawaii. Retiring in 1992 from their final appointment in Santa Monica, Calif., they moved to Riverside and remained active in the Riverside Corps.

Ruml is survived by her husband, Frank; sons, Ron and Darrell (Carol); four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The Riverside Corps held a memorial service June 2 with Capt. Keith Bottjen officiating.

Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2011 New Frontier

Christmas planning— it’s not too early a view from the

Board Side

It is not too early to begin planning for Christmas and the annual bell and kettle season.

Here in Modesto, Calif., some 20 years Dick ago, we took this one step further and “inHagerty vented” the annual Kettle Kickoff, an event Advisory board that raises amazing amounts of money in member an amazingly short period of time.

Over that 20-year period our event has raised more than $2 million, and last year all the various corps in our division raised a total of some $2 million through their own staging of similar events.

Modesto has a $200,000 target for the event, and we have reached at or near this goal the past four years.

So, what is a “Kettle Kickoff ”?

Simply stated, it is a mid-November civic gathering when we organize some 30 teams of bell ringers to invite friends and associates and encourage them and donors to bring very large checks. Teams then race around the room for exactly seven minutes—bells and kettles in hand. Now, doesn’t that sound simple?

Well, it is, but it takes a significant amount of planning.

First, we arrange the very largest meeting room available in Modesto, because in 20 years this event has grown in popularity to the point that we sell out early—and turn people away— weeks ahead of the event. We are able to cram 1,100 people into our civic center. When you realize that Modesto has a total population of only 200,000, you know that this is, indeed, a popular event.

The center director waives the normal catering rules and allows us to provide the meal, which is a huge savings since the minimum would likely be $25-plus per person. We prepare a traditional full Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It is critical that the event run on time; thus, we set up six or eight separate serving lines and encourage folks to come at 11:30, even though the event is scheduled for noon. Shortly after 12 p.m. everyone is seated and eating.

Next is the important process of recruiting, pairing and organizing the teams. Ideally you match up the most unlikely pairs of civic leaders on each team—for instance, the Baptist pastor and the Catholic priest; the police chief and the sheriff; the mayor and the head county executive; the heads of rival hospitals, of competing service clubs and of the public electric company and the private gas company.

Let your imagination run with these combinations!

We try to start the program by 12:15 p.m., it is critical that you dismiss by 1:30. In fact, one of the hallmarks of Salvation Army programs in our city is that when we promise to end on time, we end on time! It is a cardinal sin to run late. We have invited busy people to help us, and our commitment, always, is that we will end on time.

The program provides an opportunity to quickly give the community a review of what we do. We consider this event to be our premier community showcase and we make the most of it. A brief annual report, a quick video, and we are ready for the main event.

The teams are quickly announced, although they are also fully listed in the printed program, assembled at the front of the room, and then we allow the previous year’s winning team to make a grand entrance.

After a countdown, the big bell is rung, and for seven minutes pandemonium reigns. A donor gives us 1,000 $1 bills, and these cascade down over the luncheon tables in a veritable blizzard of money. The band plays, the bells ring, and the teams run from table to table—particularly to the tables that they know are “salted” with the large checks.

At the end of exactly seven minutes, kettles are collected and a team of money counters retires to a back room to quickly count the final tally.

While we await the grand announcement, we give our annual civic recognition awards, including the Others Award, if appropriate.

We also have a special 15-minute message; we aim to get the best speakers to challenge our crowd.

Finally the three top teams are announced in a dramatic moment that leads to the revelation of our grand total. A cheerful 1,100 folks then head for the sidewalk, in great preholiday spirits and with good feelings toward The Salvation Army.

Please contact me at rghagerty@aol.com for more information or to attend our event Nov. 15.

Authenticity unwrapped While reading an article by General Linda Bond in the May-June 2012 edition of The Officer, I was captivated by the following idea: “To give spiritual leadership in the 21st century, we need to be people with spiritual depth and credibility. This does not come by techniques or Victor formulas. Authenticity unwrapped is perhaps best described as the Leslie fruit of the Spirit. And that comes Lt. Colonel through the daily walk with God in intimacy, honesty and integrity.”

Nestled in the middle of the paragraph, these two words, “authenticity unwrapped,” especially jumped out at me.

Today, we find ourselves in an environment, perhaps even a culture, where social media and networks encourage us to create virtual identities that are often unreal. The use of computer graphics to remake documents and people seems to be now second nature, and we willingly accept, on a certain level, that what we see is not necessarily what we get. Appearance isn't fact. Just in April of this year, a virtual version of the deceased rapper Tupac appeared on stage and interacted with the audience before disappearing in an explosion of light.

With all this happening, do you not appreciate the need for authenticity? To be authentic is to be genuine, trustworthy and not fake—true to one’s own personality, spirit or character. In everyday experience, authenticity unwrapped would mean dislodging the superficial masks we put on in our artificial world and opening the doorway to getting in touch with our real selves. In the world of human endeavor, authenticity demands that we peel back the thick layers of multiple personalities that we take on in our dance with the dissonant music of social expectations. By doing so we expose the shallow imitations and reveal the discomforting truth that our lives must be in sync with our values.

In the arena of Christianity, authenticity has a totally

~

10

different meaning and brings with it fresh expectations.

In our vocabulary, to be authentic is to live in harmony with God. It is much more than simply being true to ourselves or our values; it is about being true to the fundamental principles of who we are in Christ. We have been crucified with Christ so we no longer live but Christ lives in us, and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).

Authenticity requires intimacy with Christ, obedience to his Spirit and a life of total dependence on God who is our sufficiency. God gives us power to live in radically new ways—joyful, grace-filled, loving ways! It is no longer living a lie or being evasive; it does not tolerate deceptive and bogus practices. Instead, it is being transparent, pure and legitimate as we abide in Christ and live in accordance with his will for us. We simply do not walk, talk, sing, speak, inhale or exhale without displaying the undeniable reality of an authentic, credible life of integrity—made possible only by the transforming, genuine Spirit of God (1 John 4:2 MSG).

Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ…comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God…These people belong to the Christ-denying world.

They talk the world's language and the world eats it up.

But we come from God and belong to God. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception! My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God…if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love! This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us (1 John 4:2-16).

Scripture corroborates what General Bond said—authenticity unwrapped is best described as the fruit of the Spirit!

God’s grace is never fair—at its very essence, grace is unmerited favor.

Lessons from the elder son Most Christians have heard from childhood Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son—a young man asking his father for his share of the inheritance, squandering it on wild living, then coming to his senses and returning home to find love, acceptance and forgiveness. The story often ends there.

It is important, however, to look at the audience to whom Jesus is speaking. He is talking to two groups of people—sinners who “gathered to hear him” and the teachers of the law who “muttered” about Jesus’ acceptance of sinners. Jesus, then, is speaking to both the non-religious and the religious.

The three characters in the tale are all critical. While often ignored, the elder son is as much of a focal point of the story as the younger. Jesus is clearly directing the elder son’s part of the story toward the religious leaders, those who were criticizing him for associating with “sinners.”

In the story, the older son hears the sound of a party and calls one of the servants to find out what is going on. He is told about his brother’s return, and rather than being happy, he is furious! He does not come into the house, so the father goes out to him.

“This is not fair,” he told his father. “Look what I have done for you all these years. I have worked like a slave.

I have always obeyed you. And, what did I get for it?

Nothing! Now, this son of yours [he cannot call him by name] returns after going out partying, having a wild time, and spending all your money, and what do you do?

Throw him a party!”

Notice his words to the father: “I have been slaving for you.” His resentment has been building for years.

Now the father is going to get an earful. “I have done everything for you, and you have not even given me a goat.”

The older brother believes that he deserves to be a son

~

because of all of the good he has done, all the rules he has followed, all of the days he had “slaved” for his father. In his speech we see that he has been operating under the assumption that his years of slaving were actually earning him good standing with his father. He thinks his father loves him because of Dave how obedient he’s been. He is deserving of favor because of his work. The Hudson elder son fails to see that he has not Colonel been a slave—he is a son. His father was not cheap with him; he could have anything he wanted.

It is not that the father has not been fair with elder son; it’s that the father never intended to be fair in the first place. God’s grace is never fair—at its very essence, grace is unmerited favor. The father sees the younger son’s return as an occasion to practice unfairness. The younger son does not deserve a party; that’s the point.

In God’s economy people do not get what they deserve.

Thank God! Neither son understands that the father’s love cannot be earned, nor taken away. In the end, the younger is repentant, as he is aware of his sin; the elder son is resentful, as he assumes himself to be righteous.

Resentment is frequently a sin of the faithful. We tend to believe that God rewards our faithfulness with love and acceptance; therefore, it’s earned. What we fail to realize is that God freely gives his love and acceptance without condition. Sadly, the attitude of the elder son is prevalent in the church today. We are often so obsessed with “doing the most good” that we overlook—and even undervalue—God’s grace.

Notice that the father goes out to meet both sons, rather than waiting for them to come to him. I thank God that he is not only eager to forgive when we overtly sin, but also during our lapses into self-righteousness.

Doing the Most Good

July 13, 2012 New Frontier

I’ll be there with bells on “I’ll be there with bells on!”

Weird saying, that!

I looked it up on the Internet to try to discover how it originated, but its origins are uncertain; apparently several theories exist, Sharon all unsubstantiated. Robertson Lt. Colonel Everyone seems to agree that in essence it means, “I’ll show up, ready to celebrate.”

Reading Zechariah reminds me of a wonderful reason to celebrate “with bells on.”

On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them (Zech.

14:20-21 NIV).

The prophet Zechariah reminded his people that a day is coming in which God’s people will have great cause for celebration. Christ will be king over all the earth, and God’s people will understand that holiness is a fact of life for the kingdom citizen.

No longer will “holiness” and “sacrosanct” be equated with the priesthood and the temple; all will understand that even the commonplace is holy, to be used solely to the honor and glorification of God. Even the bells used to decorate the harness of a horse will remind the observer to glorify God, and to respect his creation. The pots and pans in the kitchen, the dishes from which we eat, the food we ingest—all are sanctified when given over to God. How thrilling it is to know that the day is coming when Christ shall be recognized as king of kings and Lord of lords, that day when at the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” ( Phil.

2:9-11).

And how earthshaking it can be to understand that although the prophet was thinking of a day yet to come, you and I can have a part in offering the world a preview of that day by demonstrating its power even today to change day-to-day attitudes and practices.

Just think: every little thing that comes into view is sacred to God, and should be treated as sacred to him.

This would mean taking God into active partnership in our daily lives, living each moment in awareness that God sees (and approves or disapproves) what we do with the common tools he has given us, including the knife, fork and spoon, the prescription drugs, the bottle, the computer, the social media, the smart phone, the T.V., the car, and so on. For the Christian, this attitude of “everything is sacred to God” is a key to self-discipline, to living with God’s objectives in mind; to the non-believer, seeing this attitude in professing believers is irrefutable evidence that we are who we claim to be: loyal and obedient subjects of the kingdom of God! As Paul put it in 2 Timothy 1:8-10: So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner.

But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life— not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

This is, for the Christian, what “being there with bells on” is all about: show up at the party living a life that is a clear and unmistakable proclamation of holiness to the Lord.

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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:

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11

Thinking, feeling, behaving...and spirituality These functions—thinking, feeling, behaving and spirituality—are all linked. They’re all housed in the brain.

Plato had a nice image of parts of the body that contain thinking and feeling. Poetically, he was correct, but physiologically he was wrong. For years we assumed that the body and brain were separate entities. Not true. The actions of the brain do trigger different parts of the body as we respond to thoughts and feeling, but it all starts in the brain and they link closely together. So take care of your brain. It becomes your mind. Avoid harmful acts, dangerous Robert substances and stupid decisions.

For instance, how’s your prefrontal cortex (PFC)? Did you play too much Docter Editor-In-Chief football, drink too much alcohol, drive too many race cars (like the one sitting in your garage), or take way too many physical risks? Is your PFC functioning as it should?

You sure better hope so. It manages what you do and that starts with your thinking. It’s the CEO of the brain. It’s very involved with complex planning and plays a major role in the development of your personality. It takes in information and helps you decide what to do with it. It manages your social behavior, helps sort out conflict in thoughts and in choosing a course of action—including deciding between right and wrong.

I’d say that hunk of brain matter, just behind your forehead, is pretty important. Protect it.

Our thoughts contribute mightily to our feelings. Most of the time we feel what we think.

Not all the time. You didn’t plan to stub your toe. There was no thought connected to it. It was pain by itself followed by a lot of anger and self-condemnation. So the “deeper” emotions like fear or pain often are stimulated without thought. We often call this the “fight or flight” response.

Let’s assume that some event happens in your life, and you must respond. Maybe it relates to some interpersonal activity such as working with a committee or having an argument with someone. Maybe it involves only you, like thinking through a problem or planning a speech.

Whatever it is, it all starts in the brain.

As you might expect, the fastest concentration of energy (think brain activity) has to do with our thinking processes. A short time later we begin to feel emotions. Their energy patterns have farther to go through the body.

Often, we tend to behave (act) on the basis of our feelings. Somebody says something about which you fundamentally disagree. Your brain functions at lightning speed, thoughts carom around, anger arises, and you respond in a rapid, highly critical, and sometimes even highly personal manner. That’s acting from feeling alone. (Ugh! This is getting close to home.)

Well then, are we at peril to our prefrontal cortex? Of course not! It’s not in charge. You are!

Its executive function can help a great deal. It can contribute the opportunity to have a “second thought”—an evaluation period before you put your foot in your mouth. It’s called cognitive appraisal and makes it possible to assess how you perceive what you are about to do in relation to your goals and motives. It asks: “By doing or saying this will it help me get where I want to go?” And if you want, it will also ask: “Is this the ‘right’ thing to do?” Humans find themselves facing significant interpersonal difficulty on the occasions when they act out of feeling and ignore the opportunity to evaluate consequences afforded by cognitive appraisal.

Additionally, the act of cognitive appraisal allows us to evaluate our self-talk. Our brain, a sensory receptor mechanism made up of nerve tissue, becomes our mind—the seat of intelligence, consciousness, thought, memory, and so on—when we use its power in conjunction with past learning and experience.

Our world would be a much better place if we all had had someone to teach us at age 3 and beyond that: “You is kind, and you is smart, and you is important” (The Help).

In life, we all get “messages” from others that affect us greatly—some positive and some negative. We choose to generalize them to parallel thoughts of worth and esteem. We accept their validity on faith, without evidence, and integrate them into our identity. So faith and our spiritual beliefs begin in the brain and live in the mind.

A personal example: I must have felt great love in my infancy and early childhood. From this, I must have developed thoughts of worth without perfection and confidence with caution.

I learned the power of the will, the value of perseverance, and the importance of a Christbased belief system—a religion based on positive human relationships of genuine love and caring.

I have never stopped growing and learning. This allowed me to grow from mistakes, select positive experiences, take rational risks, establish an identity and choose to surround myself with people who tend to send positive messages. I have found them in a dedicated and caring mother, a brilliant father whose warmth and love greatly inspired us, a twin brother who independently models his individuality and shows us continuing love and strong Christian values, from colleagues at work, at my Salvation Army corps, with Diane, the champion wife, mother and grandmother—what a positivist—and from our children and grandchildren, who somehow have caught the best of both of us.

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