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Easter is about life, life with its tragedies and triumphs.
newfrontierpublications.com
The Western Territory’s news source
—General Linda Bond
for 31 years
March 8, 2013 Vol. 31, No. 4
THE GENERAL’S EASTER MESSAGE
Never the same BY LINDA BOND, GENERAL
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, when attending a Sunday morning worship service at a Salvation Army corps (church), I heard one of our leaders preach. It was not a typical sermon; in fact it seemed too simple, especially for this seasoned preacher. But his first language was not English so I suppose for this English-speaking congregation, he had to play it safe and not try to be too theological, using words that he was unfamiliar with. He simply told stories about Jesus. It may not have been a sermon that won a best preacher’s award, but it was one that moved me to tears and remains an unforgettable experience. Such stories not only make for powerful sermon material but are at the heart of Christian music. The Salvation Army, like most of the Christian churches, loves to sing what it believes. Stories about Jesus, put to music, are forever etched in our memories. As we sing them we are called again and again to reflect on him—his life, death, resurrection—and what this all means to us today. One line of an Easter song keeps playing in my mind: “Alone on the road, oppressed by my load, Jesus himself drew near and walked with me.” This line captures the event recorded in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 24) and it also speaks powerfully to us today. The story is of two followers of Jesus returning home after his crucifixion, with their hopes dashed. The horror
of the crucifixion was enough to shatter anyone, but when it happened to one you loved, one who was innocent—not only innocent but absolutely perfect in your eyes—then how could you put it all together? Their grief was compounded by the fact that they had believed Jesus was their Messiah, the hope for their world. The light for which they had waited for so long was now snuffed out. Everything was darkness and despair. They were overcome and overwhelmed, blinded by this ghastly and unexpected reversal. Perhaps for many reading this article, this Christian story does not make sense: God loved us so much that he sent his Son to earth. Jesus comes in flesh as the babe in the manger, lives an exemplary life— healing, preaching, performing NEVER THE SAME, page 8
“Alone on the road, oppressed by my load, Jesus himself drew
n Army led vigils throughout Alaska for slain teen.
Inside: Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . 10
View from the Board Side 10 Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . 10 From the Desk of . . . . . . . . 10 Life Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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Using arts to glorify God n Territorial Worship Arts Retreat focuses on creativity. BY MEJEE LUTCHER Nearly 130 delegates representing all 10 divisions of the Western Territory gathered Feb. 15-17 at Camp Arnold in Eatonville, Wash., for the Territorial Worship Arts Retreat. The event included music, visual art, dance and drama with one purpose—to use worship arts to glorify God. Guest speaker Brian Moss—director of music, worship and arts at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Seattle and a board member of Christians in the Visual Arts—identified who God was, who we are and who we are becoming in order to understand our attitudes in worship. Moss also led a workshop on developing a worship language for faith communities that transcends generational divides. SPARK theater + dance, a Minnesota-based artistic group, presented several numbers. “The Evolution of Sam,” a one-man show about a romantically challenged bachelor looking for love in all
West releases new mobile music apps
Kake calls on The Salvation Army
Photo by Elizabeth Medicine Crow
Photo by Mejee Lutcher
WORSHIP ARTS, page 2
near and walked with me.”
Anchorage candlelight vigil for Mackenzie Howard
Artwork created at the territorial worship arts retreat
BY JENNI RAGLAND “Things like this don’t happen in Kake.” Ripples of shock, disbelief and grief spread through the entire state of Alaska following the Feb. 5 murder of 13-year-old Mackenzie Howard in the small town of Kake. The community was already mourning the recent promotion to Glory of Tlingit elder and Salvationist, Clarence Jackson. While the Army’s spiritual ministry might often go unnoticed outside the doors of its corps, The Salvation Army has a unique ministry and responsibility, particularly in Southeast Alaska where officers frequently serve as pastors for the entire community. Envoy Donna Bagley, in charge of the Army’s ministry in Kake, along with divisional leaders Majors George and Jeanne Baker—in town for Jackson’s services—responded to the call for help about 11:30 p.m. They spent most of the night ministering to the needs of those overcome by grief and fear. ALASKA, page 3
n Search The Salvation Army Song Book and Tune Book on your mobile device. BY NEIL SMITH Do people really use The Salvation Army Song Book? Over the years, this question has come up from time to time. Now, however, one does not need the actual, physical book— there’s an “app” for it! The online application is accessible at mobileapps.usawest. org, where an app for the tune book is also available, thanks to the Western Territory’s Information Technology Department. The app allows users to: open songs and choruses by number; browse by section (as in the Song Book, under “Means of Grace,”
MOBILE APPS, page 2
Sayconnect is going to print The Western Territorial Youth Department will once again print a special quarterly insert for New Frontier, to appear in the March 22 issue. Currently, Sayconnect online (sayconnect.com) connects youth and youth leaders in the West and beyond, with articles, announcements, tutorials, pictures from special events, and
video recaps from divisional and territorial youth events. The Sayconnect quarterly print publication will offer a mix of youth news and pictures, starting in its first issue with an announcement of the 2013 Service Corps teams and locations, and a recap of youth councils and divisional youth rallies.
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Doing the Most Good
March 8, 2013 New Frontier
NEWS BRIEFS OF THE WEST
And this is what he promised us—eternal life (1 John 2:25 NIV). PHOENIX, ARIZ.— Phoenix Advisory Board member George Flores received the Sally Karen Award at a volunteer Gleason appreciation luncheon. Editor A board member for 10 years, he served as chairman for two years and provided a steady hand at the helm during the development of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and the redevelopment of the Herberger Center. TURLOCK, CALIF.—The corps was voted “Best Community Organization” in the 2012 Turlock Journal Readers Choice poll. Mayor John Lazar also issued a proclamation honoring Corps Officer Major Debi Shrum for over 10 years of guidance and spiritual inspiration to her congregation and for her dedicated participation in many church and community projects. CARSON CITY, NEV—After an apartment fire displaced several families, the corps was able to provide them with emergency housing in a local hotel. The family living in the apartment where the fire started could not move back in, so, working together, The Salvation Army, a local agency and another church helped them secure a new apartment. Lieutenants Mark and Leslie Cyr are the corps officers. SAN PEDRO, CALIF.—The Archstone Foundation granted $20,000 to The Salvation Army’s Sage House, a program for dependent older adults and their caregivers. Monday through Friday, it provides free pickup and dropoff, nutritionally balanced meals, medication distribution, case management, intergenerational activities, computer-based memory improvement activities, and social activities for low-income older adults. It also offers caregiver relief and off-site caregiver support groups. The grant will fund the program for one year, serving 80 older adults and 170 caregivers. Captains Aurelio and Ligia Ambriz are the corps officers. COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—A young woman came to The Salvation Army for mandated community service hours. She worked in the kitchen for a month, and when she completed her required hours, she stayed on as a volunteer. Soon after, the woman obtained a full-time job at Red Robin as a line cook. She said she has The Salvation Army kitchen to thank. Majors John and Judy Bennett are the corps officers. DENVER, COLO.—The Denver Mattress Company donated $110,000 to the Intermountain Division through its 13th annual holiday campaign. The company matched every dollar donated to The Salvation Army within the areas of Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, as well as San Angelo, Texas. Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Dan Starrett said, “Through the generosity of our partners, The Salvation Army was able to provide 23,650 nights lodging for Denver’s homeless.”
Honolulu builds unique playground n State-of-the-art play area covers 2,500 square feet. BY DANIEL DE CASTRO The Salvation Army’s Diamond Head Preschool and Therapeutic Nursery in Honolulu recently opened a new play area specifically designed for children ages 2-5. The play area covers approximately 2,500 square feet and includes concrete walkways, playground equipment for two play areas, synthetic turf surfacing, benches, picnic tables, a storage shed and 80 linear feet of surrounding fencing. “We are grateful for the many hands that made this wonderful playground come to fruition,” said Major John Chamness, divisional commander. “This is a testament to the collective caring and support in our community that helps provide a healthy environment for the children under our care.” Grants from the G.N. Wilcox Trust, a Bank of Hawaii trustee, and the Samuel and Mary Castle Foundation, of $46,000 and $15,000 respectively, helped to fund
Families play on the new equipment at Diamond Head Preschool in Honolulu.
the project while IPR Hawaii, a specialty construction company, donated additional materials and labor costs of $57,000. In addition, volunteers from East Hono-
Photo by Daniel de Castro
lulu Rotary, Revolution Hawaii, residents of The Salvation Army’s Family Treatment Services and others provided hundreds of hours of service.
The Salvation Army presents Kiddieland n Children are entertained at the annual Black Cuisine marketplace festival in Bayview Hunters Point. BY VIVIAN GATICA The Salvation Army’s Golden State Division partnered with Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services, Inc., for the 33rd annual Black Cuisine marketplace festival on March 2 in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. The Salvation Army put together the Kiddieland portion of the event. “Kiddieland provided a fun environment for kids who may not have been as interested in browsing the various food vendors and artisan merchants as their parents,” said Laine Hendricks, Golden State’s director of public relations. “It gave the parents a break to browse as they pleased while knowing that their kids were entertained and safe.” The partnership began three years ago
MOBILE APPS
The face-painting table was popular with the kids.
Photo by Laine Hendricks
when The Salvation Army was looking to expand its presence in the Bayview community. According to Hendricks, The Salvation Army offered to host Kiddieland after the original
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“the Trinity,” and so on); search via the metrical index; or search for a word, phrase, author or combination of words. The songs list the tunes commonly used with the words, as well as other tunes (at the bottom) that can be used with the song words. Clicking on the tune link brings up the sheet music (for non-copyright tunes), and you can also hear many of the tunes—just to make sure it is the one you are expecting! In addition, the key, tempo, composer, lyricist and meter are listed for the tune. The tune book app provides alternative words to use for the tune. A new edition of The Salvation Army Song Book is set for release this fall.
WORSHIP ARTS
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the wrong places, prompted delegates to question where they find value and identity. Corey and Betsy Mills, co-artistic directors of SPARK, led workshops on dance and drama in ministry. “Jesus is the center of everything,” said retreat staff member Hannah Danielson of the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps in Southern California. “We need to be confident but remember that what we do is not for ourselves.” Everyone offered different abilities and “unified them as the body of Christ,” Corey Mills said. “I enjoyed watching everyone share the gifts and talents that God has given us,” said Lt. Chris Golden of Southern California’s Inglewood Citadel Corps. “We need to do what we can to win the world for Jesus.”
agency in charge canceled, and has hosted it ever since. “The Salvation Army believes that it’s critical to be a ‘good neighbor’ in any community we operate in,” Hendricks said. “Partnerships strengthen our ability to serve those in need and improve our neighborhoods.” The Black Cuisine marketplace festival celebrates the culture of soul food and music. This year, while food vendors sold barbecue, jambalaya and ribs, two stages offered musical performances of jazz, soul, blues, gospel and spoken word. A soul food cooking contest and a general marketplace also entertained visitors. For the children, Kiddieland had carnivalstyle games and prizes, and food provided by the Golden State Salvation Army canteen. Hendricks said various corps provided prizes and loaned equipment.
Northwest announces expansion in Bremerton n Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian attends campaign announcement. BY LORA MARINI BAKER The Salvation Army announced Jan. 27 at the Norm Dicks Government Center that it will expand its facility and services in Bremerton, Wash., to include a hygiene center and new corps community center. The project, scheduled to begin construction this year, is in its final fundraising phase. To date, local donors and funding agencies have donated 85 percent of the cost. “We’ve received several generous gifts from leaders in the Kitsap community during the last year,” said Major Doug Tollerud, Northwest divisional commander. “Now, we need just a bit more to make the new building a reality.” Tollerud and his wife, Sheryl, led the event with Bremerton Corps Officers Majors James and Marcia Baker, Bremerton native and Olympic gold medal swimmer Nathan Adrian, and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent. More than 200 members of the Kitsap County community attended. Adrian is a member of The Salvation Army “family” in western Washington. His father, Jim Adrian, is currently chairman of the advisory board in Bremerton. At the
Olympic swimmer Nathan Adrian and capital campaign manager Tina Boewe Photo by Lora Marini Baker
event, Adrian spoke about how his parents consistently demonstrated the importance of giving back to the community. The Bremerton project includes a renovation of the current building (built in 1965), and construction of a new building adjacent to it. A portion of the current facility, built in 1943, will be torn down. At 16,000 square feet, the new facility will include a renovated kitchen and dining hall for community meals, food and clothing banks, a hygiene center, caseworker offices and classrooms, and a church for Sunday services.
Doing the Most Good
March 8, 2013 New Frontier
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developing News Israel Houghton and New Breed A case for coming to commissioning fundraising: Part 1 n Popular Christian recording artist to perform at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The Salvation Army Western Territory presents Christian recording artist Israel Houghton and New Breed live in concert June 14, during the 2013 commissioning weekend. Houghton is an internationally recognized worship leader, songwriter and producer, primarily known for his cross-cultural style of Christian music. Engaged in full-time worship ministry since 1989, he has recorded such tracks as “I am Not Forgotten,” “Friend of God” and “Here I am to Worship.” An active worship leader in his local church—Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church (Houston, Texas)— Houghton also served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences. He has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and performed at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. He uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together for Christ. Houghton has achieved two gold-selling albums, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award, and four Grammy Awards. His most recent album “Jesus at the Center (live)” was released in August 2012 and was his fifth consecutive Billboard top-200 selling album. See him live June 14 at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:15. Tickets are $15 (general seating) and $25 (preferred seating) and can be purchased in advance at uswevents.com. Invite a friend and get your tickets today!
Israel Houghton
Salvation Army hosts city-wide prayer summit For the 15th consecutive year, The Salvation Army in Whittier (Calif.) hosted the annual Whittier Area Prayer Summit on Feb. 10. The event, organized by the Whittier Area Evangelical Ministerial Alliance, brings clergy and church members together from all denominations for 11 hours of prayer. Topics include the community’s children, political leaders, first-responders, teachers, soldiers, families and those suffering from HIV. Rev. Dwight Sullivan, of the Whittier Evangelical United Methodist Church, is a co-founder of the event. “I don’t think there are too many communities that have something like this,” he said, noting that the prayer conference is just one example of the close relationships Whittier churches share. The annual event attracts up to 500 people, revolving in and out of the event for prayer. “At our first summit 15 years ago,
SAVN.tv interviews miniseries producers Watch an interview by SAVN.tv with “The Bible” producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey at SAVN.tv/ bible-mini-series. Over 13 million people watched The History Channel’s miniseries premiere March 3; nine additional episodes will air leading to Easter.
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Whittier Police Lt. Kent Miller leads a prayer for first responders during the prayer summit. Whittier Daily News photo by Sarah Reingewirtz
we began the prayer at exactly 7:14 a.m. to reflect the Scripture used to express our purpose for gathering together as a community of believers,” said Pastor Ralph Pacheco, of the First Christian Church International and a summit
ALASKA
committee member. “‘If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ (2 Chron. 7:14).
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“The loss of this young girl on the heels of losing an elder is unimaginable, and it’s only through the grace of God that we were there and that the Army was able to respond,” George Baker said Plans quickly developed for a candlelight vigil in Kake. Within hours, vigils were scheduled in communities around Alaska, as information spread through social media. The Salvation Army supported and led vigils, prayer meetings and gatherings in nearly every community it serves, from Ketchikan to Fairbanks. “Many of our kids in Sitka played basketball with Mackenzie and spent summers with her at home in Kake, so
this hit very close to home for them,” said Major Evadne Wright, who helped organize the vigil at the corps there. In Anchorage, many of the Kheex’ Kwaan family from Kake attended the vigil where Major Nila Fankhauser led a time of prayer and the Army provided hot coffee and cocoa. “The Army’s participation in the statewide vigils and ongoing support in light of these difficult circumstances may never be known this side of heaven,” Baker said. “But this is a vivid reminder of the significance of our ministry in bringing hope and healing to those devastated by extreme loss and despair.”
BY CHRIS DOYLE Advisory boards are a tremendous blessing to non-profit organizations: they help provide direction, exert influence in the community, spread the news of The Salvation Army’s good work, provide continuity in the wake of officer changes and—in a perfect world—help raise funds. But many corps officers and program directors have little or no experience with advisory boards before they arrive at their post. With so many things on a local leader’s plate, it’s no surprise that building and maintaining a board seems like a task too tall, particularly in light of so many other urgent needs. In my 25-year non-profit career, I have worked with a variety of boards—from good, to great, to flat out dysfunctional. What I’ve learned is that, despite the effort they take, they’re worth it. A strong board, working together and understanding its role, offered a lot of support both to the organization itself and to me as CEO. Part one of this two-part advisory board series explores some key tips to starting and maintaining a board. 1. Begin with the end in mind: Boards that are just “thrown together” because someone feels obliged to have a board do not usually work. Get a clear picture of what you want to accomplish. A fundraising board looks very different from one with a program focus. You may want to do both. Great! But think it all through and write down your objectives. 2. Write it down: Create a “job description” for your ideal board member. This will help you define expectations of what you are looking for and is a good leave-behind piece as you talk with advisory board prospects. 3. Find the right board members: Once you decide what you want to accomplish, then you need to start finding the right people. I have always believed that it is more important to find someone who knows how a board works and how to work on a board than how much they give in financial terms. Remember you are looking for people who can contribute time, talent and eventually treasure. 4. Recruitment: First, look for prospects among your soldiers and committed volunteers. Dependable donors giving over a long period of time generally signal strong commitment. Join a local service club and make friends with community leaders. It will take time. People are busy. But eventually you will find a core group of seven people—12 at most—who are excited to serve and who fit the profile. 5. Leverage resources: Territorial headquarters recognizes the value in advisory boards and has invested in a helpful website—mysaboard.org—as well as an advisory board member kit to help Salvation Army units recruit and maintain effective boards. Check them out. 6. Let potential board members experience the action: Board members need to see the work being done in the field. Let them engage their five senses while working the line at your next food distribution. There is no better way to find out if a prospect has the “heart of the Army” than to show them the work and let God touch their heart. It is also not a bad idea to invite a prospect to attend a board meeting and see how your board functions. 7. Commitment: On average, we want board members to serve three to four years (and here is an advertisement for board term limits; if you don’t have them, you need them.) Limits give board members a much-deserved break and give you the freedom to add new perspectives to your board. The Army needs engaged, energetic, committed people. Make sure the people you are asking are willing to make the commitment needed to serve on an advisory board—otherwise all parties will be frustrated. Just like the body of Christ, Salvation Army units are made up of individual parts, all working together to build the kingdom—from dedicated, prayerful leaders and trained staff to generous donors and volunteers. I encourage you to see advisory boards as one of many essential ingredients for success, because it truly takes a village! Development directors from around the Western Territory will be contributing to this section in coming issues. Chris Doyle, director of development for the Southern California Division, writes first; read part two of this series in New Frontier Vol. 31, No. 05.
4 Pittsburgh outreach intentional to homeless New drop-in center March 8, 2013 New Frontier
receives $1 million grant
n The Salvation Army seeks individuals in need, and offers assistance.
In Pittsburgh, The Salvation Army’s volunteers and employees seek out the city’s homeless population and coordinate the delivery of hot meals, hygiene supplies, clothing and blankets to the individuals at each location. “This program, while still in its infantile stage, has had a tremendous impact on the homeless community,” said Michael Riemer, regional director for The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division. “As we eare 1 building this program, we are working with [Salvation Army] social services to find housing for these individuals.” While meeting these basic needs, the program also provides
Doing the Most Good
n Army’s new building will aid homeless in housing, education and counseling.
spiritual and emotional support from volunteers. “Some of the homeless individuals we have encountered are just down on their luck,” Riemer said. “With the economic
Salvation Army 2013
Writers
Conference SHERATON ST. LOUIS CITY CENTER 400 S. 14TH Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Five days of learning, sharing, inspiration and recreation for the advancement of the Salvation Army’s publishing ministry Conference Cost: $650, includes all meals and a Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi. Reserve your hotel room (group rate) by visiting https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/savarmy or call 888-627-8096 – Please ask for “The Salvation Army Writers Conference” Single and double rooms and suites available on first come first served basis.
Visit http://publications.salvationarmyusa.org/writers-conference For further information.
downturn in full effect, many have been unable to find work and have lost housing accommodations. While they are down on their luck, they are also down on their spirits. A smile, a hot meal, and a warm blanket really make the difference.” Riemer says the next step to this program is offering some of these individuals life-changing drug and alcohol counseling at The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers. He said, “We are always looking for more help so that we can expand our services.”
The Salvation Army in Houston, Texas, will open a drop-in center for homeless young adults this spring after receiving a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is taking a new approach to housing homeless young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years old. “Right now there are no daytime services like these available for this population in the city of Houston,”said Gerald Eckert, director of social services for The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command. “There are many good agencies working very hard on various pieces of our community problem of homelessness, including young adults. There are shelters for homeless individuals to stay at overnight, but homeless young adults report they are not aware of daytime resources available for them during normal business hours.” Through this initiative The Salvation Army will provide housing and offer educational, job
training and one-on-one therapeutic support to homeless young adults with an overall focus on trauma recovery using elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. “Our hope is that through this new drop-in center we can help them begin to overcome traumatic events and get into and maintain a permanent housing situation,” Eckert said. On any given night, the Army’s five housing facilities in the Greater Houston region provide the highest number of beds for homeless individuals. In Houston alone, 700 men, women and children find a safe place to sleep at one of the Army’s four shelters in the metropolitan area every night. “We have been very successful in helping other homeless populations transition into permanent housing situations,” said Major Chris Flanagan, area commander for The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command. “Part of our reason for proposing and frankly receiving the funding for this program and drop-in center have been our success rates to date.”
National Seminar on Evangelism n Plan now to attend this summer’s event. The Salvation Army’s National Seminar on Evangelism (NSE) will take place Aug. 3-10 at the Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Delegates from all four U.S. territories will convene to experience personal growth and confidence in sharing their faith. The seminar, which offers tracks in both English and Spanish, will focus on strengthening spiritual confidence and exposing attendees to the tools they need to share their faith. “This seminar provided the tools that [are] exactly what we needed,” Lt. Emmanuel Masango said of last year’s event. “We now have a real sense of the ‘how to’ part of our desire to evangelize.” NSE delegates from previous years describe it as a successful spiritual journey that addresses the vulnerability of relationships and how to strengthen them. It teaches delegates to ensure they know the facts about their faith, and to always speak when the Spirit prompts. “We grasped the importance of evangelism, and now make it a part of our lifestyle,” Major Gill Román said. “Since [the seminar], the passion to share the good news is part of my daily life.” The NSE offers a chance to develop new-found courage in order to become more relational. It is also an opportunity for corps to mature and grow through building relationships.
New Frontier • March 8, 2013—Page 5
PAGE 6—NEW FRONTIER • MARCH 8, 2013
From Easter
Despite allegations from certain quarters that Christianity has done harm, one fact stands out prominently: Whenever Christians remain true to their faith, they do the world good. When they do not rightly practice their religion, the opposite may be true.
BY GLEN DOSS, MAJOR
“I FEEL I AM GOING INSANE. I have lost my bearings. I can’t live like this anymore. I would rather be dead! Major, can you show me the way to God?” His voice breaking, the man started to sob. Wrapping an arm around the kneeling man’s shoulders, I prayed with him, then hugged him tight. It was Easter morning at the Kona Salvation Army corps on the Big Island of Hawaii. This was my first corps appointment following several years on the mainland as an Adult Rehabilitation Center administrator. Moving from seeker to seeker following the altar call, I was reminded of the universality of the message of Salvation: Jesus is alive! Christ is our living Lord! He has the power to resurrect us from “death to life” (John 5:24 NIV). I am repeatedly moved by the transformational power of the Spirit of Christ to work a dramatic change in the hearts of people everywhere across all times. While the world changes around us, the drama of the miracle remains as marvelous as ever: The old has gone, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17). Despite the two millennia that have transpired between that first Easter and today, the resurrection power of Christ is as potent as ever. This is so because neither the fundamental nature of humanity nor our Lord himself are any different. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and forever (Heb. 13:8). Any cursory observation of history reveals that the fundamental nature of the human heart has not changed since the beginning of time. Always when left to its own devices, the inclination of the heart is evil (Gen. 8:21). God’s beautiful but tantalizing world is way too big for us, yet its satisfactions too small. Since God originally made us for eternity, the limited pleasures of our world cannot fully satisfy us. And sadly we people have proved particularly effective at creating havoc in our drive to satisfy ourselves. It was upon such a world stage—one sinking into dissolution through the weight of its own corruption—that the Son of God appeared 2,000 years ago. Through a marvelous act God became one of his own creations. In a miraculous exchange he switched places with us on the cross, accepting the punishment we deserved so that we might be reconciled with him. Through his resurrection we now have the opportunity for a new, eternal “rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he is risen.” These words, spoken by a divine messenger to reassure a terrified woman, spread like wildfire: “He has risen from the dead” (Matt. 28:7 NIV). Long before electronic media would enhance the way we relate to one another, the primary mode of communication of the Christian faith was—and remains—the living witness of
Christians themselves. “See how these Christians love one another!” exclaimed the early Christian theologian Tertullian. The passion of these original pioneers of the faith was so intense and their conviction so evident that they were soon “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 NRV). In 2010 Time Magazine included Christianity as one of the 100 “ideas” that changed the world. “There is no doubt that Jesus Christ is one of the most significant individuals in history,” the article reads. “Today, more than 20 centuries after Christ’s death, Christianity remains one of the most potent forces in the world... .The belief that the crucified Christ rose from the dead is a central tenet of Christianity.” From the moment that the new faith bounded upon the world stage it made a dramatic impact. Over time the significant extent and nature of that impact has become increasingly evident. Despite allegations from certain quarters that Christianity has done harm, one fact stands out prominently: Whenever Christians remain true to their faith, they do the world good. When they do not rightly practice their religion, the opposite may be true. As history marches on, it becomes increasingly evident that humanity’s genius for technological progress outstrips any progress in its ethics. Every invention that has helped make life more comfortable for people has been more than matched by new ways to hurt and destroy. Where once a
to eternity
MARCH 8, 2013 • NEW FRONTIER—PAGE 7
Many scholars believe that Christianity has done more to improve the world than has any other religion. In a world of chaos and soldier bore a sword, spear, or bow and arrow, today he carries an assault weapon and grenades. When Jesus walked the earth in flesh, no weapons of mass destruction had been dreamed of; today they exist en masse. The potential of the human race to be destroyed by its own child, technology, is greater than ever. The reason, of course, is because basic human nature remains unchanged. It is still true that we humans deeply need to be saved from ourselves, that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jer. 17:9 NIV). Today, as has always been the case, only Christ holds the solution for our madness. “The only sure way to remedy all the evils in the world is by bringing men and women to submit themselves to the government of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Salvation Army Article of War six). Many scholars believe that Christianity has done more to improve the world than has any other religion. In a world of chaos and moral depravity Christianity has restored a sense of accountability and responsibility to God. People have learned that in the eyes of God humans are beings of infinite dignity and immortal worth. Each individual has significant value.“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). The Christian faith promotes the universal brotherhood and equality of mankind and has contributed to increased rights for slaves and
women. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all (Col. 3:11). Before Benjamin Franklin’s “improvements,” Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of The Declaration of Independence read: “We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable.” The Christian faith teaches that our love of God can set us free of sin and revolutionize our personality. Christ exemplified this by paving the way: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The greatest love story is Christianity’s account of God’s love for humanity, redeeming us from the consequences of our sins. God loves us so dearly that he seeks fellowship with us in both this life and the one to come. In fact God created us originally to live in fellowship with him. It has always been his plan that we live with him eternally. Once that fellowship is regained, we follow in his footsteps, and out of love for God we seek to do good to everyone. As Jesus demonstrates God’s love by healing the sick, so also his followers care for the sick, the weak, the poor. Salvation Army Founder William Booth emulated Jesus Christ in this. Today thousands of Salvation Army officers, soldiers and friends around the world, in uncountable ways, offer “a cup of water in [Christ’s] name” (Mark 9:41).
Early on God enjoyed fellowship with his creation whom he made in his own image. Walking in the garden in the cool of the day, God called to Adam, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). The reader gets the impression that the two often walked together; they fellowshipped. And since human nature has not changed since the beginning of time, our need for our Lord’s fellowship is as great as ever. As God went looking for Adam in the garden, so he seeks the companionship of lost souls today.“ True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23). Eternity encroaches upon us from all directions. In our hearts we innately know that we are made for more than this world (Eccl. 3:11). It is a wonderful thing that our Creator longs to fellowship with us not only in this world but in the next. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). Our repentant hearts cry out: “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you for that first Easter, for making a way for us to have a personal relationship with you in this world and an eternity in your presence in the next. You are risen from the dead and you are Lord!”
moral depravity Christianity has restored a sense of accountability and responsibility to God.
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The World
March 8, 2013 New Frontier
Doing the Most Good
Did you know?
Elsewhere in the world
A brief history of The Salvation Army in Pakistan BY BUFFY LINCOLN The Salvation Army began its work in Pakistan in 1883 when then Commissioner Fredrick Booth-Tucker asked Captain Victoria Roberts to pioneer a work in Lahore. Roberts agreed, taking three assisting officers with her. They set up shop in a small facility at Delhi Darwaza, a gate of the walled city. The church plant was a success and by 1916 Bhigiwal Corps and Shantinagar Christian Colony were added. The territory continued to develop. By 1968, MacRobert Hospital, Faisalabad Divisional Headquarters and the current territorial headquarters had begun operation. By 1983, a boys’ home, medical welfare center, girls’ hostel, vocational training center, two clinics and two rehabilitation centers had opened. An advisory board was also established. In 1995, Rawalpindi Corps opened and Shantinagar and Tibbia corps were rebuilt after
riots. Next came the training college facilities and the Hyderabad District. In 2008, the Pakistan Territory celebrated its 125th anniversary with over 62,000 officers and soldiers, 133 corps and 10 social centers. Today the territory is comprised of 134 corps, 156 societies, seven institutions, three schools, 52,643 senior soldiers, 9,028 adherent members and 14,783 junior soldiers. Tragedy struck the Lahore compound in 2007 when Colonel Bo Brekke, territorial leader, was shot and killed while working alone in his office. Although at first considered a terrorist attack, the police arrested a single perpetrator. Today, although Pakistani Salvationists sometimes face dangers in their day-to-day physical lives, they enjoy their spiritual time with no worries of danger or persecution. No corps has ever suffered an attack on its people or its facilities.
SINGAPORE—Colonel Gillian Downer, territorial commander for the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, attended the 80th anniversary celebration for TANGS, one of the largest department stores in Singapore. As part of the festivities, “Mr. Tang,” Wee Sung, presented Downer with a check for $250,000 to support the work of The Salvation Army in Singapore. From WAR CRY
Aneel Yousaf, corps secretary, territorial headquarters Photo by Waseem Yousaf
Because of this, the corps congregations have the peace and freedom to continue both their worship and outreaches in both the Christian and Muslim communities.
“There is no problem with us going to church or worshiping at our corps,” Waseem Yousaf said. “We enjoy freedom here in Pakistan and have not been threatened.”
General leads 130th anniversary in Sri Lanka n Thousands of people celebrate The Salvation Army.
The General with an elephant from the welcome parade Photo courtesy of International Headquarters
NEVER THE SAME
General Linda Bond led celebrations for The Salvation Army’s 130th anniversary in Sri Lanka in February. Bond met with the Hon. D. M. Jayaratne, prime minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who revealed a new postage stamp and first-day cover, featuring a photo of the General alongside the logo of The Salvation Army’s International Vision: “One Army, One Mission, One Message.” During the welcome parade, Kandyan dancers and drummers in native dress, the Oriental Band of The Salvation Army’s Dehiwela Girls’ Home and three elephants in festive garb accompanied the General and guests. Around 2,000 people gathered for a service that included greetings representing the wider church in Sri Lanka from Rev. W. P. Ebenezer Joseph, general secretary of the National Christian Council. Bond’s Bible message, “One Army,”
preceded enrollment of 75 junior soldiers and 74 senior soldiers. “[You must be] soldiers of Jesus Christ before being soldiers of The Salvation Army,” she said. Bond told the congregation that even though there is a great diversity around the world, The Salvation Army must remain united. “We know who we are,” she said. “We know what we believe and we know why we serve.” About 350 gathered the next day to witness the General ordaining and commissioning 12 cadets of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session. After leading officers councils, Bond faced the cameras of the national television broadcasting station, Rupavahini, for an interview, which was also featured in TV news reports. Between meetings, the General visited the training college, The Haven Children’s Home and Rajagiriya Boys’ Home. At Rajagiriya Elders’ Home, she met and prayed with 101-year-old Lt. Colonel W. James Wickramage.
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miracles. Then he dies the criminal’s death, takes our sin upon him and breaks its power by his sacrifice. Through him a relationship is restored with God and through him we can know forgiveness, freedom and life to the full. And maybe the biggest stretch is this belief that he rose to life again and appeared bodily, to his followers. No ghost or apparition but a real live Jesus! Please don’t dismiss these facts as either fanciful or irrelevant. Just for this moment, hold on to them as truth, real Truth. Not fiction but facts. Now here in Luke’s story is the Lord, the Savior of the world, the resurrected Jesus, taking time to walk down a lonely road with two shattered people, to open their eyes, to give them cause to hope again. This same living Jesus spans the ages. He walks your
General Bond’s latest “Sharing the Vision” message is available at salvationarmy.org/thegeneral
path today, hoping only that you will open your eyes to see him, your ears to hear him and your heart to receive him. That song’s phrase, “alone on the road, oppressed by my load,” may be describing you today. “Aloneness” is not numerical. If I am by myself, then I am alone. No, you and I know of times when we were surrounded by people and felt an “aloneness,” an emptiness that all the human bodies in the world could not fill. The weight on our shoulders, the burdens we were carrying seemed to separate us from the smiles and light-hearted fellowship experienced by others. Perhaps
illness, financial worries, family concerns, addictions, failure, or even limitations imposed by others contributed to dreams unfulfilled. Maybe we have felt deluded by life and by people. Friend, Easter is about life, life with its tragedies and triumphs. Despair need never be an option. You don’t need to be a theologian to understand Jesus. Let his story be your story; Jesus himself is with you. He draws near as the song says. Not at a distance, shaming you for your depression or your limited expectations. Not at all! He died for you, and believes in you. He wants you to believe in him, to see him as the Constant Companion, your Savior. Don’t take my word for it. Take his—and life will never be the same again.
AUSTRALIA—Australia’s Salvos Stores recently began a new ad campaign featuring Sophie and Dale Vine, the quirky, vintage-style host couple from Channel 9’s do-it-yourself renovation series, “The Block.” The campaign includes an online interactive game where users create their own personal Salvos Stores room, entering them into a contest to win a Salvos Stores voucher. For more information go to salvosstores. com.au. From onFire CANADA—Prince George Community Church in British Columbia recently won the local Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 environmental leadership award. This is The Salvation Army’s first time to receive one of the 10 business excellence awards the chamber gives to local businesses yearly. Receiving the award confirms the Army’s major role in the city’s green movement. Under the leadership of Captains Neil and Crystal Wilkinson, the corps opened a new recycling warehouse. Since April 2012, it has diverted more than 1.5 million pounds of textiles from the landfill. From salvationist.ca TASMANIA—The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) served its last response meal at the Dunalley Recovery Centre for the bushfires on the Tasman Peninsula. The Bushfire Recovery Group requested the Army conclude its services to enable the community to return to its selfsufficient status. Since Jan. 4, SAES conservatively estimates supplying a staff of about 80 to serve approximately 19,000 meals. From onFire NORWAY—A large group gathered in Oslo Temple to greet recently appointed Chief of the Staff Commissioner Andre Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox. Norway was their first visit since taking their new assignments. After Norway, they went to Iceland and The Faeroes Territory to conduct installation of new territorial leaders, Commissioners Dick and Vibeke Krommenhoek. From an international news release JAMAICA—Led by Lt. Colonels Victor and Rose-Marie Leslie, the Holiness Convention, held Jan. 17-20, drew a crowd of 500 plus. The weekend focused on the importance of preparing the next generation to receive the torch of faith, the need to keep the flame burning and having a legacy of faith to pass on. The Leslies are Western Territory officers serving in Jamaica.
New Frontier • March 8, 2013—PAGE 9
Doing the Most Good
March 8, 2013 New Frontier
Starting from scratch a view from the
Board Side
“We have no advisory board. How do we start one from scratch?” I hear that question often in my Dick training sessions. There is no joy in recognizing that you have no board, or Hagerty only a fragment of one, and feeling the Advisory board frustration of not knowing how to take member the first steps toward building a solid board. Many years ago I worked at Kaiser Industries, and our engineers were building a massive earthfill dam on the Orinoco River in Venezuela. The river was at the bottom of a mile-deep canyon, and the only way to commence building the dam was to excavate giant boulders—big as a house—from a nearby mountain, transport them to the edge of the canyon and roll them down the steep banks into the swiftly moving river. Boulder after boulder was swept away by the current; day after day these rocks failed to take hold. Then, without any warning, one rock stuck, then another, and yet another. Soon many rocks were clinging to the original rocks, and the dam began to rise to its ultimate completion. Building a board from scratch is a similar process. You go, you recruit, you make contacts; they come and see what is happening, and many will be “swept down the river,” unwilling to help build your advisory organization. But those few that do stick are the beginning of a strong structure, and soon you will find yourself building one upon the next, and your board will grow and thrive. Still, where do you start? Start simply by asking. I am on four Salvation Army boards, and in each case I was asked to come on board. No one will just show up and start serving. You have to ask! Search your old records to see if in the past an active board existed. If so, then see which of those early members might still be around and at least willing to help you begin. We started a new board 20 years ago in our neighboring city of Turlock. We researched the rosters of the various service clubs like the chamber of commerce, and even the faculty of the local university. We mailed out over 100 personally signed invitations to a luncheon to meet and discuss the likelihood of starting a new board in that community. About 50 showed up, with at least some level of interest. We gave them a good overview of the Army and our plans for the community. We asked them to return for a follow-up meeting and to bring someone along who might be interested. At that meeting we had a solid 25 attend. We asked point blank how many would be willing to serve on an inaugural board, and about a dozen agreed. We were off and running. Corollary to that strategy, our board in Modesto formed a small committee of three longtime members to act as a liaison committee to their new board. The three of us trekked 20 miles south twice a month to attend the board and executive committee meetings. It was critical that we remain silent unless called upon during those early meetings. We worked hard to be there for support, but not act like Big Brother or the wise guys from the big city. If things happened that were out of step or inappropriate, we waited until later and discussed these in a positive manner with the officer and the board chair. And it worked! We slowly weaned ourselves out of their system, and in 18 months we completely stopped attending and observing—they were doing fine on their own. While there are surely other ways to build a board, without those first solid “rocks” to build on you will find it a long and uphill struggle. The process is not difficult. It is just consistent hard work, patience and diligence. It will not just happen; it requires a few committed folks doing a lot of calling, follow up and mentoring. So, start rolling those “boulders” down the mountain. You will be amazed how quickly they begin to stick, to grow and to form the nucleus of a successful advisory organization. Contact me by email for assistance with materials, ideas and feedback on starting and growing your advisory board or council via rghagerty@aol.com.
What was he thinking? In the gospel account of the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, I often wonder, “What was he thinking?” As a man, he was a young 33 years old; as the Creator, he was older than time. The account reveals that he limited his glory as a human being so that he could fulfill the instructions James of his Father. The plan included death Knaggs on a cross just when he was coming into his stride as a human. Commissioner “Now, Father? Does it have to be now, and does it have to be this way? I’ll be disgraced in their eyes and degraded by the soldiers and accusers. Is there a better way, or at least a different way?” Then he said the words I want to say, and the words I wish everyone would utter, “Nevertheless, thy will be done.” And he acquiesced to God’s plan over his own personal concerns. What was he thinking when his accusers charged him of crimes deserving death? He would be present to judge the living and the dead, and yet they were judging him. The judgment was from some drummed-up standard—convenient to use when the “guilty” party was really innocent. Sure, most prisoners claim innocence, but Jesus actually knew no sin. This is why he was perfect for the responsibilities at hand. He took our place. Our sin, which is to say disobedience toward God, is deserving of being dispelled from God’s presence—that is death. Jesus’ concerted efforts to follow God’s will had to have been strong to trump his own issues. What was he thinking when they made him carry his own cross to Golgotha? Every step was challenging and painful. At one point, a brother emerged from the crowd to help, but in every way it was Jesus’ cross to bear. It was all uphill. What do you imagine he was thinking when they laid him on the cross to nail him in place? Again, it was a place only he could have taken—a place of torture, agony
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and imminent death. The soldiers lifted the cross to its spot where Jesus then hung from this wooden structure designed for humiliation, punishment and cessation. What was he thinking about the criminal justice system? What was he thinking about the agents of a government that would treat God’s creation with such contempt? He saw his mother and his followers, and their incredulity toward the situation but full conviction toward the Savior and the son. What might Jesus have thought about them? Did he detect fear, horror, helplessness? Did any of these thoughts enter his own mind for himself? He saw his death coming. What was he thinking? He entered the pit of hell. What was he thinking? In three short days—the timeframe he designed for our structured lives—he emerged from his tomb alive and well. His hands, feet and body were healed. He saw the sunlight of his doing and triumphed as a conqueror, the Christ, and the Savior of all mankind. What was on his mind? You. Through it all, he was thinking of you. He was focused on his love for the Father and for each of us created in the image of God. His powerful love for us was the strength he needed to say “yes” to God, the Father, and hold his breath before his accusers. He cried for our forgiveness as he hung impaled on the cross, declared salvation for a criminal on the next cross and held out great hope for his family and friends who witnessed not only his death, but his glory. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And GOD’s plan will deeply prosper through him. Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it (Isa. 53:10-11 MSG). All along, he was thinking of you. How you think of him offers you a choice to receive such powerful love that generates life. What is on your mind?
Through it all, he was thinking of you. He was focused on his love for the Father and for each of us created in the image of God. His powerful love for us was the strength he needed to say “yes” to God, the Father, and hold his breath before his accusers.
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Darkness I’m coming out of a few weeks of spiritual darkness. A period of time where desire and ability to journal, pray and be still before the Lord has been difficult. A time where a spirit of oppression has been lurking about my home, causing me to wrestle with deep faith issues within that I am Erin unable to articulate aloud. Have you ever experienced this? Wikle Though I certainly don’t compare Soldier my spiritual experience with that of St. John of the Cross, St. Paul or St. Theresa, in my studies of their unique experiences, I’ve found commonality amongst these saints and this soldier. These periods of darkness can result from great spiritual growth, once the Enemy begins to recognize that good things are happening in God’s kingdom, and he’s alerted to do something to stop it. Or often, God himself can be calling us to greater depths with him, showing us areas that perhaps we’ve withheld from his lordship, reminding us of our great need of Savior every moment of every day. As I waded through muddy waters of uncertainty, I began to question my understanding of God’s great love for me. I wanted the darkness to lift; I wanted relief from the oppression; I wanted to experience the love of God anew. It was as though my understanding of God’s great love for me had become so tainted by my own humanity and fallenness that what I so desired to believe in my heart was being overwhelmed by lies the Enemy was speaking over my mind. Holy Spirit has had to help reconstruct my understanding of a God whose love I believed in, but needed to, once again, richly experience. I needed a
convincing work to take place. Paul writes, And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love (Rom. 8:38 NLT). Do you hear that? Paul wrote, spoke, lived, loved and breathed from a place of absolute conviction about the love of God. That nothing could separate us from the love of God was the truth whispered into my head and breathed over my heart as I, once again, allowed Holy Spirit to convince me that the very God who created me, who sent his Son to die for me, and who longed for relationship with me…loved me—in darkness and in light, through oppression and freedom, when I was born, 30 years later, and when I die. He. Loves. Me. Are you not convinced? Are you not convicted? Ask Holy Spirit to bring both. Spiritual darkness doesn’t preclude deep relationship with the Lord. In fact, it so often leads to deeper relationship with him. I urge you to remain in a place of utter dependency on him, learning to press in through periods of uncertainty and darkness in order to break through into his glory and light. “God sustains every soul and dwells in it substantially, even though it be that of the greatest sinner in the world, and this union is natural. The supernatural union exists when God’s will and the soul’s will are in conformity. Therefore the soul rests transformed in God through love” (Dark Night of the Soul, Book 2, chapter 5, #3, #8).
Doing the Most Good
March 8, 2013 New Frontier
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A renewed focus lifeLines
Was this his final week?
GOWANS REMEMBERED It was an outstanding story regarding General John Gowans (Ret.), as published in a recent New Frontier [vol. 31, no. 1]. All people involved should be commended for such a wonderful integration of his history and personality. The first time I heard General Gowans speak was at the dedication of the first Kroc Center
in San Diego. Several of the dignitaries talked over the limit; however, General Gowans spoke for six minutes (I timed it). His speech left listeners spellbound; it was simply outstanding. He was truly a man of God and most definitely possessed the art of communication. Lt. Colonel Robert Bodine, Ph.D. Prescott, Ariz.
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
In a few days, we will reach the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Then we will celebrate Christianity’s climatic event: Jesus’ victory over death. Easter is upon us, and with it comes spring and the dramatic display of the glory of new birth. The days grow brighter and our moods seem lighter. Resurrection Day approaches. Along with Easter we have God’s reminder of the important linkage between those of us who worship a Jew whom we believe to be God’s chosen one—his Son, Messiah, the Christ— and Judaism itself. A short time prior to PassEaster is upon us, and over—perhaps the with it comes spring most significant of Jewish holy days— and the dramatic Jesus needed some display of the glory of vital information and surveyed his new birth. The days disciples. It was in grow brighter and our Caesarea Philippi that he posed moods seem lighter. mankind’s most Resurrection Day important question. He asked: approaches. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The disciples mentioned most of the celebrated names in Jewish lore. Interrupting, Jesus asked again: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter, a disciple not given to thoughtful rumination, answered quickly: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Matt. 16:13-15). Jesus had his answer. His key followers were ready. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matt. 16:21). Peter didn’t want to hear this and rebuked him: “Never Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Jesus responded with equal emotion: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matt. 16:23, 24). And with that, Jesus turned his face to Jerusalem and an unenviable future. Jesus intended to arrive in Jerusalem in time to celebrate Passover, the ancient holiday prescribed by God as the final plague of Moses. This involved the death of all firstborn sons throughout Egypt and guaranteed that Pharaoh would release the Jews from captivity in Egypt. To escape the plague, Jews were told to kill a year-old lamb during the twilight of the 14th day of Nisan, the first month of the year. The Lord told them to take some of the blood of the lamb and spread it along the sides and top of the door frame in the house where they intended to eat the fire-roasted lamb along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. While they ate, they were to be dressed for a fast exit with their cloaks tucked
EDITORIAL STAFF Robert L. Docter, Editor-In-Chief • 562/491-8330 email: bob.docter@usw.salvationarmy.org Christin Davis, Managing Editor • 562/491-8723 email: christin.davis@usw.salvationarmy.org Karen Gleason, New Frontier Editor •562/491-8332 email: karen.gleason@usw.salvationarmy.org Buffy Lincoln, Associate Editor • 562/491-8329 email: buffy.lincoln@usw.salvationarmy.org Erica Andrews, Assistant Editor • 562/491-8334 email: erica.andrews@usw.salvationarmy.org Edie Jenkins, Editorial Assistant • 562/491-8785 email: edie.jenkins@usw.salvationarmy.org Jared McKiernan, Editorial Assistant • 562/491-8345 email: jared.mckiernan@usw.salvationarmy.org LAYOUT & DESIGN/ADVERTISING Kevin Dobruck, Art Director • 562/491-8328 email: kevin.dobruck@usw.salvationarmy.org Adriana Rivera, Graphic Designer/Web coordinator • 562/491-8331 email: adriana.rivera@usw.salvationarmy.org CIRCULATION Arlene De Jesus, Circulation • 562/491-8343 email: arlene.dejesus@usw.salvationarmy.org new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org Member - Evangelical Press Association
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We have often visited places where famous people were born or died. We once stood outside the house where William Shakespeare was born in Stratfordon-Avon. We have walked through the cottage where the Scots poet Robert Burns was born and spent his early years. Recently, the remains of King Ian Richard III were unearthed in a municipal parking Robinson lot in Leicester where he was buried 528 years ago. Of course it wasn’t a parking lot then! Major In Israel, though, nothing is quite so definite. The tour guide would often say, “This is the traditional site of...” or, “This might be the location of … .” In one day we saw two possible sites for Jesus’ tomb. One was in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Christian Quarter of Old Jerusalem. Since A.D. 400, this site has been claimed as the location of both the tomb and Calvary. The other site was the Garden Tomb, discovered outside the Old City in the 19th century. It certainly looked authentic, and a nearby rock face that looked eerily like a skull added to the moment. But the bus station in front of it spoiled the effect. We didn’t visit Roza Bal in India, location of the grave of Yuz Asaf, or “son of Joseph.” Nor did we go to the Tomb of Jesus in Shingo, Japan, where, according to legend, Jesus died at age 106 after escaping crucifixion in Jerusalem. Actually, it seems that no one knows with certainty where anything happened. Standing on Mount Nebo in Jordan and surveying the Promised Land before us, we were told that this might have been where Moses stood before God took him away to bury him. But it could have been another mountain nearby. In Galilee, we saw where Jesus might have given the Sermon on the Mount—but it could have been a little further inland, or on the other side of the road. We picked up stones in a dry riverbed that might have been where David fought Goliath, or possibly it was further to the east, or maybe to the west. Even in lowly Bethlehem, we were ushered through a gaudily decorated church into an underground area reputed to be the cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus. But no one is sure. Why the uncertainty? Why is no one definite about the places where Jesus was born, lived, ministered, died and rose again? The reason became clear as we watched pilgrims rubbing pieces of cloth or tissue paper on the Stone of Anointing, traditionally the place where Joseph of Arimathea prepared Jesus for his burial. Even with such uncertainty, many of these sites have been turned into shrines of worship and holy pilgrimage. If we knew exactly and with absolute certainty where Jesus died, that location would be worshiped more than Christ himself. The Bible says, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2, NIV). That’s what really matters. Everything else will fade away, erode and disappear, but our faith and trust in the eternal Jesus will bring eternal rewards. We have an opportunity at Easter to focus on Jesus, to let him live in the center of our lives. Actually, we have that opportunity every day, and we don’t need rocks and stones and places that could-have-been or might-have-been to do that. All we need to do is fix our spiritual eyes on him and allow him full reign in our lives. May God shower you with his amazing blessings as you worship him this Easter.
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under their belts. The death angel would “pass over” their house when they saw the doorposts (Ex. 12:1-13). This escape from Egypt ended approximately 430 years of Hebrew captivity—the last 150 years in servitude and slavery. Robert Jesus arrived in Jerusalem Docter on Sunday—the first day of Editor-In-Chief the week—upon the back of a borrowed donkey. A crowd celebrated his arrival, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.” The whole city was excited and stirred. “Who is this? they wondered. The crowd answered: “This is Jesus, the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” On Monday, Jesus made his presence known at the temple, where he found people buying and selling. He overturned the tables on which they had stacked their wares and the benches on which they sat. He said to them: “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” He stayed at the temple healing the blind and the lame, spending time with the children who shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David.” When confronted by the chief priests and the teachers, he displayed his intellectual acumen and silenced them. Tuesday brought parables and controversy. Both the Sadducees and the Pharisees tried to trap him with a series of questions. Jesus mystified them with his superior knowledge of Scripture. He then directed the crowd that had gathered to obey the Pharisees, but not to emulate them. Wednesday he rested, and on Thursday he celebrated the Passover meal with the disciples. Here, he gave new meaning to the Passover as he ministered to them in the role of servant, washing their feet, and consecrating the food and drink as symbols of his body and his blood by which they were to remember him. When we pray at meals we keep this covenant. In a dramatic conclusion to the meal, he announced that one of them would betray him. Judas, the betrayer, quietly left the meal. The disciples, with Jesus, then walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony and validated his obedience to God. As Thursday became Friday, Judas and a crowd of armed henchmen arrested Jesus and dragged him away to face multiple false trials, beatings at the hands of ignorant people, condemnation both by Herod and the Roman governor, Pilate, who, when confronted by an angry mob, sent him to be crucified at high noon the same day. The crucifixion took place on a hill called Golgotha, the place of the skull. As the sacrificial lambs were butchered for Passover meals, the sacrificial Lamb of God died on a cross. Saturday, the Sabbath, brought hiding, grief, fear and rest for his followers. Then, with dawn of a beautiful Sunday, two women made their way to the tomb where they discovered it empty, and a risen Lord walked among them and us still.
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