SAconnects, Volume 1, Number 1

ISSUE VOL. 1,1,NO. VOL11 • • PREMIER PREMIERISSUE ISSUE2015 2015

구세군 소식

… to

have and to hold … connecting you to stories on MARRIAGE conecte con historias de MATRIMONIO

bîenvenidos

WELCOME

a testimony: from a violent past to a hopeful future

10 tips for a healthy HEART

page 27

환영합니다

— Commissioner Barry C. Swanson

1

30

PAGE

PAGE

Ministry resources in finds

page 32

Unity

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IN focus

환영합니다 ¡Bîenvenidos!

WELCOME It is my pleasure to welcome you to SAConnects, our new monthly multimedia magazine of the Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory.

Of course, SA refers to The Salvation Army, while the word Connects implies this publication is intended to link you, the reader, to everything you may want or need to know about our Army.

We will endeavor to be your go–to resource for all things Salvation Army, whether in print or online.

The Eastern Territory serves a broad constituency. We are a growing family in terms of our diversity.

For this reason you will note that SAConnects has content in Spanish, English, and Korean. This is done for the sake of economy and also to more closely integrate these three major language groups through one primary communication source.

Our website, SAConnects.org, will contain enhanced feature articles as well as up–to–date information on territorial events and other relevant news items. Visit us online.

This month, our focus is on marriage. Perhaps no other institution is facing such public scrutiny as to its definition, purpose, and relevancy.

We know what much of the world thinks about marriage, but what does God say about it? What is the testimony of Christian couples who represent different stages of life and love? We want to offer you something that will serve to strengthen your own marriage or perhaps be useful to you in knowing your own mind on this important matter.

Please join us on a regular basis. Also, we want to hear from you in terms of your opinions, suggestions, interests, and preferences.

Thank you, and God bless you.

— Comisionado / Commissioner Barry C. Swanson Comandante Territorial / Territorial Commander find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

Es un gusto para mí darles la bienvenida a SAConnects, nuestra nueva revista mensual de multimedia del Ejército de Salvación, Territorio Este EUA. Por cierto, “SA” hace referencia a las siglas del Ejército de Salvación en inglés (Salvation Army), mientras la palabra Connects da a entender que esta publicación se propone conectarlo a usted, lector o lectora, a todo lo que le podría interesar o necesita saber acerca de nuestro Ejército de Salvación.

Nos esforzaremos por ser su recurso de preferencia para informarse de todo lo relacionado con el Ejército de Salvación, sea en forma impresa o en línea.

El Territorio Este sirve a una gran comunidad de lectores.

Somos una familia que crece cada día en términos de diversidad.

Por esta razón podrá notar que SAConnects incluye contenido en los idiomas español, inglés y coreano. Esto se hace por razones de economía y también para integrar de manera más estrecha estos tres grupos de idiomas demográficamente relevantes a través de una fuente de comunicación primaria.

Nuestro sitio web, SAConnects.org, incluirá artículos especiales de mayor elaboración así como información al día sobre los eventos territoriales y otras noticias relevantes. Le extendemos una cordial invitación a que nos visite en línea.

Este mes, nuestro foco estará puesto en el matrimonio.

Quizás ninguna otra institución esté enfrentado tal intenso escrutinio público como su definición, propósito y relevancia.

Sabemos lo que gran parte del mundo piensa acerca del matrimonio, pero ¿qué dice Dios acerca de él? ¿Cuál es el testimonio de las parejas cristianas representativas de las diferentes fases de la vida y el amor? Queremos ofrecerle algo que le sirva para fortalecer su propio matrimonio o le resulte útil para aclarar su propia posición sobre este importante asunto.

Lo invitamos cordialmente unirse a nosotros de manera regular. Junto con ello, nos gustaría saber lo que usted piensa en términos de sus opiniones, sugerencias, intereses y preferencias.

Muchas gracias y que Dios lo bendiga.

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

1

2013 – 2015

COMMISSIONING WEEKEND JUNE 12 – 14, 2015

Hershey, Pennsylvania

SPECIAL GUESTS

Commissioners Brian & Rosalie Peddle International Secretary & Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries, Americas & Caribbean Zone

USA Eastern Territory Commissioners Barry C. & E. Sue Swanson Territorial Leaders

TERRITORIAL LEADERS

Commissioners Barry C. & E. Sue Swanson

Vol. 1, No. 1

CONTENTS PREMIER ISSUE 2015

IN focus

1 our leader letter 4 from the editor

ON file

Doug Berry talks about marriage and music.

6 22 Photo by Javier Gonzalez-Rivera

5 relevents 21 great moments Timeless tips on marriage from General William Booth.

Cover: Tsuji /istock photo. Photo credits (from top): Robert Mitchell, courtesy of Daniel and Leann LaBossiere ; Javier Gonzalez–Rivera (2), Robert Mitchell, Hugo Bravo

22 missions The LaBossieres spend their honeymoon on a mission trip in Kenya.

26 wholly living Called to our life together; 10 tips for a healthier heart.

28

18

unity

Stories of faith told in Spanish, English, and Korean.

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20

features 6 Modeling our

Relationship with Christ To date, 61 couples have been married by Majors Dennis and Sharon Young. They say that counseling should be a ‘cornerstone’ of every corps officer’s ministry.

30 testimony John Scott shares his spiritual transformation.

11 Linked Together

FAITH in ACTION

Four married couples offer a unique insight into their lives as well as their covenant relationships with each other and with God.

24 strikepoint

Empowered teens lead youth at the Bridgeport, Conn., Corps.

20 Army Essentials

31 strikepoint The Youth Department throws a Christmas party for the East Orange, NJ, Corps.

24

finds

for Marriage

Major David Antill opens a window into the Salvation Army’s view of marriage, described as a personal, public, and sacred covenant. ‘Marriage is the sharing of life at all levels,’ he says.

32 Your resource guide for

marriage and family life.

31 find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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IN focus

from the editor your connection to The Salvation Army

USA EASTERN TERRITORY

GETTING

CONNECTED

HORA DE CONECTARSE

It’s good to know the “lay of the land” when navigating new territory. And road signs help to show the way.

To help you enjoy all the benefits* of our new magazine format, here’s some signs to follow. n I Nfocus offers thoughtful letters from our territorial leaders, as well as from cabinet members. nO Nfile brings you relevant takes on ministry, music, historic moments, and spiritual & physical health, as well as transformational testimonies. You’ll also enjoy our “Unity” pages that display our territory’s rich multicultural and multilingual heritage. n FAITH in ACTION keeps you updated on exciting Strikepoint initiatives and groundbreaking territorial events. n f inds opens the door to an array of multimedia resources designed to enhance your ministry and your life. n A red icon ( ) flags articles available in both English and Spanish. n Footnote icons alert you when more print or video content, either in English or Spanish, is available on SAConnects.org.

Also for your convenience, a virtual magazine posted on SAConnects.org will carry all translated articles in their entirety for viewing on your computer or smartphone.

Well, that’s all for now. May God’s special blessing be upon you and yours! * This is a phased roll out, which means more benefits will become apparent in subsequent issues. We’ll post Promotions to Glory (PTGs) and International College for Officers (ICO) appointments exclusively to the Territorial Bulletin Board.

— Warren L. Maye

Editor in Chief / Editor en Jefe

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Es bueno tener una idea del terreno cuando nos disponemos a recorrer un territorio nuevo. Y las señales de ruta sirven para orientarnos a lo largo del camino.

Para que disfrute de los beneficios* del nuevo formato de nuestra revista, las siguientes son señales a seguir. n I Nfocus le presenta cartas bien meditadas de nuestros líderes territoriales y de los miembros del gabinete. nO Nfile le brinda perspectivas relevantes sobre ministerios, música, momentos históricos y salud física y espiritual, junto con testimonios de transformación personal. También disfrutará de nuestras páginas de “Unity” [“Unidad”], las que hacen gala del rico legado multicultural y multilingüe de nuestro territorio. n FAITH in ACTION le informara de las emocionantes iniciativas de Strikepoint y de los eventos territoriales más innovadores. n f inds le abre la puerta a una diversidad de recursos de multimedia diseñados para mejorar su ministerio y su vida. n Un ícono rojo ( ) le señala los artículos que están disponibles tanto en inglés como en español. n Los íconos de pie de página lo alertan cada vez que sale nuevo contenido impreso o en video, en inglés o en español, en SAConnects.org.

Una revista virtual subida a la página SAConnects.org le dará acceso a todos los artículos traducidos íntegramente para que los pueda leer en su computadora o en su smartphone. ¡Que la bendición especial de Dios esté con usted y los suyos! * Ésta es una presentación que se desarrolla en fases, lo que significa que más beneficios se darán a conocer en los números siguientes. Incluiremos Promociones a la gloria y nombramientos a la Escuela Internacional para Oficiales en el Cartel de Anuncios Territorial.

TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner Barry C. Swanson Commissioner E. Sue Swanson CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel William A. Bamford III SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Lt. Colonel Cheryl A. Maynor EDITOR IN CHIEF Warren L. Maye MANAGING EDITOR Robert Mitchell HISPANIC EDITOR Hugo Bravo KOREAN EDITOR Lt. Colonel Chongwon D. Kim ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines PUBLICATION DESIGNER Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Keri Johnson, Karena Lin, Joe Marino PHOTOGRAPHER Javier Gonzalez–Rivera CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Lotz, Major Young Sung Kim CIRCULATION Deloris Hansen DIVISIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENTS

CFOT Major A. Kenneth Wilson ARCC Major Charles Deitrick PENDEL Randall Thomas Major Kathryn A. Avery EMP Jaye C. Jones GNY TBA MASS Drew Forster NJ Bramwell Applin NEOSA Major Thomas Hinzman NNE Cheryl Poulopoulos PR & VI Linette Luna SNE James Gordon SWONEKY Major Faith Miller WEPASA Captain Kimberly DeLong Territorial Music Liaison Ronald Waiksnoris

THE SALVATION ARMY

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

SAConnects is published monthly by The Salvation Army USA’s Eastern Territory. Bulk rate is $12.00 per month for 25–100 copies.

Single subscriptions are available. Write to: SAConnects, The Salvation Army, 440 W. Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739.

Volume 1, No. 1, Premier Issue 2015. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAConnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAConnects accepts advertising.

Copyright © 2015 by The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory.

Articles may be reprinted only with written permission.

www.facebook.com/saconnects www.twitter.com/saconnects

In Relevents, you’ll take a deeper look into the hearts and minds of Salvationists in the Eastern Territory as they express their take on the world, on The Salvation Army, on ministry, and on life. In this first installment, Doug Berry, territorial director of contemporary music, talks about coffee, childhood vacations in Maine, and the role God plays in his musical talents.

Photo by Javier Gonzalez-Rivera

My Gretsch White Falcon guitar is not just an instrument that I like to play. It’s also a way to worship the Lord and a reminder to rely solely on Him. In college, I majored in trumpet performance.

I practiced all the time; it was all I wanted to do.

Then, around the end of my college career, my chops gave out and I could no longer play at the high level needed to be a professional. So, I felt the Lord draw me to the guitar. My relationship with the Lord is far more important than my music.

Photo courtesy of Doug Berry

relevents

ON file

There’s a coffee shop in Manhattan, in the West Village, called the Roasting Plant. They make my favorite coffee, by far. They have conveyors and tubes in the ceiling that use air suction. When you order, the beans get sucked up through the tubes and come down, ground, and into your cup. It’s like a little coffee factory. I’ve had so many meaningful get–togethers there with close friends. It’s where I had my first date with my wife. We even took our engagement photos there! Those memories, along with their awesome coffee, makes the place dear to me.

The Bible provides guidance for my life.

The back page of my Bible is special because it involves these prayer circles I added to it. The idea came from a book I read called The Circle Maker

by Mark Batterson. He talks about writing down your prayer requests every day and circling them. I have a prayer request, I bring it to the Lord, and when He answers it, I mark it with a highlighter. Some requests are more heavily circled, some may be there for years, but that’s just part of the discipline of continued prayer.

I have this necklace from my wife, Resa. She is half–Chinese, and, when we were first dating, she went on a mission trip to Malaysia. She brought back this necklace, and written on it in Mandarin were the lyrics to the Beatles song ‘All My Loving.’ This necklace reminds me of her love both for her culture and for me. I always wear it.

I have a tattoo of a calligraphy B. It’s an exact replica of the initial that my grandparents had on their retirement house in Old Orchard Beach. My brother, my cousin, and I all have the same tattoo. It reminds me of family, vacations in Maine, and the pilgrimage we all took to see our grandparents every summer and at Christmas. That B was the first thing we always saw when we arrived at their house. That B is on my chest now, always close to my heart.

‘Revolver’ by the Beatles is my favorite album of all time. This one has a lot of songs that people don’t know. It really got me into songwriting. I love ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ and ‘And Your Bird Can Sing.’ Everyone gets into the Beatles from their hits and their No. 1 songs.

Their not–so–popular songs are what really got me into the Beatles. I love their No. 2s and No. 3s even more than their hits.

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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Modeling our Relationship with

m

CHRIST

ajors Dennis G. and Sharon L. Young know a thing or two about the state of marriage in America. While stationed in Syracuse, N.Y., they married 48 couples at a corps that became known as the “Marrying Church.”

“When we left Syracuse, all 48 were still together except for one couple,” Sharon says. “We still focus on marriage and family.”

Since moving to the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia four years ago, the Youngs have married another 13 couples, but they also see a cultural shift that the Church must address.

“I don’t think society puts the same type of importance on marriage today as it did in the ‘50s and ‘60s and prior to that,” Dennis says. “I think economics plays a part in it. I think marriage is just not the ‘thing to do’ in this culture right now.

“People want to be in a relationship where, if they decide they want to get out, they can get out. We live in a society today where everything is instant.”

FIGHTING FOR MARRIAGE

Dennis says cohabitation and having children before marriage is now socially acceptable, along with the growing acceptance of same–sex marriages and the LGBT community.

“I think marriage is under assault in our culture,” he says.

Sharon agreed, but also sees another problem.

“People today, they don’t want to put in the hard work that it takes to keep a marriage strong,” she says. “They let go and they give up on their marriages before they can get through the issues and work through the problems and pull together and be what God has called the marriage to be.”

Dennis said marriage is about “commitment” and “permanency,” two things rejected by modern society.

“The Bible teaches that marriage is forever,” he says. “Like

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by Robert Mitchell

Modelar Nuestra Relación con CRISTO Los Mayores Dennis y Sharon Young saben una que otra cosa sobre el estado de la institución matrimonial en los Estados Unidos.

Mientras cumplían su nombramiento en Syracuse, Nueva York, casaron a 48 parejas en un Cuerpo que se llegó a ser conocido como la “Iglesia casamentera” (en inglés, “the Marrying Church”).

“Cuando dejamos Syracuse, las 48 parejas, salvo una, seguían juntas”, cuenta Sharon. “Nosotros seguimos enfocándonos en el matrimonio y en la familia”.

Desde que se trasladaron al Centro Comunitario del Cuerpo Ray & Joan Kroc en Filadelfia hace cuatro años, los Young han casado a otras 13 parejas, pero han podido constatar al mismo tiempo un cambio cultural que la iglesia debe abordar.

“No creo que la sociedad le asigne la misma importancia al matrimonio hoy en día como lo hacía en las décadas de 1950 y 1960 y, por cierto, antes de eso”, afirma Dennis. “Pienso que la economía juega un papel importante. Creo que el matrimonio no es hoy por hoy, en la cultura en que vivimos, algo a lo que todos aspiren.

“Las personas quieren estar en una relación en la que si uno decide salirse, lo pueda hacer. Vivimos en una sociedad donde todo ya es instantáneo”.

Para continuar en español, vaya a la página 10

Photo by Robert Mitchell

Majors Dennis G. and Sharon L. Young stand in the foyer of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center where they now serve as corps officers.

anything else, marriage has its ups and downs. It has its struggles.

It has its arguments. Every marriage has its struggles, some more than others, but marriage is the closest thing that models our relationship to Christ. “Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I loved you.’ He’s modeling to us what marriage should look like.”

ON THE FRONT LINES

Dennis said Salvation Army officers and pastors are uniquely positioned to make a difference.

“We have to learn as officers and as pastors that we have to put the emphasis on marriage because marriage holds the key to everything in our society,” he says. “When marriages fail, communities fail, schools fail, society fails, and in some regard, the Church fails.

“Strong families mean stronger churches, stronger communities, stronger societies. We need to get together and collectively, as the body of Christ, put an emphasis on marriage.”

Dennis says that when an unmarried couple comes into his church and they are “shacking up,” they can expect Dennis and

Sharon to preach the truth in love. Their corps in Syracuse was also known as the “Tell the Truth Church.”

“I tell them from the very start, ‘At some point, you’re going to be getting married so you need to be thinking about that.’ I push it and I stay on them until they’re ready to come to counseling. If they take too long setting the date, I’ll set the date for them,” Dennis says with a laugh.

HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK

“We have a spiritual responsibility to put godly pressure on them to look at their situation and, hopefully, guide them into a godly relationship that will ultimately lead to marriage. When people hear us talking about the importance of marriage and what a godly relationship should look like, people feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.”

Dennis says officers should make counseling “one of the cornerstones of our ministry.

“I think as Salvation Army officers, we are very good at it and

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Photos by Robert Mitchell

(Left) Antonio sits with Major Dennis Young while reading a passage from the Bible.

(Above) Major Sharon Young greets Felicia and her son, Mason.

there is a need for it,” he says. “We do it without charge.

“Counseling is imperative and there’s nothing wrong with getting the help you need. Sometimes couples can get things tangled and mangled and you need a third party to help you figure it out.”

The Youngs offer premarital counseling, of course, but they also ask couples to come back six months later for a “checkup.”

VOICES OF EXPERIENCE

“Just like we as individuals get a yearly [health] checkup, marriages need a checkup, too,” Dennis says.

“You can’t wait until things are so out of hand that you don’t think help will make a difference. Getting to the problem as early as possible gives us a better opportunity to get couples back to where they once were, to be in love again, and not overwhelmed with their problems.”

During these sessions, the Youngs often share practical advice and the keys to a happy marriage, such as watching movies together or the importance of date nights.

“We have fun together,” Sharon says. “We laugh a lot. Sometimes everything can become so serious. We’ve learned how to just sit back, relax, laugh, and just enjoy each other’s company.”

Dennis said that after some missteps earlier in his marriage, he has learned to value Sharon and listed that as another marriage key.

“I value her and I value her opinions and I value her input,” he says.

BIBLICAL WISDOM

The Youngs use many areas of God’s Word during counseling, but the most common are Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 31, and, of course, 1 Corinthians 13.

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“God says that He keeps no record of wrongs; He throws it into a sea of forgetfulness. We ought to do the same,” Sharon says.

Dennis says divorce is never discussed, and he constantly emphasizes unconditional love and forgiveness from a biblical perspective.

“There can be no unconditional love without unconditional forgiveness,” he says.

Sharon says the Youngs also “keep it real” and talk about “real life stuff” rather than in abstractions.

“Keeping it real with people helps them to grow in their own marriages and accept each other for who and what they are,” she says.

CHRIST, THE CORNERSTONE

While many people hear the lingo about “putting Christ at the center of your marriage,” the Youngs try to show what that looks like in the real world.

“Putting Christ first means that I do things in a Christlike manner,” Dennis says, including loving your spouse as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25), praying together, and attending church and Bible study as a family.

“Learning about God together will keep Christ in the lives of a married couple,” he said.

Sharon said she and Dennis can be in an argument, but she has her eyes on Jesus.

“Then I remind myself I’m cooking for the Lord because this is what God calls me to do,” she says. “I can fix him a nice dinner even though I’m mad at him because I have Christ in my mind. That’s how I can keep Christ at the center in our marriage because I put Him first.”

“

Strong families mean stronger churches, stronger communities, stronger societies. We need to get together and collectively, as the body of Christ, put an emphasis on marriage.

When women come to Sharon seeking marital advice, she tailors it toward the situation, but she does have one overriding nugget to share.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

“One of the things I do let them know is that they’re a lot stronger than they think they are,” she said. “They can do a lot more than they really think they can.

“It’s up to us to set in a home the tone and the ‘foundation for Christ.’ I let the women know that there’s nothing they are going through that they can’t get through with prayer, listening to their husbands, and seeing issues from their point of view. Let the man be the head of the household, while you still do what you have been called to do.”

Dennis says a word he uses again and again with men is sacrifice, which, if done right, will eliminate a lot of problems.

“Are you sacrificing what you want or what you need for the betterment of the marriage? Most problems in marriage can be traced to one or both spouses being selfish,” he says.

“We are responsible for modeling godly behavior at our house.

Peace starts with us. If you make sacrifices and maintain an attitude of sacrifice, you’ll have a great marriage.”

GODLY EXAMPLES

The Youngs, who are transparent enough to admit that they have struggled in their own 15–year marriage, are also around when new couples need advice.

“We don’t give them all the details, but we let them know we struggle in our marriage and we work it out and grow together and build a stronger foundation in our marriage,” Sharon said.

“It’s work every single day.”

Last June, Antonio Zachary, 33, and his wife, Felicia, 30, felt

the conviction to get married after joining a Bible study led by the Youngs.

Says Zachary, “The Word pushed us and we realized that [getting married] was the right thing to do by God.” Zachary works as a corps assistant at the Kroc center. “We eventually decided to go ahead and get married.

“At the end of the day, I believe marriage is the core of the family and the core of the community. It helps the community.”

Felicia, a nurse, said she and her husband look up to the Youngs as they raise their 6–month–old baby, Mason.

HOPEFUL ABOUT MARRIAGE

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Felicia says. “They are role models. We look up to them. We come and talk to them whenever we have problems or issues.”

Despite all the negative headlines about marriage, the Youngs remain optimistic.

“I see hope,” Sharon says. “I have hope that marriage will be the way God initially planned for it to be and the way it used to be.

“I know that God’s way can overcome. I know the harder we work, and the harder we push, and the more we teach people God’s way, it can happen. I trust and believe that it can happen.”

Dennis agreed and says he hears about more marriage retreats and churches emphasizing the importance of strong marriages as a first step in forming a godly family. He has scheduled a marriage retreat in August.

“I think God’s people know that traditional marriage and the place traditional marriage has in our society are under assault, but I think we’re aware of it,” he says. “I think we’re pushing back … and we’re getting people to believe that marriage is the best route to go; marriage is the best place to be in terms of having a relationship and wanting to raise a family.”

Photos courtesy of the Majors Young

”

— Major Dennis Young

To date, the Majors Young have married 61 couples.

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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continuado de la página 6

LA LUCHA POR EL MATRIMONIO

Dennis dice que la cohabitación y el tener hijos antes de contraer matrimonio es en nuestros tiempos algo socialmente aceptable, junto con la creciente aceptación de los matrimonios del mismo sexo y la comunidad LBGT (lesbiana, bisexual, gay y transexual).

“Constato que en los tiempos que corren el matrimonio está bajo ataque en nuestra cultura”, afirma.

Sharon se muestra de acuerdo, pero logra identificar otro problema.

“La gente hoy en día no quiere hacer el esfuerzo que exige mantener un matrimonio fuertemente unido”, comenta. “Se separan el uno del otro y dan por perdido su matrimonio antes de darse la oportunidad de resolver los problemas, trabajar para superarlos y ayudarse el uno al otro a llegar juntos a ser lo que Dios ha querido que sean como matrimonio”.

Dennis agregó que el matrimonio tiene que ver con un “compromiso” y la “permanencia”, dos cosas que la sociedad de hoy tiende a rechazar.

“La Biblia enseña que el matrimonio es para siempre”, dice.

“Como cualquier otra cosa, el matrimonio tiene sus altibajos.

“

Familias fuertes significan iglesias, comunidades, y sociedades mas fuertes. Necesitamos reunirnos y de manera colectiva, como cuerpo de Cristo, poner el énfasis en el matrimonio.

”

— Mayor Dennis Young

Tiene sus luchas. Tiene sus discusiones. Cada matrimonio se sustenta a base de esfuerzo, unos más que otros, pero el matrimonio es la relación humana que mejor modela nuestra relación con nuestro Señor Jesús.

EN LA LÍNEA DE FUEGO

“Jesús dijo: ‘Así como yo los he amado, también ustedes deben amarse los unos a los otros’. Con esas palabras Él modeló para nosotros lo que debe ser el matrimonio”.

Dennis afirmó que los oficiales y pastores del Ejército de Salvación están idóneamente posicionados para ejercer un impacto positivo en este sentido.

“Como oficiales y pastores, debemos aprender a poner el énfasis en el matrimonio porque el matrimonio es la clave de todo lo que conforma nuestra sociedad”, afirma. “Cuando los

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matrimonios fracasan, fracasan las comunidades, fracasan las escuelas, fracasa la sociedad y, en cierto sentido, fracasa la Iglesia.

“Familias fuertes significan iglesias más fuertes, comunidades más fuertes, sociedades más fuertes. Necesitamos reunirnos y de manera colectiva, como cuerpo de Cristo, poner el énfasis en el matrimonio”.

Dennis dice que cuando una pareja no casada llega a su iglesia y nos dicen que están conviviendo, pueden estar seguros de que Dennis y Sharon les predicarán la verdad, siempre en un espíritu de amor. Su Cuerpo en Syracuse también era conocido como la “Iglesia de las Verdades Claras” (en inglés, “the Tell the Truth Church”).

“Les digo desde el primer momento: ‘Llegado cierto punto, ustedes se van a casar, así que deben ir pensando en eso’. Los presiono un poco y me quedo pendiente de ellos hasta que estén listos para asistir a una sesión de orientación matrimonial. Si tardan demasiado en acordar una fecha, yo se las fijo a ellos”, dice Dennis riendo.

LA OBRA DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO

“Tenemos una responsabilidad espiritual de ejercer una presión santa en ellos para que consideren su situación y, es de esperar, esa consideración los guíe hacia una relación de santidad que eventualmente conduzca al matrimonio. Cuando las personas nos escuchan hablar de la importancia del matrimonio y de lo que una relación santa debiese ser, sienten la convicción de que el Espíritu Santo está obrando en ellos”.

Dennis dice que los oficiales deben hacer de la orientación matrimonial “una de las piedras angulares de nuestro ministerio.

“Estimo que, como oficiales del Ejército de Salvación, somos buenos e idóneos para realizar esta tarea y que es algo que se hace cada vez más necesario”, reflexiona. “Lo hacemos sin cobrar nada.

“La orientación matrimonial es un imperativo para nosotros y no hay nada malo con que las parejas reciban la ayuda que necesitan.

Muchas veces, las parejas suelen enredar innecesariamente las cosas y necesitan una tercera persona que les ayude a desenredarlas”.

Los Young ofrecen orientación prematrimonial, por supuesto, pero también les piden a las parejas que regresen al cabo de seis meses para hacerse una “revisión”.

VOCES DE LA EXPERIENCIA

“De la misma manera que nosotros, como individuos, revisamos una vez al año el estado de nuestra salud, los matrimonios también necesitan hacerse una revisión cada cierto tiempo”, afirma Dennis.

“No puedes esperar hasta que las cosas se hayan deteriorado a tal extremo que te parezca que ya nada podrá cambiar las cosas.

Atacar el problema lo más temprano posible nos da una mejor oportunidad de lograr que las parejas se vuelvan a reconciliar, a amarse una vez más y a no sentirse abrumadas por sus problemas”.

Para seguir leyendo, por favor vaya a SACONNECTS.ORG y escriba en la caja de búsqueda: Modelar Nuestra Relación

Photos by (clockwise from top left): Allison Dunigan; Javier Gonzalez–Rivera (2); Cheryl Poulopoulos; Background: PhotoStock-Israel/Getty Images

LINKED together The four married couples interviewed on the following pages will agree that even the happiest marriages are far from being perfect and that couples enter married life wondering what joys and challenges they will ultimately face. However, through communication, patience, love, trust, and prayer, these courageous Salvationist men and women show us that their holy union remains stronger than ever.

The interview format and style present the couples’ responses as statements from the heart rather than as simply answers to questions. This approach offers you a unique insight into their lives, joys, and above all, their covenant relationship with each other, and with God. 2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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Photo by Allison Dunigan

DREW & JENNIFER FORSTER

JEN: We met briefly in the summer of 1993, but really got to know each other when we worked at Camp Wonderland 2 years later. From the start, we were a natural fit. We’re both teachers, and we’re both identical twins. We love Salvation Army camps and working with kids. Our life goals, hopes, and dreams are really aligned.

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Drew: One year while we were dating, I was to spend the summer in Chile, so Jen took me to the airport. In those days, you were allowed go all the way to the gate with a departing passenger.

But eventually, the time came when Jen had to go. At the Logan Airport international terminal, there was a massive sign that read, “No Reentry.” As I stood in line to fly out, I panicked as I thought, What if Jen could no longer reenter my life after she walked through that door? I almost left the ticket line to run after her. I would have missed my flight. Instead, I boarded the flight to Chile, but spent the summer knowing that I wanted to propose marriage, but, because I was away, I was unable to tell her.

Drew and Jennifer Forster had home lives and interests that were strikingly similar, even before they got to know each other in 1995 while working at a Salvation Army summer camp. Jen is the Assistant Camp Director at Camp Wonderland.

Drew is Director of Communications for the Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Division. They have been married for 17 years.

AS WITH MANY COUPLES, early on in our relationship, we needed to sort through God’s direction for us regarding how we would communicate, where we would live, and what we would do for work. Early in a

marriage, you find out that the way your family did things is different from the way your spouse’s family did the same things. Now, as a couple, you have to navigate your way through those differences—at holidays celebrations, during personal conflicts, and when making financial decisions.

to love you, to promise never to leave you—that’s what it’s all about. We are in this together. Marriage has

and more. Then I ask Jen if she

taught me to see situations from someone else’s perspective. As fallen people, we are wired toward selfishness and to see the world through only our eyes. Committing to my wife for my entire life, there is a good obligation to get over being selfish and to consider that not everyone approaches everything the same way.

AS A DAD, DREW’S best qualities come out. He is one of the most committed, fun, loving, game–playing, project–building dads around.

I OFTEN CALL DREW AT WORK just to share a funny comment one SO MUCH OF MY DETERMINATION of the kids said or a story about as a wife and as a mom is to provide something comical that happened. I an example for my kids to see and don’t want to wait. Laughter is a big follow. When I was in middle school, part of our family and I want to share my parents divorced. Even at a young those things with him right away. age, I admired how hard they worked I love that I can still make to make sure that we knew that we Jen laugh. When Jen is tired or were loved—regardless of their situa- something hits her just right, she tion. My father is outgoing; he’s can laugh—I mean absolutely

a dreamer and a romantic. My mother is practical; a realist who keeps things moving. They are coming up on their 50th wedding anniversary. They’ve shown us that two different personalities can create a very successful marriage.

lose it! She can’t control herself.

And because Jen likes to be in control, losing it is not her thing.

UNDERSTANDING MARRIAGE AS THE ULTIMATE COMMITMENT to another person is a great lesson. It helps us to see that there are seasons in life—major financial decisions, job changes, family illnesses, and even death. Knowing that someone will always be there to support you,

cial challenges, our formula is pretty simple. Jen worries like crazy, and I tell her everything will be ok.

WE HAVE GROWN in our ability to communicate about our spending habits and our day–to–day financial decisions. When we face finan-

AT TIMES, I DO TEND TO GET STRESSED FOR A BIT. But then I’m always reminded of the home we live in, that all of our basic necessities are met,

wants me to get a paper route.

Jen adores the role of being a mother more than any of the other facets of who she is. She is wired to care. She celebrates moments with our kids and that has helped me to pause from our busy life and be sure not to miss those opportunities.

commitment. Always seeking to grow in my walk with God and pursue holiness, looking ahead and not behind. Becoming the

person God wants me to be is essential to being the best husband and father I can be.

MARRIAGE IS THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE. Know that you won’t get everything right from the start, give your partner and yourself grace to make mistakes, and try not to repeat them. A couple

needs to believe that God placed them together as husband and EVERY MARRIAGE, EVERY wife—for life. From there, you do COUPLE HAS STRUGGLES. Being honest about your own marriage the hard work necessary to honor with trusted friends helps you to under- what He has created, and it is stand that imperfections exist. Knowing very hard work. other people have to work at it as hard as you do really helps. My under-

standing of the perfect marriage is, you make a decision to commit your life to the person God has chosen for you. Then each and every day, you wake up and commit to being the best spouse, father, and person you can be.

MY COVENANT WITH DREW is a covenant with God. It’s a lifelong

THE LORD ALWAYS BRINGS TO MIND THE GOOD THINGS, the blessings in our life, and all that we have for which to be grateful. And when things aren’t going as planned, we pray and trust the Lord. Each

phase of life has its blessings and challenges. I feel as if we’ve had 3 or 4 different versions of our marriage and we still have a long way to go.

IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING IN THE MOMENT. Right now, we celebrate our child losing a tooth or being in the school play or reading a with chapters.

We have so many celebrations, small and big, to which we look forward.

Our best day together in our first year of marriage couldn’t hold a candle to our best day together now, 17 years in. I trust the same will be true when we are celebrating 50 years!

find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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MAJORS ASIT & SUNETRA GEORGE

Majors Asit S. and Sunetra A. George were wed through the Indian tradition of arranged marriage. Asit serves as divisional secretary for the Northern New England Division.

Sunetra is the program secretary and involved in the Women’s & Community Care Ministries. They’re in their 23 rd year of marriage.

ASIT: I was a single lieutenant serving in Kearny, N.J., and had some difficulties with dating based on fear since I had not dated anyone. I had friends in India who had dated and several of them experienced heartaches, which did not enamor me to the process.

My father, like many parents, felt a burden that it was his role to get me married. My divisional commander in New Jersey, Lt. Colonel William Bamford II, suggested I try the Indian way of an arranged marriage.

Lt. Colonel Pawar, my corps officer in India, recomPhotos by (from top): Cheryl Poulopoulos , courtesy of Majors Asit and Sunetra George

mended Sunetra, who was a cadet.

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Sunetra: Colonel Vishwas Pawar was my training principal. I happened to be his only single cadet. According to Asit, God did not give him many choices knowing that he might mess up.

God knew what He was doing.

PREMIER ISSUE 2015

OUR FAMILIES MADE PLANS that we would meet. Her father and sister–in–law arrived with Sunetra, who looked beautiful. After a brief conversation with the adults, we moved to an adjoining room and conversed for a few hours about our calling and families. We met again the next day and conversed more about ministry and life in the United States. I had

applied to work for a branch of the government that my uncle also worked for. I was struggling with my calling and questioning if Army officership was the right fit for me.

Every day, I prayed to God about my plans, at the same time asking His will to take place in my life. It was in this period of uncertainty that I heard about Asit’s proposal.

I was quite an independent person and was not sure if Asit was the future spouse for my lifestyle.

SUNETRA WAS A SALVATIONIST living a holy life to which she had been called, and she obeyed her calling. I was doing the same: striving to live a holy life and obeying God in my call to be an officer. I was praying

to God that if He thought Asit was the person for me then I would not get accepted for the job, but if I got accepted for the job, then that would mean Asit is not the person for me. For me to make a right decision and knowing God’s will for my life I had to know that clearly and surely. I received a letter from my uncle a month later saying that the job had not materialize.

Immediately I knelt by my bed in my small room and resurrendered my life to God. I thanked Him for confirming His will for me—which was, Asit was the person for me.

I MADE A DELIBERATE DECISION to enter into a covenant relationship and to love Sunetra. Was there love at

first sight or after we met and before father did everything that a man marriage? No, but we both arrived at should be doing in the house. They a decision from different experiences always stuck together as a team. and thought processes. Along with a new marriage I also had to I HAVE HAD TO LEARN how to learn about a new place (United communicate with Sunetra. It is out States), a new people, and a new of our communication styles, among culture. Asit was quite patient other matters, that we learn how to and instrumental in helping me in resolve problems, pursue ambition, my transition. know God, and relate with others.

ONE ALLOWS GRACE to permeate the relationship. We adjusted to each other’s needs, and over the days, it dawned on us that we loved the other person. Marriage is a union of

Each moment with my spouse is precious for me whether we are arguing, disagreeing (as long as at the end of the day we communicate with each other and address it), or just enjoying that moment.

two different individuals/personalities whereby we learn to adapt, MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD is accommodate, love, and care for based on the idea that one day I will be each other. married to Him as a part of the larger WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD my mother would make me stand on a stepstool so I could reach the counter.

She taught me how to make rice as well as roast the Indian flat breads. In our marriage, I have always felt that it is my role to help out in the kitchen as much as possible. My father

prayed and read his Bible every morning before he left for work, which influenced me and became a part of my life as well. I begin my day in prayer for 20–30 minutes, which is a non-negotiable.

DURING SUMMERS, my parents would take us for a visit to my hometown to meet the rest of the family.

In the same way, Sunetra and I have taken our family for vacations as much as possible. We have visited a childhood friend of mine in Texas and preferred to drive there. The driving through the various states allowed us all to experience the length and breadth of the United States. My mother, being the

housewife, took care of every detail of my father’s needs, and my

Church—the bride. The deeper that I understand my marriage the more I understand of my relationship with God who treats me and the church as his future bride. My covenant

with God extends to my spouse, family, and ministry.

MOMENTS WITH THE CHILDREN always invoke joy and laughter. We were all together this past Christmas. Our daughter does a great imitation of Indian parents, our son comes up with his very unthinkable mannerisms or comments, and we all burst out laughing. Abigail

and Caleb have two different personalities; they have enriched our lives immensely. We are constantly learning so much as parents and as a couple.

EMOTIONALLY, my family was not expressive. Sunetra’s family believes in hugs and kisses. When we were

married and from then on, Sunetra’s father would kiss me on both cheeks.

In the matter of expressions of love and care, our children have imitated Sunetra and her family. Sunetra has brought that important relational facet to our family and our marriage.

Our children are funny in their own ways and bring joy and laughter in our family. This has encouraged me to have fun in my relationship with Asit as well as make our every conversation pleasant and meaningful.

IN OUR DAY–TO–DAY LIVING we often hear stories regarding marriages or love relationships and then knowingly or unknowingly compare our marriage to them, and that can be frustrating. Comparing could lead to anger, which then gets vented out in the marriage. A perfect marriage does not exist. If two individuals who are married are living holy lives and making the best decisions they can, which are God–honoring and respectful of their spouse, then it is a good marriage. Apart from my

commitment and faithfulness in my covenant relationship, I am also a firm believer of maintaining a positive attitude and seeing the good in everything that comes my way. So I try to have a positive attitude and good intentions in my daily endeavors. Charles Swindoll stressed the importance of your attitude, that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent of how I react to it. A poor attitude will make or break a company, a church, or a home.

GOD ORCHESTRATED every detail, and yet He also respected us, allowing us to make our own decisions. God knew what He was doing.

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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COMMISSIONERS EVA & ISRAEL GAITHER

Commissioners Eva D. and Israel L. Gaither fell in love during a time when interracial relationships were prohibited by law in the United

EVA: Because we would be the first Salvation Army

States and shunned by the Church. Eva is the

officer interracial marriage in the USA, we had to be abso-

former national president of women’s minis-

lutely certain that this was to be God’s will for our lives.

tries. Israel is the former national commander of The Salvation Army in the United States.

They have been married for 47 years.

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PREMIER ISSUE 2015

Israel: Knowing that she was the one I should marry was not just because we happened to have been appointed to the same city; or that our friendship grew into a relationship of mutual love—it was far more.

WE PRAYED FOR A SIGN of assurance from God … and we both received it. I remember the peace and contentment, with a growing confidence that Izzy and I were not only meant for each other, but also that God’s will was that we serve Him as a married officer couple. It was all

Photo by Javier Gonzalez–Rivera

in God’s plan for our lives—and for our joint ministry. And the certainty that we were meant for each other came with confirmation as well as a spiritual conviction.

that Mom and Dad loved each other.

I remember the respect and value my Dad held for my mother and it was displayed in the way he treated her, and in the way he expected other men to treat her.

IZZY’S PARENTS, whom I grew to love so much, were more than my in–laws. Both sets of parents taught me what it means to work at cherishing love and protecting the relationship.

Their successful marriages were because of their love for God. In both

OUR LAST DISAGREEMENT does not linger in our relationship.

We have different opinions on personal as well as official subjects. But we have learned, at this stage in our lives, that nothing matters more than getting the small stuff quickly out of the way and being intentional about resolving differences that really matter in our relationship.

would say that they are in the perfect “marriage relationship.” In other words, they are married to the right man or woman. Some of them have been

married multiple decades, but we also know couples who are in the early years of their marriage and they also seem to be in the perfect marriage relationship.

SEE YOUR MARRIAGE as God’s divine plan for your lives. Put Him IF I COULD ASK GOD one question first in your marriage. Pursue holiabout marriage, I would ask why some ness in your personal life and IT WAS ONLY MUCH LATER in homes, it was clearly not so much people, who are not believers, seem it will permeate throughout your our officership that we would learn about a “happy” marriage as it was to have so much joy in their marriage, marriage relationship. just how much of a challenge it was about a deep, loving, committed while others, in Christian marriages, to The Salvation Army … internarelationship. Both of our parents, seem to be so miserable? And if I FOR A COUPLE ON THE VERGE tionally. When our Divisional as couples, had marriages in which asked God that very question, I of divorce, pastoral and/or formal proCommander Colonel John D. they were completely content. confess the need for forgiveness for fessional counsel is not something to be Waldron told us that our marwhat I might think are the answers. feared. These are means of support that riage had been approved, he had FOR NEW COUPLES, I feel there is Eva and I know there are no ready- are available to help the couple to take also been instructed to inform great value in having a mentor couple made solutions for a couple in the journey to healing. The danger us that we needed to understand that can be trusted—and available— an unfulfilled marriage. We have is allowing issues that cause pain that in all probability, there would for practical support and for counsel learned to withhold judgment. and emotional and physical sepacome a point in our future service and who will be honest as they provide ration to go unattended. Divorce is when there would be no further support. Some couples approach OUR CHILDREN BELIEVE their not the default button. It’s not the appointment available to us in readiness for marrying by living father is able to do anything and help first option to be taken when there which to serve. together unmarried—as in a them solve any problem they might is difficulty in the marriage. If you practice run, or simply cohabiting have. Their adoring, unconditional believe your marriage is God’s plan THE NUMEROUS STEPS our outside of marriage. That is not love for their dad has shown me what for your lives, then start there again. leaders had to take to even arrive at to be the approach of couples who a strong, wise man he is. If ever a decision to permit us to marry pre- follow Christ and desire to have required, Eva would do absoI WANT TO LIVE OUT MY covesented a major challenge to the Army a biblically–based marriage. I’m lutely anything, at any time, nant to God and to my husband in the organizationally. If not for several convinced of the value of a period with all that is in her power to pro- respect, affection, and care I provide of our very close friends—and of Christian–based, premarital tect or provide for our children and for him. I want this and more to be our then administrative leaders counseling that has the couple grandchildren. Her love for them seen from my life and through our of the day—who believed in us working at deliberately exploring is pure—and it is never–ending. marriage. God’s grace. I get to

and stood with us, had it not been for their love and support, we probably would have become discouraged and you would not be reading this interview about us.

MY PARENTS were privileged to celebrate their 60 th wedding anniversary before God called my father home. And through the good, and the less–than–perfect times, my brothers, sisters, and I, always knew

what it means to be married in every dimension of their lives.

WE BEGIN OUR DAY WITH OUR DEVOTIONAL TIME TOGETHER. We pray over the agenda of the day as well as our immediate family, friends, and colleagues with whom we are especially in touch. And we pray with and for each other. There is noth-

ing more special than hearing Eva speak to God about me.

I DON’T KNOW ANY COUPLE that would say they have a perfect marriage. But I do know couples who

be blessed because I am married to Eva. And I am nothing in this marriage but a product of His great grace—and her love.

OUR OPEN SECRET IS: Growing together in Christ; loving each other, regarding the needs of others; treating each other with respect; and being willing to take care of each other, no matter what the circumstances might require. Our marriage has been a process of continual growth.

Tomorrow can be even better than today.

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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SIMON & ROMINA MORTON

with music, culture, and laughter. They are both ministry assistants for the Queens Temple in the Greater New York Division. They have been married for 5 years. In this interview, the Mortons talk about how they met, married, and are making their lives together work. For an English translation, please go to www.SAConnects.org/ LinkedTogetherSimonRomina.

SIMON: Romina y yo estábamos en Roma, Italia, en un viaje con la Banda Juvenil del Gran Nueva York. Sin embargo, muchos de nuestros conciertos habían sido cancelados debido a faltaban los permisos requeridos. Eso nos permitió dedicar varios días a conocer diversos lugares turísticos en Roma y en otras partes de Italia. Y eso nos dio la una oportunidad de conocernos mejor.

Romina: Fue en un viaje a la ciudad de Roma en Italia cuando Simón se me acercó para hablarme. Es verdad que lo hizo porque yo sabía italiano y porque con una traductora que le salía gratis podría ir a conocer los atractivos turísticos de esa ciudad. Pero también aprovechó de mostrarme sus cualidades como persona e intentó hacerse el galán sorprendiéndome de maneras agradables, todo ello con miras a que yo le fuera cobrando afecto.

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PREMIER ISSUE 2015

EL ESTAR CASADOS supuso un cambio importante en mi vida—el de perder la libertad completa de hacer lo que quería cuando quería.

No todo se podía hacer a mi manera, ni a la manera de ella, todo el tiempo.

Teníamos que ser respetuosos el uno del otro. Para mí fue un

tremendo desafío mudarme y separarme de mis padres y hermanos para comenzar a formar mi propia familia. El desafío fue aún mayor porque no sólo tuve que dejar a mis padres y hermanos sino porque además, por las mismas fechas en que nos casamos, nos compramos una casa y debí enfrentar el reto adicional de empezar a convivir con Simón y a cumplir el papel de ama de casa y de buena esposa, así como la tarea de llevar todas las cuentas, tal como habíamos acordado cuando tomamos la decisión de casarnos.

de manera espontánea sin que ella tenga que decirme que las haga y, en general, conocer su “lenguaje amoroso” para hacer que se sienta continuamente amada. Nunca dejes de hacerlo. Me he dado cuenta de que si uno de nosotros se pone flojo en nuestra interrelación, las cosas empiezan a desvirtuarse con mucha rapidez. Cuando uno pone a Dios

en el centro de la vida, del hogar y del matrimonio, su vida como pareja, como marido y mujer, se hace mucho más llevadera. Dios nos ayuda a llevar nuestras cargas, a enfrentar nuestros desafíos y a superar nuestras aflicciones recordándonos que no estamos solos, pues Él nos acompaña a lo largo de todo el camino.

PUESTO QUE EL INGLÉS ES EL SEGUNDO IDIOMA de Romina, a veces los mensajes de texto que me envía ¡me resultan completamente NO RECUERDO JAMÁS HABER indescifrables! Cuando se los leo en VISTO ni escuchado a mis padres dis- voz alta de la manera en que ella me cutir entre ellos, aunque estoy seguro de los escribió y los pronuncio imitando que lo deben haber hecho más de una su acento, ¡terminamos riéndonos de vez. Si es que efectivamente lo hicieron, buena gana! Podría sonar cruel, ¡pero ellos nos protegían, a mi hermano ella sabe que lo hago en son de broma! y a mí, de ese tipo de situaciones. Y Si yo pudiera preguntarle algo pienso que es importante que los niños a Dios sobre mi matrimonio le puedan crecer en un entorno cariñoso preguntaría: ¿por qué le diste a mi como el que mis padres crearon para esposo sólo la mitad su cerebro? nosotros. De mis padres aprendí ¡Es una broma! La verdad es que

que como familia siempre debemos mantenernos unidos y que eso es lo más importante que podemos transmitirles a nuestros hijos. Aprendí que primero está Dios y segundo la familia. Aprendí que el mejor legado que le puedes dejar a tu esposo e hijos son los fundamentos cristianos, los valores cristianos y el temor a Dios.

HE APRENDIDO A HACER UN ESFUERZO consciente de mostrarme apreciativo de Romina; hacer cosas

le haría muchísimas preguntas, pero una de ellas sería: ¿por qué puso al hombre a la cabeza de la familia y no a la mujer?

AL CABO DE ESTE PRIMER AÑO DE VIDA DE NUESTRO HIJO, es increíble ver la conexión que se ha establecido entre Romina y Sebastián. Es en momentos como esos cuando realmente puedo apreciar lo imprescindible que ella es para su vida. Cuando nació

nuestro hijo Ángelo Sebastián, descubrí no sólo que mi esposo es un

Photo by Javier Gonzalez–Rivera

Simon and Romina Morton have a marriage filled

muy buen hombre, un buen siervo de Dios y un gran esposo y mejor amigo, sino que es también un excelente padre que está dispuesto a darlo todo por su hijo y su familia, y que ama a su bebé con todo su corazón. Por eso veo ahora a mi esposo con más respeto, con mas admiración y con más amor.

TODAS LAS SITUACIONES SON DIFERENTES, pero creo que Dios mis oraciones le pido a Dios puede sanar y de hecho ha sanado todos los días que me muestre a matrimonios que han pasado por cómo ser una mejor hija de Dios y las peores crisis. Si los dos están y dejarme guiar por Él en las áreas en que no lo estoy haciendo bien. En

una mejor esposa y madre.

PUEDE QUE AL PRINCIPIO DEL MATRIMONIO la interacción entre ambos resulte más o menos difícil, ESTOY SEGURO de que hay parejas ¡pero ten confianza! Sé paciente, busca que nunca pelean ni discuten, pero primero a Dios y, con su ayuda, tu eso no significa necesariamente que matrimonio saldrá adelante. Al hablar todo sea color de rosa entre ellos todo las cosas en pareja, se pueden el tiempo. Los matrimonios per- resolver y vez evitar muchos prob-

fectos sólo se encuentran en los cuentos de hadas.

lemas. El hombre y la mujer tienen diferentes formas de pensar y de ver las cosas y si uno como esposo AL DEDICAR UN MOMENTO a o esposa no reconoce o no entiende estar con el Señor cada día puedo esto, va a sufrir más de un dolor de saber cuál es su voluntad para mi vida cabeza durante su matrimonio.

dispuestos a hacerlo y ponen todo de su parte, podrán superar los malos momentos. Por eso les recomiendo que busquen ayuda profesional y se acuerden del compromiso que hicieron ante el altar.

ESTAMOS LEJOS DE SER PERFECTOS. Sin embargo, cuando las cosas van bien, nos damos cuenta de lo felices que somos. El hecho de reflexionar sobre esos momentos positivos realmente nos ayuda a sobrellevar los momentos difíciles. Simón no sólo

es mi esposo sino mi mejor amigo, alguien a quien le puedo contar todo lo que me pasa y en el que siempre puedo contar. Después de Dios, él es quien mejor me conoce.

¡NO PUEDO ESPERAR a ver cómo nuestra familia se sigue expandiendo!

Espero poder seguir disfrutando de su compañía y gozar riéndome con él a diario. Y mi deseo es poder llegar a viejitos con mi esposo y recordar nuestros comienzos y todas las alegrías que habremos pasado juntos.

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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Army essentials

m

by Major David Antill

arriage is more than a legal arrangement to live together sanctioned by the government. The Salvation Army holds that marriage is a covenant relationship. This covenant is personal, public, and sacred. Jesus said that a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Marriage is the joining of two individuals into one new relationship.

Oneness doesn’t mean the two individuals become identical, forfeiting their unique personalities, or that one person becomes controlling and the other subservient. And it isn’t created by each individual bringing 50 percent of them to the relationship so that the total is 100 percent. Oneness means that a new relationship is created as two people give themselves wholly to its care.

Marriage is God’s gift to humanity.

Jesus’ words originate in Genesis 2 where we read, “Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

We were created for relationship. We were created in the image of the Triune God, a God who exists in community.

Therefore, relationships are not optional.

In his book The DNA of Relationships: Discover How You Are Designed for Satisfying, Gary Smalley writes, “From the

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Photo by Javier Gonzalez–Rivera

for marriage Majors David E. and Jean A. Antill joyously reflect on their 40 years of marriage.

moment you’re born, you’re in relationship with parents. Soon, you’re in relationship with other children. Later you have relationships in the workplace, and you develop relationships with close friends. And eventually, most people develop a relationship with someone they deeply love.”

However, the fact that relationships are not optional doesn’t mean that they are always easy. Good interpersonal relations do not always happen automatically, even among committed Christians,

“

Marriage is the sharing of life at all levels.

”

says Gary Collins, author of Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. He writes, “The Bible and psychology agree that good relationships depend on the consistent development and application of skills such as listening carefully, watching, understanding oneself and others, refraining from unkind comments or emotional outbursts, and communicating accurately. All of this is learned.”

Married happiness does not just happen.

It is achieved by mutual endeavor in living out Christian principles. Marriage is the sharing of life at all levels. Everything

possible must be done to prevent a breakdown from developing, or to repair a marriage where a breakdown has taken place.

Maintaining an intimate relationship with God, the author and sustainer of relationships fosters a healthy marriage. And, because human beings are complex creatures with individual personalities and strong wills, says Collins, oneness in marriage requires that we learn to listen to each other, become willing to identify needs, make changes in our own lives, resolve conflicts, develop communication skills, love, forgive, manage our anger, honor and respect one another, and value our differences.

Healthy marriages require a great deal more investment than the “I’m committed as long as this relationship is convenient for me” mentality that is prevalent today.

The relationship between husband and wife, if both are saved, must be marked by the fact that they love the same Master.

Each is responsible for the other’s soul when misunderstandings and frictions arise, which are difficult to avoid even in the happiest marriage. Additionally, we should willingly and quickly grant forgiveness, pray together, intercede for each other, perform little acts of love, offer pleasant surprises, and be ready to bear each other’s burdens. Married happiness is something that two people create.

— Major David Antill is the territorial secretary for pastoral care & spiritual special

ON file

great moments

WILLIAM BOOTH

marriage is a partnership

The book Letters to Salvationists on Love, Marriage, and Home, also known as Volume II of Religion for Every Day, was written in 1902 by General William Booth. The book is full of practical advice on how to choose a marriage partner and how to live together in harmony. The following excerpt comes from Chapter 12,

Photo courtesy of the Territorial Heritage Museum

entitled The Relations of Husband and Wife.

William and Catherine Booth, circa 1902

“Another view of Marriage, and the one which the true Salvationist will entertain, is that of a Partnership. It is a union of body, of mind, and of soul, involving obligations and privileges on both sides. The Marriage vow only marks the consent of that union. God’s plan is, that the two beings thus united, shall grow, more and more, into each other, as the days and years go by, until they are as one.

Who has not noticed the marvelous resemblance that the husband and wife, who have been long united, often bear to one another? I have wondered why this should be so again and again. Perhaps it may be, that looking for so long a period at each other with loving eyes, transforms the very features to the likeness of the one so much beloved. Anyway, I have often observed it. And then, as to mind and heart, we all know how husbands and wives, who continue to live in true love, affection, and real agreement, for any considerable period, not only come to think and speak, but also to feel alike, with regard to matters in which they are both interested.

They are united. They are partners in the same concern—partners in the business, if there is one—partners in the house, together with its cares and worries—partners in the children, if children there be—partners in the soul–saving work, and also in the souls that are won—partners in the joys and pains, the smiles and tears, the profits and losses of the life below—and partners in the never–ending rewards and triumphs of the life above. Marriage is indeed a real partnership.”

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

21

FAITH in ACTION

missions

A production group,caption Dorcusinfo Beads, here makes baskets from recycled paper for Others Trade for Hope.

“ The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

“El corazón del hombre traza su rumbo, pero sus pasos los dirige el Señor.”

(Above) Leann presents a Bible lesson to the Kids Club in Kithituni, Kenya. The club meets every Sunday after worship. (Right from top) A production group for Others Trade for Hope makes baskets from recycled paper. The handcrafted baskets will sell at a local market.

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Photos courtesy of Daniel and Leann LaBossiere

—PROVERBS / PROVERBIOS 16:9

in LOCK STEP The LaBossiere’s Honeymoon

—a mission trip to Kenya

On January 2, 2015, Daniel LaBossiere, a 2013 Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) alumnus, and Leann Williams, a 2014 graduate of (ENC) majoring in middle school education and biology, married in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

As an ENC student, Leann was blessed to be a part of many campus clubs and organizations, including the women’s volleyball team and Residential Life staff. Most recently, she served as director of social life/student events on the Student Government Association. ENC has provided an opportunity for Leann to grow both spiritually and academically.

Daniel, an honor roll student and an outstanding ENC senior, also received the Betty Blanchard Rice Theatre Scholarship, among other honors.

Following the wedding, the LaBossieres traveled to Kenya, Africa, for their honeymoon. And rather than enjoy a traditional nuptial, they used their time and money to work in the village of Kithituni on a mission trip. Kithituni is about a two– hour drive from Nairobi, the capital city. “We fully believe that God has amazing plans for us through this trip,” said Leann.

“Together, Daniel and I would like to understand more about missions and about the door that God has opened for us.”

To raise funds for their trip, the LaBossieres sold KenyanSoles, hand–painted shoes. Kenyan skies and “The Lion King,” today’s most successful running play on Broadway, inspired the designs for the shoes.

“We want to thank everyone for your prayers and for helping us to get to Kenya,” said Leann. “This is something God had on our hearts for a long time.”

JUNTOS y SINCRONIZADOS La luna de miel de Daniel y Leann LaBossiere El 2 de enero de 2015, Daniel LaBossiere, graduado en 2013 del Eastern Nazarene College (ENC), y Leann Williams, graduada en 2014 de ENC en las áreas de educación escolar intermedia y biología, se casaron en Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Como estudiante de ENC, Leann tuvo la bendición de formar parte de varios clubs y organizaciones del college, incluyendo el equipo de vóleibol femenino y el personal de Residential Life (los servicios habitacionales del college). En fecha más reciente, sirvió como directora de eventos de vida social/estudiantiles en la Asociación de Gobierno Estudiantil.

ENC le ha brindado a Leann la oportunidad de crecer tanto en lo espiritual como en lo académico.

Daniel, estudiante del cuadro de honor del college recibió en su cuarto y último año de estudios en ENC la Beca ‘Betty Blanchard Rice Theatre’, entre otros honores.

Luego de celebrar su boda, los LaBossiere viajaron a Kenia, África, para pasar su luna de miel. Y en vez de disfrutar sus nupcias a la manera tradicional, usaron su tiempo y dinero para trabajar en la aldea de Kithituni como parte de un viaje misionero. Kithituni está ubicada a unas dos horas en automóvil de Nairobi, la capital del país. “Creemos plenamente que Dios tiene planes maravillosos para nosotros a lo largo de todo este viaje”, dijo Leann. “Juntos, Daniel y yo queremos aprender más acerca de las misiones y acerca de la puerta que Dios nos ha abierto a nosotros”.

Como manera de recaudar fondos para su viaje, los LaBossiere vendieron KenyanSoles, unos zapatos kenyatas pintados a mano. Los cielos de Kenia y “The Lion King”, el musical más exitoso de hoy en Broadway, inspiraron los diseños de los zapatos.

“Queremos agradecer a todos por sus oraciones y por ayudarnos a llegar a Kenia,” dijo Leann. “Esto es algo que Dios tenía en nuestros corazones por mucho tiempo.”

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2015 PREMIER ISSUE

23

FAITH in ACTION

strikepoint

teen leaders

young adult EMPOWERMENT

by Robert Mitchell

“ Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”

—1 TIMOTHY 4:12

Photos by Robert Mitchell

Bridgeport, CT—You might call Ronshay Smith, 17, and Tyrese Whittan, 16, the “big cousins” of the Bridgeport, Conn., Corps. Boys and girls who attend children’s programs there flock to and clearly look up to them.

Ronshay and Tyrese, who actually are cousins, have become leaders in a corps that is urgently searching for lay leadership.

Major Lydia Pearson and Major Katherine Longcoy, corps officers, have empowered Ronshay to help lead Boys Adventure, and Tyrese to serve as the Sunday morning worship & praise team leader.

Empowering teen leaders fits nicely into the four Strikepoints, and the agenda of Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, territorial

(Left) Ronshay Smith plays guitar during praise & worship. (Above) youth of the corps read Scripture with Major Lydia Pearson.

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Tyrese Whittan leads praise & worship.

commander (Integrated Urban Mission, Deeper Discipleship, Skilled Leadership, and Young Adult Empowerment).

Major Pearson says Ronshay and Tyrese, who are both in their fifth year of Corps Cadets, are “wonderful” teens and an asset to the corps.

‘STEPPING UP’ “What impresses me most is that they are boys who are on fire for God, and I’ve tried to do whatever I can to encourage them in their growth,” says Pearson. “They’re very sensitive and open to learning and to whatever God wants to do with them.

“They’re willing to do whatever they can for this corps and for the people we serve. They have a servant’s heart.”

Longcoy says the two are “growing spiritually” and “they have a desire to serve God.” “The thing about it is, they are also role models for the young boys in the corps,” Longcoy says. “There is a lack of good male role models, so it’s great to have them. They take the kids under their wing and give the young boys something to aspire to.

“They will help with anything we ask.

They’re very steady. They’re here every time the doors are open. Even when they’re out of school, they’re calling us to see if we need anything.”

OUT OF THE ‘COMFORT ZONE’ Ronshay and Tyrese, whose mothers are sisters, both started coming to the corps as young children, thanks to James Murphy, their grandfather.

On Thursday nights, Ronshay motivates

the young members of the Boys Adventure Club (ages 6–12) as they learn the Bible, play games, and have a meal together. The club recently presented a drama, “The Prince and the Pauper.”

“I see a lot of me in the kids,” says Ronshay, who is related to some in the group. “I want them to grow up and be leaders in their community and to better themselves while bettering others.”

Becoming a leader has surprised Ronshay, who says God is “always pushing me to do things I would never imagine me doing.” Over the summer, Ronshay helped with a feeding program and with children’s activities.

“God’s really pushing me to help change people’s lives and to guide them,” he says. “I try to be happy all the time and remember that I’m a leader and God is calling me to change these kids’ lives.”

REACHING PEOPLE WITH MUSIC While Ronshay is a high school senior who plans to go on and study psychology in college, Tyrese has announced he wants to be a Salvation Army officer.

“I grew up in the church and I’ve seen how [the officers] change other people’s lives, and that’s what I want to do,” says the junior in high school.

Tyrese plays piano, leads the praise band, chooses the music, and leads a team of fellow young people in rehearsals. Ronshay, who plays guitar, also participates.

“I think music is a very powerful thing, depending on how you use it,” Tyrese says. “If we can play music that is positive

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and tells people about God’s love, I think everyone would come to God and to know that love. I want to help us all use it to motivate people to come to God.” Major Longcoy said that after observing Tyrese and Ronshay, some of the young boys in the corps have been inspired to someday play music and to be in the praise band. She says Tyrese realizes he is a role model and is growing spiritually so God can use him.

‘THEY ARE OUR FUTURE’ “He knows that he can’t give something he doesn’t have personally,” Longcoy says of Tyrese. “His walk with God has to be very strong and sound in order for God to use the praise & worship. There are adults who don’t even get that.”

Major Pearson says Commissioner Swanson’s plan to empower young adults such as Ronshay and Tyrese to become leaders is greatly needed.

“If we don’t have leaders, there’s nothing going to happen,” she says.

Pearson says she and Longcoy “have to do a lot of things that we would love to have somebody else do, such as picking up the kids or leading the programs.

Without leaders, there are no programs.

The corps officers can’t do it all.”

Longcoy said that Bridgeport is the largest city in Connecticut. And the corps is dependent on young people such as Ronshay and Tyrese.

“Looking to the future,” says Longcoy, “they’re the hope of the corps.”

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

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ON file

wholly living

Call to our life together

by Major Young Sung Kim

“Call to our life together,” the 7th call of the International Spiritual Life Commission’s 12 Calls for Salvationists, declares that:

We call Salvationists worldwide to rejoice in their unique fellowship; to be open to support, guidance, nurture, affirmation, and challenge from each other as members together of the body of Christ; and to participate actively and regularly in the life, membership, and mission of a particular corps.

—Called to be God’s People This call characterizes the heart of the Gospel message of “Koinonia,” a Greek term meaning fellowship, sharing, communion, or community. These virtues were exemplified by the early Christian community in Acts 2:42–47.

This call for “the unique fellowship of Salvationists worldwide” is grounded in unity in the Holy Spirit, which “comes into its own” when its members are open to receive support, guidance, nurture, affirmation, and challenge from each other.

The call to our life together fulfills one of the various facets of Christ’s teaching on God’s Kingdom mission, proclaimed and demonstrated through His earthly ministry. This specific call to our life together should be considered one of the fundamental conditions or qualifications for Kingdom citizenship on earth.

It is also an undeniable reality in our wounded and complex society that this call is costly to the followers of Christ. We face unresolved injustices such as poverty, racism, sexism, classism, and religious conflict. If the call to a life together is an urgent mission in our time, then what attitudes and actions are we to express?

With this in mind, we must reflect on two questions.

The first is, “From what or whose perspective are you reading the Bible—as a woman, or as the poor and uneducated, or as the foreigner or the underprivileged or the privileged?”

The result of your Bible readings may be radically different if you only interpret Scripture from the perspective of a privileged person.

The second question is, “Are you willing to pay the cost in order to actualize the call—to live together and be accountable to an inclusive community striving toward spiritual well–being?”

For Salvationists, the uniform symbolizes an active testimony that says, “We are all in this together” to fulfill the following Godgiven mission and commitment.

In our life together we share responsibility for one another’s spiritual well–being. The vitality of our spiritual life is also enhanced by our accountability to one another, and when we practice the discipline of accountability our spiritual vision becomes objective, our decisions more balanced, and we gain the wisdom of the fellowship and the means to clarify and test our own thinking. Such spiritual direction may be provided effectively through a group or by an individual.

Mutual accountability also provides the opportunity to confess failure or sin and receive the assurance of forgiveness and hope in Christ.

—Called to be God’s People All God’s people are called to live together based on “genuine Christ–like love” with guidance from the Holy Spirit (John 13:34–35). A Salvationist song by John Gowans entitled “They Shall Come From The East” (songbook #170) alludes to a hopeful image of a fulfilled call to live together among God’s people, regardless of one’s place of origin or station in life. Let the song remind us that we must “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) because we “are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

—Major Kim is the Territorial Ambassador for Holiness

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healthy hearts

by Lt. Colonel Herbert C. Rader, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Experts believe that the deaths of 80 percent of the 800,000 Americans who died last year from heart–related conditions might have been prevented. Simple measures could have provided significant benefits.

We should be good stewards of God’s gifts, but not obsessed with our health. Rather, we should seek to be as fit as possible for the sake of others who depend on us, and fit for service for the glory of God.

1. Avoid all exposure to tobacco. Smoking is much more dangerous than high blood pressure.

2. Watch your weight. Your Body Mass Index (BMI), which you can calculate online, should be 25 or less. A man’s belt size should be less that 40” and a woman’s less than 35.”

3. G et moving. Regular exercise is good, but even moderate exercise is helpful. You don’t need a gym membership or special equipment. Don’t drive if you can walk.

4. I f there is heart disease in your family, develop a relationship with a primary care physician who will try to keep your Blood Pressure (BP) under 120/80, your sugar under 100, and your cholesterol under 200.

5. S tress is the body’s response to the pressures of life.

A slow–burning resentment is more damaging than a sudden crisis. Healthy relationships promote healthy hearts. However, bitterness, an unforgiving spirit, and unconfessed sin have the opposite effect.

6. Believe it or not, getting enough sleep at night is important to heart health, and a chronic lack of adequate sleep has been associated with increasing weight, which puts stress on the heart.

7. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber. Enjoy a varied and colorful diet. This is also helpful in preventing many cancers.

8. A void red meat. Instead, try to eat fish, such as salmon or mackerel, twice a week.

9. S elect low–fat dairy products; limit or eliminate foods that contain saturated fat, trans–fat, and cholesterol; and limit salt intake.

10. Limit consumption of deep–fried foods, snack foods, sugar–sweetened beverages, and margarines.

Pamela Moore/istock photo

Here are TEN TIPS for promoting heart health that most physicians agree on:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

—PROVERBS 4:23

TAKE IT ONE STEP

F U R TH E R

Bookstores, Amazon.com, and the Internet offer hundreds of books and articles on health–related topics, but the inquirer is easily lost in a World Wide Web of confusing and inconsistent information.

A conversation with your primary care physician can help bring clarity and offer advice in the context of your personal health history, your family history, as well as your values, lifestyle, and environmental pressures.

You can seek information on your own, but watch out for books or web sites that claim to offer good advice or medical breakthroughs but are actually advertising expensive drugs and supplements.

TRY THESE RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Consumer Reports On Health Newsletter

www.WebMD.com

($24.00 annually, call 888–590–0030)

www.health.nih.gov

The Mayo Clinic Health Letter

www.mayoclinic.org

($24.00 annually, call 800–333–9037)

www.drugs.com

IN focus

unity

On these ‘Unity’ pages, which will be a regular feature of SAConnects, English, Spanish, and Korean–speaking Salvationists from the Eastern Territory share their views on a specific topic in their first language. In this issue, the theme is marriage. You’ll read how they’ve made the commitment, weathered the storms, and are enjoying the rewards of a sacred union ordained and blessed by God.

“결혼” (Marriage): 하나 님의 창조 역사의 큰 비밀 올 해로, 저와 아내 김수정 사관은 결혼 생활 26 년을 함께 기념하는 해를 맞았습니다. 막상 이 지면을 통해 “결혼” (Marriage) 라는 주제에 대

¿Qué significa el matrimonio para mí?

—Mayora Hilda Esther Santiago, Asistente Secretaria de Cuidado Pastoral

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남편이자 아버지로서의 저 자신의 부족함과 책 임감이 크게 느껴지는 것이 솔직한 심정입니다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 저희 부부가 지나온 결혼의 여정을 돌아보면서, 누군가에게는 진심어린 유 익한 나눔이 되길 바라며, 마음에 떠오르는 생각 을 함께 나누고자 합니다. 결혼은 성경의 창세기 1장과 2장에서 분명 히 전하듯, 창조 역사의 근간을 이루는 하나님 의 계획이었습니다. 그런 의미에서, 결혼은 (신 앙의 유무를 떠나) 하나님의 구별된 창조물인 두 남녀가 의지적으로 하나님의 창조의 계획에 동 참하는 거룩되고 축복된 일라는 사실을 잊지 말 아야 하겠습니다. 에베소서 5장 32-33절은 이 와같은 성서적 진리를, “이러므로 사람이 부모를 떠나 그 아내와 합하여 그 둘이 한 육체가 될지 니 이 비밀 (mystery)이 크도다”라고 밝히고 있 습니다. 중요한 것은, 과연 우리가 하나님의 창조 역사의 큰 비밀을 담고 있는 이 거룩되고 축복된 결혼의 삶을 어떻게 아름답게 결실 맺어가며 살 아갈 것인가 하는 것입니다. 성경은 에베소서 5장 22-33절에서, 하나님 이 바라시고 기뻐하시는 결혼의 삶이란, 그리스 도께서 십자가의 희생으로 보이신 참 사랑의 모 범을 따라, 부부가 “제 몸같이” 서로를 상호 희생 적으로 존중하고 사랑하며 사는 것이며, 그 중심 에는, “거룩하고 흠없는” 성결의 삶이 가정의 목 Photo by Javier Gonzalez–Rivera

El matrimonio es una hermosa jornada de gracia de parte de Dios. Génesis 2:18 dice: “Y dijo Jehová Dios: No es bueno que el hombre este solo; le hare ayuda idónea para él”.

Aunque muchos matrimonios hoy dia son como una casa que se construye en la arena, que cuando los vientos soplan fuertemente se cae la casa y no sirve para nada más. Pero quiero decir que siempre hay oportunidad si permitimos que el Espíritu Santo obre y vuelva a unir los eslabones que se sueltan a veces por las diferencias que pueden ocurrir en el ceno del matrimonio.

En el libro de Eclesiastés 4:9 dice Salomón: “Que dos cabezas es mejor que una…” Esto se relaciona con la cooperación y trabajo juntos y pudiera añadir quizás también que ver con el acto de amar a una persona, lo cual es un regalo que completa la vida de nuestra pareja.

Cuando las circunstancias de la vida nos presentan retos podemos superar los mismos cuando el matrimonio es bueno. O sea, debe haber una relación de un buen compañerismo, una buena comunicación, amarse el uno al otro (cuidado mutuo), y por sobre todo, tiempo de oración juntos.

El matrimonio es lo que cada uno quiere que sea. Si queremos mantener la unión que Dios hizo entre ambos para siempre necesitamos ser buenos mayordomos de esta jornada de la cual Dios es el guía perfecta.

Esto es una gran realidad pues mi experiencia en mi matrimonio ha sido maravillosa en cuanto hemos estado unidos en los momentos buenos y como dice mi esposo “en los no tan buenos también”. La comunicación y la relación como pareja nos han dado la oportunidad de aprender y crecer juntos para poder suplir las necesidades de ambos y poder ayudar a otros.

En Gálatas 6:2 (NTV) dice “Ayúdense a llevar los unos las cargas de los otros, y obedezcan de esa manera la ley de Cristo”. Cuando en la pareja uno de los dos se compunge el otro también siente el dolor, cuando uno está feliz el otro también comparte la felicidad, cundo uno ríe el otro también se ríe con él. O sea que son el uno para el otro, porque lo que Dios unió que no lo separe el hombre.

한 글을 쓰려하니, 무엇보다 글의 주제에 대한

표가 되어야 한다고 말씀합니다. 우리는 “사랑” (Love)이라는 말을 ‘감정적인 차원에서의 관념 적이거나 추상적인 명사 (Noun)어”로만 인식하 는 것에 너무나 익숙해져 있습니다. 그러나, 성

What assumptions have you made about marriage? 랑이라는 말의 참 의미는, “사람과 사람의 관계에서, 책임적인 행동을 수반하는 역동적 인 덕목 (Virtue)으로써의 동사 (Verb)어”라는 사실을 깨달을 때, 비로서 이 말의 생명력을 바 르게 이해할 수 있겠습니다. 바울 사도가 고린도 전서 13장에서 전하는 그 유명한 사랑에 대한 가르침은, 이와같은 관계적 역동적 동사어로써 의 사랑이라는 말 속에 담겨 있는 하나님의 관심 과 실천적 진리를 어디서 찾아야 하는지를 잘 가 르쳐주고 있습니다. 오늘날은 그 어느 때보다도 많은 가정이 위기

“

와 해체를 겪고 있다는 사실을 부인할 수 없는 것 이 안타까운 현실입니다. 이와같은 가슴아픈 주 위의 현실이 결코 남의 이야기로만 여겨질 수 없 는 것은, 저희 부부 또한 늘 깨어서 신앙 안에서 서로를 돌아보지 않으면, 언제라도 위기를 당할 수 있는 연약한 존재라는 사실을 잘 알기 때문입 니다. 참으로 복된 소식은, 결혼을 태초부터 계획 하신 하나님께서는, 당신의 백성들이 결혼의 삶 을 온전히 감당할 수 있는 은혜 (enabling and empowering grace)를 그리스도의 믿음 안 에서 허락해 주셨다는 것입니다. 뿐만아니라, 결 혼의 위기를 맞아 상처입은 생명들에게는 저들 의 상처에 소망의 새살을 돗게 하시는 치유의 은 혜 또한 부어주신다는 사실을 잊지 말아야 하겠 습니다. 무엇보다도, 결혼 생활의 세가지 기둥은 “믿음, 소망, 사랑”이며, “그 중에 제일은 사랑”

other deeply…”), 결혼에 대한 교회와 우리 모 두를 향한 하나님의 마음과 뜻을 명사가 아닌, 동 사로써 실천하고 체험하며 살아가야 하겠습니다.

—참령 김영성 사관 (미동군국 성결의 대사)

Photo courtesy of Major Young Sung Kim

(고전 13:13)이기에, “무엇보다도 열심으로 서로 사랑하며” (벧전 4:8; “Above all, love each

Damon and I have been married for seven months.

Before marriage, we had assumptions about married life. God has taught me a lot throughout this first year by showing me where my assumptions were wrong.

My first assumption was that my husband would comfort me and cheer me up when I was having a bad day. However, somewhere in the middle of kettle season, I realized the selfishness of this assumption. I was having a rough day; sleep deprivation had taken its toll. I just wanted my husband to give me a hug and say, “Everything’s going to be okay.”

At the same time, Damon was handling a difficult situation at the corps and just wanted me to say, “You’re doing a good job.” While we were both feeling pressured, we couldn’t help each other. We had to turn to Jesus. I am learning that, in marriage, we need to depend on Christ instead of putting our burdens on each other.

My second assumption was that it was going to be easy to center our marriage on Christ. After all, my husband and I are Christians, and we have dedicated our lives to serving the Lord.

When we were dating, we I am learning that in talked every night at 10 p.m. marriage, we need and finished our conversations with prayer. Now that we live to intentionally carve and work together, finding out time to grow time to pray and study is more difficult. We have realized that together in the Lord. if we don’t set aside a specific time, these things won’t happen. I am learning that in marriage, we need to intentionally carve out time to grow together in the Lord.

My third assumption was that my husband and I would always act as if we love each other. We know that we love each other, but there are days when our selfishness comes out: when neither one of us wants to walk the dog, Damon doesn’t want to listen to my random stories, and I don’t want to help him find his socks.

On these days, I am reminded that love—real love—is more than an emotion or a phrase. Real love is a commitment, proven by action.

A theme verse for our marriage, 1 John 3:18 is: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.”

What does marriage mean to me? Right now, it means walking side–by– side with my husband as we learn to depend on Christ, to grow in Him, and to live day–by–day with an attitude of self-sacrificing love.

find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

”

—Lieutenants Allison and Damon W. Bethel are corps officers at the Hartford (North End), Conn., Corps.

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

Photo courtesy of Lieutenant Allison Bethel

경이 강조하는 사

29

ON file

testimony

I’ve been reintroduced to Christ

by Robert Mitchell

“

help, and they were sincere.”

Jennifer Helpard, administrator of the ARC, said, “God has made a definite change in John’s life.”

John was further amazed that once he graduated from the program in November 2004, he applied for a job at the ARC— and was hired.

“I thought, ‘Wow, a guy with my background? A guy with my criminal history?’ They really don’t judge me at all,” John says.

John has held several positions at the ARC, including residence supervisor, intake coordinator, and counselor. He now leads worship at the ARC every Sunday and is the choir director.

“I’ve been reintroduced to Christ,” he says. “Because God always knew my heart, it was easy for me to accept Him in my life when I was thinking correctly and didn’t have a substance in my system to detour me.

“As I accepted Christ into my life and became born again, I began to treat people how Christ would treat them. With the compassion The Salvation Army gave me, I was able to give that to the next person.”

Major Richard Bosh, the ARC’s chaplain, said John was serious from his first day.

“He came here with the idea of changing—and he did,” Bosh said. “He had a tremendous spirit and God got ahold of it.

“If we had a few more men like John Scott, we could turn the whole world around.”

Photos courtesy of John Scott

JOHN SCOTT made a lot of mistakes in his life. Eventually, he ended up behind bars.

But he always carried a copy of 2 Chronicles 7:14 with him.

“I always believed in God,” John says, recalling how his mother and aunt took him to church as a youngster. “I was a believer in God the whole time, I was just rebellious … very rebellious.”

Growing up on the gritty streets of Newark, N.J., as a teenager, John’s life spiraled out of control.

“I was caught up in violence and then drugs began to play a part in my life,” he recalls. “I was reckless and running the streets and just trying to blend in with the neighborhood crowd.

“My life turned for the worse. I needed to get out, but never had a clue on how to get out.”

John ended up doing two years in prison, but once he got out at age 31, a pastor who lived in his neighborhood told him about the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) program in Rochester, N.Y. The prison experience had “opened my eyes,” John said.

He knew changes had to be made and he decided to head for Rochester in 2004, despite living his entire life in New Jersey.

“As I got on the train to travel 324 miles from New Jersey to Rochester, I wondered, ‘Where am I going? What am I doing?’”

John says.

Looking back, John calls that train ride the seminal moment of his life when he cried out to God, knowing that he would never return to New Jersey or to his bad habits.

“I said, ‘OK God, if you want to me go, I’ll go.’ I’m a grown man, but I cried like a baby,” he says. “I knew deep down that it was going to be a new me.

“I believe that train ride was a turning from my wicked ways.”

John said that when he arrived, he knew little about The Salvation Army, but was amazed at what he learned.

“I started realizing the Army is way bigger than I ever imagined,” he says. “The officers and the staff were pretty amazing.

It was genuine. If I was willing to change, they were willing to

John leading Sunday worship

324

”

As I got on the train to travel miles from New Jersey to Rochester, I wondered, Where am I going? What am I doing?

30

PREMIER ISSUE 2015

strikepoint

‘I’ll Fight’

FAITH in ACTION

A young girl decorates her Christmas cookie with frosting and chocolate candies.

a Christmas party

by Hugo Bravo

The East Orange, N.J., Corps and its afterschool program participants enjoyed a Christmas Party organized by the Territorial Youth Department on Friday, December 5th.

Instead of hosting a celebration for themselves, Youth Department personnel staged an evening at the corps with holiday–themed carnival. Kids enjoyed games, music, contests, and delicious food under the theme, “I’ll Fight” (words from William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, regarding his commitment to save souls).

Jennifer Garrett, youth department business assistant, said, “We are so happy we did this instead of just having our own Christmas party. One of the young girls said to our staff, ‘This is the best day ever!

It’s like Christmas but it’s not Christmas!’”

Major Kim D’Amaro, territorial Christian education director, who hosted a “Pass the Gift” carnival game (a

Christmas–themed version of Hot Potato) said, “We had a wonderful time. We were incredibly blessed with the opportunity to minister to the children and to their families, and we pray that the kids felt loved and found a place at The Salvation Army.”

Major Christina Ramirez, divisional women’s ministries secretary for the New Jersey Division, said that the community response was overwhelming, but it was handled so well, everyone had a great time.

“We are so thankful for the participation of the Territorial Youth Department at the ‘I’ll Fight Christmas Party,’” she said.

The program has been a benefit to the corps already, said Major Ramirez. “A new family has begun to attend church on Sundays as a result of a conversation we had with them at the party.

Three new children (one family) have signed up for the afterschool program. When we held our holiday food and toy

distribution, several people commented that they were thankful for the party.”

“The seeds planted by this ministry outreach are already taking root. We are so excited as we observe God’s faithfulness and ponder the possibilities for the Orange Corps!” said Major Ramirez.

Upon arriving at the corps that evening, about 50 kids from the afterschool program discovered that their large stage room now had tables equipped with ring toss, guessing games, and crafts.

The children knocked over “Snow Walls” and built towers and igloos from marshmallows

Photos by Hugo Bravo

From left: Members of the East Orange Corps dance to the ‘Cha–Cha Slide.’ Territorial Youth Department member Brittany Parks hosts guessing games for the afterschool program.

find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

and toothpicks.

Everyone guessed the number of candies in jars, made snowflake tree ornaments, and decorated holiday jewelry. The fun stopped momentarily for a group dance break, where every child and adult rushed to the center of the room to enjoy the funky sounds of the ‘Cha–Cha Slide.’

Like any good carnival celebration, there were also plenty of delicious treats. The kids enjoyed hot dogs, potato chips, and hot cocoa with marshmallows. Even dessert was a fun game, as everyone decorated Christmas cookies in a festive way with frosting, candies, and colored sugar.

When the meal was over, children returned to the “Christmas Room” for more fun.

Tug-of-war, stilts races, ‘Belly Bumper’ competitions, and an indoor snowball fight, using extra large marshmallows, concluded the celebration.

Every child also took home Christmas storybooks from The Salvation Army.

2015 PREMIER ISSUE

31

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32

PREMIER ISSUE 2015

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This study is more than a how–to on marriage; it focuses on the heart issues that can get in the way. I recommend this study because it allows you to explore a biblical view of God’s design for our lives—not simply for marriage—but for all of life.

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KETTLE HISTORY

20

DECEMBER 2014 Volume 32, Number 12

INSIDE this issue: Kettle interns

The Santa Barbara Corps implement ed a kettle internship program to prepare Hospitality House residents for the workforce.

OPPORTUNI

Maternal health

TY PAGE 4

The Salvation Army is working to improve maternal health and family planning in Pakistan through Mother and Child Health Clubs.

PAKISTAN PAGE 8

Coalition for correction

With a record-high prison population in Arizona, The Salvation Army helped form the Arizona Coalition to help ex-offenders sidestep recidivism.

CORRECTIO

Increased diversity

N PAGE 10

A name change to the All Nations Corps in 2012 led to increased diversity among the congregation.

DIVERSITY

NEW DATA HIGHLIGHTS GROWTH IN MINISTRY

Sunday morning worship attendance tops 1 million in the West.

T

he Western Territory released its annual Health Summary Report, detailing data on growth in areas of worship, fellowship, outreach, discipleship and soldiership.

The report evaluated the trends in enrollme nt and attendance througho ut the territory over the last three fiscal years, noting the percentag e increase or decrease of each program or initiative.

Headlining the release is the 2 percent uptick in Sunday morning worship attendance from 2013 to 2014, pushing the current total back over 1 million.

One kettle at a time

PAGE 14

“I think that is the [biggest] indicator because everything tends to focus on that,” said Colonel Dave Hudson, chief secretary of the Western Territory. “When we’re doing that, then everything tends to fall more in place.

It is a milestone. It’s a cause to celebrate.”

The number of soldier and adherents made from programs marked the biggest upsurge in the report. The figure stood at 839 in 2012, then jumped to 1,298 in 2013 and again to 2,613 in 2014—a 211 GROWTH PAGE 14

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GLENDALE, CA PERMIT #654

Volunteer units blanket the Intermountain Division with bell ringers.

BY CARAMIE SCHNEL

L

The trademark red apron, a bell and the ever-reco gnizable red kettle are the constants Gene and Jerry Jones, with members of their when family, officially kicked off the annual Red it comes to The Salvation Kettle Campaign at halftime Army’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgivin of the annual fundraising campaign g Day game. . Beyond that, you never know who— or what—you’re going to see.

Take for example Trinidad, Colo. One of the most lucrative days for the kettle is when a bell ringer brings his donkey along for his block of time.

Holiday campaign begins with “kettle drop” “They stand there all day long together; people just love during Dallas Cowboys Thanks it,” said giving game Sherry Manson, Service Extension The Dallas Cowboys kicked Director, who oversees off the 124th annual Red 100 of the Kettle Campaign Nov. Army’s Service Extension 27 when the Jones family Units made this season’s first official kettle throughout Colorado, donation at halftime Utah, Wyo- Volunteer Carolyn Moorman of the Cowboys Thanksgi and her dog Murphy ring ming and Eastern Montana, ving Day game against the Philamost the bell at the Avon City Market for the Vail delphia Eagles.

Valley of which are staffed by volunteers. Salvation Army Service Extension Unit.

For the past 18 years, the In Gillette, Wy., there’s Dallas Cowboys have helped a wom- it’s The Salvation Army kick not much of a stretch.” an who volunteers to off the campaign, which ring the bell has raised more than $1.8 billion The Salvation Army’s each December, “and in that time. red kettles and smilevery year For the official campaign ing bell ringers are she dresses up as an elf kickoff, Jerry Jones, owner as much a part of the and hands of the Dallas Cowboys, Christmas season as out candy canes,” said and wife Gene made their candy canes and long Glenda lines annual “kettle drop,” the inaugura at the Post Office, but Harvey, manager of l donation to the Red beyond throwing tle the Gillette KetCampaign, at the start a handful of change or Salvation Army Service of halftime. The Jones stuffing in a few bills, Exten- how family has made the kettle drop each year much do you know sion. “She’s five-footsince 1997, when the about the money Cowboys nothing, so and The Salvation Army began the partnership.

ONE KETTLE PAGE 14 KICK-OFF PAGE 14

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