VOL. 2, NO. 1 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
the magazine
espera en
DIOS
un mensaje del General André Cox página 8
REACHING
HIGHER faith & friendly competition fuels a strong SPORTS MINISTRY
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Led by Commissioners Barry C. & E. Sue Swanson territorial leeaders
Colonels F. Bradford & Heidi Bailey
Special Guests:
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IN focus
God’s beauty in Winter
la belleza de Dios en Invierno I must admit, I‘m not one who loves the extreme cold. In January 2014 on the day Lorraine and I returned from the South America West Territory to the USA Eastern Territory, we flew from the warmth of 90 degrees in Santiago, Chile, to the frigid mid–20s in New York City. However, I can tell you that I do love the beauty found in the cold, snowy days as they transform the outdoors. Overnight, a soft blanket of snow can turn a dreary landscape into a breathtaking vista. During these days of winter, another type of transformation is underway in our territory. God has been bringing refreshing change to the lives of people. Some of their stories unfolded during our recent Christmas ministry. The service and love expressed by our employees, volunteers, soldiers, and officers in this territory have helped to transform potential sadness into happiness. Thank you for covering the lives of so many individuals with a crisp, sparkling beauty. And we’re seizing many other opportunities to bring transformation to people’s lives. Inward and outward change is taking place for individuals in our Adult Rehabilitation Centers as they receive the love and the beauty of Christ. This winter, Salvationists and volunteers all across this territory will be touching lives through feeding programs, warming shelters, and social services programs that will allow people to know that they are loved and that their lives can be made anew in Jesus Christ. Today, may we pause in gratitude for the personal transformation that Jesus offers to each of us—one of crystal clarity and purity. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” —Psalm 51:7 (NLT)
—Colonel / Coronel William A. Bamford III Chief Secretary / Secretario en Jefe
Debo reconocer que no soy una de esas personas a las que les gusta el frío extremo. En enero de 2014, el día en que Lorraine y yo regresábamos desde el Territorio Oeste de Sudamérica al Territorio Este de Estados Unidos, dejamos los 30 grados Celsius de Santiago de Chile y nos vinimos a los frígidos -10 grados Celsius de la Ciudad de Nueva York. Sin embargo, les puedo decir que, a pesar de todo, me encanta la belleza que sólo puede apreciarse en los días fríos, nevados, y en la manera como transfiguran el paisaje. En el curso de una sola noche, un suave manto de nieve puede transformar un paisaje desolado en un espectáculo sobrecogedor. Durante estos días de invierno, otro tipo de transformación se ha estado viviendo en nuestro territorio. Dios ha estado obrando un cambio revitalizador en la vida de la gente. Algunas de sus historias nos llegaron durante nuestro reciente ministerio de Navidad. El servicio y el amor expresados por nuestros empleados, voluntarios, soldados y oficiales en este territorio han ayudado a transformar lo que de otro modo pudo ser tristeza en una gran alegría. Gracias por hacer relucir las vidas de tantas personas con toda su lozana y radiante belleza. Y estamos aprovechando muchas oportunidades que se presentan para traer transformación a las vidas de otras personas. Conforme van recibiendo el amor y la belleza de Cristo en nuestro Centros de Rehabilitación para Adultos, las personas han podido constatar una serie de cambios tanto en su vida interior como en la exterior. Este invierno, los salvacionistas y los voluntarios a lo largo y ancho de este territorio ayudarán a un sinnúmero de personas mediante los programas de comidas, los albergues acogedores y los programas de servicios sociales que les permitirá saber que son amados y que sus vidas pueden renovarse en Jesucristo. Hoy podemos hacer un alto y dar gracias por la transformación personal que Jesús nos ofrece a cada uno de nosotros; una transformación de una claridad y pureza. “Purifícame de mis pecados, y quedaré limpio; lávame, y quedaré más blanco que la nieve”. —Salmo 51:7 (NTV)
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EVE RY K I D S HO U L D EXPE R I E NC E
CAMP
For more information on Salvation Army camping ministries please visit boothyouth.com
Vol. 2, No. 1
CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
IN focus
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1 leader letter 4 from the editor
ON file
5 relevents Chuck Goodin talks about becoming a Christian and the importance of the arts.
6 letters from you 25 God’s Eternal Grace Major Lydia Mercado reflects on God’s presence in her life.
25
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26 A Lawyer’s Recovery Javier Miranda’s recovery from drug addiction began with accepting the Lord.
28 wholly living A new series by Major Lauren Hodgson, p. 29.
features
26
9 A Warrior for
32 great moments
Her Generation
In 1968, Salvationist and Olympian Peter Norman took his place on the winners’ podium and in history.
Shanique Taliaferro was just looking for a place to pray when she rang the doorbell at the Salvation Army’s Trenton, N.J., Corps. The encounter changed her life and launched a dynamic prayer ministry for the city she loves.
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FAITH in ACTION 7 Wait on God
General André Cox invites you to make time for the Lord.
COVER STORY
19 Sports Ministry
They represent rival gangs in East Harlem, but when they come together at the Salvation Army’s Manhattan Citadel, differences are put aside, a Bible is opened, and it’s time to relax and just be all about basketball.
14 Love and Basketball 19
Building body, mind, and spirit through relational evangelism.
22 A New Year’s Cover by Keri Shay
Revelation
How a simple answer led two souls to love and to a life together in The Salvation Army.
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SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
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IN focus
from the editor the magazine
your connection to The Salvation Army
Serving a Troubled World El Servicio a un Mundo Atribulado Here’s more on what’s in store for you in our March SAConnects, which will pay tribute to Salvationists from our territory who are involved in World Services. Headlines reveal that humanitarianism around the world is under siege. And although in troubled lands the stakes are higher than ever, we’ll show you how Salvationists are still determined to go and to meet human need in His name. For example, you’ll read what Captain Dwayne Barnes did in the Republic of Congo and how it even inspired and astounded him. On the morning he was to participate in both a Holiness Convention and a Brengle Institute, he says, “I was told, ‘Captain, this morning, you will be enrolling 70 junior soldiers.’ ” And I thought, Oh, my goodness! ‘And while you are doing that, 350 senior soldiers will be enrolled.’” Barnes said 10,100 Salvationists witnessed these enrollments. You’ll also discover what touched Alastair Bate’s heart as he witnessed the battered Southwest Pacific island chain of Vanuatu recover in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam. The Category 5 event with winds reaching 165 mph might have been devastating, had it not been for Bate and Salvationists from other territories who were on the ground to join other agencies in response to the dire need. He writes, “Most important is the encouragement; news that all is not lost. There is hope.”
— Warren L. Maye
Editor in Chief / Editor en Jefe
He aquí un anticipo de lo que podrás leer en tu SAConnects del mes de marzo, que rendirá tributo a los salvacionistas de nuestro territorio que participan activamente en los Servicios Mundiales. Los titulares revelan que el humanitarismo alrededor del mundo está bajo asedio. Y si bien en los países afectados los riesgos son más serios que nunca antes, mostraremos lo decididos que están los salvacionistas a ir a esos lugares y atender las necesidades de las personas en nombre del Señor. Por ejemplo, podrás enterarte de lo que el Capitán Dwayne Barnes vivió en la República del Congo y de cómo su experiencia lo inspiró e impactó. Como él nos cuenta, debía participar por la mañana en una Convención de Santidad y asistir después al Instituto Brengle: “Me dijeron: ‘Capitán, esta mañana usted va a enrolar a 70 jóvenes soldados’, por lo que pensé: ‘¡Vaya!’ ‘Y mientras usted hace eso, se enrolarán al mismo tiempo un total de 350 soldados adultos’”. Barnes comentó que 10.100 salvacionistas presenciaron esos enrolamientos. Y también te enterarás de lo que tocó el corazón de Alastair Bate mientras veía cómo se recuperaban las islas del archipiélago de Vanuatu tras ser asoladas por el ciclón Pam. Ese fenómeno de categoría 5, con ráfagas que alcanzaron los 250 kph, pudo ser devastador de no haber sido por él y por los salvacionistas de otros territorios que acudieron prontamente para sumarse a otras agencias y atender las urgentes necesidades de los miles de damnificados. Alastair comentó: “Lo más importante de todo es el aliento; el saber que no todo está perdido. Que hay esperanza”.
USA EASTERN TERRITORY 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 EDITOR / HISPANIC CORRESPONDENT 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 Keri L. Shay CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Lotz, Major Young Sung Kim CIRCULATION Deloris Hansen COMMAND NEWS CORRESPONDENTS ARCC Major Charles Deitrick
PENDEL R andall Thomas Major Kathryn A. Avery EMP Jaye C. Jones
MASS Drew Forster
NNE Cheryl Poulopoulos PR & VI Linette Luna SNE James Gordon
WEPASA Captain Kimberly DeLong NJ Siran Farrar
Territorial Music Liaison Ronald Waiksnoris
Territorial Youth Liaison Captain Gillian Rogers New command correspondents will be appointed soon for
CFOT, GNY, NEOSA, SWONEKY
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. Vol. 2, No. 1, January/February 2016. 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.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
www.twitter.com/saconnects
relevents
ON file
Chuck Goodin, Young Adult, Camp, and Sports Ministries Director, talks with SAConnects about the importance of strong friendships, becoming a Christian at 18, and how the arts can bring us closer to God. interview by Hugo Bravo
Moving from place to place in my childhood also made me appreciate traveling, and the outdoors. To me, daily sunshine is something that we should all strive for. I love to be outside as much as I can, especially to play a round of disc golf. If they told me I could have an outdoor office today, I would jump at the opportunity. Chuck Goodin performing in the musical “Stoned.”
The friends I have made over my life are like family. My father worked for the Department of Defense, so we moved around quite a bit. Every few years, we moved to a new location. I guess it was a bit like being a military brat (or a Salvation Army officer’s child). Sometimes it was difficult to leave everything behind, but wherever I went, I was lucky that I could make friends quickly and develop strong relationships. I try to live my life thinking: If we’re going to be friends, let’s be good ones, or even best friends. That comes from my childhood, having to make those friends quickly and adapting to each new place, and then working hard to stay in touch when you have to go. You never want to start over when you have a good friendship with someone.
Photo by Keri Shay; bottom left photo by Joe Vericker/PhotoBureau
I became a Christian when I was 18. I was in a tightknit group of friends in high school. Our biggest concern at the time was when we were going to throw the next party. It was pretty much how we lived every day. But one of them discovered God’s love, and over the next few years, each of us became a Christian as well. We are still very close, and each of us serves the Lord in our own lives. I’m thankful that my life took a direction towards Christ, and that it was done with close friends along the way.
The daily guidance of God and the Holy Spirit is important in my life. I try to listen to Him speak every day, and communicate back to Him. I’m constantly amazed that the Creator of the universe wants to have a personal relationship with me, and with each of us.
Whether theater, cinema, or visual, the arts are fascinating to me. It’s hard to put into words why the arts are so important in our lives, but I feel they’re one of God’s greatest gifts. They enable us to see something that is greater than ourselves. They help us realize what can be out there beyond our own existence and circumstances. It can also give us a deeper understanding of God, because we create, as He created us. Life would be so dull without the gift of the arts.
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IN focus
letters from you
a story. product there’s Behind every ce. e makes a differen Every purchas . helps Give a gift that
TRADE FOR
Majors James and Deborah Kisser, corps officers in Beacon, N.Y., chat with Clifford ‘Ron’ Lancaster, advisory board member and Vietnam veteran.
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— MAJOR JAMES C. KISSER, JR., CFRE Beacon, N.Y.
Thanks for covering our Veterans Open House and Appreciation Day (SAConnects, Nov. 2015). The article accurately expresses the sentiments of the day. You’ve allowed veterans who served our country to share their stories and to say how grateful they are to The Salvation Army. When I speak to seniors around our division, at least one veteran tells me how the Army helped him or her in the service—from a cup of coffee to getting home. They always say, “I give to the Army because they never ion Ar my charged me anything The Salvat rs remembe and helped me when I needed them the most.” Thank you again for the lovely article. by Robert Mitchell
Magnano
Please express my deepest gratitude to Robert Mitchell and staff for such a wonderful Veterans Day issue (SAConnects, Nov. 2015). A highlight of the issue was the article on Clifford “Ron” Lancaster, our advisory board member (“Serving Two Armies”). My favorite photograph is of Ron standing outside the corps building, displaying his Purple Heart medal (p. 18). Ron is a hero twice over, having served our country in the U.S. Army and then in The Salvation Army. By the way, my favorite photograph in the whole issue shows my daughter, Cadet Rebekah Knicole Kisser, being welcomed with the “Joyful Intercessors” session at the pe.com usa.tradeforho Centennial Memorial Temple in New York City (p. 24). 12–14 Blessings! SEP TEM BER
Photo by Susan
Photo by Susan Magnano
Thankful in November
a
of the classic a few measures starting with just Old Flag.” pianist played slowly, joined in, “You’re A Grand and patriotic song Then another person singing the words. singing boldly. the chapel was Someone began audience inside Ladore in Waymart, Soon the entire chapel at Camp and then another. by seniors Salvation Army’s It was attended On Aug. 5 in The was underway. day to honor veterans just for them. Their Pa., a special service the middle of a week reserved a commuin show, ’50s music, and was happening car and motorcycle classic a market, e included a flea with a picturesqu pontoon boat rides. and patio, complete nity lunch, and were Ladore’s pool available Also 2015 NOVEMBER
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ISSUE
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—BARB KORTELING, DIRECTOR OF SALES Ladore Camp, Retreat & Conference Center
FAITH in ACTION
Photo by International Headquarters
wait on GOD by General André Cox
If I could deliver 3 words of advice to Christians for 2016, it would be this: Wait on God. As officers and Salvationists, we live busy, chaotic, sometimes even dysfunctional lives. This dedication to our work can be a very good thing; after all, the need of the world is only getting bigger. We should absolutely be committed to our tasks and responsibilities. But there is a danger in putting all of ourselves in our roles if it keeps us from being in God’s presence, or it keeps us from opening our minds and hearts to Him. It can be difficult to switch everything off, and just be with God. We don’t give ourselves that luxury very often. I wonder sometimes if our lack of waiting, listening, and learning is a sign of overconfidence. We think we are clever enough to do everything by ourselves. After all, look at the amazing
gifts that God has given to The Salvation Army. But we will hit a brick wall if we think that the Army’s success can only come from us. After a routine check–up from my doctor earlier this year, I was told that I might have either cancer or tuberculosis. The doctors said to me that unless I underwent a serious operation soon, I would have 12 months to live. The fact that I was General of The Salvation Army changed nothing. The insignia, the “bling” on my uniform and on my shoulder, meant nothing. I wasn’t standing before God as an officer, but as André Cox, as He made me. We all know we will one day die. But when someone puts a time limit on your life, you realize all the things that you would still like to experience. You realize that you may be too driven by your itinerary or your routine. You realize how
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much you still want to experience God’s love in your remaining time. I know it is sometimes hard to see and experience the hand and presence of God. But let us never become so busy that we forget to live our lives in His presence. It will keep us from being the best version of ourselves that we can be. And the best version of us can only be attained with a strong relationship with the Lord. Jesus said to His disciples, “Remain in me, as I remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” If we follow those words, our lives will also bear fruit. Psalm 25:21 reads: “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee.” I pray that, in the business of your lives, your days will also be filled with seeking, listening, and waiting on God.
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FAITH in ACTION
espera en
DIOS Photo by International Headquarters
por General André Cox
Si pudiese ofrecer un consejo en 3 palabras a los cristianos para el año 2016, sería este: Espera en Dios. Como oficiales y salvacionistas, llevamos vidas ajetreadas, caóticas y a veces hasta disfuncionales. Esa dedicación a nuestro trabajo puede ser algo muy bueno; después de todo, las necesidades del mundo se van haciendo cada vez mayores. Debemos estar absolutamente consagrados a nuestras tareas y responsabilidades. Pero es peligroso poner todo de nuestra parte en cuanto a cumplir nuestras funciones, de modo que eso nos aleje de la presencia de Dios o dejemos de abrir nuestros espíritus y corazones a Él. Puede resultar difícil desconectarnos de todo sólo para estar a solas con Dios. La verdad es que no nos damos ese lujo muy a menudo. A veces me cuestiono si el hecho de no esperar en Dios, no escuchar su Palabra ni aprender de Él es señal de excesiva confianza en nosotros mismos. Pensamos que somos suficientemente listos para hacerlo todo por
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nosotros mismos. Al fin y al cabo, es cosa de ver los asombrosos dones que Dios le ha dado al Ejército de Salvación. Pero nos estrellaremos contra un muro de ladrillos si pensamos que el éxito del Ejército se debe sólo a nosotros. Tras una visita rutinaria al médico a comienzos de este año, se me dijo que podría tener cáncer o tuberculosis. Los doctores me dijeron que a menos que me sometiera a una importante cirugía a la brevedad posible, tendría sólo 12 meses de vida. El hecho de que fuese General del Ejército de Salvación no cambiaba nada. La insignia, la ostentación en mi uniforme y en mis hombreras, no significaban nada. Yo no estaba ante Dios como oficial, sino como André Cox, como Él me hizo. Todos sabemos que un día moriremos. Pero cuando alguien le pone un plazo a su vida, usted se da cuenta de todas las cosas que le gustaría experimentar. Se da cuenta de que quizás haya estado excesivamente dirigido por su itinerario o su rutina. Y, sobre todo, se percata de lo mucho que anhela
sentir el amor y la presencia de Dios el tiempo que le resta. Sé que a veces es difícil ver y sentir la mano y la presencia de Dios. Pero no dejemos que el exceso de ocupación haga que olvidemos vivir en su presencia. Así no nos enfocaremos en tratar de ser la mejor versión de nosotros mismos. Esa mejor versión sólo la podemos alcanzar mediante una estrecha relación con el Señor. Jesús les dijo a sus discípulos: “Permanezcan en mí, y yo permaneceré en ustedes. Así como ninguna rama puede dar fruto por sí misma, sino que tiene que permanecer en la vid, así tampoco ustedes pueden dar fruto si no permanecen en mí”. Si damos cumplimiento a estas palabras, nuestras vidas también darán fruto. El Salmo 25:21 dice: “Sean mi protección la integridad y la rectitud, porque en ti he puesto mi esperanza”. Oro que, en sus ajetreadas vidas, sus días también alcancen su plenitud en la búsqueda, la escucha y la esperanza que han puesto en Dios.
a warrior
for her generation by Robert Mitchell
Photo by Keri Shay
Today, Shanique Taliaferro exudes the joy of the Lord. But in recent times, she had hit rock bottom and was desperately seeking God’s joy.
go to saconnects.org for a video interview with Shanique Taliaferro
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Forced to move in with her mother, who lived in one of Trenton, N.J.’s most challenging neighborhoods, Shanique would walk about a mile each day to pray at the State Capitol Fountain. “I used to walk past The Salvation Army all the time on my way to the fountain,” Shanique says. “Then I saw the sign ‘The Salvation Army’ and it all clicked. I said, ‘Maybe they’re the army of the Lord.’ ” Shanique rang the door bell at the Trenton Citadel Corps in July 2014, and a receptionist answered. Shanique recalls, “I told her I wanted to know more about The Salvation Army because God had called me to be a spiritual warrior.” That day, Shanique was not permitted to go inside and pray, but she managed to get her hands on a War Cry magazine. The title reminded her of War Cry Intercessory Ministries, a prayer effort for members of her generation that she had started a few years earlier. “I took that magazine home and read it,” she says. An article on the fullness of the Holy Spirit and two other stories about General André Cox, leader of The Salvation Army, caught her attention. “I began to cry because everything in that magazine really spoke to me,” she says. “I felt the spirit of God,” she says. “It was an overwhelming presence. It was as if He was telling me to ‘Go back.’ ” The next day, Shanique returned to the corps and requested to see General Cox. At the time, she thought her appeal was quite reasonable. But instead of seeing the General, this time, she was allowed inside to pray.
“That was a breakthrough for me from that day forward,” she says. “I started coming here every day. I was really kind of struggling and trying to renew my relationship with the Lord. “I was trying to get ahold of ‘the hem of His garment.’ I was thirsty for Jesus. I was looking for a place to pray. I was looking for spiritual development.” The first thing she noticed when she entered the sanctuary was the phrase “Holiness to the Lord” on the front table. “That spoke to me,” she says. “God was telling me, ‘I’m going to sanctify you for my work. I’m going to set you apart for my work. I’m going to do the work in you if you will just continue to seek me and submit.’ “For the first couple of weeks, it was amazing at that altar. I felt great.” Shanique kept coming. Today, she is the director of volunteers at the Trenton, N.J. (Citadel) Corps, but her spiritual journey has had many twists and turns.
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“ Photo by Keri Shay
PRAYER WARRIOR
I said a little prayer and asked God if He was real and to reveal His purpose for my life. I don’t even know how I knew to pray.
”
Una Guerrera para su generación
La historia de Shanique Taliaferro está marcada a fuego por su esfuerzo, su capacidad de superación y, sobre todo, por su espíritu de oración. Shanique vivió una niñez y una adolescencia difíciles. A los 16 años dio a luz a una niña —Briana—, y a los 21 a un hijo, Jalen. Y, a pesar de haber crecido en un vecindario en que la mayoría de los hogares consistía de familias disfuncionales, Shanique logró graduarse de la escuela secundaria y conseguir un trabajo estable. Sin embargo, su meteórico ascenso profesional y su holgada situación económica no terminaban de satisfacer su espíritu. Una oración espontánea nacida de su sed espiritual tendría pronta respuesta en una visita a una iglesia pentecostal, donde consagraría su vida a Jesucristo. Tras su conversión, dejó su trabajo para dedicar más tiempo a sus hijos y a su comunidad. Tras un noviazgo con un ex compañero de escuela, nació Amlya, su segunda hija. No obstante, la ruptura con su novio desató una nueva crisis de fe. Su poderoso espíritu de oración la ayudaría a superar ese difícil momento. Entró en contacto con el Ejército de Salvación en el Cuerpo Central de Trenton, Nueva Jersey, donde la lectura de un artículo del General André Cox —en War Cry—, la ayudó a renovar su fe en Jesús. Hoy, Shanique es directora de voluntarios del Cuerpo, donde además ha creado un salón de oración, y trabaja desarrollando estrategias de oración en la ciudad de Trenton, donde su mayor ambición es combatir las disfunciones generacionales de las familias de esa comunidad.
”
Este es un resumen del artículo. Para leerlo completo en español, por favor visite saconnects.org/enespanol .
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ROUGH UPBRINGING
Shanique, now 33, was raised in a secular home and, at 16, had her first child, Briana. Five years later, she had a son, Jalen. Despite being surrounded by broken homes, single parents, and the lure of drugs, she graduated high school. And in 2003, she became a retail sales manager at New York and Co. “I always had that drive,” she says. “I was making a lot of money, but I was really empty. I really couldn’t understand why.” Shanique earned a lot of bonuses and her bosses put her on the fast track to even more promotions. “Everything in my career was going great, but I wasn’t happy,” she says. “I remember crying out. To be honest, I really didn’t have any purpose for living at that time. But you could look at me and not be able to tell. “I said a little prayer and asked God if He was real and to reveal His purpose for my life. I don’t even know how I knew to pray.”
GOD GRABS HER
Soon after her prayer, Shanique was surprised when a group of Christians visited her home. One knocked on her door and asked, “Do you know Jesus?” “I was really rude with them the whole time, not realizing that the prayer I had prayed had something to do with why they were here,” Shanique says. Sometime later when Briana asked to go to church, Shanique relented. She came late and sat in the back of the Pentecostal
church, but that night, God was speaking through the pastor. “Everything the preacher was saying that day resonated with me,” she says. “I thought somebody had told him something about me. I just began to cry.” The pastor called Shanique forward and the congregation prayed for her. That night in 2004, she accepted Christ. “I got baptized that same night,” she says. “I was just never the same after that. I started to go to church all the time.
A NEW CREATION
“It was like when God touched me, it was a miracle. It was like I was a new person. I was excited. Jesus was real. At that time I had such zeal and I wanted to give Jesus to my friends and my neighbors and my family.” Shanique also had a new worldview—one that didn’t involve materialism. While she had a car and a home and a good job, “When I got saved, that stuff didn’t matter,” she says. “It was a whole new way of thinking,” she says. “I wanted to get involved with my children. I wanted them to know me.” God impressed on her that while she was successful in the eyes of the world, her children needed her. “God opened my eyes to a whole new level of parenting,” she says. She quit her job and got on the board at her children’s school and more involved in the city of Trenton. However, the lack of money became a problem. She eventually secured another job with a foundation.
A LESSON LEARNED
“I went through a lot of valleys,” she says, including losing her house and car, “but the things I lost materially do not compare to the things God has given me in the lives of my children and the things He’s allowed me to do to help other people.” Shanique served God faithfully until 2011 when a high school friend came into her life and she had another daughter, Amlya. She faced further financial problems when she was forced to resign from her job at the foundation. “I was backsliding,” she says. “I thought my life was over. I thought I had failed God. I didn’t think God could love me anymore. I just didn’t think He could use me.” Shanique eventually repented and left her boyfriend, and his financial support. Money was again an issue. “I went through a period of depression,” she says. “Sometimes I considered ‘spiritual suicide’ because the old life just seemed easier.
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The ‘War Room’ at the Trenton Citadel Corps. (inset) Shanique writes a prayer for the city of Trenton that will be posted on the wall behind her.
A NEW START
“Something came into my spirit and I said, ‘God can still restore me. He’s mightier than those things.’ ” In October 2014, she contemplated taking a job with Amazon, but God had other plans. It was then she rang the Trenton Citadel Corps’ doorbell. As she left the church one day after praying in the sanctuary, she was offered a job, a temporary kettle position. “Based on my prayer, I really felt God wanted me to go in this direction,” she says. “I created a prayer strategy for kettles.” Shanique is now the director of volunteers at the corps. She also has helped organize a prayer room similar to the ones in the movie “War Room.” “God gave me this vision before the movie,” she says. “Even in my house, I have that exact room.”
Photos by Keri Shay
GOING TO WAR
Captain Moises Rivera, the divisional youth secretary in New Jersey, said Shanique reignited a feeding program in Trenton and the prayer she put into it was “unmatched.” “She is a prayer warrior,” he says. “She loves the Lord
so much and has a desire to serve the people of Trenton. Everyone she meets sees the passion she has.” Shanique says she realizes we are in a spiritual battle, and she wants to break the cycle of dysfunction she experienced as a child in Trenton. “We’re up against way more than the eye can see,” she says. “Our children are dying. This prayer room is a place to cry out for God to help. I want to see some generational chains broken.” She has been asked to serve on committees of the Trenton City Council, which fits her “War Room” strategy. On the wall of the prayer room are hand written prayers for her city. “My ultimate goal is to implement some prayer strategies in the city,” she says. The corps “War Room” includes an area to kneel and pray, a spiritual reflection mirror, and pillows upon which to rest in the Lord. People can even leave a phone number and someone will call and pray with them over the phone. “Now that I’m here, I think if someone came to the door and wanted a place to pray, I think there would be a place to pray,” Shanique says with a laugh.
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&
LOVE basketball by Robert Mitchell
L
ieutenant Stephen Mayes stands 7 feet tall and played
college basketball. So it was natural for him to hang out in the gym at the Manhattan Citadel in East Harlem. When Mayes was the Citadel’s assistant corps officer, he would play in pickup games with many young men. They begged him to organize a basketball league at the corps, but he was hesitant at first. Because the players were persistent, he finally relented. “I walked into the gym and picked four guys at random,” Mayes recalls. “I didn’t know where they lived or their history. I just picked four guys and I asked, ‘Can you bring a team?’ ” Today, “The Tournament,” which evolved from the lieutenant’s question, has become a Thursday night basketball league for young men 18 and older and is well into its third season. This league has helped to reduce the tensions between rival neighborhood gangs and has shown these competitors that, if they can get along on a basketball court, they can also get along in the community. Says Captain Antonio Rosamilia, corps officer, “They enjoy the basketball program. For some reason, it’s the talk of the neighborhood. They go around wearing their shirts and they’re very proud that they won the championship.”
Referee Sam Hollin calls the tip–off to start a game in “The Tournament.”
Photo by Keri Shay
CALLING A TRUCE
The social effects of the league were immediate. Shortly after the league started, Mayes confided in Carta Rogers Wright, a young man who grew up in the area, played in the league, and is now its “commissioner.” Mayes says, “One day, I asked Carta, ‘How many guns are in my gym right now?’ ” Mayes, who is now the corps officer in Staten Island, N.Y.
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League Commissioner Carta Rogers Wright said, “Our trust on the court spilled into the neighborhoods.”
(Stapleton), will forever remember Wright’s answer. “He said, ‘Right now? There’s probably just one.’ ” Wright explained that a member of a new team, who was still learning to trust the other teams, might be carrying a gun for protection. The rest of the teams were unarmed. “Wright said, ‘Pastor, do you realize what you’ve done? Without even knowing it, you picked four guys from four different gangs, and asked each guy to bring his own team to the league. They’re also from four different housing projects!’ ”
A NEW DAY
Mayes says, “Carta told me, ‘All we ever did was fight with one another. Then we started playing ball together.’ I believe there is transformative power in sports.” Wright said some of the “elders” from the neighborhood had a “sit–down” where they declared The Salvation Army “a safe haven.” “Basically, it was a neutral zone. So nothing could happen inside The Salvation Army as far as rivalries or anger or whatever the case may be,” he says. “That rule was established long before we had ‘The Tournament.’ “From that point, our trust on the court spilled into the neighborhoods and we just started hanging out again. For the most part, the feuds and the rivalries ceased. Everyone came to peace … and, for the most part, it’s been peaceful ever since. I would say ‘The Tournament’ is the sole reason behind most of the peace,” Wright says.
HEARING GOD’S WORD
Wright has been attending the corps and is being discipled by Rosamilia, who was in charge three and a half years ago when The Tournament started. “We believe it’s changing lives, but we don’t settle only for peace among gang members,” says Rosamilia. “We want to continue to pursue eternal salvation and redemption in each one of their lives.” On a recent Thursday night, The Tournament drew about 100 people inside the hot, noisy corps gym to watch a children’s game prior to the adults taking the court. Rosamilia and Lieutenant Paula Aguilera, assistant corps officer who has taken over the basketball program, both delivered short devotionals. Draped over the court was a banner reading, “Come Holy Spirit.”
As Rosamilia spoke about Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself, a quiet reverence was evident. “Let’s love each other and respect each other,” he says. Since the league’s inception, Rosamilia has insisted that
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Photos by Keri Shay
THEY’RE LISTENING
(Right) “The Tournament” has expanded to include a children’s league. (Left) Captain Antonio Rosamilia points to the temporary home for the corps.
Lieutenant Paula Aguilera leads a devotional.
prayer and a devotional be a part of it. He tries to keep them practical and simple. “I just speak the word of God. I believe when you’re true to the word of God, no matter what you’re talking about, we believe it’s powerful.” When Aguilera, who hails from Spain, came to the corps a year and a half ago, the game of basketball was totally new to her. But although she is a novice, as well as a woman, she is respected by the men and calls the league the highlight of her week at the corps. “It really has been a great experience,” she says. “They listen. They really pay attention. Sometimes they say, ‘Thank you for your word.’ ”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Aguilera said her devotionals emphasize respect and that God has a plan for each player. “I ask them to give God a chance to do something in their lives,” she says. Wright says the men reflect on and discuss the devotionals. “I’ve had guys mention to me something that was said during the devotion,” he says. “They’ll maybe talk about it later on during the week. They do listen for the most part and it does sink in. I can vouch for that.” Rosamilia credited Aguilera for starting a children’s league, which happens before the adults play. “She really has taken the league to another level,” Rosamilia says. Aguilera, after a successful summer league, helped increase the number of teams this fall from six to eight. She also added a popular All–Star game.
UNITED WE STAND
Linzell Vaughn, a referee, calls the league “beautiful” and said it reminds him of when he was younger. He would go to church and then later play basketball. Vaughn says of the devotional, “We bring calmness and love and the young guys feed off it—especially with the word of the day. After a while, they see how we respond to the Word and they let their guards down and it sinks in. It’s very effective—if they allow it to be effective. “This helps them to learn that they can stand in the same circumference and be OK with each other.” Sam Hollins, the head of referees, is a big believer in the league. “Prior to this, we had communities that normally didn’t get along together,” he says. “Now, they are coexisting in the same space. Thus far, we’ve managed to keep the peace.”
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Randy Parsons, a ballplayer, said everyone in the league plays “all for the love of basketball, for the kids, and for the families.” “The Tournament united the neighborhood,” he says. “Before, there were a lot of gangs. But now, everybody that’s in here has found common ground, which is basketball, and we left the streets alone.” Darnelle Nixon, a soldier at the corps, sells food and snacks during the games and is another fan of the league’s effectiveness. “The league has been a great help in the community,” he says. “They play basketball instead of picking up guns and knives. And afterwards, they shake hands. “It’s a blessing. When they come together, they respect our church and they know this is a house of God. They leave the guns and the knives at home and they just come and play basketball. “Through this program, we have had plenty of people come into our church service. So it’s working. People change their lives here.”
MOVING TIME
As successful as the league has been, Rosamilia said he is looking for new digs. In the next two to three years, The Manhattan Citadel Corps will be demolished and rebuilt. Some 200 senior apartments will be built above the new corps building. While the rebuilding takes place, the corps will move down the block and above a McDonald’s restaurant. And Rosamilia will need to find another gym. “We would love to continue this program,” he says. “That is the challenge we are facing right now. We are knocking on doors of schools, churches, and community centers, and hoping we can keep it going. “In East Harlem, this is the only basketball league that is run for ‘whosoever.’ This is for everyday players.” Rosamilia said the league has far surpassed his expectations.
JUST PLAYING BALL
“We were just looking to run a healthy, Christian basketball program,” he says. “We were shocked at the results.” Aguilera said it warms her heart to see the familial nature of the league. “They come as families,” Auguilera says. “They bring their wives and their children and they come to watch the games and cheer them on. “The players come and play together and they learn to respect each other and they learn they’re not that different.”
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el AMOR
y el básquetbol En tiempos como estos en que cada vez es más difícil para las iglesias cristianas atraer hombres jóvenes, entusiasmarlos con el mensaje del Evangelio y transformar sus vidas y la de su comunidad, el Cuerpo Central de Manhattan en East Harlem ofrece un ejemplo alentador. En un entorno urbano en que abundan las pandillas y las peligrosas rivalidades entre ellas, el Cuerpo Central ha logrado pacificar toda esa área de Manhattan y encaminar las vidas de esos jóvenes a la convivencia y la solidaridad entre ellos así como con el resto de su comunidad. Gracias a la iniciativa concertada entre el Teniente Stephen Mayes, ex jugador de básquetbol universitario, y los jóvenes de algunas de esas pandillas que acudían al gimnasio del Cuerpo Central a jugar con él, nació una liga de básquetbol, conocida como “El torneo” —formada por varios equipos integrados por jóvenes de diversas pandillas— que se ha venido ejercitando todos los jueves ininterrumpidamente desde hace tres años. Tanto los propios jóvenes como los soldados y oficiales de Cuerpo Central coinciden al evaluar el efecto humano y social que ha tenido la liga. “El torneo” ha unido al vecindario, con la consecuencia de que los jóvenes han abandonado las calles y, a la vez, el contacto directo de estos con el Ejército de Salvación los ha expuesto al poder transformador del mensaje de Jesús, el que han podido constatar en su propia transformación interior y en la transformación que ellos mismos han obrado en su comunidad. Este es un resumen del artículo. Para leerlo completo en español, por favor visite saconnects.org/enespanol .
Photo by Keri Shay
A NEW START
FAITH in ACTION
Photo by Robert Meitrott
sports ministry
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS the CFOT sports ministry
Then–Cadet Taylor M. Senak carries the ball in a flag football game, as Lieutenant Darell Houseton (right) and Cadet Andrew Allen are in hot pursuit.
by Warren L. Maye
“You may have noticed us praying before every game. And that’s because we’re followers of Christ,” said then–Cadet Taylor M. Senak during his opening remarks at the College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Suffern, N.Y. He spoke to a packed audience at the annual Sports Ministry gala, held May 21, 2015. An estimated 30–40 basketball, soccer, and volleyball players ranging in age from 16 to 35 and their friends and families enjoyed the evening. Coaches and referees, who served at the college or lived in the Suffern, N.Y., community, also attended. “If it wasn’t for sports and for the grace of God, I don’t know if I could have made it through these two years [of training],” said Senak. “Because [being a cadet] is very hard.” Senak, who in June was ordained and commissioned as a Salvation Army officer, also paid tribute to the founders of the program. “It started as a few guys wanting to play sports and grew into a basketball league,” said Senak. “And eventually, we allowed people from all over to come and join. It took the vision of Major David Davis, Major Ron Foreman, and Bob Meitrott,” he said. At the time, Davis served as director of personnel at the college. Today, he is the divisional leader of the Massachusetts Division. Foreman, then the college’s principal, is now divisional leader of the Empire Division. Meitrott continues to serve as the
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Photos by Robert Meitrott
Attending the CFOT Sports Ministry gala are Major David Davis, Willie Pile, Captain Cindy–Lou Drummond, Majors Ronald R. and Dorine M. Foreman, and Lieutenant Darell Houseton.
college’s director of sports ministry. Lieutenant Darell Houseton, field training officer at CFOT, shared a moving testimony. In doing so, he graphically illustrated just how critical it is to have programs such as this in troubled neighborhoods. “After my first summer at Camp Tecumseh, I came home to discover that 29 of my friends had been killed,” Houseton said. “But because of the camp experience, I also returned home with a sense of hope, knowing that I had the backing of the risen Lord Jesus.” Willie Marquis Pile, a former NFL linebacker and safety, delivered the gala’s keynote address. Pile, the son of Sharon Barber, MSW, senior substance abuse counselor at the Army’s Harbor Light Center in Washington, D.C., spoke with passion for the game of football, and for Jesus Christ. He shared his rise to the NFL, the great coaches he served under, and the humbling experiences that kept him grounded in faith. At West Patomac High School in Alexandria, Va., Pile was a letterman in football and in basketball. As a senior, he was named the Patriot District Offensive Football Player of the Year. At Virginia Tech, Pile was a three– year starter at free safety and finished his career with an amazing interception and a 97–yard touchdown run. Drafted into the NFL in 2003, Pile played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the
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Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts as well as for NFL Europe as a member of the Amsterdam Admirals. During his presentation, Pile described the process of relational evangelism with athletes. “For me, one of the greatest challenges in the NFL was being a Christian in the locker room and learning how to share my faith and be bold in that context,” Pile said. “Initially, as a young guy, you’re just trying to fit in, you’re just trying to earn a job. So you stick to yourself,” he remembers. “But at the same time, people notice that there’s something a little bit different about you. “Maybe you just want to play dominoes or shoot hoops, or something like that. And then they ask you, ‘Hey man, what’s your deal?’ And then you say, ‘Hey, I believe in something different. I believe there’s other ways to have fun.’ “And so you kind of get that crew coming. And the next thing you know they’re asking, ‘Hey, when’s the next Bible study? When are you going to have Game Night again?’ These are ways to build relationships. Because before you ever bring up the Bible—it’s about getting to know somebody. “I ask, ‘Where did you grow up? What did you do when you were younger? What’s your family situation like?’ So you get to know [the athletes] on a one–to–one–basis. And then, you
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Willie Marquis Pile prays.
turn around and say, ‘There’s a reason why I have a hope and a joy and an inner peace. I believe in my Father in heaven. And because I have that faith, football is just a vehicle and a platform on which to share that message.’ ” This year’s sports gala will feature another outstanding athlete and will reach even more people in the community, says Captain Cindy–Lou Drummond, assistant training principal for administration. “And during the games, we’ll have relational evangelism with the spectators and participants. We want the players and cadets interacting to establish an ongoing relationship.”
FAITH in ACTION
RISING STARS
by Major Richard Sanchez
When you think of Lebron James and Julius Erving, aka “Doctor J,” do you immediately think of The Salvation Army? Well, you should! “Doctor J” and “King James” spent many of their early years shooting hoops in Salvation Army gyms. And today, such sports programs are on the rise, partly because of the national focus on obesity and its related diseases, and a global focus on health, longevity, productivity, and wellness. In the East Northport, Long Island, N.Y., Corps, there are potential basketball greats and kids who will become great in any field they choose. Ralph Rossetti, a senior soldier and the recreational director, has been busy teaching them the virtues of discipline, persistence, humility, suffering, concentration, hard I’m a health science and work and selflessness through their participation on sports teams. Rossetti influences them physical therapy major, minoring in sport for Christ through his personal testimony. As a former college basketball player and management at LIU CW Post where I ‘m on the women’s basketball team. Prior to attending LIU Post, elementary school teacher, he knows the struggle his kids endure.
I’m a sophomore at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), in the doctorate program. I want to become a physical therapist. I play basketball for NYIT. I started with The Salvation Army when I was still in high school. The basketball training I received from Coach Rossetti has helped mold me into the player I am today. The friendships I’ve made are lifelong and I’m thankful and blessed to have been a part of this program. —Julie Williams—
I’m at SUNY Cortland. I want to become a math teacher and a basketball coach. I want to influence players and students, as has Coach Rossetti—on and off the court. — Danielle Levine—
I play basketball at SUNY Geneseo. I’m an economics major with a political science minor. My goal after college is to work in Washington, D.C., in the political field doing economic research. —Katie Durand—
Photo by George Olsen
I went to Kean University for my freshman year, majoring in athletic training. I also played basketball and helped lead Here’s what some players from the Girls Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) had to say: the team to an ECAC title. During the summer, I train at The Salvation Army with Ralph. I want to open a physical therapy I’m at Suffolk I’m a psychology practice. I would also love to continue to train with I’m a senior at County Community College. major at the City College of Ralph and get a job playing basketball overseas. Long Island Lutheran High I played college basketball for a New York. I’m on the basketball — Essence Casey— School. My career here has year. I’m studying to become a perteam there and I also work with an led me to two New York State AA sonal trainer. Even though I no longer athletic trainer on campus. I want to get Federation Championships. My next I’m currently a play, I hope to become a great coach a master’s degree in athletic training. step is playing Division One basketball sophomore at Concordia for a summer league team. My ambition is to become a collegiate at Sacred Heart University. I want to College. I’m a Division 2 basket—Katira Jemott— or professional athletic trainer. develop as an athlete, a student, ball player for the Clippers. I want to —Marissa Olsen— and a human being. continue playing basketball overseas —Erin Storck— after I graduate. One day, I’ll be an elementary school teacher and I am a senior a girls’ basketball coach. at Commack High —Rebecca Gordan— School and I will continue my basketball career at Pace University in Westchester, N.Y. I plan to study nursing. —Chelsea Schultz—
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Photo by Keri Shay
FAITH in ACTION
A New Year’s
Revelation Interview by Hugo Bravo
Majors Gregory K. and Joyce A. Hartshorn, general secretary and program secretary for the Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Division, share with SAConnects their story of how they met, and how Greg accepted Christ as his savior with the support of the woman who would become his wife.
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Greg: In December of 1983, I was 25 years old. A friend and I had a roadside fruit stand in New Hampshire, which every year ran from March to December. On a Tuesday before Christmas, we had some leftover food. So I called the local Salvation Army and asked if I could donate it to them. That was my first encounter with the Army. When I visited the corps, I learned of a women’s auxiliary project, where they dressed dolls in handmade outfits of different nationalities and gave them to children. I had an art background, and this project intrigued me, so I asked to see the dolls. A caseworker told me that, rather than helping only at Christmas, serving people in need was her full–time job. I was surprised to know that there were folks who did such year–round work. I asked her, “How do you do this day after day?”
“
We spoke about Scripture, particularly John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.’ I always knew that God was out there. But how could I personally connect with Him?
”
—Major Greg Hartshorn
Joyce: Greg asked an excellent question. And the first answer that popped into my head was, “Because I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Any other reply would not have led us to a future together, or a future in The Salvation Army. Greg: Those words about her relationship with Jesus Christ became ingrained in my head. The next day, I stopped by to volunteer at the corps. And although I was a stranger, they trusted me. The Captain said that he had prayed for someone like me to come and help the corps. I volunteered in food and toy distributions, and I saw how people in poverty lived and supported their families. Seeing this was a shock to me. I thought, Do people really live like this? God was lifting a veil from my eyes regarding the Army’s work. On New Year’s Eve after work, I asked Joyce if she would like to go out for a cup of coffee. She told me that the service at the corps went on until midnight, but I was welcome to come eat with them at 10 p.m. “I can’t take food from the poor,” I said, “And I’m in my dirty work clothing!” But she insisted that the food was for everyone, and I would be welcomed as I was. The day after that service, I met with the Captain and we spoke about Scripture, particularly John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave
His only Son....” I always knew that God was out there. I asked, “But how could I personally connect with Him?” The Captain said, “You’re part of the world. So whenever you read that verse, replace ‘world’ with ‘Greg.’” The Captain made me realize that, in God’s eyes, I was more than just a number. And so, I accepted Christ as my Savior.
Joyce: In June of that year, I was accepted to the College for Officer Training as a member of the Proclaimers of the Gospel session. That same year, Greg told his business partner that this would be his last year with him and that God was calling Greg to something. Greg had also told me he was in love with me. I was on course to be an officer, which I had planned to do for many years. Yet, here I was, in love with a man who wasn’t even a member of the church. That September, I left for the CFOT. We tried to make our relationship work. Greg would drive from New Hampshire to Suffern, and we would spend time together, when we could. But our lives were on different paths. That reality was unsettling. In November, we decided to sacrifice our love for each other and call off the relationship. Greg: We remained friends, and on Christmas, Joyce came home to New Hampshire. For New Year’s Day, we
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drove to York, Pa., to see her family. Joyce was sick; she slept through the whole drive and skipped the New Year’s Eve service at the corps. So it was just me among a congregation of strangers. During the service, I witnessed to God’s faithfulness in the past year. I stood and said, “Today is my first anniversary of finding the Lord.” Then, without thinking, my next words were, “And God has called me to be a Salvation Army officer.” Joyce: He told me as soon as he got home. We didn’t talk about it for a while; it was a lot to take in, and his declaration to be an officer had come suddenly. Greg: That September, I enrolled in the College for Officer Training. Anyone can see that quickly going from making a declaration, to being a soldier, to being a cadet, is unusual. It was certainly an exception to the rules, but I was happy that the Army accepted me. My calling was purely on faith, and God proved faithful. And He continues to be faithful. Joyce: Greg was ordained as an officer on Sunday, June 14, 1987, as a member of the Messengers of Peace session. That following Wednesday, in a small stone chapel on the rocky coast of New Hampshire, as uniformed officers, we were married.
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FAITH in ACTION
TEAMWORK
by Warren L. Maye
Chuck Goodin, territorial young adult, camping & sports ministries director, is excited about the sporting activities taking place in various parts of the territory. They’re being conducted by the Army and by churches and organizations that have formed partnerships with the Army. Sports ministry directors, corps officers, and pastors are using bows and arrows and Frisbees as well as basketball, baseball, volleyball, and soccer to reach youth and young adults for Christ. For instance, in the SWONEKY Division, Ben Steiger, founder of a group called Heart of the Outdoors,* is using a year–round archery program to teach kids Godly character through clubs he’s established at corps,
churches, and schools. The program is currently in six countries and in five states in the U.S. His love for the outdoors runs deep, and his passion to connect youth with the One who created the outdoors runs even deeper. In the process of teaching archery, Steiger tells how the bow and arrow symbolize the consequences of man’s original sin. “We go back to the beginning of time,” said Steiger. “We share the creation story, how sin entered the world, and how man then had to hunt and kill for food. We use the bows, arrows, and equipment to help tell the biblical story.” The program also functions indoors in gyms and on racquetball courts. And thanks to “The Hunger Games” movie franchise, archery has found a new popularity in
Photo by 1MoreCreative/iStock
Teaching the Bible with bow and arrow
some rather unique places. Jerome Wray, an employee in the SWONEKY Youth Department, has brought the Heart of the Outdoors archery program to several corps in the division. Said Steiger, “We want to reach as many people as possible in The Salvation Army through this radical tool.”
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testimony
ON file
Photo by the Communications Department
(Above) General André Cox (center, flanked by Commissioners E. Sue and Barry C. Swanson, territorial leaders) visits Puerto Rico in August of 2015. Major Lydia Mercado (left), administrator for the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center there, offered her testimony to a congregation of Salvation Army officers from the Eastern Territory.
‘God’s Eternal Grace’ by Major Lydia M. Mercado
There are five facts that you must know about me. The first is that I love the Lord with all my mind, heart, and soul. The second is that I am a sinner, saved only by the power and forgiveness of God. The third fact is that I have been happily married for 25 years. And the fourth is that I am the proud mother of four beautiful children, ages 13–24. The fifth fact is that, if I could choose one word to describe my life, it would be grace, God’s eternal grace. The Lord’s grace is abundant in my life. It’s the reason I have been blessed with a beautiful family and the role as administrator of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Guayama, Puerto Rico. The Lord’s grace is the reason I am
here today. That same grace was present in the lives of my mother and father, as they were preparing to be married. However, as their big day approached, a doctor told my mother that she would never be able to have children. However, nine months after the wedding, I was born. As a child, I witnessed His grace every day because I was blessed to have two loving parents. But as an adult, I learned to rekindle my appreciation for His grace. I believed that, as a Salvation Army officer, I could handle all the responsibilities that came with running a ministry. I thought, “Well, I’m smart. I’m hardworking. I can do everything in my own strength.” I was sadly mistaken. And I “ate crow.”
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But when I later accepted God’s loving grace in my new position, He embraced my goals and me. He lifted me up and showed me that I never had to do anything alone. He showed me that it was okay to admit my weaknesses, because that is the first step toward accepting His help. To this day, God’s grace continues to lift me up, and He shows me that there are still new opportunities and exciting ways to serve Him. When I began my position at the Kroc Center, I had to learn the ins and outs of running such a ministry. But it’s the grace of God that guides me every day in my responsibilities at work and at home. This is why I praise and love Him with my entire mind, heart, and soul. Yes, I am strong, but I am here because of God’s grace in my life.
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profile
A Lawyer’s Recovery Javier Miranda, an attorney living in Puerto Rico, celebrates two birthdays. One on July 28th, the day he was born, and the other on September 29, 2009 when he arrived at The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in San Juan. At the time, he had practiced law for 26 years and had been a drug addict for almost twice that long. “I was the most self–destructive type of addict,” recalls Miranda. “The kind with money in his pocket. The poor addict will seek help long before the rich one will. I was a successful lawyer, with many clients, and I lived a comfortable lifestyle. And I did it all while struggling with a terrible drug addiction. Many of my clients were the dealers from whom I was buying drugs. And they paid me from their drug money.” When the addiction finally overpowered Javier, the firm at which he worked suspended him, and he lost his license to practice law. He recalls that from 2004 on was the worst time of his life. “I had a home, but no running water, no electricity, no food. It was literally a shell. I only bathed when it rained, or when a neighbor was kind enough to share his water hose.” “If you played for me the top song of 2006, or read to me major headlines from 2005, they would be completely new to me. The addiction had put me out of touch with the world to the point where I wouldn’t even get out of bed unless the drugs, or the means to get them, were in front of me,” says Miranda.
‘I WANTED TO LIVE’ Javier recalls the person who first introduced him to the ARC. Humberto Domenech, a Salvation Army soldier
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who had gone through similar difficulties in his life, had tried to convince Javier to begin his steps to recovery, just as he had. “I resisted for so long. And even when I did, Humberto still brought me food and checked up on me. He never gave up on me.” Javier soon realized that his life would end if he didn’t do something immediately. The next time my friends see me, he thought, will be when they bury me in my grave. “I called Humberto, and told him I was willing to give the Army a chance. He wept. He said it was the best news he had ever received.” Javier arrived at the ARC with only a white t–shirt, pants that were too short, and sandals. He stood 5’10”, but weighed only 125 lbs., 10 of which were water weight from a pancreatic infection. He stopped to rest four times before he finished climbing the ARC’s 61 stairs. “I remember two things that were said to me that day. The first one was from a beneficiary, who looked at me and said, ‘My man, in two weeks, you were going to be dead.’” The other comment came from Major Iris Diaz, director of program and residential services for the ARC. She told Javier words that he had not heard in a long time: “Javier, I trust you.” “Well, I thought she was crazy to trust me!” says Javier. “I didn’t expect anyone to put their trust in me. I came to the Army just to survive and to keep myself from dying. But as weeks passed, a miracle happened. I accepted Christ as my Savior. I read and studied the Bible. And I realized there was a better way to be than how I
by Hugo Bravo
had been for so long. “Now, I didn’t want to simply survive. I wanted to truly be alive again.”
‘THE POWER OF GOD’ Today, Miranda has been sober for six years. With his health miraculously intact, he proudly talks about playing basketball with friends every Wednesday and beating guys half his age. He divides his time as admissions counselor for the San Juan ARC, as an adherent for The Salvation Army, and, after taking courses to recover his license, as an attorney at law. When Miranda’s name is mentioned by anyone, officers in Puerto Rico beam with joy. He has become a role model to the other ARC beneficiaries. Many recognize him from his time as a lawyer before coming to the Army. In his position for the ARC, Javier helps the beneficiaries to create structure in their lives and to pursue their path to recovery. He also encourages them to accept the Lord’s help. “That’s the first step, and I say, do it now. Not tomorrow—now. Do that, and then take it slow. You want a job? Tell God. You want your own place to live? Tell God. You want to repair broken relationships? Tell God. All will come in due time. “Many of the guys who come here are already ahead of where I was, because they are much younger and made the choice to get better long before I did,” says Javier. “I tell them that no matter how well they think they are living while feeding their addiction, sooner or later, that addiction will grab them, and take everything from them. You run from it for so many years, but eventually you get
tired of running, and that’s when it grabs you, and ends you. The addiction never gets tired of chasing you.” Javier knows their struggles better than most. But he also recognizes that healing every soul is a team project. “The one who deserves the least amount of credit in my recovery is me, quite honestly. I’m so grateful to The Salvation Army for helping me start my life over. The ARC taught me that alone, I couldn’t treat the sickness of addiction. I had to open up to the Lord and accept His help. When I woke up every morning, I devoted myself to being what God wanted me to be, and I asked Him to take me by the hand and to light my path. I still do that today.” Javier has seen the power of God change lives. He recalls running into a notorious Puerto Rican “narco” with whom he had done business many
years ago. Javier invited him to a corps service, which inspired the man to quit his life as a drug runner. “He told me, ‘Javier, I can’t do this anymore. It’s a danger to society. I’m hurting so many people.’ Today, that man has turned his life around and is saving souls, even bringing some men here to the ARC to seek help. He calls me often to ask how they’re doing,” says Javier. “He also asks me when we will open a center in San Juan exclusively for women addicts. I hope that, one day, I can tell him we have one. The need for what The Salvation Army does gets bigger and more serious every day. Our sisters need just as much help as our brothers.”
‘THE ANGELS IN MY LIFE’ “My strength and will have been shaken many, many times. But in every moment
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Photo by the Communications Department
‘ I didn’t want to simply survive. I wanted to truly be alive again.’
of doubt, there has always been an angel in my life, from the Lord, smiling in front of me, holding me up in my worst moments,” says Javier. “My health, my support group, my recovery, and my career have all been a gift from God.” Javier is also an angel to many people. When General André Cox visited Puerto Rico in 2015, the ARC made a photomontage of the ministries and services that The Salvation Army provides in the area and played it during a luncheon at the San Juan Corps. Salvationists, officers, and the General all viewed it. When Javier’s face appeared on the screen, the audience exploded in cheers. Jacqueline, Javier’s girlfriend, leaned over and whispered to him, “I’m very proud of you.” Javier Miranda smiled. He was proud of himself too.
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ON file
wholly living
what are you
by Chris Stoker
When we look at the big picture of the story of Moses’ life, many of us are much more familiar with his first job than with his second. The recognizable stories of the burning bush, the ten plagues, crossing the Red Sea and Mount Sinai are well–known. “I am sending you…to bring my people out of Egypt,” God says. (Ex. 3:10) There’s tremendous vulnerability and risk in these stories. There’s also inspiration and heroism. We identify with Moses, either through his failures or with his clear and present purpose, or both. The injustices of slavery, oppression, and persecution motivate us. Whatever the reasons, we are very familiar with this part of Moses’ life. Many of us are less familiar with what happens next. This is where we lose a little interest in the story. It doesn’t have the tension and the conflict that the wandering in the desert has. It doesn’t have the action and suspense of the wilderness battles. It doesn’t have the ups and downs (mostly downs) of the stubborn generation struggling with their faith identity. It’s here in this part of Moses’ life that he gets his second job. In Exodus 25:8, God says, “…make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among [you.]” Moses was to build a house for God. Fifteen chapters in Exodus, beginning with 25, are about the Tabernacle. Every detail is covered, from the wood of the ark to the color of the curtains to the height of the table, to the number of loops in the curtain, to the kind
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Photo by iStock/ Rinelle
BUILDING?
of oil they are to burn in the lamps. The arrangement of every element in relation to every other element is painstakingly specific. To me, it reads with about the same excitement as the instruction manual for your car. It has all the captivating power of an interior design show from 1987. If there is a Bible–reading plan meant to cure insomniacs, it probably starts with some of these Scriptures.
Yet it’s remarkably important to Israel’s identity as the original Holiness people. It’s deeply relevant to their understanding and to their experience of God and His participation in their lives. Moses’ job wasn’t to lead them out of Egypt and leave them somewhere. It wasn’t to free them from slavery and let them work it out on their own. Moses’ job was to build a house for God. We’re not talking about building a
Detoxifying
Baby Steps a five–part series by Major Lauren Hodgson
Your SOUL
structure with four portable walls and a place for each person to stand. The tabernacle wasn’t ever meant to be a space that would confine or contain God. It was always meant to be the place where we met with Him. It’s a place of community, of gathering together, and of encountering one another and the Almighty all at once. It was never about the space. The Tabernacle was built and taken down many times. It was always about His place as central, as prime, as the first and the highest and the best in our lives. Moses built a house for God. It can’t be done while we’re still enslaved. It can’t be done in bondage. It can’t be done on our terms or by our standards. Building a house for God can only be done in obedience and faithfulness. It has to start in the wilderness and it has to be worth doing while you’re there. It took the rest of Moses’ life to build the Tabernacle. It was a process never intended to be accomplished overnight or in an instant. So it must be with each of us. We step out of slavery, redeemed. We step out of the chains of our past and of sin into freedom, bought with a price. We carry that freedom towards a land of abundance and lavish blessing, so long as we listen well, walk right, and seek Him. And we begin building a house for God. Or we begin building a house for something, or someone else.
We all want to be more organized. The old adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place,” is a goal we strive to achieve. I recently came across an article that caught my attention entitled, “The Household Organization Diet.”* It’s a 31–day decluttering challenge designed to clear all of the unwanted “stuff” from our lives. As I read the challenge, I saw that it could also apply to my spiritual life. Certainly, there are times when I could detox my soul. With that in mind, let's take a look at what we should avoid and then look at what works.
MISSTEPS Our introduction to the cleansing and purging process is sometimes severe. We “bite off more than we can chew.” We ask God about those big steps, such as our future, our relationships, or our calling. That can cause disillusionment, disappointment, and spiritual burn– out. We then return to old habits. Spiritually speaking, you don’t have to become a Super Saint overnight! This is a process that happens slowly. It happens in baby steps. Ask God, “What are You speaking to me about today?”
Each month, SAConnects will include a new installment of “Detoxifying Your Soul.” Here are the upcoming topics:
BABY STEPS God may already be speaking to you about areas in your life that need His reclamation. These suggestions can get you started: ❚ I s the Lord asking you to spend more time with Him? Get up in the morning 15 minutes earlier so you’ll have unhurried fellowship with the Lord. Use the extra time to simply sit in His presence. ❚M aybe the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about your conversations with people. At the end of the day, review the conversations you had and ask, “Did these conversations honor God?” Ask the Lord to make you aware when you’re going down that “spiritual slippery slope.” And when you sense His gentle prodding during your next conversation, ask for strength to obey. “The Prayer of Examen” is an ancient spiritual discipline that helps you to review your day and to establish healthy patterns. ❚ Our physical life can affect our spiritual life. And our bodies are one of God’s highest creations. We need to treat them as such. God may be asking you to drink more water, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or monitor your caffeine intake. When practical steps such as these are under the direction of the Holy Spirit, there can be a sense of victory and a desire to care for our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
❚ Staying focused (it’s easy to get overwhelmed)
❚ Sorting out your “stuff” ❚ Striving for excellence (don’t let perfection paralyze you) ❚ Keeping and finding a place for your stuff
Try these baby steps. Commit to them. Lose some of the clutter. Focus on what’s really important and make the most of God’s presence in your life. *Cleanandscentsible.com
What are you building?
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unity
Happy New Year! As we say goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016, we hope that your year is filled with joy and blessings from the Lord. For the first Unity of 2016, three Salvation Army officers share what they wish to see in their own lives during the next year.
영혼관리를 잘 하는 한해 새해가 밝았습니다. 새해를 맞이하면서 여러 계획 Photo by Wicker Man/Getty Images
Mi Saludo Para el Año Nuevo Conviene que yo declare las señales y milagros que el Dios Altísimo ha hecho conmigo. —DANIEL 4:2 (RVR1960)
Nací en Lima, Perú, un 17 de febrero, sin pensar todo lo que iba a vivir en el futuro. Años después de concluir mis estudios decidí salir de Perú rumbo a Venezuela y viví por 7 años en ese hermoso país. Luego viajé a Estados Unidos y me establecí en New Brunswick, New Jersey, donde hay un Cuerpo del Ejército de Salvación. De ese Cuerpo precisamente, me enviaron al Colegio de Entrenamiento para Oficiales tras recibir mi llamado, después de haber sido soldado por 5 años. Viví dos años maravillosos en el Colegio de Oficiales en donde Dios me bendijo con excelentes instructores. Allí conocí a dos familias que hoy son mis mejores amigos y hermanos, los cuales me apoyaron en los momentos más difíciles que experimenté. Aunque al principio no entendía la voluntad de Dios en cuanto a enviarme a St. Croix —una pequeña isla del Caribe donde he vivido por casi dos años—, Dios me mostró día tras día cuál era mi misión allí. Fue mi primer nombramiento como oficial, por lo tanto una experiencia formativa, por lo que siempre la tendré en mi corazón. Sin embargo, hace 3 años que soy baqueano en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, donde vivo disfrutando mi trabajo con gente maravillosa; linda por fuera y por dentro que ama al Señor con la disposición constante de servir a los demás. Es por eso que les saludo con el deseo de que en este nuevo año 2016 nuestra fe en el Señor aumente, que permitamos que Dios actúe en nuestras vidas y que seamos mensajeros de paz y buenas nuevas a las personas sin esperanza; empezando con nuestras familias. Que reconozcamos que, en Jesús, los mejores tiempos están por llegar. Espero que el Cuerpo de Bayamón se mantenga unido y fuerte, amándonos y mirando unánimes la esperanza de un mañana mejor para nuestra hermosa isla de Puerto Rico. — Teniente David Rojas
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을 세우고 결단을 하셨을 것입니다. 특히 신앙적으 로는 올해 성경을 몇 번 읽어야지! 기도를 얼마나 해야지! 또 예배생활은 어떻게 해서 복된 삶을 살 아야지 하고 나름대로 목표를 세우고 결심하셨을 것입니다. 여러분들이 계획한 것들이 100% 다 이 루어지면 성공하는 인생, 성공하는 신앙생활이 되 겠지만 대부분 다 지키지 못하고 또 한해를 마무 리 하는 경우가 대부분입니다. 우리가 지키지 못한 다고 계획 없이, 목적 없이 사는 게 낳느냐? 그것은 분명 아닙니다. 목적이 있는 삶과 없는 삶은 단순한 것 같지만 인생에 있어서 엄청난 차이가 나는 것을 볼 수 있습니다. 저는 구세군 사관으로서 노숙자들을 돕기 위해 그들 과 여러 번의 면담 기회를 가진 적이 있습니다. 노숙 자들에게 있어서 큰 문제요 그들이 노숙 생활에서 벗어나지 못하는 가장 큰 이유는 그들에게는 아무 런 목적과 계획이 없다는 것입니다. 처음에는 그들 도 노숙생활을 싫어합니다. 그러나 목적이 없고 계 획이 없는 그들인지라 노숙생활이 점점 편해져 거기 에서 빠져 나오기 힘든 자들이 되는 것입니다. 계획과 목적이 없다는 것은 자기 발전이 없이 자라 는 의미도 됩니다. 그러므로 여러분 올해 아무런 계 획과 목적 없이 출발했다면, 속히 분명한 목표와 계 획을 세우되 특히 신앙적 목표와 계획을 세워 새롭 게 출발하시기 바랍니다. 그런데 여러분 우리들이 목표를 세우되 어떤 목표를 가장 우선적으로, 중심 적인 목표로 삼아야 할까요? 요한삼서 1장 2절을 보면 “내 영혼이 잘 됨같이 범사 가 잘되고, 강건하기를 원한다.” 라고 말씀하고 있습 니다. 다시 말해서 영혼이 잘될 때 다른 일도 잘 되 고 강건하게 된다는 말씀을 하고 있는 것입니다. 이 것을 바꾸어 말하면, 영혼이 잘 되지 못하면 다른 범
Photo by lazyllama/Adobe Stock
Photo by Kim Kwang Hyon/AP Images
사도 잘 될 리 없고, 강건할 수도 없다는 것입니다. 그러므로 결국 영혼관리를 잘 해서 영혼이 잘되는 것이 다른 일도 잘 되는 길이요, 강건하게 사는 비결 이 된다는 것입니다. 그래서 영혼관리는 곧 가정관 리요. 자녀관리요, 모든 자기 자신의 인생을 관리하 는 행위가 되는 것입니다. 예수님도 마태복음 6장 33절에서 “먼저 그의 나라 와 의를 구하라 그리하면 이 모든 것을 너희에게 더 하시리라” 라는 말씀을 하고 계십니다. 결국 하나님 의 나라를 먼저 구하는 영혼관리를 잘할 때, 우리의 육신적 필요도 채워주시겠다고 약속하고 계시는 것 입니다. 그러므로 영혼이 잘못되면 다른 범사도 잘 될 수 없습니다. 여러분이 영혼이 잘 되지 못해서, 하나님과의 관계가 금이 가면 가정에도, 삶의 터전 에도, 그리고 부부관계도 쉽게 금이 갑니다. 그러나 영혼관리가 잘 돼서 하나님과의 관계가 아 름다우면 그의 모든 인생이 복되고 아름답게 되는 것입니다. 그러므로 우리가 한 해 본격적으로 시작 하기에 앞서서 하나님과 관계를 맺는 영혼관리에 대 한 분명한 목표와 계획을 갖고, 하나님과의 관계를 온전하게 만들어 가는 영혼관리에 철저하시기 바랍 니다. 그러면 영혼이 잘 되는 은혜가 있게 되고, 더 불어 범사가 잘되고 강건하게 되는 복이 주어지게 될 것입니다. 여러분 영혼관리에 대한 목표나 계획 이 없으신 분이 계십니까? 지금 바로 영혼관리에 대 한 목표와 계획을 세워 보시기 바랍니다. 그것이 여러분 개인뿐만 아니라, 가정이 잘되고, 자녀가 잘되고 범사가 잘되는 비결이 되는 것입니 다. 아무쪼록 이 글을 읽는 모든 독자 여러분, 올 한해 하나님과의 관계, 영혼관리를 잘 하심으로 영혼이 잘 되며, 범사가 잘 되고, 강건한 한 해를 보내는 은혜가 있기를 바랍니다. —구향미 참령 (구세군 뉴욕한인교회 담임)
A New Year in New York In this New Year, unity through multicultural and multilingual ministry is needed now more than ever. At the New Rochelle, N.Y., Corps, our goal is to build such an environment. And we’re encouraging our diverse community to get involved and to eventually join us. We believe that such ministry starts with touching the lives of children. We put an emphasis on kids because they are ready to learn. They’re at the best stage to be reached with the Gospel. We recently sent seven young people to college, two of whom are cadets at the College for Officer Training. So we need to fill the void. We’re attracting children to our afterschool program, which includes dance and music (piano and brass instruments). Our social service program offers a food pantry, among other things. And in the context of our overall ministry, we’re doing one–on–one evangelism by distributing tracts and building relationships. We encourage our soldiers to participate in this effort. Our community is about 70 percent Hispanic immigrants, particularly from Mexico. Fortunately, the children attend public school and can speak English. But their parents tend to be far better at speaking Spanish. Today, we have four Hispanic families who attend the corps. We’ve purchased translation equipment to aid them during services in understanding English. A Spanish–speaking soldier serves as interpreter (translator). And we are establishing an English as a Second Language program (ESL). Building a multicultural corps is a huge challenge. But for me, it is a wonderfully exciting one. Just imagine how boring life would be if all human beings were of the same race, culture, language, personality, physical appearance, and mind– set. God, the Author of human diversity, was pleased to have created our diverse universe as indicated in Genesis 1:31. Scientists are astonished by His super intelligence in uniquely crafting every human being. It is interesting to observe that, while humans discriminate against one another on the basis of insignificant personality, tribal, ethnic, racial, and cultural differences, God originally created them to live in perfect harmony. He is the Author of our diverse universe. — Captain Daniel N. Diakanwa
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
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ON file
great moments
An Unsung Hero
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Olympic runners Peter Norman, John Carlos, and Tommie Smith stand on the winners’ podium in 1968.
Photo by Associated Press
This issue of SAConnects emphasizes sports ministry in The Salvation Army and offers an opportunity to include Peter Norman’s story, a Salvationist, who in 1968, along with two African– American Olympians, put his athletic career in jeopardy and took a heroic and a historic stand. In 1968, racial and political tensions in the United States had peaked. In April, James Earl Ray took the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in Memphis, Tenn. Two months later, Sirhan Sirhan shot and killed Senator Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles, Calif. And in October at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, three track runners stood on the winners’ podium to advocate for human rights and for social justice. The names of the gold and bronze medalists, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, became well known. But the silver medalist, Peter Norman, who was also a Salvationist, has only recently gained public attention. Photos of the award ceremony show Smith and Carlos with their heads bowed and their black–gloved fists held high as musicians played the “Star Spangled Banner.” Each also wore an “Olympic Project for Human Rights” badge. Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who came in second in the 200–meter race, borrowed a badge from U.S. rowing champion Paul Hoffman and wore it during the medal ceremony. And because Smith and Carlos had brought only one pair of black gloves, Norman had suggested that Carlos and Smith wear one glove each. Carlos asked Norman, “Do you believe in human rights?” Norman said, “Yes.” Smith asked, “You’re in The Salvation Army. Do you believe in God?” Norman, who grew up in a
by Warren L. Maye
devoted Salvation Army family, came from Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, and was educated there at The Southport School. He said, “I believe strongly in God.” Years later, Carlos remembered, “We knew that what we were going to do was far greater than any athletic feat, yet Norman said, ‘I’ll stand with you.’ I expected to see fear in Norman’s eyes, but instead we saw love.” For their actions, Smith and Carlos were suspended from the U.S. team by the International Olympic Committee and banned from the Olympic Village and from the games—for life. Norman’s actions resulted in his being ostracized by Australian media and reprimanded by his country’s Olympic authorities, who did not send him or any other male sprinters to the 1972 games, despite their having all easily qualified. When Australia hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics, Norman was excluded from participating with other
Australian medalists during the opening ceremony. In 2005, San José State University officials placed on its grounds a statue commemorating the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games’ greatest moment, “The Black Power Salute.” Tommie Smith’s image was there on the gold medal (first place) podium, John Carlos’ statue was there on the bronze medal (third place) podium, but for Peter Norman, the silver medalist, the second–place winner’s spot on the podium remained empty of a statue.
We knew that what we were going to do was far greater than any athletic feat, yet Norman said, ‘I’ll stand with you.’ I expected to see fear in Norman’s eyes, but instead we saw love. — John Carlos
But at the unveiling ceremony, Norman paid tribute to his dear friends. “They deliberately gave away their personal glory as a privilege,” he said. In 2006, Norman died of a heart attack. Smith and Carlos, who had become his life–long friends, offered eulogies to their “brother” and served as pallbearers. To see a trailer for a documentary on Peter Norman produced by his nephew, Matthew Norman, go to youtube (entitled “Salute,” published on Jan 16, 2015).
WOR L D S E R VIC E S 2 016
GOD’S KINGDOM
BANQUET OUR FOUR–WEEK EMPHASIS IN EACH CORPS The Joy of Sharing the Good News Supporting Fellow Christians The Preparations for Many to Come into the Kingdom The Kingdom Celebration
The Salvation Army Crestview Conference Center, West Nyack, NY
SEPTEMBER 12–14
saconnects.org
#SAMS2016
for more information
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