SAconnects, Volume 3, Number 5 by The Salvation Army: SAconnects

VOL. 3, NO. 5 â&#x20AC;¢ JUNE 2017

LEAD THE WAY SACONNECTS.ORG

the magazine

MESSENGERS OF

OMPASSION

SEPTEMBER 9 • 7:25 P.M. Centennial Memorial Temple, NYC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

E M O C L

T O

2017–2019

For more information, go to saconnects.org

USA EASTERN TERRITORY Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial Leaders

Commissioners Israel L. and Eva D. Gaither

our leaders

IN focus

A DEEPER WALK Un Caminar más Profundo In Washington, D.C.’s Judiciary Square, there is a statue of Albert Pike, the early American journalist and lawyer. The inscription on the statue quotes Pike when he wrote, “What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us. What we have done for others and for the world, remains and is immortal.” I have often thought of these words when thinking about the church leaders who have influenced my life over the years. Sunday school teachers, bandmasters, and Salvation Army officers—each is an example of what it means to be used by God in leading people into a deeper understanding of His grace and mercy. The prime purpose of each leader in our corps is to lead people into a deeper walk with Jesus. Proverbs 11:14 (NASB) states, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors, there is victory.” Hence, the critical nature of insuring that Salvation Army leaders are well equipped and skilled for their leadership roles could never be overstated. Their handprint on the people they lead serves as a reflection of the very hand print of God. God needs leaders who enthusiastically embrace their role and seek ways to hone effective leadership skills. Even King David is described in Psalm 78:72 as leading with “… integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” May each Salvation Army leader, no matter what position he or she occupies, be challenged to “Study to show yourself approved …” (2 Timothy 2:15, MEV). Lead on!

— Colonel / Coronel Kenneth O. Johnson Chief Secretary / Secretario en Jefe

En la Plaza Judicial de Washington, D.C., hay una estatua de Albert Pike, antiguo periodista y abogado estadounidense. La inscripción del monumento cita las palabras que Pike alguna vez escribiera: “Lo que hemos hecho sólo por nosotros muere con nosotros. Lo que hemos hecho por los demás y por el mundo permanece y es inmortal.” A menudo he pensado en esas palabras al reflexionar sobre los líderes de la iglesia que han ejercido una influencia en mi vida a lo largo de los años. Los maestros de Escuela Dominical, los maestros de banda y los oficiales del Ejército de Salvación, cada uno de ellos han sido un ejemplo de lo que significa ser usado por Dios para liderar a las personas hacia una comprensión más profunda de Su gracia y Su misericordia. El propósito que persigue cada líder de nuestros Cuerpos es liderar a sus miembros hacia un caminar más profundo con Jesús. Proverbios 11:14 (NVI) dice así: “Sin dirección, la nación fracasa; el éxito depende de los muchos consejeros”. Por eso, no se puede exagerar la importancia radical de asegurarnos de que los líderes del Ejército de Salvación estén bien equipados y posean las habilidades necesarias para desempeñarse en sus roles como líderes. La huella que deja su mano en las personas a las que lideran sirve como reflejo de la huella de la propia mano de Dios. Dios necesita líderes que asuman con entusiasmo su rol y busquen maneras de perfeccionar sus habilidades de liderazgo. Del mismo rey David se dice en el Salmo 78:72 que lideró a su pueblo con “… corazón sincero; con mano experta los dirigió”. Que cada líder del Ejército de Salvación, cualquiera sea el puesto que ocupe, se sienta desafiado a “presentarse a Dios aprobado… (2 Timoteo 2:15, NVI)”. ¡Lidera!

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2017 JUNE

T H E

S A L VA T I O N

A R M Y

E A S T E R N

T E R R I T O R Y

COMMISSIONERS WILLIAM A. & G. LORRAINE BAMFORD T E R R I TO R I A L L E A D E R S

USA Eastern Territory Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial Leaders

Vol. 3, No. 5

CONTENTS JUNE 2017

IN focus

1 our leaders 4 from the editor 6 ethically speaking 5

ON file

5 relevents Major Elizur Vasquez talks about finding leaders in the church and the outdoor ministry that brought him back to the Lord.

unity

Three officers pay tribute to Lt. Colonels Guy D. and Henrietta Klemanski.

3 0 wholly living

7 Now, He’s a Leader

Major Kathleen Muir and Envoy Kelly Roberts share perspectives on leadership.

FAITH in ACTION

Makes Perfect

Officers often come and go, but local leaders like Ricki Helmick and Marissa Lewis are there for the long haul. That’s why the Skilled Leadership portion of “Strikepoint” is so vital.

Ramona Toribio went from serving food in Hazleton, Pa., to feeding souls with the Word of God.

22 Lee Strobel

COVER STORY

A new movie depicts an atheist’s dramatic turn to Christ and reveals a wife’s deep faith in God.

14 After the Storm

26 LEAD 22

t o your health 32 Major Richard Sanchez

talks about the dangers of sugar as he takes you on a journey to better health.

The Salvation Army’s LEAD program has had a profound impact on Andy Iorio’s life and ministry at the ARC in Wilkes–Barre, Pa.

10 People Are the Church

20 What God

Facilitating a culture of discipleship that radically empowers lay leaders.

features

The Salvation Army’s Baton Rouge, La., Corps lost many buildings during the brutal storm season of 2016. Last February, help for the recovery came from an unexpected source—The Salvation Army Student Fellowship at Houghton College.

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SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL

2017 JUNE

IN focus

from the editor

letters from you Greetings. I write to once again say how much I enjoy reading this publication. The April 2017 issue is excellent. The depiction of Young Adult ministries is beautiful and inspiring. I love what it says about the Eastern Territory.

You are here! General André Cox, world leader of The Salvation Army, has challenged every soldier on the globe to participate in The Whole World Mobilizing campaign. Commissioner William A. Bamford, USA Eastern territorial commander, said this outreach initiative is “an opportunity to get to know our neighbors and to let them know that The Salvation Army is present in their communities.” In the next SAconnects, you’ll read how corps officers, employees, and volunteers have put their boots on the ground and ministered to the needs of people in their respective communities. Now as the General’s directive encourages even greater and more effective outreach, you’ll see Salvationists literally march through the streets, shake hands, and change the emotional and spiritual landscape. An “Equipping Tool” (a special section in the magazine) will be your guide. Envoys Sharon and Steve Bussey of Salvation Factory will walk you, step–by– step, through the mobilization process. When you’re done reading, you’ll know the what, when, how, and why of it all. You’ll also see how some of the exciting and innovative strategies (such as “Mobile Joes”) are capturing the imagination and the hearts of people in need. Read the next issue and equip yourself to be a participant in this daring campaign. Let your neighbors know that you—and The Salvation Army—are here!

— Warren L. Maye Editor in Chief / Editor en Jefe

JUNE 2017

Please convey my thanks to all parties. Every blessing. —COMMISSIONER BARRY C. SWANSON

¡Tú estás aquí! El General André Cox, líder mundial del Ejército de Salvación, ha desafiado a cada soldado del Ejército alrededor del mundo a participar en la campaña Todo el Mundo a Movilizarse. El Comisionado William A. Bamford, comandante territorial del Territorio Este EUA, dijo que esta iniciativa de evangelización es “una oportunidad para conocer a nuestros vecinos e informarles que el Ejército de Salvación está presente en sus comunidades”. En el próximo número de SAconnects, leerás acerca de la manera en que los oficiales directivos, los empleados y los voluntarios se han puesto las botas y han salido a atender las necesidades de la gente en sus comunidades. Ahora que la instrucción del General nos anima a una evangelización mayor y más efectiva veremos a los salvacionistas, literalmente, marchando por las calles, saludando y cambiando el panorama emocional y espiritual. Una “herramienta de equipamiento” (una sección especial que se incluye en la revista) será tu guía para los efectos. Los Enviados Sharon y Steve Bussey, de Salvation Factory, te guiarán paso a paso a lo largo de todo el proceso de movilización. Una vez que hayas terminado de leer la revista, sabrás el qué, el cuándo, el cómo y el por qué de todo ello. También verás cómo algunas de las emocionantes e innovadoras estrategias (por ejemplo, “Mobile Joe”) han estado cautivando la imaginación y los corazones de las personas necesitadas. Lee el próximo número y equípate para participar activamente en esta atrevida campaña. Hazles saber a tus vecinos que tú y el Ejército de Salvación ¡están aquí!

“I’m Worth Something” (SAconnects, April 2016) puts a genuine human face on these people, both the Salvationists and those to whom they are ministering. Reading this, I learned more about living in church community than I did in a full article that claimed to cover that topic. Excellent photography—with the focus on faces— underscores the theme. Reports are often unexciting, but “Senior Moments in Bensonhurst” (SAconnects, Nov. 2016) takes the reader to a center where he (or she) can see the good work being done. Not everyone realizes that the corps is a church and so this gives that added information. — EVANGELICAL PRESS ASSOCIATION JUDGES

the magazine

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relevents

ON file

Major Elizur Vasquez, corps officer at the Boston Central Hispanic Corps Community Center, talks about the street ministry that introduced him to The Salvation Army, the book of Joshua, and the importance of developing community leaders.

Photo by Drew Forster

interview by Hugo Bravo

In my early years with the Army, Roberto Santos took me under his wing. He taught classes on evangelism and how to present the Bible to both groups and individuals. Roberto also taught me how to knock on doors and introduce The Salvation Army. After he knocked on two doors, we approached a third house. He said, “Now, you knock.” When I had learned how to knock and speak, he then said, “Now, go teach another person how to knock on doors.”

I grew up in a family of missionaries from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. But as I grew older and came to the United States, I turned away from God. One day, as a teenager walking in Queens, N.Y., I met children conducting an open-air ministry led by a 12–year–old boy. I looked at him, and heard God ask me, “That used to be you. What happened?” I learned about their church (the Queens Temple Corps) and how they helped the community and the homeless, without discrimination. This outreach had been ingrained in me since childhood. I found a piece of home in Queens through The Salvation Army.

The Lord has gifted me with the ability to discover leaders. When I find that special person, I get a feeling in my soul. I look at his or her passion for Christ. Despite them feeling overwhelmed about balancing work and family responsibilities, God calls on them, and He gives them wisdom and the tools. We need to find people and prepare them to lead, just as the apostle Paul prepared Timothy.

In my younger years, I had studied to be a pastor. It was something I wanted to do for the Army, but I had a good job working for an automotive engineering company in New York. I thought, How do I explain this to Mayra, my wife? But before I could tell her, she told me about a beautiful dream she had. In it, she saw herself in a cadet’s uniform, walking into the College for Officer Training (CFOT). God had answered my prayer before I had even prayed. My boss thought I was crazy to leave and offered me six months paid vacation to go back. Thirty years later, they’re still waiting for my return!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). This has been my motivation. God has called me; therefore He is always with me. The verse comes after the death of Moses. God is creating a new leader in Joshua. I named my son Josue (Spanish for Joshua), because that is the verse I taught to others the day he was born.

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2017 JUNE

IN focus

Ethically Speaking by Colonel Richard Munn

the magazine

your connection to The Salvation Army

USA EASTERN TERRITORY

ADDICTION

TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford

La ADICCIÓN

CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr.

Humans are scarred by brokenness. While that is not news, there is a dimension to it that is especially malicious and deceptive, which many people prefer to ignore—addiction. Addiction is any compulsive, habitual behavior that limits the freedom of human desire. We attach our desires to specific objects and become consumed by the habitual behavior. We want to break away from the object of our craving, but we cannot.

Los seres humanos son marcados por el quebrantamiento. Si bien no es ninguna novedad, posee una dimensión que resulta especialmente maliciosa y engañosa, y que muchas personas prefieren ignorar: la adicción. Una adicción es cualquier conducta compulsiva y habitual que limita la libertad del deseo humano. Relacionamos nuestros deseos con objetos específicos y nos obsesionamos con la conducta habitual que se desprende de esos deseos. Queremos liberarnos del objeto de nuestro intenso deseo, pero no podemos.

UNIVERSAL Addiction has been described as the sacred disease of our time and in some way we are all affected—from a person craving caffeine or chocolate to a family torn apart by alcohol or drugs. “To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace,” writes theologian Gerald May.

UNIVERSAL Se ha descrito la adicción como la enfermedad sagrada de nuestro tiempo y de alguna manera todos nos vemos afectados por ella; desde una persona ansiosa por consumir cafeína o chocolate hasta una familia desgarrada por el alcohol o las drogas. “Estar vivo es ser adicto, y estar vivo y ser adicto es estar necesitado de gracia”, escribe Gerald May.

CUNNING, BAFFLING, POWERFUL Paul has insight into addiction and realizes its power: “What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do … the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing” (Rom. 7:14–19). The cruel dimension to addiction is those substances that cause destruction or injury to self and to other people.

MALICIOSA, DESCONCERTANTE, PODEROSA Pablo comprendió bien lo que es la adicción y era consciente de su poder: “No hago lo que quiero, sino lo que aborrezco … no hago el bien que quiero, sino el mal que no quiero” (Romanos 7:14-19). El aspecto cruel de la adicción son esas sustancias que causan destrucción o daño a la propia persona y a los demás.

GRACE The good news is that there are functioning members of society who, by God’s grace, have overcome crippling addictions. One feature of their testimony is reference to a spiritual healing. One principled action is to avoid addictive substances and enticements altogether. A frequent lament is regret over the initial experimentation. Addiction and grace; anti–thesis and thesis.

GRACIA La buena noticia es que hay miembros activos en la sociedad que, por la gracia de Dios, han logrado superar adicciones incapacitantes. Uno de los aspectos de su testimonio tiene que ver con la sanidad espiritual. Una acción sensata es evitar las sustancias y las tentaciones adictivas. Un lamento frecuente es haberse permitido probar esas sustancias una primera vez. La adicción y la gracia: antítesis y tesis.

COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Colonel Janice A. Howard 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 MANAGING DESIGNER Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Keri Johnson, Karena Lin, Joe Marino STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Love CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Lotz, Major Young Sung Kim COMMAND NEWS CORRESPONDENTS PENDEL Major Kathryn A. Avery EMP Jaye C. Jones GNY Major Susan Wittenberg MASS Drew Forster NNE Cheryl Poulopoulos PR & VI Linette Luna SNE James Gordon WEPASA Captain Kimberly DeLong Territorial Music Liaison Derek Lance Territorial Youth Liaison Captain Gillian Rogers

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. 3, No. 5, June Issue 2017. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2017 by The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory. Articles may be reprinted only with written permission. All scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless indicated otherwise.

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JUNE 2017

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SKILLED LEADERSHIP

Now, he’s a

LEADER

ANDY IORIO was always more of a follower than a leader in

his younger days. A native of Plains, Pa., Iorio was an altar boy and attended 12 years of Catholic school. He also played defensive lineman on his high school football team. Unfortunately, he was also a heavy drinker, used drugs, and had no relationship at all with God. “In high school, I turned my back on God and lost my way,” he recalls. Iorio played two years of football at Lackawanna College before

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By Robert Mitchell

joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1995, hoping the military could help him mature. “When I went into the Marines, I found it was a home for angry alcoholics, just like me. So I didn’t grow up, I got worse,” he said. “When I got out of the Marines, my drinking was full blown. I guess you could consider it alcoholic drinking.”

2017 JUNE

Now, he’s a LEADER

A NEW DIRECTION

Iorio was in and out of VA hospitals over the next two years, but nothing worked. He lost numerous jobs. “I would rather drink than go to work,” he said. The last time he entered the hospital, Iorio left an apartment he was about to lose. He drove in a car that was about to be repossessed—and ran out of gas on the way. His life took a dramatic turn when he attended a concert at a pub in Dallas, Pa., and struck up a conversation with “the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.” She invited Iorio to church and, of course, he was all too happy to tag along—even if it was a Baptist church and he had grown up Catholic. Iorio was in for quite a surprise when he learned the pastor in the pulpit was the woman’s father. “In the process of going to this church to have a relationship with a girl, I gave my life to Christ right there,” Iorio said. “I fell in love with her at first sight. We’ve talked to each other every night since then. That was 16 years ago.”

LOVE ON DISPLAY

Iorio likes to say, “I got saved, then sober.” He continued dating Sara, his future wife, and was back at the VA hospital when someone told him his “pastor” was there to visit him. Iorio found that odd. “I had burned every bridge I had because of my drinking,” he said. “I didn’t even know what a pastor was at that time.” Iorio got about halfway up the hall before realizing the pastor was his girlfriend’s father, David Martin. “He was the only one who visited me,” Iorio said. “I was confused because, if I were the father, I would want to beat me up.” During a tense conversation, Iorio told Martin that he should hate him for dating his daughter. “He said, ‘Andy, we don’t like what you’re doing with your life as far as your drinking, but we love you.’ I had never heard anyone communicate like that in my life,” Iorio said. “I was really attracted to it.”

TURNING IT AROUND

Iorio continued to attend church and grow in his faith, reading Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” “All the 12 years of Catholicism became real,” Iorio said. “It wasn’t a religion anymore. It was real. I had a personal relationship with Jesus now when all I ever knew before was religion. My whole life changed.” He also had extra motivation: Sara said he had to be sober for a year before they could get engaged. Iorio eventually took counseling classes at Andersonville Theological Seminary. He also got involved with Celebrate

JUNE 2017

Recovery, a Christian–based, 12–step recovery program. Another turning point came when Iorio served an internship as a volunteer chaplain at the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Wilkes–Barre, Pa. When Major Kathleen Wadman, the former program director at the ARC, learned Iorio was studying to be a counselor, she offered him a full–time counseling job in 2009.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

“I always knew I was called to help people like me,” Iorio said. “Working here, I realized I’m sitting with me all day long. I’m the alcoholic, the drug addict, the homeless, the guy with mood disorders and mental health issues. That’s me. So I can talk to them with some experience about what Jesus can do.” Iorio noticed something else each day—the homeless across the fence from the ARC in an area dubbed “Tent City.” In 2014, Michael Tillsley, the business administrator at the ARC, wanted to do something to help. Tillsley would sometimes hop the fence to talk to the homeless; counselor Stanley Jackson would take them food. “We had a hard time wrapping our mind around why ‘Tent City’ was right outside the window of the ARC,” Iorio said. “We wanted to find a way to tap into that and build relationships with the homeless community.”

BECOMING A LEADER

The decision was made to send Iorio to the LEAD Lay Leadership Summit, held each August in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Skilled Leadership is one of the four elements of the “Strikepoint” initiative. “LEAD taught me to come out of the church building,” Iorio said. “They taught me how to go get people and to make disciples. I learned how to communicate with the homeless and how to be very vigorous.” Iorio also was involved when Major Charles Kelley took teams out and taught them street evangelism. “I would have never known how to go up to someone and just start evangelizing,” he said. “I learned how to do that and communicate with people. It was pro–active. He took us out and taught us how to lead people to Christ in a busy street environment. “I was humbled because at this point I knew some things about the Bible, I knew Christianity, but I didn’t do Christianity. LEAD taught me how to be a Christian and to get out there and get them. That was our motto.”

A GOD THING

Before leaving LEAD, Iorio was involved in a prayer meeting. Major Lauren Hodgson grabbed his hand as he started to

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

“

Here I was, a fall–down drunk, and 10 years later, I was getting ordained by the same church that rescued me. That’s a miracle.

”

walk away and said, “I need you to know that God is going to use you to start something new at the ARC.” “That really got my attention because that’s the reason I was there in the first place,” Iorio said. “It was ordained by God. It was a special moment.” When he got back from LEAD, Tillsley explained that “Strikepoint” funding was now available and a Sunday night praise and prayer meeting they had been talking about could actually happen. “We were just in awe of God’s perfect timing,” Iorio said. “Now we had a vision and funding and we knew it was ordained by God so we pulled the trigger on it immediately.” The program known as “Soup, Sandwiches, and Salvation” drew 80–100 homeless every Sunday night. It was temporarily halted after a year, but will return next month.

WATCHING GOD WORK

“We’ve had some people circulate through the program and graduate,” he said. “The biggest success was the homeless got to know us. Word spread. It was like a Sunday church service for the homeless.” Iorio said the way God put the “Soup, Sandwiches, and Salvation” program together had a profound effect on his life. “That was another life–changing event,” he said. “What really changed it was the presence of God and how He orchestrated it. He put the whole thing together. It all came together and fit like a glove. We all knew it was the right thing. There was total peace about it and it started at LEAD. “If it wasn’t for the training and the street evangelism and learning how to communicate with broken people, it might not have happened. I used all that training here.” Iorio is also a leader at his church, Cross Creek Community in Trucksville, Pa., where he is the Celebrate Recovery director and helps addicts.

SIMPLY AMAZING

“Here’s God’s grace,” Iorio says in amazement. “Here I was, a fall–down drunk, and 10 years later, I was getting ordained by the same church that rescued me. That’s a miracle.” On the wall in Iorio’s office is a drawing by a friend displaying the three ministries of his life: Cross Creek, a jail chaplaincy program, and The Salvation Army. “I know God brought me to The Salvation Army and LEAD because I needed to learn about the The Salvation Army’s mission of holiness,” he said. “The Salvation Army has taught me how to live an honest, holy life and to stay plugged into Christ. “The Salvation Army taught me how to be a Christian and to go and make disciples.”

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2017 JUNE

Photo by Robert Mitchell

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

THE PEOPLE are the

Church by Robert Mitchell

s Salvation Army officers, Captains Candy and J.R. Fritsch know their appointment to the Cleveland West Park Corps could change at any time. If the Army wants to deploy them elsewhere, they will salute and go. In anticipation of their next move, the Fritsches are determined to train local corps leaders who will stay the course. In the midst of a multi–million–dollar renovation and expansion, the Fritsches have also asked soldiers to describe in writing how they can best serve when the project is complete. “We want them to tell us how they see themselves fitting into the leadership team,” Captain J.R. said. “Then when my wife and I move on, whenever that may be, there is no lull in anything. The new officers just come in and everything runs smoothly. We’re big on developing leaders. “A good pastor is one who equips and lets go. The ministry belongs to the church. The officer is not the church. The people are the church. We want to equip everybody to do what they do so everything continues long after we’re gone.”

FINDING A HOME

Their philosophy fits perfectly into the Skilled Leadership aspect of “Strikepoint.” Ricki Helmick and Marissa Lewis are two soldiers who have already exemplified such leadership at the corps. Helmick, 28, came to the corps off and on as a child. But since the death of her father three years ago, she has been consistent. From her childhood, Helmick has known Cleveland West Park to be a safe place. A week before her father died, she came to church. Major Susan Hickman, the co–divisional leader in the Northeastern Ohio Division (NEOSA), prayed with her. The Salvation Army later helped Helmick with the funeral arrangements and the aftermath of her loss. “That’s when I knew I was home,” Helmick said. “I felt I could never repay God for Cleveland West Park and for what they did for me.”

ON A MISSION

“I felt that’s the day God really confirmed it for me that this is where I belong. Before, I felt like I was running from Him.

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2017 JUNE

The People Are The Church

It took losing my father to bring me back to Him. How do I repay God? By serving.” Helmick has since become a soldier, leads Girl Guards, and drives a van to pick up children for most programs. She also participates in women’s ministries, has built relationships with many of the teens at the corps, and is in training to become the young people’s sergeant major (YPSM). Each week, as many as 10 Girl Guards, some from broken homes, come to the corps meetings. “A lot of them struggle with not feeling loved and low self– esteem,” Helmick said. “To me, they’re like my children; I can give them the love they need.”

HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING

As Helmick drives the corps van around, she said it breaks her heart to see young people hanging out in the streets instead of being in church. “I realize it goes on all over, but in Cleveland, we lose so many children to gun violence,” she said. “So many young girls come up missing. So many young men have been killed. “It’s good to know [the corps] is a safe place. We have fun. We laugh. We talk about God, but we do it in a fun way.” Helmick said the children motivate her to show up at the corps every day. “I’m young enough to know what they go through and what they struggle with,” she said. “The world is in a bad place right now. I just want to do God’s footwork. “The kids are just looking for love and friendship and

someone whom they can trust. I try to steer them in the right direction and keep them off the streets and out of trouble.” Recently, the corps sent Helmick to a holiness seminar. She also attended this year’s Candidates Seminar. She would like to become an officer, but she sees much work to do with children on the streets of Cleveland. Captain J.R. said, “In the last few years, Ricki has really stepped up in her faith and in her relationship with God and in her work at the corps. When we call, she’s there. She’s on a strong growth plan in her walk.”

FINDING SHELTER

You might say Marissa Lewis, 19, literally grew up in The Salvation Army. She was only 14 months old when her mother, Cheryl Lewis, lost her apartment and the two found refuge in a Salvation Army shelter in Cleveland. Cheryl Lewis soon met Major Diana Capanna, a local corps officer, and started attending a women’s Bible study. That’s where Lewis accepted Christ. When young Marissa wanted to learn to dance, The Salvation Army also met her need. “I couldn’t afford the dance lessons for Marissa,” Cheryl Lewis recalls. “I had nobody. The Salvation Army here became my family.”

FINDING HER PLACE

Marissa learned to dance at the West Park Corps. For many years, she has also participated in NEOSA’s Music Arts Program (MAP), Hands On, and the Territorial Arts Ministry (TAM) Conservatory. Today, she helps teach budding artists. At Bowling Green University, she is involved in club soccer, rugby, and basketball and openly shares her faith. Her college studies keep her away from the corps most of the year, but Lewis has taught Sunday school. She also was a counselor at Camp NEOSA. “I like kids a lot. So, just being involved in the kid realm

Captain J.R. Fritsch stands in the newly renovated West Park Corps. The old building was too small to accommodate the growing congregation. Dedication of the new corps (shown as an artist’s rendering) is scheduled on June 4.

JUNE 2017

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

“

The ministry belongs to the church. The officer is not the church. The people are the church. — Captain J.R. Fritsch

”

Marissa Lewis (left) and Ricki Helmick have honed their leadership skills through The Salvation Army.

has been great,” she said. “It allows me to be a child again. I think that definitely inspired me to be a leader. “I’ve gained leadership skills through all the things I’ve done with The Salvation Army.” Like Helmick, Lewis loves passing along her faith to a younger generation. “I’m teaching little kids about the Gospel,” she said. “That’s so important.”

Photos by Robert Mitchell; Illustration by AODKInc

FIND YOUR NICHE

When it comes to teaching dance and the arts, Lewis said she encourages young people to find an art form and use it for God’s glory. “When I dance, I forget about my surroundings and anything else that is happening,” she said. “I turn on that music and it’s like I’m in a whole new world. I’m floating around and dancing—and I’m not just dancing—it’s the art form I’m using to praise God.” Last year, Lewis went to the West Coast as a member of a Hands On mission team and was surprised to find pockets of poverty in the midst of opulence. Hollywood may have seemed glitzy on the surface, but she eventually saw its ugly underbelly. “We fed people who lived in tents and we built relationships with them,” she recalled. “You have to love people, no matter

what they’re going through and no matter what’s going on.” This year, Lewis will return to Hands On and minister in Puerto Rico.

LEADERSHIP BUILDING

Captain J.R. called Lewis a “natural leader.” “She’s an amazing young woman. We’ve seen her grow in the Lord,” he said. “The Salvation Army offers so many opportunities like Hands On and TAM that bring out those natural leadership qualities. “People follow her just because of her personality and who she is. I see her going far in life. She loves The Salvation Army and is an asset to us.” Captain Candy Fritsch added, “Marissa will do anything for others. We have seen her grow into a beautiful young lady in the Lord.” Captain J.R. called local officers the “backbone” of the corps. “To me, they’re more important than the corps officer because we come and go,” he said. “They stay here. When it comes down to leadership, it’s the local officers who keep the vision and this place moving forward. “We’ve outgrown our chapel. We need to continue to promote God and Christ in our neighborhood. We couldn’t do it without people like Ricki and Marissa.”

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2017 JUNE

AFTER THE

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

STORM

JUNE 2017

In the summer of 2016, parts of Louisiana suffered the worst flooding since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

by Hugo Bravo

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

Left to right: The Salvation Army Student Fellowship from Houghton College: Ruthanna Wantz, Randall Smith, Heather Philips, Major Evelyn Hopping, Alexis Baergas, Brian Winn, Soldier Elizabeth Ramirez, and Emily Wing.

he Salvation Army Student Fellowship (SASF) at Houghton College wanted this year’s annual missions trip to be unique and bigger than previous missions trips. Major Evelyn Hopping, corps officer at the Wellsville, N.Y., Corps, where the Houghton SASF attends service on Sunday, was pleased to hear the students’ desire to do something that would reflect their call and commitment to service. “Besides worship on Sundays, the SASF is involved in the corps and in the greater mission of the Army,” says Major Hopping. “They do thrift store sales on campus to raise money for world services, and help with a Halloween party at the corps that brings in hundreds of people from the Wellsville community.” “In the past, we had traveled to places like New Jersey and Ohio,” said Emily Wing, one of the six SASF students who took part in this year’s trip. “In those locations, we worked with people in poverty. But this time, we

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2017 JUNE

AFTER THE STORM

IN AUGUST 2016, LOUISIANA SUFFERED THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER SINCE HURRICANE SANDY IN 2012. THE SALVATION ARMY BATON ROUGE CORPS LOST EIGHT OF ITS NINE BUILDINGS.

Students from Houghton College help clean up a supermarket being used to store donations. They also prepared bedrooms for the Baton Rouge Corps menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shelter, while residents stayed at a nearby camp. Genesis Powell Morales (top, right) cleans a window in the shelter and shows a video of the flood zone (below, right) outside the Baton Rouge Corps in August.

JUNE 2017

SKILLED LEADERSHIP hoped to go somewhere that had been affected by something beyond that.” Heather Phillips, a junior, agreed. “In Camden, N.J., we ministered and talked to people. This time, we wanted something hands–on.” After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Houghton SASF had helped with the recovery on the east coast. The idea of being part of another recovery effort appealed to the group. Hopping arranged for her, Soldier Elizabeth Ramirez, and the Houghton SASF team to travel 1,300 miles to The Salvation Army Baton Rouge Corps in Louisiana.

THE FLOOD

In August 2016, Louisiana suffered the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy. Heavy rain fell on the southern and southeastern part of the state, which left areas with three times more rainfall than Hurricane Katrina delivered in 2005. An estimated 146,000 homes were damaged or lost. The Salvation Army Baton Rouge Corps lost eight of its nine buildings, including its Corps Salvage and Rehabilitation Center (CSRC), its thrift store, and a warehouse to hold donations. The corps building also lost its kitchen and offices. Genesis Powell Morales, Mission Specialist for the corps, had just moved from Jackson, Mississippi. To avoid the storm’s heavy rains, she remembers spending Friday night in the CSRC offices. The next morning, she looked out in time to see a motorboat traveling across what had been the parking lot. “In one room, the water was up to my calves,” says Genesis. “It was above the electrical outlets and door handles in other rooms. We had 120 people in the center that Saturday, and we had to get them all out and across the street where the National Guard was helping people to safety.” The men from CSRC were moved to the corps. A five–minute drive took hours. Families came to the corps, looking for help. Though the building had survived, many nearby houses were destroyed. The owner of a local supermarket, now closed, lent the space to the corps to use as a storage facility for donations. The men from the CSRC stayed at a nearby summer camp. All cooking and food preparation was done from a single canteen.

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2017 JUNE

AFTER THE STORM

A NEW WAY TO SERVE

Edwina Thomas, food service manager for the Salvation Army’s Baton Rouge, La., Corps, was focused on helping people during the flood, even though she had lost her home to it. “I remember my grandson called me,” she said. “He was saying that I had to leave. The water was coming up, higher and higher.” Thomas lived in a low area, and by the time she arrived at her house, the water had risen three feet and covered her mailbox. She went inside, gathered all the clothing she could carry, and left. “Everything looked like a disaster movie,” remembers Thomas. “I felt like I was running for my life.” People who had lost everything would soon look to the Baton Rouge Corps for food and assistance. But when the corps lost its kitchen in the flood, Thomas also lost her way of serving the community. “We had to do all our food services, all our cooking, no matter how many we had to feed, out of one canteen (food service truck). The space was a little tight, but it worked out,” she said. Thomas had become familiar with the Army through shopping at its thrift store. She noticed the men who worked at the store, beneficiaries of the Army’s Corps Salvage and Rehabilitation Center (CSRC), were always in a happy mood. “I started volunteering at the corps and learned why they were so positive. Before work, they began every day at 7:30 A.M., with prayer and shared testimonies with each other.” Now working at the corps as a full–time cook, Thomas looks forward to helping in the kitchen when it’s rebuilt, but she cherishes the time spent serving food from the canteen. “Doing meals from this canteen taught me that I had something inside me that I didn’t realize. It taught me the value of selflessness, how important it is to get the job done, and not worry about my own situation,” says Thomas. “It was a whole new way to serve. Instead of being indoors, I was out there with the community. Any place where I can be of service to somebody, that’s the place where I now want to be.”

Edwina Thomas (right) inside the Salvation Army canteen.

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“Due to the flood, every corps program was shifted around,” says Captain Mary Meredith, corps officer. “Almost six months later, our top priority now is getting the men from the CSRC back into the building, and emptying donations from the supermarket, which we are now returning to its owner.” “When I received the email from Major Evelyn Hopping telling us the Houghton SASF students wanted to volunteer their help, I realized not everyone had forgotten there was still work to do here in Baton Rouge.”

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

The Houghton students on this missions trip did not come from an Army background before college, nor were they Salvationists. But they arrived at the Baton Rouge Corps and were warmly welcomed by Powell, Captains Brett and Mary Meredith, and the Baton Rouge congregation. The students spent the week cleaning out the borrowed grocery store, still full of donations to the Army. They also cleaned and prepared the bedrooms and bathrooms at the CSRC, made beds, and set up closets. The men from the shelter would be moving back into the CSRC that Friday. “Helping clean and set up the rooms in the men’s shelter is rewarding. It’s something for people that need help right now,” said Brian Winn, one of the newest SASF members. He and the rest of the team stayed in the same camp with many of the men from CSRC, where the team and the men became familiar with one another. Randall Smith, a Houghton graduate, says the corps’ southern hospitality reminded him of his early days at the college. While looking on campus for a service–based organization to join as well as a church, he found the SASF. “Even before I had heard of the Army’s Kroc Centers and its service programs, I loved their mission of feeding stomachs as well as souls,” says Smith. Ruthanna Wantz is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, and

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

“

WHEN WE STARTED RECEIVING FOOD AND DONATIONS TO HELP OTHERS, I REALIZED THAT THE SALVATION ARMY ISN’T A BUILDING. YOU CAN’T MEASURE IT BY WALLS OR ROOMS, BUT RATHER BY WHAT IS DONE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE. —Captain Mary Meredith—

”

upon arriving at Houghton, she was familiar with the similarities between Nazarenes and Salvationists. “That got me to come to the SASF; but what got me to stay was the fellowship and atmosphere. I was allowed to be myself. SASF has been one of my most valuable college experiences. I’m a senior now, and I have been coming to SASF since my first week as a freshman.” “Half a year later, it is surprising to see how much work is still needed in Baton Rouge,” says Wantz. “But everyone here has been so grateful and welcoming. I even enjoyed the road trip. It has been a wonderful experience.” Between the cleanup details, teenagers from the corps who were off from school due to Mardi Gras played pick–up basketball with the SASF, followed by a southern–style barbecue lunch. Soldier Elizabeth Ramirez, from the Wellsville Corps, enjoys this type of ministry for all young people. “This outreach is important. The kids we help and work with could be the future of The Salvation Army.”

IT’S HIS WORK, NOT OURS

On the final days of the trip, Brian Winn led the morning devotional. In his testimony, he spoke about the real purpose of mission trips, whether they be across the country or only a few towns away. “If you fall into the trap of letting yourself think that it’s you doing all the good, you set yourself up for failure. Even worse, you may find yourself letting down the people you’re trying to help. “At all times, we must stay humble and remember to keep the spirit of Christ in every task we do for others,” said Brian. “It’s His work that changes hearts and minds, not ours. “Doing devotionals and sharing our testimonies each morning has helped keep us grounded,” says Brian. “It reminds us that it’s God doing this mission trip through us, for His people.” Captain Meredith says the Baton Rouge Corps will remember the work done in God’s name by the SASF. “The first weekend of the flood, as we saw the damage done, it made me sad to think we did not have our Salvation Army buildings anymore. “But when we started receiving food and donations to help others, I realized that The Salvation Army isn’t a building. You can’t measure it by walls or rooms, but rather by what is done to meet the needs of people, like the SASF team that traveled miles to help us this week. “Just as I felt after the flooding, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of people that I didn’t even know I knew.”

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CHRIST WORKS THROUGH YOU

On the Tuesday night of our mission trip, I read the Bible and came across Acts 28. It tells the story of the Apostle Paul’s visit to the city of Malta and the subsequent spiritual growth in the people there— and in himself. This story felt relevant to me during the SASF’s time in Baton Rouge, La. Paul’s presence in Malta was a fitting model for our own mission trip. When Paul arrives, the people warmly welcome him. But as he gathers wood to make a fire, a snake bites him. They see this and expect him to immediately swell up and perish. But to their surprise, Paul lives. What causes him to survive that bite is a mystery and the people begin to see him as a god. They follow Paul as he visits the home of Plubius, a wealthy landowner whose father is ill. Paul sits with the sick man, prays to God, and lays his hand on the man. Immediately, Plubius’ father is healed. The observers who witness this miracle now understand who Paul is and who God is. Surviving the snake bite remains a mystery to the people, but now, they know Paul is working from God’s strength rather than from his own. The people approach Paul, pray with him, and ask him to heal them too. His actions become a community outreach. God’s miracle through Paul brings souls to the Lord. It’s good to experience spiritual growth through your actions, and it is more important for the people you help to grow spiritually as they observe your actions. Just as the people of Malta saw Christ through Paul, may others today see Christ working through you, during a mission trip or in your own community. — W ritten by Alexis Baergas, a sophomore at Houghton College. This was her first mission trip as a member of SASF.

2017 JUNE

FAITH in ACTION

What God Makes PERFECT by Hugo Bravo

On a warm Sunday afternoon in early July 2015, Major Doris Gonzalez sat in her car in Hazleton, Pa., outside the corps building. She reflected on her new appointment and the enthusiastic welcome she had received earlier in the day from the congregation and divisional leaders. Having just returned the day before from the Salvation Army’s International Congress in London, Gonzalez was still feeling the effects of jet lag. However, she still marveled in the memory of the Congress and its whirlwind and historic activities. Now, she found herself in a quiet space and alone in her new ministry. Most of the volunteers and kitchen workers at the corps were related to the previous leaders and had moved away. Gonzalez thought, In less than 24 hours, the corps will be expected to serve a feeding program for the community! This was not the smooth, perfect leadership transition Gonzalez would have liked. “I didn’t know where any of the supplies were. I had not even stepped inside the corps kitchen. I said to God, ‘How am I going to be able to do this? I don’t even really cook!’” As Gonzalez got out of her car to go inside the corps, a woman walked up.

“

Her arms were filled with food intended for a friend at a nearby retirement home. Earlier, she had attended the corps service. Now, she recognized Gonzalez. “Hi, I’m Ramona,” she said, and graciously welcomed Gonzalez to Hazleton. “If there’s anything I can do to help, all you need to do is ask.” “Yes, there is. Do you know anything about the kitchen here at the corps?” asked Gonzalez. “Yes, I do. I’ve helped in food preparation at the corps before.” She and Gonzalez walked into the corps kitchen together. Ramona began preparing for the feeding program. She also returned the next day.

‘IT WAS THE SERVICE’ Three years ago, Ramona Toribio formed a Bible study group that met in the homes of friends. Nine women enjoyed discussing the word of God and were looking for a church to attend. “One of us became friends with Major Gloria Misla, the Hazleton corps officer at the time,” remembers Toribio. “Our group had asked God to send a church for us. When the Major came to our meetings and prayed with us, it felt like God had answered us. “Because of Major Gloria, we gave The Salvation Army a look. But I stayed

because it was a church based on service to the Hazleton community,” said Toribio. Since meeting Major Gonzalez, Toribio has taken on new service roles at the corps. Though she still helps with cooking, she also organizes the food pantry and speaks to families about other Salvation Army programs, such as Camp Ladore. “People don’t just come for food and worship. They also come to socialize. We learn what’s going on in each other’s lives, and even know when each other’s kids’ birthdays are,” says Toribio. “Those types of relationships are part of what keeps a church alive, no matter who the officer is,” says Gonzalez. “Ramona has cultivated friendships.”

A LEADER TAKES RISKS “One of the most beautiful things I have seen in my time here at Hazleton is how Ramona has gone from working with food to working with the word of God,” says Gonzalez. “Though Ramona was nervous at first, she accepted the new responsibility of leader. ’Cooking is easy,’ she said. ‘But leading a devotional? That’s a real challenge!’” Toribio remembers, “My English isn’t perfect, so we had some bilingual

A good leader is willing to take some risks. If you say you love God, you will want to do God’s work, even if that work is new.

JUNE 2017

—Major Doris Gonzalez

”

SKILLED LEADERSHIP

Ramona Toribio began helping in the kitchen of the Hazleton, Pa. Corps, but now leads devotionals during the feeding program.

program volunteers stand next to me to translate for the English speakers. It was different, but Major Doris said not to worry about how it had been done before, or how others may want it to be done. God delights in our new ways to serve and worship Him.” Toribio began to feel confident in believing that she could grow into a leader through her faith in God and her desire to serve. “A good leader is willing to take some risks,” says Gonzalez. “If you say you love God, you will want to do God’s work, even if that work is new and makes you uncomfortable. Sometimes your plan might not work exactly the way you expected and you need to take a leap of faith. What seems imperfect will

become perfect in the eyes of the Lord, because it is done in His name.” Today, Toribio leads devotionals during the feeding program with a diverse audience. She takes time to rehearse what she’s going to say. Her calm, soft voice becomes loud and joyous when she grabs the microphone and begins to speak. “A few times, we weren’t able to get a translator, yet it still worked,” says Toribio. “English speakers listen and pray together with Spanish speakers. Amen is the same in both English and in Spanish.”

GOD’S PERFECT TIMING Major Gonzalez says it is God’s love for their community that made Toribio meet her at the perfect time and place.

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“As we met, I thought, The Lord loves Hazleton. He recognized the urgency of helping people who may have gone days without food. He brought Ramona to help to feed His people as she was on her way to feed a friend,” says Gonzalez. “In a minute’s difference, we’d have missed each other.” “The Salvation Army wants to give leadership opportunities to us,” said Toribio. “No one has made me feel like I was trying to take someone’s responsibilities away from them. And the officers are happy to share what they know.” Both Major Doris Gonzalez and Ramona Toribio wanted to fulfill their calls to serve the Lord. In one perfect Sunday afternoon meeting, He answered both of their prayers.

2017 JUNE

FAITH in ACTION

lessons from ‘The Case for Christ’ by Warren L. Maye

In our so–called “post–truth” era, where claims of “fake news” are a growing trend and “alternative facts” are frequently debated, more than ever, people crave the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. At stake are marriages, families, and nations. Skepticism, however, often gets in our way of knowing The Truth, says Lee Strobel, author of the bestselling book, The Case for Christ. In 1980, Strobel was an award–winning legal affairs editor for the Chicago Tribune—and a skeptic. When Leslie, his wife, became a Christian, he used his journalistic skills in an attempt to disprove the claims of Christianity. To that end, Strobel interviewed leading biblical scholars and historians. Surprisingly, his investigation convinced him of Christianity’s trustworthiness. “The Case for Christ” is now a motion picture distributed by Pure Flix. Strobel’s story of spiritual transformation from atheist to believer is on the big screen in theaters across the United States. In an intimate interview with SAconnects, Lee and Leslie Strobel share their holiness journey. Leslie points to three things every Christian must do to successfully maintain a loving attitude and an unshakable witness while living with an unbelieving spouse. Lee reveals compelling historical evidence that led him to believe in Christ, including a heartfelt encounter with—The Salvation Army.

JUNE 2017

Photo by Heidi Mittelberg

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2017 JUNE

FAITH in ACTION

LEE I was an atheist because, on the one hand, I had a lot of intellectual objections to Christianity. I thought the concept of an almighty all–powerful God, an all–knowing creator of the universe, was absurd. Books by Bertrand Russell and other famous atheists of his era supported my thinking. On the other hand, there were underlying emotional, psychological, and moral reasons why I was an atheist.

A LOVING FATHER? If you study the famous atheists throughout history, such as Nietzsche, Freud, Voltaire, and O’Hare, you’ll find they all had a father who either died when they were young or with whom they had a terrible relationship or who abandoned the family. For them, the implication is, Why would I want to know a heavenly father if my earthly father disappointed and hurt me? Well, I had a difficult relationship with my father and “The Case for Christ” movie portrays it. Then there’s usually a moral issue involved. Yes, I was a successful reporter for the Chicago Tribune, but frankly, I was happy in my sin. I was a happy drunk. I was the most gregarious guy in the bar. I would buy pitchers of beer and fill everybody’s glasses. It cost me a fortune, but I got drunk myself and enjoyed the freedom. So I reveled in my sin and didn’t want to come out of it.

her the emotional support I should have given her. Actually, I was being jealous of Jesus. I thought she was being pulled into an evangelical subculture, and, as a skeptic, I would be rejected by them. Is Leslie turning into some kind of holy roller or something? Would she spend her time on skid row serving the poor? That’s not what I signed up for, I thought. I felt this relationship had turned into a “bait and switch”—I marry one Leslie, and she turns into a new Leslie. In those early years, she would reach out to me, however awkwardly. But that just made me angrier. Our different worldviews were paving their way to the horizon—different ways of raising the kids, spending our money, and enjoying our weekends led to a lot of conflict.

AIRTIGHT ARGUMENT The first big surprise of my investigation was when I realized I could not falsify Christianity in a single weekend. I thought I could deliver one punch, and it would be over. However, Christianity proved to be as resilient as a punching bag I had as a child. No matter how many times I hit it, it would spring back. I had thought evidence and faith were contrary. I thought faith was believing in something even though you know in your heart it can’t be true. I didn’t realize that true biblical faith is the step we take in the same direction evidence is pointing.

JEALOUS OF JESUS

THE VERDICT

What bothered me about Leslie’s conversion was my feeling that she was cheating on me. I thought there was another man in her life who was giving

My investigation took a year and nine months. On November 8, 1981, I assessed all the proof and tried to reach a verdict. In light of the avalanche

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of evidence I had seen pointing so convincingly toward Christianity being true, I realized it would have taken more faith to maintain my atheism than to become a Christian. I could’ve maintained my atheism, but I’d be swimming upstream against a current of truth. One of the most dramatic bits of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is a report of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. It says Jesus died for our sins, on the third day, He arose from the dead, and then goes on to mention names of witnesses to whom He appeared. Scholars have dated that ancient creed of the Church back to within months of His death. So here you have a “newsflash” from ancient history—a piece of evidence from the beginning. That is historical gold. It has convinced many people that the resurrection actually happened. The report is recorded too soon to be written off as legend. When we research ancient history, we’re lucky to find anything even close to the actual events. For example, it was 400 years after the life of Alexander the Great that the first biography was written about him. And yet, that account is considered reliable. It took at least two generations of time to develop a legend in the ancient world and wipe out a solid core of historical truth. We don’t have two generations of time here; we have a newsflash right at the beginning. That’s a powerful bit of evidence. There have been scholars who have come to faith in Jesus just because of that report.

Street Credibility

LESLIE Even though Lee was pretty adamant about being an atheist—he didn’t want us going to church or giving our money to it—I still felt compelled to tell him about my Christian conversion. I just could not keep it quiet. Our spiritual journey was always two steps forward, three steps backwards; never quite feeling as if we’re making any progress. There were times when he said, “I have to be alone” and disappeared for a while. When Lee finally got saved, I almost didn’t believe it. That came out of the blue. One day, he came home and said, “I found Jesus.” I’m thinking, Am I hearing this right? We just hugged and cried. The moment was precious. I know it was real because he said, “I want to pray.” I could tell. There was something on his face that was different.

Leslie (Erika Christensen) and Lee (Mike Vogel) take a moment to reflect on life in “The Case for Christ.”

ADVICE TO SPOUSES The advice I give to women struggling with a nonbelieving spouse is: GET IN THE WORD—read your Bible and do your Bible study. To the extent that you’re able, grow in Christ—inside and out. I promise you, your spouse will see a difference in you. BUILD YOUR LOVE—remember, you married this person for a reason—because you love him. Rather than dwell on the division between you, focus on those things you have in common. Maintain your joy and allow your husband to understand you still love and respect him. Don’t allow your faith to come between you. GET A MENTOR—If there’s any way to get one, do it. My friend Linda was there for me. She was my shoulder to cry on. She never allowed the two of us to gang up on him, nor did she allow us to have a pity party. She loved me. She constantly prodded me and coached me with questions such as, “How do you want to proceed?” “How are you going to stay the course?” Remember, people don’t come to faith simultaneously. Often there is a spiritual mismatch that must be dealt with.

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In 1974 when Lee Strobel was an atheist and working as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, he was assigned to write a 30–part series on the poor people of Chicago. To find his stories, he went to the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter on the northwest side of the city. Captain Joy Wessel, who ran the Emergency Lodge on West Wisconsin Street, welcomed him and said, “Yes, you can do your research here, just fine.” For the next two weeks, Strobel practically lived at the shelter. “I watched The Salvation Army provide for people whom nobody cared about. They helped them find work, helped them financially, helped them get off drugs and alcohol, and helped them to love their children,” he said. One of the volunteers who impressed Strobel was Sally, the shelter’s pointed eared, long tailed, wet nosed collie. “Her job was to sit and let the children pet her. They would talk to her and tell her things they would not tell another person.” One day, the hard–nosed, no–nonsense journalist saw nine–year–old Penny Kiosowski ask, “Can I brush you, Sally?” The dog rolled over to let Penny brush her tummy. “Sometimes when I’m not feeling too good, Sally makes me feel better,” said Penny, who Strobel later quoted in a story about the shelter. Strobel continued working at the shelter, observing and taking notes, until the time came to leave. “I said to the Captain, ‘I’m going now. I’ve got to write my stories.’ ” Wessel said, “When you first came here, you said you were an atheist. I wonder, do you ever think about Jesus?” Strobel turned to deliver one of his typical responses, but this time, bit his tongue. “Now, if somebody on the street had asked me about Jesus, I would have shut them down,” he said. “But because I had seen the love of God expressed through those volunteers and that facility and watched them care for people, they had a special credibility with me. “The Captain and I had a spiritually profound conversation. I consider her one of the links in the chain that led me to faith.”

2017 JUNE

FAITH in ACTION

“ Our purpose is to facilitate a culture of discipleship that radically empowers lay leaders to creatively respond to God’s calling.” —Lay Leadership Vision Statement

JUNE 2017

review

by Chip Kelly

For the past eight years, we have gathered in conjunction with the Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Camp Meetings for LEAD. It is a week for current and emerging local leaders from across the Eastern Territory to come together for worship, receive specialized training, and participate in engaging discussion–based workshops that educate, empower, and encourage local leaders to creatively respond to God’s calling in their communities. During the past two years, we have expanded the conversation beyond an annual week at OOB to include the other 51 weeks of the year. Leadership development is becoming less a programmatic activity and more a continual and open–ended creative process. This past year, we asked delegates, “How were you challenged?” and “What did you learn that could be readily applied to ministry in your corps?” We also asked them, “Did you experience a ‘light bulb’ moment?” As well as, “What advice can you share with other lay leaders?” Here are a few responses.

language and I’m not going to speak everyone else’s. For example, someone in our class said God speaks to them through visions and dreams. I would never imagine that for myself, but learning to be sensitive to God moving that way in her life is important. Hearing her share and try to understand caused me to examine my own life and be open and sensitive to other possibilities.” — Bryan Cook, Aliquippa, Pa., Corps

EMPOWER “One ‘light bulb’ moment for me was to realize that as a worship leader at my corps, trying to do everything can sometimes be too much for me. Skilled leaders delegate work to other people. If I can’t handle everything involved, I must try to get help in one small part. I must empower other leaders. Sometimes I have to swallow my pride and accept God’s help by asking people to come alongside me. It is part of looking inward. I need that help and humility.” —James Cox, Brockton, Mass., Corps

ENCOURAGE

EDUCATE “This week, I was challenged through the teaching in chapel services that helped me examine my prayer life. I was also stretched to recognize the spiritual gifts of other people and to recognize the differences in their spiritual language. Not everyone speaks my

“As I look back on the week, I came to a realization on the first day. I don’t care if I leave here learning anything else. On Monday, in the Deeper Discipleship session we talked about having faith in ourselves. We learned how to deal with ‘the winds’ that swirl around, just like Peter did in the boat before walking

out to Jesus. At times, we must change what we are trying to do when our plan isn’t working out. “As I try to create better situations for people, I realize sometimes I can’t. But I mustn’t allow disappointment to consume me. Focusing on ‘the wind’ can distract me. I must simply take the time to center myself and focus. “The application for me is, as I help people, I must teach them, one item at a time. I’m not sure I am saying it right, but I know what it means to me. This lesson will change how I interact with people moving forward.” — Denise Dupigny, Troy, N.Y., Corps “I felt prompted to speak to my corps officer about doing more. But fear held me back. I didn’t even want to ask. I was already working at another job and stepping out in faith. The idea of giving more was scary. “This week, God laid it on my heart to finally have a conversation about doing more. When I did, she asked, ‘Why were you so scared?’ The conversation went well and I knew that I had done the right thing. “My advice is, if you feel strongly about something, pray. Be sincere, then step out and follow through in faith. Having the time this week to focus and reflect made a difference in helping me take this step. Slow down and the answer will come.” — Keri Guzman, Rochester, N.Y., Corps

—The Eastern Territory’s new LEAD director is Isaiah Allen. His column will appear in the July/August issue. find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects

2017 JUNE

ON file After 44 years, 10 months, and 15 days of service for God, Lt. Colonels Guy D. and Henrietta Klemanski are retiring from their roles as leaders of the Salvation Army’s Greater New York Division (GNY). For this month’s “Unity,” three officers share their thoughts, memories, and warm wishes for the Klemanskis.

The People You Lead

To read English translations of the Spanish and Korean tributes, please visit saconnects.org.

JUNE 2017

In 2006, I was a soldier working with young people at the Queens (Jamaica Citadel), N.Y., Corps. Lt. Colonel Guy Klemanski was serving at Greater New York Divisional Headquarters as general secretary, and Lt. Colonel Henrietta Klemanski served in Women’s Ministries. One December day, New York experienced flooding, and Lt. Colonel Guy Klemanski and I found ourselves working together in Manhattan. Wearing a soldier’s uniform, I rang a bell while he talked to local press reporters about the Army’s work during the storm. During breaks, we had conversations about me and what I saw myself doing for The Salvation Army. When the day was over, we took a photo together, which I still have with me to this day. I went home more excited than ever to be part of The Salvation Army. When I decided to become an officer, Lt. Colonel Klemanski was one of the officers whom I looked to for guidance. He always encouraged anyone seeking officership, and said they should do it as soon as possible. “There’s no time to wait,” he said. A decade later, he is still a significant influence in my life. A characteristic of a leader is to have an open, welcoming mind to people of various backgrounds. A Salvationist hymn begins, “They Shall Come from the East and sit down in the Kingdom of God.” The song includes the lyric, “Your color will not matter there.” Every time I look at what the Klemanskis have done for the Greater New York Division, I am reminded of the meaning of those lyrics. The Klemanskis have worked with officers of every ethnic group, and have fought to ensure equal representation in every corps. They have given corps officers freedom to express their ideas. This freedom has allowed me to grow into the officer I am today. When leaders allow discussion, it builds morale, and creates a unique voice in every corps. The Klemanskis, like all good leaders, know the ministry is not about themselves. It is always about the people they lead, and the people they serve. That is the knowledge I will carry with me for the rest of my life. — Captain Dwayne Barnes, Corps Commanding Officer/Pastor, Brooklyn Bushwick Corps

unity In April, Lt. Colonels Guy and Henrietta Klemanski were honored at the Harlem Temple Corps by officers of African descent. In May, Salvationists from around the territory paid tribute to the GNY divisional leaders at the Centennial Memorial Temple in New York City.

당신의 존재에 감사합니다. 부정령 가이 클레멘스키 사관님은 하나님 나라 확장과 하나님의 교회의 백 성에 대한 사역에 열정을 가지신 분이십니다. 제가 개인적 으로 그 분께 감 명받은 것의 하나가 그 분의 지도력입니다. 특별히 지도자라면 반드시 가 져야 할 모습이라고 생각하는 좋은 점은, 자신이 이끌어야 할 사람들을 사 랑할 줄 알고, 또 그 사람들의 전인적인 안녕(Well-being)에 대해 깊은 관 심이 있다는 것입니다. 때때로 우리들은 다른 사람들을 볼 때, 그 사람이 가진 장점이나 좋은 점 보다는 단점이나 부족한 점을 더 찾으려 하지만 , 부정령 클레멘스키 사관 님은 그보다는 그 사람이 가진 장점과 좋은 점에 보다 촛점을 맞추시는 분 이십니다. 물론 그것이 결코 쉬운 일이 아니지만, 그 분은 그렇게 다른 사람 들을 사랑하시며, 그들이 하는 사역에 늘 격려를 아끼시지 않으시는 분이십 니다. 우리들은 다른 사람의 무엇이 그들의 장점이고 단점인지를 평가하고 비교하려는 반면, 그 분은 사람들의 장점

Corazones de Pastores

과 좋은 점에 보다 더 관심을 가지십니다.

Cuando Guy y Henrietta Klemanski llegaron por primera vez a Nueva York para ejercer como secretarios divisionales, no conocían a muchos oficiales del Gran Nueva York. La última vez que los Klemanski visitaron la ciudad, la mayoría de los oficiales actuales ni siquiera habían nacido y, en lo cultural, Nueva York era un lugar completamente distinto. Pero con el correr de los años, se han granjeado la admiración, el amor y la amistad de los oficiales del Gran Nueva York. Los Klemanski tienen corazones de pastores y han sido grandes mentores de los oficiales jóvenes como yo. Sea alentándonos a trabajar como división para fortalecernos unos a otros, sea ofreciendo orientación individual a los oficiales en el contexto de sus Cuerpos o en el de sus propias familias, han servido como un hermoso ejemplo de lo que debemos aspirar a ser como salvacionistas. Y de este modo han hecho de nosotros mejores ejemplos para nuestros ministerios. Un buen líder está siempre listo para servir y esa es una cualidad que todos hemos podido apreciar en los Klemanski. Cualquiera sea el rol que asuman, ellos nos motivan a continuar nuestro caminar con Dios, a buscar el oficialato como cadetes en el Colegio de Entrenamiento para Oficiales, y a hacer crecer nuestros Cuerpos haciéndolos más accesibles a los jóvenes. Guy Klemanski nos dice que jamás debemos sentirnos satisfechos con el trabajo que acabamos de completar. Debemos darle gracias al Señor por nuestros éxitos, pero siempre seguir mirando al futuro. Como dice el Libro de Mateo: Has sido fiel en lo poco; te pondré a cargo de mucho más. Cuando somos fieles a Dios, Él nos abre nuevos roles y nos propone nuevos desafíos. Cualquiera que haya conversado alguna vez con Guy Klemanski te dirá, unos minutos después, que te deja sintiéndote renovado, alentado y dispuesto a hacer aún más por Dios. Nos sentimos agradecidos a los Klemanski; deseamos que Dios les brinde alegría y bendiciones en su retiro. Gracias a su guía y su orientación, sabemos que los mejores días de la División del Gran Nueva York están todavía por delante.

뉴욕지방의 문화, 인종, 언어적 다양성을

또한 부정령 클레멘스키 사관님은 대 이해하고 존중하는 지도자이십니다. 뉴욕 지방에는 현재 중국어, 한국어, 하이티 어 (끄레올), 그리고 스패니쉬로 예배와 사역을 하는 교회들이 있고, 한 때는 러 시아어와 필리핀어로 예배드리는 교회도 있었습니다. 부정령 클레멘스키 사관님 은 다양한 문화의 중요성을 잘 알고 계시 고 또 이런 면을 좋아하셨습니다. 그 분 은 이런 다양성이 구세군을 계속 성장하 게 만드는 요소라는 것을 잘 알고 계셨습 니다. 이런 다양성을 가진 교회들의 사 역이 구세군 뉴욕 지방의 모습을 잘 나 타낸다고 생각합니다. 부정령 클레멘스키 사관님은 사관님 들에게 이런 말을 자주 하셨습니다. “여러 분 존재에 대해서 그리고 여러분이 하고 있는 하나님의 나라를 위한 사역에 깊이 이름으로 놀라운 일을 하고 있는 얼마나 특별한 존재들라는 점을 우리들도 알기 를 원하셨기에 이런 말을 하신 것입니다. 참령 김 종우 사관은 구세군 동군국 사관대학의 부교장으로 섬기고 있 다

Photos by Stephen M. Ditmer

감사합니다.” 그 분은 우리들이 하나님의

— Capitán Antonio Rosamilia, Oficial Directivo del Citadel de Manhattan

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

2017 JUNE

ON file

My Spiritual Journey by Major Kathleen Muir

I’ve never considered myself a leader. I’m just a sojourner, on my way home. My parents were Salvation Army officers. Except for about a year, the Army has always been my church. I knew its programs and much of its business fairly well. So when the Lord called me to officership, I was sure I could do a good job. What I was unsure of, for a long

JUNE 2017

time, were my spiritual qualifications. I thought, Surely, two years of Training will take care of that! However, I was disappointed. As new lieutenants during our first officer’s retreat, I asked my husband, “When will we get to the place where we don’t struggle to feel like we have it together spiritually?” He has always been wiser than me, and he just quirked his eyebrow and said, “I don’t think that will happen in this life.” I was looking for that real, living relationship with the Lord. For most of my young life, I lived on my parents’ faith. Even after I took a step of faith on my own behalf, I was still challenged to have a real relationship with Christ. One time along the way, I poured out my troubles and trials to a Christian counselor. He said, “I think you need to draw closer to the Lord. You are missing the Lord.” These were insightful words, but I really didn’t understand them at the time. The counselor led me through some exercises designed to visualize being with Christ. Out of this experience, I saw Jesus as my big Brother, listening to me pour out my heart. But rather than offer advice, He offered peace. Early in my officership, I prayed I would hunger and thirst for righteousness. I joined a Bible study fellowship. This discipline helped me through many trials. God’s Word has a wonderful way of speaking to me in my present circumstances and even though I’ve repeated some studies several times, each time I receive new insight according to what’s happening in my life.

For 25 years I worked hard only “doing” the most good, until I crashed spiritually. When I arrived at my present appointment 5 years ago, I also came to the realization that I was tired of trying to earn the approval of the Lord through my work as an officer. I felt the Lord saying, “Good. You’re finally at a place where I can show you ‘what is better’” (Luke 10:42). Colonels Janice and Steve Howard, then my divisional leaders, asked me to become the spiritual life development secretary in the Northeastern Ohio Division (NEOSA). Again, I didn’t think I had the spiritual qualifications for such an appointment, but the Lord made it clear I needed to accept it. Major Lauren Hodgson later shared with me the book Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, by Ruth Haley Barton. It spoke to my heart. Ten months later, I conducted my first retreat and found that the Lord who began a good work in me was being faithful to continue it on to completion. In preparation, I read Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland. His definition of spiritual formation arrested me: “Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” The last clause got to me. It was a relief to be told that I wasn’t just doing this for me, but for the sake of others. That realization became an even greater motivation to grow and to show other people the beauty of intentional spiritual formation. At the retreat, we named a desire

wholly living

AFTER HIS OWN HEART Embracing your journey as a leader of our heart. Mine is to please God. Like a child pleasing her father, I want to please God. I want His smile of approval. I want Him to notice me and be happy with me. This helps to balance my being and doing. He’s pleased with me when I am with Him, believe in Him, and obey Him rather than when I simply do for Him. When I got back home, I became so busy with Christmas, I forgot the things I’d learned. But when I read my journal, I remembered what had been so important to me. I realized God was still doing a work in me, reminding me that I find peace and rest in His pleasure. Barton writes, “Truly, the best thing any of us have to bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.” I found this liberating and convicting and wrote this prayer in my journal:

My prayer is to change, O God, Not out of despair of self, (though I am full of despair over myself), But for love of You, For the self I long to become Before I simply waste away (because I feel I can’t stand the stress and pressure I am under). I’m still on a journey, but I’m content. I know where I’m going now; I’m a daughter of the King, finding my way home. He loves me, and I do things for Him because I love to please Him. I still don’t think of myself as a leader, but if I can share His love, and encourage people on the path of spiritual formation, I will consider myself blessed.

The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be Commander and Leader over His people … —1 SAMUEL 13:14 The HEART is at the center of any kind of effective leadership. A heart that is overflowing with the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all you heart and all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). A heart that is sanctified through the Holy Spirit. A heart that loves the Word of God. A heart that is humble and teachable is the kind of heart that God calls into leadership. This happens through seasons of prayer and time set apart with God. As a shepherd boy, David loved and trusted the Lord with all his heart. The foundation of our spiritual journey in becoming the leader God calls us to be starts with that kind of heart. A trusting heart shapes our leadership skills. David trusted God with every opportunity that God laid before him.

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. —PSALM 16:8 David writes that it is God alone who grafted us together in our mother’s womb and knows every detail of our strengths and our weaknesses. He has called and equips us to be leaders. In many cases, we have responsibilities and leadership assignments that are outside our comfort zone. When we don’t feel gifted or equipped for those moments, we often want to hide under a rock somewhere. Then comes the gentle reminder that it is God’s grace, the

power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of God’s Word that supernaturally equips us for whatever task is at hand. We all face our own trials and difficult seasons. Though we often don’t like going through them, it is in those seasons that we see the master potter shaping and setting our deepest strengths and our deepest trust. Like David, we can confidently know that He walks with us each day, He guides us in our leadership roles, and He supplies us with everything we need to get the task done.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. —PSALM 43:5 King David had his seasons, but even more, he had this incredible prayer life that you can see all through the Psalms. His prayer life sustained him through his life experiences. His trust in God helped him develop into a leader. Anointed with an overcoming faith, David stood on the promises of God. We too face difficulty, disillusionment, rejection, extreme frustration, and pain that may cause us to question our purpose and even ask if God has abandoned us. This is when we respond like David and pray:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen our heart; wait, I say, on the Lord? Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. —PSALM 27:13–14 NKJV

—by Envoy Kelly Roberts, Greater New York Division’s Secretary for Spiritual Life Development

2017 JUNE

to your health by Major Richard Sanchez

SUGAR: one pump or two? This morning, I poured some decaf coffee, looked at a hazelnut sweetener, and thought, Today, I’ll have a little, just for the taste. One pump, and I’m done. I also have “two pump” days. But when I have them, I increase my self–care. Why must I be so vigilant? Because sugar can be addicting. ACCOUNTABILITY Six years ago, I lost 35 pounds and kept them off. Only with the help of my trainer Ralph Rossetti, who lives the nutrition lifestyle, was I able to stay consistent. When I struggled or failed, I would confess. Ralph understood that the body is weak and vulnerable, and I need to be vigilant, especially when dealing with sweets. GOOD SUGAR Not all sweets are alike. The best sugars are found in whole fruits, veggies, and milk. Honey is also an acceptable added sweetener. As for chocolate, go for dark chocolate, which is usually less sweet. SACRIFICE Working out when you’d rather rest, or eating less when you’d rather binge, are both sacrifices. It’s like resting and fasting on the day of Atonement, the day to “afflict your souls” (Lev. 16:31). God’s rules are for our spiritual and physical benefit. When we run to a substance (sugar) to satisfy an emotional need or soothe a physical pain, we realize Jonah’s warning, “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” (Jon. 2:8).

Next time, we’ll talk about fasting.

ou g h t … h t r o f om Food outube.c e o s on y

id t these v Ch e c k o u S ug a r rain On B r u o Y • This Is the Kitchen Elephant in e h T r– a g u S •

ENDULZANTE:

¿un chorrito o dos? Esta mañana, me serví una taza de café descafeinado, miré el endulzante con sabor a avellanas y pensé: Hoy le echaré un poco, sólo para darle sabor. Un chorrito y listo. También tengo días de “dos chorritos”. Pero cuando eso pasa, aumento también mi autocontrol. ¿Por qué debo vigilar eso? Porque el azúcar puede ser adictivo. HAY QUE RENDIR CUENTAS Hace seis años, perdí 35 libras y logré mantenerme. Sólo gracias a la ayuda de mi entrenador Ralph Rossetti, que vive el estilo de vida nutricional, pude lograrlo. Cuando luchaba o fracasaba, se lo confesaba. Ralph entendía que el cuerpo es débil y vulnerable, y que yo debía ser cuidadoso, especialmente con los dulces. AZÚCAR BUENO No todos los dulces son iguales. Los mejores azúcares se encuentran en las frutas, los vegetales y en la leche. La miel también es un endulzante aceptable. En cuanto al chocolate, opta por el oscuro, que suele ser menos dulce. SACRIFICIO Hacer ejercicios cuando preferirías descansar o comer menos cuando prefieres darte un atracón, ambas cosas, son un sacrificio. Es como descansar y ayunar en el día de reposo, el día en que “afligiréis vuestras almas” (Levítico 16:31, VRV). Las reglas de Dios son para nuestra salud espiritual y física. Cuando recurrimos a una sustancia (el azúcar) para satisfacer una necesidad emocional o para aliviar un dolor físico, es bueno recordar la advertencia de Jonás: “Los que siguen a ídolos vanos abandonan el amor de Dios” (Jonás 2:8).

and this one on health.clevelandclinic.org • How You Can Break Your Sugar Addiction in 10 Days

La próxima vez, hablaremos sobre el ayuno.

cream

THE SALVATION ARMY EASTERN TERRITORY COMMISSIONERS WILLIAM A. & G. LORRAINE BAMFORD TERRITORIAL LEADERS

W O R L D

S E R V I C E S

2 017

Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I’ll hear all about you. I’ll hear that you are firmly united in spirit, united in fighting for the faith that the Good News brings. USA Eastern Territory

Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial Leaders

PHILIPPIANS 1:27 (NOG)