VOL. 3, NO. 8 • OCTOBER 2017
Senior Moments a new generation of retirees
SACONNECTS.ORG
the magazine
On Friday, August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas and the surrounding area, causing catastrophic damage and displacing as many as 30,000 people. Since then, The Salvation Army has been hard at work, providing food, shelter, and hope. As a furious hurricane season continues, more devastated areas will need the Army’s ongoing help.
the camer as are gone, but the army remains. DONATE NOW
to The Salvation Army relief effort
$10 feeds a disaster survivor for one day. $30 provides a box of staple food to feed a family of four. $500 keeps a Salvation Army mobile kitchen operational for a day.
The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on donations for disaster relief efforts. 100 % of gifts will be used in disaster relief support.
our leaders
IN focus
STAND UP for Seniors
Apoyemos a Nuestros Adultos Mayores “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” —Mark Twain
In this issue of SAconnects, we’ll explore some of the ongoing Salvation Army ministries that involve senior citizens. The Old Testament book of Leviticus speaks to the honor and care that is to be shown to all who fall into this growing segment of our population. “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32). If I were to add my commentary to this verse, I might say, “Listen to your elders, they have much to tell you about life, faith, and service.” I personally have been deeply blessed and influenced by the life stories of my parents, in–laws, retired officers, soldiers, and many others—when I have taken the time to listen. I was recently involved in a small group discussion with friends when someone described their experience of visiting an elderly parent in a care facility. Much love, care, and listening took place. My friend said that the challenge came in realizing that many other patients did not have family or friends visiting them. A staff member, who confirmed my friend’s concern, said, “some never have a visitor.” The ministry of The Salvation Army provides each of us with an opportunity to engage our senior citizens in many positive ways. Let us listen, let us love, let us involve ourselves, and let us “stand up” for them.
— Lt. Colonel / Tte. Coronel James LaBossiere Secretary for Program / Secretario de Programa
“La edad es algo mental; si no piensas en ella, no importa”. —Mark Twain
En este número de SAconnects, vamos a explorar algunos de los ministerios constantes del Ejército de Salvación enfocados en los adultos mayores. El libro de Levítico, en el Antiguo Testamento, habla de la honra y el cuidado que debemos mostrar a todos aquellos que pasan a ser parte de ese segmento creciente de nuestra población. “Ponte de pie en presencia de los mayores. Respeta a los ancianos. Teme a tu Dios. Yo soy el Señor” (Levítico 19:32). Si tuviera que añadir un comentario a este versículo, diría: “Escucha a tus mayores, tienen mucho que decirte sobre la vida, la fe y el servicio a los demás”. En lo particular, he sido profundamente bendecido e influenciado por las historias de mis padres, mis suegros, así como las de los oficiales retirados, los soldados y muchas otras personas mayores, cuando me he tomado el tiempo para escucharlos. Hace poco participé en una conversación con un grupo pequeño de amigos, cuando alguien contó su experiencia al visitar a un paciente anciano en un centro asistencial. Hubo mucho amor, cariño y el placer de escuchar. Mi amigo dice que el desafío fue constatar que muchos de los pacientes no tienen parientes o amigos que les visiten. Uno de los miembros del personal, que confirmó la preocupación de mi amigo, comentó: “A algunos de ellos nadie los visita”. El ministerio del Ejército de Salvación nos brinda la oportunidad de relacionarnos positivamente con nuestros adultos mayores. Escuchémoslos, amémoslos, participemos y “unámonos” con ellos.
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2017 OCTOBER
1
Sunday School Campaign
#OrangeAllStars
E G N ORA
S R A T S L AL More Info! r o f r e c ffi O s rp Ask Your Co
How to become an All-Star: 1. Attend Sunday school!
2. Complete weekly challenges!
3. Encourage friends and family to participate!
Weekly
Challenges
A S U T S EA
October 1
Bring a Classmate (or coworker)
October 8 Bring a Neighbor
October 15
Bring Someone New
Vol. 3, No. 8
CONTENTS OCTOBER 2017
features
IN focus
1 our leaders 4 ethically speaking
6 The Army’s
Ministry to Seniors
ON file
5 relevents
They’re our grandparents, moms, dads, cousins, aunts, uncles, mentors, and more. “Scripture calls us to take care of them.” — Commissioner William A. Bamford
5
Major Glenn Snyder talks about opening Ladore’s zip–line to seniors.
24 great moments
8 A Ministry of Presence
Salvationists remember the Philadelphia Germantown Corps.
FAITH in ACTION
As chaplains at Star Lake Conference Center and Lodge, Majors Deborah L. and James C. Kisser are helping visitors experience the presence of God.
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19 Acts of Gratitude
11 Joy After Retirement
Elizabeth Kim talks about educating Korean girls and “praying in the moment.”
About 10,000 Baby Boomers will retire every day through 2020. Here’s four essentials every retiree ought to know.
20 Making the Climb Courageous senior citizens take life to a new level.
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22 ‘God, Give
Me More Time!’
Reformation 500 26 Martin Luther Discovering the man and his teachings.
from the editor
28 Ulrich Zwingli
It’s better to give …
Who is he? One of the most significant Reformers.
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30 wholly living
Cover: Ryan Love
Learn what Martin Luther said about spiritual formation.
the benefits of fasting.
Different Kind
The Booth Residence and Catherine Booth Residence—both located in the same complex as the Cincinnati Center Hill Corps in Ohio—offer seniors hope in their golden years, along with a lot of fun activities.
Inson Reasoner Chong returns from adversity to help other people.
t o your health 32 Major Sanchez talks about
14 Family of a
26
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During holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas or in the aftermath of catastrophic disasters like hurricanes Harvey and Irma, we expect to see people give generously to help others in need. However, God asks that we make giving a constant feature of our Christian lifestyle. In the next SAconnects, you’ll read stories about people who have enthusiastically embraced this essential principle. Stay tuned to discover how they’ve volunteered their life service, and even willed their life savings to help save lives, both literally and spiritually—for the Glory of God. — Warren L. Maye, editor in chief
IN focus
Ethically Speaking by Colonel Richard Munn
the magazine
your connection to The Salvation Army
USA EASTERN TERRITORY
HUMAN SEXUALITY LA SEXUALIDAD HUMANA We are sexual beings. Created by God, sexuality is a good, beautiful, and powerful human drive. But it is also fragile. Sexual appetite is part of what it means to be human, and yet, like any appetite, it can also consume us. An unrestrained sexual appetite inflicts damage. Multiple expressions of uninhibited sexuality characterize our human landscape, ranging from elemental lust to unbridled pedophilia. These are addressed in the Scriptures. I daresay most of us have an element of broken sexuality as part of our life story. What can counter our inclination towards these sexual behaviors? It is self–control. Honestly, this is only possible by divine grace. Human effort alone is notoriously weak. The boundaries of chastity and monogamy are instituted and sanctioned by God to help strengthen our self–control and to preserve the fragile beauty of human sexuality. When implemented, these boundaries create the preeminent, healthiest, and most fulfilling environment for sexual health. Behaviors that scar sexual fragility can result in betrayal, disease, unwanted pregnancy, and violence. When the protective boundaries are in place, these scars are more likely absent. The relationship that protects the beauty and fragility of human sexuality is marriage, a creation ordinance, profoundly part of our original story. It is within this foundational relationship that sexual intimacy can be expressed. This wholesome picture may be considered idealized, even unrealistic; yet here is the story throughout time. It reflects the heart of a passionate God and cannot be enhanced.
Somos seres sexuales. La sexualidad, creada por Dios, es un instinto humano bueno, hermoso y poderoso. Aunque también es frágil. El apetito sexual es parte de lo que significa ser humano y, como cualquier apetito, puede subyugarnos. Además, su desenfreno causa daños. Las excesivas expresiones de una sexualidad desinhibida caracterizan nuestro escenario humano y abarcan desde la lujuria más elemental hasta la pedofilia más perversa. Las Escrituras abordan estas conductas humanas. Me atrevo a decir que muchos de nosotros tenemos cierto elemento sexual negativo como parte de nuestra vida. ¿Qué puede contrarrestar nuestra propensión a esas conductas sexuales? El autocontrol. Francamente, esto sólo es posible mediante la gracia divina. El mero esfuerzo humano es invariablemente débil. Los límites entre la castidad y la monogamia son instituidos y sancionados por Dios para ayudar a fortalecer nuestro dominio propio y para preservar la frágil belleza de la sexualidad humana. Una vez que se implementan, esos límites crean el ambiente ideal, vigoroso y más satisfactorio para una sexualidad saludable. Las conductas que dañan nuestra frágil sexualidad suelen redundar en traiciones, enfermedades, embarazos no deseados y violencia. Cuando esos límites protectores están bien establecidos, los daños suelen disminuir o desaparecer. La relación que protege la belleza y la fragilidad de la sexualidad humana es el matrimonio, una institución de la creación que es parte esencial de nuestra historia original. Es dentro de esta relación fundacional que la intimidad sexual puede expresarse. Es probable que este cuadro completo se considere idealista y poco real; sin embargo, es la historia vigente a lo largo del tiempo. Ello refleja el corazón de un Dios que rebosa de amor y que es insuperable.
TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr. COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Major Tonie Cameron 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 CIRCULATION Doris Marasigan 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 Laura Krueger 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. 8, October 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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OCTOBER 2017
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relevents
ON file
Major Glenn G. Snyder, administrator for The Salvation Army Ladore Lodge and Conference Center, talks about the youth ministry that brought him to the Army, preaching sermons in Jamaica, and seeing the joy in the faces of seniors when they ride a zip–line. interview by Hugo Bravo
When I was a boy, my family relocated from just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., to Niagara Falls, near an Army corps. My parents were not committed Christians, but they always enjoyed hearing the band play music in front of the corps. The children who played with my siblings were active in the corps. The Sunday school encouraged them to invite my siblings and me. It was there I learned to play baritone horn, took singing lessons, and became a part of The Salvation Army. I learned skills in the youth outreach programs that still serve me today as an officer.
It’s beautiful to travel to countries and be welcomed with open arms. When I visited my in–laws who served in the Philippines, we stayed in a small village where the Army worked. The clinic and chapel had no electricity or running water. If you needed to wash, you did it in the river. I think I may have been the second or third white person the townspeople had ever seen. But when I needed a bed, they brought one from their home. When the corps needed more silverware, they went to their kitchens and gave us their own. Another memorable trip happened in Jamaica. I preached my first sermon there at age 16. It was inside a tiny church, which had only a kerosene lamp for light. But it was packed with people. Some stood outside and looked through the windows.
We had a zip–line at Ladore for years, but when we began to offer it to seniors, we wondered if any would be willing to try it. But, for a good number of them, it’s become their favorite activity. Some brag to their friends and family right after riding it. Others say they always wanted to try something like that, but felt people would stop them or tell them they were too old for such an activity. Here, there’s no judgment; everyone is welcome to try it. The oldest person to go down the line was 88 years old. The zip–line is a good activity for all seniors. If they don’t want to make the climb, they can assist by holding the ropes and harnessing others to the line.
A few weeks ago, I was in Bermuda. As I walked into a shop, a customer rushed in. Without introducing herself or even saying “hello,” she loudly asked for help in finding a product. The clerk calmly said to her, “Good morning. Pardon me.” I was so impressed. The clerk politely responded in a way that said, “Slow down a bit, and I will be happy to help you.” The clerk reminded me that, although at times we can be in such a rush and focused on ourselves, we should try to be polite and civil. Today, the lack of respect we show toward each other is tearing our country apart.
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I have two adopted grandchildren who bring much joy to my life. It’s funny how my wife Bonnie and I went from captains to majors; but as parents, we were better known as our son Kevin’s mom and dad. Now, we are known as Kingsley and Naya’s grandparents. As people get older, they become more identified by how they relate to the youngest in their family. The love revolves around them.
2017 OCTOBER
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The Army’s Ministry
to seniors by Warren L. Maye
According to recent census data, eight of the top 11 states with populations having the oldest median age are in the USA Eastern Territory, with Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire topping the list. The numbers of senior citizens in the Northeast will also continue to increase in heavily populated urban areas as medical technology helps to extend their lifespans well into their 90s.
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“As our population continues to age, the number of seniors continues to get bigger,” said Commissioner William A. Bamford, territorial commander. “Scripture calls us to take care of all people. [Senior citizens] are a segment of society we also have a responsibility to take care of.”
WHO ARE THEY? Seniors are grandmothers, grandfathers, moms, dads, cousins, aunts, uncles, mentors, caregivers, surrogate parents, guardians, friends, and even prayer partners. “Young people who serve in the kitchens at our senior camps or as lifeguards at the pools, come in contact with seniors all the time,” said Bamford. “They’ve driven seniors from place to place in cars, vans, and even on hay rides.” Typically, seniors tend to get tucked away, out of sight, until a major disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the most recent Hurricane Harvey hits and exposes their plight. When such calamities happen, “Breaking News” interrupts regularly scheduled programing to suddenly bring us photos and videos of infirmed seniors sitting in beds or wheelchairs, waist–deep in muddy flood water. They need to be rescued or given a new supply of medications. Such images abound on TV and on social media. However, seniors face emergencies everyday that are off the media radar and those of most people. “I continue to hear from [seniors] that it’s a challenge to continue to meet the
day–to–day, month–to–month obligations as they grow older,” said Bamford. “They’re living on fixed incomes. “When we go to a corps feeding program, we see a lot of seniors there. Yes, there are some young adults there who are finding life a challenge, but we are also seeing more seniors. “Why are they there? Because they can’t find the means to help themselves. They don’t have the means to put a meal on the table in their own homes.” In addition to the challenge of meeting practical needs, seniors also combat loneliness and a sense of separation from mainstream social and recreational life. “They’re looking for fellowship,” said Bamford. “Only some are attuned to social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. So how do we continue to connect with the others? Many of them have asked us to communicate via regular mail. “We must make sure communication with them is still there and that they know we care about them and are keeping them informed about things that are going on that they need to be a part of. Perspectives may differ between retired officers or seniors we serve in the community, but their core needs remain the same.”
WHAT THE ARMY IS DOING The Salvation Army is helping to meet some of those practical, social, recreational, and spiritual needs of seniors. From providing affordable housing for them in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Harlem, N.Y., to offering state–of–the–art recreational facilities such as the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia, the Army is making ministry to seniors a priority. “We have great ministry
opportunities,” said Bamford. “We have a number of corps that do senior programming. We have housing programs that are wonderful, where we can minister to people and look after them. “Through our senior programming, we also have an opportunity to connect with their families. That’s an additional piece that is so important. “Where can we begin to look and see opportunities to establish new programs such as what’s happening in Cincinnati and Philadelphia? There are new opportunities sitting right in front of us. “I would really love for someone to step up and say for their communities, ‘Yes, we’d like to look at this possibility.’ A housing program associated with the corps; build a facility and bridge the gap between housing and ministry. The resources are there. “HUD 202 project resources are available to us. Over the long haul, there’s no added financial burden on the Army because of the way the project is structured. There’s nothing we need to add to putting up those buildings.”
CLOSE TO HOME Reflecting on his family relationships, Bamford sees the need to help seniors realize such housing as beneficial to
them regarding their evolving lifestyles. “And we can be supportive to them. “Taking care of a home, paying for maintenance and medications, and even remaining mobile inside the home, are growing challenges for seniors that a Salvation Army family facility can meet,” he said. “That is something that has personally touched my heart and my wife’s heart.” When the Commissioners Bamford served in Chile, they saw firsthand what happens when seniors, in need of assistance, go longing for such essential help. “We were just in Cuba where similar problems exist,” said Bamford. “We saw the Army there taking care of people who could not take care of themselves.” Commissioner Bamford is optimistic regarding the integration of the Army’s ministry to seniors into its Whole World Mobilizing and 20/20 Vision campaigns. “These are more than campaigns— they’re part of who we are,” he said. “Visiting nursing homes or assisted living facilities can be part of our mobilization. Building homes for seniors in need is also part of our 20/20 Vision for the future. “We have a wealth of opportunity and this is another piece the Lord has given to us!”
“
Scripture calls us to take care of all people. [Senior citizens] are a segment of society we also have a responsibility to take care of.
”
— Commissioner William A. Bamford, territorial commander
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2017 OCTOBER
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A ministry of
presence Seniors enjoy Star Lake by Robert Mitchell
A
sk Majors Deborah L. and James C. Kisser about their new appointments as chaplains at the Star Lake Conference Center and Lodge in Bloomingdale, N.J., and they will tell you that theirs is a “Ministry of Presence.” “Certainly, during the summer months until early fall, ours is a ‘Ministry of Presence’ to the seniors who come to the Star Lake Conference Center (SLCC) for retreats of 5 to 8 days,” James said. “There are activities throughout each day and into the early evening, which are planned by the program staff, and we offer the uniformed presence of The Salvation Army.” Major Deborah further explained, “We hear often from individuals about how glad they are to see officers participate in these retreats.” For years, many of the seniors have been coming to the Star Lake complex in the beautiful Ramapo Mountains. They take great comfort and joy in listing the various officers they have known. “When one of the seniors asks if we know a certain officer administrator from their past, Deb tries to reach out to that officer or officer couple and relay that greeting,” James said. “Oftentimes, she is then able to return a greeting from that officer. It gives the seniors a real sense of belonging and happiness to know that they are remembered, sometimes after many years.” The Kissers’ days are full of activities focused on the needs of the seniors. “This year, we offer a daily, morning Bible study based on the parables of Jesus. We have the needs of the seniors
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in mind,” James said. “After nearly 20 years as corps officers, we’ve found that pastoring the senior population is all about engaging, enlightening, and encouraging them. “From the first word of ‘welcome’ to the end of the morning Bible study, everything is planned to hold their attention on Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, not everyone who comes to senior retreats at the Star Lake complex is a Christian; but no one complains about the Christ–centered teaching.” Deborah added, “Some modern analogies or illustrations, which might be great for a young adult crowd, do not always engage the seniors. When Jim starts talking about a Johnny Mercer song written in 1944, the seniors are right there with him. They even help by spontaneously singing a refrain or two of ‘You’ve Got to Accentuate the Positive!’” After a terrific lunch with the seniors, it’s on to the daily afternoon choir practice. “Like all the other activities prepared by the program staff, choir is optional, but we’ve had some great turnouts this year,” James said. “My wife and I are lifelong Salvation Army musicians. Choir practices are always a highlight of our day.” Deborah said that, at the first rehearsal of every week, her husband always makes a big deal about how The Salvation Army “doesn’t have church choirs.” “And then, once he’s got their attention, Jim always informs the group that we have Songster Brigades in the Army, and then he ‘officially’ pronounces them all as members of the SLCC Songsters,” she said. “The seniors love it!” The SLCC Songster Brigade performs twice during the week, once at the Saturday evening talent show (during which the
Majors Deborah L. and James C. Kisser hold daily Bible studies for the seniors during the weekly retreats at the Star Lake Conference Center and Lodge.
repertoire is usually show tunes), and again on Sunday morning. They sing three contemporary Christian classics or hymns. “Our brigades seem to especially enjoy singing ‘Because He Lives’ by Bill and Gloria Gaither,” James said. The Kissers are responsible for planning and implementing the Sunday morning worship services at the Conference Center. As one would expect, they draw on their years of experience as corps officers when preparing each Sunday morning service. “We make sure the flags and pulpit are placed up on the platform, the Holiness table cloth is brought from its hanger in the storage closet, the Bibles and song books are ready, the printed order of service includes familiar hymns of the church,
and if desired, the seniors can have a part in the Holiness Meeting,” James said. “Many love to take part by reading a Scripture passage, praying or even singing a solo or in a duet.” Deborah said the Holiness Meeting is the same as other traditional meetings around the Army world. “We try to include something for everyone. We incorporate a few of the Hallelujah Choruses, as well as familiar hymns from the Song Book of The Salvation Army,” she said. “The preachments are Bible–based, and, of course, we take up an offering, which is then given to the World Services effort.” The Kissers also extend their ministry of presence to the Star Lake complex staff. “We have found that, while some of the staff are teens
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2017 OCTOBER
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A ‘Ministry of Presence’? Well, it’s really nothing different than what Jesus did when He traveled around, met with people where they were, and ministered to the needs and desires of their hearts.
from the neighborhood on summer employment, other staff have been working at the Star Lake complex for years and have seen many administrators come and go,” James said. “We have been surprised to learn that some of the staff have worked at other Salvation Army camps around the Eastern Territory,” Deborah explains. “We have even found that some have their own Salvation Army officer family roots with their own memories of starting new appointments with their folks. It truly is a small Salvation Army world.” The Kissers walk around the camp in the evenings, stopping to chat with the counselors and staff of the Greater New York Division’s youth camp across the lake. “We don’t have any direct responsibility for anything on that side of the lake, but we enjoy getting out and talking,” Deborah
A group of seniors who attended one of the retreats this past summer.
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said. “Jim likes to think of the Star Lake complex as our parish!” The Kissers are wanting also to explore other possible ministry opportunities, which could be offered throughout the year at Star Lake. “There seems to be a receptivity to the Army in the community, and I think it would be a great way to get people from the neighborhood onto the camp property to find out more about us,” James said. “When they see the uniform coming through the door at our local Dunkin’ Donuts shop or pizza shop or barber shop or service station, they seem to brighten right up, and are often anxious to tell us about their relationships with other officers appointed to the Star Lake complex throughout the years. It seems like a natural extension of our ministry of presence to reach out into the surrounding community.” The Kissers, who had never lived at Star Lake before, said they were initially a bit nervous about the bear, fox, and occasional coyote sightings. “I think we are learning to co–exist at camp with God’s creatures!” James said. The Kissers are excited to learn where their ministry of presence will take them and how it will play out at the Star Lake complex. They said they are thankful to their former divisional leaders who saw their potential while they served as corps officers, and then entrusted them with this valuable ministry by appointing them full–time to Star Lake. “A ‘Ministry of Presence’?” reflected the Kissers. “Well, it’s really nothing different than what Jesus did when He traveled around, met with people where they were, and ministered to the needs and desires of their hearts.”
JOY after
R etirement
by Heidi Lynn Russell
uring the frenetic flurry of 2017, Major Stella McGuire had hurtled towards her official retirement date like a rider on a zip–line. After a 22–year career as a Salvation Army officer, she and her husband stepped down as corps officers at Youngstown Temple Corps in Ohio. Frankly, her “D–Day” retirement date of Sept. 1 had come much faster than she ever could have anticipated. “I don’t think we took time to prepare for it. We are super go–go–go, busy–busy–busy! I’m one of those people who tries to make sure that all the ‘i’s are dotted. I want to make sure that the people who come after us step into something that is functioning well. As a result, I don’t think we emotionally took time to think about or prepare for what was going on with us. Even house hunting was a last–minute thing,” McGuire says. Ironically, retirement has overtaken the McGuires the same way officership did. In 1995, when Stella and Doug decided to change careers and become officers, the switch literally occurred overnight. “We had been involved in the church and had done a lot of the things and were approached about becoming envoys. That evolved into us becoming auxiliary captains,” she recalls. “One week, we were on the pew. The next week, we were in the pulpit. And now, we’re going back—from the pulpit to the pew.” Retirement sneaks up on people who have long served others throughout decades. As the Baby Boomers begin to age out of the workforce, thousands are now facing these questions,—“What do I do next?” and “What is God’s will for me now?” and “Will I have trouble meeting expenses?”
‘GLUM’ RETIREES
Did you know that through 2020, about 10,000 Baby Boomers will retire every day, according to the Pew Research Center? Additionally, by 2030, when all 79 million Boomers will have turned 65, a full 18 percent of the nation’s total population will be at least that old, Pew says. The center also reports that Boomers “are also more downbeat than other adults.” “At the moment, the Baby Boomers are pretty glum,” the Pew Research Center writes. When making the transition to retirement, it’s easy to feel blue, especially if you’ve spent your entire career working at high speed, like the McGuires. Majors Kellus and Marcia Vanover, now in Lexington, Ky., found that was the case when they retired seven years ago. The couple has stayed active in their local corps. They have even stepped in to temporary assignments for the Army. But the transition from one life to another hit them emotionally, Marcia says. “The thing we found in retirement is that initially, you’re busy getting settled in. But once that’s done, you need to be busy. After so many years in ministry and giving yourself to others, that’s why I think the ‘hit’ came,” Marcia says. “After a couple of months, I said, ‘I can’t clean the toilets anymore. I’m bored with it. I need something to do!’” Is it possible to plan ahead to avoid and/or manage emotional, spiritual, and the practical challenges of retirement? Here are tips on finding joy and peace in your newest life’s journey.
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Embrace the Moses in You For many, retirement comes after a second career. That was the case for the McGuires. Stella was a supervisor at a research corporation, and Doug was in manufacturing when they felt called to officership in the 1990s. “I felt like Moses at the burning bush,” she recalls. “It happened so fast.” Now that they are retired from The Salvation Army, she feels that way again. “I’m looking for my ministry, a different ministry than being an officer, and I don’t know what it is yet. But I do know that what I’m looking for is doing something well,” she says. Major Charlene Fawcette also retired on September 1 from Akron Citadel Corps in Ohio. She has found an unexpected joy during her last appointment, counseling drug addicts. She’s not sure what she wants to do in retirement, but
she knows she loves counseling, and she loves the business office management aspect of running a corps. “I’ve run into some people who have a hard time retiring. They go into a post–retirement situation where they’re depressed. I’m tired. I want a chance to regroup but not become stagnant. I want to make sure I’m always relevant,” Fawcette says. The Vanovers say, if you also feel a little “long in the tooth” and are worried about no longer being “relevant,” remember that God has had plans for many people throughout history when they thought they were too old. “After those initial months of settling in, we asked God, ‘What is it you want us to do? We have a lot of pep. What is the ministry you want for us?’” Marcia says. Since they retired in 2010, they have filled roles as interim corps officers in Newport, Ky.; a short stint on headquarters staff in Moscow, Russia; pastoral counselors to active officers in SWONEKY for
four years – and Marcia has even worked for three years at Curves, a weight–loss and exercise place for women. They also are active volunteers, both at the corps in Lexington, Ky., and in the community. Kellus helps with canteen ministry during fires and emergencies, has helped with kettles, and has been a Corps Cadet counselor. Both have helped with Bible school, have played in the band, and have played percussion for The Salvation Army Student Fellowship band at Asbury University in nearby Wilmore, Ky. Kellus, a Vietnam War and Air Force veteran, also volunteers at the local VA, playing his guitar for veterans, and sitting vigil by the bedside of those who are alone and dying. He also plays in a local jazz band.
Avoid the “Would–a, Could–a, Should–a” Trap A constant piece of advice that the McGuires have heard from others is to go after life dreams after retiring, whatever those may be. Don’t be someone who gets near to the end of life and says, “I wish I would have done that.” “If there is something you want to do after retirement that you know you want to do, take time to get your education on that. We’re fortunate as officers to be able to do that, and I wish I’d spent some time in college. If you have a plan or goal,
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go for it,” she says. Regarding financial matters, she also advises younger officers to start planning now for the long–term. “Everyone thinks, ‘We don’t have to worry. It’ll be okay when we get there.’ But I would tell young officers, begin to save for it. There are some officers who we know have had difficulties in that area. You are never ready to sign up for Social Security, and everything changes so fast. Take one step at a time and get as ready as you can,” she says.
Expect Miracles Don’t shortchange the power of prayer, and expect unexpected miracles, Stella McGuire says. Sometimes God opens doors with something as simple as the type of retirement home you have been envisioning. “I tend to put myself last. We work from morning to night to make sure things are done. We were cramming our work around trying to find a house, traveling to Youngstown 40 minutes away to spend a whole day looking,” she recalls. “The roadblocks were taken down. God provided. I knew – kind of – where I wanted to be, and we had put a bid in on a house. We were just settling on this one house, because we were so tired. And I
had had both knees replaced recently. So we put in a bid and couldn’t get in touch with the owners – and this other house came open! "It was the one God planned for us all along!” Their retirement home is everything she imagined and more. It is also in a neighborhood she wanted, a high–demand area where it’s tough to find a home for sale. “I knew I wanted a fireplace and a safe place for our grandchildren—all of these things were provided. The house is more than what I deserve. It is a lovely home that I really wanted and could envision us in,” she says.
Savor the Joy of Family and Friends Happiness is fleeting; joy is permanent, Fawcette says. Find joy in retirement by spending time you may not have had during a busy career with family and friends. She is looking forward to being with her grandchildren—and her oldest daughter was due to have a baby on Fawcette’s retirement date. “I told her she can’t have it until September 1!” Fawcette laughs. “She has two others, and my son has four.
She and her husband have moved into where I’m going to move. My youngest has Down Syndrome. We will all be together in September.” Meanwhile, as you journey into this new chapter of life, don’t forget the most important tip: keep God and prayer front and center, Fawcette says. “It’s a necessary component of this. You’re changing directions. Your life is changing in ways you never thought it
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would change and at every level,” she says. “My conversation with God—it helps me tremendously. When I get to those places of anxiety, I have to become quiet, and He gives me the answer. You know it’s Him talking to you, without a shadow of a doubt. It plays a key role. I don’t have a clear vision of my future, but I can tell you, over the last few months, prayer has become more important with the direction I can take.”
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Family of a different kind by Robert Mitchell
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either snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can keep Catherine Turner from attending church at the Cincinnati Center Hill Corps. After all, she lives in the Booth Residence senior housing complex, which is connected to the corps by a sky bridge. “It’s very convenient,” says Turner, who has lived at Booth for 22 years. “All I have to do is take the elevator to the 6th floor and I’m at church. You couldn’t do no more.” The Salvation Army in Cincinnati has responded to the need for low–income senior housing with the help of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The longstanding Booth Residence includes 150 senior apartments. Three years ago, the Catherine Booth Residence— located just feet from the corps—opened. It offers 96 one–bedroom apartments in two buildings.
AFFORDABLE LIVING
Occupancy is about 98 percent for all three buildings and there’s a waiting list of a year to 18 months. Residents must be at least 62. “The resident pays about 30 percent of their annual income,” said Theresa Childs, administrator of the sprawling complex. “We could have a contract for $500 for rent and the tenant might pay only $150. HUD pays the remainder. Our programs are strictly low–income. Some pay less than $100 a month. “It’s very attractive to Baby Boomers who have worked hard all their lives. They’re hard–working, blue–collar workers for the most part. They’re teacher’s aides, factory workers, and postal workers.” Childs said despite working their entire lives, some seniors find that their Social Security and supplemental income “is not enough for them to live a good, comfortable lifestyle.”
Photo by Chris Cone
BUILT–IN PASTOR
“So they come to us and they get to live in a beautiful building where we’re concerned with their safety and we try to provide them the best possible housing we can provide.” Seniors also have access to a chaplain, Major Shari Payne, who strolls the halls and is like a mother to some. She also makes hospital visits. “I ask them how they’re doing and if they need any prayer,” Payne says. “Sometimes they just want to talk. Sometimes they have no family who visits so I’m like their welcome wagon.” Payne also keeps an eye on the seniors who rarely get a visit from family. “I know I can spread joy,” she said. “I know I can spread some love to those who are sometimes forgotten.”
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2017 OCTOBER
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A PLACE TO GO
“For me to pop in on somebody or call somebody and see how they’re doing makes my day as much as it makes their day.” Payne also invites the seniors to church. “Some of them don’t have a church home and the corps becomes their church home,” she said. “God is in the center of this whole place.” That’s even more true since the corps added a popular senior center a few years ago. “Each tenant has things that they’re interested in,” Childs said. “The activities are so varied that anyone who wants to participate can, and there is something for everyone.” Deb Yeager, the senior center’s activities coordinator, said seniors come for meals three times a week and give a one–dollar love offering, if they can afford it.
THINGS TO DO
The center also offers exercise (including Zumba), crafts, ceramics, special speakers, and workshops. There also is a senior lounge, a bird station, a garden club, walking club, and special trips to the grocery store to keep everyone busy. Yeager said Payne often presents a devotional and prayer. A recent craft class made bookmarks with Scripture. Christian music is played during exercise. “They praise and cry in class,” Yaeger said. “I throw the seeds at them every day. I’ve prayed with them one–on–one when they’ve had problems.” The senior center recently unveiled a small hair salon, which has been popular. “We identified a need,” said Major Robert Klenk, the corps officer of the Center Hill Corps. “Obviously, the residents of Booth are low–income and sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.”
“
There’s a lot to offer the seniors that most apartments in the community just don’t offer. They get to meet other people and if they don’t have family, the other residents become a part of their
Klenk said, in talking to seniors, he realized that self–esteem and personal care were major issues. He consulted with Captain Ashley Mauk, a licensed cosmetologist who is stationed at divisional headquarters. With the help of a private donor, the hair salon became a reality. The corps bought equipment, including two bonnet dryers, hired a stylist, and turned one room of the senior center into a salon, which is open once a week. A golf cart transports seniors to the salon. Going to the salon is also a wonderful way to avoid isolation. “One of the things I’ve always loved about The Salvation Army—and I’ve been an officer for more than 30 years—is its flexibility to meet individual needs,” Klenk said.
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Photos by Chris Cone
GRACE AND BEAUTY
”
family
.
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Before
Turner has one of the more beautifully decorated apartments. Fellow seniors visit to see her handiwork on holidays and on other special occasions. “I’ve always loved to decorate,” she says.
A HAPPY RESIDENT
Photos by Robert Mitchell
After
BIND US TOGETHER
“I’m sure there are not many corps that get 15 to 20 people out for ceramics every week,” Klenk said. Klenk is also proud of the built–in congregation he has just feet from the doors of his corps. “When it’s bad weather, they can come to our church without even going outside,” he said. “I’m sure there are not many corps in the territory that, on a snow day, have more rather than fewer people in church.” Klenk said the corps draws about 85 people on a typical Sunday morning. About a third are seniors, a third commuters, and the balance are from the Adult Rehabilitation Center in Cincinnati. “It’s seamless,” Klenk said. “Everyone is just part of the church. It’s one congregation.”
THIS IS HOME
One of the senior congregants is 70–year–old Judy Long, a former Salvation Army officer. Her 95–year–old mother, Irma Long, also lives in the complex and has been a senior soldier for 65 years. “It’s nice having the corps within walking distance,” Judy Long says. Long, who is known for walking around the campus, was the corps sergeant major at the corps for 28 years. She still plays in the band. She and her mother go to the senior center and love living where they do. “We all get along well,” she said. “It’s a friendly community.”
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Turner, who for two decades has photographed many of the events at the complex, didn’t know much about The Salvation Army when she retired at age 62. A neighbor told her about the Booth Residence. She loves the accessibility of the corps and senior center. “They’ve always got something going on over there,” she said. “It’s a blessing. They’re nice people to get along with and they do everything for all the people in here.” Childs is proud that a staff of 17 people oversee 246 residents each day. “The goal for me is to keep these seniors living as independently as possible for as long as possible,” she said. “Most of them enjoy it here. There’s hope here.”
NOT JUST A JOB
Amy Hutchison, manager of compliance at the Booth Residence, said every staffer is “called to be here and to serve as advocates.” “I consider them as much my family as my own,” she said. “It’s important that we’re all here and helping in any way we can. “It just feels like I’m supposed to be here. I have family and grandparents. I’ve always believed that you should treat them the way you want your family to be treated.” Tracey Colvin–Stanton, certified occupancy specialist at the Booth Residence, said that positive attitude is what keeps most residents happy and content. “This is definitely not the typical senior housing project,” she said. “There’s a lot to offer the seniors that most apartments in the community just don’t offer. They get to meet other people and if they don’t have family, the other residents become a part of their family.
WEEKEND GETAWAY
“With the corps being right here and offering activities, it always gives residents something to do as opposed to being shut in an apartment without family or visitors. That’s something to be proud about. I just enjoy that God is in the center of it.” Klenk said 20 seniors recently got away from Cincinnati for the weekend to Camp SWONEKY, where they went on a wagon ride, did crafts, and enjoyed praise and worship. “We want to give them Christ, but also to give them an opportunity to be outside their four walls,” Klenk said. “It was a treasure to have them there that weekend and to brighten their lives.”
FAITH in ACTION
Acts of
gratitude
Soldier Elizabeth Sooja Kim of South Korea was raised as a Presbyterian. Her husband, John JoungSeek Kim, was raised Catholic. When they arrived in the United States, they attended a Korean Catholic church and later a United Methodist church. In their retirement, they discovered The Salvation Army Korean Corps in Englewood, N.J. Soldier Elizabeth talks about her work with Korean women and the writing process that kept God’s Word in her heart. In the Korean Methodist church, I sang a hymn called “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.” In it was the line, “Salvation! O, Salvation! The Joyful sound proclaim, till each remotest nation has learned Messiah’s Name.” After belonging to so many churches, and singing about salvation, God led me to The Salvation Army. Years before I ever became a Salvationist, I knew about the Army. I had so much respect for the work. As a child, I saw Salvationists ring the bell in South Korea, where I gave my first donation. Becoming a bell ringer in 2016 opened a new way of seeing God’s people. For instance, I met a woman in her 80s who could barely walk, but she forced herself to come up to drop a donation in the kettle. A man asked me to pray for him, while others brought me warm bread and coffee. I also saw a few people turn around and enter the store another way when they heard the bell. Seeing that was a little frustrating. At the same time, I realize that as I watch them, God is watching me. He knew my mind, thoughts, and feelings. Today, I do my best to be humble and show love, no matter what.
Interview by Hugo Bravo
My work with Ewha Girls’ High School is important to me. Even as a soldier for The Salvation Army, I am still an active supporter of this private girls’ school in Seoul. I have been president twice of the school’s alumnae association in New York, and president of the alumnae association of North America. In 2016, we celebrated Ewha’s 130–year anniversary. Our current project is raising money to open a women’s high school in Cambodia. It requires three times as much funding as we originally planned, but if Ewha could do it years ago, we can do it in Cambodia today. If you have a handful of loose pearls, they might look pretty, but you need to bind them together to make a beautiful necklace or bracelet. That is the lesson I try to teach women in Ewha, or anyone in the church. When you work together, you can become a beautiful vision. On June 15, 2000, I began to handwrite the Bible in both Korean and English. Every day before breakfast or after doing the dishes, I wrote for 15 or 20 minutes. The words stayed on my mind all day. On February 25, 2016, I finished; it filled nine large notebooks. In elementary school, I had done something similar with my sister. Doing this helped us memorize verses and passages. When I look back on the notes, I can hear God was speaking to me. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says “Be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” That is my word for life: thanks. Give thanks in all times. Even in your most difficult days, say, “Thank you God, thy will be done!”
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Sometimes, a prayer in the moment is the most powerful prayer, rather than one prayed in a quiet, empty room, or on one’s knees. I have prayed to God to stop the rain on a day when my family had to move. One Sunday in a sweltering hot church during a July 4th weekend, I asked God to calm my nerves as my husband preached his first sermon. In 1986, we waited for a call from a theological seminary in New York, hoping we had been accepted to attend. The building had a few apartments that overlooked the Hudson River. It felt silly to ask, but I prayed to God that we might be fortunate enough to be selected to stay in one of those apartments. I wanted the view for my husband. Many months later when we were accepted into the seminary, I asked if we were going to have an apartment facing the river. They said yes. My husband would spend many hours studying in the library, but he was able to see the sun rise in the morning, and the stars shine at night. Our time on earth is short. This life is a temporary stop on our way to our heavenly home. In our waiting to get there, we must live with gratitude, all our days.
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FAITH in ACTION
Making the Climb Seniors around The Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory are finding new ways to ‘zip’ into retirement. by Robert Mitchell
“ Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” —JOB 12:12
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HURRAY FOR HOLLYWOOD! With the Poconos as a picturesque backdrop, seniors looking for some fun can find it at the Salvation Army’s Camp Ladore. For 26 weeks a year, Ladore offers a camping experience under various themes. The most popular one this year was “Hurray for Hollywood.” “Red Hat,” ”Spring,” and “Fitness” were other themes. “It’s just like being on a cruise,” said Barb Korteling, the director of sales at Ladore. Seniors get a schedule that features a patriotic flag raising, breakfast, chapel, boat rides, yoga, outdoor games, lunch, an auction, crafts, bowling, dinner, evening chapel, and a game of Hollywood Squares to close the day. Korteling said Ladore currently draws about 2,500 seniors a year. She hopes that number will increase to 3,500. Seniors in the PENDEL Division who meet the financial requirements can camp for free. Others who are paying their own way pay only $220 a week. That fee includes meals, a room, and all entertainment and activities. For seniors on a fixed income, that’s a huge bargain. “You’re not going anywhere in this country for that price and still get what’s at Ladore,” Korteling said. For people seeking spiritual guidance, there are chaplains who visit and stroll the grounds. Majors Glenn and Bonita Snyder, who are the administrators at Ladore, also serve as chaplains. “The seniors have so much fun, they cry when they leave,” Korteling said. “They are so grateful for this program.”
THE GOOD SOLDIER Anthony Sherer, the community cares secretary at the Worship & Service Center in Lima, Ohio, was recently honored with a certificate for 15 years of faithful service. Major Debbie Stacy, the corps officer in Lima, said Sherer has been involved in the League of Mercy program since the early 1980s. Sherer, who is also the corps treasurer and takes care of the offering on Sundays, volunteers to drive when needed, plays the bass drum in the corps band, and assists with “Kettles in July” and Christmas kettles. “Tony is the kind of soldier whom any officer would love to have at the corps,” Stacy said. NO TIME TO WASTE Solo Carrasquillo may be a relatively new soldier at the Boston South End Corps, but he is making up for lost time. “He takes his soldiership seriously and doesn’t want to just sit around,” said Captain Kimberly Smith, the corps officer at Boston South End. “He spreads the love of Jesus by getting out into our neighborhood. He has been a tremendous witness through his humility and service.” Smith said Carrasquillo prepares coffee, tea, and refreshments for meetings at the corps, including Sunday school. He also volunteers at the senior group on Thursdays, preparing snacks and serving lunch. “Solo is often helping a senior carry groceries or is making a plate of hot food for a shut–in,” Smith said.
A GENERATIONAL ALLIANCE Major Sylvia Rebeck may be retired, but she is bringing music to the next generation in Alliance, Ohio. Lieutenant D. Matthew Hamilton, the corps officer in Alliance, said Rebeck has started a small music group. She is teaching piano and trumpet to 10–12 people in the corps. “She is serving God through music and bringing alive a great culture of music in young people,” Hamilton said. “She has been teaching for a good year now and the kids are excited and are lining up to learn from her.” INSPIRING OTHERS Diane Bennett’s 27 years as an active soldier at the Red Bank, N.J., Corps have not gone unnoticed. Bennett serves on the Red Bank Corps Council, League of Mercy, and takes part in all women’s ministry activities, including a Bible study and Home League. She also cooks for many events, including Sunday family gatherings, the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen, and summer day camp. Bennett also coordinated a women’s exercise program and was part of the knitting group at the corps. “It has been inspiring to see her ‘wheels turning’ for as long as I have known Diane,” said Jesabel Cruz, the office manager at the Red Bank Corps. ‘VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR’ Daisy Estelle Anderson may be 95, but she is more active than people half her age. In April, Anderson was awarded the Catholic Charities USA “Volunteer of the Year” Award by touching 10,000 lives as a volunteer. Since the early 1990s, Anderson has played Bridge with the Salvation Army’s
Golden Age Center (GAC) Bridge Club in Buffalo, N.Y. She told a reporter for the Buffalo News, “I’m not a very good bridge player and they’re hard up for a bridge player, so they don’t mind playing with me.” Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, announced the honor in April. “Estelle truly embodies the generous charity Jesus describes in the Good Samaritan parable; she has worked tirelessly on behalf of young mothers in need and for senior citizens,” Markham said. FINDING GRAND SUCCESS The Salvation Army’s Newark, N.J., Westside Corps is home to the Essex County KINSHIP Grandfamily Success Center—a multi–service program for grandparents and caregivers. Rosario Reimon–Jenkins, director of the center, said the corps offers several group activities, including a senior caregiver’s group, a Friday Crafter Club, and the “Golden Sit & Fit Group.” “In this class, participants discuss their everyday concerns and receive a biblical class to enrich their lives,” Reimon–Jenkins said. Some of the topics covered in the class are “The Scriptures,” “The True God,” “The Fall of Man,” and many other spiritual topics. The Friday Crafter Club meets each week with program helper Melissa Anim. “The goal of this group is also to help all participants reach a deeper understanding of the Lord,” Reimon–Jenkins said. “In this group, we have activities, such as knitting, arts & crafts, and coloring. They help promote peace and stillness so all participants are able to receive the message of the day.” The Golden Sit & Fit Group is small and all about exercise and walking closer to
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God. The group begins with a devotional. “Participants are encouraged to pray about their physical needs,” Reimon– Jenkins said. “To help them focus on deeper discipleship, all of the exercises are done during praise and worship. “At the end, we close with prayer and thank our Lord for what He is doing and what He will do,” Reimon–Jenkins said. “As a team, we have an opportunity to minister to one another on a daily basis and pray for one another.” MANHATTAN CITADEL RISING Captain Antonio Rosamilia is looking forward in a few years to opening an extraordinary new Manhattan Citadel in East Harlem. When finished, it will have several stories of senior housing on top of it. “It will be a perfect combination of corps ministry and residence ministry,” Rosamilia said. “It will be a safe haven for our youth and seniors. Human need will be met holistically, and seniors as well as youth will have their own spaces.” The new complex will include 211 apartments for senior housing, Rosamilia said, and will be a “safe, Christian, loving, and discrimination–free facility.” Rosamilia said the corps chapel will occupy the ground floor, while a basketball court and laundry will be in the basement. The 2nd floor will feature a cafeteria, offices, and classrooms. The 3rd floor will offer fitness rooms, a café, offices, a library, and meeting rooms. Senior apartments will occupy the 4th through 11th floors. The Manhattan Citadel is renting space in the neighborhood until the new facility is finished. To follow the building’s progress, go to the time–lapse camera at www.senserasystems.com/public /project/ManhattanCitadel.
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FAITH in ACTION
‘God, give me more time!’ Inson Reasoner Chong’s life could easily be a segment on CBS TV’s “60 Minutes.” Born in South Korea into a Christian family, she married a U.S. soldier who was a distant cousin of Harry Reasoner, the famous “60 Minutes” broadcaster. However, Chong’s life in the United States was one of hard work, betrayal, and heartbreak—until one day, she found herself in a Salvation Army shelter in East Stroudsburg, Pa. Chong, a quiet and unassuming 67–year–old, made the most of her time in the shelter by encouraging others. “When I help people, I feel better,” she said. One of the residents Chong met in the women’s shelter often cried, drawing Chong’s sympathy. People who know Chong say that’s part of her character.
A GENTLE SOUL “I wanted to pray for her and give her a hug to make her happy,” Chong said. “I don’t know her or what she needs, but God does.” Cari Friend, the executive secretary at the East Stroudsburg Corps, called Chong “very compassionate.” “Inson doesn’t care what you’ve done or where you’ve been. She feels like everyone deserves help and a chance,” Friend said. “That’s been a great lesson for me to learn. “If you’re lying in the street drunk, she will stop and pray for you or help you.” For example, a man who lived in his van refused to go to the corps shelter. As a diabetic, his restrictive diet prevented him from eating in the Salvation Army soup kitchen.
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GIVING SPIRIT Chong gave the man some money. She also walked with him to a nearby grocery store to buy him food he could eat. During another trip to the store, a young woman asked Chong for a dollar to buy something to eat. The woman touched Chong’s heart because she reminded her of her daughter, Rachel, but she could tell from the woman’s eyes that she was “high.” “Young lady, you can’t buy anything to eat for a dollar,” Chong said. Suspecting the woman would buy drugs or alcohol with the money, Chong took her into the store and bought a complete meal. Chong’s compassion comes from the lessons she learned from her mother and from the hungry people in Seoul.
A CHRISTIAN HOME “My mother volunteered all the time,” Chong says. “She taught me that, if you are spiritual and a Christian, you have to do for others, no matter what.” Chong never knew her father, but her mother instilled in her Christian values. Inson accepted Christ at age 17 while attending high school. She remembers sitting on a rock in the mountains during a Bible study. Then a dance instructor, Chong met David Reasoner, a U.S. soldier, while dancing in a social club. He pursued her during 1974 and 1975. The couple married in 1976. After coming to the United States separately in 1977, they settled in Kansas.
TRIALS AHEAD David had convinced Chong he was a Christian and a family man. But his
alcohol and drug use eventually marred their marriage. Nonetheless, Chong stayed in the relationship. “I think I was good wife,” she said. Chong worked two and sometimes three jobs—even while pregnant with Rachel—to support the family when her husband had trouble holding a job because of his drinking. Chong left Kansas for California. She also lived in Virginia, New York City, and New Jersey. Five years ago, she moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa., before her husband died of cancer.
FINDING A HOME “She’s had a rough life,” says Friend. “She’s always told me that it was Jesus who got her through. At night when she prayed, He was always there.” Chong initially lived with Rachel in Pennsylvania, but a chaotic atmosphere forced Chong to seek housing elsewhere. When she came to the East Stroudsburg Corps for help, she saw a picture of Jesus on the wall. It let her know that she was in a church and a place of refuge. Even today, Chong admires the picture. “Every time she sees it, she says, ‘That’s Jesus. That’s my man.’” Friend said. Chong lived in the women’s shelter for four months. The residents called her “Momma” because of her tendency to be compassionate and nurturing.
A LISTENING EAR “She would pull out her Bible and say to women who are homeless and often coming out of battered lives, ‘Come pray with me; come read the Bible with me,’” Friend said.
by Robert Mitchell
“Inson was able to minister to these women in such a loving and compassionate and Bible–based way. This is a woman who believes in the Bible. She lives by the Bible.” A year ago, Chong found permanent housing at a nearby apartment complex. She reaches out to her neighbors with a small Bible study. Chong walks almost 5 miles to the corps on Sunday mornings and on Tuesdays for Bible study and women’s ministry. “If she lived closer, she’d be here all the time,” Friend said. “She loves the corps. “She tells me all the time that she is the richest person in the world because she has peace and quiet for the first time in 50 years.”
MORE WORK AHEAD A licensed massage therapist, Chong continues to look for ways to help. She hopes to cut hair and offer manicures, pedicures, and facials for the corps seniors. She is also looking forward to standing kettles again. Last year, Chong rang the bell 12 hours a day, six days a week. “Bell ringing is not hard work,” she said. “I see so much happiness. Even a little child puts a penny in the kettle. Why should I not?” Chong said Christ is behind her compassionate spirit. “He makes me love,” she says. “I’m not like Him, but I try for the rest of my life. Someday I want to sit next to Jesus in heaven.” Until then, she has work to do. “I pray ‘God, give me more time,’” she said.
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ON file
Zanders. “From the officers who had served there to the Salvationists who are still with us at the Kroc Center, the story of Germantown is one of pride and heritage.”
YOUTH OUTREACH
Remembering Germantown by Hugo Bravo
When Captain Kevin Zanders, associate administrator for the Philadelphia Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, offers tours to new members or frequent visitors, the first stop is always a tall, blue–and–gold, stained–glass window on display. Its prior location for 33 years had been in the Army’s Germantown, Pa., Corps. Today, that corps is a cherished memory for hundreds of Salvationists who had worshiped there and found Christ. When the corps building came down, the window was carefully selected, salvaged, and relocated to the new Kroc Corps Community to commemorate the Germantown Corps’ ministry to the community and to the Lord. Mounted beside the window display is an inscription engraved on clear glass, which memorializes the corps. “Even though I’ve never stepped foot in Germantown, I tell people about it,” said
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Before it was a corps, Germantown was called the Lehigh Corps Community Center. It hosted many traditional Army activities, such as Sunbeams, Girl Guards, and music programs. Members also used it to celebrate holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Arlene Jackson, Corps Cadet leader, says that it was these activities that made the center, and the Army itself, the hub of the community. “Germantown was a family, and not just within its walls. The entire neighborhood was part of the family,” says Jackson. As a child, she had found the youth ministry Sunday school appealing. Though her family was Catholic, she still attended Sunday school at Germantown. “Fifty–five years later, I’m still here,” she said.
FACES IN THE COMMUNITY The Germantown Corps’ ministry of presence was significant. The officers were well known in the community. Even in the midst of the gang war era, officers and corps members stayed engaged in ministry. During worship services, they left the windows and doors open. People driving by heard the music and singing. They reacted by coming out of their cars and vans. “Where is that singing and worship coming from?” people would typically ask. Qualtine Cufee, a corps band member, had moved from North Carolina to Philadelphia. Her
great moments
grandmother lived across the street from the center. Like Jackson, Cufee attended another church with her family. But when two young members from the center knocked on her door, Cufee’s mother and grandmother encouraged her to attend Sunday school. “They knew there was more for the youth at that community center than at our church,” she says. Alice Webb, welcome sergeant, remembers the first time she saw an open–air meeting. Soon, every child in the community received an invitation to attend the center. “My children became soldiers before I did,” says Webb. “Germantown became my kids’ lives. They were there all week.”
A PREPARED CORPS Larry Battle has been a Salvation Army soldier since 1954. He and his older sister were the first African–Americans to attend the community center. He remembers when Lehigh was phased out and Germantown became a corps. “For a long time, Germantown was an outpost, a community center with all the activities of a corps. So, when it made the change, it was prepared in a way that many new corps aren’t. We were already a welcoming place, a safe place. We were the heartbeat of that area.” In September 1963, the Germantown Corps began. It launched full programs and officially established itself as a community base. Literacy Consultant Shirley Williams had come from an outpost in Ohio. She said her grandparents were surprised the first time they saw a person of color in an Army uniform. They allowed Williams to participate in the ministry. “I had been part of corps in Delaware and Staten Island, but what I liked about
Germantown was that, even though it was in a city like Philadelphia, it felt close–knit. In times of crime and gang violence, we were all safe there.”
PROTECTED AND RESPECTED When the Germantown Corps did open–air ministries in dangerous streets, it sent a message to the community. It’s when people realized that first and foremost, the heart of the city was a church. That heart extended to everyone in the ministry, including the feuding gangs that resided in Germantown. It was not uncommon to see officers talking to the young people engaged in dangerous activities. In return, the Germantown Corps was protected and respected among the gangs. They all recognized Germantown as sacred ground. Any type of fighting or gang–related activity was forbidden on Salvation Army property. No matter what was happening in the streets, the Germantown chapel was for anyone looking for a place to pray and a Bible to read. Says Jackson: “The officers of Germantown had a deep love for everyone in the community, not just for the ones who walked into the corps. When you love God, you love all His people.”
SAYING GOOD–BYE Webb remembers, “We were not happy when they told us the Germantown Corps would be replaced by the Kroc. Change is good and necessary, as is enlarging the territory, but we had been in Germantown for so long.” The tall stained–glass window that today stands in the Kroc Center was just one of many windows that had adorned and lit the old Germantown Corps. But a more significant reminder of Germantown’s rich legacy are its Salvationists who continue to worship, minister, and work at the Kroc Center, whether it be in teaching music, coaching sports, or educating the next generation of Salvationists. “When the sun hits that stained glass in the Kroc lobby, that’s the heritage of Germantown shining down in the Kroc Center,” said Captain Zanders. “The Kroc is certainly a unique expression of the Army, but it wouldn’t be what it is without the love and support of the Germantown Salvationists who stayed with us.” The Germantown Corps began with a chapel, and ended with a monument made of stained glass. But the spirit of its programs, ministry, and community outreach lives on.
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When Germantown did open–air ministries in dangerous streets, people realized that the heart of the city was a church.
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October 31, 2017, marks the 500–year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, a religious movement initiated in the 16th century by Martin Luther. The following articles take a closer look at Martin Luther the man, his teachings, and another less familiar reformer, Ulrich Zwingli. Their work, and that of others, paved the way for William Booth and the formation of The Salvation Army.
1517 Nuremberg printing of the 95 Theses, now in the Berlin State Library.
Martin Luther by Peter Greene
Martin Luther is a big deal.
For about a week every May, the students in my history class grapple with his role as the historical figure credited for spearheading a movement that permanently split Protestant and Catholic theology. As a history teacher, I’ve taught about Martin Luther for 11 years. My teaching usually addresses the question: “Is Martin Luther a rebel or a reformer?” After we explore those possibilities, I then make the assertion that, if Luther could answer the question, he would say he was neither a rebel nor a reformer. He would likely say, “a sinner.” Luther spent his entire life deeply troubled by his own inclination to sinfulness. Despite adopting the holy life of a monk and a theologian, he lived in constant anxiety about his immortal soul. In a passage quoted by historian Steven Ozment, Luther stated in 1545, “Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt
that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience.” Luther also came to believe that the existing institutions and practices of the Catholic Church endangered his chances for salvation and those of others.
95 Theses It is for this reason that Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the castle church door in Wittenberg 500 years ago this October 31. Luther taught at the seminary there. Presenting theses in this manner was a common practice in academic circles as a way to start a theological discussion. Luther’s original 95 theses were written in Latin, which would have made them unintelligible to the average German. Most of Luther’s views focused on the best means to achieve salvation. For example, he rejected the practice of indulgence–selling (the purchase of forgiveness of sins), and emphasized the importance of Scripture as the sole source of God’s Word. By 1517, Luther was deeply worried about the Church. He felt that church leaders, charged with ensuring the salvation of all Christians, were instead fixated on gaining worldly wealth and political power. Providing a path to redemption for people’s immortal souls often seemed to be a low priority. Pope Leo X led the Church during the initial stages of the Protestant Reformation. He became a cardinal at age 13 through the influence of his wealthy and powerful father, Lorenzo de Medici. This “Church” seemed totally alien to Luther, who saw it as foreign and run by hypocrites. When Pope Leo
Martin Luther, shown in a portrait by Lucas Cranach, the Elder.
excommunicated Luther, he famously burned the pope’s letter in public.
A rebel? To many of my students, Luther’s words often evoke the image of a rebel on a mission to destroy the status quo. He himself once said, “I rejoice exceedingly to see the Gospel this day, as of old, a cause of disturbance and disagreement. It is the character and destiny of God’s word. ‘I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I come to set man against his father...’ (Matthew 10: 34–35) said Jesus Christ.” Luther’s audience for that speech had been Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, Europe’s most powerful political leader at the time. It is certainly true Luther took on the status quo and shook the Catholic European order to its foundation. But despite Charles V declaring him a rebel in 1521, Luther stubbornly rejected that label. In fact, Luther, in 1524, passionately condemned a German peasant uprising against the ruling classes. The peasants had reacted to Luther’s denunciation of these leaders by physically attacking other political and social superiors. In a pamphlet Luther penned entitled Against the Murderous Thieving Hordes of Peasants, he denounced their violent actions done in the name of the Gospel and backed the prevailing social and political order. In 1525, the ruling class in Germany slaughtered 100,000 peasants, crushing their rebellion.
Truth Above All Luther’s willingness to passionately confront the pope and emperor, and his
subsequent denunciation regarding the rout of the peasant rebels, underscored his loyalty to God’s truth. Luther came from a common peasant background, but not a poor one. His father made money in mining and metal refining. He sent Martin, his eldest son, to school and university, hoping he would become a lawyer. But Martin hated the study of law. He dropped out of law school and famously decided to become a monk after narrowly surviving a lightning storm. Despite Luther’s education, he doubted the value of it and increasingly found solace in God’s divine revelation. This was the only learning Luther believed was true beyond all doubt.
Salvation for the people All of Luther’s actions during the Reformation originated from a belief in the certitude of Scripture and the inherent sinfulness and imperfection of humanity. Luther stated this idea in 1520 when he wrote, “Therefore it is clear that, as the soul needs only the Word of God for its life and righteousness, so it is justified by faith alone....” Luther, who had condemned the blasphemous peasants in 1525, made sure they could access the Bible by translating it into common German. This built on earlier efforts to create a vernacular Bible, but Luther’s translation is still a landmark moment in both German and Christian histories. Luther also composed hymns that made it easier to spread the Gospel and his ideas to the illiterate masses. He wanted to ensure that every Christian could access salvation. He rejected the
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hierarchy of the Church as false prophets who were leading the faithful away from Christ.
A Reformer? Yes, Luther led a great reformation of Christian practices by maintaining that all believers were “priests.” He also empowered many people to seek salvation and to peacefully rebel against the corrupt policies of the Church. But Martin Luther always believed himself to be powerless in the face of sin. In his view, it was only by God’s grace that sinners such as himself could enjoy everlasting life in Paradise. Eventually, through the principles of “Grace Alone,” “Word Alone,” and “Faith Alone,” Luther overcame deep anxieties regarding his sinfulness. In doing so, he helped forge a new path to spiritual redemption.
Peter Greene is a high–school history teacher in suburban New York, teaching European and global history covering the period 1450 to the present day. He is deeply interested in the Protestant Reformation and has extensively studied and taught about the subject.
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Ulrich Zwingli by Major Young Sung Kim
Ulrich Zwingli stands as one of the most significant reformers
Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli depicted by painter Hans Asper in 1531.
Ulrich Zwingli’s primary liturgical works on the reformation of worship are, An Attack on the Cannon of the Mass (1523) and Action or Use of the Lord’s Supper (1525).
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in 16th century Europe. Remarkably, he has been less discussed or recognized as an important figure in the movement than Martin Luther (1483–1546) or John Calvin (1509–1564). James F. White, an eminent worship scholar, recognizes that “Zwingli’s reforming career was a short one, less than a decade, but it brought radical transformation to worship.” Zwingli’s unique doctrinal concept and practice of Eucharistic Theology (taking of the Lord’s Supper) is based on his involvement in the Eucharistic controversy with Luther, a difference in their interpretation of Scripture. (Luther believed that the Lord’s Supper was literally Christ’s body and blood, a sign of the promises of God. Zwingli believed it was a symbol of the believers’ faithfulness to each other.) Zwingli taught new forms of worship, which became a radical part of the reform of worship in the 16th century. This should be considered a significant part of his contribution to the movement’s heritage. Zwingli was born in January 1484 in Zurich, Switzerland. He was a contemporary of Luther, and the two men shared similar socioeconomic backgrounds. However, Zwingli’s life and ministry differed from Luther’s. While Luther lived as a monk and a professor, Zwingli dedicated his life to being a parish priest and an army chaplain. Since his childhood, Swiss patriotism influenced Zwingli. Throughout his university education, he was influenced by humanism (belief in the basic goodness and ability of mankind to
overcome problems rather than reliance on God) and scholasticism (dogmatic emphasis on traditional ideas). The influence of Erasmus (a Dutch humanist) and Augustine (an early Christian theologian) is especially evident in Zwingli’s intellectual and theological development. Under the influence of Erasmus and other humanists, Zwingli immersed himself in the evolving idea of ad fontes (literally, “back to the sources”), so he turned to the original sources, particularly to the Scriptures and the writings of early Christian theologians. Like Erasmus, Zwingli emphasized the inwardness of religion and was critical of outward ceremonies. His basic hermeneutical principle (method of interpretation) shows Erasmus’ influence, for instance, in his emphasis on the gospels and the role of Christ as teacher and example. Zwingli did not like the word “sacrament” (religious ceremony), so he replaced its meaning as “oath,” and he emphasized its spiritual aspect as interpreted from John 6:63 (“It is the Spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing”). Zwingli’s emphasis on the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of predestination (belief that all events have been willed by God) reveals strong kinship with Augustine’s theology. Zwingli’s Eucharistic theology shows that he was strongly engaged by Augustine’s exegesis (explanation) of the book of John. Zwingli was ordained in 1506, and assigned to a parish in Glarus. In 1516, he visited Erasmus, and was challenged to embrace the Erasmian principle that Christian belief and worship should be based on the Bible itself.
For Zwingli, the Bible was the fundamental source of theology. In particular, his zeal for the Bible was well manifested through his prophetic preaching ministry during his early years as the “people’s priest” at Zurich’s Great Minster church, starting in 1519. As a part of his basic conception of the reform of worship, Zwingli abandoned the lectionary (selected portions) in favor of reading entire books of the Bible in sequence (Lectio continua) in order to emphasize “the centrality of biblical instruction of all of life, personal and communal.” Truly, with the admirable pathos of a “sectarian” spirit, Zwingli was strongly
motivated to the mission that took him to the edge of controversy. There, he figuratively stood with a Godly sword to protect the heart of Christian belief from any dogmatization of the Bible’s Spirit– filled truth. Zwingli never compromised his sacred duty to preach biblical truth, even at the bloody battle field where he finally died (the battle of Kappel on October 11, 1531). Zwingli’s “noble enthusiasm” about the Word, like John Wesley’s, ceaselessly ignited and informed him to live as a great “people’s preacher.” Truly, Zwingli’s contribution to the Protestant Reformation, especially to the renewal of worship, was prophetic,
largely due to his unique positions on critical issues. His voice would continue to shape theological debate. He influenced John Calvin’s own unique doctrinal perspective on the Eucharist, and John Wesley, a great Reformer in the 18th century, learned from it. They in turn had great influence on the reformation of worship in the Protestant church. Zwingli’s legacy and insight do not stop there. They continue on into future generations for the sake of defining and enriching the living message of the Word in Christ. Major Young Sung Kim is the Territorial Ambassador for Holiness.
Getty Images/Historical Picture Archive
John Hus One of the early reformers to have a profound impact on Martin Luther was the Czech priest John Hus, who was burned at the stake as a heretic (nonconformist) in 1415—almost 70 years before Luther was born. Hus inspired the founding of the Moravian church, which in the 18th century sent missionaries around the world. The great English evangelist John Wesley was heavily influenced by members of the Moravian church. Almost 100 years after Wesley’s death in 1791, William Booth founded The Salvation Army. Its doctrines are distinctly Wesleyan. Booth, as a young man, attended the Methodist church, founded largely on the teachings of John Wesley and his brother Charles. Booth was later a Methodist preacher before founding The Salvation Army in 1865. “To me there was one God, and John Wesley was His prophet,” Booth said.
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wholly living
Luther’s reflections on spiritual formation by Chris Stoker
Martin Luther is known for many “ The birds, our schoolmasters… things, but one aspect of his character the lilies, our theologians.” that gets overlooked at times is his contemplative nature. Richard Foster describes Luther as “a man of deep piety” with an “experience of God [that] was deep and abiding.” People are aware of his writings and other works on theology and doctrine, but he also emphasized spiritual formation. He was influenced significantly by Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux. Among the individuals whom Luther has deeply influenced are John Bunyan, John and Charles Wesley, Søren Kierkegaard, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In this month’s Wholly Living, we’ll look at some of the ways Luther expressed his faith and his spiritual formation. Our first examples are passages taken from Luther’s preaching about Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. The passages are specifically from sermons preached from Matthew 6:25–7:11. We see here how Luther’s relationship to Scripture influenced his thoughts about creation.
Luther remarks in the passage that Jesus is “making the birds our schoolmasters and teachers. It is a great and abiding disgrace to us that in the Gospel a helpless sparrow should become a theologian and a preacher to the wisest of men… “In other words, we have as many teachers and preachers as there are little birds in the air.” Luther’s preaching on these familiar passages brings with it a rather unorthodox approach. “How much we have to learn from the birds and the lilies!” he seems to say, echoing the same compelling message as Jesus. Luther willingly turns to the Gospel, alive in creation, and opens his heart and mind to it, inviting us to do the same. “Whenever you listen to a nightingale, therefore, you are listening to an excellent preacher. He exhorts you with this Gospel, not with mere simple words, but with a living deed and an
example. He sings all night and practically screams his lungs out. He is happier in the woods than cooped up in a cage, where he has to be taken care of constantly and where he rarely gets along very well or even stays alive. It’s as if he were saying: ‘I prefer to be in the Lord’s kitchen. He has made heaven and earth, and He Himself is the cook and the host. Every day He feeds and nourishes innumerable little birds out of His hand. For He does not have merely a bag full of grain, but heaven and earth.” Luther goes on to speak on the lilies, “Yet our Lord God regards these tiny and transient things so highly that He lavishes His gifts upon them and adorns them more beautifully than any earthly king or other human being. Yet they do not need this adornment; indeed, it is wasted upon them, since, with the flower, it soon perishes. But we are His highest creatures, for whose sakes He made all things and to whom He gives everything. We matter so much to Him that this life is not to be the end of us, but after this life He intends to give us eternal life.” Although Luther was a well–educated and informed theologian, he sought to understand his faith through venues beyond the classroom and the pulpit, such as in God’s creation around Him. He heard the Gospel preached through the sounds of songbirds. He saw it bloom and grow in the flowers of the fields. He nurtured the same creative, redemptive story in his own life and through his teaching, preaching, and writing. Martin Luther sits at his table discussing the Gospel with other reformers.
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Recommended Reading for more on Martin Luther
Luther on Prayer Unceasing Prayer “There is no Christian who does not have time to pray without ceasing. But I mean the spiritual praying, that is: no one is so heavily burdened with his labor, but that if he will he can, while working, speak with God in his heart, lay before Him his need and that of other men, ask for help, make petition, and in all this exercise and strengthen his faith.” Praying in Faith “Prayer is a special exercise of faith. Faith makes the prayer acceptable because it believes that either the prayer will be answered, or that something better will be given instead. This is why James says, ‘Let him who asks of God not waver in faith, for if he wavers, let him not think that he shall receive anything from the Lord.’ This is a clear statement which says directly: he who does not trust will receive nothing, neither that which he asks nor anything better.” Laying the Need Not Prescribing the Answer “From this it follows that the one who prays correctly never doubts that their prayer will be answered, even if the very thing for which one prays is not given. For we are to lay our need before God in prayer but not prescribe to God a measure, manner, time, or place. We must leave that to God, for he may wish to give it to us in another, perhaps better, way than we think is best. Frequently we do not know what to pray as St. Paul says in Romans 8, and we know that God’s ways are above all that we can ever understand, as he says in
Luther willingly turns to the Gospel, alive in creation, and opens his heart and mind to it, inviting us to do the same. Ephesians 3. Therefore, we should have no doubt that our prayer is acceptable and heard, and we must leave to God the measure, manner, time, and place, for God will surely do what is right.”
Martin Luther’s spiritual formation: The Table-Talk of Martin Luther by Martin Luther Edited by Robert Van de Weyer Martin Luther: Selections from His Writing by John Dillenberger Here I Stand by Roland Bainton Explore the contemplative experience of the Christian faith: An Invitation to the Contemplative Life by Thomas Merton Contemplation in Action by Richard Rohr Contemplative Bible Reading: Experiencing God Through Scripture by Richard Peace
Whether it’s through his sermons or his writing and teaching on prayer, Luther certainly carried and shared a rich understanding of a “deep and abiding” relationship with God. Can the same be said of your experience with God? Is it “deep and abiding”? Do you find the Gospel evident and working in the world around you? Have you considered the preaching that Luther saw so evident in creation? Is your prayer life deep and constant, praying in faith and waiting upon the best answer that eternity can provide? Whether you consider yourself contemplative or the entire idea is brand new to you, we can all learn from Luther as we yearn for our own “deep and abiding” relationship with God. Quotations and Excerpts in the above article were taken from: Spiritual Classics, Richard J. Foster and Emilie Griffin. Devotional Classics, Richard J. Foster and James Bryan.
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to your health by Major Richard Sanchez
Los Beneficios del
Ayuno
(abstinencia voluntaria temporal de toda comida sólida)
Benefits of
Fasting
(willing abstinence, for a time, from eating) The discipline of fasting (willing abstinence, for a time, from eating) is enjoying a revival. In Scripture, fasting is associated with being humbled or afflicting oneself. If you delay for some hours your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and maybe snacks, you’ll feel hungry. Eventually, all of your thoughts will focus on hunger. In time, craving food will become a paramount concern.
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…fasting reduces insulin resistance, increases metabolism, repairs cells, and reduces oxidative inflammation.
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The fasting revival is driven by the realization that, when done properly, it has helpful effects on the body. Studies show how fasting reduces insulin resistance, increases metabolism, repairs cells, and reduces oxidative inflammation. Fasting focuses our minds. It also reveals our physical frailty. We see exactly how frequently we can be ruled by the desires of our bodies. For instance, a popular and hilarious TV candy bar commercial illustrates how people tend to act out of character when they feel hungry. Fasting, as described in the Bible, is simple. The problem is that most of us equate “simple” with “easy.” When we fast— simply drinking nothing but water for a half day, a day, or even multiple days—we realize how difficult that can be. For me, fasting for the purpose of afflicting my soul to hear God’s voice can seem impossible. Such was the case in Isaiah where the people of Israel had fasted, but thought only of their personal desires, rather than on the needs of others and on obeying God. When we fast as a spiritual discipline and focus on God and what He wants for us to do, God says in Isaiah 58: “...then you will find your joy in the LORD,” verse 14. Next time, we’ll talk about joy, exercise, and depression. *authoritynutrition.com/10-health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting/
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La disciplina del ayuno (abstinencia voluntaria temporal de toda comida sólida) está disfrutando un reavivamiento en la cultura popular. En la Escritura, el ayuno se asocia con el acto de humillarse, dominarse o privarse a sí mismo. Si retrasas la hora de tu desayuno, almuerzo, cena o incluso de alguna merienda, sentirás hambre. Mientras más horas pasen, todos tus pensamientos se irán enfocando poco a poco en el hambre que sientes. De modo que llegará el momento en que la comida será tu principal preocupación. El renacimiento del ayuno se ha visto impulsado por la conciencia de que, si se efectúa de manera adecuada, tiene efectos saludables en el cuerpo. Los estudios muestran que el ayuno ayuda a reducir la resistencia a la insulina, fortalece el metabolismo, regenera las células y reduce la inflamación. El acto de ayunar nos ayuda a enfocarnos. También nos revela nuestra fragilidad física. Vemos con exactitud la frecuencia con que somos sometidos por los deseos de nuestro cuerpo. Por ejemplo, un anuncio comercial de televisión dedicado a una popular barra de caramelo muestra que las personas tienden a actuar inconscientemente al momento de sentir hambre. El ayuno, tal como se describe en la Biblia, es sencillo. El problema es que la mayoría relacionamos “sencillo” con “fácil”. Cuando dedicamos tiempo a ayunar, y no bebemos más que agua durante medio día, o incluso durante varios días, nos damos cuenta de que lo que es sencillo también puede ser difícil. Al menos para mí, ayunar pensando que al afligir mi alma podré oír la voz del Señor me resulta más bien contraproducente. Un caso similar apreciamos en Isaías 58, donde leemos que el pueblo de Israel había ayunado pero que, mientras lo hacía, sólo pensaba en sus deseos personales, no en las necesidades de los demás ni en obedecer a Dios. Cuando ayunemos como disciplina espiritual y nos enfoquemos en Dios y en lo que Él quiere que hagamos, Él nos dice en Isaías 58, versículo 14: “...entonces HALLARÁS tu gozo en el SEÑOR”. En nuestra próxima entrega, hablaremos sobre el gozo, el ejercicio y la depresión.
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