VOL. 4, NO. 6 • JULY/AUGUST 2018
the magazine
Out of the city, through the woods, And Off to
Camp we go!
SACONNECTS.ORG
These angels are hand–made by women in Kenya. Your purchase helps them spread their wings.
Tiny Angels Item #IC00334 Price: $2.00 (per angel)
ORDER YOURS TODAY! E-mail USE.Trade@use.salvationarmy.org or call 888-488-4882 w w w. t r a d e f o r h o p e . c o m
Others - USA
@othersusa
vision perspective
‘Here am I, send me’ “Aquí estoy yo. Envíame a mí” “Follow God’s will for your life!” These are the words of admonition that we often share with new believers or those who are still searching for answers. Having the discernment needed to ascertain His will is often the difficult part. I believe that the most joyful lives are those that are lived in God’s perfect will, following His plan, His direction. For some, myself included, that perfect will involves making a commitment to serve as an officer in The Salvation Army. For others, it involves taking another avenue of ministry and service. An important component of the USA Eastern Territory’s 20/20 Vision Plan is to: Reinforce the recruiting, the pre–training, and the mentoring of quality candidates for officership. We take this seriously! By definition, a candidate is “one likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified” (Merriam– Webster). In a spiritual sense, we would add “one who is called and equipped by God for His blood and fire mission.” So, I ask you to be in prayer for: • People who are seeking God’s will • Individuals who feel His calling to serve as officers in The Salvation Army • Discernment in the body of Christ • All believers, as we rededicate ourselves in service, wherever He leads • This great territory, as we look forward with His vision! I challenge you to ask yourself the question, “Lord, what’s Your calling and purpose for my life?” May our response be, “I surrender all to obey Thy call, Here am I, my Lord, send me.”* *The Salvation Army Songbook #580
“¡Sigue la voluntad de Dios para tu vida!” Estas son las palabras de consejo que solemos compartir con los nuevos creyentes o con aquellos que están buscando respuestas. Lo difícil es tener el discernimiento necesario para reconocer Su voluntad. Pienso que las vidas más llenas de gozo son aquellas que se viven bajo la perfecta voluntad de Dios, siguiendo Su plan, Su guía. Para unos, yo misma entre ellos, esa voluntad perfecta significa comprometerse a servir como oficial en el Ejército de Salvación. Para otros, significa seguir otras de las vías disponibles para el ministerio y el servicio. Un importante componente del Plan Visión 20/20 del Territorio Este EUA consiste en: Reforzar el reclutamiento, el entrenamiento previo y la mentoría de candidatos de calidad para el oficialato. ¡Tomamos esto con seriedad! Por definición, un candidato es “alguien apto para desempeñarse o ser elegido para un puesto especial” (Diccionario Merriam–Webster). En un sentido espiritual, podríamos agregar: “alguien que es llamado y equipado por Dios para cumplir Su misión de sangre y fuego”. Por todo ello, te pido que ores por: • Las personas que buscan la voluntad de Dios. • Los individuos que sienten Su llamado para servir como oficiales en el Ejército de Salvación. • El discernimiento en el cuerpo de Cristo. • Todos los creyentes, en la medida que volvemos a dedicarnos a Su servicio, donde sea que Él nos guíe. • ¡ Este gran territorio, conforme miramos al futuro con Su visión! Te desafío a hacerte esta pregunta: “Señor, ¿cuál es tu llamado y tu propósito para mi vida?” Que nuestra respuesta sea: “Te entrego todo de mí para obedecer tu llamado, Aquí estoy, mi Señor, envíame”.*
— Commissioner / Comisionada G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial President for Women’s Ministries Presidenta Territorial de los Ministerios Femeninos
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
*Cancionero del Ejército de Salvación #580
2018 JULY/AUGUST
1
USA Eastern Territory Commissioners William A. & G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial Leaders
2
0
1
8
T
A
M
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
O
R
Y
FINALE PERFORMANCES FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM
UNABLE TO MAKE IT?
201 Lafayette Ave. Suffern, NY 10901
The finale will stream live on our website: SACONNECTS.ORG/LIVE
EMPOWERMENT 2018
awakening A R I S E !
|
U N I T E !
|
G O !
OCTOBER 19–21, 2018
S C R A N T O N H I LT O N H O T E L
|
S C R A N T O N , P E N N SYLVANIA
Open to Salvationists age 14 and up. To register go to www.salvationarmyct.org/empowerment.
USA Eastern Territory Commissioners William A. & G. Lorraine Bamford Territorial Leaders
JULY / AUGUST
contents VOLUME 4 | NUMBER 6
in every issue 1 vision perspective 4 from the editor 5 relevents 6 army jargon 26 wholly living
departments 7 an active army
Star Search encourages young people to share their talents.
23 LEAD
If you want to lead, you’ve got to love.
CHILDREN in CRISIS 11 “In the Shadows” is the first
installment of our new series that looks at the Salvation Army’s ministry to children.
24 profile
The crowd treats Tim Tebow, former NFL quaterback– turned minor league baseball player, like a rock star.
28 Q & A
In his new book, Dr. Tony
Evans says you can come back; there’s hope.
8
Caregiving
“Summer in the Forest” is a documentary about humanitarian Jean Vanier’s compassionate ministry to people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
11
cover photo: iStock
16
In the Shadows
31 to your health Guys, here’s tips on how to live well.
32 testimony
Antonio Boyette’s recovery began with letting the Lord into his life.
lmost hidden in plain sight are homeless A families who survive in one–room, run–down motels in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. But Lieutenant Bree Barker brings them hope.
Camping
Every summer nationwide, about 200,000 children attend a Salvation Army camp. For some, the experience is life–changing.
Para leer más artículos en español por favor visite SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL
2018 JULY/AUGUST
3
from the editor
NEW FOUNDATIONS
Start your day with us at Old Orchard Beach!
Nuevos Cimientos
July 28–August 3
“ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 In the next issue, we’ll take you on a virtual trip to the Akron (Citadel) Ohio, Corps where Salvationists are partnering with NASA to grow fruits and vegetables above the ground, soil free—hydroponically. What was once inconceivable has become a viable and fresh idea. We’ll also discover how new foundations are being laid in the Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands Division. The Salvation Army continues to be a beacon of hope for the people there who face serious ongoing problems in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As a new hurricane season rears its ugly head, how will the Army help lay a strong spiritual foundation? We’ll provide some answers. Finally, if you’re a baseball fan, you’ll probably remember a player named Darryl Strawberry. Today, the former major league slugger is a personification of 2 Corinthians 5:17. In an exclusive interview, you’ll read how he’s put the glitz, glamour, and celebrity of professional sports in a new context. He’s also turned the pain, suffering, and misery of drug addiction into an inspiring testimony and has emerged a new creation in Christ. It will be an exciting read. Join us!
— Warren L. Maye Editor in Chief / Editor en Jefe
“ Por lo tanto, si alguno está en Cristo, es una nueva creación. ¡Lo viejo ha pasado, ha llegado ya lo nuevo.” —2 CORINTIOS 5:17 En el próximo número, te llevaremos en un viaje virtual al Cuerpo (Citadel) de Akron, Ohio, donde los salvacionistas se han asociado con la NASA para cultivar frutas y vegetales por encima del suelo, sin tierra: hidropónicamente. Lo que antes era inconcebible se ha vuelto una idea viable y novedosa. También conoceremos la manera en que se han estado echando nuevos cimientos en la División de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. El Ejército de Salvación sigue obrando como un faro de esperanza para las personas que han seguido enfrentando serios problemas tras el paso del Huracán María. Ahora que una nueva temporada de huracanes vuelve con su feo rostro, ¿de qué manera ayudará el Ejército a echar sólidos cimientos espirituales en el desempeño de su misión? Ofreceremos algunas respuestas. Por último, si eres amante del beisbol, es probable que recuerdes a un jugador llamado Darryl Strawberry. Actualmente, el antaño beisbolista de la liga mayor es una personificación de 2 Corintios 5:17. En entrevista exclusiva, te enterarás de cómo puso todo el oropel, el brillo y la fama que acompaña a los deportes profesionales en un nuevo contexto. También ha sabido poner el dolor, el sufrimiento y la miseria de la drogadicción en un inspirado testimonio y ha resurgido como una nueva creación en Cristo. ¡Será una lectura vibrante! ¡Únete a nosotros!
This year marks the 130th Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings, from July 28–August 3. To keep you informed, we’ll post a daily wrap up online. Each morning, make us your first stop to stay in the know! Even if you’re at home, still join us. We’re just a click away. saconnects.org/oob
will provide up–to–date information and a link to our livestream, which will cover all the events happening in the Pavilion.
facebook.com/saconnects
will stream events from the Pier and post updates. Make sure to click “follow” and select “see first” so you don’t miss a thing.
Digital versions of SAconnects magazine are always available for your reading pleasure. saconnects.org
click on the “magazine” tab and then click “digital edition.”
download the ISSUU app or go to: issuu.com/saconnects
Follow us on Facebook for up–to–date info.
facebook.com/saconnects
4
JULY/AUGUST 2018
relevents
Major Stanley Newton, corps officer at the Salvation Army corps in Asbury Park, N.J., talks about Ocean Grove, N.J., family, and the importance of ministry between generations.
Sometimes it feels like there are two corps in Asbury Park. The challenge is to find a middle ground. There is the traditional one made up of comrades who have given years of service. The other one is filled with young people who are being introduced to God and The Salvation Army. We need to reach out to and respect people who have been serving here as well as prepare the young people who will one day run our corps.
interview by Hugo Bravo
Ocean Grove is only a few blocks from the corps and is near Asbury Park’s summer homes, restaurants, and businesses. It’s also a national historic site. We’ve had congress meetings in its beautiful Great Auditorium, and parades on its main street. Hurricane Sandy left the area with a lot of damage, but it’s making a comeback. The people here have embraced the Army and its ministry in the community.
As I was driving to my first day at the training college, I prayed to God that I would meet the girl I would marry. In our session, I was one of only three single men. At a meeting, a female cadet spoke in Spanish to Richard, one of the single men. When she walked away, I asked, “Is she your girlfriend?” He said, “That’s my sister Norma, a second–year cadet.” I became friends with her during our year together. When she became an officer, I visited her in Allentown where she had been assigned. When I returned, I told her brother, “I’m going to marry your sister.” He asked if we were dating or if she even knew that I was interested in her. I replied, “No, but I know I’m going to marry her.” When I became an officer, I was assigned to East Stroudsburg, Pa., only half an hour away from Norma. I finally let her know how I felt about her; we were married a year after that.
In my teen years, I was a fast runner. My school had no track program until I was a senior, but my mother knew John, a childhood friend of my father and a dedicated marathon runner. As adults, my father and John worked in the same steel mill; John also served as a pallbearer at my father’s funeral in 1975. In 1980, he became my trainer and mentor, taking me to enjoy races with him. But after a month of training, I noticed that John, a bachelor at 48, was coming to visit us even with no races scheduled. The following year, my mother and John got married, and he raised my brother and me as his own children. I could not have asked for a better stepfather. I jokingly take credit for John being in our lives, but it was all my mother. Twice in her life, she chose the right man.
Just like young Jesus at the temple in the book of Luke, as officers, we must be about our Father’s business. When Major Norma Newton and I came to Asbury Park, we attended meetings with town leaders, local newspaper editors, and even gathered with people in places like the Stone Pony concert venue. We never know where we’ll find our next corps board member. The Army has so much history in Asbury Park and I’m just in awe of the possibilities for us here today.
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
5
ARMY jargon the magazine
your connection to The Salvation Army
USA EASTERN TERRITORY
HAVE A WORD ¡TOME LA PALABRA! Arguably, it is the phrase that birthed The Salvation Army. “Would anybody like to have a word?” said the leader of the street meeting outside the squalid Blind Beggar pub in London’s East End. That day during the summer of 1865, a young, lanky Reverend William Booth stepped up, riveted the onlookers, and the rest is history. The invitation remains a cherished part of Army meetings around the world —the offer for anybody to “have a word.” Of course, it is pure reformation— divine insight, exhortation, and authority are not the sole prerogative of the ordained clergy. God forbid. Indeed, the testimony period is often the most memorable part of a meeting. The Asbury College revival began as a spontaneous student testimony meeting because the invited speaker had gotten stuck in snow. The Psalmist memorably exhorts, the prequel to many a testimony meeting, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Paul needles timid Timothy, “Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” Ever strategic, Booth realized rough–and–ready testimonies in the accents, language, and colloquialisms of the street could be a powerful tool of communication. Ever earnest, holiness author Samuel Logan Brengle sees quick public testimony to sanctification as key to sealing the experience. Even now, many a quaking 14–year– old, newly enrolled Salvation Army soldier is asked to share a public testimony. Ah! Stuff that makes an army. Would you like to “have a word?”
6
JULY/AUGUST 2018
Es la frase que dio a luz al Ejército de Salvación. “¿Hay alguien que quiera tomar la palabra?”, dijo el líder de la reunión en la calle, a la salida de la taberna del Blind Beggar, en el extremo oriental de Londres, conocido como el East End. Ese día veraniego del año 1865, un joven y espigado Reverendo William Booth se brindó para hablar y cautivó a los presentes, el resto es historia. La invitación sigue siendo una parte muy apreciada de las reuniones del Ejército en todo el mundo: una oferta para que alguien “tome la palabra”. Por cierto, no es otra cosa que una de las expresiones más puras del espíritu de la Reforma: la intuición, exhortación y autoridad divinas no son prerrogativa exclusivas del clero. De ninguna manera. Tanto así, que el momento que se dedica a los testimonios suele ser la parte más memorable de una reunión. El avivamiento de Asbury College empezó como una reunión espontánea de testimonio estudiantil debido a que el orador invitado se había quedado atrapado en la nieve. El salmista nos exhorta memorablemente, anticipando nuestras muchas reuniones de testimonio: “Que lo digan los redimidos del Señor”. Pablo insta en el mismo espíritu al tímido Timoteo: “No te avergüences de dar testimonio de nuestro Señor”. Booth constató que los testimonios espontáneos expresados en los tonos, lenguaje y coloquialismos de la calle podían ser una poderosa herramienta de comunicación. Con su acostumbrada seriedad, el autor Samuel Logan Brengle ve en el improvisado testimonio público, que forma parte del camino hacia la santificación, uno de los pasos que sellan esa experiencia. Incluso en la actualidad, a muchos jóvenes de 14 años, tímidos y nerviosos, al momento de ser enrolados como soldados del Ejército de Salvación, se les pide que tomen la palabra y ofrezcan un testimonio público. ¡Vaya que sí! Así es como se forma un ejército. ¿Le gustaría “tomar la palabra”?
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. 4, No. 6, July/August Issue 2018. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2018 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.
www.saconnects.org www.facebook.com/saconnects www.twitter.com/saconnects
an active army
STAR SEARCH by Hugo Bravo
For as long as Nick George can remember, at least one person in his family was always practicing to participate in Star Search, the Salvation Army’s annual talent showcase. “I remember tapping on a table as my brother John was performing a brass solo at Star Search,” says Nick. “Everyone turned around and whispered at me to stop. I didn’t understand; I was just really into the music!” All the George family children have played a brass solo at Star Search. Sarah, Nick’s sister, has also participated in the dance, singing, and drama showcases. Nick’s drama experience has yielded slightly different results. “Three words into my drama monologue, I froze and forgot the rest of the line,” says Nick. “But, everyone was very supportive. They understood I was nervous, and a few hours later, I was allowed to do the performance over again.” “I’m not much of a drama person,” Nick admits. “But when I do a brass solo, I can let the instrument talk for me, instead of using my own voice.” Nick also points out the importance of practicing for Star Search. At first, he resisted the practice schedules his siblings seemed to love, but nonetheless, putting in the practice hours has paid off. “The confidence I built up at home during those practices helped me in
front of a [Star Search] judge,” says Nick. Nick’s father, Major Ed George, administrator at the Army’s Boston Kroc Corps and Community Center, is also a brass player. He has seen his four children, and many other children from the corps, take part in Star Search. He advises aspiring contestants, “Practicing your talents is important, but with them, you also need an outlet for those talents, whether it’s inside a church, doing a concert, or competing in front of judges,” says George. A week before Star Search, he and Major Barbara George (an accomplished vocalist herself) usually host a mini–concert featuring the corps kids scheduled to participate in the main event. On the Sunday following Star Search, a brass soloist or a drama student performs at the corps. “The purpose of our talents is to honor the Lord,” says Major Ed George. “You can look at Star Search as a competition, but The Salvation Army does not market it as that,” says Major Barbara George. “Star Search is a place of belonging. It’s an opportunity for talented children to meet others who are learning the same songs, and are putting in the same hours of practice.” “More than anything, Star Search performers come back with encouragement. They, and everyone who saw them perform, know they’ve done their best,” says George.
WHAT IS STAR SEARCH? The Salvation Army’s Star Search program is a talent display designed to encourage the development of soloists and groups in dance, vocals, drama, and instrumentation. It motivates performers to become their best and use these skills to bring a message and a blessing to all involved. Star Search is an arena in which the participants learn to support each other. Regardless of the score a child or group may receive, they see and feel the positive support of peers, and are encouraged to continue to work hard and to develop their gifts. In addition to the showcase, corps officers and instructors provide the performers with opportunities to share their abilities throughout the year. Star Search participants learn that their self–worth is not dependent on a score in any contest. Rather, they learn to appreciate their progress and the work they’ve put in, the value of supporting their friends and peers, and to enjoy themselves throughout the process. Each person has something he or she can develop and give—as an offering to others and to God.
2018 JULY/AUGUST
7
the
Sebastian Rich Photography ©
“ The weak need the powerful. But one thing the powerful don’t realize, is just how much they need the weak.” —Jean Vanier
beauty in caregiving “Summer in the Forest” is a documentary about humanitarian Jean Vanier and his compassionate ministry to people with intellectual and physical disabilities. The French–born healthcare pioneer gave up wealth, privilege, and intellectual status to live with and for the poor. Robert Toone, a Vanier enthusiast and a representative for R2W Films of England, shares his thoughts on why Vanier and the film should be important to you. This year, Gerber® chose a child with Down Syndrome to be its brand logo. Will this help the cause? Yes, I’d say that’s quite providential and I do hope so. It certainly helps raise the issue. Another matter most people may not be aware of is, in Europe, there’s a tide of eugenics coming around. For example, Iceland’s stated goal is to become a “Down Syndrome–free country.” Denmark wants to be “free” by 2030. How do they plan to achieve this? By screening. There’s a new test. Before, they used amniocentesis, which was dangerous because it caused some miscarriages. But now, they’ve developed a risk–free blood test. This could lead to abortions or pregnancy terminations. Essentially, the system is saying, “if you have such a child, you can’t cope.” What are you saying? We have to look with compassion on people who are intellectually and physically disabled. We have bad institutions that are often affecting good people. Many parents do want to have a child, but there is this
system. That’s the inspiration behind World Down Syndrome Day, which has been in place since 2005. Who is Jean Vanier? His message is that every person—no matter what his or her abilities or disabilities—has value, has dignity, and has beauty. Beauty is one of his big things. He says that the way we love people is by showing them how beautiful they are. This is what he did. At 89, he is an extraordinary man. Born into the family of the Governor General of Canada, he had a life of wealth and privilege. His father was a WWII hero. When the Nazis invaded France, his family was one of the last to leave. They braved the U–boat blockade to get to Canada. At the age of 14, Jean said to his father, “Papa, I want to join the Royal Navy. I want to fight in the world war.” Surprisingly, his father said, “Jean, if that is what you want, do it. I trust you.” So, he let him go, alone, back across the U–boat blockade. Being underage, Jean joined the Royal Naval College. However, by the time he was old enough to serve, the war had ended. Nonetheless, he became a naval officer and served on the royal yacht Britannia, the queen’s yacht. Last year when the film premiered in the UK, the Queen invited him and others featured in the film to her palace. How did Vanier become interested in people with Down Syndrome? He actually included people with all kinds of intellectual disabilities, on the autism spectrum, and with physical
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
interview by Warren L. Maye
disabilities. While visiting an asylum, Father Thomas, a Catholic (Dominican Order) priest, introduced Jean to them. He immediately felt called by God to address their concerns. Jean said, “I decided to make a home with the poor rather than for the poor.” At the age of 23, he left the Royal Navy and formed the L’Arche (pronounced “larche” and means bridge or arc), a commune at the edge of a beautiful forest near Paris. The lodge was actually open to people of any or no faith. The work was inspired by the Gospel, but was open to everybody. In the 1950s and 60s, the perceived wisdom was that people with disabilities needed to be segregated. As Jean says, “people with mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities are the most oppressed people in the world.” How does oppression affect them? Of course, when people live without love and are institutionalized, they also become brutalized. So, these were often violent institutions. “When a person is abused, something switches inside them,” says Jean. “They then go on a quest to prove something to the world.” For example, in Staten Island, N.Y., there were almost 6,000 people with mental disabilities—many in one place. This was a great scandal and the institution was taken down. The same thing happened in the UK and in many places. Jean believes that we need to embrace a covenant relationship with other human beings, which is what he calls “a family.” If we can’t get that from our
2018 JULY/AUGUST
9
biological family, we should create the experience in community. Jean brought two men together, Philippe and Michel, who are in the film. They had been institutionalized, but he brought them both out, which was a real victory for civil rights at that time. He bought a little flat in a village and he lived there with them. He said, “I lost my life so that two other men would find theirs.” He then took over the lives of 50 other men. He didn’t know what he was doing really, but he just followed God’s call. People who were inspired by his example eventually joined him. His main messages are that people are precious, regardless of their abilities or disabilities; they can only discover this as others see them as such in relationship; and they are beautiful and loved. This sounds so simple. Why then is it difficult for us to trust we have the competence to live with the disabled? Because, Jean says, “we all wear masks.” We play this game. We project a successful image of ourselves. We all know how to do that. We think the masks make us more acceptable than our actual selves. People with intellectual disabilities don’t have those filters. They just show you who they are. In the world today, the only currency is success. Whether we are Christians who go to church every Sunday, or whatever, that is the constant message we get. It surrounds us. It’s on our phones and on our billboards, “If you’re not successful, you’re not worth anything.” Among Jean’s 30 amazing books, he wrote Becoming Human. He talks about how the journey to self acceptance is by becoming vulnerable. He says life is not a utopia, it’s a hope for a place in the Kingdom. When a country’s leadership announces they want to be “Down Syndrome–free,” what does that say
10
JULY/AUGUST 2018
about the culture? Obviously, they can’t force a couple to abort a child, but they are saying they’re doing everything they can possibly do to make their country “Down Syndrome–free.” They are encouraging people to take the test. Sally Phillips, the actor who started the “Bridget Jones's Diary” movies for the BBC, has a Down Syndrome child. She made a film called “Don’t Screen Us
SPREAD THE MOVIE www.summerintheforest.com
Download the outreach materials. Host a movie screening in a theater near you.
Bring the film to your school or community organization.
Out.” It’s an affront to governments that say people—like her son—have no contributions to make to society. What Jean says is, “we think that by making a contribution, giving our time to people with intellectual disabilities, we are helping them. But in doing that, we’ve become aware of and receive an immensely valuable contribution that they make personally to us and to society at large. So, he flips the “helping”
concept on its head. By embracing the weaknesses of others, we also embrace weaknesses within ourselves. What inspired your involvement with this project? I thought, I know all these people who made this film. I also know many other people in the United States who can help. At that moment, I believe God called me to connect them. I prayed with my wife, and we said we would do it. Since then, doors have just opened. What are people saying about this film? When Nicky Gumbel, developer of the Alpha Course, interviewed Priscilla Shirer (daughter of Dr. Tony Evans) about the film, she talked about how touched she was by its message. John Gray, associate pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, concurred with Shirer’s assessment. “I thought I knew what the Gospel was about,” he said. “But I realized how much I have to learn.” The film launched in the UK and was critically acclaimed by The Times of London, the Guardian UK edition, and Sight & Sound magazine. It has the ability to pierce mainstream culture in the way that evangelical films perhaps cannot. This film acts as a subliminal examination of conscience. When you see the way Jean loves, and the way people around him loves, you ask yourself, “Can I do that? Can I do a better job?” How can people "do a better job"? See the film. Beyond that, we’re asking people to become part of a movement that says, “Let’s proclaim that every life is worth living, every life has value, every person has beauty.” This also is an opportunity to reach people who have been closed off from the Christian message. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I’ll become a Christian, if I ever meet one.” I would love to have had him meet Jean Vanier.
Almost hidden in plain sight among the glitz and glamour of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., are homeless families who can’t afford the expensive rents demanded by this popular vacation destination. They are forced to live outside of town where they merely survive in one–room, rundown motels.
That was where Tanya Myers and her three daughters found themselves when The Salvation Army stepped in to provide food assistance and love. Myers sold everything and left her Saratoga Springs last summer to move to Virginia, but her oldest daughter, 16– year–old Kylie, didn’t want to stay there. The family returned three weeks later. “I moved back and found myself with nothing,” Myers recalls. Myers and her two younger daughters, Kaitlyn, 9, and Madison, 6, lived with family before moving into a $250–a– week motel on the outskirts of town for two months. They also brought along a dog and a cat. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT “We were all in one room,” Myers said. “It was cramped up, no space. It was very hard with three kids who want their own space. That wasn’t a fun situation.” The motel room had only one bed and a broken cot; the roof leaked and the floor was damaged. There also was only one sink for everyone to get ready for school and work in the morning. “Some of the families have been there for a long time with their kids and everything,” Myers said of the motel. “One family had five little ones. There were a lot of kids out there. There are a lot of motels around like that where the homeless live.” Myers said her children would catch the school bus at the motel with other homeless children. One of the other mothers soon told Myers about the after–school programs at the Saratoga Springs Salvation Army. Myers called and found out there was transportation and a meal for her kids. Kaitlyn and Madison also got fed the word of God. “They want to do things since coming here,” Myers said of her daughters. “They’re social and talk to people now. It’s been good for them.
12
JULY/AUGUST 2018
THEY’RE CHANGED KIDS “It gives them something to do rather than being on all the electronic devices. It’s great that The Salvation Army came and picked them up and didn’t hesitate to let them join in.” Kaitlin and Madison also go to church on Sunday mornings. Kylie may attend summer camp this summer. The family had no spiritual foundation before because Myers, a licensed practical nurse, often works on Sundays. “It has changed them for the better,” Myers said of her daughters. “They talk about what they do at church and they pray. I think it’s been good for them. I’ve seen a difference.” Myers and her daughters transitioned into a $1,000–a–month, three– bedroom apartment in February after getting her tax returns. “It’s a lot better because where we live is a lot bigger now,” says Kaitlyn. Lieutenant Bree Barker, one of the corps officers in Saratoga Springs, said The Salvation Army works with the Department of Social Services to supply food boxes to the homeless at 10 different hotels. “If they can get to a gas station near the motel, that’s the only food they’re eating,” she said. “We started seeing people coming from motels to our food pantry. “We provide food that can be prepared using only a microwave, since this is usually the only cooking device they have.” MEETING UNMET NEEDS The corps supplies the homeless with food, but the motels are often several miles away, and they find it difficult to carry everything back. Barker and Lieutenant Trisha Smouse, the other corps officer in Saratoga Springs, began driving the homeless back to the motels. “We began to realize there were a lot of kids living in motels,” Barker said.
“We had no idea. You think it’s an adult or two, but sometimes there’s a lot of kids around. So we invited them to programs and they always want to come.” The corps transports the children from the motels to the after–school program three days a week and to church on Sunday. In the last year alone, more than 15 homeless children have started coming to the corps. “I think in the kids’ minds, there is hardly any distinction between the after–school program and church,” Barker said. “Every single one of them transitions to Sunday church services because it’s another chance to get out of that tiny room and they have so much fun at church and really enjoy it. “They’re like, ‘So we get to come to church today?’ They’re sad when it’s a day that we don’t have the after–school program or church.” NOW THEY KNOW JESUS The 12–plus hours a week at the corps gives the kids a break from the close quarters, space to run and play, and a desk space and tutor for homework. They also attend “troop night” once a week and learn how to play musical instruments. Barker said on top of that, the kids get a nutritious “home–cooked” meal and snacks. “The kids also take ‘to–go’ meals home to the rest of their families at night,” she said. “This gives the kids an opportunity to help provide for their family.” Barker said all the children “most definitely” have become Christians and some of the parents even attend on Sunday. Some of the families had attended church in the past, but not all. “We had about three or four families where Jesus was not spoken in their households and they had no idea,” she said. “They all know the Lord now, which is pretty amazing.” Barker said two homeless children were enrolled as senior soldiers on Easter.
“
We began to realize there were a lot of kids living in motels. You think it’s an adult or two, but sometimes there’s a lot of kids around. —Lieutenant Bree Barker
”
“
We clothe them and give them new shoes and something they can feel proud about. They can feel like they’re going to school on a good foot and they’ll be excited to learn. —Lieutenant Bree Barker
”
“This was a huge blessing for the corps to witness,” Barker said. “Not only were these children involved in the corps enough to go through their junior soldier prep class, but they made it all the way to enrollment day and are living lives that represent Jesus in their homes and schools.” THE SADNESS OF MOVING ON Barker said working with families living in motels is “very difficult.” “Their situations don’t have a quick fix,” she said. “There are so many obstacles that stand in their way. They are also transient, resulting in an uprooting from their ‘home’ and also from their church.” In less than a year, Barker said the corps has seen 13 homeless children leave to move to another area. “It is hard for the corps and the families to go through another transition simply because they can’t find local affordable housing,” she said. “When they move, we try to connect them with their local Salvation Army, but there is still heartbreak in our corps when we have to say goodbye. Goodbyes come on a regular basis. “However, we know that even if we were only able to impact their lives with the Gospel for a short time, we still were able to plant a seed that, one day, another officer or pastor will see grow.” Barker said one of the more heartbreaking cases she saw was a family with two parents and five children living in one motel room. “These families live in very cramped spaces,” Barker said. “The motel rooms are very small and often in dangerous places. THE CORPS AS OASIS “There is no place for the parent or child to have their own space for work or play. There is no table for meals to be prepared or eaten on. There is usually no safe place to run outside. Parents and children
easily become overwhelmed when living together in one small room. “These children are in real crisis. Not only do they face crisis in their lives, but they witness the crises of their neighbors in other motel rooms. They are exposed to drugs and alcohol, don’t often get adequate sleep or nutrition, and feel a burden to provide for their families, even though they are so young.” Barker said while the children are at the corps, the parents have an opportunity to find employment, look for permanent housing, and simply have a break. “They know their children are safe, well–fed, and are learning important life lessons,” Barker said. “Sometimes, this results in a quicker transition to permanent housing, which although difficult, is a necessary part of their journey.” Finding permanent housing can be a challenge. The corps was once surrounded by affordable housing, but today it can cost as much as $3,000 a month to live “in a shoebox” apartment, Barker said. YET MORE CHALLENGES “When you live in Saratoga, you are either obscenely rich or you’re everybody else,” she said. “Because there are so many who are obscenely rich, and because it’s a vacation spot, the rental prices are insane. Think like New York City prices. It’s expensive to live here.” “Families end up living in these motels long–term because sometimes it is more cost–effective than renting an apartment.” Many are forced to move away from town, where the bus lines are “completely disastrous,” Barker said. “These people are really struggling because they have to walk everywhere they go, since there’s hardly any buses,” she said. Barker said when she and Smouse have time, they knock on doors at the motels just to shine the light of Christ.
“They really just enjoy being visited by somebody. It’s not somebody knocking on their door because they’re being too loud or wanting to collect a bill,” she said. “It’s just someone who wants to genuinely have an adult conversation with them. They really enjoy it.” A MORE ABUNDANT LIFE Smouse said the number of homeless families surprised her. “I know that it is hard for families to share one living space,” she said. “The only option to escape is to either go outside or through the use of substances. The latter option has resulted in families being torn apart and children put in the care of children services. It is truly heart–wrenching, and we knew that we must get involved. “Through this outreach, we have watched families be reunited with a stronger foundation of family, support, and love. We have also witnessed the children grow in confidence and academics.” The corps also helps with back–to– school clothes for the homeless children. “Kids growing up see they don’t have the same clothes everyone else does,” she said. “They don’t get to go on the expensive vacations like their friends from school, and they see how drastically different their life is simply because they weren’t born into a rich situation.” Barker said the children who don’t have much are often bullied and she wants to minimize that.
nowhere else to turn, but they know they can turn to The Salvation Army and we’ll help them. “We don’t only help them with food, but spiritually, relationally, and mentally with different resources in the community. They know they can get help from us.”
The Salvation Army delivers food assistance to people who can’t make it to a corps. Each food box contains basic nutrition to feed a family of four for three days. If you are in need or know someone who is, reach out to your local Salvation Army office or call the United Way’s First Call for Help by dialing 211.
Lieutenant Bree Barker brings food boxes to families in Saratoga Spings, N.Y.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS “We clothe them and give them new shoes and something they can feel proud about,” she said. “They can feel like they’re going to school on a good foot and they’ll be excited to learn.” Barker said the “love of God” motivates her and Smouse’s outreach. “That influences everything we do,” she said. “These people are truly, truly in need. They’re in crisis, and they have
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
15
A P P Y H
CAMPERS by Heidi Lynn Russell
le
t ´s g o
ng campi
background photo: Jamie Street/Unsplash; wood background: Kieth Misner/Unsplash; polaroids: Major Charles Kelly
C
hirping crickets, one of nature’s very own lullabies, resonate through the woods at Salvation Army summer camps, blanketing children in their soothing song before “lights out.” But surprisingly, they don’t always induce sleep, says Major Susan Kelly, a former divisional youth secretary (DYS) who ran Salvation Army camps Tecumseh and Star Lake. Kelly found, time and again, that after the sun went down, crickets triggered insomnia—and even raw fear—among inner city children who were first–time campers. More than once, a scared or even aggressive child was brought to her camp director office in the middle of the night because of them. “We dealt with behavioral issues, because they were acting out a lot at night. We discovered that they were not used to the quiet, to the crickets chirping. For them, sirens, horn honking, and screaming neighbors are the backdrop when they go to sleep every night. The change was scary to them,” Kelly recalls, adding that camp staff members had to be trained that children who were “acting out” were not being bad or rebellious.
2018 JULY/AUGUST
17
“It’s a way of thinking. Most of us wouldn’t think twice about chirping bugs. But they’re scared to death of them.” Summer camping is about a lot more than pitching a tent or grabbing some marshmallows for a gooey campfire treat. Sure, those fun activities are cozy memories of the camping experience. But nowadays, The Salvation Army is serving youngsters who bring a lot of physical, emotional and spiritual “baggage” into their camp cabins. The fear of crickets is just one example of hurdles that must be overcome while they are fed and nurtured, body, heart and soul. Staff members receive training that some campers may be dealing with situations that no child should ever face, Kelly says. For example, they may be neighborhood targets for drug dealers, gang bangers, and even prostitution rings. Others deal with neglect or abuse. Some come from homes where going to bed hungry is a regular occurrence. Whatever the challenge, however, The Salvation Army’s camping programs offer a steady diet of physical exercise, nutritious food, loving and kind emotional support, and, most importantly, an introduction to Jesus Christ. The goal is that after a week at camp, they’ll spread the love they’ve learned in their own communities, while also continuing to receive support from local officers and programs. “We never make any money on it. We always go into debt with summer camping programs. But the return on ushering these children into the Kingdom of Heaven is worth it,” says Major Tonie Cameron, communications secretary at Eastern Territorial Headquarters. She went from being a kid camper to DYS to director of Camp Long Point in Penn Yan, N.Y.
a study in 2014 on the emotional effects of camping on children. Some findings: Parents reported “significant positive change” in their children’s social skills after attending two weeks of camp. And they said their kids were happier when they got home. Children also reported positive changes in their happiness levels because of camp. Camp programs help kids to learn get–to–know–you skills and how to get along with other people, the ACA says. “Many camp practices and traditions – singing, dancing, telling stories and jokes and playing outdoors – increase positive emotion, which lead campers to feel what they describe as ‘happiness,’” the ACA wrote. In essence, by the time kids finish their stay at a Salvation Army camp, they literally are “happy campers.” UNPLUGGING: THE TECHNOLOGY HURDLE But before kids can fully immerse themselves into the camping experience, they have to unplug from technology first. “Everything is electronic today,” says Kelly. “It’s not their fault, but they don’t know how else to stimulate their minds, except to have their face in some kind of a screen. When they go outside, they don’t even see what’s around them.” Kelly, currently the Area Coordinator and Corps Officer in Toledo, Ohio, says her corps will send about 110 children to Camp NEOSA in Carrollton, Ohio, this summer. Brittany Parks is the Eastern Territorial Children’s Outreach Ministries Coordinator, and as such, she oversees key programs like Sunbeams, Girl Guards, Adventure Corps and Boy Scouts. She regularly travels to different camps all over the Eastern Territory. In 2016, Parks was at a national “jamboree” for teenagers in Missouri. She noticed that hundreds of them were engaged in the outdoor activities, and none of them seemed to be missing their phones or electronic devices. “They were having the time of their lives!” she recalls. What was the difference? It’s something that eventually
L I V E S IMP L E
HAPPY CAMPERS Every summer nationwide, about 200,000 children attend a Salvation Army camp. If you have any doubt about the positive effects of camping on children, just take a look at the research. The American Camp Association, which gives the Army camps their accreditation stamps of approval, did
18
JULY/AUGUST 2018
AT
waterfront, where they threw one rock after another into the lake. As each rock plunked and splashed in the water, they stood side by side in comfortable silence. Finally, the counselor cleared his throat. “Why are you so angry?” he asked. The child broke down. “He poured his heart out. He had a lot going on at home. His parents were separated. Boyfriends of the mom were in and out. He didn’t feel he had Mom’s time or love,” Kelly says. “He changed 100 percent after that. It was a complete turnaround. He just needed to get it off his chest.” Cameron has a story, too—her very own. When she attended camp at age eight, no one knew she was being abused at home in the projects. “But having a safe environment— just having that—and a place where you can be yourself, is huge,” she says. Staff members are trained to notice bruises and to report when children reveal that they are being hurt at home. “When I was a DYS, one word we used all the time was, ‘respect.’ You don’t touch anybody. They don’t touch you. That means counselors and campers. So if someone touches you, they come and tell me. That prevents counselors from doing anything as well. Camp is a safe place and a good place to be. It was the only vacation I ever had as a child,” she says.
& SLEE
P
E
happens with every camper who is dependent on technology, Parks says. Eventually, they relax and begin to sink into their surroundings. Rough emotions become calmer, and eventually, they’re connected – body, mind, heart and soul – to beautiful trees, birds, breezes and water. The “gaming” becomes an afterthought, as does any stress they brought to the camp. “I feel like there is this natural inclination that children have – and you don’t have to lose it in adulthood – to enjoy nature and God’s creation,” Parks says. She was introduced to Salvation Army camping at age 13, when she and her mother had just moved to Flemington, N.J., after being homeless. She attended Camp Tecumseh in Pittstown, N.J., and it changed her life. Parks notes that technology has robbed children of a vital skill – but it is reawakened in them at camp. “When a kid plays with an iPad, their minds aren’t being challenged to create or imagine. Everything is already done for them,” Parks says. “But at camp, there is a point where they don’t know what to do with their devices. Then you see this ‘shift.’ That innate nature comes to life, and they make up a game or start telling stories. Once that shift starts for them, they’re not thinking anymore that they don’t have the gaming system.”
OUTSIDE
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE After camp staff break through barriers that kids put up, it’s time to reach hearts. But helping a child with any emotional or spiritual challenges is not automatic, and sometimes, it requires a great deal of patience and unconditional love. Kelly recalls a little boy at one camp, about age 9, who had been brought to her office a few times for disciplinary issues. She was on the brink of sending him home. He had been angry for days. “He wouldn’t speak; he wouldn’t make friends. He wasn’t fitting in,” she says. One night before the evening program, the child started throwing rocks. His counselor sent the rest of the cabin on ahead while he stayed behind with the child. They went to the
THREE SQUARE MEALS, A BEDTIME SNACK, AND A BOATLOAD OF FUN For the most part, kids are amazed at the variety of food at camp, Kelly says. Menus must meet standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Camp Ladore in Waymart, Pa., for example, participates in the Summer Food Service Program offered by the state of Pennsylvania. Mealtimes, meal content, supervision at meals and proper recording is crucial to the continuance of the contract. All families complete a form that includes information on food stamps, TANF or their FDPIR case number. The camp serves three meals per day, two snack periods in the late
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
19
afternoon (at the ice cream truck at the pool) and a bedtime snack. Staff helps campers make healthy choices so that they are getting enough food at each meal and ensure that they are eating a balanced diet. In America, many take their meals for granted, but many kids at camp are not accustomed to such nutritious fare, Kelly says. “Part of my job was to create the menu,” she says. “Some campers are hesitant to try something like a breakfast burrito. We’d try to think of creative meals, and they were hungry, and they ate it. They weren’t used to three square meals a day and a snack at bedtime.” As childhood obesity is on the rise nationally, the outdoor activities at camp also do much to encourage physical activity and wellness. At Star Lake Camp in Bloomingdale, N.J., for example, a ropes course teaches group unity. Kids learn how to stay connected and cooperate, as they hold hands to get to the end of the course. And of course, nothing beats swimming – a favorite at all camps. “Some kids have never gone swimming. They’re scared to death of it,” Cameron says. Staff members work hard to make sure each child pushes past his or her comfort zone. “Camp challenges kids in a different way. They have a sense of achievement, whether they climb a wall or get their swim band, and that’s a big deal for these kids,” Parks says. TOUCHING THE STARS During a camp session, opportunities abound to awaken children to the majesty of God’s creation – and the way He loves them. One of Parks’s favorite memories from her days as a camp counselor was “wilderness night.” Kids go to a small “wilderness camp,” where they sleep in tents, are taught to make a campfire and take a group walk to a field under a canopy of stars. Because most are from inner cities, where starlight is blocked by city lights or towering buildings, this is a profound experience, she says. “When you see their faces at how bright the stars are, it’s amazing. To see the wonder and awe in their eyes and that moment when they recognize, ‘God made that, and he also made you,’ brings things into perspective,” Parks says. Genesis 1:2 discusses how “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” That verse means a lot to Parks when she recalls those starry nights. “Recently, it really struck me why we have a peace from
20
JULY/AUGUST 2018
1 0 0 0 0 S TA R S
h o t e l
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
21
being outside. His presence is over the land,” Parks says. “Even if you’re not a believer, people who are adventurous and are driven to being outside still feel this peace. And that’s the presence of God.”
nine out of 10 become Christians before age 18. In short, the window to reach lost souls of children is closing, says Barna, a research and resource company located in Ventura, Calif. “Jesus Theater is very powerful,” Parks says. “We underestimate our kids in what they can understand and comprehend. We really do. Kids ask questions about God and who He is. They want to know more.”
22
JULY/AUGUST 2018
g
c
EXPERIENCING JESUS Every day at camp involves some small introduction to Jesus. Each morning, campers have a “gathering,” where they sing worship songs. They have cabin devotions every evening LIFELONG EFFECTS OF CAMPING after they’ve showered and are getting ready for bed. Grace For those who have experienced God’s love personally at at meals is sometimes sung to the tune of “The Flintstones” camp, the effects have been life–long. theme song. Cameron still remembers meeting Jesus at Camp SWONEKY “William Booth did that,” Kelly says, referring to the in Oregonia, Ohio. She still envisions staff members who Salvation Army’s founder. “Catching their attention is the showed her who Jesus was by their actions and by their lives. way we introduce the Gospel.” “During that week, it was a different world for me,” she The message of Christ peppers the day’s activities. Rather recalls. “I was seeing people who didn’t fight. People were nice than just discussing a boating lesson, a counselor may say, “We to each other. It was beautiful. They told you about the love get to go into these boats and of God. It was a safe place for learn about Jesus and His mirme. People loved you right into acles on the Sea of Galilee!” the Kingdom.” “In most activities, there Those who have worked at is some sort of spiritual applicamp agree there’s no better cation,” Parks notes. “When feeling than knowing they love e you’re a child, you believe with introduced a child to God’s w all your heart. Even if you have love. Kelly will never forget a crazy life at home, you still the day a U.S. soldier showed have the ability to believe.” up at Camp Tecumseh with 20 18 The week culminates with his fiancée. salvation–message–focused “He was about to get maractivities on the last day. “Jesus ried and wanted to show her Theater” is presented on the places that had made an am in final evening. It’s a Gospel impact on his life,” she says, p story portrayed through drama adding the memory still makes and music. In this setting, chilher cry. He even remembered dren are invited to accept Jesus the cabin where he stayed and as their personal Savior. the location of his bed. The Salvation Army’s “I believe children will approach has been effective. During the last four years, 28,000 remember what they learned … They should be able to say, children have accepted Jesus as their Savior at summer camps ‘Camp changed my life.’ It impacts everyone who’s there. In across the Eastern Territory. Kelly estimates that two–thirds every job I’ve had as an officer, I’ve pushed camp. I have seen of campers are unchurched when they arrive at camp (those first–hand how it changes kids.” who do not have church homes or have not heard the story of Jesus.) Additionally, a survey by the Barna Group in 2004 found that 43 percent of all Americans who accept Jesus do To find a camp near you go to so before age 13. That’s a stark contrast to earlier claims that saconnects.org and search Happy Campers.
LEAD
If you want to lead, then you’ve got to
leaders for Salvation Army service. However, love makes us seek continual growth and competence for the sake of others. Learning Scripture, languages, soccer, ballet, math, or management requires hard work. But, in moments of clarity, I remember what’s most important. If I could be excellent at just one thing, I would want to excel at loving people. Matthew 22:34–40 has been called “The Great Commandment.” It’s actually one iteration of the love theme that Jesus repeats in all four New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). That makes it important – actually great. But, it’s not just in the Gospels. Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament Torah (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18); Paul asserts it in Galatians 5:14—“The whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Who has gone to a Christian wedding without hearing someone read 1 Corinthians 13 (Paul’s Ode to Love)? It’s affirmed throughout the New Testament.
by Isaiah Allen
This Commandment has two parts; love the Lord and love your neighbor. I believe they’re intertwined. Our love for others is a reflection of God’s love for people and a demonstration of our love for God. That’s what 1 John 4:16–21 suggests—“We love because he first loved us.” Both the logic for love and the capacity to love originates in God. As Paul said, “The fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Galatians 5:22). Although love can sometimes be winsome and rewarding, it is often stark and costly. We don’t use love to gain anything or feign love to abuse or to manipulate. When empowered by the Spirit, love is transformative for all involved. Relationships become a ground for sharing the gospel and for experiencing the gospel. Love is truly The Maker’s mark of a Christian leader. By the grace of God, the virtue of Christ Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, let us be excellent at love. Though too often neglected in a “me first” world, knowing how to love and being willing to do it is pivotal for leaders.
“ Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —MATTHEW 22:36–40
iStock
As kids, every week after church softball or volleyball, my dad brought us to Friendly’s® for ice cream sundaes. We’d order Jim Dandies and Banana Splits—the most expensive dishes on the dessert menu. My dad always got the Brownie Sundae. For me and my three brothers, our visits to Friendly’s was about the treats; for my dad, it was about us being together. Working multiple jobs, he treasured those times. My dad’s life exhibited a pattern of humble, sacrificial love. Nowadays, my wife and I have a short list of three actions we try to do every day with each of our kids: pray, hug, and make a happy memory. At night, we sometimes review our three– point checklist, while there’s still time. Know–how, skills, credentials, and degrees listed on a résumé may impress people or qualify you for a job; but they fall short of winning people’s loyalty and affection, and they can’t transform their lives. For that, you need to show love—humble, fervent, sacrificial, everyday love. It is love that “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) and “casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18). Even holding a PhD or a black belt in Karate cannot do that. We can fall flat by missing the reason (love) and the purpose (others) for personal leadership development. Don’t get me wrong; having a baseline of knowledge and skills is essential for any job. I spend my time and energy developing training programs to nurture
love.
2018 JULY/AUGUST
23
TEBOW TIME in Binghamton by Robert Mitchell
Associated Press
“Tee–bow! Tee–bow! Tee–bow!” Tim Tebow, the former NFL quarterback–turned–minor league baseball player, is the designated hitter for the Class AA Binghamton, N.Y., Rumble Ponies, but the crowd treats him more like a rock star. Every time the hulking slugger emerges from the dugout for the on– deck circle, the fans erupt into cheers and begin chanting his famous name. Tebow doesn’t disappoint, reaching base all four times and knocking in the winning runs for Binghamton. When he dives back into first base on a routine pickoff attempt, the crowd cheers again like he has hit a walk–off homer. It’s a long way from the bright lights of the NFL to riding buses in the lower levels of minor league baseball. An outspoken Christian, Tebow says he still finds time to keep up a vigorous
24
JULY/AUGUST 2018
devotional life while on the road, pursuing his latest dream. “Well, hopefully, your spiritual life doesn’t change necessarily whatever you’re doing—whether that’s baseball, football or whatever aspect of life,” Tebow said before the game. “I’m not a baseball player who’s a Christian; I’m a Christian who takes that into every aspect of my life. It’s just who I am. “So, it’s just staying around great people, staying in the Word, praying a lot, and maintaining that relationship with the Lord every day.”
FAITH ON DISPLAY Tebow had never been to Binghamton prior to being assigned to the Rumble Ponies but said he plans to shine the light of Christ wherever God sends him. “If there’s a way I can help a community and be someone who can be a
little bit of a light, whether that’s visiting a hospital, encouraging kids, or bringing hope and maybe even helping the economy, that would be awesome if there were ways I could help,” Tebow said. “I’ve met some awesome people so far, and hopefully, I’ll just continue to build great relationships with the people here.” It’s clear that his humble Christian spirit has already won people over. During pre–game batting practice, Tebow shags fly balls and picks up baseballs like all of his less–famous teammates. “I have a good relationship with everyone in the clubhouse,” Tebow says. Tebow’s Christian faith permeates whatever he does. The song that plays as he comes to bat—known as “walkup music”—is Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies).” The bat Tebow swings is made by
profile
the Christian–based Dove Tail Bat Co. in Maine. The company’s owner has explained that the dove represents the Holy Spirit.
A NEW CHALLENGE Tebow, who hit a homer on the first pitch he saw at the AA level, had a five–game hit streak early in the season for Binghamton. When he signed with the New York Mets in 2016, he hadn’t played baseball since high school. “I feel like I’m getting used to it,” Tebow said of being in AA after a season of A ball. “I’m improving every day. It’s also just the way baseball goes. Some days you feel you did really well and it won’t drop and some days you won’t hit as good, but you’ll find a lot of open areas. “So it’s not always just worrying all the time about the statistics, even though that’s hard. You’re really focusing on the process, where you’re at, how you’re seeing pitches, and how you’re adjusting to different pitches. “This is a really tough league with a lot of really good players. You’re competing against a lot of the best in the world who are very close to being in the bigs.” Tebow said one of the biggest differences between A ball and AA is that the AA pitchers have better control and walk fewer hitters. “I think you see special stuff,” Tebow said. “I think probably in this league you just see a little bit more refined arms, where they’re able to locate a little bit better and use their off–speed stuff more when they want to. I think that’s probably the biggest difference.”
TRUSTING GOD Tebow, who hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2012 season, was offered a chance to end his baseball dreams and play for the Orlando team in the new Alliance of American Football League, but he turned the offer down.
BRIGHT FUTURE
“Right now, I’m focused on baseball,” Tebow said. “This is my goal and my pursuit and I’ll stay focused on that.” Tebow, 30, was born in the Philippines to missionary parents. His mother suffered a life–threatening illness during the pregnancy and was urged to get an abortion. She refused and told God if He gave her a son, she would name him Timothy and make him a preacher. The child was not only born healthy, but today Tebow is a muscular 6–3, 255 pounds and towers over most of his Binghamton teammates.
“
Tebow, besides pursuing his baseball dream, is a college football analyst with ESPN’s SEC Network. He also runs the Tim Tebow Foundation, which he began in 2010 with a mission to “bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.” The foundation sponsors proms for people with special needs called “Night to Shine.” Tebow, an author, has a new book coming in September called This Is the Day: Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose. His previous book, Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Trials, was named “2017 Christian Book of the Year” by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Tebow, through his publicist for WaterBrook, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, said he wants This Is the Day to awaken readers to think differently, live better, and dream bigger. “Imagine the morning alarm going off, and instead of groaning or slapping the snooze button, our minds, our hearts, and our souls are awakened to possibilities. Something better. Something more,” says Tebow. “Imagine waking up each day, fueled by a whisper, ‘This is the day.’ Because life isn’t about one day. It’s about this day.” Tebow, who has spoken at many Salvation Army events, had kind words for the ministry. “I have a lot of admiration for The Salvation Army and what they do,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to do different things with them and I think they’re a great organization that helps a lot of people.”
I have a lot of admiration for The Salvation Army and what they do. I’ve been blessed to do different things with
them and I think they’re
a great organization that
”
helps a lot of people. Tebow was homeschooled, but went on to win a football scholarship to the University of Florida, where he led the Gators to two national championships and won the coveted Heisman Trophy as the nation’s best player. Unashamed of his faith, Tebow often talked openly about Christ and in college wore Bible verses on his eye black. A first–round NFL draft pick, Tebow went on to play for the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets and would sometimes pray on the sidelines. His “Tebowing” prayer stance became a national fad.
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
25
wholly living
by Chris Stoker
Happy summer, friends. We hope it has been good for you thus far. It’s a season of shifted schedules with vacations, breaks from school for the kids, camp trips, and so many other things. For some, it’s a refreshing change. For others, it can be unsettling or frustrating. Many more aren’t affected at all. For them, work and life are still the same, just warmer. Regardless of how summer finds you this year, the change is a great time to reinforce your spiritual rhythms. Spiritual Life Development (SLD) has once again created a Prayer Resource for the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings (OOB) that we’d like to preview here and make available to you soon. Our 2018 resource, called “Rhythms of Prayer,” explores six prayer disciplines that we hope will bring some warmth to your prayer life. We will cover a different prayer each day and provide for you some history, theological background, and helpful thoughts on practicing the prayer. We invite you to set aside some time each day to read through the material and commit a few moments to the day’s prayer. As another prayer experience, we will close each night with the Prayer of Examen, an Ignatian exercise dedicated to looking for God’s presence in your life. Also included this year is a Family Devotional section, provided by Major Marie Larrinaga and Joanna Polarek, that looks closely at The Lord’s Prayer. There are six sessions for you to engage in with your family whenever you’d like to. The materials are accessible to all ages and give some good, practical, and memorable insight to this familiar prayer. It’s our hope that you and
26
JULY/AUGUST 2018
your family are blessed through those moments. We’ve included below a general overview of the prayers we will be focusing on. Whether you’re at OOB or anywhere else, whether it’s from July 29–Aug 3 or any other time, we look forward to you joining us in “Rhythms of Prayer.” You’ll also find an Appendix in this year’s resource including information on other prayer experiences like Breath Prayer, Centering Prayer, Tongsung Kido*, Listening Prayer and praying the Shema. As with the main resource, we will provide some background for each of these prayer strategies for those interested in further information. We hope you take the opportunity to embrace “Rhythms of Prayer.” It’s a great addition to an already great week if you are visiting Old Orchard Beach this summer. A few minutes on the beach in the morning or before you turn off the lights at night are perfect for some prayer. Or if you’re at home enjoying a summer’s day, prayer goes great with a tall glass of lemonade or while the kids play outside. Whatever the summer brings to your life, remember to take a few moments for yourself and your own spiritual growth. We are praying for you and we hope this prayer resource is both informative and transformative for you this summer. Don’t forget to follow USA East SLD on Facebook and let us know about your experiences with “Rhythms of Prayer.” * Tongsung Kido literally means “praying together out loud” and is a prayer practice that has grown out of Korean Christianity.
DAY 1. THE LORD’S PRAYER
DAY 2. THE JESUS PRAYER
“If somebody said, give me a summary of Christian faith on the back of an envelope, the best thing to do would be to write Our Lord’s Prayer.” In 2009, Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) wrote these words in his journal. In the waning years of the 3rd century, Tertullian referred to the Lord’s Prayer in his commentary as “an abridgment of the entire Gospel.” It’s been a foundational prayer of the Christian community since the day His disciples went to Him and said, “Teach us how to pray...” (Luke 11:1). We begin with that foundation. In the early church it was said between 3 and 12 times each day. It is simple, yet deep. It is beautiful and profound. It is a great place to begin an exploration of prayer.
“Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The “Jesus Prayer” has been a part of all three branches of Orthodox Christianity for a very long time. The practice of saying it likely has roots in the desert mothers and fathers of the 5th century. Its scriptural basis likely comes from an amalgamation of similar prayers in Luke 18 and Mark 10. There are four simple parts, each one revealing a profound theological truth. Some church fathers have called “The Jesus Prayer” the most powerful prayer in Christianity. As we explore these words, we will also explore how they so perfectly express our relationship with Jesus and His daily mercies for us.
The OOB Prayer Resource, Rhythms of Prayer, is available at www.saconnects.org/SLD.
DAY 3. INTERCESSORY PRAYER/PRAYING IN COLOR Intercessory prayer is an absolutely essential practice for the body of Christ. Scripture is full of examples of praying for others. There are many ways to pray for our brothers and sisters, this week we will explore “Praying in Color,” an intercessory prayer strategy based on a book by Sybil MacBeth. Perhaps the best part of this prayer experience is that you don’t have to be an artist at all to participate. You’ll have a visual reminder of your time spent in prayer that will continue to bring those you are praying for to your heart in meaningful ways.
DAY 4. PRAYING SCRIPTURE
DAY 6. SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
Why can’t God’s Word to us be our words back to Him? The Psalms are an ancient hymnal. We find prayers throughout the Bible. Every word is a gift to us and reveals something of God to and for us. We will look at a few Prayers of Wisdom with this exercise. As we pray the words of Scripture ...
This is often a starting place in spiritual disciplines. It’s important to set aside some space in our lives, to separate ourselves a bit from the hustle and bustle where we can focus on simply being in God’s presence. It is so easy to fill the time with tasks and the space with stuff that we often lose track of ourselves. Yet Scripture tells us to “Be still and know that I am God.” The disciplines of silence and solitude do just that. It is in silence and solitude that we truly realize that prayer is so much more meaningful in God’s presence.
… we give up analyzing them and breaking them down. … we submit to them in those moments. … we listen to ourselves and to God so they can take hold of us in the way that He desires.
DAY 5. PRAYER AND FASTING Fasting is a spiritual discipline which is ultimately a rhythm of being with yourself and with God in the world. It’s a means of sacrifice that expresses trust. In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster reminds us that “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.” When we combine our prayers with fasting and other disciplines, our availability to God’s transforming work is multiplied and our perception of His work and purpose is multiplied.
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
2018 JULY/AUGUST
27
Q & A
“ You can bounce back. There is hope out there.”
28
JULY/AUGUST 2018
Dr. Tony Evans
interview by Warren L. Maye
In his new book, Your Comeback: Your Past Doesn’t Have To Determine Your Future, Dr. Tony Evans, founding pastor of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, journeys through the Bible to study examples of comebacks and the principles God prescribes for our lives. Recently, he was picked as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English–speaking world.* As the first African–American to graduate with a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), he served as an associate professor in DTS’s Pastoral Ministries Department in the areas of evangelism, homiletics, and black church studies. For three decades, Evans has served as chaplain for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the longest standing NBA chaplaincy on record. He’s also the former chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys. Through his local church and national ministry, Evans promotes a kingdom agenda philosophy that teaches God’s comprehensive rule over every sphere of life as demonstrated through the individual, family, Church, and society. This philosophy connects biblical spirituality with social responsibility. Evans teaches that the Church is the best social service delivery system, since it is closer to the needs of the people, offers the largest potential volunteer force, has facilities for outreach programs, and provides a moral and spiritual frame of reference for making right choices.
You’ve spoken at several Salvation Army events. What is your personal connection with the Army? When I was in college, I worked for one of the Army’s Boys’ Clubs in Atlanta. That’s how I paid my bills through a good portion of my college days. Through that mechanism, I got to know the Army a little bit more. As I graduated and got into ministry, I was asked to come and speak at some Army events. What’s interesting is, today, my son Jonathan regularly speaks at men’s events sponsored by The Salvation Army. So we’re continuing this mini–legacy here! You’ve written more than 100 published works. Why did you decide to write Your Comeback? As a pastor, I realize that people are hurting. People need help. They need to understand that how they are now and how they have been, is not how life has to always be. I want to show, both through the Bible and in practical life, that God is regularly bouncing people back from their sins and their circumstances. That doesn’t mean they won’t have problems, but it does mean they’re not owned by them. God can lift you out of yesterday and give you a better tomorrow. So, the increase in hopelessness caused me to say, “You can bounce back. There is hope out there.” What is causing this hopelessness? [At the Urban Alternative] we divide the world into four categories; the individual, the family, the Church, and the broader society. You see breakdowns in all of those categories. Individually, people’s lives are being shattered by addictions, confusion, depression, and personal
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
struggles. Family breakdowns are all over the place; we see divorce, abuse, and neglect. We also see churches that are declining. We see the lack of unity within churches. Then we look at society, and we’re divided in every kind of way possible—politically, racially, culturally. In every one of these categories, things seem to be spiraling downward. We see the violence that we’re dealing with everywhere we look. People just don’t know what to do. When I look at the school shootings, I wonder, are they also an indication of the downward spiral? Absolutely. That is what I call the dumbing down of the conscience. The less your conscience is operative, the less you care about yourself and others. Your conscience is like the detector at the airport that would beep when you go through. The conscience is designed to beep when you are off. But if that detector is not sensitive, then it won’t beep. When it doesn’t beep, you don’t respond because there is nothing clueing you that you are moving in the wrong direction. That’s tied to the breakdown of the family, which is supposed to instill sensitivity to the conscience. I also think about the shootings that occur daily, but don’t make the news. How do we come back from a consciousness that normalizes such events? Well, we have to understand why we’re at this point; we are here because life no longer matters to a significant degree. So, you can take it away easily, if it doesn’t matter. But a lot of things have gone into that. Life doesn’t matter in the womb—abortion; life doesn’t matter in the family. The question now is, “where am I picking
2018 JULY/AUGUST
29
up my values; from the media? from the movies? from the gangs?” So we’re picking up a competing value system. If that value system tells me, “in order to survive, I’ve got to get rid of you,” then I begin to operate out of that illegitimate value system. So, our next generation is being trained by the wrong people. This has become culture wide. Now, no matter where you go, including schools, like a pinball machine, you are bouncing into anti–God values.
Where in our country is this happening? In our ministry, The Urban Alternative, we’re seeing in each one of those categories training for the individual, the family, the Church, and the community. As people are getting exposed to it, they are infiltrating these systems. So, we’re beginning to see it through what we’re doing and I know there are other entities that seek to do it too. But it’s a slow process. We didn’t get here overnight. So, we’re not going to get from here to where we need to be overnight.
We think we’re so in tune to what’s going on in the world, but are we actually becoming calloused to them? Absolutely, and it’s spiritual in nature. When God is removed from any sphere, nature will create a vacuum that will be filled with things that are anti–God. God has been removed from lives, from families, from our schools, and from our
How do the stories in Your Comeback address these issues? Well, I show in a number of scenarios where people have made mistakes, where they have sinned, where circumstances have looked impossible. But God not only helped them, He actually reversed it. When you can see how that happened in biblical days, and when you learn the principles God uses
“
God can lift you out of yesterday and give you a better tomorrow.
culture. With that dissipation of the presence of God and the value system of God, our world is going to be filled with anti–God. So what do we do to fill the vacuum and make our world more pro–God? That’s a good question. Our churches of faith are going to have to go back to what I call “A Kingdom Agenda.” We define it as “The visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life.” We’ve got to get back to infusing God’s value system into every segment of our society. That will come through disciple making, not just church going. We’ve got plenty of churches, but we’re not making enough disciples. Because we don’t have full–time followers, we wind up with part–time saints. So, it’s absolutely critical that the churches now re–infuse a value system into their individuals and families and then release them into the world—into the places where they work, play, and go to school.
30
JULY/AUGUST 2018
”
for it to happen today, then you get hope. You can go a long way with hope. Even if you haven’t seen something change yet, to know it could change, it might change, and it has changed for others before, will help you keep going, rather than give up and throw in the towel. Why is the biblical character Naaman so important in Your Comeback? Well, Naaman had leprosy. Of course, leprosy is used in the Bible as an illustration of the growth of sin in our lives. He had physical leprosy and there was no way to heal him. He’s in a hopeless situation. He’s told to go to Elisha, who has the answer. Elisha tells him to go wash in the Jordan River. But then Naaman uses two words, “I thought.” He uses human understanding to say, “that won’t work. That doesn’t sound like a winnable solution to my everlasting problem.” The servant of Elisha asks, “why don’t you just try what the prophet said?” Then, Naaman dips into the river seven times (the number of
completion) and rises with skin like a baby. Not only is his leprosy healed, it’s reversed. So, he’s actually better off than before because he followed God’s word, to the tee. Are people such as Naaman actually getting in their own way? Yes. We trip over ourselves regularly. We trip over each other, but our feet get entangled too—with ourselves, and then we blame it on other people. That’s because we do what Naaman did. We say, “I think,” “my opinion is,” “I feel.” When those thoughts and feelings go against God, we’re wrong, not God. How have you made a comeback? Well, there’s a couple of them. Many people don’t know that, when I was growing up, I stuttered badly. I could hardly get out a sentence without tripping over my words. Back then, no one imagined I would be doing what I’m doing today [preaching] as my work and profession. So, God turned that around. He used some godly people in my life so I could do what I’m doing now. I also had a poor academic background. I was only allowed in school on probation. But I eventually graduated with a doctorate and with academic honors. You would not have thought this urban kid from Baltimore could have succeeded this way. But because of spiritual influences, my life got turned around. So, I’ve had some turnarounds too. We all need them on some level. I’m just glad God still gives them! Will there be supporting materials accompanying Your Comeback? Yes. We just launched a Tony Evans Training Center online where people can go and get training on some of the principles that are in the book. Just go to TonyEvans.org. * Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching, Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary survey results for 2018. Dr. Tony and Lois Evans are the parents of Chrystal Evans Hurst (author and speaker), Jonathan Evans (chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys), Anthony Evans (Christian vocalist), and Priscilla Shirer (evangelist and actor in “War Room,” and “If I Could Only Imagine”).
to your health
Guys, How’s Your Health? These tips can help you live long and well.
Sound sleep can help you feel your best and do your job well. It’s also critical to building your body’s defenses against infection, illness, and heart disease.
Get routine medical and dental exams. Maintain a strong relationship with your providers.
Slather on sunscreen. Use a minimum 30 SPF outdoors to help prevent skin cancer and facial wrinkles.
Don’t ignore signs of depression. Ongoing worry, sadness and negative feelings can lead to insomnia and alcohol abuse.
Add daily doses of fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals. Check out the summer fruit bonanza below!
Guard your heart. Keep your weight and blood pressure in check, and get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, each week. Get your health care provider’s approval first if you’re unaccustomed to exercise.
Strength training keeps your muscles strong. It also helps manage or prevent many chronic health conditions, including arthritis and back pain. Get your provider’s okay first if you have a chronic ailment.
Spending time with family and friends can be as good for you as maintaining a healthy weight or being tobacco–free.
© 2018 Ebix Inc. dba Personal Best. All rights reserved. Not intended as a substitute for professional care.
Summer Fruit Bonanza
Having 15 or more alcoholic drinks per week is heavy drinking, which can cause poor sleep, poor work, chronic health problems, and premature aging.
find us on facebook / estamos en facebook / 페이스북 방문 환영 www.facebook.com/saconnects
Fresh, juicy fruits are the tastes of summer. Savor the best of the season by pairing fruit with your meals and snacks. Pop some grapes and berries in the freezer—when blended, they’re a makeshift ice cream. Grill pineapple and peaches on the barbecue, add berries to green salads and make fun fruit kabobs for the kids. Buy from farmers markets to see how wonderful fresh fruit tastes straight from the field. Studies show that eating fruit helps keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check–key to heart health. So the next time you crave a regular soft drink or a candy bar, grab some strawberries or peaches instead. –by Cara Rosenbloom, RD
2018 JULY/AUGUST
31
testimony
With God next to me interview by Hugo Bravo
When addicts enter the Harbor Light Complex for the first time, I remind them that, throughout their Two are better than one, recovery, they will never be alone. I will be there for because they have a good return for their labor: them, but more importantly, God will be there for them. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. I tell them, “People can suddenly leave your life. But pity anyone who falls You might feel like you’ve let them down, or they may and has no one to help them up. even push you away when you extend your hand. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But even when you feel like the world has given up But how can one keep warm alone? —ECCLESIASTES 4: 9–11 on you, God will be standing next to you, at all times, just as He has stood next to me.” When I was only 12 years old, my stepfather died of an overdose. As I watched (PASS) Program at the Harbor Light THE MISSING PIECE him lose his life to addiction, I told myself, Complex in Cleveland had helped me find I had to rely on something more than that life of drug use, that pain to myself a home during my early days of recovery. the people in front of me. I had my and others… that will never be me. But when I returned for help once again, I counselors and my own desire to get suffered another devastating loss. clean, but I was still missing that piece THE PAINFUL LOSSES Adam, my younger brother, had dealt to complete the puzzle. Without it, the When I was 26, I had a job as a hospiwith pain for most of his life. He was born urge to use drugs would come back. tal nursing assistant, work that I valued with a cleft palate and, at an early age, I made a conscious choice to and enjoyed. But an injury left me had multiple surgeries. At six years old, live my life for God rather than just sidelined. That was when painkillers he took Vicoden for the pain of a broken for myself or for others. He was that became part of my daily routine. This arm suffered during a pool accident. puzzle piece; a perfect fit, but missled to my own addiction, conflicts with Well into his teens, he continued to ing from my life. People may fail you, the law, and probation. take the drug to relieve any difficulty or you might feel like you have failed At the time, I was living with my he felt. He was always able to find pills, them, but God will never fail you or Uncle Richard. I was trying my best because my mother took the same judge you for your mistakes. to help him in his old age, while hiding medicine. His addiction got him thrown With God next to me, I’m taking the struggles of my addiction. When he in prison for five years. everything back that my addiction took passed away, I was lucky to be in the Many times, I asked him to get the from me. I’m ready for life once again, Lorain, Ohio, Salvation Army recovery help he needed. I made the arrangeand I am ready to help others with their program. It helped me deal with the ments to have rooms ready for both of journey to recovery. pain of losing the only person I felt really us at the Harbor Light Complex, and In Ecclesiastes 4: 9–11, the Lord states believed in me. even packed a bag for him. I hoped the importance of being there for others Thinking of all the times I had let that we would face our addictions and in their time of need. We must all extend Uncle Richard down made me want difficulties together. But the day my a hand to people suffering from addiction. to do better. In recovery, they always mother drove me to the Harbor Light Just as I pray to God for my continued say to do it for yourself, not for others. Complex, he refused to even get in the recovery and health, I also pray that But in the back of my mind, I wanted to car with us or to say goodbye to me. He continues to guide me to souls who show him that I could be the person he Months later, Adam died of an oversuffer from addiction as I once did. wanted me to be, because I knew he dose. He was another person whom I was still with me. cared deeply about but who died, even —Antonio Boyette is an adherent at The Salvation Army’s Pickup, as I tried to reach out to help him. The Salvation Army Harbor Light Complex in Cleveland, Ohio Assessment, Shelter, and Services I then suffered a relapse.
32
JULY/AUGUST 2018
Gathering ATION AR ALV ES
ME
IE
S
MY
FACEBOOK.COM/WOMENSMINISTRIESUSAEASTERNTERRITORY
O
W
#GATHERING2018 SACONNECTS.ORG/GATHERING2018 #ENCUENTRO2018 SACONNECTS.ORG/ENCUENTRO2018
TH
GATHERING is a movement to cultivate authentic community. It’s a monthly group of women who commit to meet for a meal and guided conversations that go deeper than our usual chatting. What will emerge when we gather intentionally to explore life themes? Maybe encouragement, love and healing? See your corps officer for more details.
N ’S M I N I S T
R