SAconnects, Volume 5, Number 3 — April 2019

VOL. 5, NO. 3 • APRIL 2019

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Biblical illiteracy in the U.S. – page 8

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the General’s Easter message

Do Not Be Afraid What causes you to be afraid? Is it the dark, spiders, illness, heights, confined spaces, money problems or the future? A myriad of things are understandable causes of fear, and often that fear is accompanied by anxiety. There is a recurring theme throughout Scripture where God tells us not to be afraid.

At Christmas we noted the words from the angel Gabriel to Mary as she was told she would be the mother of Jesus, “Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:30). Remember that according to the Bible, angels are not quite the same as the helpless, beatific, tinsel–adorned young girls and boys who portray them in nativity plays—Psalm 103:20 describes them as “mighty.”

The shepherds were comforted by the same phrase with the appearance of an angelic host (Luke 2:10). In Matthew’s account of the Resurrection morning, the first words of the angel at the tomb are, “Do not be afraid” (28:5). Just a few verses later, the women meet Jesus and His first words are, “Do not be afraid” (v 10).

The Old Testament addresses the same issue as Joshua is about to succeed Moses. We read Moses’ encouraging words in Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” There is also the promise from God in Isaiah 43:1, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” And at the end of the New Testament, as John sees Jesus in his vision and falls at his feet, Jesus again says, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17).

So, we see that throughout Scripture God says to us, “Do not be afraid.” In the life of Christ, even from the foretelling of His birth, to the announcement of the same, to that first Easter morning, we hear those same words, “Do not be afraid.” It seems clear to me that God is inviting us to move from a place of fear to a position where we implicitly trust this “immeasurably more” God who never fails.

These words from God are not just trite advice. For those who know God and share life with him, there is no need to be afraid because God has overcome the world (John 16:33), defeated sin on the Cross, and conquered death—as revealed by the empty tomb! We need to remember this when fear takes hold of us.

God is not a distant, powerful deity; He is an ever–present God who seeks to live with and in His people. We need to couple the instruction of “Do not be afraid” with the recurring promise we read before, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When fear takes hold, we should remember not only the omnipotence, all–powerfulness of God; we should remember that He is right with us, beside us and in us. God’s perfect love “drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).

What is happening in your world and in your life this Easter?

Anyone who is struggling with sin and recurring cycles of behavior that they feel unable to break can choose not to be afraid, but to trust in the God who broke the power of sin on the Cross. Anyone who is facing significant challenges in life within the family, at work or with health, for example, can choose not to be afraid, but to trust in the God for whom nothing is impossible. Anyone who is experiencing grief and loss can choose not to be afraid, but to trust in the God who conquered death and promises eternal life.

So, this Eastertide, do not be afraid. Remember—God is with you. Do not be afraid.

Remember—God is bigger than the situation you are facing. Do not be afraid. Our God is victorious, and He invites us to share in His victory!

— General Brian Peddle

Una versión en español de este mensaje está disponible en SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL

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contents VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 3

in every issue 3 from the editor 5 relevents 7 an active army 22 snapshot 30 wholly living

departments 6 testimony Soldier Patty Vrotney talks about her “ark of safety.”

24 to your health Educating yourself about carbohydrates can help you maintain a more balanced diet.

25 FAITH in ACTION Liz and Chris Winborn are “all in” when it comes to teaching the Bible.

26 Q & A

Special issue: Biblical Illiteracy

8 Losing our first love

The USA Eastern Territory is home to eight of the top 10 post–Christian cities in America, according to the Barna Research Group. What can be done about this problem plaguing the Church?

10 Back to Bible basics Facing biblical illiteracy head on with the E100 Bible Reading Challege.

Kennith Armstead offers a unique resume as he joins the Salvation Army’s National Corrections Committee.

28 great moments From its founding by Robert Raikes to the new Orange program implemented by The Salvation Army, the time–honored tradition of Sunday school has a rich and fascinating history.

32 20/20 vision highlights

15 The Man Cave

Monday nights are a special time of Bible reading, fellowship, and prayer at the Pittsburgh Temple Corps.

Corps around the territory continue to catch the 20/20 Vision. Read about the latest news from Lebanon, Pa., Meriden, Conn., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Manhattan, N.Y.

20 Never too late

Blanca and her daughter Alba opened a Bible for the first time at the Salvation Army’s Schenectady, N.Y., Corps.

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Para leer los artículos en español por favor visite SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL

from the editor the magazine

your connection to The Salvation Army

USA EASTERN TERRITORY 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, Joe Marino, Mabel Zorzano STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Love CIRCULATION Doris Marasigan COMMAND NEWS CORRESPONDENTS PENDEL Major Kathryn A. Avery EMP Jaye C. Jones GNY Major Susan Wittenberg MASS Heather McFarlane 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. 5, No. 3, April Issue 2019. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2019

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

Family–friendly Vacations Jesus knows the value of a family–friendly environment.

When children desired multiple hugs from the Savior, He simply said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” (Matt. 19:14). He wanted His ministry to attract and touch each one of them.

During another legendary gathering, a multitude of people listened to Jesus preach. As time went on, they got hungry. Noticing their need, He turned to a boy in the crowd and asked for his lunch. The boy and everyone else were amazed to see Jesus somehow duplicate just five loaves of bread and two fish into enough food to feed 5,000 men and their families. That day, they all enjoyed an ample meal for the body as well as for the soul (Matt. 14:17–21).

To Jesus, all of these people were potential members of His family—the family of God. In our next issue, we’ll take a look at some God–honoring, family–friendly vacation spots. As you relish your days of relaxation while listening to the Lord’s word, you’ll also rest assured that your children are safe, fed, and having a good time.

We’ll take you to the massive Sight & Sound Theaters in Lancaster, Pa., and in Branson, Mo.; to the new and fascinating Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.; and to the full–sized replica of Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter in Grant County, Ky. We’ll show you places where your children can experience exciting fun, learn about biblical history, and deepen their love for Jesus, for each other, and for the entire family of God. See you then!

— Warren L. Maye, Editor in Chief

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relevents

Isaiah Allen, Corps Leadership Development Bureau director for the Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory, talks about adoption; Christianity in Nigeria, West Africa; and how the gospel message can be summed up in one word—welcome. interview by Hugo Bravo

My wife Ellen and I had discussed adoption for years—even though we’d been married over 19 years and had four biological children of our own. So, when we lived in Kentucky, we adopted siblings Jayden and Rosie from a neighboring town. We wanted Zac, Barney, Julia, and Sophia to have the experience of opening one’s home to others. Psalm 68:6 says, “God places the lonely in families...” and we wanted our family to experience His grace in that tangible way.

While teaching at a seminary in Kaduna State, Nigeria, I learned that on average, 1,000 people convert to Christianity there every day. These new Christians are just as hungry for biblical knowledge as the early Christians were. I know this because as new converts, they often asked, “What is the Christian response to persecution?” and “How do we evangelize our neighbors?” As many as 2,000 years ago, people living in New Testament times asked those same questions, which represent the lens through which modern–day biblical interpreters should look at Scripture.

Welcome is one of the most beautiful words in the English language. It sums up the message of the gospel.

Jesus talked about how the Father will welcome us into His house, and when He washed the feet of visitors, it was His way of saying, “I welcome you.” I often revisit a litany of passages in Scripture that talk about the concept of welcome, such as when Jesus visited Simon’s home. There, a woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Jesus forgave the woman’s sins, acknowledged her loving act of welcome, and chastised Simon for failing to show such hospitality to Him.

I wanted to be a ballet dancer and as a Salvation Army junior soldier, I had also promised to help people to follow Jesus. This pledge defined my life. I constantly talked about the Bible to others. After hearing a sermon on how the Sabbath is a gift from God, I refrained from dancing on Sundays. Three weeks later, my ballet company was assigned to perform on a Sunday for a TV production. When I said I couldn’t do it, I was fired. I thought my career had ended before it began, but I later became a ballet teacher, with Sundays saved for God.

My path as a Bible scholar began at age nine. That’s when my mother showed me her childhood Bible. She had read through it completely.

It took me four years, but I also read all of it, and doing so deepened my relationship with Christ. As an adult, the only reasonable next step was to study His word at the highest level. As my children also learn the Bible, I tell them, “Daddy’s work is to learn to read the Word of God better and better!”

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testimony

The Ark of Safety

by Patty Vrotney

I was born into a Christian family that loved the Lord and attended church every Sunday. During one service, a minister spoke about the importance of always being with God on the “Ark of Safety.” This message resonated with me in a powerful way. I wanted to be safe and protected by God, just as Noah, his family, and the animals he saved were protected during the great flood.

Since I was a child, I had been having my own conversations with the Lord. But when I turned 22 years old, I confessed every sin to God. I told Him that I would dedicate my life to doing His will in any way He chose. I felt so happy and secure to know that the Lord would guide my every step.

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Years later, those steps brought me to the Salvation Army’s Allegheny Valley Corps in Brackenridge, Pa. Anything I could do for the corps, I was ready to serve. I worked with children and I helped in the corps kitchen.

Volunteering—my own ark of safety— has always lifted my spirits. I am happy to know that I work for both people on earth and the Lord in Heaven. That understanding makes my soul feel cleansed and healed.

Last June, I began training to become a Salvation Army soldier. The first day I put on the soldier uniform, a beautiful, humbling feeling came over me; another ark of safety in my life. As I entered the Allegheny Valley Corps for the first time

as a soldier, I felt God’s eyes on me.

The feeling brought tears to my own eyes. It was always His plan for me to come to The Salvation Army. He knew I loved to witness to people, and that I would embrace the soldier’s role of evangelist. When I speak about God, I can feel Him leaving His mark on me.

God left His mark in other ways too.

I took guitar lessons so I could play during Sunday services at the corps.

I wanted to turn Psalm 90:17, “let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,” into a song. Doing so would be another way of honoring and speaking to God. My instructor said that he had never seen anyone learn guitar as fast as I had. But it wasn’t me picking it up; it was God in every chord and string.

Sometimes we may not feel that God is interested in speaking to us. If you ever feel like you are struggling to hear Him, take the initiative to speak to Him first. Let Him listen to your requests. If there is sickness or even just sadness in your life, ask Him to fix it. He already knows our needs, but He also wants to hear it directly from our lips. He wants our faith strengthened by talking directly to Him. When we kneel to pray, He hears our words. We feel His presence and His blessings.

I could never fully repay God for every blessing He has given me, but my service as a soldier is the perfect place to start. The Salvation Army is now my ark of safety. Just like God chose Noah to save and be saved, I am honored and humbled to be chosen by God to serve.

an active army

Hands On

by Hugo Bravo

Upon arriving at St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Matthew Rosamilia and the Salvation Army’s Hands On mission team noticed the roofs of many houses were missing.

“We looked out to the mountains and saw a row of blue tarps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on top of homes that had been devastated from the previous year’s storms,” said Rosamilia.

Rosamilia, Benjamin Pierce, Thaddeus Stanford, and team leader Nereus Mogaria spent six weeks in St. Thomas. They met the community and helped the local corps (church) members conduct their ministries.

“Hands On is a chance to see if God is calling you for missionary work,” said Mogaria. “How would life be for you if you dropped everything and went to work in a new place, with little notice?”

The trip was the first time Mogaria had traveled so far away from his Brooklyn (Bay Ridge) corps. It was also an opportunity to see some of the Army’s overseas work, as he would soon enter the Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training (CFOT) as a cadet.

Hands On mission trips typically consist of visiting two locations for

WHAT IS HANDS ON? Hands On is a short–term, summer missions program designed for members of The Salvation Army between the ages of 18 and 28 who are eager to engage in serving others.

Hands On team members will have the opportunity to express their love, commitment, and passion for Jesus Christ. They partner with Salvation Army ministries in different cultures to learn and serve. They engage in evangelism, physical labor, and personal discipleship.

For more information on Hands On, visit saconnects.org/boothyouth–handson.

(L–r): Nereus, Benjamin, Thaddeus, and Matthew with a member of the St. Thomas Corps ministry.

three weeks each. But this time, the team stayed in St. Thomas for the entire six weeks. This allowed them to develop a deeper relationship with the community. They became familiar with the island, the people, the ministry, and the trials the local Army had faced after 2017’s hurricane season.

“The storms had flooded the corps and damaged the merchandise in the Army store,” recalls Mogaria.

“Afterwards, any merchandise that had not been damaged was looted.”

The team visited St. Thomas just as the people were getting back on their feet. A new afterschool program welcomed 50 children, and every day, people came to the corps for food.

Donations also arrived daily, which the team happily helped collect and sort.

Less than a week after their arrival, they were asked to host Sunday services by the corps officers (pastors) who had to leave for the United States to attend the CFOT graduation and commissioning exercises.

“We were told when we arrived that this would happen, but leading up to Sunday, we still had no idea what a service in St. Thomas would be like. Would we see the same people we had met? Would it even be full?”

Rosamilia had wondered.

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“That’s a part of belonging to a corps. If officers have to suddenly leave, someone needs to step up to make sure the ministry isn’t forgotten,” says Mogaria, who had the opportunity to preach that Sunday. “Everyone who came on Sunday was kind and appreciative to these four kids from the United States they had never met before.”

Matthew Rosamilia says that, thanks to Hands On, he saw first–hand the benefit of the Army’s disaster relief work, even on a small island like St. Thomas.

“One of the St. Thomas officers said that if it wasn’t for the Salvation Army’s work after the storm, they would have never been able to help families that lived in parts of the island that could only be reached by boat. Only the Army reached out to them; they had the boats and went to them with food,” said Rosamilia.

“I was advised to make that new community my top priority. As an officer, I will need to keep that mentality with me at all times, especially if I’m in a new environment,” said Mogaria.

“I have to adapt to their culture, their style, and remember that I am no longer in my own familiar community.”

“That’s what Hands On does. It gets you out of your comfort zone and makes you stronger in every way: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”

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Losing our first love Biblical illiteracy is a problem in the U.S.

by Robert Mitchell

“ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” —EPHESIANS 4:11–14

“YOU ARE FROM THIS WORLD, BUT I AM NOT.” When asked who said those words, only 48 percent of Americans answered “Jesus Christ.” Almost as many— 40 percent—thought the quote came from Han Solo of “Star Wars” fame, according to the American Bible Society’s annual State of the Bible 2018.

Other surveys in recent years have shown that fewer than half of all adults in America can name the four Gospels or more than two or three of Christ’s disciples.

In more extreme examples, some Americans believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife, Sodom & Gomorrah were a married couple, and that Billy Graham preached the Sermon on the Mount.

George Barna, whose Barna Research Group prepares the State of the Bible report each year, said, “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.”

The report found that just 14 percent of the adult population in America uses the Bible daily. When Americans were asked to rank four daily necessities, the Bible (16 percent) ranked behind coffee (37 percent), something sweet (28 percent), and social media (19 percent).

There once was a time when people went to church and Sunday school as a family, but that is no longer a guarantee. Kids would sit and listen as a teacher explained the Bible’s greatest stories using a flannel board and felt characters. Those days seem to be a relic of the past. Sunday school attendance has plummeted in recent decades. The problem has gotten so bad that several public schools have recently proposed adding biblical literacy classes as an elective.

The United States, particularly the Northeast, is becoming more “post–Christian.” In fact, eight of the top 10 cities in this category are in the USA Eastern Territory (see map.) Barna’s research took into account 16 factors, which include whether people identify as atheist, the number of unsaved people in a community, church attendance, and weekly Bible reading.

In 2017, Barna named Portland, Maine, as the most post–Christian city in the country. That fact was on the minds of Envoys Steve and Sharon Bussey, who lead Pier Praise at the Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Camp Meetings every summer just outside Portland. The best Salvationist singers, dancers, actors, and others evangelize the crowds.

“It’s considered the most unreached city in the entire United States. To think we have an opportunity to share the gospel on this scale is true to the bones what it means to be a Salvationist,” Steve Bussey said last year in the

midst of the huge evangelistic outreach. “This group, by all logic, should not be listening to the gospel. Yet there are hundreds of people here who are sitting and listening to the gospel message, again and again and again.”

In this issue of SAconnects magazine, you’ll discover several people like the Busseys who are doing all they can to combat biblical illiteracy. The Salvation Army is first and foremost a church and dedicated to bringing people to Christ and improving biblical literacy.

For example, Majors Carol Ditmer of the Ocean County Citadel Corps in Toms River, N.J., and Susan Hinzman in Lexington, Ky., are well aware of the problem and have started Bible studies.

You’ll also enter “Man Cave Mondays” in Pittsburgh, where men and women come to fellowship and study the Bible. Major Barbara Duperree, the corps officer in Toledo, Ohio, shares an 8–point plan for Christian education.

The challenge of biblical illiteracy is real, but the officers of The Salvation Army are stepping up to remind everyone of the words of Christ, who said the “gates of hell shall not prevail” against His Church.

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According to Barna Research data, the most post–Christian region in the United States is Portland–Auburn, Maine. In fact, New England and the Northeast—considered the home base of religion in this country—figure prominently. Eight of the most post–Christian city/regions are in the USA Eastern Territory.

1

Portland–Auburn, ME (57%)

2

Manchester, NH (Boston, MA

3

Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NY (54%)

4

New Bedford, MA (Providence, RI

5

Burlington, VT (Plattsburgh, NY

6

Hartford–New Haven, CT (52%)

7

New York, NY (51%)

8

San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA (50%)

9

Seattle–Tacoma, WA (50%)

) (56%)

) (53%) ) (53%)

10 Buffalo, NY (50%)

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Back to

Bible Basics

by Robert Mitchell

“Wow! Did that really happen?” blurted a little boy from the neighborhood. Major Carol Ditmer remembers teaching him about the resurrection of Jesus several years ago during a Sunday school class in Hempstead, N.Y. “He had never heard that before in his life,” Ditmer says. “I’ve had people in Bible studies who have never even opened a Bible or read anything in the Bible.”

Ditmer remembers teaching a home Bible study when a young man asked her to explain the expression “Lamb of God.” “I was glad to get the question, but it really takes you back for a minute,” she said. “You have to really think, I’m speaking to somebody in another language, a language they don’t understand when I quote the Bible. I think we have to be so aware of that.

“When we talk to people about the Scriptures, we have to assume they know absolutely nothing about the Bible. We can’t assume they know the story of Noah anymore or that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Kids have no clue Christmas is about Jesus.”

In an age of rampant biblical illiteracy, even among professing Christians, Ditmer said the values of going to church as a family and sending kids to Sunday school are waning.

“Other things have gotten our attention,” Ditmer said. “The world is full of distractions. I think TV and the media have a lot to do with it. People would just rather do something else than go to church and read and study the Bible. I think parents no longer see that as a value.

“I think the root of the problem is Satan and his deception in making people feel they can find truth on their own or within themselves. That’s very popular in our culture. We use the phrase ‘your truth,’ as if truth is something that is subjective. I basically think people are deceived by our culture. The only way we can fight the enemy is with truth in the blood of Jesus. Obviously, Satan doesn’t want us to know the Truth.”

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‘ Children used to have parents who read Bible stories to them at home, but today, they don’t get that.’

—Major Susan Hinzman

WHAT’S NEXT? Ditmer, now the corps officer at the Ocean County (Citadel) Corps in Toms River, N.J., said the corps has recently added two Bible studies. She also gives out Bibles and even old Sunday school curriculum in the soup kitchen and at other outreach events.

An officer for 34 years, Ditmer said churches need to “get back to basics” when it comes to improving biblical literacy.

“I think sometimes we depend on programs to teach people about Jesus and that doesn’t work,” she said.

“There’s a place for programs, but searching His Word is the only way people are going to know who Jesus is. He’s the living Word. They’re not going to know about Jesus unless they read their Bibles.”

Captain David Means, the corps officer in Bradford, Pa., has accepted that challenge head–on.

He said newcomers who start reading the Bible may find Genesis and Exodus fairly easy to digest, but Leviticus and Deuteronomy can be challenging and they “abandon ship at that point.” Once they get to the New Testament, Means said some of Paul’s theology can be overwhelming.

“There are many adults in the Army who struggle to read,” Means said. “Some of them went right into the workforce after high school. Their interest in

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reading is low and a lot of people shy away from even cracking open a Bible because they can’t understand it.”

Means said a few years ago he discovered the E100 Bible Reading Challenge from Scripture Union, which challenges its readers to a 100–day reading campaign.

The reader absorbs 100 “essential chunks” of Scripture beginning with Genesis and ending in Revelation.

Means said some in his congregation are doing the No Bible, No Breakfast/Bed read–through–the–Bible program from the territory’s Spiritual Life Department, but many like the E100.

“We saw an incredible spiritual growth in our congregation from the E100,” Means said. “We found during this challenge that our corps members felt comfortable with these easy to ‘digest’ chunks. This encouraged consistent daily readings and some even made it a daily reading event with their whole family. One family read the daily Scripture with their kids every evening after dinner. ” Means said the readers often found themselves asking, “Well, what happens next? I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.”

“This curiosity led them to read even more than what the challenge called for and they grew a hunger to understand more,” he said. “They got excited to go back and read what they missed.”

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A BYGONE ERA Means said it was like missing an episode of their favorite TV show. “People were reading more of the Bible than they realized they would,” he said. “The people and their conversation got excited. The hunger was finally there. They would come to church talking about it. The narrative kept moving. It kind of kept it interesting as they kept reading.

“As they read, they were challenged by what the Bible was saying. The Bible is incredible to help us understand who our Father is. If people aren’t reading it, they’re just going to be clueless. People were getting excited and that translated into their own relationships within their family and God. They started inviting other people to church because their excitement was renewed to worship and learn.”

Major Susan Hinzman, the corps officer in Lexington, Ky., said she found a similar resource for teaching.

Instead of offering topical Bible studies for Sunday school, the corps organized a class for new believers and would–be Christians, some of whom come from its homeless shelter. The book being used is called The Thin

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Red Line, a yearlong study covering Genesis to John.

“It traces the plan of redemption from the beginning to Jesus,” explains Hinzman, who teaches the class. “We find that many who come to the corps do not even know who some of the major prophets are, such as Abraham.

They know Moses from the movies, but have no idea who others are, like Isaiah or even Joseph.

“Most often, they went to church with their grandmother when they were younger. Most of what they remember are stories about Jesus and stories about someone being thrown into a fire, but they won’t remember anyone’s name. They don’t know foundational stories in the Word.”

Hinzman said The Thin Red Line teaches the stories many longtime Christians might have learned as children, but it’s on an adult level and more in–depth.

“I have gone to church my entire life and I think I have learned something new every week,” Hinzman said. “It’s foundational stories throughout the Scriptures that take you up to Christ.”

A FIRM FOUNDATION The class also features a “Missionary Member” who is not the teacher, “but someone who helps the conversation continue moving as well as being someone who is another familiar face in the congregation,” Hinzman said.

“The problem of biblical illiteracy is not just among adults,” Hinzman said. The corps uses the Orange Sunday school curriculum to feed biblical wisdom to children.

“Children used to have parents who read Bible stories to them at home, but today, they don’t get that,” Hinzman said. “Now we have them once a week and the likelihood of them retaining information is lesser.

“We found that many don’t know foundational things that used to be taught all the time, such as the books of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, the 12 disciples, and memorizing Scripture. We continue to work on this weekly in Sunday school.”

Hinzman said if children hide God’s Word in their hearts now, they will remember Bible verses years later when they need them.

“If we fall away when we’re adults, we’ll think back and remember a verse because the Lord whispers to us.

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He reminds us and even if we can’t remember the whole thing, we remember the essence.

“We forget that the Word is like a conversation with God. He says, ‘This is what I want you to do. This is what I want you to know.’ He thought it was so important that He wrote it down so I would have it today. If it was that important and has stood the test of time, then maybe I need to pay attention.

“I think our culture has lost a love for Scripture. We don’t learn to hold the Bible in our hands anymore. Now it’s on our phones and on our iPads and that’s fine, but we don’t long for it anymore.”

Majors Karen and Robert Bender, the corps officers in Painesville, Ohio, have not lost their love for God’s Word.

They share it in every program, including community outreaches such as back–to–school distribution.

“There is not a program that we do not share Christ and reference Scripture every time we meet,” Major Karen said. “The homeless men and women hear the Word two to three times a week when they come into our hall to relax and wait for lunch.”

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THE SUFFICIENT WORD Major Karen said many people hear what the Bible says, but are reluctant to make it a part of their lives.

“I don’t think it’s a lack of them hearing so much as a lack of processing it,” she said. “We do share it everywhere and in every meeting and in every activity we have, but I don’t think they’re getting it anywhere else.”

Major Robert said some people may not know the Bible’s deep theology, but they’re generally aware of what the Bible says.

“I can’t tell you how many Bibles I give away,” he said.

“I think people know what the Bible says, but they don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to follow it. Among the homeless people who we deal with, there are some who are smart and intelligent when it comes to the Scriptures, but they don’t seem to want to apply it to their lives as far as growth and holiness and becoming more like Christ.”

Major Karen said some Christians are content where they are spiritually.

“Biblical illiteracy to me is, you’re not living [the Word], you’re just hearing it,” she said. “We try to get through to them that things can still change. To me, biblical literacy is keeping [the Bible] alive and active and growing, no matter what stage you’re at. Many people think they don’t need to grow anymore, but there’s always room for growth.”

Ditmer said getting people to read God’s Word is the key. God will take care of it from there.

“We think we need gimmicks to entertain people and somehow we have to make the Bible less boring to people, so we add things to it,” Ditmer said. “If we present the Word of God in its purity for what it is, people are so hungry and get so excited and are so interested about what the Word of God has to say, they eat it up. We don’t have to do anything to add excitement to it because it’s exciting on its own and it speaks to people and is powerful.

“God says His Word won’t return empty. That’s been my experience.”

1

Talk about the importance of Christian education to your corps council and church family.

Major Barbara Duperree says when she showed up at the Toledo, Ohio, Corps, attendance in Sunday school was “hit or miss.”

2

Rearrange Sunday school so that all are learning together. “We established faith families where our congregation is mixed into various age groups so that adults can assist the younger ones in learning.”

“Some soldiers opted out of sitting in a class,” she said. “As a corps officer, I am concerned about the lack of general Bible knowledge among our people. I suppose there are many reasons for this problem, and one is that people do not see the relevance of the Bible to their daily life.”

3 4

Duperree came up with eight steps to emphasize Christian education, and said the corps is beginning to see results.

5 6 7

An 8–point plan

“As corps officers, we need to remember that these issues do not change overnight, but that consistent emphasis will make the difference by creating good habits within the church,” Duperree said. “We are encouraged now that even some adults that sat out of Sunday school are now participating.”

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Provide a light breakfast for everyone.

Teach the Bible with an emphasis on Scripture memorization.

Train teachers to be aware of the newest teaching methods and give them resources.

Focus on the application of the Bible to daily life.

Keep the disciplines that are important, such as missionary offering and corporate prayer. Also include the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.

Establish goals for Sunday school.

“Ours is to grow in knowledge and number and to reestablish active departmentalized learning.”

Entering the

‘MAN CAVE’

by Robert Mitchell

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

—PROVERBS 27:17

G

etting men to share their feelings is often difficult, but not for this group.

The 25 or so men sitting around tables at the Pittsburgh, Pa., Temple Corps are here for “Man Cave Mondays,” a weekly time of in–depth Bible study, sharing, food, fellowship, computers, basketball, and weightlifting.

“I’ve been looking forward to this Bible study all day,” says Ron Ernst, who is going through a six–month drug and alcohol program at the Pittsburgh Harbor Light Center.

Lieutenant Jonathan Lewis, the corps officer (pastor) at Pittsburgh Temple, leads the men in prayer as they munch on pizza, share stories of their struggles, and ask for prayer for themselves and friends. Many come from the Harbor Light, the Pittsburgh Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC), and the Pittsburgh Temple.

Ernst is typical of the men and says he now prays every night and wants to attend church and read his Bible.

“I was never a churchgoing guy, but I pray to God all the time and I want to

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get to know Him even more,” he said. “This Bible study is going to teach me a lot. I feel the strength of everybody. I’m hoping the strong faith they have in Him rubs off on me.”

The study, which began last August, covers the book of James. The teaching from Lewis is clear and direct and the feedback from the men is transparent and often heartbreaking.

“We learn from each other,” Lewis says at one point.

Lewis also gives the men pep talks about picking up their devotional game if they feel low on strength.

“Get into your Word and pray,” the young officer says.

“Then you’ll continue to grow into the man God wants you to be.”

Charles K. said he is “not a big church person,” but he enjoys the fellowship at Man Cave Mondays and has attended almost a dozen times. When he walked into a recent meeting and saw that the lesson was about patience, he told the group it was clearly God at work.

“I’ve been having a real hard time lately with patience,” he said. “I’m in a depressed state. I feel like there’s no hope. So anytime something like that pops out, it kind of gives me a little hope. I need to get my spirit and my mind back to where they used to be. That’s what I’m working on.

“I get something out of it every time I come here. You hope you hear something and that it sparks something. You can repeat it to yourself over and over during the week.”

FINDING THE LIGHT Leo Schoming, who was attending for the first time, said he enjoyed the discussion. Several of his relatives battle depression, anxiety, and other demons; some have committed suicide.

“The devil’s been on my back,” Schoming said. “He’s in the blood of my family. He’s working against me with all that. But since I found The Salvation Army, it’s starting to lift.

“I’m tired of all the anger in the world and the unfairness and darkness. This is a safe environment here and I feel God’s presence when I come to places like this. I haven’t been coming to church. I’ve been in the dark: addiction, alcohol, drugs.”

After the devotional, the men are free to visit the computer lab, play basketball in the gym or work out in a weight room donated by the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We’ve led people to the Lord on the basketball court,” Lewis says.

Leonard Young said he enjoys the food and working out, but that’s not the main reason he comes.

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THE CASE FOR BIBLICAL LITERACY “Biblical illiteracy is such a big problem because the Bible sustains us and is our lifeline and our spiritual food. If you’re biblically illiterate, that means you’re spiritually weak. You don’t have any divine revelation or divine insight that’s feeding your life.

Prayer is an important aspect and you should pray as much as you can, but at the end of the day, we want God speaking to us and that comes through reading the Bible.

I think the enemy tries to get us away from the Bible as much as possible. When we’re less influenced by God’s Word, we’re more influenced by the world.

“If you’re not in the Bible, you’ll be driven by any wave of new doctrine because at the end of the day, you have no foundation of truth. That’s another element of biblical illiteracy.

If you don’t know what’s in the Bible, you don’t know if someone is just selling you their own opinion or a misinterpretation of Scripture that can actually be toxic to your spiritual life.

Many times, if you read the Bible through and through, you can spot when something someone is telling you doesn’t align.”

—Lieutenant Jonathan Lewis, corps officer of the Pittsburgh, Pa., Temple Corps.

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DIGGING IN Talk to Chris Honsberger for only a few minutes and her enthusiasm for women’s Bible study becomes obvious.

“Women’s Bible study and getting women into the Word is my absolute passion,” says Honsberger, who is the main teacher. “I love the Word and I love other people to know the Word and what the Word means and how powerful it can be in your life. It’s important that they know the Word and not get caught up in the culture and some of the other things you can get caught up in.”

While “Man Cave Mondays” is going on in the fellowship hall of the Pittsburgh Temple Corps, Honsberger and about 15 other women meet for Bible study in a special lounge featuring couches and other feminine touches. Many of the women attend the corps and bring friends to the Bible study.

The women also share and Honsberger said she only has one rule: No gossip. What is said in the Bible study stays there.

“Everybody contributes, even the shyest person,” she said.

Honsberger, who has attended the corps for 40 years, said the Bible study started six years ago. The women meet for about 90 minutes, and, while fellowship is a part of the evening, the main thrust is a “hardcore” Bible study.

“We get new women all the time,” she said. “It’s growing tremendously. It’s vibrant. We have a lot of fun, but we really dig into the Word. They want to dig into the Word. We’re vigilant about the Word. They want to know what the Word says and I’m passionate about the Word anyway.”

“The food for my spirit, that’s the most important,” Young says while shooting hoops. “I feel better about that than the activities they have for us here. The Word of God is where it’s at. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the Bread of Life.”

Curtis Herring, a resident of the Pittsburgh ARC, said the Man Cave Mondays and his Bible classes at the ARC have taught him to be “all in.”

“It had me searching myself,” he said. “First of all, being ‘all in’ is loving God. If I wasn’t coming to these meetings here and at the ARC, I’d still be straddling the fence. Now, I feel like I’m ‘all in’ and no longer straddling the fence. I finally chose a side, which is God’s side. It’s a wonderful side to be on.

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“I now read and study. I was never a reader or a ‘studier,’ but the Bible does say seek and you will find. There’s only one way to do that and that’s to surround yourself with this type of atmosphere. You can’t help but find God, but you have to be open–minded to do it. I now understand what it means to be ‘all in.’ You can’t be ‘all in’ if you’re not loving the Lord. It’s the only way to be ‘all in.’”

Herring also believes he has been delivered from his drug and alcohol problems. While he has had some clean time in the past, Herring said the ARC and Monday night study have “awakened me on the inside.”

“The sky’s the limit from here and I feel wonderful today,” he said.

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE Willie Beard, another ARC resident, likes Man Cave Mondays for the learning and fellowship, as well as the application of the Bible to his life.

“It’s more than church,” he said. “In church, we hear the preacher preach and we do some praise, but here on Monday nights, we get to fellowship with some people from Harbor Light.

“What I get out of it are the principles, which are priceless, including humility, meekness, loving your neighbor, loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and looking for His joy to be that strength. I’m learning to be a doer of the word, to be a light to those around us who are going through similar life experiences.”

Each week, at least one woman attends Man Cave Mondays. Major Ida Perez, the chaplain at the Harbor Light, brings up to 14 men a night and sits at the table.

“I like it because the men get a chance to see what The Salvation Army as a church looks like and also have a safe place where they can ask questions,” Perez said.

“The greatest thing is how they’re relearning things they remember from their grandparents who brought them to church as kids. For some of them, it’s things they left aside years ago. Then there are the precious ones who have never gone to church before.”

For example, when Lewis referenced the story of Job during the study, some men were unaware of the biblical account until the officer explained more.

“We can’t assume this generation goes to church all the time. They don’t,” Perez said. “It’s been amazing to see some of the guys come alive who just started. They’re asking questions and looking for answers.

“It meets them where they are and it’s great because it’s geared toward men. It’s on their level and they’re met where they’re at and where they need to go.”

Several men were making their first visit to Man Cave Mondays, including Harbor Light resident Larry Knight, who said he enjoyed the “whole atmosphere.”

“It was informative and something I can apply to my daily life to help make me a better person,” he said. “You can have street knowledge and book knowledge, but to have spiritual knowledge is everything. It opens up your eyes to what God is doing, what He has done, and what He’s still doing to help make you a better person.”

Larry Sled, another first–timer from the Harbor Light, said he thought the group might be led by an “amateur,” but he was pleasantly surprised that Lewis “knew the Word.”

“I got a lot of insight on the Word,” he said.

SHARING AND CARING Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, a retired former national leader of The Salvation Army, is a soldier at Pittsburgh Temple and can often be found around the table. Gaither agreed that Lewis is no amateur, calling the Philadelphia native not only charismatic and articulate, but “gifted” and “anointed.”

“He knows Scripture and understands it, but he has a beautiful ability to be able to relate Scripture in such a way that intersects with where we all are as men,” Gaither said.

“He understands the street, the urban scene. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s seen it, he’s lived through experiences, so he knows where these guys are coming from and they know that. He’s believable.”

Lewis said Man Cave Mondays has been a huge success in meeting his goals for the program.

“The spiritual growth of these men has been amazing,” he said. “One of the things we want is for guys to grow in their spiritual walk with God, but not just in that area, but in every other aspect of life as well. We want guys to be good fathers, husbands, and employees. We get that by getting into the Word, but also by getting into each other’s lives. Those two aspects coming together is the strength of the program.”

Lewis said his emphasis on Bible reading and prayer during the meetings is no accident.

“It’s the foundation of a believer,” he said. “What we do in private many times shows up in what we do in public.

We’re reading the Bible together. We’re learning together.

We can get aspects and insights that we wouldn’t have gotten by ourselves. It meets that need, especially in regard to men, to have fellowship and deep relationships. That’s what the goal of the whole program is; to develop deep personal relationships and soul friendships

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in which we can grow into the men God wants us to be.”

Lewis said he chose the book of James for the study because it’s easy to understand.

“Guys have just been accepting it,” he said. “We’ve been breaking it down, passage by passage, and trying to pull out every nugget of insight. We’re also learning from one another.”

One of the people the men are learning from is Gaither, who said he attends to support the event and his corps. “But I gain something from it myself and it feeds my own spiritual life,” he said. Gaither has developed relationships with some of the men and offers counsel.

“We have a chance to come alongside the guys and be listening ears and just draw from them as we kind of input our experiences into their lives,” Gaither said. “It’s kind of a unique pivot that ministry has seen, which I think is absolutely amazing.

“It’s really become, as the Scripture says, about iron sharpening iron and men speaking and sharing as men.

It’s just really good on both sides. The receiver becomes the giver, the giver is the receiver. It’s beautiful to see how that’s been working out. It’s just an amazing ministry.”

Lieutenant Jonathan Lewis, the corps officer at the Pittsburgh Temple Corps, leads the men’s group in prayer.

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Never too late

for God

by Hugo Bravo

T

en years ago, Blanca Garcia De Ramirez opened a Bible for the first time. She was 78. “I raised my family to be sociable people,” says Blanca. “We always had get–togethers at our home, but we never hosted or welcomed anyone in the name of God.” As a retired schoolteacher, Blanca immigrated to the United States from Venezuela. Her daughter Alba Van Der Walker soon joined her. They became residents of Schenectady, N.Y. FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS Blanca found solidarity and kindness among her diverse Schenectady neighbors. During one of her morning walks, she came across the local Salvation Army corps. The staff was preparing their daily offering of food to the community.

“I knew the city well, but I had never seen this corner building, with people going in and out. They looked humble, but happy to be there,” says Blanca. “I walked in and saw food being prepared to serve. In my broken English, I asked what this corner building was.

A Spanish–speaking employee explained what the Army was doing for the community that day, and I was invited to eat with them.

“That was my first impression of The Salvation Army—acting for the good of others.”

Though Blanca knew little English, she did know volunteer work. Throughout her life in Venezuela, she had given her time to children’s hospitals. Now in Schenectady, she came to the corps in the mornings and helped prepare breakfast. In the Army’s ministry, she also became familiar with the book that, for many different reasons, had previously never been a part of her life.

“I was filled with curiosity about the Bible. This profound, incomparable book became my daily guide and companion,” says Blanca. “Reading it, I realized it was Jesus who had literally welcomed me to eat at His table in The Salvation Army.”

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ABUNDANCE OF NOURISHMENT Alba had come to West Virginia from Venezuela as an international student. She married, raised a family, and worked in the health and human services industry. She felt welcomed in the United States, and, like her mother, was new to the Word of God. “Many times, my mother asked me to come to Schenectady and visit the corps with her, but I always hesitated.” People had invited Alba to churches before, but she said, “none were quite like The Salvation Army.”

Alba had never seen a place as fulfilling as The Salvation Army. The corps was an abundance of spiritual nourishment and service towards others. “There was a beautiful band playing music, people serving food, and bags of groceries ready for families that could not afford them.”

In the process, Alba opened a Bible for the first time.

“When I began to study my Bible, I saw that the Schenectady Corps was following the teachings of Christ —down to the letter,” says Alba. “The Army was a place that fed the hungry and loved those who felt unloved.”

WORDS AND HEROES On September 16, 2018, both mother and daughter became senior soldiers (members). Every Sunday, they participate in the corps’ Spanish–language service. The number of people attending has grown along with the Latino community in Schenectady.

Although Blanca and Alba are latecomers to the Word of God, they have nonetheless become as knowledgeable of it as if they had been students all their lives.

Blanca is fascinated by the many heroes found in the Bible, such as Moses and Abraham.

“It made me want to learn more about their experiences, and how they each faced the reality of man coming together with God. They became like teachers to me,” says the former schoolteacher. “And when I learned those lessons, I wanted to share them with others.”

“ That was my first impression of The Salvation Army— acting for the good of others.”

—Blanca Garcia De Ramirez

“We always hear that God will return one day,” says Alba. “But Revelations 21:4 describes it in a way that really stayed with me. ‘He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more.’”

“I love that promise! Who among us would not want to experience such a feeling?” says Alba. “When I first read those words, I knew they were what I wanted to be a part of forever.”

A PRAYER AND A SHARE Blanca and Alba hope that their lives will serve as examples of how it is never too late to open a Bible, whether it’s the first time in a long time or the first time ever.

“Becoming a better follower of Christ is only one thing that you learn from the Bible. It also teaches you to be a better son, daughter, father, mother, or any other role in your life,” says Blanca.

“I always like to start and end every Bible reading or lesson with prayer,” advises Alba. “It helps keep everything fresh in the mind when you are learning it for the first time. And remember to let the Word of God guide you to love and forgive others, as well as yourself. It’s easy to be on the right path when you are guided by His words.

“I have seen the Bible forced on others—through fear and threats of evil coming in your life,” says Blanca.

“That is no way to bring someone to God. Instead, when I talk to someone who is as new to the Bible as I was, I share my past and a part of my present life. I tell them

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Alba Van Der Walker

about my family and how my daughter and I came to The Salvation Army. I show them how God has changed me these last 10 years, and how even in the past when I was not by His side, He was always by mine.

“And sometimes, even after hearing all that, they are not ready to open a Bible and accept God in their life,” says Blanca. “But that’s okay, because I’ve still planted the seed in them. I’ve given them something to think about for tomorrow.”

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snapshot

BIBLICAL HISTORY THE MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE in Washington, D.C., documents the narrative, history, and impact of the Bible. Opened on November 17, 2017, its 430,000 sq.–ft. building showcases artifacts that span 3,500 years of amazing theologic, geographic, and technologic milestones.

At the academic research wing of the Museum, the Scholars Initiative fosters biblical research at colleges, universities, and seminaries across the world. Museum personnel help plan and support academic projects related to the languages and material culture of the Bible, and capitalize on artifacts in the Museum Collections.

Photo by Alan Karchmer

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to your health “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

—2 corinthians 5:17

Carbohydrate Confusion When you hear the word carbs, do you think of white bread and potatoes? Carbohydrates are often unfairly categorized as merely starchy foods short on nutritional value.

But that’s not the whole story.

Many foods contain carbs, including fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, lentils, dairy products, nuts, and seeds. You can see from this list that taking carbs off your plate can severely limit your food choices. Instead of avoiding carbs, know which sources are most beneficial. Most foods have a mix of the three main types of carbs: fiber, starch (complex carbs), and sugar (simple carbs).

HOW CAN I BECOME MORE RESILIENT?

by Eric Endlich, PhD

FIBER

STARCHES

SUGARS

Fiber is a carbohydrate that passes undigested through your body. For good health, aim for 25 to 38 grams per day, based on your age and gender. Fiber is in:

Some starches are better than others. For example, choose:

• Vegetables and fruits

• Whole–grain or bran cereals instead of processed cereals

Some foods, such as milk and fruit, contain natural sugars. Many manufactured foods have added sugars, including white sugar, honey, high–fructose corn syrup, and molasses. Since natural sugars come bundled in healthy foods that also contain fiber and vitamins, they are less detrimental than added sugars, which are the least nutritious carbs. The American Heart Association recommends you limit daily added sugars to 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men. That does not include natural sugars, such as those in fruit. Some obvious packaged foods with added sugars are candy, ice cream, baked goods, and soft drinks. But added sugars are also in products such as spaghetti sauce, salad dressing, whole–grain breads, and coffee drinks.

• Whole grains such as rye, quinoa, and brown rice and whole–grain wheat

• Brown rice instead of white rice • Whole–grain instead of white bread or pasta

• Skin–on instead of mashed potatoes

• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans • Nuts and seeds

DID YOU KNOW? Vegetables are carbs. And no healthy diet excludes all vegetables. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, squash and beets have more carbs than lighter vegetables, but they have fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Just watch your portion size; a half–cup serving of starchy vegetables is all you need.

RESILIENT PEOPLE, like anyone else, may encounter stress, adversity or dark moods.

What sets them apart is learning strategies that help them bounce back and move on when trouble strikes. They: • See difficulties as a challenge– Failures or mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow.

• Are committed and persistent– Realistic goals, relationships, values, and beliefs motivate them.

• Accept that some things are out of their control– They spend their energy on things they can change and see themselves as the authors of their life stories.

• Prep for success– They get enough rest, exercise, and connection with others.

• Do not see setbacks as personal, pervasive or permanent– They monitor their thoughts, replacing negative messages with more productive ones (by remembering past successes).

• Are optimistic– about their abilities and the future and see each morning as a new start.

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FAITH in ACTION

Dedicated Lives

by Robert Mitchell

If it happens at the West Pittston, Pa., Corps, the chances are the husband and wife team of Liz and Chris Winborn are somehow involved.

Lieutenant Gavin Yeatts, the corps officer in West Pittston, said the Winborns run the children’s ministry, teen events, and a bread & pastry program. Chris also cooks all of the food for the corps programs.

“They are both extremely hard workers and help the corps to run smoothly,” Yeatts says. “I’m excited because their ministry, both as individuals and as a married couple, helps many people. They have dedicated their lives to this corps.”

Liz, the program assistant at the corps, and Chris, a volunteer, met at the Wilkes–Barre, Pa., Corps 12 years ago. Liz was a volunteer and sang at the corps; Chris began volunteering as the audio–visual equipment technician.

“We started singing together and then we got married,” Chris says with a laugh.

Chris, a native of Louisiana, struggled with alcohol and drugs and came through The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) program.

“I went to other rehabs in the past, but nothing stuck,” Chris said. “It didn’t hit me like it should, I guess. I think I needed that strict living for it to hit home.

The ARC is an awesome program.”

Liz, who was raised in The Salvation Army in Wilkes–Barre and has always loved kids, decided to leave her factory job 11 years ago and become the program assistant in West Pittston.

“It involved a lot of praying by the both of us,” Liz said. “We were engaged and getting ready to get married and we prayed about it because I had another job. It’s through God that we are here.”

The couple’s involvement is a witness

Liz and Chris Winborn minister at the West Pittston, Pa., Corps.

to Hayley, their teenaged daughter, who is active in the corps and in the Army’s Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division’s (PENDEL) Brass Band.

“We wanted to bring our daughter up seeing what service looks like,” Chris said. “Our daughter sees people helping and she knows it’s the right thing to do. We know there’s a need there. I’ve always been good in the kitchen and I love to cook. My wife is all about the kids.

She’s always loved kids. All of the kids love her—all of them.”

The corps offers the Orange Sunday school and Club 3:16 on Monday nights along with music and art. The couple is also involved in summer day camp.

“That’s a great program because some kids don’t know God. We do a devotional with them and teach them,” Liz said. “I just have a big heart for kids.”

Chris said the work is challenging, but the rewards outweigh everything.

“It’s great to see the look in their eyes when these kids change. You see everything they do and how they change in Christ,” he said. “Some of the kids, they amaze me every time I see them. It makes me feel good to know I’m helping to make a difference in their lives.”

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It’s also clear that prayer permeates everything the couple does.

“All the time, we rely on God through prayer,” Liz said. “Sometimes I feel like giving up, but God upholds me.”

Chris said that sometimes he stops and prays in the car for a few minutes to listen for God’s voice.

“I do nothing before I pray,” he says.

“I’ve made mistakes in my life. I pray a lot. I want to give God a chance to let me know what He wants me to know.

“Christ keeps me going. Sometimes I literally have to pray minute to minute, but now Christ sustains me through everything. I was always about me and what I could do. It took me a long time to realize I can’t do anything without God.” Chris said that prayer has confirmed that he and his wife are where God wants them.

“When you have a calling, you know it,” he said. “When God wants you to know, you know. God has told us to do this. He opens up all these doors. He mows the path for you.

“You don’t know what you’re going to do and then you see this is where He led us. We would never think to do the things that we do here on our own.”

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Q & A

Kennith Armstead interview by Robert Mitchell

Kennith Armstead, the assistant corps sergeant major of the East Northport, N.Y., Corps, was recently named to the Salvation Army’s National Corrections Committee.

He spent time in state prison from 1970–1986. Later, he worked 30 years for the New York City Board of Correction, where he ministered to both inmates and corrections officers. He hopes to start a prison ministry in the New York City Department of Correction.

Where did you grow up and what did your early spiritual life look like? I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., one of nine children and raised in Brooklyn and Queens. I was raised in a Christian home where I learned strong spiritual values from my mother and father. My father was a deacon, so we spent our evenings and Sundays at the church.

As a child, I remember watching adults praising God, crying, dancing in the aisles, and singing. Back then, I was confused; I wondered why I didn’t feel the joy and exhilaration. I didn’t feel connected to God. I wondered if it was something I had done. However, I also remember being happy in a home where we prayed together and were cared for and loved by our parents.

Then one day, it all changed. My father went to visit his siblings in Virginia and was involved in a near–fatal accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. After the accident, things in my home began to change. We didn’t go to church as much. I still believed in God, but felt an empty space within me.

During your time in prison, how did God change you? At 17, my life took another bad turn. I was arrested and sentenced to 15 years to life. Over the next few years, I went from being an adolescent to becoming an adult.

During that time, prison life exposed me to the horrors of being behind those walls. But God protected me. I was still searching for Him, trying to make a connection as I sought to

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survive. It was difficult for me because I didn’t know how to seek God on my own or how to fill that spiritual void. I prayed daily for a way to deal with my circumstances but I still felt that something was missing in my spiritual life. As I went from being an adolescent to an adult, various people came into my life and caused me to understand the need for having a faith walk. I believe that God knew my heart and was working on me the whole time, even though I didn’t realize it. He prepared me for the blessings He wanted to give me, and for the new life He had in store for me.

When did you accept Christ? I would say 2002. Aside from helping people who were incarcerated, I volunteered to be the head coach for a Pop Warner youth football team in Brooklyn. One day, while walking my team down a street in Brooklyn, I saw a childhood friend.

At first, I wondered what he was doing in the neighborhood. Then I realized he wore a uniform. I had not seen him in six–and–a–half years. I was surprised to learn that he was a Salvation Army officer at the Brownsville Corps.

Captain John Ducksworth invited me to a Bible study. I hesitated, but I showed up. I enjoyed the study and returned a second time with my spouse. He then invited me to a Sunday service.

Again, I hesitated, but we showed up.

As I attended more services, I finally understood the need for a personal relationship with Christ. When Captain Ducksworth moved to a new appointment in New Jersey and was replaced by another couple, they too became instrumental in my Christian growth. In fact, (then) Captains David and Margaret Davis helped me through the toughest time of my life.

When my son Gemeyl was diagnosed with cancer of the femur in 2000, my world fell apart. But the Captains were there for my family every step of the way. While Gemeyl was on his death bed, Captain Dave drove to the children’s hospital of Philadelphia to be with us. This act of compassion was the key to my accepting Christ as my personal Savior.

One day after a service, my corps officer said that it was time for me to put on the uniform. I did. From that point on, I began my

journey with Christ. In the stillness of the night, I finally heard that call in my spirit in 2002.

That was when my life truly began to change.

When you got out of prison, you had a long career with the New York City Board of Correction. How were you able to help people like yourself? My employment with the Board of Correction gave me the opportunity and authority to provide oversight in the NYC jail system in its entirety, including Riker’s Island. I had the authority to help inmates have their voices heard, their rights upheld, and more importantly, I ensured that my interactions with them and their families were always done with respect. I had the authority and mandate to ensure that all inmates were provided with medical and mental health care, and that their bare conditions of confinement (to preserve their human dignity) through our minimum standards were upheld. It was my responsibility to hold inmates and staff accountable for the way they treated one another. I was often called upon to intervene in some of the most extreme cases that the board handled because of my background and approach to the job. In 2006, I was promoted to the position of director of field operations, which allowed me to further enhance ties in the community with organizations providing re–entry services that helped inmates with their transitions. Due to my unwavering fairness, professionalism, and ethical approach to my work, my civilian colleagues elected me president of their fraternity.

How did your experience in jail help you in your career? When I arrived in state prison, I was a high school student. During the incarceration, I completed my GED and continued my education by securing two associate’s and two bachelor’s degrees. I was motivated by my diligence for justice, the need for fairness for incarcerated individuals, commitment to the community, and improving the human experience.

I also have a passion for influencing another 17– year–old who might be forced to make the journey I was forced to make. I am motivated and willing to make the best of every situation and sacrifice time and finances to help others.

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You are now helping inmates re–enter society. What are some obstacles they face and how can you help? The research across the country continually shows the following are lacking for many released inmates: housing, jobs, financial stability, health and mental health follow–up services, family support, education, and spiritual connections. I can help these inmates by setting up a network within The Salvation Army to direct the post– incarcerated to services that can help them with all of the services and support systems mentioned above. There are many community resources and organizations that are offering these services that The Salvation Army can partner with so that referrals can be made.

Tell us about your recent appointment to the Salvation Army’s National Corrections Committee. What do you hope to bring to the group?

Having recently retired after 29 years in City Corrections, where I worked closely with licensed mental health professionals, I saw the atrocities brought upon a number of inmates and saw the hopelessness and despair of those inmates. When I learned what the committee’s goals were, I agreed to become a member. I bring a dual experiential and professionally trained expertise to the committee that I hope will help to shape future goals. I also bring a level of compassion, commitment, and belief in the power of God and how these can influence the lives of the jailed and of the jailer. Having been a local officer, that also enriches my connection to what happens at the national level down to the local corps level.

This issue of our magazine is about biblical illiteracy. You are planning a ministry outreach in the NYC jails. What do you hope to accomplish? What I hope to do is the work of the Kingdom, expose more incarcerated people and their families to the Word of God, and find avenues to demonstrate to The Salvation Army their transformation at the local corps level. And lastly, I want to introduce leadership to the world of corrections, re–entry, and the halls of criminal justice.

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great moments

The history of

Sunday school In the 1780’s, poor children in England were more likely to be found working 12–hour shifts on dangerous factory jobs than at comfortable desks in nicely– appointed classrooms. Well into the 19th century, the thought of educating them enough to read even the simplest literature remained a distant dream. Big business had sacrificed these disadvantaged children by feeding them to an emerging Industrial Revolution.

Denied the innocence of childhood and burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood, these children expressed their despair and frustration in the streets. Fighting, cursing, and gambling among them was commonplace.

Their behavior caught the attention of Robert Raikes, an English Anglican evangelical. Horrified, he asked a local woman standing outside her door about it. She said, “This is nothing [compared] to what goes on Sundays. You’d be shocked indeed if you were here then.” * The woman told Raikes people couldn’t even read the Bible in peace at church due to the chaos caused by the children. They, along with their parents, worked at a factory every day of the week except Sunday. So, on that day “they behaved in a most unrestrained way.”

THE FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL Raikes returned home determined to help these children. He was the publisher of a local paper, so his mind probably went quickly to literacy and education, which during that time, was primarily the realm of the middle class or higher.

Raikes opened his Sunday school in July 1780 and spent the next week

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inviting children from poor families to participate. Many parents lamented that their children lacked proper clothes for school. Raikes said, “if the children’s clothing is fit for the streets, it is fit for my school.”

Those first school days began at 10 a.m. with teaching. The students were dismissed for lunch and came back around 1 p.m. After a reading lesson, they would go to a church service.

That was followed by another round of

Robert Raikes

classroom instruction until 5:30 p.m. when they were sent home.

After more than three years of Sunday school, Raikes published a small account of its successes in his newspaper, making no mention of his own involvement. Others had started similar programs in previous decades, but papers in London picked up Raikes’ story and the idea began to spread.

By this time, the number of children

by Warren L. Maye

in Raikes’ program had grown to several hundred and increased weekly.

Employers began to notice a change in the children’s behavior. “They have been transformed from the shape of wolves and tigers to that of men,” said one manufacturer.

A MOVEMENT BEGINS Other Christian philanthropists joined the movement to free these children from a life of illiteracy. But legislative efforts, which came in 1802, were modest.

Saturday remained part of the children’s regular work week. Therefore, Sunday was the only available time they could enjoy some education.

Although originally hailed as a great and noble achievement, Sunday schools constantly struggled for survival because there was often church pressure to not teach writing on Sunday. Debates also raged as to whether teaching the lower classes was, in fact, a good idea; there were worries that such education would lead them to desire a higher station in life.

Consequently, the schools were financed by subscribers who nominated children for enrollment. They also visited the schools in order to hear the children repeat their lessons. These donors, as such, were the forerunners of school inspectors. The teachers, both men and women, were paid and classes were often held in a person’s home or in rented rooms.

Nonetheless, the movement spread to the United States. Denominations and non–denominational organizations caught the vision and energetically began to create Sunday schools. Within

decades, the movement had become extremely popular. By the mid–19th century, Sunday school attendance was a near universal aspect of childhood.

A BETTER LIFE Even parents who did not regularly attend church themselves generally insisted that their children go to Sunday school. Working–class families were grateful for this opportunity to receive an education. They also looked forward to annual highlights such as prize days, parades, and picnics, which came to mark the calendars of their lives as much as more traditional seasonal holidays.

The Bible was the textbook used for learning to read. Likewise, many

children learned to write by copying passages of Scripture.

The Sunday schools were simple, became a diversion for the children, and a means for parents to socially elevate the family as a whole. They were often also a means of education for adults, who occasionally attended the schools; children were actively encouraged to take lessons and books home to share with their parents.

The Sunday school also became an important hub of social interaction for a class of children and parents who were rapidly moving away from small, close–knit, rural communities to large, over–populated, urban centers.

Lastly, the schools taught Scripture to a population that, until that time, only

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learned it via a tedious and rote memorization system.

THE FUTURE Today, Sunday school continues to evolve, aided by new technologies and social innovations. Recently in The Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory, Orange has become the new Sunday school. The Army has recently formed a partnership with Orange, an organization that has helped to better impact children, teenagers, and families. Its message is based on the Bible and its ministry is motivated by the love of God. * Portions of this article come from the book Robert Raikes, Founder of Sunday School, a biography written by Thomas Walters (1930).

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wholly living

‘Resurrection

Sunday’

by Robert Mitchell

“ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”

—1 CORINTHIANS 15:3–6

A

s a child growing up in rural Indiana, the name “Jesus Christ” was rarely uttered in our house. Even on Easter Sunday, my family would gather, eat a special holiday meal, distribute traditional baskets, and hunt for eggs in the backyard. But that was it.

I worked as a boy cutting grass for neighbors. I also helped harvest corn.

It was backbreaking work. One day, a neighbor invited me into her home and shared Christ with me. I became a born-again Christian. From then on, every Sunday morning, a church bus picked me up.

One Sunday, I came home with dampened and mussed–up hair.

Immediately, my mom knew that her 12–year–old son had been baptized.

She had been against the move and told me not to do it, but I wanted to follow Christ’s command.

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By the time I was 30, I was married with three children. We dedicated them to the Lord and vowed to raise them with Christian principles.

NO BUNNY BUSINESS That meant avoiding the commercialism of both Christmas and Easter and focusing on the spiritual meaning of the holidays. In fact, we didn’t even call it “Easter” because of the pagan roots. It was always “Resurrection Sunday.”

I would typically take my vacation during “Holy Week” (my kids were off from school anyway) and we would spend time together as a family. When they were young, I would read various Bible passages and find creative activities related to the resurrection. At night, we would watch movies such as “Jesus of Nazareth,” “The Robe,” and others. On Good Friday, we attended a Tenebrae (candlelight) service.

Then came the Sunday morning worship service, where my children would watch their mom sing in the choir.

There were no trips to the mall to get pictures of the kids with the “Easter Bunny.” They really didn’t care to know him anyway.

While we would give our children baskets, they weren’t your typical ones with peanut butter eggs and plastic grass. We would give them chocolate crosses and other spiritually–themed candy and books.

We also would use “Resurrection Eggs” to explain the story. These 12 plastic eggs look like your typical Easter eggs, but inside, rather than jelly beans, they hold key symbols of the Holy Week story, such as tiny plastic donkeys, coins, crosses, nails, crown of thorns, dice, and chalices. We would then talk about each object and how it related to the resurrection story.

I also would read the accounts of Holy Week from the Bible covering the Last Supper, as well as Christ’s arrest, trial, death, burial, and resurrection.

I actually came to Jesus when I was young and without much knowledge about the historical evidence for the resurrection. I’ve since studied apologetics and am a firm believer.

On the reading list was 1 Corinthians 15, which I believe is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible. The words of 1 Corinthians 15 have always intrigued me because of the proclamation that Christ “died for our sins.” Paul goes on to talk about the various post–resurrection appearances of Christ, including one before 500 people “at the same time.”

Paul says while some of those saints have died, “most” are still living. To me, he is almost begging critics to ask them what they saw. He’s saying, “They’re still here. Go interview them.”

EYEWITNESS NEWS The amazing transformation of the apostles was one of the main reasons I believe the resurrection to be true. How did these men go from being scared and hiding behind closed doors to becoming the boldest witnesses for Christ the world has ever seen? I believe it’s because they know what they saw and they wanted to share that with the world, even if it meant most of them would die as martyrs.

When I was a reporter and showed up at a breaking–news event, I wanted to talk to the “eyewitnesses.” Information

coming from a secondary source is sometimes useful, but there’s nothing like talking to someone who was actually there. I was amazed as I read the Bible how many “eyewitnesses” we have of the resurrected Christ. They include John, who was at the foot of the cross and later ran to the empty tomb that glorious Sunday morning.

That’s what I shared with my children in the week leading up to “Resurrection Sunday.” The Easter Bunny is a fantasy; however, the empty tomb is a reality.

If you’re creative enough, there is a way to turn every holiday—especially the more commercial ones—into a message about Jesus Christ.

At Halloween, my family still gives candy to people who come to the door, but we also throw in child–friendly gospel tracts. When our kids were young and still went trick–or–treating, they would dress as Bible characters and turn the tables on Halloween. As they visited house–to– house, they offered gospel tracts.

In recent years, our church members have held a “Trunk–or–Treat” event. They dress up in costumes and decorate their car trunks. We invite people in the community to our church parking lot where we give them Bibles and gospel material. We also give them candy as they visit each car trunk.

NO GREATER LOVE On the Fourth of July, we would teach our kids the words of Jesus that there is no greater love than laying down one’s life

for friends (John 15:13). At Christmas, the ideas for eliminating the commercialism and focusing on the real meaning are endless. One of the many ways we did so during that holiday was to put up a full Nativity display with all the characters (including a stable). My kids would help me. It became a family tradition.

Now that my kids are grown, they thank us for turning their thoughts each spring to Christ’s great sacrifice at Calvary and His resurrection. Do they believe the holidays were boring because we acted differently from the world? Not at all. They look back fondly at those traditions and plan to do the same with their children.

I once worked for an editor who liked to quote author Stephen Covey when it came to writing news stories; “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

That’s good advice. Regardless of the holiday, Christ should always be the main thing.

The Resurrection Eggs are available from several online retailers and Christian bookstores. Just google “Resurrection Eggs” or if you are crafty, maybe Pintrest is the place to go. You’ll find a wealth of information there on how to put Jesus back into your Resurrection Sunday.

20/20 vision highlights Do you really know The Salvation Army?

Its corps (churches) and Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARCs) are places of worship and social service, located throughout the United States and in 131 countries worldwide.

MERIDEN, CONN., CORPS LEBANON, PA., CORPS 1031 GUILFORD STREET

Lieutenants Marlon and Ivonne Janet Rodriguez are excited about their Second Harvest Program. “It’s a program that helps families who need food,” said Lieutenant Marlon. “Our hearts are filled with joy because we know that these families are going to have the opportunity to receive groceries and have a meal on their table.” The program happens twice a month on every other Monday. “We open the gym doors to the community, and they come with their shopping bags,” said Lieutenant Ivonne Janet. “We serve more than 300 families.”

23 STREET, CASIMIR DR. Lieutenant Claudio Cano reports that the Hispanic Women’s Group recently celebrated a ceremonious enrollment of 11 new members.

“God answered our prayer to start a women’s ministry in Meriden where there was a need for such an outreach,” said Cano. It all began in November 2018 at the food pantry. “I invited a woman who brought another friend. Today, 18 women are members of the group.

Four of them attend church regularly.”

MANHATTAN (CITADEL), N.Y., CORPS CINCINNATI (CITADEL), OHIO, CORPS 120 EAST CENTRAL PKWY.

Lieutenant Felix Padilla III says the corps was scheduled to enroll an Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) beneficiary on March 17, shortly after his graduation from the ARC program. “Our corps has recently developed a great relationship with our local ARC. Beneficiaries have the option to worship with us on Sundays and our corps leads a Bible study once a week there,” said Lieutenant Padilla. Other related initiatives are also making a difference. “We have recently started a weekly community outreach where we serve meals out of a canteen. While we minister to the homeless, the goal is to have a couple of ARC beneficiaries there to encourage people with addictions to enter our program.”

Recreation is effective as 17 ARC beneficiaries are planning to attend a Salvation Army–sponsored bowling event.

“We also plan to have some attend men’s camp this year,” said Padilla. So far, we have had great success.”

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145 EAST 125TH STREET Captain Antonio Rosamilia and members of the corps will host a “Resurrection Sunday” event April 21 at 2 p.m. “After our service, we’ll have a ‘Witness Parade’ here in Harlem,” said Rosamilia. “This year, we’ll have the NYPD Police Band and more than 50 members of The Salvation Army.” Colonels Kenneth O. and Paula S. Johnson, chief secretary and territorial secretary for Women’s Ministries, will highlight the event as special guests.

The Adult Rehabilitation Center near you offers programs to help fight addiction. See the ad on our back cover for more information.

July 27 – August 2, 2019

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O

rchard Beac O ld

in Ann t e ua l Ca mp Me with special guests

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle

Including:

New York Staff Band Eastern Territory Staff Songsters Daily Corps and Beach Bible Studies

#2 0 2 0 US A E A ST

Shattered Dreams?

Lost your way?

Alcohol, drugs, and other issues shouldn’t determine your direction.

Contact us.

To find real help and hope, contact The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. We provide residential programs for adults who seek purpose, meaning, and solutions. For the Adult Rehabilitation Center nearest you, call 800-SA-TRUCK or visit us at SATRUCK.ORG today.