VOL. 5, NO. 10 • DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
the magazine
How do you keep Christ in Christmas? Sally and Jerry raise funds each Christmas for their local Salvation Army. p. 10 Patricia Culver celebrated Christmas in her car for years, but she found a home with The Salvation Army. p. 26
wholly living A SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT
Renew your faith for 2020. p. 30
snapshot CINCINNATI TOY SHOP
A new face on fundraising. SACONNECTS.ORG
p. 24
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the General’s Christmas message
Good News Needs to be
Shared
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. —LUKE 2:17 When you experience something good you just can’t help talking about it. That may be a memorable meal, a good book, an enjoyable film, stirring music, dramatic theater or beautiful countryside. Whatever the experience, it leaves such an impression on us that we want to share it with others. We have to share it! Good news needs to be shared. These days, when people discover they are expecting a baby, many find creative ways to share the news; some hold parties to reveal the gender of the unborn baby; some have parties and—when the child is finally born—they announce it loud and clear. Jesus’ birth was announced through a new, bright star that appeared in the sky. An angelic choir burst into song to communicate the great news. Unsuspecting shepherds were looking after their sheep, like any other night, when the sky lit up and they heard the most astonishing news in a most spectacular way. An angel appeared to personally deliver a message to the shepherds (Luke 2:9–12). This was a detailed message—the angel clearly described who Jesus was (v 11) and how they would find Him (v 12). So the shepherds journeyed to the manger and found Jesus “just as they had been told” (v 20). Such was the impact of their experience on the hillside and in the stable, they just had to tell other people about it. The news was so joyous and tremendous that they couldn’t keep it to themselves. The news about Jesus brought light into the darkness of a shattered world. Like the shepherds, we need to realize that this good news is not just ours—it needs to be shared.
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In my message to Salvationists and friends, employees and supporters this Christmas, I’m calling us to have a renewed confidence in the gospel. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and prepared the way for Jesus. God sent His one and only Son into this world to save it. Jesus then sent out His disciples to preach the good news, perform miracles and make disciples. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to share the gospel in a myriad of languages and empowered the Early Church to spread the story of the Saviour to new lands and new people. The apostle Paul declared: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). We are a Salvation Army—the gospel is the saving message we preach in words and express in actions. The good news of Jesus brings hope to those who are lost, light to those in darkness, joy to those in despair. It offers real transformation to the person who is caught in addiction, disillusioned by materialism or seeking purpose and direction. We share the gospel because we have experienced its truth and power for ourselves, and we know, personally, the “author and perfecter,” so we have confidence in the gospel’s transformative power on others. This Christmastime and beyond, let us follow the example set by the angels and shepherds. Let us use every opportunity and every means possible to spread the word about who Jesus is while showing people where they can find Him so that they too can have a saving, personal relationship with the living Christ. It’s not just good news—it’s the best news. Let’s share it! — General Brian Peddle
DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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2019PGSA60
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contents VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 10
in every issue 4 from the editor 5 an active army 7 relevents 24 snapshot 30 wholly living
departments 6 LEAD What you need to know about the reasons for the seasons!
8 what’s the Digital? Learn how you can edit movies your family watches at home!
26 FAITH in ACTION After years of homelessness and living out of vehicles, Soldier Patricia Culver found hope and reconnection with God.
28 Q & A p. 20
10 A Party With Purpose
For years, philanthropists Sally Carver and Jerry Hopkins have raised funds for The Salvation Army. Find out why they believe God led them to this ministry.
Through his music, hip–hop artist George Moss works to bring souls to God’s Kingdom.
32 20/20 vision highlights An after–school program called “The SmART” Center keeps kids bright!
14 W hat Can We Do?
The answer to that important question came when residents of Dayton, Ohio, realized that together they were stronger than any natural or man–made disaster.
20 You Will Survive
Iconic singer Gloria Gaynor shares her heartfelt testimony of survival against the odds. In her new album “My Testimony,” she reveals how faith in God made all the difference in her life.
p. 14
Para leer los artículos en español por favor visite SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL
DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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from the editor your connection to The Salvation Army
USA EASTERN TERRITORY TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III
‘Jesus is King!’
Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr. COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. —THE APOSTLE PAUL (PHILIPPIANS 1:15–18)
Lt. Colonel Kathleen J. Steele EDITOR IN CHIEF Warren L. Maye MANAGING EDITOR Robert Mitchell EDITOR / HISPANIC CORRESPONDENT Hugo Bravo KOREAN EDITOR Lt. Colonel Chongwon D. Kim HISPANIC EDITOR Minerva Colon–Pino ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines PUBLICATION MANAGING DESIGNER
The gospel resonates today. It is a spiritual plot that astonishingly twists and turns through the lives of people who are world renowned as well as others who are unknown. Our next SACONNECTS magazine will carry stories of those unsung heroes who minister in our Eastern Territory. They may be unknown to the world, but nonetheless are living testimonies. You’ll read about cancer survivors, gospel and stage artists, corps officers, and employees. In their own way they’ve proclaimed that “Jesus is King!” Such people have inspired the renowned of our day. Since rapper Kanye West recently declared himself a born–again Christian, his “Sunday Service” worship event has motivated thousands of fans to take a deeper look at Christ, to pursue the Bible, and to sing, “Jesus is King!” Actor Tom Hanks is a church–going Christian and currently stars in the transformational movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” In it he portrays Mr. Fred Rogers, the iconic TV personality—and an ordained minister (read our exclusive interview with Mrs. Joanne Rogers on SACONNECTS.org). As you read how Christians follow God’s call, always remember that they are letting the whole world know that “Jesus is King” and people everywhere are watching.
Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Keri Johnson, Joe Marino, Mabel Zorzano STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Love CIRCULATION Doris Marasigan
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.
Member since 2015 Award winner 2016, 2017, 2019
www.saconnects.org www.facebook.com/saconnects www.twitter.com/saconnects 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
— Warren L. Maye, Editor in Chief
Salvation Army, 440 W. Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. Vol. 5, No. 10, December 2019 / January 2020. 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 re-
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printed only with written permission. All scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless indicated otherwise.
an active army
BELL RINGERS by Hugo Bravo
David Webber, a retired veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, has been at the Salvation Army’s Pittsfield, Mass., Corps for the past five years. A well–known figure in the community, he first came to The Salvation Army to take part in its daily breakfasts. Today, he’s the face of the corps’ kettle season, and one of their most successful bell ringers. “During the first weeks that David rang the bell, we saw a spike in donations at his places,” says Captain Elliott Higgins, corps officer at Pittsfield. “His locations weren’t big stores where a kettle would normally do well. When we moved him to be at better–known stops and supermarkets, his numbers were even better. “But it’s not just about the donations that his kettles bring in,” says Captain Higgins. “David represents The Salvation Army and the Lord in such a way that it makes me wish every corps had at least one person like him.” “Knowing that I can help an organization like The Salvation Army brightens my own day,” says Webber. “I love meeting the people who come up to me to donate or ask about the corps.” Webber relishes his role as bell ringer and exudes joy every day he’s next to a kettle. “I remember one time, my bell broke while I was ringing it,” says Webber laughing. “Maybe I rang it too hard or I just grabbed an old one that day. So, with no bell, I just started saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to people walking by, left and right. You have to make the best of it sometimes.” “The holidays can be very stressful for some,” says Captain Higgins. “You always see people rushing around or others with their head hung down. David has a talent for reaching out to those folks.”
KEEPING THE POT BOILING
Some of them also reach back to him. He’s learned that, even in difficult times, many are still happy to give. “People share the hardships of their daily lives with me. Other times, they talk about having recently lost someone dear to them,” says Webber. “But even those hurting folks want to donate something. They give in memory of their lost loved one or even as a ‘thank you’ for taking the time to listen to them during a busy day.” Bell ringing can be a tiring, difficult task when the numbers aren’t as good as other days, but Webber also remembers to never let it get him down. “Bell ringers can feel discouraged about having an off day. But they have to remember that just the fact that they’re showing up and taking time to help the Army makes them good, hardworking people. There will always be days when your kettle isn’t as full as you’d like,” says Webber. “I have days like that too. But even in those days, I still seem to get a smile from everyone who walks by.”
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In December of 1891, Captain Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army officer in San Francisco, Calif., wanted to raise money to host a dinner for 1,000 needy people. He remembered his time as a sailor in Liverpool, England, where local charities collected donations in a pot at the city’s docks. McFee secured permission to place a brass urn at the Oakland Ferry Landing, along with a bell to ring and a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” McFee soon raised the money for the Christmas dinner. The following year, Captain McFee’s idea expanded to 30 kettle locations on the west coast. He received help from two young officers named William A. McIntyre and N.J. Lewis. Captain McFee’s idea soon reached the east coast. In 1897 while stationed in Boston, McIntyre, his wife, and his sister set up three kettles in the center of the city. That year, the Christmas kettles across the United States resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the poor. In 1901, Salvation Army bell ringers in New York collected enough money to host a massive sit–down Christmas dinner at Madison Square Garden. Today, bell ringers and their red kettles are in far–away countries such as South Korea, Chile, and Australia, all raising money to continue the Army’s mission of doing the most good. Source: The Salvation Army USA Western Territory
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LEAD
What season is it anyway?
by Isaiah Allen
The weeks before Christmas have been called “The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.” In fact, Christmas is surrounded by wonderful seasons that often pass unnoticed, but they are filled with significance. For people who have not observed this ancient calendar, a lectionary is quite useful. Here is an overview of the seasons that surround Christmas and their dates in the current Christian calendar year:
SEASON OF ADVENT (December 1–24, 2019) The Christian Year begins with Advent. It is a time of imaginatively remembering what life was like before Jesus Christ came into the world—a solemn but mysterious time of yearning and hope. During Advent, the Church in each age has spiritually joined ancient Israel in awaiting and anticipating the Messiah. Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” During this season, Christians focus on Old Testament prophecies. Whereas the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany always fall on the same dates, the dates for Advent depend on what day of the week Christmas falls on. Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Day. Churches and Christian families have developed diverse ways of observing Advent, but one widespread practice is to successively light a candle representing Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace on each of the Sundays and a fifth “Christ” candle on Christmas. The candles are any color, but the third week’s “Joy” candle is usually pink or purple to evoke gaiety.
SEASON OF CHRISTMAS (December 25, 2019–January 5, 2020) The Christmas Season begins on Christmas day and lasts 12 days—hence “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Many Christians enjoy a profound experience of worship as they shift dramatically in real time from the anticipation of Advent to the wonder of Christmas during a Christmas Eve watch night. Highly liturgical churches are often filled with worshipers at midnight, Christmas Eve. Christians around the world gather to share this celebration together. The Christmas Season focuses on narratives of Jesus’ incarnation and birth—Luke 2 being a favorite.
SEASON OF EPIPHANY (January 6–February 25, 2020) Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means “appearing,” and it is when Christians celebrate Christ Jesus’ introduction to the public, especially to the nations (Gentiles). His first public appearance was the Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2), so the Feast of Epiphany is when that visit is recognized in the Church (January 6). In some traditions it is referred to as Three Kings Day (El Día de los Reyes in Latin America) and is at least as important as Christmas in terms of celebration and gift–giving. Other public appearances, such as Jesus’ baptism, are also noted during this season. Epiphany leads to Ash Wednesday (February 26, 2020) and the Season of Lent (February 26–April 9, 2020).
What’s the Revised Common Lectionary? This is the lectionary used by many churches today. It follows the Christian Year in a three–year cycle (Year A, Year B, and Year C). This allows churches to include substantial readings from the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), while readings from John’s Gospel are sprinkled throughout each year.
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2019 is Year A of the three–year cycle. What a great time to start following it! Definition: A lectionary is a list of Scripture passages to read on specific dates and occasions. Resource: The Revised Common Lectionary and a wealth of appropriate resources for worship, including artwork, are available free–of–charge from the Vanderbilt University Library at the following address: lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu.
Isaiah Allen is the Director of Corps Leadership Development for the USA Eastern Territory. To schedule a learning experience at your corps, contact him at isaiah.allen@use.salvationarmy.org.
relevents
Karen Meehan, corps sergeant major and director of operations at the Salvation Army’s Cambridge, Mass., Corps, talks about Christmas dinners at the homeless shelter, why Samuel Logan Brengle is an example for her staff, and the importance of creating a new generation of Army supporters. interview by Hugo Bravo
During World War II, seeing the Salvation Army donut girls in action were how many people became familiar with the Army. That generation became the Army’s biggest supporters, and the ones who gave to the Army the most. Sadly, those folks are slowly leaving us. What are we doing to create the next generation of supporters? Do we start baking donuts again or is there another, more modern way? In the coming year, let’s find new and exciting ministries that will turn people into lifelong supporters and fighters for The Salvation Army.
My office is filled with Salvation Army statues, posters, and other decorations from its years of serving others during the world wars. One of my favorite pieces is a small statue of Samuel Brengle, an early commissioner of The Salvation Army, polishing a boot. When Brengle came to the Army, he was immediately put to work—blackening the boots of It’s a privilege to serve the people who seek the officers. Though he was an educated scholar, he did every job help at our shelter. Here, they have a place to lay they gave him, and that was how he advanced in the Army. I read their head, and can sign up to receive mail so they his story to my staff to remind them of the true definition of service. don’t miss an important letter or a social security We come to The Salvation Army to serve Jesus Christ. card. This allows them to have some structure. We recently helped a veteran with the paperwork needed to receive assistance. Although he had received an honorable discharge from the military, Every Christmas, we prepare a special meal at the he was surprised to learn that he was also eligible corps. We put on linen tablecloths, plates, silverware, and for a home and benefits. Fighting for people like serve a beautiful Christmas feast. No one rushes anyone to him is my own reward. Like William Booth said, I’m eat, and no one stands in line waiting to be served. That’s what going to fight to the very end for them. The Salvation Army is about: making everyone feel loved and welcomed. One woman said that she felt like she was eating at a fancy hotel. We do this because we are celebrating When I first came to The Salvation Army, it was the soldiers of the Jesus’ birthday; how could we not throw Cambridge Corps who reached out and made me feel welcome. They invited a royal party in His name? me to Home League. Though I didn’t know much about making arts and crafts, I still went for the fellowship. I didn’t even know that the Cambridge Corps had a homeless shelter until a new corps officer started inviting the people in the shelter to service on Sunday. When I lost my job, I became the coordinator for the homeless shelter. I grew up in the community and knew the people who came looking for help. Working and praying with them was a new type of fellowship.
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DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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what’s the Digital
Filtered by Faith by Warren L. Maye
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. —PHILIPPIANS 4:8, ESV
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It’s evening; you’re at home with family in front of your new flat screen TV. It’s connected to the latest streaming services, such as ROKU, AppleTV, Netflix, AmazonfireTV, and others. When you press the remote’s “on” button, dazzling, colorful images seemingly set your living room ablaze. From the powerful, full–ranged speakers, exciting music fills the popcorn–scented air. The movie you’ve all been waiting to see finally appears and immediately captures your attention. Everyone snuggles up now, because—it’s “showtime!” However, less than ten minutes into the star–studded production, one of the stars says something awkward. Another one does something inappropriate,
a group of them perform a shocking scene. Your family feels uncomfortable now and tries to mask their feelings with nervous laughter and more popcorn. At this point, you’re thinking, Why is this in the movie? How am I going to explain this to the kids? At the same time, they’re wondering, Should I ask Mom or Dad what that word means?
SKIP, MUTE, REPEAT Today, thanks to a service called VidAngel, you no longer have to accept the unacceptable in movies and TV. VidAngel provides a way to skip or mute things you don’t want to see or hear in movies and on TV shows. VidAngel uses a filtering
system to skip distasteful clips, and and love the Lord. I have a relationship VidAngel lawsuit broke, the support it mute unwanted language, all in the with Jesus. He died for me. Because received from subscribers was overprivacy of your home. of that, I don’t want His name taken whelming, said Neal Harmon, CEO During a 30–day free trial, subscrib- in vain in front of us.’ That now means of VidAngel. In an open letter to supers learn how to remove content from that my kids get to see me put my porters he wrote, “VidAngel believes categories, such as “Language” or money where my mouth is.” in personal freedom. Producers and “Violence.” Through a programmable Dobson says many people believe directors should have the personal system, content from sub–categothat if they filter shows with violent, freedom to create whatever movies ries, such as “Profanity” or “Graphic inappropriate scenes, there will be little and TV shows they choose. We conViolence” can be circumvented. remaining to enjoy. But studies actually demn censorship of their content in By using individual filters, the public sphere. viewers can skip or mute “But individuals in the “If you put every filter VidAngel offers on most content, including specific privacy of their homes shows, on average, it cuts only about 2 ½ minutes, words or certain scenes. should have the personal maybe 3 minutes out of an entire program.” In addition to screening freedom to watch that secular movies from major content and the way they studios, VidAngel also offers its own reveal a surprising reality. “If you put choose. That right is protected by law. high–quality original content such as every filter VidAngel offers on most That’s why VidAngel does not claim to “Dry Bar Comedy,” the world’s largest shows, on average, it cuts only about be a moral authority. We will never tell library of clean comedy. Subscribers 2 ½ minutes, maybe 3 minutes out of you what to watch or what filters to use can also learn more on current finanan entire program. That’s about 1 perwhen watching a movie or TV show. cial events in a program called, “Life cent of a 30–minute program! You have the choice to watch however on Bitcoin.” Specifically Christian “It’s almost nothing, but it changes you want. VidAngel is here to facilitate series such as “The Chosen” by Dallas who you are,” says Dobson. “You don’t your personal choice.” Jenkins, are all free. have those images stuck in your brain. The original 2016 preliminary “VidAngel is great if you have You’re not comparing your spouse to injunction against VidAngel was ruled HBO GO, Amazon Prime, or Netflix,” certain people on screen. You’re not “permanent,” but with modifications. says Ryan Dobson, son of Dr. James comparing your life to their lives. You’re Since VidAngel shut down its old Dobson and host of his own show not hearing those words being used in system in January 2017, it has never called, “Rebel Parenting.” Ryan your home. That’s a big deal.” used it to offer any provider’s content. Dobson has also launched a new Instead, the company pioneered a new series based on his dad’s early proFRIENDLY FIRE? system, void of Disney’s content. ductions. It’s called “Building a Family So why did Disney, the renowned “We advised the court that we Legacy” and includes new material family–friendly organization, seek an had not used the old system in any from his dad’s interviews with guests. injunction against VidAngel in 2016? way for more than 32 months and “It’s a parent’s dream,” Ryan says of Dobson believes there is an under‘unequivocally’ committed never to VidAngel. “What’s interesting is how we lying ideological struggle going on in use it again, absent a change in the watch movies and it even cuts phrases Hollywood that goes far deeper than law,” wrote Harmon. Nonetheless, the that uses the Lord’s name in vain, such the “bottom line” and reaches the judge issued a new injunction, which as ‘OMG.’ We as a family, don’t do that. very foundation of our values as a included “parents, affiliates, and subI’m allergic to that phrase.” society. “R–rated movies make up 80 sidiaries” of Disney. percent of all movies produced, yet G Harmon wrote, “As we have done in SHARING FAMILY VALUES and PG movies are responsible for 70 the past, we will proceed with the utmost Dobson says filtering gives him and percent of all income from movies,” caution. We are removing the titles that his wife Laura an opportunity to share says Dobson, a fact that is confirmed are seemingly subject to the injunction.” their values with the kids. “When by leading movie revenue analysts. Harmon encouraged VidAngel fans VidAngel makes those cuts, the kids “They are not just trying to make to support an effort to pass a Family notice. They ask, ‘Why is that so money. If they were, they’d produce Movie Act to permit filtering of all important to you, Daddy?’ It’s then my more family–friendly entertainment.” movies. “Let’s re–double our efforts to job to say why. ‘Because we respect When news about the Disney vs. seek a solution,” wrote Harmon.
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DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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A Party with Purpose
by Robert Mitchell
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW EVENTS that led to Sally Carver’s involvement with The Salvation Army, which could be the reason why she doesn’t believe in coincidences. For example, on Jan. 7, 1941, Jerry Hopkins was abandoned on the doorstep of a home in Atlanta, Ga., just hours after being born. Years later, he would become her husband. In 1984, the couple researched Jerry’s past. A year later, they discovered the exact spot where the infant Jerry had been deposited—next door to a house owned by The Salvation Army. Police speculated that Jerry’s mother tried to leave him at the Salvation Army house, but with no lights on and no one home, she left him next door instead. In 1985, on the day they made their discovery, Sally stood in the driveway dividing the two homes and made a vow to her husband. “When I retire, I’m going to go to work for The Salvation Army,” she said. Her husband, an airline pilot at the time, asked his flight attendant wife why she would want to do that. “They’re my kind of people,” she said. “When they get on an airplane, they never have carry–on luggage. They never order a cocktail. If you’re late, they never complain, and no matter what you serve them to eat, they’re thankful to have it.” Sally made good on her promise. When she stopped flying in 1989 after 25 years as a flight attendant, the couple retired to New Hampshire. She then stood kettles
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for The Salvation Army in Laconia. Today, Sally and Jerry also host an annual Christmas party at their home in Moultonborough. Over the years, they’ve raised more than $500,000. Her love for The Salvation Army goes beyond her husband’s story. In the 1920s, her father’s family was evicted from their apartment in Cambridge, Mass. The Salvation Army not only paid the family’s rent, but helped move them back in. Sally has always remembered that story. Sally, who has been a member of the advisory board for the Laconia Corps since 1998, also remembers the day she walked into the corps in the mid–1990s and asked for a kettle. “I said, ‘Give me a kettle and I’ll ring it wherever I am, and I’ll bring you the money at the end of the season,’” Sally recalls.
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF Sally was told that wasn’t the way the kettle policy worked, but she pleaded with the staff. “I said, ‘Why? The Hare Krishnas ring at Logan Airport, why can’t I?’” Sally said. She finally agreed to give the corps a $500 check and told the staff they could keep it if she didn’t return. The persuasive Sally got her kettle and began ringing in nearby Center Harbor and Plymouth. “I got people to help me ring at supermarkets, banks,
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and lots of other places,” she said. “It just started to grow from there.” Sally, who once raised $15,000 in three days for Hurricane Katrina relief, said she likes it when military veterans share stories about getting help from The Salvation Army. Another time, a boy who had saved his change all year for a Christmas present, put his money in the kettle, one coin at a time, rather than spend it on himself. “He was a little boy, probably no more than 8,” Sally said. “It’s those things I find pretty emotional.” When Sally and Jerry lived in Boston, they held a Christmas party every year for their airline friends and donated the proceeds to Boston Children’s Hospital. She continued the party in New Hampshire and would set a kettle by the door for guests to give, but the proceeds were minimal. Sally finally decided to take it to the next level and hold a fundraiser/party each year just for The Salvation Army. “I entertain easily, so this works,” Sally says. The people in our community look forward to it because it’s the kickoff to the holiday season.” The menu for the party features 26 pounds of giant shrimp, beef tenderloin, smoked salmon, ham, crab cakes, desserts, beverages, and more. Everyone writes a check at the party. “We serve lovely food and Jerry and I pay for all of that,” Sally says. “Every single dime that comes through that door goes to the Laconia Corps.” Quite a few dimes have come through. The first party in 2003 raised $2,300, but last year’s extravaganza drew 82 people and raised $75,000. This year’s party, scheduled for Dec. 7, will push the total to over $500,000 since it began. “It has grown very nicely,” Sally said. “I don’t want anyone to know who gives what. I take the checks out of the envelope and I try to put my thumb over the name when we’re counting.”
A LOVE FOR CHILDREN Sally said about twice as many checks come from people who don’t attend the party or even live in the state. The checks range from $25 to $30,000. “It breaks my heart that I can’t recognize people publicly,” she said. “I do write everyone a ‘thank you’ note.” Captain Scott McNeil of the Laconia Corps said the money goes into the operating budget and to support children’s programming, rent and utility assistance,
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a soup kitchen, and “traditional Salvation Army outreach.” The corps also operates a 40–bed shelter for men, women, and families. “It’s open 365 days a year and it just doesn’t stop,” McNeil said. “It’s almost always full and rarely is there an open bed. The community is certainly very thankful for what we do. We’re very thankful for what Sally and Jerry have done for us in the name of The Salvation Army.” Captain Scott said Sally gets “very emotional” when they count the proceeds from her party. “She’ll open up an envelope and she’ll hesitate and then get a tissue and break down and cry,” he said. “She’s just so thankful for the overwhelming generosity of the guests that she invites here. It’s really incredible.” Sally said going to the corps and seeing where the money goes only “makes me feel we don’t do enough” to help, whether it’s her party or standing kettles. “There are times I’m standing outside ringing the bell and I’m raising money for people who are entering the store,” she said. “It can get cold and I think about the children who don’t have anything. It’s not their fault. That keeps me going.” Captain Scott’s wife, Captain Nora McNeil, called Sally “a force of nature” and praised Sally and Jerry for their compassion. “What an amazing story that two people, who came together in the way that they did, who are as well–positioned as they are, would stop and think about helping their fellow man,” she said.
A QUIET FAITH Captain Scott said when he and his wife arrived in Laconia six years ago, Sally and Jerry were the first people to reach out and welcome them to their home. “They’ve been open–armed and welcoming to us,” McNeil said. “We’ve felt very comfortable here from the start. They certainly didn’t have to do that, but they’re good people, not just for The Salvation Army, but for the community. They’re very community oriented. They just love living here, they love helping people, and they love being active in their community.” Sally and Jerry attend a small Methodist church in town, but they prefer to keep their faith quiet. Still, the couple has seen miracles. In 2014, Sally was diagnosed with lung cancer. She explained that smoking was allowed on airlines for 23 of her 25 years as a flight attendant and doctors believe she contracted cancer from second–hand smoke. She counted the proceeds from her party that year from her
bed at the hospital. Today, Sally is without half of one of her lungs, but has the energy and enthusiasm of someone half her age. Jerry, meanwhile, was able to find closure from his past. The temperature was 34 degrees the night Jerry, who weighed almost 9 pounds at birth, was found wrapped in a blanket on a porch. The homeowner, Aimee Clohecy, was alerted by her barking dog that something was amiss. Clohecy rushed Jerry to Grady Memorial Hospital about an hour–and–a–half after he was born. The home next door at the time was occupied by Colonel Robert “Brig” Young of The Salvation Army. Jerry, who was named “Baby X” by Atlanta’s newspapers at the time, was adopted six weeks later and grew up in Atlanta across the street from a Salvation Army facility. His parents, Wightman and Naomi Hopkins, never told him he was adopted. However, he would hear relatives use phrases such as “when you came to your parents” and “when they got you.” “I heard those words a lot and being fairly observant to stuff like that, I always picked up on it,” he said. When Jerry was around 20, a relative spilled everything about his past. Once his mother had reached an advanced age, Jerry and Sally flew to Atlanta to investigate.
DIGGING INTO THE PAST The couple found several newspaper articles written Jan. 8–10 in the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution. They wanted copies, but the Atlanta Public Library’s copy machine was broken. Sally and Jerry went to Georgia State College and learned that an elderly couple had been in to make copies of the same paper just days before, but the paperwork checking out the microfiche had been thrown away. “I think this could have been my mother,” Jerry said. Sally believes it might have been Jerry’s aunt, “but we don’t know and will never know.” In 2007, Jerry joined Ancestry.com and 23andMe and had his DNA tested. Amazingly, two–and–a–half years ago, a second cousin popped up as a match and Jerry was able to make contact. He later found a first cousin through DNA testing, then tracked down a half–sister, and finally, his mother’s family. Jerry learned that his birth mother, an overwhelmed single parent who already had four children and worked three jobs, had hidden her pregnancy with Jerry. He was also able to make contact with his siblings, who accepted him very well. “It didn’t take long after that I found out my birth
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“ Give me a kettle, I’ll ring it wherever I am, and I’ll bring you the money at the end of the season.”
—Sally Carver father’s name,” Jerry said. “It was the same way. I got a second cousin and bought DNA tests for people until we narrowed it down and I figured out who my father was.” Jerry’s mother died in 2000 at age 92 and his father in 1997 at age 97. He later learned that he had another half–brother, who was left in a box outside a hospital by his mother. Jerry said he never suffered any abandonment or psychological issues by being adopted. “I didn’t know I was adopted,” he said. “It didn’t emotionally bother me at all. I was in a good family and they went to church regularly. “It was the best thing she did to give me up for adoption. I got a scholarship to go to college and was a college graduate.”
DOING HER PART After college, Jerry bought a small plane and learned to fly it, which led to a 35–year career at the former Eastern Air Lines and the now–defunct Trump Shuttle. Like her husband, Sally prefers to let her fund–raising do the talking when asked about her faith. She would go to church wherever she was as a flight attendant and says her prayer life is strong. “It’s a personal thing and how we choose to share that or what we chose to do, is personal,” Sally says. “I think everybody needs to take a turn helping other people. If we don’t help each other, we’re all going to sink. It’s just my turn to help. “Some people preach. Some people run a shelter. They couldn’t run a shelter if I didn’t run a party. It’s a pie with a zillion little slices, and we all take a slice and take a turn and do what we’re best at doing. I do what I do best: I can entertain, I can invite people here, and I can browbeat them until they give me money. Sometimes it’s easier to just give me money than listen to me.”
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Photo by Brandon Sharp
what can we
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do?
by Robert Mitchell
On the evening of May 28, 2019, a series of tornadoes touched down in heavily populated areas of Dayton, Ohio. The Salvation Army’s Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center rushed in to support the devastated community. Some six months later, and as winter approaches, blue tarps covering the rooftops of damaged homes are still visible from Interstate 75. The small community in western Ohio suffered a tumultuous 2019. Just days before the tornadoes, The Ku Klux Klan tried unsuccessfully to hold a rally. In August, a mass shooter killed 10 people and injured 27. However, it was the tornadoes and ensuing recovery effort that mobilized the Salvation Army’s Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Through it all, volunteers say the community pulled together like never before; neighbor helped neighbor and strangers became friends. Debbie Harvey, the human resources manager at the Kroc Center, said she pulled into a Kroger supermarket for gas during the height of the tornado relief effort and struck up a conversation with a stranger. “We started talking and this man said, ‘The people I worry about are the unsaved.’ I paused because I had just said the same thing at church the night before. I said, ‘You are absolutely right. I worry about that because the people who are saved have hope.’ He said, ‘Do you think we could have a moment of prayer?’ I kid you not, we held hands and we had prayer right there at the gas pump,” Harvey said. “That’s never happened to me before. The community here has really come together.” Major Gayle Senak, associate administrator of the Kroc Center, said the corps set aside specific prayer times for the various events, but the sermons have focused on the “idea of community.” “That’s really how we’ve looked at this, along with the question of how do we deal with individuals who are hurting? People have been impacted by the tornadoes and from the shootings, whether it’s emotionally or in practical ways,” she said. “How do we reach out? It doesn’t always have to be the Church or The Salvation Army or the Kroc Center. It’s really, how do we as individuals reach out to neighbors who we know are hurting? It’s been amazing to see how our people have wanted to help.”
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The Salvation Army served 16,271 meals over 10 days.
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The Army distributed 150 cleanup kits.
The Army gave out 363 food boxes and 771 cases of water.
Three trained “comfort ” dogs from Chillicothe, Ohio eased victims’ stress.
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Practical help
The Kroc Center sent out four canteens for 12 days to several affected neighborhoods, where some 1,200 homes were damaged. Volunteers distributed food, water, cleaning supplies, gift cards, and more. The teams also met spiritual and emotional needs. “No one hesitated to get on those trucks, and no one hesitated to get out of those trucks and walk those neighborhoods,” said Harvey, who served on a canteen. “I’ve never been prouder to work with a group of people. Everybody—it didn’t matter what their job— was focused on answering the question, What can we do and how can we do it best? “There was an overwhelming sense of awe. There were tears. We tried to offer prayer whenever possible, but people were just excited we were out there, and they wanted an opportunity to share their story. It was more about doing a lot of listening.” Harvey said every food box given out to tornado survivors included a Bible. “We also had Bibles on our truck,” she said. “We shared those with everyone who wanted one and we never came back with a Bible.” Many of the neighborhoods hit—some less than a mile from the Kroc Center—were in low–income areas where people let their home insurance lapse. One of the tornadoes was rated an EF4 with wind speeds up to 170 mph. “It looked like a bomb had gone off,” Harvey said. “In some areas there wasn’t a single home left.” Tim Erlandson, the Kroc Center’s business administrator, lives outside Dayton and was initially unaware of the severity of the storm. He went out on one of the first canteens to assess the damage and was shocked. “It looked like a war zone, like something had exploded and leveled everything around it,” he said. “It was surreal, but became very real. At that point, it was not a picture on a TV. It was my experience. “Part of the reason I came to The Salvation Army was because of its compassion for people. At that moment, people were in need and it was a big deal. I knew they didn’t have the ability to take care of everything
Photo by David Sickler
As many as 515 families came to the Kroc resource center.
themselves because it was just too much. Our attitude became, We can do it. We have the capabilities and the desire to help, so let’s go out and help them."
Going off–road
Among the volunteers were Jim and Karen Fry, soldiers at the Kroc Center who are retired and in their 60s. The couple got emotional describing the kindness they saw in the midst of tragedy. “It’s just a great experience to be out there and to help the people and help our neighbors,”
Jim said. “I’ve never seen first–hand how a whole neighborhood could come together. Everybody was just helping everybody. I saw people pull out their wallets to help somebody. Some of them sat in front of what was their house, which was gone, and yet they were helping other people. “I’ve had neighbors who would help out and so forth, but this was far beyond neighborly. These were people helping people. I couldn’t count the number of times somebody just stopped and wanted to pray.” Karen said while the couple’s home was
spared, they saw many people they knew socially who weren’t so fortunate. “They were happy to see that someone cared enough to come out and help them,” Karen said. “They appreciated the help. We had so many people comment and say, ‘Thank you. You’re the first people we’ve seen out here.’ It was special to know that we were doing this for God’s people. It was such a small task on our part, but for them it was everything.” Jim said volunteers were forced to carry food into some neighborhoods because the roads were blocked by fallen trees, debris, and power lines. Taylor Senak, a soldier at the Kroc Center who works in the recreation department, drove an all–terrain vehicle (ATV) to deliver water, food, and supplies. “The ATV allowed us to reach the areas that couldn’t be reached with the canteen or van,” Senak said. “We had to climb over trees and downed power lines. Streets were completely blocked and that motivated us to really get
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Volunteers provided 700 hours of support.
Photo by Captain Darrel Houseton
Kroc Center management staff (85) were involved in the response.
Ready to go
back there and help the people get some food and water. “It really was a great benefit for us. We were able to give out the most food because we could quickly go door–to–door." Erin May, who also works in the recreation department at the center, said it was her first experience in disaster relief. Her attitude was, "What can I do to help?" “The blessing of working here at The Salvation Army is—we help people. This is literally what we do,” May said. “I remember going up the highway and seeing the destruction for the first time. My heart instantly sank. But once I started working with the people, I realized how thankful they were that we were there to help them. It was just an amazing feeling. “I don’t really like to smile during a bad situation like that, but that’s what the people needed to see. If they asked for prayer, we prayed with them, and we were just a comfort to them.”
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Barb Hartley, who has been a senior soldier for 50 years, works in support services at the Kroc Center. She also went out on a canteen into neighborhoods where she grew up and knew the people well. “I think anybody who’s a part of the Army so because they have that sense of caring for people,” Hartley said. “They want to help others. It always amazes me how we’re always there and usually the first ones on site. My first thought Monday night, after this all happened, was When are we going out?” Hartley went door–to–door to check on people, including two elderly women in a home. “One of the women said, ‘I need prayer right now. My mother is dying.’ I had the privilege of praying with her and her mother. That was such an honor to get to do something like that,” Hartley said. Jetawn Ruggs, a finance manager at the center and who worked on a canteen, also knew some of the victims. “It was heartbreaking. I was glad to be able to do something to help,” she said. “It takes a special kind of person to be there mentally and spiritually for someone else when they’re also affected. It’s difficult at times to be there for others and be strong when I’m going through things myself. I have to pray for that strength to be able to inspire someone else. Having that experience with others helped me to cope and to get through it because it was devastating. That inspiration was uplifting for everyone.” Kim Tufts, a receptionist and soldier at the Kroc Center, had Emergency Disaster Services training and was excited to put it to use on a canteen. “I just wanted to take all of these people and hug them,” she said. Her team shared hugs, offered gift cards, and plenty of prayer. “Sometimes the prayer made all the difference,” Tufts said. “Some of the people were shocked and overwhelmed about what was happening. It’s nice to have someone with a calm nature to pray with them and then they end up feeling better. I took the chance to do a little witnessing and invited them to church.”
Meanwhile, Tina Tacket, who works in accounts payable, was on a canteen for the first time. “It was sad, it was surreal, and it was hard to believe that it happened here in our hometown,” she said. “What struck me is how grateful everyone was. They had lost everything, and they were just grateful for food. It was sad. “I talked to people who just wanted to tell their story and they needed a hug. We’re a community and we just came together. It’s a good feeling. You see it even now. We’re united.”
Stacie Kubera, member services manager at the Kroc Center who served on a canteen, said the devastation was “overwhelming,” but it could have been worse. A twister had headed toward Dayton Children’s Hospital before it turned left and hit warehouses instead. “That was the hand of God,” she said. “We did have a personal connection with people,” Kubera said. “I wanted to bring them all home. We used the situation as a tool to bring people to the gospel or to Jesus, but I’ve always believed in serving in a practical way. When we were out and about, it was just that. We’re just givers here at the Kroc Center.” The power was out for several days after the storm. During the first few days, even the Kroc Center operated on a generator. That week, Lydia Ward, an education technology specialist at the center, organized a “technology cart.” It had computers, laptops, and tablets in a “cooling center” for people escaping the heat. “We just wanted them to get their minds off everything,” she said. “What motivated me was the thought that they could have been me. My second thought was What can I do to help all of the people around me who are hurt? “It was a terrible thing that happened, but it brought together so many people spiritually.” On the night of the shootings, Ward was at dinner in the Oregon District. She felt the Holy Spirit tell her to leave. She and a friend dined a few blocks away. They later saw police cars, ambulances, and victims fleeing the scene.
Photo by David Sickler
‘We’re just givers’
“What I saw I won’t ever be able to get out of my head,” she said. “I was led and guided by God not to stay. Whatever assignment He has for me, He has purposed me for something greater than myself.” Kip Moore, the program manager at the Kroc Center, found himself working the day after the tornadoes—on his birthday. “That was a life–changer and a unique and different birthday,” Moore said. “My focus turned to other people. Someone said, ‘I’m sorry you have to work.’ I said, ‘I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday than helping other people.’”
Better days ahead
Despite a rough 2019, Hartley is among those people who see a bright future for her city. “Dayton’s had a really hard year,” she said. “This year gave me more insight into how good people can be. I saw so much of that when we were out. I saw people on the corner grilling because their meat was going to go bad and they were grilling for their whole neighborhood. I’ve lived in Dayton my entire life and I’ve never seen anything like that—ever. “I can’t help but think that something really good will come from all of this.” Hartley said the devil tries to bring pain because a blessing is on the way for her city, an observation shared by several others. “I think what the devil meant for evil, God is going to turn it around for good,” said Ward. “I feel like these events got our attention and showed us that we are all the same. We all can love, and we all do want the same thing. “It showed me that, regardless of what happens, God is there. It doesn’t matter how bad it is, God is there. With destruction, there is beauty. He turned clay into something marvelous. He turned ashes into beauty. There’s always going to be a brighter day.”
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Gloria Gaynor shares her story
by Warren L. Maye
Getty Images/Cesar Manso
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Her name would come up among those listed who gave regularly to The Salvation Army,” said Burt Mason of the Greater New York Division. “Then one day, someone asked, ‘Do you think that’s Gloria Gaynor—the singer?’ Indeed, she was. We were surprised to learn that she had been a donor for years!” Gloria Gaynor’s unsolicited support of The Salvation Army is indicative of a sincere desire to express her heartfelt love for the global organization and for the people who it serves. Her signature song, “I Will Survive,” became an anthem for women in the 1980s and was awarded the first and only Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording. Today, Gaynor sees parallels between that song’s worldwide appeal and the Army’s legacy of bringing diverse people together. “When I think about The Salvation Army, I think it has something in common with disco music in that it is the only music in the history of music to bring together people from every race, creed, color, nationality, and age group. “The reason for that is because disco music helps people release all the tension and concerns and
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worries of the day. Everybody. No matter where you come from, who you are, what you do, you need to do that. You need that release. You need something to draw you into peace.” On November 22, the iconic singer drew her audience into that peace while in concert for the Salvation Army’s Greater New York Division’s 72nd Annual Gala at the historic Centennial Memorial Temple on 14th Street in Manhattan. She also shared her personal testimony of survival.
HOUSE OF MUSIC “I’m from Newark, N.J., so I’m not far from home,” she said while standing in her palatial mansion near Princeton. As her beautiful voice rises into a circular, sunlit foyer, its acoustics amplifies and echoes the richness of that voice. “Even though I am not far from home now, I did live in New York for a minute—for about four years; two in Manhattan and two in Queens.” Born Gloria Fowles in 1943, she was the daughter of a seamstress and a father who sang professionally. Although the family was poor financially, Gloria and
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BY FAITH Gaynor’s performance came from deep within her soul, a place most people rarely reach in life. Only a few
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BORN AGAIN In the early 1980s, Gaynor turned from the nightlife to become a born–again Christian. In the fall of 1995, another devastating ordeal tested her faith. Irma, Gaynor’s sister and the mother of three, was beaten to death by a suspected drug dealer after trying to break up a fight on a Newark street. Through these life challenges and tragedies Gloria has relied on the timeless song that she recorded while recovering from her spinal injury and on her faith in God to persevere. “‘I Will Survive’ is a timeless lyric,” Gaynor said. “This is something anybody and everybody
Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives
her seven siblings grew up in a house rich with music. Photography and sewing were her hobbies. Gloria’s dad was away most of her childhood, but her mom also had a lovely singing voice, as did her brothers. After her mom’s throat surgery robbed her of her voice, Gloria began to sing even more. At age 13, her voice sounded as if she was already an accomplished recording artist. In pursuit of her dream, Gloria soon learned that sounding as if she was on radio was a far cry from actually being on it. But in 1975 her first real success came with the release of “Never Can Say Goodbye,” an album of three songs, which established her as a disco artist. That lead song became the first to top Billboard magazine’s dance chart. She released her second album, “Experience Gloria Gaynor,” later that year. In 1978, Gaynor released her most successful album of all. “Love Tracks” featured her biggest hit, “I Will Survive.” One year later, it reached number one on the pop charts and was forever embraced by generations of Americans as their personal anthem of victory over hardship.
months before she recorded “I Will Survive,” tragedy struck. “One of the most difficult things that I’ve had to go through in my life was when I was performing at the Beacon Theater in New York. I fell backwards over a monitor on the stage,” she remembers. “I jumped back up; I finished my show. Afterwards, I went out to breakfast, went home, and went to bed. The next morning when I woke up, I was paralyzed from the waist down. “I ended up in a hospital with surgery on my spine. I was there from the 13th of March until the 4th of July. Back then, the care for back injuries was not very sophisticated and they didn’t really know what to do with me. By the time I went home, I’d lost everything. That was a difficult time for me.” Doctors told Gaynor that she might be paralyzed for life. Her record company told her that they would terminate her contract. “I turned to God and I said to Him, ‘You know, You gotta’ help me. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t have a job. I don’t know what to do!I don’t want to go back to working in an office. I don’t even know if I can do that after spine surgery. Can I even sit long enough to maintain a job in an office? What are You going to do?’ “What brought me through that was my faith. I turned to God; you know. We can always turn to God when we get in trouble. I did that. When I left the hospital, I was certain that God was going to do something.” Indeed, Gaynor defied the odds. While wearing a back brace that extended from under her arms to her hips, she flew to Los Angeles, Calif., and recorded the song that would go on to become an anthem for survivors everywhere. It was the performance of her life. Other trials and tribulations followed, but God’s presence remained constant. Paradoxically, even as her popularity soared on the strength of “I Will Survive,” spousal problems and domestic discord loomed over her life.
GloriaGaynor
can and will relate to, if they hear it. No matter what somebody is going through, those words are going to give them hope and inspiration. The rest is history, but all of this boils down to my faith in God; trusting Him and waiting on Him.”
A TEACHER Gaynor’s new roots gospel album, “Testimony,” was released earlier this year and received praise from critics and fans alike. The album debuted in the top five on the Billboard Magazine Top Gospel Albums Chart and it was featured in Rolling Stone, TIME magazine, Billboard Magazine and more. “Testimony, is a joyous and revelatory collection of soulful and inspirational tunes recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A,” wrote Rolling Stone magazine. “Testimony,” also debuted in the top three on the iTunes Christian & Gospel Albums Chart. When talking about the new album Gaynor notes, “The greatest blessing has been the messages that I receive from fans all around the world on social media letting me know how much the lyrics of the new songs mean to them and how the new album has had an impact on their lives.” Responding to the joy that she feels in connecting with fans through these new songs, Gloria adds, “I decided to share my testimony with this gospel album because I believe that I was born to be a teacher. Although I’m not teaching in a brick–and–mortar school or in a classroom, I believe that the Bible is meant to teach the love and knowledge and mercy and grace of God. “I think that gospel music should do the same thing. So, all of that brings together several of my purposes; certainly, several of my gifts. My purpose with this album is to share my testimony in an effort to show, through my experiences, the love, the knowledge, the mercy, the grace, and the goodness of God. “If you know anything about the Bible, you know that music is important to God. Armies in the Bible sent the musicians and the singers ahead of them; the angels also sing in heaven. “I feel privileged and honored to have been given this gift to bring forth music with my voice. I have a strong faith in God, and that faith plays a strong role in my life in that it permeates every area of my life.” “What The Salvation Army does and why it does it, is so important. I think it is a wonderful organization because it services people from every walk of life; from every nationality, race, creed, color, and age group. The Army provides them with the things that they need
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when they need them and as they need them—with no strings attached.
GIVING BACK “In 2017 Hurricane Harvey hit Texas. I read the reports and saw the pictures. My heart went out to them. I just thought I had to do something. So, I had T–shirts made up that read, ‘Texas Will Survive’ with the map of Texas. My team and I printed up a couple thousand of these T–shirts and I sold them on my website www. GloriaGaynor.com with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts for the hurricane victims. Later that same month we flew to Houston with an additional 2,000 of the ‘Texas Will Survive,’ shirts. We visited several shelters there, talked to the people, and gave out the shirts to give them hope. You know, recovery was going to take a little time, but it was going to be all right,” Gloria recalls. When asked about selling the “Texas Will Survive,” T–shirts and giving 100 percent of the proceeds to The Salvation Army, Gloria adds, “It was just my way of giving back. I was just thinking about helping people who were in need. I love the fact that this is what The Salvation Army does. I’m glad to be a part of it. There is nothing stronger than the tenacity of the human spirit. Accept God, call on Him, and —You will survive.”
“I decided to share my testimony with this gospel album because I believe that I was born to be a teacher.”
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snapshot
CINCINNATI, OH— A diversity of dolls, more than 700 of them; 900 dressed bears; handmade quilts; and knitted hats and scarves found their destinies in the hands of children of the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area thanks to The Toy Shop Auxiliary’s distribution centers. The 63rd annual fundraising event in November also offered 5,000 books selected for their content, quality, and age appropriateness by the women who shop diligently all year.
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Photo by Randy Bick
THE TOY SHOP
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FAITH in ACTION
A home for the holidays by Hugo Bravo
Patricia Culver did not become homeless through addiction or unfortunate choices. Instead, she was evicted from her home in 2015, after her dog had an encounter with her landlord’s son’s dog in June of that year. Though she had informed the landlord that she lived with a dog when she signed the rental agreement for the house in Templeton, Mass., he insisted that Culver and her husband would no longer be permitted to live there after the incident. A summer full of lawyers, court appearances, and paperwork followed. As she fought the eviction, Patricia also suffered the loss of loved ones. “I lost my sister the same day I found out I was being evicted. Two weeks before I had to be in court, my brother– in–law died. Going through something like this can break you,” says Patricia. “By the time we got to the court date in September, I was too tired to keep fighting for my home, or even for the money I had paid in advance. I just wanted to be left alone.” For the next four years, Patricia would live in a total of nine vehicles: four cars, three motorhomes, and two vans. Family and friends offered help and an occasional place to eat and shower, but through most days, it was Patricia, her husband, and the dog that had been with them back when they had a house. They celebrated birthdays, special occasions, and holidays inside whichever vehicle they were living in at the time.
COFFEE MINISTRY Patricia knew about The Salvation Army through her late father, Robert, who was in the service for 21 years. Growing up in Georgia, he told his family about how The Salvation Army always had free coffee ready for people in the military. When their house burned down, the local corps reached out to him and his family. “I traveled the world with my father.
He was the one who taught me how to survive if I was ever without a home. When I lost him in 2009, I wanted no part of God. I was mad at Him for taking away the most important man in my life,” remembers Patricia. “When anyone suggested that I go to church, all I could think was, ‘Why? Look at what He did to me.’” But the Salvation Army’s Greenfield Corps offered Patricia and her husband breakfast, lunch, and a warm place to shower. For two years, she came to the corps for food. Patricia also met other people who were
“ Though I lost my house, I found a home with The Salvation Army. I learned that if you’re not letting God guide your steps, you have nowhere to go.” homeless. Their circumstances were all different, but for many of them, just as with Patricia, losing a home was beyond their control. “I met a woman who was on a fixed income, and simply couldn’t afford to pay when her landlord raised her rent. She wasn’t eligible for housing, so she became homeless,” says Patricia. “I remember showing her where she could get food at the corps, and her telling me, ‘I’m just not used to doing this.’” Patricia was asked if she wanted to volunteer at the corps, and she began by preparing coffee for visitors, the same ministry that introduced her father to The Salvation Army years ago. She also helped by making sandwiches for feeding the community.
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She enjoyed helping in the kitchen so much that she took ServSafe training, which would qualify her to work in any kitchen and even manage a staff. “I was 65, but I still thought it would look good on my resume,” says Patricia. But the biggest change happened when Patricia attended a Bible study at the corps. Though the ordeal of losing her home had increased her resistance to God, she enjoyed reading the Bible again, and learning about the history of The Salvation Army. “When they asked after Sunday service if anyone was interested in taking lessons to be a Salvation Army soldier, I felt God talking to me for the first time in a long time. He said, ‘This is what I want you to do.’”
FINDING A HOME As a Salvation Army soldier, Patricia, who says that she has never been an ‘indoors church’ kind of person, goes out into Greenfield to help people who might be in situations similar to hers. “Sometimes, I can’t believe how many people are out there struggling. If I see you on the street and you look hungry, that’s my cue to say, ‘Come with me, we can help you.’” After much waiting and working out plans, this Christmas will be the first holiday season in four years that Patricia will be able to celebrate inside a house of her own. Though she will be living farther away, she still plans to devote as much time as possible to the Greenfield Corps, which will soon have a warming center for homeless people looking for help in the winter, just as Patricia was when she came to the corps. “Though I lost my house, I found a home with The Salvation Army. I learned that if you’re not letting God guide your steps, you have nowhere to go,” says Patricia. “The Lord never forgot about me, even when I was angry at Him. He’s brought me a long way.”
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Q & A
George Moss Christian hip–hop artist George Moss has been using his talent to bring souls to Christ since he was 16 years old. He has toured and performed with Christian musicians such as KJ–52 and the Newsboys (“God’s Not Dead”). Moss talks about his many roles: performer, lyricist, clothing designer, family man, and above all, devoted follower of God.
For more information on George Moss, visit www.georgemossmusic.com and oxenapparel.com.
How did you first get into hip hop? I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was actually never into music. I was born and raised in the Church, but I didn’t really enjoy participating in that either. So, when my church started a Sunday rap ministry for young people, I thought it was a dumb idea. But the choice was either doing hip hop with kids my age or sitting quietly during church service with my grandmother. I chose hip hop, and God used that ministry to bring me to Him. He grew my faith by giving me the ability to share it through music. You’ve achieved success and a devoted fan base in Christian hip hop. Have you ever wanted to make more mainstream music? No, Christian music was the only music I ever wanted to make. I’ve always felt called and comfortable serving and fortifying the Church. Many believe that the best music is what’s mainstream. But rather than try to emulate what is already out there, I wanted to create something original to be used to fortify God’s people. You’re also the founder of the clothing line OXEN Apparel. How did that brand become another type of ministry? By focusing on the identity and the message, not on the fashion aspect of it. The inspiration for OXEN came from the words of Christ to His apostles in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” I studied that metaphor and saw that Jesus was painting an image of oxen carrying a yoke, the wooden piece around the animal’s neck that it pulls to plow a field. But before oxen can even be introduced to a yoke, let alone carry it, they must first be branded to represent to whom they belong. That’s what OXEN Apparel is. It’s a mark that says you carry the yoke of Christ, and you work for Him.
Even OXEN’s logo adds meaning to that visual. Yes. After the ox is branded, a ring is put through its nose; the most sensitive part of its body. With that ring, it will learn to obey its master’s commands. If the ox ever becomes stubborn or go astray, the master will gently pull it by the ring towards where it needs to go. That’s why OXEN’s logo is the ring through the nose. When I wear OXEN, it’s a reminder to be sensitive to God’s message and to obey Him, just as the ox obeys its master. In 2015, a photo of you cleaning your wife’s breast pump went viral and garnered a lot of positive responses about being a helpful husband and father. How does being a performer fit into those roles? Regarding the breast pump photo, I just saw it as a normal thing for a father to do to help his wife and newborn child. The whole morality message caught me completely off guard. As far as being a performer, it does require me to be on the road a lot. As my family grew, I needed to cut back on touring. But even when I got married, I told myself, “I’m not going on tour for a year.” Then, after having our child, I said I wouldn’t tour for another year. Family doesn’t slow you down, but it does shift your focus and your priorities. To balance my career and my family, we built a solid foundation that began with years of serious intentional discipleship in the home. Before my wife and I met, we were both teen parents. That same intentional discipleship was crucial to make our unique family structure work and to bring both our families together as one. This past summer, you made your Old Orchard Beach debut for The Salvation Army. How was your experience at OOB? I knew about the Army’s work and I’ve even done some shows at corps across the country. But I had never experienced with them what I saw in Maine. What the Army does at Old Orchard Beach
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is the heartbeat of what I do too. The focus is the message of the gospel, and it’s assisted by the performances and the entertainment. You pray before every performance. What do you pray for? I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me on stage. I ask Him to help me say in my music what I need to say, that I speak to my audience when I need to speak, and to be silent when I need to listen. Talk about the importance of bringing people to God through your talent. I wasn’t put on earth to make hip hop, and certainly not to make money. I was put here to make disciples for God. Any good entrepreneur knows that, in order to succeed, you need to make a return on your investment. The only eternal return of your investments in life are in what you do for the Kingdom. I’m not interested in working for earthly riches. I would much rather work in bringing riches to God while I’m here on earth.
George Moss’s favorite verse from his music is from his song “Take On The World.” I planted seeds, and watched a garden grow Congratulations! Let’s make a toast! It didn’t happen fast; I had to wait Had to pull some weeds, and find a couple snakes Looking back at school, and all my dumb mistakes Wasted time and money; credits I didn’t take And all my teachers that lied to me to my face They said, “The sky’s the limit,” but now I’m in outer space Where the lights are so bright, and the music is so loud I hear the fans cheer and my family is so proud, But one thing I’ve learned about jumping out in the crowd Is that those that lift you up will eventually let you down So, when everything is crazy, I’m tired and feel lazy Remember Jesus went to the cross, and He died to save me The world can be against me, hate me and try to break me But I know that God will not forsake me.
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wholly living
A spiritual assessment for the new year As this calendar year comes to an end, the natural tendency is to look back and ask “What big milestones were there? How have I changed? Were there defining moments? What have I learned, and how will I use it moving forward?” This type of reflection can be beneficial in every aspect of life and even more valuable regarding your spiritual health and growth. One of the great ancient disciplines that can help you in this time of spiritual assessment is The Prayer of Examen.
THE FRAMEWORK St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) is accredited with the rhythm of the Prayer of Examen. In 1541, he was a Catholic priest, a theologian, and co–founder of the Society of Jesus in France, better known as “The Jesuits.” Ignatius desired to help followers engage in this practice to develop a deeper level of sensitivity to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the everyday happenings of life. The Prayer of Examen examines your day in Christ’s presence. As this
practice becomes a well–incorporated rhythm in your life, your spirit becomes increasingly aware of the movement of the Holy Spirit. Two themes become the centerpiece of this discipline: When did I sense the Lord’s leading in my day? When did I respond to His leading and when did I resist?
GETTING STARTED As you concentrate on experiences and encounters from the past 24 hours, there are four simple steps to the Prayer of Examen: presence, gratitude, review, and response. The beauty of this practice is its simplicity; it is more a guide than a prescription. If some portion feels especially important on a given day, feel free to linger on that step. What is most necessary is to follow the Lord’s leading and not worry about completing each step. The importance is to increase your awareness of the voice of God rather than “checking all the boxes.”
PRESENCE The first step in Examen is to recognize the presence of God. Spend time
Questions for the Prayer of Examen: For what moment today am I most grateful? For what moment today am I least grateful? When did I give and receive the most love today? When did I give and receive the least love today? What was the most life–giving part of my day? What was the most life–draining part of my day? When today did I feel my deepest sense of connection with God, others, and myself? When today did I have the least sense of connection? Where was I aware of living out the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control)?
filling your mind with the fact that God desires to be with you. Use a simple breakdown of Psalm 46:10 to quiet your mind, will, and emotions. “Be still and know that I am God…” “Be still and know that I am…” “Be still and know…” “Be still…” “Be…” Do not rush through this step; do not become discouraged if the voices within take a long time to become still. Return to the Psalm 46:10 breakdown every time your mind wanders. It is the foundational and accomplished work of the Holy Spirit.
GRATITUDE “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice,” said Meister Eckhart. In the past 24 hours, what caused you to be thankful? Fill your mind and spirit with the goodness and generosity of God. What may be helpful in this step is to journal your thankfulness to God. Use simple words to express your gratitude and give testimony to God’s limitless generosity.
by Major Lauren Hodgson
REVIEW We live such fast–paced lives, looking at and learning from our past is a lost art. We complete the task, but we don’t take time to step back and draw wisdom from it; this is a must in the good, bad, and ugly moments of our day. By intentionally incorporating the review of our interactions, responses, feelings, and intentions we will grow in Christlikeness. The important part of this step is to restrain ourselves from rationalizing or justifying our words and actions but to state them simply in Christ’s presence. Objectively look as you review. Whether you remember a positive or negative response on your part, ask
yourself, “How did I get here? What led me to yield to the movement of the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His voice or what led me to willfully refuse to yield to His leading?” It is important to note that we each have a tailor–made form of sin and Satan is well–aware of what temptation works on us and how much pressure to apply to get us to yield. The path to yielding to sin in our lives is well–worn. If we take the time to review the steps to sin, we will see the pattern and begin to call on the Lord’s strength earlier on the path, thus gaining victory. When in the past 24 hours were you cooperating most fully with God’s action
in your life? When you bask in that joy, it heightens the desire to do it again!
RESPONSE Having spent time in the Prayer of Examen, it is natural to have a plan for moving forward and to want to respond quickly in some way. This step is a time of resting in the revelation you have received and to wait on God for the next step without running ahead of or lagging behind Him. “Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit” Galatians 5:25 (VOICE).
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20/20 vision highlights From Massachusetts to Pennsylvania to Ohio, ministry is happening. “We were able to meet people where they were and feed them physically and spiritually,” said one corps officer.
CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER 127 W. WASHINGTON ST., CORRY, PA
The corps has begun working with the Second Harvest food bank to help an area with many low–income families who need help, says Captain Kevin Brennan. “We have a perfect location and amazing volunteers,” he said. “Our first giveaway saw 84 families receive fresh fruit and vegetables, along with meats and dairy products. We have grown to 125 families.” Brennan said about 20 volunteers pre–pack all the food. He estimated that each family goes home with about $150 in groceries a month from the program.
CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER 250 EAST MAIN ST., NEWARK, OHIO
This year the corps took its Vacation Bible School (VBS) on the road, visiting seven locations and encountering 246 children and their parents, said Lieutenant Kaitlyn Haddix. Haddix said her staff took a pop–up tent, parachute, music, and supplies to each location and offered a pop–up VBS in July and August. “Our team set up at parks and other locations where our feeding program was going on to share the gospel with children and their families,” she said. “Some days we even had more adults than kids! All around our area, churches are struggling to reach people because of transportation issues. This program took that factor out of the equation. We were able to meet people where they were and feed them physically and spiritually. We were even able to pass out Bibles, giveaways, and other needed items and information.”
CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER
1 FRANKLIN ST., LYNN, MA Captain Helen Johnson said the corps has renamed its after–school program “The SmART Center.” Among the offerings are in–depth visual arts, small art projects, cooking, band, and dance. Johnson said the children in Lynn receive limited arts exposure in school, but The Salvation Army is known for its rich history of music and arts. The band has been an amazing addition, Johnson said. The local schools charge $60 a month for kids to get an instrument. The Salvation Army asks for a $25 deposit, which is returned when a child goes to music camp. “One mom came to me in tears,” Johnson said. “She told me how her daughter has been practicing non–stop and their neighbors have come out to listen and cheer her on. The mom loves the confidence she sees in her daughter now.”
CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER 60 E. MAIDEN ST., WASHINGTON, PA
Captain Amber Imhoff said the corps cooking classes for children in grades K–12 are still going strong since their inception last year. “Each week, they cook a complete meal themselves,” she said. “Over the past year, we have had 260 children complete the classes. We are trying to give them skills they can use for life.” Imhoff said the classes, which range from two to eight weeks long, depending on the age of the children, include a nutrition lesson and a devotion.
“ For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
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— PSALM 107:9
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A CALL TO: REBUILD RESTORE RENEW AD
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. —Isaiah 61:4 (NIV)
F E B R U A R Y 7– 9 T H E S A LV A T I O N A R M Y COLLEGE FOR OFFICER TRAINING SUFFERN, NEW YORK
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kettle corn
kettle bell
kettle pay
This year you can donate at Salvation Army kettles using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
To donate now, just scan this QR code.
See how these funds are put to good use in “What Can We Do?” on page 14. Read more about how other fundraising efforts support The Salvation Army in “A Party with Purpose” on page 10 and in the “Snapshot” on page 24.