SAconnects, Volume 6, Number 1 — February 2020

the magazine

VOL. 6, NO. 1 FEBRUARY 2020 SACONNECTS.ORG

Living with cancer

Finding peace through faith

p. 11

Observing Black History Month: The Army’s response to civil rights Beating winter weight gain

p. 32

p. 7

Ready for a room with less of a view?

CALL US. To find real help and hope, contact The Salvation Army. We provide residential programs for adults who seek purpose, meaning, and solutions. For the Adult Rehabilitation Center nearest you, visit SAREHAB.ORG or call 800–728–7825 today.

Disaster Relief

Emergency Response

Rehabilitation

Human Tr afficking Abolition Youth Services Evangelism

FEBRUARY

contents VOLUME 6 | NUMBER 1

in every issue 3 from the editor 4 an active army 5 relevents 22 snapshot 30 wholly living

features

11 Chosen Vessels “Cancer may be the diagnosis, but I have Christ in my life and that’s stronger,” says one of four “chosen vessels.”

16 The Art

of the Gospel The performing arts have helped The Salvation Army save souls since its founding. Find out how the arts draw people to Christ.

departments 24 profile Danielle Kamilah Thomas uses the Broadway stage to showcase a ministry of compassion.

27 Q & A

7 what’s the digital “Oaks of Righteousness,” the first installment of a new video documentary series, launches this month and promises to open an amazing cultural door to the future.

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

Kris Hevenor speaks for Christian soldiers as the new Territorial Sergeant Major.

28 testimony Read a woman’s journey of faith in The Salvation Army.

32 to your health Cold weather workouts can cure winter weight gain, but are you wearing the best clothes for the task?

2020 FEBRUARY

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from the editor your connection to The Salvation Army

USA EASTERN TERRITORY TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Philip Maxwell COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Lt. Colonel Kathleen J. Steele EDITOR IN CHIEF Warren L. Maye

Herstory

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 Lea La Notte Greene

It’s time. Well, to be honest, it’s way past time. It’s time for women to speak with authority and skill from stages and platforms everywhere. And I’m not talking about women speaking to other women, as important and significant as that is, it’s time for women to be part of the main voice the whole Church is listening to.

—DANIELLE STRICKLAND

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 Salvation Army, 440 W. Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739.

Vol. 6, No. 1, February Issue 2020. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright ©2020 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.

In recent years, the uncovering of “hidden figures” in women’s history has been in vogue. But what excites me even more is how women in The Salvation Army have been making history in plain sight for more than 150 years. Women such as Catherine Booth, Evangeline Booth, Eliza Shirley, the donut girls of WW2, Mabel Broome, and Norma T. Roberts, to name just a few.

They lived long before Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month. They led and ministered openly when the need for women’s suffrage was an oppressive reality and presidential proclamations for them were a distant dream.

Since 1987, a proclamation is issued every year, which honors the achievements of American women.

In the next SACONNECTS magazine, you’ll see what some women have done and are doing in The Salvation Army to advance the Kingdom of God. You’ll hear from author Diane Winston to international speaker Danielle Strickland to Lieutenant Olivia Munn on the challenges women face in the workforce and in ministry.

Join us as we delve into herstory and recognize the contributions women have made to History—Jesus Christ.

By the way, my next editorial will offer details on our new year’s resolution to produce an even higher e quality magazin for you! Plans are in motion.

Stay tuned!

— Warren L. Maye, Editor in Chief

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an active army

PATHWAY OF HOPE

by Hugo Bravo

WHAT IS PATHWAY OF HOPE? The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope (POH) initiative provides individualized services to families with children. These families desire to take action to break the cycle of crisis and vulnerability that repeats generation after generation. POH seeks to address the root causes of poverty while continuing the Army’s history of compassionate serving. By helping families overcome challenges such as unemployment, unstable housing, and a lack of education, POH leads families down a path toward increased stability and self–sufficiency.

POH introduces families to both The Salvation Army and to other services that are available within their community. These services offer a network of support, a sense of belonging, holistic programs, and spiritual guidance. POH is also a service connector to job training, health services, childcare and education, housing options, legal services, and much more.

POH is offered in a number of Salvation Army corps near you.

For more information on Pathway of Hope, visit www.salvationarmy usa.org/usn/pathway.

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“Pathway of Hope is the evolution of what The Salvation Army has provided since its creation,” says Cheryl Wilson, case manager at the Army’s Buffalo, N.Y., Area Services Center.

“The Salvation Army has existed for over 150 years as an organization that serves basic emergency needs. But today, we know that we can address the root causes of what keeps a person in need,” says Wilson.

“Transactional provision of food and resources are great, but the change that Pathway of Hope can offer is goal and action oriented; it’s made to impact this and future generations.”

Wilson gets to know the people she helps and addresses the root causes of what keeps them from achieving stability and self–sufficiency. Housing, childcare, reliable transportation, and gainful employment are all part of a stable living situation. “Every part impacts the others,” explains Wilson.

“If your car breaks down or you don’t have someone to watch your kids, you might not be able to work.”

The most common aspect of generational poverty Wilson sees is the lack of basic job skills. But even when those skills are present, there can also be other unavoidable barriers.

“We don’t really say it or even think

about it, but when we’re working with young, single mothers in their 20s, the lack of family support is a big cause of multigeneration poverty,” says Wilson.

She remembers a client, Dee Dee, who was in nursing school. When her child’s father broke up with Dee Dee, she had nowhere to go.

“Dee Dee is an amazing person, but she didn’t have support. She couldn’t live with her family. Her car had broken down and she had no one to take her to work. She finally came to our food pantry for help,” says Wilson.

The first thing Wilson did was to take Dee Dee’s car in for repairs. While the car was in the shop, Wilson drove her to nursing school. “My children studied medicine, so I know what that training is like. You simply can’t miss those classes,” says Wilson.

Wilson also helped another client, Marquita, a mother of three, get child support from her ex–husband. In addition, Marquita obtained a full–time job, a deposit for an income–based apartment, and child care for her youngest.

“In this job, you see things from the client’s perspective. Even free childcare requires a lot of waiting and paperwork,” says Wilson. She took documents for Marquita to day care and to family court so she would not miss work. “Some days, you just have to be an advocate,” says Wilson.

Meeting with car mechanics, landlords, and court officials has become part of the job for Wilson. It’s the “hope” in Pathway of Hope: helping clients get ahead by doing what they can’t do for themselves—because they are trying to maintain jobs and other essential aspects of their lives.

“When you’re in a crisis and you don’t know where to turn, take a deep breath, and know that someone has your back at Pathway of Hope,” says Wilson.

relevents

Kevin George, an employee at the Salvation Army’s Boston, Mass., South End Corps Community Center, talks about how his daughter got her name, cooking classes in Adventure Corps, and growing up on the island of Antigua. interview by Hugo Bravo

I work as the cook for the Center. One day, I was called into the corps earlier than usual. There had been fires in Cambridge and the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) fed the affected people. We sent 300 sandwiches and American chop suey for 270 people.

Cooking for individuals who have experienced a tragedy is different from feeding lunch to kids. I had to work as fast as possible to make sure the food got to those folks on time and that it was ready to eat as soon as it arrived.

I was born in Antigua and everyone asks me if I miss living there. I’ll admit that island life is amazing. I can go anywhere without needing a car. I can visit a different beach in Antigua every day for a year. I’ve walked from my house to the beach and picked my meal from trees along the way. I did so much of that during the first 17 years of my life, that now I have a deep appreciation for the city of Boston. It’s the complete opposite of Antigua, and that’s what I love about it. I’ve lived here for 14 years, and I’m still experiencing city life in new ways.

I’m looking forward to seeing the South End Corps bring back Adventure Corps, the Salvation Army’s version of the Boy Scouts. Along with learning life skills and the Bible, we’re also going to incorporate cooking lessons. I’ve never taught cooking before, but after graduating from the culinary arts program at the Boston Kroc Center last year, I feel prepared for it. The program gave me a wealth of knowledge in the kitchen about food and food safety.

I want to teach the Adventure Corps members why chicken can’t be left out for long or why food needs to be cooked at certain temperatures. Even if they don’t want to cook, it’s important that they learn the safety rules regarding what they eat.

My 7–year–old daughter Jada is my rock and my greatest accomplishment. I named her after one of the children who came to the South End Corps Community Center years ago. That Jada was an amazing girl too, but she was having a hard time fitting in. We became good friends, and I said to her, “If I ever have a little girl, I’m going to name her after you.” She didn’t believe me, but a month after my daughter was born, I brought her to the Community Center. There, Jada met Jada for the first time.

I grew up praying and worshipping with my grandmother. She was the one who put the importance of God in my life. She owned a special, giant Bible with colorful pictures in it, and we were only allowed to open it with her about once a year! But it was in that Bible that I learned a line of scripture that would always stay with me. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). In my life, I feel like I have also grown in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God by working for Him.

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This month’s installment highlights a video documentary, which is the first of its kind for The Salvation Army. During the 50–year anniversary observance of the civil rights movement, this stirring eyewitness account of events shows African–American Salvationists in action during the 1960s.

what’s the Digital Watch Oaks of Righteousness on YouTube.com by searching “The history of the African descent ministry”

Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, retired USA National Commander

‘ Know the past; shape the future’ A new video documentary series produced by the USA Eastern Territory’s Mission & Culture Department will feature perspectives from African American, Hispanic, and Asian cultural committee members on important topics.

by Warren L. Maye

“Oaks of Righteousness,” the first segment in the series, is available on YouTube and focuses on the most racially turbulent period in United States history and the Eastern Territory’s response to it. Commissioner William A. Bamford III, territorial commander, has encouraged the use of it and the accompanying study guide for Black History Month.

The video highlights the Black Commissioned Officers Meeting of 1969,* which was convened to examine race relations within The Salvation Army. The meeting was the first of its kind in the Army’s history and served to unite the voices of black officers concerning significant issues.

“I had the privilege of conducting the interviews for this documentary,” said Major William Dunigan, the Integrated Mission officer for the Mission & Culture Department. “I could not help feeling that I was in the presence of giants. It was abundantly clear to me that these men and women had endured much with great grace and accomplished much with great faith. They are leaders. They

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Salvation Army officers brought glory to God and service to people in need. From top left, clockwise: Edward Gooding receives the Order of the Founder award; Israel L. Gaither leads a Salvation Meeting; Allan Wiltshire, Sr., makes families his priority; and Salvationists lead an open–air meeting.

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have been and continue to be out in front, making a way for those who would follow.”

Included in the video are comments from Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, retired USA National Commander; and Envoy Kenneth Burton, Order of the Founder recipient (O.F.). They share their insights and personal recollections of the meeting of 1969 and subsequent meetings. Envoy Patricia Wood and Captain Darell Houseton also offer their take on race relations in the Army, then and now.

Interspersed throughout the video are sobering images depicting the civil rights struggle: people marching in the streets, flaming buildings illuminating night skies, police dogs ripping clothing from the backs of fallen protesters, and uniformed Salvationists serving mankind in the midst of the chaos.

Says Gaither in the video, “We were serving both those who were first responders as well as families who were afflicted and affected.” Burton says, “I saw that as a young child (the firehoses turned on people and the dogs) and it was something that never left my mind.”

Their testimonies also delve deep into the spiritual complexity of that era and the struggle to find common ground upon which to praise and serve God. Says Wood, “Our ways of worship did not have to be shunned or made mutually exclusive, but could be united and celebrated by everybody.”

However, such a task required that the Army first reconcile its internal differences and find ways to effectively bridge social and cultural gaps with the African– American community. According to one black leader of the day, the Army’s tendency to embrace a neutral position on civil rights was an obstacle to achieving such reconciliation.

“We’ve come a long way from that,” says Gaither in the video. “How do we know? Well, just look at the (Army)

population itself, look at the strength of corps (churches) and of ministry. Look at where officers of color have been deployed to serve. Every stratum, every arena has been touched.”

Other achievements such as the Empowerment Conference, and the Mission & Culture Department’s multicultural meetings are highlighted as signs of improvement since the tumultuous 1960s. “I always encourage people to attend the conferences,” says Houseton, “because it’s so valuable, particularly to soldiers. We can modify the tools that they can then take back to their local communities and use to be as effective as possible.”

Accompanying the video is a group discussion guide, worship content ideas, a sermon outline, and a poster to advertise a corps (church) event.

Entitled, “Know the Past. Shape the Future,” the brochure begins, “In recognition and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of African descent, materials have been prepared for the building up of the Kingdom of God by celebrating Black History Month.”

Says Gaither, “I believe this cultural committee and others can help us to dynamically ensure that we have a nimble, multi–peopled movement in this territory that will move the Kingdom of our Lord forward.”

Dunigan said, “Their wisdom allows them to see into the future, to see what is possible. Their courage and their character enable them to make it happen.

Our Army is better because of them and those of The Salvationists of African Descent Committee. Their story is sure to inspire all who watch this video.”

*This video documentary is based on the book Soldiers of Uncommon Valor: The History of Salvationists of African Descent in the United States by Warren L. Maye, available now at the USA Eastern Trade Department and via online sellers (Barnes & Noble and Amazon).

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The Black Commissioned Officers Meeting of 1969 recommendations The following goals encouraged Army leadership to envision a new and effective relationship with people of color within the Army as well as to promote opportunities for service for African Americans in their surrounding communities.

• Use posters, pamphlets, special groups, radio, and television.

• Adapt cultural music to promotion campaigns that is meaningful to all worshippers both black and white.

• Appoint black speakers and invite them to conduct weekend meetings at various Salvation Army corps (churches), rallies or councils, and at camp meetings.

• Appoint black officers to serve on the College for Officer Training staff.

• Prepare black officers for specific leadership positions.

• Introduce courses in black history, culture, cooking, grooming, and music. Bring into Girl Guards, Boy Scouts, and young people’s events programs that are relevant to the black community.

• Devise methods at the corps and territorial level whereby soldiers from the Caribbean can have communication with their home territories.

• Appoint a minority coordinator with department head status to serve at Territorial Headquarters.

• Submit a proposal to the territorial commander requesting that black officers meet periodically for a full–day workshop in a central location in the territory.

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Chosen Vessels

by Retta Blaney

T

he vase contained 13 pink roses, each with a scripture verse attached by a ribbon. They were for a friend who was about to have a second mastectomy for breast cancer that had returned nine years after the first diagnosis.

The gift was a thoughtful, loving gesture. It also happened to be symbolic. The road ahead for the recipient of this gift, Major Soo Kim, would be filled with thorns and she would need her faith, but she would also find a blossoming at the end. “I hope those who go through the physical pain reap something very special,� Kim said in a telephone

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interview, adding that she doesn’t give testimonials about her experience unless asked. “It’s a very spiritual journey God provides you to understand who you are and your relationship with God and His plan. I want this experience to be a reward for them and others and, ultimately, for them to have a closer relationship with God.” Kim’s sentiments were echoed, during telephone interviews, by three other Salvation Army officers dealing with cancer—Major Faith Miller, Major Brian Glasco and Major Norma Patrick. For all four, cancer was more than an ordeal to get through. It was and is a life–changing event that brought them deeper faith and an opportunity to assist others dealing with the disease.

BREAKING THE NEWS For Miller, the grace came immediately, in spite of or because of the ominous phone call that preceded it. It was 2016 and she was the county coordinator and corps officer at The Salvation Army Center for Worship & Service in Oil City, Pa. Although only 48, she had been experiencing fatigue and extreme swelling in her abdomen, but initial tests failed to detect the Stage 4 ovarian cancer growing in her body.

Several hours after more testing that included scans and a sonogram, she was alone at home, having left work to take a nap at lunchtime. The phone rang.

When Miller answered she heard a nurse at the other end sobbing. The nurse asked if anyone was with her.

Miller knew the news was bad.

Through her tears the nurse told Miller it was likely she had ovarian cancer that had spread into her abdomen. She would need to see an oncologist the next day.

They made the arrangements.

“As soon as I hung up the phone, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit come upon me and that everything would be OK,” Miller said. “That’s where my story begins.”

Glasco’s story began nearly two years ago when he experienced “excruciating” back pain and went to the emergency room after church. Scans found spots on different parts of his body, leaving him “a little concerned.” Glasco, corps officer in East Cleveland, went for a second scan at the Cleveland Clinic.

It took from May to October to get the diagnosis that he had a fast–growing form of cancer in his liver that had spread to an area of his lung.

“It was a shock,” he said. In tears, he told his wife, “It’s really looking bad.”

Then, drawing on that faith to which he had devoted

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Brian Glasco

treatment ongoing

“ Cancer might be the diagnosis, but I have Christ in my life and that’s stronger.”

—Norma Patrick

Soo Kim

breast cancer survivor

Faith Miller

treatment ongoing Norma Patrick

treatment ongoing

his life, he said, “‘OK, well Lord, whatever you want for me. It’s in your hands.’ It was scary, but really just a trust factor. In times like that there’s no one else to turn to but God.” That’s not to say his faith wasn’t shaken a bit in the beginning.

“To not acknowledge that would be disingenuous and not helpful to other people who are struggling.”

Patrick, an officer in The Salvation Army Belmont

“ ‘OK, well Lord, whatever you want for me.

It’s in your hands.’ It was scary, but really just a trust factor. In times like that there’s no one else to turn to but God.” —Brian Glasco

County Corps in Bellaire, Ohio, has come to a similar trust, which she’s needed to draw upon, having had 21 operations in less than nine years for breast and bladder cancer and possible ovarian cancer.

“I’m trying to be strong and keep positive. It’s exhausting.”

But she knows her strength. ”Cancer might be the diagnosis, but I have Christ in my life and that’s stronger.”

She was still drawing on that strength in late fall when an 18–inch scar from her summer surgery refused to heal.

“They cut me from my backbone across my entire chest. That’s the journey.”

While these officers were the ones going through intense physical pain, numerous operations and taking huge doses of medication and rounds of chemotherapy, they weren’t the only ones dealing with the disease.

IMPACT ON FAMILY “Cancer becomes a family issue, not just the individual’s,” said Patrick, explaining that her daughter had been 14 when her mother was first diagnosed with cancer. Watching what Patrick went through affected

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her deeply. She was 25 and attending the College for Officer Training when she learned Patrick’s cancer had returned. “She couldn’t finish. She got word of it. I didn’t want her to know.”

Kim, the Mission & Culture Department secretary at the USA Eastern Territorial Headquarters (THQ), also tried to shield her children when her cancer returned in 2011. During her first bout, when she was 34, her son had been 9 and her daughter 7.

“They didn’t know what was happening. It was traumatic to them. They thought I was going to die.”

It was actually her son who first noticed the lump in her chest.

“He broke down wailing and lamenting. I did not expect that from a 9–year–old.”

The second time around it was autumn and her daughter was a freshman in college and her son a sophomore. Not wanting to put a damper on her daughter’s new college life, Kim waited until her first visit to the campus to break the news.

“I wanted the college experience to be free from worries from home, for her to have a beautiful experience at the university, and have my full support. I wanted to be all upbeat and happy, to be there for her. Here I am, going to have it be about me. I really despised that.”

After a few hours of good times together, she took her daughter to a coffee shop and broke the news. Her daughter teared up. Rather than remain on campus, she chose to stay all weekend with her parents at their lodging.

“I think she knew what I needed. Her being there was such a comfort.”

Then she told her son by phone. His reaction was much calmer than his childhood response.

Spending so much time sick while her children were little was hard, Kim said.

“It took a few years of not being fully there for them.

It really broke my heart.”

She put off the second mastectomy until after Thanksgiving vacation so the family could fully enjoy the holiday together.

Glasco also thought of his children when he learned his chemo wasn’t working. He asked his doctor, “Is it time for me to just spend more time with my kids and get my affairs in order?”

Fortunately, the doctor said “no” and moved him on to immunotherapy, from which he saw improvement in fighting the cancer on his lungs. Its effect on his liver is uncertain. He resumed immunotherapy in early

November after a scan showed cancer starting to come back following a period of stability.

Miller, presently the assistant education secretary at THQ, has no children. The family members affected by her cancer were her parents, Salvation Army soldiers in Lexington, Ky. When they learned their only child was sick, they left their home and moved in with her in Oil City to care for her for five months.

now to be joyful in the journey in the ways in which God is using my story and my situation.”

Patrick also sees God using her experience. When a 77–year–old woman from her church was diagnosed with cancer, Patrick went with her to the hospital.

“I showed her a lot of strength for her journey. She said, ‘I can see how many things you’ve been through. You’ve been the inspiration for us.’ God has me in the right place and at the right time. God isn’t finished with me yet.”

ON A JOURNEY Still being treated because ovarian cancer has no cure, Miller started her 24th round of chemo Nov. 1 at New York’s famed cancer hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering.

She speaks about her “journey” because she wants people to “be aware of the grace and mercy of the love of Jesus Christ working in my life and that it can work in theirs too. I’m alive and well and still working today.

God can work miracles in their lives as well.”

She knows that even with strong faith, discouragement is a problem. One day when the pain was so bad and “Satan was trying to get into my head and my mind,” she asked her mother to lie beside her in bed and hold her hand, and she asked if she was going to die. Her mother, “who always knew the right thing to say,” told her that we all will someday and then quoted her favorite scripture passage in which Jesus tells His disciples He is going to prepare a place for them.

“She reminded me that it might not be today but when the Lord does plan to take you home, you’re ready.”

Miller advises people to “never give up hope in the Lord.” She clung to scripture passages in which God assures us that there is a purpose for our lives.

“God has not let me go through all this while Satan has it in mind to destroy me. God has a greater purpose and plan.”

She thinks of St. Paul and how his time in prison was an opportunity to witness to the guards and through them, their families.

“I would not have asked for cancer. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but God has chosen me to have this.”

Because she has weekly treatments at Memorial, she is able to speak of her faith to the doctors and nurses and offer encouragement to the patients.

“I’ve been in places I never would have been without the cancer. It’s opened up a door for me to share with them the love of Christ.

“I can honestly say I’m thankful for the journey with cancer. I had to come to the reality at first but I’m able

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A UNIQUE GIFT Kim had a unique way of witnessing. She wrote about the healing power of her vase of roses for Priority! magazine. Each day after her operation she pulled out one flower and let its scripture passage fill her soul. The first rose was for the night before the surgery.

“They were God’s words of assurance and promise that really carried me through. I took them as His promise to me for that day.”

Each rose also contained a hand–written note of encouragement from Pamela Maynor, the giver of the bouquet. Wanting to offer a gift in return, “to let her know what this meant to me,” Kim kept a journal and made it into a book for her. It turned out to be a “huge gift for me at the same time.

“I wanted this to have a meaning, not just sitting around at home. When you have these surgeries, you can become passive just lying on the couch.”

Kim has kept the scripture passages and notes in the same vase. She tried to dry the roses, but they didn’t last.

“It will always go with me as a reminder of God’s healing in my life. My work is not finished. It’s a constant reminder that God can use me.”

Retta Blaney is an eight–time award–winning journalist and author of Working on the Inside: The Spiritual Life Through the Eyes of Actors, which features interviews with Kristin Chenoweth, Edward Herrmann, Liam Neeson, Phylicia Rashad, Vanessa Williams, and many others.

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by Robert Mitchell

“ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…“

—ROMANS 12:6

M

elody Cameron and her two daughters had just left the stage after performing a timbrel routine at the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings in Maine when they encountered some unlikely fans.

“We were stopped by three guys in their 20s who said, ‘That was so amazing. We couldn’t stop watching. We loved what you did.’ We were really surprised that we reached a demographic that we didn’t think would ever be interested in watching a timbrel routine,” Melody said. “It was exciting. We hope our routine is a bit of a hook to bring people in to hear the gospel message that comes with the rest of the program here at Old Orchard Beach.”

“The Cameron Family,” featuring Melody and daughters Madison, 15, and Hillary, 13, travel from Toronto, Canada, each year to perform at the Old Orchard Beach Pier against a backdrop of contemporary Christian music with the lyrics displayed behind them on a giant screen.

As thousands of people walk by the stage, the performers push the gospel message late into the night in this ultimate “open–air meeting.” Some people who know little about Jesus Christ or would normally shun “organized religion,” stop and watch for hours. Nearly every performer evokes the name of Jesus and they always work the gospel message into their routines.

It’s a reminder that the “gospel arts”—a throwback

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to The Salvation Army’s earliest days—remain a great way to spread the love of God and the gospel message, if tailored to today’s culture. In fact, the earliest Salvationists used zany characters (such as Nashan Garabedian, better known as “Joe the Turk”) and a band of quirky, attention–seeking acts in their open–air meetings to reach the poor, hungry, homeless, and drunkards of 19th century England and later in the United States.

IT’S OUR HISTORY Erin Morgan, the territory’s dance ministries specialist who leads the MOVE Dance Co., said The Salvation Army has a long tradition of taking current trends and “transforming them into acts of worship.” One example was Founder William Booth taking the familiar melodies of drinking songs and changing the lyrics to gospel–related ones. Those songs would then be sung in Salvation Army churches.

“Why is this so effective in reaching the lost?”

Morgan asked. “Often there is a clear separation between the church and those we call ‘lost.’ The separation can grow so stark that those who do not know the Lord are made to feel like outsiders,” she said. “Using

the arts as a means of presenting the gospel can be a less intimidating way for people to receive the message.

“People who claim that they would never step foot in a church may stop by and see a live performance and in turn be introduced to a loving God.” Another example of changing things up a bit to reach the unchurched was this year’s performance of the musical “Peter Pan” by the territory’s Creative Arts Service Team (CAST). The audience may have come expecting the traditional telling of the story, but the directors and producers found a spiritual angle.

“The fine arts are a really good way to reach people,” said CAST member Samuel Laro, who played John Darling and is studying theater at Millikin University.

“It’s sort of a non–aggressive evangelism. People are ministered to right where they are. They want to come to the show and then sometimes they receive the message without even realizing it.”

One of Laro’s castmates, Tatiana Saintilus, who played Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan,” agreed.

“I think the gospel arts speak to the everyday person,” she said. “They sense that we’re just everyday people trying to develop our relationship with the Lord.”

“ To put the gospel in a picture and in a creative,

lyrical type of poetry really has power in our culture and with our generation.“

— ABBY ROBINSON of Painting Freedom (pictured is Tucker Rodkey of Painting Freedom)

SAYING IT WITH ART Kathryn Higgins, the territory’s art ministries director who sings, acts, dances, and performs an aerial routine with silks at the camp meetings, said art in any form has the ability to engage people from all walks of life.

“The action of art in motion should speak to the soul, connecting with and asking questions of its audience,” Higgins said. “In this way, whether your message is deeply profound or a simple reflection, the uninterrupted relationship between performer and audience member becomes an opportunity to speak truth.”

Doug Berry, the territory’s director for contemporary music who performs with the Christian rock band UNBOUND, said beauty is often what initially attracts our attention.

“When the gospel is portrayed through something visually or audibly beautiful, it attracts the attention of just about anyone and it’s at that moment that the stand–alone beauty of the gospel message might penetrate more than someone’s glance,” he said. “People are talked at all the time, but sometimes art can say volumes more than words alone.

“People who excel in art, dance, music, and drama are often seen by the secular world as those who are most desired and important in our society. If we can use that lopsided hierarchy to get the message of Jesus out there, then so be it.”

Berry said he tries to be relatable when he performs so that people don’t see “just another weirdo Christian up there, but someone maybe just like them … but with the love of Jesus in his heart.”

That’s also the goal of Abby Robinson, who reveals intimate parts of her life through the ministry of spoken word as part of “Painting Freedom.” While Robinson addresses the crowd, Tucker Rodkey speed paints on a canvas behind her.

SPEAKING GOD’S TRUTH Robinson has performed dramatic art since middle school. She stumbled upon it in Philadelphia at a small Christian school she attended.

“I watched people’s reactions as I did it. I watched it stir in them the gospel that they’ve heard so many times, but in a new way,” she said. “This artform did something in them.”

Two years ago, Rodkey asked Robinson to join his painting ministry.

“Combining these artforms is a powerful force,” Robinson said. “I really think we’re visual people, we’re verbal people, and we live in a culture and in a

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society that’s often throwing images at us; images to sell us things and to make us feel a certain way. The gospel is power, so to use those gifts in that way can be life–changing.”

Robinson’s inspiration comes from her own life experiences, and she has some rather dramatic ones from which to draw; when she was in the 2nd grade, her house burned down two weeks before Christmas. Her father suffers from bipolar disorder.

Robinson always does a “massive Bible study” after settling on a topic and writes it. She often sprinkles it with Scripture and makes sure her words rhyme.

“The Word of God is living, and active, and true,” she

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“ One might argue that the arts are not only

the history of The Salvation Army’s voice, but it is its future as well. “

– KATHRYN HIGGINS

says. “If it’s Scripture, then it’s true.

“My heart is just to connect with what people are feeling and with what they’re experiencing. I want to bring that reality of the hurt we all face, along with the grace we all need.”

Lieutenant Isabella Porchetti of the Bound Brook, N.J., Corps, connects with her audiences at OOB through “sand art.” Before the huge stage was built a few years ago, she and her husband, Lieutenant Alan Porchetti, performed at the Pier Ministry with the Queens Temple Praise Band. Today, Isabella performs a ministry called “Sand Story,” while Alan mingles with the crowd while taking gospel–related photos.

USING THEIR GIFTS Isabella manipulates sand on a lightbox to skillfully craft an image that is ultimately projected on a large screen.

“People are intrigued by what that message will become—and we get to show them Jesus,” she said. “No

matter the language we speak, the visual arts are able to connect with people beyond words. That’s what sand art does.

“I don’t speak French, but I’m able to reach people who speak French. I also can reach people on a visual level who speak English but are from other countries.

I show them a picture that’s worth a thousand words.

Through that, we’re able to show them Jesus. I love to connect with people beyond words.”

Alan takes photos of the vacationers at the Pier and frames them. Surprisingly, the subject is “photobombed” by an image of Jesus. The question, “Where is Jesus in your life?” also appears. Those pictures serve as great conversation starters.

“That opens up prayer and starts tears flowing,” he said. “It’s amazing because, how many times do we get to stand on the street and pray for people?”

For illusionist Bryan Drake, the entire atmosphere of the Pier Ministry drives him and his wife, Karla. They call OOB their favorite place to perform each year.

“We get the chance to just completely hammer people with the gospel in a fun, unique way,” Bryan said. “One of our hobby horses is getting people to use their talents, gifts, and abilities for the Kingdom. Doing it in such a way that is so direct and so obvious is awesome. This may literally be the only time these people have ever heard the gospel or the name of Jesus—even in this 2020,

super–connected culture, there are so many people who have never heard the gospel. This could literally be it.

“I feel people hear the gospel through the creative arts or sand art or illusions or music and the Holy Spirit starts to stir within them through the scripture they’ve heard. It’s such a powerful thing.”

OUR PAST, AND FUTURE Drake would like to see more young people get involved in the gospel arts.

“If you have a kid who is an artist, encourage that kid,” he says. “That’s not just an idle gift that you can do for a hobby, but you can actually use that for the Kingdom. We always try to encourage people by telling them, ‘You have a gift, you have a talent, you have an ability, and even if the world doesn’t see it, even if it looks minute to you, you can use it for the Kingdom.’”

That was the case for gospel rap artist DJ Morph. In high school, he described himself as a “bedroom DJ” who grew up “in the world” in West Palm Beach, Fla. He tried to get into clubs and join hip–hop groups, but nothing ever panned out. Just when he was about to walk away, God introduced him to gospel hip hop when he started attending church with his wife.

“I’m actually a product of the gospel arts,” Morph says.

“Before I was a believer, I started coming around music that was mainstream, but that had the gospel message.

What I found amazing about that is there were ministries that were purposely trying to meet with me culturally, but they weren’t changing the integrity of the gospel.

“That was so powerful because sometimes people wouldn’t even think about stepping into a church, but when you meet them where they’re at, they’re a lot more receptive when they see you’re trying to connect culturally. It’s almost like making a friendship. When I meet someone, I introduce myself, I shake their hand, and I find out a little bit about them. I think culturally that’s what the gospel arts are doing. It’s saying, ‘Hey, we want to get to know you, we want to embrace you, and here is the gospel.’”

Morph has done that for several years at the Pier Ministry, performing on the main stage surrounded by restaurants, bars, clubs, amusements, and thousands of people who have never heard the gospel.

“This is exactly where the gospel needs to be presented,” Morph said. “The beautiful thing is the crowd you have in the first hour will be completely different in the second hour. It’s transient and we’re just dropping the gospel the whole night. The gospel arts are doing a wonderful job getting the message out.”

Higgins believes gospel artists will only continue to

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innovate, bless people, and find new ways to spread the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

“One might argue that the arts are not only the history of The Salvation Army’s voice, but it is its future as well,” Higgins says. “We are only doing what we have done for more than 150 years. As time passes, we evolve and grow with the ebb and flow of the artistic interest of our audience.”

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snapshot

HAVE A HEART February is National Cancer Prevention Month.

Members of the Women’s Ministry at the New York Temple Corps in Manhattan make heart–shaped pillows for recovering breast cancer patients at local hospitals, including the Mount Sinai Dubin Breast Cancer Center near the corps. Patients tuck the pillows under their arm after breast or node surgery. The pillows hold special meaning for Anita Mohammed, who leads the Women’s Ministry. Her sister, Arlene, died from cancer a few years ago. Anita herself had a non–cancerous tumor removed from her breast at Mount Sinai. “I know how uncomfortable that is after breast surgery,” Anita says.

“I actually bought a sewing machine so I could do some more sewing.”

o see a video of the T pillow–making project and to read the inspiring story of Anita Mohammed who began the effort, go to: saconnects.org/ living-a-legacy/

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profile On a warm and sunny day in 1988, General Eva Burrows spoke at the Salvation Army’s International Congress in Ocean Grove, N.J. As many as 7,000 Salvationists attended the meetings that weekend in the Great Auditorium.

A contingent of soldiers and friends from the Brooklyn (Bushwick), N.Y., Corps cheered the General on from a section of the balcony.

Among that number was Inez “Mother” Bristol, a longtime member of the corps’ Home League.

Today her granddaughter, Danielle Kamilah Thomas, is sharing the Salvation Army’s story of kindness and compassion on a different stage.

On the day of her graduation from Howard University in 2001, she said, “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has been with me; my mom who has been my confidant, best friend, and support when I thought I couldn’t make it; and my friends and family who have come to see all of my shows and made me feel that I had people who were standing behind me.

“Those were the reasons why I felt that I had to make them proud and graduate from Howard on time, with honors, and with extra classes and all of that. I love you and I will make you proud.”

Compassion on stage

by Warren L. Maye

“Come From Away” is a hit Broadway play. Its script is based on the remarkable true stories of residents of the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. They hosted 6,700 unexpected visitors from the sky when their commercial airliners were grounded there for a week in the aftermath of 9/11. “Come From Away” is also being performed by several theater companies throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

In the midst of great music, acting, singing, and choreography, audiences witness a surprising and heartfelt tribute to The Salvation Army. They see Salvationists in response to the 9/11 crisis, house, feed, and comfort busloads of world travelers who are confused and worried about their futures.

Based on a true story; these actors speak different tongues, but trust in the same God.

down national, racial, cultural, and linguistic barriers that typically get in the way. They speak different tongues, but trust in the same God.

BIGGER THAN ME

In a tense scene, a driver takes them down a darkened road to a Salvation Army camp deep in the woods. An English–speaking Salvationist notices an African woman holding a Bible close to her heart. He asks her to turn to a scripture. Her husband stands carefully by.

Although the written words in her Bible are foreign to the islander, and his spoken words are foreign to the Africans, the couple nonetheless clearly understand his earnest message when he points to Philippians 4:6. It reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In an instant, a spirit of calm descends upon the stage and audience as these actors suddenly bring

“I’ve done theater my whole life,” said Danielle Kamilah Thomas, who plays the African woman. “But this show changes so much about me as an artist and as a person because it is so much bigger than that.”

Thomas, who in the play also stars as Hanna O’Rourke, mother of a fallen New York City firefighter, said, “People wait at the stage door to say ‘hi’ or for me to sign their Playbill, which is common after theater shows. But it’s different with this show. A lot of people always want to give me a hug because they feel for my character’s journey; they are overwhelmed. People relate to my role in particular because they can feel the loss that comes from the story.

We can’t tell this story without talking about the tragic part of it.

“But, even with that being said, I still end up walking away feeling uplifted by the people’s compassion. People just want to say, ‘thank you, thank you, thank you!’ They also say how much the show touched them.”

MOST SATISFYING ROLE Since graduating cum laude in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Howard University, Thomas has been an international stage and screen performer. She’s best known for her role in Broadway’s award–winning “Avenue Q,” which won a Tony Award for best musical. She has also played in “Hair” (European tour), “Seussical,” “Cinderella,” “Floorplay,” “Big River,” “Little Shop of Horrors” (Germany), and “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Germany).

One of her first film credits was for a part in Spike Lee’s “Crooklyn.”

However, “Come From Away” is

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by far her most satisfying role to date.

“I always feel so hypocritical when I say, ‘you’re welcome’ to people after the show because I really want to say, ‘thank you too.’ I feel it is a gift for me to tell this story; it is a gift to get to see people so touched by the story. It feels so much bigger than me as an artist.”

Part of the reason why acting in “Come From Away” feels so much bigger than herself is because of her personal experience with The Salvation Army.

BACK TO BUSHWICK “Life is so strange,” said Major Wilfred Samuel. He and his wife Major A. Margaret Samuel were corps officers of the Brooklyn (Bushwick) N.Y., Corps in the mid 1980s when young Danielle (known by her family and friends as Kamilah) and her sister Chadhil first “came from away” and stepped into a Home League meeting with her mom and grandmother.

Major Wilfred Samuel said, “Naturally, my wife and I related to the adults. Those two girls were there because of their grandmother and mother. When they did come, they related to other children, and the adults related to other adults. So, it’s rather interesting that, after all these years, Kamilah can go back to that period of her life, as far as we are concerned.”

Initially, Thomas’ apprehension was that she and her sister would have to spend Thursdays with a group of older women. However, once the girls arrived, they soon realized that their fears were far from the truth. In fact, they shared the room with a beautiful gathering of loving people.

“It was always a great place where we went to eat food and hang out and play games in the game room,” Thomas remembers. “I would be there all Thursday. It wasn’t boring to hang out with the older ladies! We went on a picnic too.”

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Thanks to Major Margaret Samuel, Thomas’ interest in the corps deepened. “I loved Major Margaret Samuel so much. She was this amazing, loving woman who would hug me all the time! Captain Wilfred Samuel was a gentle giant.”

“When they had their son and daughter, I was a little jealous because now they had their own babies! The Samuels were so sweet and loving to us. I just remember the kindness of the people at The Salvation Army!”

Major Wilfred Samuel said, “So, this just shows you that you have to be so careful when you are dealing with children. We did not realize Kamilah was really absorbing The Salvation Army, so to speak.” Thomas’ experience at the Bushwick Corps also influences the work she does now.

THE REAL DEAL Thomas’ fascination with the Army became a valuable asset during the planning of “Come From Away.” In the process of formulating the story, script writers David Hein and Irene Sankoff interviewed many people who were part of that effort so they could translate actual statements and quotes into authentic dialogue. Even before the cast

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began rehearsing, they sat down, read the interviews, looked at actual photos, and discussed possible scenarios.

“I’ve enjoyed doing the show because it’s absolutely brilliant, and it’s absolutely true,” said Thomas. “Most of what we say is verbatim from interviews with people who were actually there, so it’s real. It feels good to share this story of love and compassion.”

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, international leaders of The Salvation Army, have seen the play twice and vividly remember the actual post 9/11 events.

“We were in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when it happened,” she said.

“We were the divisional leaders and repeated the same effort there,” said the General. “We know all the places mentioned in ‘Come From Away.’ The couple who wrote the script did a masterful job. They picked up the essence of the story, they poked fun respectfully and purposefully, and still told the impactful story on people’s lives.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR Thomas, whose dad died after a long battle with diabetes, said, “‘Come From Away’ is the story we’re trying to get out to the world, but internally, our

‘Come From Away’ family is also close on all levels—from the top producers to the crew.

“Kenny and Marlene Alhadeff (producers) had us at their home in Seattle. My mommy was there too.

Their brother and sister–in–law visited the cast and reached out to me personally to say hello when we were in Boston. When my mom had emergency surgery, Marlene cried and encouraged me. She sent her regards and prayed for God’s continued healing. In New Orleans, they allowed my entire visiting family (15 of them) to join the cast party gathering after opening night. They’ve become more than just producers. This is more than just work and making money—it’s a family.

“Kenny would always speak to us as if he was an evangelist or an ambassador of compassion. He said the whole point of telling this story is to hopefully spread compassion and kindness so that people become more aware of doing that, even if it’s just offering a smile to someone.

OPENING DOORS “When a friend came to see the show in Philadelphia, she said when it was over, people stood to their feet, watched the band play, and just stayed in the room; they were overwhelmed with a feeling of just happiness and joy.

They held doors open for one another and were just being helpful. We see this reaction all over the world.

“I’m honored to tell the story of Hanna O’Rourke and Kevin her son who gave his life with all those other first responders who died on 9/11.

Jamie, Kevin’s daughter, texted me after attending a 9/11 memorial event.

“However, we don’t call it the 9/11 story because it’s really about what happens after it. We remember more than just the horror and tragedy—we remember so much more.”

Q & A

Kristina Hevenor

by Robert Mitchell

a concern to territorial leadership. The TSM position and the Territorial Soldiers Express Council will bridge that communication gap and ultimately lead to positive change for soldiers, corps, and the territory.

Commissioner Bamford called the role a “soldiers’ advocate.” What does that mean to you? My background is in social work, so advocacy is practically my middle name! A soldiers’ advocate will listen, gather ideas, identify needs, and ultimately effect change. The outcome should be change.

Without change, it’s all just talk.

Commissioner William A. Bamford III, territorial commander, made a historic announcement at last year’s Appointment Service in Hershey, Pa. “Without soldiers,” he began, “there is no Army. To develop a clearer chain of communication between soldiery and leadership, the cabinet of the USA Eastern Territory has made the decision to initiate the role and the appointment of a Territorial Sergeant Major (TSM).” Bamford invited Corps Sergeant Major (CSM) Kristina Hevenor from the Lowell, Mass., Corps, to the platform and commissioned her as the first to hold this rank as a soldiers’ advocate. In response, Hevenor graciously accepted the post and said, “Thank you for recognizing the voices of the soldiers.” Recently, Hevenor shared her thoughts on the new role.

Tell us about your new appointment. I am excited to be the first Territorial Sergeant Major (TSM) of the USA Eastern Territory. The TSM is established specifically as a communication link between the soldiers of the territory and the territorial commander. I hope to speak on behalf of soldiers and convey their ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and concerns directly to the territorial commander and through the new Territorial Soldiers Express Council (TSEC).

Where and when did you become a soldier and CSM? I was enrolled as a junior soldier at the Cincinnati Citadel, Ohio, Corps and as a senior soldier at the Manchester, N.H., Corps. I was commissioned as the CSM of the Lowell, Mass., Corps in February of 2017.

What do you hope your appointment will accomplish? We are an Army of soldiers.

Unfortunately, though, our structure does not currently allow for a communication chain from those of us in the trenches to those at the top. Frankly, there is currently no mechanism for a soldier to share a suggestion or express

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How important is it for soldiers to have an advocate and a voice? God is revealing His will for the Army of today and tomorrow. I believe that His revelations are just as likely to come to soldiers as to officers. If we desire a vibrant, Spirit–focused, relevant, saving, discipling Army, then we must be ready to listen to the voices of all of us.

What has prepared you for this role?

I am incredibly humbled to be selected for this role, but I also know that God has prepared me well. I have served my own corps in various leadership positions and represented the soldiers of the territory on the 2020 Vision Task Force.

Having experienced challenging situations in my corps, as well as successful and exciting ventures, I have witnessed the value of strong local leadership. I believe in the voices of soldiers, and I’m ready to speak truth to power on their behalf.

Is there any significance to the timing?

Why now? We all know that the American church, including the Army, is struggling.

People need Jesus—they just don’t know it!

How are we going to get that message to them?

How can they see the love of God through us?

How can we make “the main thing” the main thing? The time is now, and our territorial leaders have recognized that we are all needed “for such a time as this.”

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testimony

1. EARLY EXPOSURE TO GOD

Five Constants

by Colonel Joan Thompson

“ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

—PROVERBS 22:6 (KJV)

I was asked to share with you five things which make me the person that I am. God, by His Spirit, has dubbed them “constants” or invariables; not subject to change (Prov. 22:6). They convey less about me, and more about Himself, exclusively, and what He is doing in me.

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I was born the first girl and the second of eight children in Speightstown, Barbados. We were christened at the local Methodist church. From early, our mother exposed us to the things of God. She taught us His Word and ways, and lived them herself. When we were old enough, we attended the Methodist Sunday school, and were also involved in church activities there.

In this setting, God’s plan for my life unfolded. When my vocal talent became apparent, I was invited to join the church choir as its youngest member. I rendered solos on special occasions, as requested.

During an evangelical campaign there, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. I was 12 years old.

On Sunday afternoons, we attended the local Salvation Army’s Sunday school, our mother being a former officer. She was quite active in the junior and senior corps, before and after her officership.

After my conversion, I was drawn to The Salvation Army. One Sunday evening in company with my mother, I attended a Salvation Meeting and that was it for me; I wanted to go back. I just could not stay away, nor could I subdue the “pull.” Eventually I made a break with the Methodist church and was enrolled as a Salvation Army soldier.

I threw myself into activities at the Army with abandon—Corps Cadets, band, songsters, and the timbrel brigade. Music played an important role in my spiritual development. As was the case with Army Founder William Booth, the Methodist church and the Army were part and parcel of God’s plan for my life.

I learnt that salvation is an event as well as a process. Like a seed with all the parts of the plant that it will become as long as conditions are met, Salvation has within it the potential for growth into Christlikeness.

God is committed to completing the good work which He has started in me (Phil. 1:6). My duty as His child is to do what requires to ensure that it is brought to fruition.

2. GOD’S CALL I had no specific plans for my future. I just wanted my life to count for something, rather than merely drift along. I had commenced a career in teaching when God called me to full–time service in The Salvation Army. Back then I knew little about the Holy Spirit experientially, but on that Youth Sunday as I entered the hall for the Salvation Meeting, I felt a sudden weight on my head and shoulders. It startled me so much that I shared it with the bandmaster.

The Holy Spirit manifested His presence in the words of the first song, “Rise Up, O Youth, For Mighty Winds Are Stirring.” They fairly leapt out at me; and there were tears. In those moments I knew something unusual was happening but could not explain it. A very small voice conveyed the words, “full–time service.”

3. C OMMITMENT TO GOD AND MINISTRY If I give my word, I have every intention of keeping it. This is the way God wants us to be because it is the way He is.

“He who began a good work in [me] will be careful to complete it until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:6). I must be as committed to letting Him finish what He started.

I communicated this to my husband, Franklyn, very early in our marriage, and it influenced our ministry at all levels, in the Caribbean and beyond.

When our children came along (Alison, Christine, and Dorothy), it became a shared commitment. The challenge lay in helping them understand why they were a part of it. We had to open their minds to the things of God and teach

them to pray from early. When they were old enough, each was given a Bible and devotional book and encouraged to read daily. When we became leaders in the Australia East Territory, God prompted intense, systematic Bible study—a constant—to enable our family to successfully cope with the unique challenges of the appointment.

4. THE INFILLING AND ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT When we became leaders of The Caribbean Territory, the Holy Spirit made another significant move. He infilled me; came into my space—my kitchen—and did it. My husband was visiting Cuba and I was preparing lunch in advance of attending the Holiness Meeting at the Kingston Central Corps in Jamaica. I was prompted to play one of the “Hallelujah” cassettes, which I did. As the music filled my kitchen, “I will bless the Lord, and give Him Glory,” I felt waves of ecstasy being poured in and out of my being. I could hardly stand; my knees were so weak. Praise for Jesus flowed out of my mouth.

When I came to myself, my hands were in the air—cook spoon and all—and I stood before my stove in bewilderment, in awe, and in wonder.

I felt a freedom to worship my Lord, to witness about Him, and to minister boldly in His name. Open prayer was amazingly different, and with this anointing came the realization that I could not function effectively without it either. It had to be, has to be, a constant.

5. OPERATING IN MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS The Holy Spirit continued to have His way in me. Just after our arrival in the Eastern Michigan Division, a desire to be all that God purposed for me was birthed. It was there that the gift of Tongues first manifested. I did not

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know how to respond; I knew nothing about it. So, I resisted. But the next day, soreness in the back of my tongue was enough to remind me. Much later, when the gift manifested again, I was more informed, and understood what was happening. In the quietness of our den, I yielded to the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit. In the process, I discovered the hidden power in praise and worship as a direct result of God “enthroning” Himself in it (Psalm 22:3).

Our ministry continued in Eastern Michigan. I felt so blessed by God’s presence and His impact on ministry to the women of the division. As retirement neared, God encouraged us with Psalm 121:3, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.” I thought of organizing teas for women with a focus on Bible study, but God had other plans for me. Ministry opportunities awaited at the then Detroit Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) at Fort Street, which would later become the Southeast Michigan ARC. Following my husband’s passing, I was divinely directed to the Montclair Citadel, N.J. Corps, verbally, as well as in a dream. That was 11 years and 4 months ago. Ministry has been mainly prophetic; I receive messages from God, which I share with those for whom they are intended. I intercede for the sick and others with needs, personally and via the Yada Yada prayer group.

I’m still singing in the choir, although I am no longer the youngest.

My desire remains to be and to have and to do all that God has purposed for me on this side of Heaven, operating always under the anointing of His Holy Spirit.

Colonel Joan Thompson, commissioned in 1965, served with her husband Colonel Franklyn Thompson as administrators and as divisional leaders in the Caribbean Territory, the Australia East and Papua New Guinea Territory, the USA Eastern Territory, and the USA Central Territory.

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wholly living

Four soul–searching

questions from the Bible

by Major Young Sung Kim

Territorial Ambassador for Holiness

I believe that Christians are people of the Bible. As a child of God, I stand firm in the faith that the Bible is the living Word of the living God. In the Bible, God has made Himself and His will known to us as the written revelation. Having said that, I am humbled to share four “soul searching” questions that I have found in the Bible through my personal encounter with God’s words as I have daily walked with Him. It is my testimonial and conviction that these self–reflected inquiries as derived from God in the Bible have enhanced and enriched my spiritual journey. I seek God’s will in my life as His child and I long to find the right path for the more excellent way of living in Christlikeness.

WHERE ARE YOU?

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

This first question comes from Genesis 3:9 as the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s command. It forbade them from eating fruit from “the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve hid in an attempt to escape the wrath of their Creator. However, God appeared to them and asked, “Where are you?” I believe that this question was God’s redemptive invitation for them to recognize the naked truth of their inner condition and spiritual status rather than as a rebuke. God’s question reached beyond the guilt and shame of His beloved creatures. This inquiry manifests God’s unflinching and merciful heart. He offers a second chance to His backslidden children. We might ask ourselves, “Where am I in my relationship with Jesus?”

The second question, which derives from Matthew 16:15, is the most significant Christological question in the Bible that relates to the purpose of Christ’s redemptive mission for all God’s people. Jesus asked His disciples this question near the end of His earthly ministry and prior to His crucifixion. Regardless of one’s Christian reputation, experience or background, one cannot escape from this honest and transparent question. What would your response or confession to Jesus be?

DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL? Jesus asked the third question in John 5:6 of the man who had been ill for 38 years as he sat by the place called “Sheep Gate” in Jerusalem.

This question signifies a divine invitation and affirmation of Christ’s therapeutic call for holistic salvation

for the healing of physical illness and for the restoration from exposure to inner spiritual diseases as we live in this wounded world. How desperately do we want to grip the healing hands of Christ today? Do we want to be freed from our sinful bondage?

DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YOU BECAME BELIEVERS? The fourth question is from the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:2. As an heir of the Wesleyan–holiness movement, I consider his inquiry to some disciples in Ephesus to also be one for us to consider. Salvationists are eager to ask this particular question regarding our desire to seek the God–honoring way of the Christian life. This expectancy marks our pursuit of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second work of grace, following the first work, justification. Ask yourself, “Have I received the Holy Spirit?”

FINDING YOURSELF IN THE STORY St. Ignataius of Loyola (1491–1556) and founder of the Society of the Jesuits, taught this method of engaging Scripture. It involves slowly and prayerfully reading a portion of Scripture and encountering Christ through His living Word.

Read a story from one of the Gospels and use your imagination to place yourself in the story. For instance, imagine that you are in Galilee with Jesus and the disciples. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Is it warm or cold, wet or dry? Place yourself in the sandals of one of the characters: a disciple, an onlooker or the person being healed. What is Jesus doing? What is He saying? What would your reaction be if you were actually there? As you “enter into” the story, what feelings do you experience?

Rather than simply reading the story from the point of view of a 21st century person, this process allows us to engage the story and imagine what it would have been like to actually be there and experience it first hand. It brings the story alive and helps us to understand it better.

Choose one of these portions of Scripture and try this method for yourself.

• John 2:1–12 The Wedding at Cana • Matthew 8:23–27 Jesus Calms the Storm • Mark 10:46–52 Blind Bartimaeus • Matthew 14:13–21 Feeding of the 5,000 • Matthew 17:1–9 The Transfiguration of Jesus Journal your thoughts and spend some time reflecting on your experience. What have you learned about Jesus and about yourself? What is God saying to you through His Word as you read it using this method?

“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12 (NRSV).

2020 FEBRUARY

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to your health

“ Health is the thing that makes you feel

that now is the best time of the year.”

Cold–weather workouts:

dress code

Don’t let winter’s chill keep you inside and inactive. You may find cold weather a challenge that actually enhances your exercise.

Follow these guidelines to stay safe and comfortable and have fun.

Dress in layers to keep your body’s core warm. Cold temperatures, moisture, and high wind cause your body to lose heat. Lock in body warmth by wearing 3 clothing layers: a thin, wicking (absorbing), non– cotton layer; an insulating layer; and a protective shell layer.

Always wear a hat to reduce heat loss. In severe weather, cover your ears with a headband and use glove liners under a pair of heavier gloves.

Warm up before going outside to prevent strains, which can occur when muscles are cold. Once outdoors, quickly pick up your pace to stay warm and burn more calories.

For safety, wear reflective gear after dark. Carry a cell phone for emergencies. Shorten your outdoor workout or skip it during extreme cold, and know when to head home and warm up.

Wear trail or running shoes with enough traction to prevent slipping, and enough space to allow for thermal socks.

Today’s cold–weather clothing is made of materials designed to insulate and protect your body from cold temperatures, without being bulky or reducing your mobility.

Note: Cotton is not a recommended fabric for outdoor clothing in very cold, wet weather.

Eat for energy. Smart food choices can help reduce fatigue and control your hunger and stress levels. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources, as well as drinking water, provide sustained fuel.

Try frequent, small meals and snacks. People who do tend to have steadier energy and a lower likelihood of weight gain than people who eat 2 large meals a day.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

— 3 JOHN 1:2

FEBRUARY 2020

For many folks, it starts with the winter holidays. We add pounds celebrating with month–long buffets, irresistible desserts, and drinks. This can also be a stressful, busy time when we lose the incentive to fix healthful meals and to exercise.

Don’t let your attitude weigh you down in the coming months. Instead, focus on your health and some simple changes.

Keep track. For a few days to spot diet patterns, record what you eat and drink, how much, and when. For example, if you tend to binge on snacks in mid–afternoon, make sure you keep healthier choices handy.

High–energy snack picks: • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt with fruit • ½ ounce nuts and seeds • Nut butter with vegetable sticks • Sliced turkey with bean dip

Shopping tip:

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Outsmart Winter Weight Gain

Plan meals and schedule your exercise — fit in something physical every day; write it down if it helps. Being active throughout your day can reduce stress and curb overeating.

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