saconnects, Volume 9, Number 4, 2023

THE SALVATION ARMY’S OTHERS PROGRAM OFFERS FLEXIBLE JOBS

AND FAIR WAGES SO PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE ACCESS TO DECENT EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH YOUR PURCHASES, WE PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 1200 ARTISANS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. TO SEE ALL OF OUR HANDMADE, QUALITY PRODUCTS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MISSION, VISIT

WHO WE ARE Programs

Ohio City Women’s Ministries helps its members make new friends and better understand the Gospel. Plus: Bible verses about friendship and bonding.

page 6

People

Social worker Katina Polemenako brings hope to anyone who comes to her for help at the North Shore Salvation Army in Salem, Mass.

page 7

History

Spiritual renewal is hard to find, but one campground in Maine has been a destination for such refreshing for 150 years.

page 8

Faith in Action

A shoulder injury forced former tennis star Jackie Bradshaw to become a Pickleball player, where she found The Salvation Army and success on the court of life.

page 10

COVER STORY

page 16

RECOVERY A path forward

The road to recovery and redemption for Jahzebulun Reid has been long and sometimes painful. Today, he looks back and sees that despite every obstacle, he never fell out of God’s endless grace.

page 22

Thrift Store Finds

Need to redecorate your living room (or your new college dorm)? The Salvation Army’s thrift stores can help you with that.

page 25

LIVING

Spiritual Life Development

When we open our eyes at birth, the quest to understand who we truly are begins. Read how Genesis, the first book of the Bible, provides the answers.

page 28

Test your Bible knowledge

Life is full of tests, and some are fun to take, especially when they are about learning the Bible, the book of life!

page 30

VOLUNTEER

Flor Chamorro

While working in the kitchen at the Queens Temple Corps in N.Y., Flor saw that the act of giving is a blessing in itself.

page 32

When tragedy and trauma suddenly enter a boy’s life, he finds hope and healing through God’s creation.

Experience it All

MUSIC-CONCERTS-THEATRE-DANCE-EVENTS

There

The Salvation Army offers programs in music and arts to teach people of all ages how to sing, play instruments, dance, and act. Whether you’re on the stage performing or in the audience worshipping, you can be part of a lifetime of fulfillment and spiritual purpose.

Go to SACONNECTS.ORG to see all we have to offer

’s so much happening. Come and be a part of it !

FOUNDER William Booth

GENERAL Brian Peddle

TERRITORIAL LEADERS

Commissioner William A. Bamford III

Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford

CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Ivan K. Rock

DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

Joseph Pritchard

EDITOR IN CHIEF / DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

Warren L. Maye

MANAGING EDITOR Robert Mitchell

EDITOR / HISPANIC CORRESPONDENT

Hugo Bravo

ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines

PUBLICATION CONTENT

MANAGER AND DESIGNER

Lea La Notte Greene

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Dave Hulteen Jr., Joe Marino, Mabel Zorzano

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lu Lu Rivera

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.

A true story

WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief

As religion comes under so much skepticism in our nation these days, it is hard for people to know and to trust God. The truth, when it comes to understanding the Creation Story and the role it plays in bringing hope and healing, is particularly fleeting. This is a serious problem.

Member since 2015 Award winner 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

10994–1739. SACONNECTS accepts advertising. Copyright ©2023 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.

So, this issue of SACONNECTS magazine draws attention to aspects of the Creation Story by way of other true stories told through the eyes and hearts of people who have been touched by God’s grace. To them, God’s story has become real again and has revived their spirit.

For example, you’ll read how painting pictures of the creation helped me, a survivor of a mass shooting, recover from emotional trauma; how the Salvation Army’s New York Staff Band inspired audiences with a moving performance of “Creation” during a nighttime concert under the stars in Maine; and how a drug–addicted man finally trusted God and is now sharing his story with others in recovery. You’ll also read about a woman who found safety and a new life in Christ after fleeing her crime–ridden country, and more.

Before we understood the Creation Story, our lives were in utter chaos. Our existence seemed as formless, and as empty, and as dark as the world described in the book of Genesis, before God said, “Let there be light,” (Genesis 1:3).

By the way, Chaos Theory made its debut in 1977 and revolutionized the field of computer science. This technology made it possible for graphic artists to design amazing renderings of flora and fauna as depicted in blockbuster films such as “Jurassic Park” and “Avatar.”

Scientists finally realized that “straight” lines, “right” angles, and “perfect” circles don’t exist, but that reality is born out of chaos—the endless variety, diversity, and complexity that comes only from God’s true story of creation.

STORIES OF SURVIVAL

2022 New York Emmy Award Winner

Documentary Cultural

WHO WE ARE

185,000 children and seniors across the country enjoy the outdoors at a Salvation Army summer camp every year.

Since 1885, The Salvation Army has held its annual camp meetings in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, suspending only two meetings due to the recent pandemic. In the beginning, campers sat on benches among the white pine trees that dotted the area. They listened to preachers who projected their “open–air voices” to reach them.

In 1972, three Salvation Army desk flags took a trip to the moon and back with Astronaut John W. Young. The flags were a gift from the wife of John Chatley, Jr., who served on the Philadelphia Salvation Army Advisory Board. One of the flags is displayed at the Salvation Army’s Heritage Museum in West Nyack, N.Y., along with a letter from Astronaut Young.

Salvation Army elects new leader

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham was elected as the 22nd General of The Salvation Army. On August 3, 2023, the General–elect and his wife, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, who will serve as World President of Women’s Ministries, will assume their new roles at International Headquarters in London, England. Following the election, the General–elect said in an interview on the grounds of Sunbury Court, “I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, but humbled and grateful for the support of the members of the High Council and their endorsement.” When asked what he would like the Salvation Army world to pray for, he mentioned his family and then said, “grace, peace, wisdom, and courage.”

Commissioners Bronwyn & Lyndon Buckingham are originally from the Salvation Army’s New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa Territory. Commissioned in 1990 as members of the “Ambassadors for Christ” session, they have served in various appointments around the world.

“The Salvationist is the friend of happiness. Making Heaven on earth is our business.”

Find a camp near you!

Read more about the history of the camp meetings on page 8.

– William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army

A league of their own

by HUGO BRAVO

In 2020, Salvation Army pastor Major Monica Balmori met the members of the Women’s Ministries program at the Ohio City Corps in Cleveland via Zoom.

“Most of the members were seniors who had rarely used internet technology,” says Balmori. Through phone calls, she showed them how to set up Zoom on their devices. They were eager to learn, and even set up a prayer group through WhatsApp that continued to operate, even as the ministry returned to the church building after the pandemic.

Balmori says that the women, most of whom are Latinas who have known each other for decades, are always looking for new ways to keep their ministry going. They have a deep love for the church and put their personal touch on the Women’s Ministries work.

“For a Bible lesson assignment, each member researched a woman in the Bible, but only I knew who they were assigned,” says Balmori. “During their presentation, they would talk about their person and give hints about her life, and the others would try to

Bible verses about friendship and bonding

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

—1

5:11 (ESV)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

guess who she was. Some women even dressed up as the person.” It felt more like a Sunday school than a traditional adult Bible lesson, but it resonated. Balmori says that now the women reference each other’s presentations while discussing the Word of God.

“They grew up thinking that to learn the Bible, they needed to memorize every word and verse,” says Balmori. Instead, she recommended that they see the Bible as a book of tales about people with whom they could all identify. “It has romance, adventure, horror, drama, heroes, and villains. When they approached the Bible as if it was a favorite TV show, they wanted to learn more.”

Women’s Ministries leaders also found new ways to share the Word of God. They set up tables and nail care supplies for a day spa and gave free manicures to the community. As they filed and painted nails, they prayed The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host.

—Psalm 68:11 (NASB1995)

Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

—Romans 12:10 (NRSVA)

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

—Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

with the people and shared how God was present in their lives.

“In the summer, we go outside for prayer walks in the street, and when we return, we sing together in the parking lot,” says Balmori. “This is big for them. The corps is in a dangerous neighborhood. Our church windows have been hit by stray bullets.”

Because of this, Balmori wanted the women to have someone they could turn to if they ever needed help when she wasn’t around. That led to them baking cookies for workers of the local fire department, whose station is next to the corps. This was not only a kind gesture for the firefighters, who welcomed the women and posed in pictures with them, but it also allowed the ministry to become more familiar with the community.

“One night, someone drove a strange car into the corps parking lot, then did not move,” remembers Balmori. “The women who were leaving felt nervous, so they went to the fire station. They wanted someone to approach the car and ask the driver to leave. One of the firefighters they had met was happy to help them.”

Salvation Army Women’s Ministries, originally called Ladies Home League, was founded for women to help one another, develop skills, and provide a connection for prayer and service. Spa days, prayer walks, and dress–up Bible lessons have influenced the women of the Cleveland Ohio City Corps by strengthening their faith in God, and each other.

“I was taught that we should always try to do what we can with what we have and who we have,” says Balmori. “That’s how we make our Women’s Ministries succeed.”

Thessalonians

—1 Peter 4:8–10 (ESV)

Hope and Grace

Interview by HUGO BRAVO

Katina Polemenako, a social worker at The Salvation Army North Shore Corps in Salem, Mass., talks about the role prayer plays in social work, how the Army honored her late mother, and why her love of both country and community are inextricably linked.

Social workers are like detectives, always trying to see what’s hiding underneath the surface. After college, I started my social work career for the Army in my hometown of Beverly, Mass. Occasionally, I would work at North Shore church in Salem. I took cases and conducted programs until they said I was needed there full time. In social work, I have to be direct with the people about their situation and how we can help. There are organizations that say, “We’ll see what we can do for you.” But then after weeks of waiting, they finally say, “Sorry, we can’t do anything for you.”

I think that’s so unfair. If I ever must tell you, “I can’t help you,” I’m also going to find someone who can.

Every Salvation Army pastor who served in Salem has taught me something new and made me more in tune with who I am in the eyes of God. I always knew that God is watching us, but before working here, I didn’t know how it felt to have true faith that I am cared for and protected by Him. This faith also carries over to the work I do. In a lot of social work agencies, you can just be a number. I know that’s because of the volume of people they help, but I don’t want anyone who comes to us to ever feel like a number. They’re real people with real feelings. If we can give them a smile, a kind word, or an extra moment of our time, it can mean the world to them.

God is hope. When I pray for someone, that’s me hoping that person’s life changes for the better. I pray with the hope that, despite not being perfect, I’ll get through another day and figure it all out with God, the only One who is perfect. This mindset has helped me a lot in social work. I’ve prayed with people who needed to know that we care for them in their situation. In this work, it can be overwhelming to feel so much emotion. I’m not always as positive as I want to be. But when things get hard, I take a step back and say to God, “Yeah, we’ve got this.”

I was always taught to help others , especially the veterans. My dad, my husband, and several of my uncles were vets. In fact, the Herman A. Spear American Legion Post 331 in Beverly, Mass., was named after my uncle, who died at Pearl Harbor. Respecting our country and the principles of being an American were ingrained in my family. The idea that we should always build others up and never down is still how I go about my life today.

My mother Grace loved baking for people and giving them “ditty bags,” which are little bags filled with toothpaste, socks, gum, and other personal items the troops received during wartime. After she passed away two years ago, we started “Celebrate Grace” in her honor. With the help of the North Shore Corps kitchen, I baked banana bread, labeled it with #CelebrateGrace and gave the bread out at the North Shore food pantry, along with a picture of my mom. We also took bread to the police stations in Salem and Beverly. I’m grateful that The Salvation Army lets me be me and wants my ideas for personal ministries such as #CelebrateGrace to represent them.

150 Years of Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings

An American Methodist tradition continued by The Salvation Army

by ROB JEFFERY

Considering the recent revival at Asbury University, an event that seemed to be spontaneous in its nature and surprising to many, perhaps we are now more open to the possibility of a new spiritual awakening and what it might look like. Salvationism was birthed out of two great movements that came together; British evangelical Methodism, and American transatlantic revivalism. Revival, renewal, and regeneration, are intrinsic to who we are as a Salvation Army and nowhere have these forces come together more so than at the Old Orchard Beach camp meetings held in Maine.

These meetings are of such longstanding in our Eastern Territory that it’s tempting to take them for granted, or to think of them as just another event on the calendar. We know it simply as “O–O–B” and talk about it in such familiar ways. But the camp meetings at OOB did not come about just so people could have a fun beach vacation; it was a chosen location for people to gather and encounter the Holy Spirit.

Reaching the unchurched

Camp meetings came to us from the American Methodist tradition as a way to reach unchurched people on the great frontiers of the country. In open fields, or wooded terrain, with a makeshift altar and pulpit, people would gather by the hundreds, and thousands, to hear itinerant ministers proclaim the Gospel. Camp meetings were held annually in the warmer months, and people would come with their own tents and provisions with the plan to stay one or two weeks. The people that came may have been Christian, but due to the remoteness of where they lived, might not have had an established place

to worship regularly. This was their one chance a year to hear live preaching, to sing with other believers and to take part in corporate prayer. Many people not claiming to have any faith also came to the meetings, perhaps out of boredom (at first) but found themselves gloriously saved. Camp meetings were a wonderful aspect of the Second Great Awakening (1790s–1840s), and they are the point of origin for the OOB story.

A time of healing

In 1873, a group of American Methodist ministers led by Rev. Israel Luce, selected the current grounds (encompassed by today’s Seaside Pavilion) as a place to hold religious meetings. It was originally inhabited by apple orchards and was first referred to as “the grove.” Though decades after the period known as the Second Great Awakening, camp meetings were still taking place across the nation. This time though, it wasn’t only people on the frontiers who took part but people from America’s growing cities, fueled by population booms due to the industrial revolution. It was a nation still dealing with the trauma of the Civil War (1860–1865), and and in the era of Reconstruction. The spiritual life of the people also needed healing.

What characterized those early camp meetings was a wonderful spirit of ecumenism as Christians from various denominations came together. What was originally established by the Methodists, was soon attended by Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, and the National Temperance Camp Meeting Association. In 1887, an entirely new denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) church by A.B. Simpson, was founded at that year’s OOB Camp Meeting.

The OOB Camp Meeting Association became a sort of interdenominational group that shared the meeting grounds and worked together to bring world class speakers on holiness and sanctification.

Breaking new ground

The Salvation Army made its first appearance at OOB in the summer of 1885. The first Army speakers to preach in the grove were Staff Captain Annie Shirley (mother of Salvation Army pioneer Eliza Shirley) and Commissioner Frank Smith, the national commander of our still fledgling movement. An article from the 1890 War Cry, in bold headline reads,

“A tremendous Crowd in Old Orchard, ME., Camp Ground. Commissioner & Mrs. Ballington Booth, Major Sully, and the Maine Officers lead Camp–Meetings in the Pine Tree State. 5,000 people in the afternoon.”

In fact, during the height of the summer meetings, as many as 10,000 people arrived on the Boston and Maine Railroad Station (and you thought OOB is crowded today).

So, what were those early Salvation Army meetings like? In the Heritage Museum archives, we find pictures of happy Salvationists in their full uniform. Being covered from head to toe in heavy wool cloth in the heat of summer is definitely a commitment to The Army and its methods. Nevertheless, these Salvationists are worshipping together among the trees of the grove, giving rapt attention to the speaker on the platform (back then a large gazebo), or listening to the music of the band.

Famous Salvation Army personalities like Evangeline Booth and Samuel Logan Brengle would have been a regular presence at OOB. Brengle would often go up

and pray with people who sought sanctification at the altar. A popular musical duet one would have heard for many years were the two singing sisters known as the Worcester Twins – Annie Brewer and Elizabeth White.

A bold investment

As time went on, the use of the campgrounds by other denominations began to wane. In 1952, The Salvation Army made the monumental decision to buy the land from the Camp Meeting Association. Since then, the camp meetings became an exercise in full–throated Salvationism, drawing the best speakers and teachers from around the Army world. Every Salvation Army general, beginning with General Higgins, has come to OOB, as well numerous brass bands and songster brigades. For many years, divisional bands and music groups would take responsibility for providing the music for one of

the services ensuring local participation. In more recent times, Christian contemporary artists such as Sandi Patti and Michael W. Smith have graced the stage.

Forty–six years after taking over the campgrounds, The Salvation Army made another historic investment in OOB with a complete renovation of the site, transforming the simple seating among the pine trees and wood chip strewn floor into a multimillion–dollar modern facility that still maintains its outdoor, open–air appearance. In 1998, the new structure called the Seaside Pavilion opened. Former U.S. President and First Lady, George and Barbara Bush presided over the event.

The Salvation Army has held camp meetings at OOB every year since 1885, with the historic exception of 2020 and 2021, when the annual gathering was suspended due to the global COVID–19 pandemic. Although the camp meetings themselves are only

once a year, Salvationists have had a regular presence in the popular seaside community since 1932 through the witness of the Old Orchard Beach Corps and in the town itself.

A new awakening?

Today this outward focus on the town and tourists is carried out through a nightly Pier Festival, involving music, arts, dance, and attractions with a Gospel centered message.

As we reflect on the present and future of the Old Orchard Beach camp meetings, let us be open to the leading of the Spirit. Let’s come to OOB, not out of a sense of obligation or conversely, because it’s an enjoyable place to visit. Rather, let’s come expecting a new work of the Holy Spirit in our own personal lives. Maybe the fires of revival, renewal, and regeneration will fall as it did in days of old. When God moves in new and surprising ways, be it at OOB or elsewhere – let us be ready to follow.

The Salvation Army Heritage Museum ©1960

Picking a new passion

and revitalizing an old one at The Salvation Army

by ROBERT MITCHELL

ackie Bradshaw’s once–promising tennis career at Bethany College in Kansas disappeared after she underwent elbow surgery and four shoulder procedures, including a full replacement.

While her body seemingly failed her, Jackie’s love for the game and desire for athletic competition never totally disappeared. She longed to play again someday if the opportunity arose. That chance came a few years ago when she took up a new paddle–ball game that swept the country.

“Someone mentioned to me, ‘Hey, you should come and try pickleball. It’s way easier on your joints.’ We had some courts opening in the town I was living in (Mount Carmel, Ill.), and I went to the grand opening, picked up a paddle, and haven’t been able to put one down since,” Jackie remembers.

Jackie, 25, is now a professional pickleball player and if you arrive early enough, you might see her honing her skills at The Salvation Army in Cambridge, Ohio. A music education major at nearby Muskingum University, Jackie is the program director at The Salvation Army in Cambridge, where she teaches both music and pickleball.

“I couldn’t ask for a better job,” Jackie says. “It’s honestly the best of both worlds.”

It was pickleball that first brought Jackie to The Salvation Army. Her high school softball team back home in Sharon, Pa., used to practice in a Salvation Army gym, but other than that she knew very little about the organization.

Bringing them in

When Jackie moved to Cambridge in 2022, she learned that the local Salvation Army had a court and asked if she could train there for the upcoming Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Florida. Many others have followed her to The Salvation Army to learn more about the game the Sports and Fitness Industry Association calls the “fastest growing sport in America.”

“She has brought in a lot of different individuals to practice pickleball and it’s helped us be relevant in our community,” says Captain Candice McMillen, who co–leads The Salvation Army in Cambridge. “She’s outstanding in bringing members of our community into our building.

“Since she has been here, we have county commissioners, CEOs, executives, and many others who have said to her, ‘I never would have stepped in here if it wasn’t for the pickleball.’ She is pulling in a different segment of the community. They’re seeing the programs we’re doing and ways to support The Salvation Army. It’s expanded our resources as far as volunteers and even financially. Some of the people she’s bringing in through pickleball are attending church. I had never even heard of pickleball before coming here.”

What exactly is pickleball?

Invented by three fathers in 1965 in Washington state, the game is often described

photo by anytimepicture.com

as a cross between tennis, Ping–Pong, and badminton. Players, who call the game highly addictive, use a paddle and a perforated plastic ball.

“It’s almost as if you’re standing on a Ping–Pong court,” Jackie says.

USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport, says the court is the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court— 20–by–44 feet. The net height is 36 inches.

Turning professional

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association says almost 5 million people are now playing pickleball—almost double the players just five years ago. It’s now so popular you can catch tournaments on ESPN and other sports channels.

“It’s a very strategic game,” Jackie says. “It’s a game of placement rather than power. It’s almost like a cat and mouse or a chess game. You’re planning your next move and really trying to place the ball really well. I love that intricate kind of a game.”

Jackie teaches about 30 beginners and more than 40 intermediate pickleball players at The Salvation Army. She is not surprised by the game’s exploding popularity.

“Pickleball is so easy to play and so easy to pick up,” she said. “Literally anybody can do it. One of my students is an amputee. She’s missing a leg, but we adapt the games so she can still play singles and doubles and

enjoy the game. It’s a great time.

“The sport is accessible to just about everybody in one way or another. I’m not afraid to admit this, but I’ve been beaten by an 80–year–old, and I’m 25. It’s an even playing field. I like that everyone can jump on a court and play with somebody.”

The Salvation Army in Cambridge has only one court, but McMillen said the church may soon lease more space to expand to six courts. That would allow the church to host tournaments, which could help The Salvation Army raise money.

Jackie usually works out at The Salvation Army on her own game from 5–7 a.m. “I have qualified for the pro tour, which I’ve backed off a little bit because of

The first time I was around the other pros, playing as an amateur, they came up and just talked to me as a regular person. That’s truly what makes the sport great.

“I could go to a tournament in Nevada or Arizona or Texas or Florida and I can find people who are like, one big family. There’s great sportsmanship. That’s something you don’t get with a lot of sports.”

Jackie said her spiritual life has a prominent role in her pickleball career.

“When I compete, I get extremely nervous,” she said. “I’m just starting out as a pro, so I’m an underdog quite a bit. So, I just take a step back and think, Hey, if I wasn’t supposed to be doing this, God wouldn’t have put me here. I think about stories of perseverance like David and Goliath and think, Hey, I can do this. I can compete. He’s got my back. He can keep me going. Christ means everything in my life.”

Jackie became a Christian in the past few years after being raised a Catholic. One of five children, she described her childhood as a “little rough.” Her father was in the military and not home much, so Jackie gravitated to athletics, music, and church for guidance.

Healing from the past

When Jackie was in 7th grade, her Catholic school closed. She started attending a Christian school and found a deeper relationship with God. She was driven further away from Catholicism when her church hurt her family on several occasions.

school,” she says.

Since joining the tour with sponsor ProXR Pickleball, Jackie has earned numerous silver and gold medals in singles and doubles at the bubbly Pickleball Championships in Las Vegas, the U.S. Open in Florida, the Cincinnati Open, the Indianapolis Open, and several local events. She especially enjoys the camaraderie among the players while on tour.

Finding the spiritual “If you ask any of the pros, pickleball is such an amazing community,” she said. “If I go to a tournament, I have people coming up and just making conversation with me.

McMillen said Jackie came to The Salvation Army “kind of wounded,” untrusting, and shy. McMillen has discipled her to overcome the past.

“We’ve tried to knock down those barriers and make her feel welcome,” she said. “We’ve given her time to heal, while showing her The Salvation Army is different. It’s important to us that she find her faith in God for herself. When you’re dealing with someone who has been so hurt by a church, those barriers are very difficult to knock down.

“We’ve seen her come a long way. We’re hearing it and seeing it in her life. She is warming up to a new faith,” McMillen added. “We see her growing in her faith in many

photo by anytimepicture.com

Jackie Bradshaw has won three US Open Pickleball Championship medals. Pickleball is not her only passion, though. She plays the trumpet and French horn, and teaches the church’s music academy once a week along with pickleball lessons (left).

photo by anytimepicture.com

Pickleball basics

 A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and Ping–Pong

 Played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton–sized court with a slightly modified tennis net

 Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes

 Played as doubles or singles

 Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels

ways in our conversations. She’s been a great member of our team and we love her to death.”

Several families asked Jackie to sit with them when she started attending The Salvation Army. That may seem like a small thing to some people, but Jackie says that meant the world to her.

“Those are the things that make a difference in my life,” she said. “They were super–inviting from the get–go. I’m accepted for who I am. It’s a phenomenal atmosphere there.

“The Salvation Army is a judgment–free zone. They love unconditionally no matter what. They say, ‘We are so sorry that happened to you. How can I help you now?’ That’s the mentality there needs to be in a church setting.”

A perfect fit

McMillen said Jackie’s athletic competitiveness bleeds over into her spiritual life and she often feels she needs to be perfect. McMillen reminds her that everyone is sinful and broken. She hopes Jackie attends

a new group starting soon called “Broken and Beautiful.”

“We’re all broken,” McMillen said. “We want people to come realizing you don’t have to be perfect. Broken pieces make beautiful mosaics. When broken pieces gather, something beautiful comes out of it.”

Once they learned about Jackie’s skillset of music and athletics, Captain Candice and her husband, Captain Ed McMillen, asked her if she wanted to become the church’s program director.

Jackie runs pickleball lessons and clinics and daily recreation. She also teaches at the church’s music academy once a week, a program she hopes to expand to two or three days a week. Jackie plays the trumpet and French horn and teaches woodwinds, piano, theory, and vocals.

“Music is very important to me,” she said. “I truly feel like it’s my calling and my passion. There’s a lot of music in the Bible and in the Old Testament. Music allows us to feel our emotions and use them to

connect to God better within ourselves.

Big dreams ahead

“I love teaching at The Salvation Army. It’s a safe and comfortable environment. It’s so amazing to walk in and feel like I’m within a family. It’s an amazing community.”

Jackie said her goal is to be a music teacher and her dream is to someday become a high school band director. But first she wants to see how far pickleball will take her.

“It is something I’m doing for fun, but it’s also something that I enjoy to the point I want to see how far I can take it,” she said. “I never once believed that I could play pro. The fact that I’m standing here playing pro with a pro sponsorship is a testament.”

Jackie said she will do so with the newfound faith McMillen helped instill in her.

“The Lord means everything in my life today,” Jackie says. “Just knowing He has my back and has a plan for me is the biggest positive outlook on life that I can have.”

Source: USA Pickleball (usapickleball.org)

DO YOU WANT TO PROMISE YOUR CHILDREN A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES?

Pathway of Hope uses a client–centered case management approach to empower families and address barriers preventing them from becoming more self–sufficient. By breaking the cycle of crisis with our community partners, it offers a hand up instead of a handout, enabling a path out of poverty.

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The beauty of God’s The beauty of God’s creation creation

by WARREN L. MAYE

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.”

—GENESIS 1: 1

ne clear and starry night, an adolescent’s life–long love of God’s creation began. That evening in Ohio, he lay on his back on a comfortable blanket in the middle of an open field. To his amazement, he would soon fathom the heavens and, at the same time, explore the mysteries of his own mind.

Other young students also carpeted the field. They were in for the most astounding camping experience of their lives. “Just put your hands behind your head and focus your eyes on the sky above you,” said the instructor. Softspoken, thin, and grey haired, he was nonetheless the popular meteorologist Dick Goddard of WJW–TV, and the first weather reporter in Cleveland, Ohio, to ever hold such a degree.

Under Goddard’s careful guidance, the cohort had already spent days investigating the woods. They had conducted nature experiments of all kinds. They had measured rainwater accumulated in tin cans on the ground. They also gathered rain from troughs that circled the trunks of selected trees.

They had driven stakes in the ground and had tied strong lines to divide several acres into quadrants. Then they carefully counted the specific and various forms of wildlife that lived in each square of land. Birds, bees, flowers, trees, and even mosquitos were included in their meticulous calculations.

Each day, the class recorded changes in humidity. They did this by measuring the length of a single strand of hair, taken from each of their own heads. Each strand was gently suspended and stretched by a small weight. On dry days, the hairs would be longer, and on wet days, the same hairs would shrink and become slightly shorter. Every day, the boys and girls judiciously noted the length of the hairs and used that precise data to determine the humidity pattern for the week.

It had taken a while, but their eyes, now adjusted to the low light conditions, were focused on the heavens. What had looked like tiny, fuzzy lights, now took on the appearance of brilliant diamonds in the sky, their many facets, sparkling.

“What is that thing, moving?” asked a girl.

The weatherman said, “That’s a manmade satellite. You can tell a satellite from a star or a planet because it moves so fast!” Sure enough, the little white dot hastily made its way along a straight and steady path.

“Look again,” he said. “What else can you see?”

With exceptional clarity, the boy now saw as if binoculars had replaced his eyes. “I, I, I see the stars!” he said. “Goddard asked, “What colors do you see?

The boy thought, do stars have color? Goddard said, “Cool stars burn blue. Red stars burn brighter because they are hotter. What color do you think even hotter stars burn?” “Oh, oh, orange?” the boy asked. “Yes! Orange, yellow, and white hot!” Goddard said.

But on this dark and quiet night, their exploration would assume an unfathomable dimension, one that has remained vividly clear in the boy’s mind to this day. “What do you see?” Goddard asked. “The sky!” “Stars!” were typical answers from everyone. “Is that all? Just keep watching,” he said.

Seconds, then minutes passed as the sky grew even darker. If something doesn’t happen soon, I’m going to fall asleep out here, the boy thought. Finally, what seemed like a miracle, happened. “I see something moving!” shouted a student. “Whe, whe, where?” the boy asked.

His question seemed to echo across the field as other kids also wanted to know. “Over there!” another student said. His voice crackled with excitement. “Over there!”

The more the boy looked, the more he saw. Yes, there were colorful stars up there, like lights on a Christmas tree.

“Now, planets are different,” the weatherman said. “Can anyone point one out?” Aside from the moon, the boy didn’t believe that seeing a planet would be possible with his naked eye. Nonetheless, the meteorologist continued, “Do you see that bright, steady light over there?” They all looked, and to their amazement, said “yes.” Goddard explained that the students were seeing planet Venus. Rather than twinkle like a star, it firmly reflected the Sun’s light.

“I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.”

—PSALM 50:11 (CSB)

By this time, the boy felt he had seen everything. But what came next was mesmerizing. It forever changed his perspective on the universe.

Fully engrossed now, his mind took him to another place in time and space. He imagined himself looking down on the twinkling stars, the bright planets, and the moving satellites, rather than up at them. At that moment, he felt as if the only thing that kept him from falling into an infinite abyss was the sure gravity that held him flat and resolute against the earth.

The boy felt goosebumps rise, and his heartbeat quicken. Will I freefall into eternity? he thought. His body inhaled compulsorily, and the night air rushed into his expanded lungs.

In that cosmic moment, God appeared as an epiphany and revealed a small portion of His majesty. The boy was comforted in the knowledge that, despite the vastness of sky, he felt nonetheless safe in God’s care. “Thank you, Lord!” he said in a steady voice. It was the first time he spoke that clearly in almost two years since the shooting.

After returning home from his summer camp adventure, the boy’s greatest desire was to maintain his exciting understanding of nature. How can I do it? he wondered. One night in his bedroom, God revealed the answer.

On his activity table were little tubs of watercolor paint, brushes of various sizes, and pads of soft, absorbent paper. He had gotten

“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.’ ”

—1 CORINTHIANS 2: 9

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

—HEBREWS 11: 3

“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands...”

—PSALM 31: 14

those supplies after surviving the event that had literally left him speechless.

God’s grace had spared his life from a mass shooter, but the trauma had caused him to stutter terribly, every time he spoke. A kind neighbor had suggested, “If you can’t say it, write it down; if you can’t write it down, draw a picture.”

Woodland Hills Park was about two miles from the boy’s home. So, on a clear and sunny day, he filled his backpack with paints, brushes, water bottles, pads, an easel, and lunch and began his first of many treks to the park.

He loved the challenge of painting illuminated trees. When the wind blew, the hues changed. The brilliant rays of sun and deep shadows fascinated him. An azure sky, feathery clouds, and soft intermittent breezes served as a fitting milieu.

As evening came, the horizon turned fiery red and then purple. Feeling satisfied in his soul, the boy quickly finished his last painting for the day, gathered his supplies, and walked home.

From watercolors to acrylics to oil paintings, the boy continued to capture the beauty of God’s creation on pads, boards, and stretched linen canvases. As time went by, he felt spiritually and emotionally healed with every brush stroke.

As the fledgling artist’s voice eventually returned, the frightening memories grew dim: of “Old Papa Ricks’” .22 caliber rifle barrel pointed between the boy’s widened eyes, his friend’s mouth agape, and the mysterious little man who seemed to appear from nowhere who said, “He’s not one of them,” just as Papa Ricks was about to pull the trigger.

“ The heavens, declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

—PSALM 19:1

As years went by, this teenager grew in stature and in favor. He continued to paint, draw, and write. The memories of shots fired, the images of and screams from youths running and falling, were gradually replaced by comforting words of prayer, and a desire to capture as art, God’s miraculous creation.

Sharing the Creation Story with children

Provide ways for children to experience the world around them and bring the Creation Story in Genesis to life.

Day 3 of Creation (Genesis 1:9–13)

Charles R. Gordon, M.D., author of In Plain Sight: Seeing God’s Signature throughout Creation, writes, “Our universe is amazing and incomprehensible. Unfathomable. Yet the more we peer into it, the more we find the fingerprints of an Original Artist. The trick is to know the Artist’s signature when you see it.”

Today, I look back on those days with gratitude to God who is the Original Artist. After spending many years as a painter, a writer, and now a magazine editor, I can connect the cosmic dots that lit my God–ordained path. I can see clearly how evidence of God’s creation gave me the spiritual discipline to search for Him during that nebulous time in my life.

God created all the vegetation and plant life in our world. To help your child experience the wonders of the plant world, take your child on a walk through your neighborhood or a local park and count the different types of plants, flowers, and trees that you see! Plan a field trip to any local botanical gardens that are nearby. Take your child to a local nursery and let them pick out a small flower or plant to nurture and grow.

Day 4 of Creation (Genesis 1:14–19)

God created all the heavenly bodies – the stars, the sun, the moon – to provide light to the earth and to help us track time. During the daytime, go outdoors and let your child experience the warmth of the sun and share how important sunlight is to our health and to sustaining life on our planet. At night, go outdoors to a dark area and explore the night sky with your child (if you have a telescope, bring it along!) Plan a field trip to your local science center or observatory where your child can learn more about the wonders of the universe.

Day 5 of Creation (Genesis 1:20–23)

Many contemporary Christian thought leaders call for the Creation Story to be told in its entirety. Ken Ham is the founder, CEO, and former president of Answers in Genesis, a Christian apologetics organization that operates the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. He alerts church leaders and laypersons that a low view of Genesis among Christians is rendering the Church ineffective at evangelizing our modern world.

Ham stresses that the story arc, from the fall of man in the Garden of Eden to the death and resurrection of Christ at Calvary, must be told as history rather than as a fairytale. He agrees that it must also be told with authority before the message of Salvation can truly make sense to today’s skeptical and often Godless generation.

— artwork from Warren L. Maye’s childhood collection

God created the birds and all marine and aquatic life. Take your child on a picnic; on your outing, count and identify as many different types of birds as you can. Plan a trip to your local aquarium so that your child can begin to learn about the many wondrous types of creatures that live in the water. If your child shows an interest in birds or fish and is old enough to care for them, consider getting them one as a pet.

Day 6 of Creation (Genesis 1:24–31)

God created all the creatures that live on dry land, as well as mankind. As you explore your neighborhood and local parks with your child, begin to identify the animals that are native to your area. Plan a field trip to your local zoo or animal sanctuary. Consider getting your child a pet when they are old enough to care for one if they express an interest.

— by Ramona Vincent Excerpts from faithgateway.com

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

—ROMANS 8:11

“

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

—ISAIAH 61: 3

Some people tend to turn away from God because they think they’re unworthy of His love. I can promise that if someone sits across from me and we go story–for–story, by the end of our chat, they’ll ask me to point them to the nearest church.

I have been a soldier who has marched a path towards Christ, and away from Him. I’ve carried the Bible in my pocket next to my drug pipe as I entered a Salvation Army church, and later a crack house. My body has been broken, through addiction and other ways. I have committed crimes and lost years in jail. The book of Revelation would call me “lukewarm water,” only good for being spat out. If I had been alive 100 years ago, I would have been one of the guys in town who had ruined his life, was shunned from society, and not allowed to enter any church. You would have seen me on the steps of The Salvation Army, calling out to William Booth for help.

The recovery

The first time I heard about The Salvation Army, I was in my teens. One of my drug–running buddies talked about the Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC), getting clean, and meeting Jesus. I told him to have at it and enjoy, but I wasn’t interested. Being raised in the Rastafarian religion, I had read the Old Testament and the Torah, but never the New Testament.

When I became a father at 21, the mother of my daughter Selena threw me out of the house. She would only let me back in on the condition that I finish a recovery program. She gave me a bus pass and said that The Salvation Army ARC was waiting for me.

Although I was one of the youngest men at the ARC, I was appointed the house manager, and finished the program. That was enough to get me back in my house to see my daughter. But even then, I couldn’t stay clean; I took the ARC program two more times after that.

From my first time in the ARC, I had attended The Salvation Army in Worcester, Mass. The church felt like home to me. I wanted to become a soldier, and find a path closer to Christ. Though I was still working on my recovery, I thought after taking the

program three times, I had it under control.

There’s a saying that goes, “inside of us all lives two wolves; one good and one bad. You must decide which one to feed.” I thought that I could feed both wolves and continue my old ways. When I went back into the streets and started using again, the people in ministry at the Worcester Corps noticed, even when I showed up to service. I felt like they knew, but weren’t outright saying it to me or scolding me. Instead, they were giving me a different kind of encouragement than before, reminding me how important my recovery was.

The relapse

On New Year’s Eve 2009, I chose to go to a party instead of midnight service at the corps. Driving home under the influence, I was speeding, lost control, and crashed my car into, of all places, a church. I woke up in a hospital recovery room with my daughter, my girlfriend, and my whole church family watching me.

Children are sometimes told a story that a shepherd will break the legs of a wandering sheep so it cannot walk too far off and needs the shepherd to carry it. Like a sheep that had wandered off, the accident broke both my legs. I didn’t fly through the windshield, but the pressure from impact shattered both femurs. The doctors put rods in my legs, and then had to leave them in, because the bone had grown around the rods like moss on a tree. Even when my legs healed, I still walked with a limp. I saw it as a reminder that God can heal me, but did not want me to forget what had happened when I strayed.

In 2015, I had been clean for four years, having avoided drugs, alcohol, and even cold medicine. I felt like a million dollars and fully recovered. I forgot that, as an addict, my recovery never ends. One night, a friend hosted a party, and I wanted to celebrate for the past birthdays when I had stayed clean. Normal people can have a drink and be well, so why couldn’t I? The next morning, I felt fine, so I kept drinking. “I’m cured,” I thought to myself. “All I needed was an extended length of being clean.“ Later that day, I walked into a bar and ordered more drinks.

The punishment

There’s a joke that talks about the devil sitting outside of a church every Sunday, weeping because everyone inside is blaming all their sins on him. But we have our own nature that serves the flesh, and our own free will that puts us on the path to temptation. When I walked into that bar for a drink, I had no intention of also getting high. But when someone came up to me and asked if I had “the stuff,” that thought entered my mind, even as I rebuffed him. I didn’t have the stuff, but I could get it.

That night, I used, and kept using for two days straight. When the money ran out, I thought to myself, I think I’ll rob some gas stations to do more stuff. Today, doing something like that is the furthest thing from my mind, but that day, it was all I could I think about.

While the addict is busy focusing on the recovery, the addiction is in the gym, lifting weights and getting stronger. My addiction came back like never before. I did seven robberies in about 11 hours, and I was doing

these crimes in Worcester, where I had no record and no one knew who I was. But God knew, and The Salvation Army knew. I was eventually caught by a young police officer named Danny who had volunteered at The Salvation Army. We had talked about working in ministry, and maybe even recording some music together in the future. Officer Danny identified me immediately.

The return

While in jail, I made a promise to myself that I would use my love of The Salvation Army in any way the Lord would have me. There were Catholic, Protestant, Rastafarian, and Muslim services for the men in jail, and I attended all of them. I took prisoners under my wing who needed someone to look out for them, just as Salvation Army officers had done for me in the past.

Whenever I would get any financial assistance from the outside, I would tithe 10 percent of it to other prisoners who needed it more than me. Once I got to know them, I invited them to service with me. I became

known in jail as the “church guy.” Everyone knew to not offer me drinks or smokes. If someone wanted to know about God, they would always send him to me. I talked so much about The Salvation Army that they thought I was on the Army’s payroll. I told them, “No, but they have always been there for me when I needed them.”

I was paroled in 2022, coincidentally to The Salvation Army in Springfield, Mass. I learned there is still a need for someone like me to be involved in ministry. I know what it’s like to be an addict who arrives at the ARC with only the clothing on his back, to succeed and then fail in his recovery, only to remain in God’s endless grace.

I’ve met men who have been in the same dark places as me. Years after I left, they continue to run the same streets. I’m happy to share my story with them and the opportunity of a path to recovery. It’s a chance to get their mind together, be treated with kindness, and be blessed with the same endless grace that I received. It must sound to them like I’m plugging The Salvation Army, like it did in jail. But soon they learn I’m really giving all the credit to the Lord.

When the Bible says “that no weapon formed against you shall prosper,” it also accounts for the weapons you’ve formed against yourself. Nothing that we can do will separate us from God’s love, no matter how far we fall. I’ve fallen farther than most, and yet, I know God and The Salvation Army still have a path waiting for me.

Nothing that we can do will separate us from God’s love, no matter how far we fall.”

Thrift Store Finds

Are you getting ready to head off to college? Or maybe you're out of the house and on your own for the first time? Either way, you're going to need stuff for your new living quarters, some of which you may be able to find at a Salvation Army thrift store. Your college sweatshirt may even be hanging on the racks!

All items below, including the fuzzy slippers, were bought for just over $100 at a local Salvation Army thrift store. What will you find to make your new space feel like home?

Mini fridge, $24.99, chair, $18.99, sweatshirt, $6.99, pillow, $3.99, lamp, $14.99, hamper, $10.99, storage Ottoman, $10.99, fuzzy slippers, $5.99, area rug, $9.99

Every purchase you make at a Salvation Army thrift store helps change lives. Proceeds fund local Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARCs) where people who struggle with drugs and alcohol can find help and hope. Visit SArehab.org to learn more

Music beyond words

Recently, the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army used music to express the glory of God in a concert called “Creation” by Dorothy Gates, then the band’s composer in residence. The band, now more than 145 years in existence, is among the finest in Christian band performance.

From the first to the seventh day of creation, as described in the book of Genesis, the band’s music took its audience on an acoustic journey. Brilliant visual effects on massive screens also graphically illustrated the ecological diversity of the universe. The audio/visual presentation inspired people to feel the magnificence of the heavens and the earth on land, sea, and sky.

“Now, Oh God, we step back and look at your creation,” prayed the devotional leader at the close of the concert. “Every cloud in the sky, every drop of sea water, speck of soil, every fur, fin, and hair are carefully crafted by You. If we were to scour the earth until Your return, we would not be able to scratch the surface of Your greatness that is seen in Your creation.”

Let there be

by MAJOR LAUREN HODGSON

Family is a topic that captivates most of us. It is evident from the popularity of services such as Ancestry.com and TV shows like “Finding Your Roots.” Knowing our beginnings—our history—gives us a foundation and frame of reference that grounds us. This grounding helps us when our identity is in question or difficulties come our way. Being able to say, “this is who I am,” and “this is where I came from,” can bring stability.

As believers in Christ, we do not have to go far before we can see the essence of our origin. God’s creation is not only a sign but a billboard of who we are, all part of God’s amazing creation, presented in intricate detail with great love and purpose.

The first chapter in Genesis is a wonderful way to discover our roots, which are the crowning touch on the Almighty’s days of creating the earth and everything in it. Step back and consider with awe and wonder God’s creativity in all you see and conclude by looking in the mirror, because you are His creative triumph!

Day 1 — “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And light appeared.” Genesis 1:3 (TLB)

Amid obscurity and nothingness, God not only brought light, but He is the Light! Where God’s presence is, there is light. Every attribute of light is the essence of who God is. Light brings warmth, nourishment, purity, and power. His light cannot be darkened or removed.

Day 2 — “Let the vapors separate to form the sky above and the oceans below.” Genesis 1:6 (TLB)

Our Creator God spoke into being the limitless canopy above that we know as the

sky. With this creation, He displays variety and color. From morning to evening, we can look overhead at a symbol of hope, inspiration, and joy. The beauty of the sky inspired the Psalmist to write, “God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God–craft on exhibit across the horizon….” Psalm 19:1 (MSG)

Day 3 — “Then God said, ‘Let the water beneath the sky be gathered into oceans so that the dry land will emerge... Let the earth burst forth with every sort of grass and seed–bearing plant, and fruit trees with seeds inside the fruit.” Genesis 1:9, 11 (TLB)

God created gentle boundaries of soil and sea. Water in the form of ponds, streams, lakes, and oceans seem to go on forever. Land in the form of pastures, fields, graceful valleys, and majestic mountains all come from the omniscient mind of God.

God brings into being every tree, bush, flower, and plant and the incredible cycle of carbon dioxide production, preparing humankind to take their first breath. Plant life also provided every fruit and vegetable to meet our every dietary need.

Day 4 — “Mark seasons and days and years, Lights in Heaven’s sky to give light to Earth.” Genesis 1:15 (MSG)

The Lord stresses the importance of rhythm and order through the steady cadence of darkness and light, day and night. The continuing pulse of time speaks to the necessary rhythm of order and harmony for our lives to flourish.

Look to the sky for its morning glory and evening calm, and know that our God is a God of pattern and progression.

Day 5 — “…God said, ‘Let the waters teem with fish and other life, and let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.’” Genesis 1:20 (TLB)

As if sea, sky, and flora were not enough, the Almighty filled the waters with fish and the sky with fowl. All are serving a purpose and giving glory to God through their presence.

Day 6 — “…God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal—cattle and reptiles and wildlife of every kind.’” Genesis 1:24 (TLB)

The Creator is a God who generates lifeamazing creatures, from the giant African elephant to the tiniest field mouse. All roam the earth to give their Creator glory.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make a man— someone like ourselves, to be the master of all life upon the earth and in the skies and in the seas.’” Genesis 1:26

Beyond the heavens and earth, sea and sky, flora and fauna, God made humankind. His ultimate creation. Man and woman with a heart for communing with God and a desire to pursue fellowship with Him.

Day 7 — “…on the seventh day, having finished his task, God ceased from this work he had been doing….” Genesis 2:2 (TLB)

God stepped back from His marvelous creation, paused to take in what He had done, and rested.

We are wired just like God for the ability to pause, ponder, step back, and reflect. It is essential to nourish our souls and rejuvenate our spirits. So do not just walk by a tree or ignore the sky above. God’s creation, which we are a part of, must be relished and treasured.

Psalms in a Nature Setting

Enjoying creation takes intentionality. Sometimes we walk past some of God’s glory that is right before us. Where do you begin to give deep regard for so much of God’s nature?

The Spiritual Life Development Department has created a booklet to help you walk in God’s magnificent creation with meaning and purpose. Check out “Psalms in a Nature Setting” on sld.saconnects.org/psalms-in-nature and download your copy today. With your copy in hand, lace up your sneakers and hit the trails. Or just walk around your neighborhood using this resource. You may discover a new world just outside your door!

Download your copy of “Psalms in a Nature Setting”.

How well do you know the Good Book?

How did Pharaoh’s daughter raise Moses?

A. As her own son

B. As her little brother

C. As her favorite uncle

D. As a future king

Who said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”

A. Mary B. Paul

C. Peter D. Ringo

The Bible is much more than a book. It is a compilation of true stories that describe everything, from how God created the heavens and earth, to the fall of man, to understanding the need for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for man’s sin. The Bible also reveals the amazing relationship believers enjoy in Christ today.

But statistics show that fewer people know these truths than ever before and suffer without a knowledge of God. That‘s why Bible Bowl, a fun, academic game designed to teach Scripture to teens, is essential to their spiritual health. Are you up for the test? Try it yourself!

What have all the Old Testament prophets who have spoken, beginning with Samuel, done?

A. Forewarned of sin

B. Foretold these days

C. Forgave for missing church

D. Forecasted the weather

According to Acts 4:32, what were all the believers?

A. One in heart and mind

B. Able to conquer the animals

C. Destined to believe anything

D. All for one and one for all

Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals?

A. His feet hurt from walking

B. He was swimming in a Holy river

C. God had new sneakers for Moses

D. The place he was standing on was Holy ground

What did John use to baptize, and with whom would the apostles be baptized?

A. With milk, and with honey

B. With oil, and with vinegar

C. With shampoo, and with conditioner

D. With water, and with the Holy Spirit

What did the apostles continue to do with great power?

A. Remember that with it, comes great responsibility

B. Performed miracles in Jerusalem

C. Testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus

D. Argue about who was Jesus’s favorite apostle

From among whom will the Lord your God raise up a prophet like Moses?

A. Your own people

B. Your friends and family

C. Your childhood rivals

D. Your favorite co–workers

How did each of the Jews hear the apostles declaring the wonders of God?

A. In the voices of angels

B. In the pages of SAconnects magazine

C. In their own tongues

D. In new languages from the Tower of Babel

Who stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd?

A. Peter B. Mike

C. Dustin D. Will

Whom did God promise would possess the land?

A. Abraham and his descendants after him

B. David and his kingdom in front of him

C. Queen Elizabeth and her family

D. Whoever bid the most money on it

When did an angel of the Lord open the jail doors and free the apostles?

A. At dusk

B. During the night

C. After burning a bush to warn them

D. In the wee small hours of the morning

What did the people pray the Lord would enable His servants to do?

A. Speak His word with great boldness

B. Recite the commandments with great eloquence

C. Sing psalms with great voices

D. Play musical instruments with great technique

According to Acts 4:37, what did Joseph do?

A. Slaughtered a lamb as an offering to the Lord

B. Bought a house for the apostles to flip into a church

C. Sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet

D. Harvested vegetables from his garden and prepared a salad for Jesus

Who brought the tabernacle with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them?

A. Our descendants under Joseph

B. Our children under their parents

C. Our ancestors under Joshua

D. Our one nation under a groove

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

by HUGO BRAVO

Flor Chamorro served her local community in Ecuador, the country of her birth, years before she ever stepped into a Salvation Army church.

“Our church members would go door–to–door and ask people to donate clothing, blankets, or even old awnings,” says Flor. “We sewed the garments and turned them into mosquito nets. This was part of our Tuesday ministry; we went to women’s jails in the area to bring the prisoners food, share the Gospel, and give them the mosquito nets so they could sleep better. There were a lot of insects and pests in the jails.”

In 2011, Flor immigrated to the United States to be with her family in Queens, N.Y. Her husband, who had arrived in the U.S. before she did, had already established himself at a local church. But Flor felt that her husband’s church was too far to walk to, especially when the cold New York winters would come.

While out shopping with her daughter, Flor came across The Salvation Army Queens Temple Corps, only a few blocks away from her home. The next day, Flor and her husband visited the church for the first time. The corps officer at the time, Major Antonio Rosamilia, welcomed them at the door; Flor asked him if he was the pastor.

“I’m only a servant of God,” Rosamilia replied.

“His words really impacted me,” says Flor. “Even though it was our first time here, we were immediately greeted with love and warmth. It felt like I was in a second home.”

Queens Temple reminded Flor of ministry in Ecuador. She started coming to the church for Sunday worship and to help any way she could. After five years of volunteering and becoming a Salvation Army soldier, she was offered a paid position to oversee the corps kitchen and food preparations for the community. Flor immediately recalled a

dream that she had before she came to the U.S. In her dream, she was cutting onions, peppers, and tomatoes on a large table.

“It was more food than I had ever prepared in my life. That was God showing me a glimpse of my future,” she says.

Flor also connects with the immigrants who receive help from Queens Temple, especially Ecuadorian families like hers. They tell her that Ecuador is going through some of its most difficult times.

“I’ve met people who were very well off in Ecuador. They had education, homes, and good jobs, but they leave out of fear,” explains Flor. “Ecuador has organized crime now. Little businesses must pay for ‘protection,’ and if they don’t pay, the business owners are killed on the spot. Now it’s even happening in people’s homes. Criminals don’t break in; they let themselves in and take everything from you. It’s like the mafia.”

Flor says that though she is grateful and feels blessed for the opportunity to earn while serving, the real reward is knowing that the work that The Salvation Army does comes from a place of love.

“If we say that we love our neighbors as

we love ourselves, we need to love what we do for them and what we give to them. If I give someone a pair of shoes, they can’t be shoes that I wouldn’t want to wear myself,” says Flor. “I never want to eat a badly cooked meal, so why would I share a plate that I wouldn’t also eat? It’s a blessing to hear that someone enjoyed the food I made.”

When the Queens Temple gets new volunteers, Flor tells them that the church is their second home too. She hopes that they feel as she did the first day when she came to the church.

“I say, love this place and take care of it, because everything here is yours,” says Flor. “If you keep that mindset, the work you need to do here in your new home will get done and it will be excellent in the eyes of God.”

“If you are alone and you know that the corps needs 20 bags of food to give out, don’t wait for someone to remind you of this. Start packing the bags yourself. If no one is around to sweep the floor, sweep it yourself. If you see that no one has gone into the chapel to pray, go pray yourself,” says Flor.

“When you truly love what you do, you will do it without anyone asking.”

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The act of serving is a blessing from God in itself,” says Flor Chamorro. “The more we give, the more we get back.“

If you or someone you know needs help, contact us. The stakes are too high. The Salvation Army provides help and hope through faith–based residential programs to those seeking purpose, meaning, and solutions.