FROM THE EDITOR
FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Lyndon Buckingham 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 COPY EDITOR / PROOFREADER Donna L. Ng ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines PUBLICATION CONTENT MANAGER AND DESIGNER Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Dave Hulteen Jr., Joe Marino, Karena Lin
Be a hero
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.
Member since 2015 Award winner 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
SACONNECTS is published by The Salvation Army USA’s Eastern Territory. Bulk rate is $12.00 per issue for 25–100 copies. Subscriptions are available. Write to: SACONNECTS, The Salvation Army, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. Vol. 9, No. 6, 2023. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SACONNECTS, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 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.
WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief
While eating breakfast at a local Burger King restaurant, I received a revelation from the Lord. I know, that doesn’t sound like the kind of place where God would share such an epiphany, but this story is true. That day, I sat by a window that provided a panoramic view of a mall parking lot. Cars came and went; people walked to and fro. The day was beautiful but normal. Then an old Chrysler sedan pulled into view and stopped. An elderly couple sat up front. The husband, maybe in his early 70s, opened his driver’s side door and walked around to the trunk. He lifted the lid and, with a grimaced face, removed a folded wheelchair. Skillfully he opened it, rolled it to the passenger side, scooped up his wife, and placed her in the chair. She smiled. It was heartwarm ing to watch his grimace disappear. That’s when the Lord said to me, “He’s her hero.” I also saw a single mom walk by. She pushed a shopping cart with three small children in tow. As she managed this backbreak ing feat, I heard the Lord again say to me, “She’s their hero.” In this issue of SACONNECTS magazine, you’ll see other heroic acts by people who quietly help others in profound ways. For example, in Hempstead, N.Y., an apartment building fire forced 80 residents into the cold on Christmas Day. But ministers and volunteers from a local Salvation Army offered them shelter. In another story, a man remembers when, as a child, his family was torn by poverty in Harrisburg, Pa. But Salvation Army volun teers brought a Christmas tree, groceries, and hope to their home. You’ll also read how working with kids is a favorite minis try for one volunteer coordinator. When she was just 4 years old, The Salvation Army helped her and her mom survive. Volunteers dressed as comic book heroes bring smiles to the faces of young and old alike at a celebration in Jackson, N.J. I pray this issue will encourage you to show up, volunteer, and be a God–inspired hero to someone today.
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