FROM THE EDITOR
FOUNDER William Booth
“ Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord…”
GENERAL Lyndon Buckingham TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz
—Proverbs 20:23a, ESV
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 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, 2023
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. 10, No. 1, 2024. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2024 by The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory. Articles may be reprinted only with written permission. All scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless indicated otherwise.
www.saconnects.org | @saconnects
SACONNECTS.ORG
WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief
Recently I had the thrill of watching a trapeze artist walk a high wire from one side of a circus tent to the other. She held a long beam in her hands that offered stability and helped maintain the delicate balance so critical to her safety and success. She was part of a group act, but in that moment, she was on her own, with no net to break a potential fall. Her solo performance seemed to last forever. I thought, will she hold steady? I would have loved to know what was going through her mind. When the young woman finally reached the other side, exuberant music played, colorful lights flashed, the crowd roared, and I breathed again. In every aspect of our lives, balance is key, from managing our personal finances to culti vating our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues; from sustaining the ecosys tem to supporting a global economy. Seeking balance when it comes to equity, justice, and harmony is important to us and to God. Today, we are experiencing an economic imbalance in society unlike anything in recent years. So, in this issue of SAconnects, we’ve focused on what The Salvation Army is doing to help address income inequality in “Gleaning and Giving.” Other stories explore how a food pantry in Pittsburgh, Pa., is addressing a commu nity’s lack of healthy food choices; one man’s perspective on how we look at people who are incarcerated and diagnosed as mentally ill; and how a group of students on a college campus in Kentucky are balancing their pursuit of academic rigor with their need for spiritual renewal. When we see someone attempt the diffi cult balancing act of providing for their families—taking each step carefully like the trapeze artist above—we feel compassion, sympathy, and empathy. We understand what it’s like and watch with bated breath. If you feel today as if you’re walking a high wire through life without a net, read the stories inside for hope and strength and know that God’s got you.
3
