WHO WE ARE | PEOPLE

Introducing Commissioners Ralph & Susan Bukiewicz

Get to know our territorial leaders as they settle into their new roles

— Interviews by HUGO BRAVO

Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz, territorial commander of The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, talks about how being the eyes for his sightless parents prepared him to be a visionary leader, how serving around the globe has changed his perspective, and why he is passionate about the mission to equip people with the Word of God.

I was born into a family where both of my parents were blind. Wherever they went, it was the responsibility of my sister and me to communicate for them. As a young boy, I wasn’t always sure how to do it, but it required that I describe things in visual ways. In recent years, I see that the definition of ministry is to communicate to a world through spiritual eyes. Ministry leaders describe the indescribable to people by articulating that which is difficult to put into words. So, they try and live it out in front of them. I see now that God, who redeems all things, was really preparing me for a life of ministry.

I was deployed as the public information officer in New York City after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. At the time, I was serving in Flint, Mich., but I was honored to be given the opportunity to coordinate with news stations and national networks that transcended divisions or territories. I remember coming back every night to where the officers were staying and scrubbing the dirt and mud off my uniform to make it presentable for the next day. I could have worn Emergency Disaster Services T­shirts, vests, or jackets to work, but I really felt the need to wear the Salvation Army uniform. It was not about me; it was about that which I represented.

Having experienced 32 countries in our travels, Susan and I like to say that we’ve been “ruined in the most wonderful way.” By that, we mean that our Western sensibilities, values, and ways of doing things don’t always line up to where we find ourselves. In desperate situations, you don’t always have the resources or even a collaborative effort. But that’s where we’ve seen the strength of the human spirit and the resourcefulness of God’s people. We’ve seen the provisions where those loaves and fishes have been multiplied repeatedly. It’s given us a unique perspective of what God wants to do in the hearts and lives of His people and through their life experiences. That’s exciting, and it’s what we mean by “the most wonderful way.”

The heartbeat of our calling, ministry, and mission is our growing relationship with Christ. We serve in a time where culture controls the narrative, differences result in divisiveness, and a search for significance leads some to ignore the only source of Truth and reject the only hope of Redemption. We are passionate about seeing God’s people discipled and equipped with His Word, understanding how God speaks into their greatest needs— whether in a place of private pain, broken relationships, hopeless situations, or open conflict.

We are honored to serve alongside so many who bring rich heritage, great experience, and passionate hearts to our mission. We will join the efforts of prayer warriors who are touching God’s heart every day. We’ll support the work of compassionate soldiers who are serving and sacrificing for the sake of their hurting neighbors. We’ll keep pace with our enthusiastic youth as they discover how God is moving in their lives, their homes, and their future. And we’ll see and celebrate how God is transforming us every day into His likeness. We’re eager to see what God will do as we stand together on His Word and help ignite a greater love for Himself, His Word—and His people

Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz, territorial president of women’s ministries and territorial leader for officer development for The Salvation Army USA East, talks about why ministering in Eastern Europe made her see Jesus’ sacrifice with new eyes, the responsibilities that came with building the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers, and how her parents are unique representations of the Army’s mission.

My mother, Alberta, was introduced to The Salvation Army by two girls from the Rockford Citadel Corps in Illinois. They were high school friends and invited her to Girl Guards. She became a soldier and eventually a single officer in Detroit. Meanwhile, my father, John Cunard, had enlisted in the Navy at 17 and came home with a terrible alcohol addiction. The captain from the Harbor Light Center in Detroit found my father passed out in the gutter on skid row. With some help, he dragged my father inside Harbor Light, where he was saved. As his faith grew, he decided to give back to The Salvation Army. He saw a note on the bulletin board seeking someone to drive the Sunday school bus for a local corps. When he went to offer his services, a beautiful lieutenant in her fifth year of officership opened the door; my father instantly fell in love with her, and John eventually went into officer training and married Alberta. My mom and dad represent two unique traits of The Salvation Army: those who serve our mission, and those who have been saved by it.

My parents were great encouragers for my four sisters and me. They didn’t talk to us about officership but stressed the importance of doing what God was calling us to do, whether we became doctors, bankers, or social workers. I knew from an early age that God’s plan for me meant serving Him in The Salvation Army. I wanted my own path to be different at first, but when I found that I couldn’t wait for my workday to end so I could go to my corps and help, it was like a light went off in my head and heart. It was at my corps that I felt the greatest joy. That’s when my calling clarified. My four sisters and I have all had different experiences of hearing and understanding God’s call to this vocation. But we all found that officership was the place for each of us to be Christ’s broken bread and outpoured wine in this world. My mom and dad exhibited the nobility and grace of officership. Oh, how I’ve wanted to emulate that in my service.

There have been moments for Ralph and me when the Heavens open and we have the chance to directly impact lives. One of those times was when we were appointed as community relations and development secretaries of the Central Territory, just as The Salvation Army received a donation to develop the Kroc community centers from the Kroc family. Our territorial commander asked us to develop a mechanism to open these centers with the mandate that they’d be places of ministry. We knew anything that would come from this gift would be 100 percent God, zero percent Ralph and Susan. It was a journey in which we found skills in ourselves we didn’t know we had.

We’ve always been committed to World Services, but the concept that Jesus died for the whole world became real to me in Moldova. I spoke at a women’s camp and was excited to see that they had created little “businesses.” One group gave haircuts in the village, another did sewing. What blessed me the most was the realization that money they made from their talents went back to World Services. These women were both recipients and providers of our help. It reminded me of the partnership of my mom and dad. And of me and Ralph. He was a recipient of Salvation Army service, and my family provided service. It’s a beautiful thing. We call ourselves global believers. As Salvationists, we have the responsibility and resources to serve every population globally and to the best of our abilities.

I feel a settling in my spirit as we come to the Eastern Territory. This is not just a place to live but a spiritual home, with people to minister to, to serve, to love. Our move here caught us by surprise, but Ralph and Susan are in God’s hands. We are confident in His love which will not let us go, and we stand on the Word of God. More than anything, we want to make Jesus and His mission famous. We’re ready to join those who are ministering and serving, join hands and hearts, and move this mission forward!