The Salvation Army / USA Central Territory
News and Views from the Midwest “We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.”
Volume 43, Number 4
Eph. 4:3,4 (NLT)
April 2013
Rediscovering the Church by Abby Johnson
M
ore than 400 young adults from across the Central Territory gathered earlier this year for Regeneration, a conference where Salvationists are challenged with biblically-sound teaching to grow in their faith and find opportunities
for service. This year’s conference focused on the Church. Guest speaker Pastor Harvey Carey of the large multicultural Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Mich., spoke with an urgency and sincerity that compelled young adults to consider the purpose and authority of the
Church. One of the main points he drove home was that as the Church we are called to be salt and light in a world which desperately needs it. Sandra McCracken, a singer-songwriter known for her soulful blend of folk, pop and gospel, led worship with a warm and gentle spirit during the weekend. The hymn sing on Saturday evening was a beautiful picture of the Church with many of the stalwart hymns set to new melodies. Sandra shared her journey growing up in church and memorizing hymns as a young girl but not really comprehending them. Later as a young adult, though, these hymns became an important part of her personal faith. On Saturday afternoon Fulton Hawk, youth program specialist for
the Del Oro Division in the Western Territory, unpacked the concept of missional entrepreneurship with delegates. He encouraged delegates to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in finding creative ways to utilize their own talents and strengths in order to introduce people to Christ. Throughout the weekend Blair Linne, a spoken word artist, performed her original poems. Her raw Continued on page 5
Chicago White Sox team up with Kroc Center
groups on traveling teams. The players are engaged in an elite practice and competition schedule while receiving academic direction to prepare them for success both on and off the field. The ACE program includes 105 players ranging in age from 13-18. In addition to playing on the field, 15 of the players were provided ACT prep classes through the Kroc Center. Sponsored by the White Sox, the classes prepared the young men for their entrance exams for college. Thaddeus Moody, Chicago Kroc sports manager, said, “The ACE program has
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THE SALVATION ARMY 10 W. Algonquin Road Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
T
he White Sox have hit a home run with the Chicago, Ill., Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in a great partnership to positively impact young people’s lives. It began several years before the Kroc Center facility opened when the Sox began providing tickets for the Kroc Center to take young people and their families to games. For some, it has been their only opportunity to see a pro-game and experience such an event.
However, more important than the games at Cellular Field are the games and events taking place at the Kroc Center itself. Under White Sox owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, the charitable branch of the White Sox gave The Salvation Army $1 million toward the campaign to sponsor the Chicago Kroc Center’s baseball field, which includes artificial turf, bleachers, lights and a replica of the scoreboard at US Cellular Field Stadium. In addition to other programs that take place on the field, the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) seeks to correct the downward trend of African-Americans participating in organized baseball from an overall lack of exposure to college recruiters. ACE offers rising stars in the inner-city baseball community the opportunity to play against other highly competitive
Moving? Send the attached label with your correction to: Circulation Manager, 10 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
by Major Darlene Harvey Chicago Kroc Center congregational life/program development officer
energized baseball back into the inner city where major division universities are coming into the inner city looking for baseball players. Now these young men are able to receive a quality education and play baseball at the same time.” The White Sox not only have provided fun on the baseball field and college prep in the classroom but funding as the corporate sponsor for the Kaboom! playground, which was built at the Kroc Center. Last August more than 100 volunteers from the