New Frontier Chronicle November/December 2022 | Vol. 40, No. 06

NEWS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY USA WEST SINCE 1983 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 • VOL. 40, NO. 6

A Bay Area tech bootcamp is helping youth design a

‘BRIGHTER FUTURE’ |PHOTO COURTESY GINA NOBLE

Find Your Place this Christmas— and beyond Resources aim to connect others with The Salvation Army.

BY HILLARY JACKSON

structor and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Bay Valley Tech. “We intended to teach kids from the ages of 11 to 17, however, we’ve been teaching kids as young as 7.”

Shaw, who went through the bootcamp himself, understands firsthand the power of investing in the local community. He’s enjoyed helping his students learn how to create and design a three-level playable game with cover art, and looks forward to helping them celebrate their achievement at an “awards night” ceremony soon.

For Lan, the notion of “giving back” is part of the company’s DNA. A successful engineer and tech entrepreneur in the early days of Silicon Valley, Lan never

This Christmas season, Ridgecrest (California) Corps Officer Lt. Gina Noble has a new tool to recruit bellringers: the Find Your Purpose card.

The navy and white business card includes a link to sign up for volunteering at the kettle, a task vital to the corps’ ability to serve the community.

“We are 100-percent volunteer for kettles, so we need folks giving a few hours of time to our fundraising at local retailers,” Noble said, noting the corps has distributed the cards at all community meetings, like Rotary, since receiving them. They have also been delivered to collaborating churches and public service partners at City Hall, the hospital, the neighboring military base and to the police and fire departments.

Additionally, Noble included the cards in the giveaways for an event and in 150 food boxes the corps distributed. She shared plans to hand out the cards along with cookies at the corps’ canteen during the Desert Empire Fair Oct. 22 that typically attracts 10,000 people. The best

BRIGHTER FUTURE PAGE 10

FIND YOUR PLACE PAGE 10

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|PHOTO BY JOHN DOCTER

BY KRISTIN MARGUERITE DOIDGE

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PERMIT NO. 1831 LOS ANGELES, CA

NON PROFIT US POSTAGE

new Bay Area tech bootcamp is providing opportunities for youth to learn and embrace creativity at the Modesto (California) Red Shield Community Center through a partnership with Bay Valley Tech, a free coding academy founded by tech entrepreneur Phil Lan. The “Kids Tech Bootcamp” offers classes after school for youth interested in getting a headstart in learning a wide variety of tech, design and coding skills using apps like Canvas and Scratch to teach everything from app development to marketing and entrepreneurialism.

“Working with the kids at The Salvation Army continues to be an amazing experience,” said Blake Shaw, in-

UNLV medical students learn about needs in Las Vegas at The Salvation Army

30840 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

The Salvation Army

BY VIVIAN LOPEZ

When Oscar Toro started volunteering with The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada through his school, he didn’t know much about the organization. But six weeks later, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) medical student was committed to continuing his work with The Salvation Army and also joined Echelon, its emerging professionals arm.

“Being part of an organization that really genuinely cares so much about the community and has such a INSIDE

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THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

A message from the General.

big impact here in Las Vegas was a really big deal for me,” Toro said.

And he and four other medical students from UNLV got to do just that through a long-standing collaboration between The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada and The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. Since 2017, the UNLV School of Medicine has sent a group of five to six medical students each year to The Salvation Army to work UNLV PAGE 10

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DEFENDERS OF JUSTICE

New cadets welcomed.

UNLV students participate in a water drive.

|PHOTO COURTESY SALVATION ARMY SOUTHERN NEVADA

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ARTS, CRAFTS AND COFFEE

Hobbies class at Bell Oasis.

15

THE LIGHT WILL COME

A family guide to Advent.

UP FRONT

2 NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

“

God’s motive

An extraordinary simple night

is love. God’s means, his son. God’s method, a gift for all who open it.

No strings, no hidden agendas. His love is real.

”

—COMMISSIONER DOUGLAS RILEY

Caring is a magazine from The Salvation Army for people who care about making an impact for good.

As a Salvation Army officer or employee, you’ll also find a curated collection of inspiring news for you in the New Frontier Chronicle print edition and our email newsletter, the Weekly.

See more at caringmagazine.org.

I

Commissioner Douglas Riley

t was a simple night. A chill in the air. Stars like diamonds in the sky. No reason to expect a surprise.

An ordinary, simple night with an ordinary sky.

Sheep lying around on the hillside—sleeping, scrawny, common animals.

The shepherds were simple, too. Nothing special about them, wearing perhaps all they owned, smelling like sheep, dirty, unshaven, nameless.

Mary and Joseph had traveled for many long days— some 90 miles—on a dusty road full of ruts. No rest areas, no diners, passing by people going the other way. It was a rough ride, especially nine months pregnant. Arriving perhaps at dark, tired and weary from traveling only to find that there wasn’t a place to sleep. Exhausted, tired and on top of the uncomfortableness of birthing pains, she found only a simple bed in a barn with the smelly, dirty animals and only a trough for her newborn child.

No bed. No help. No parade.

But amidst the common, the night was no longer ordinary. And if it weren’t for God to place an extra in front of the ordinary, that night would have gone unnoticed.

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Commissioner Douglas Riley, Territorial Commander Colonel Eddie Vincent, Chief Secretary

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An angel comes in the calm of the night, when all is dark, when all seems challenging and troubled, when all is hard for us to find peace and joy and suddenly ordinary was no more.

A star appears in the sky and the sheep began to wrestle with curiosity. The shepherds, who were sleeping, start rubbing their eyes and the sky explodes with brightness.

The Scripture comes to mind, Isaiah 9:6, which says: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In the middle of this rather simple, ordinary night comes an announcement of the birth of a king. I think of those words from that song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

Well, that’s the joy of Christmas, where all our hopes and fears are met because of the gift of God and his son, Jesus—God’s perfect gift to bring you joy and peace this Christmas.

With any challenge you might be facing, I don’t want you to miss this love gift. It’s summed up in the familiar passage of John 3:16, which you know so well.

For God so loved you that he gave you the gift of eternal life on a seemingly ordinary night, that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life and that through him we would be saved.

That’s the gift. That’s the hope.

That’s why I love Christmas—not because of the food, the decorations, the smells, those lights, maybe getting a little muddy cutting down a fresh tree, the songs. I love all that but amid all that and all that is happening or has happened this year we can still find that joy of a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

God’s motive is love. God’s means, his son. God’s method, a gift for all who open it. No strings, no hidden agendas. His love is real. It’s clear and you can trust him.

Wherever we are in this world, we all have the need for someone to trust.

One to bring us hope and dissolve our fears. We can easily get caught up in the things around us, the events and the circumstances, that we might just miss the joy and hope for tomorrow.

Don’t miss the extra joy of Christmas. It’s a gift from God to you, for you. He did it all for you.

So next time you see that stunning sunrise or a sunset that takes your breath away, or the wonderful words of a carol, or the smell of a pine tree or a star in the sky, let it bring joy to your soul that he did it all just for you.

The message of Christmas is that God was born, he became flesh to show you and me his love so that we might know it and share it with others.

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

These words are true for me and they can be true for you.

Make this Christmas extraordinary. NFC

A SCRIPTURE STUDY

TABLE-OLOGY THANKSGIVING AND TRANSFORMATION

Unwrap a simple, unhurried approach to the holiday season

EDITORIAL STAFF Christin Thieme, Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary 562/491-8723 christin.thieme@usw.salvationarmy.org Hillary Jackson, Managing Editor 562/491-8330 hillary.jackson@usw.salvationarmy.org

AVA I L A B L E N O W a t c a r i n g m a g a z i n e . o r g /s c r i p t u r e

Karen Gleason, Senior Editor 562/491-8332 karen.gleason@usw.salvationarmy.org

GOOD WORDS FROM THE GOOD WORD

Lou Buhl, Editor 562/491-8343 lou.buhl@usw.salvationarmy.org ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA Cory Gaudaur, Digital Operations Director 562/491-8326 cory.gaudaur@usw.salvationarmy.org Emily Anderson, Social Media Editor 562/491-8793 emily.anderson@usw.salvationarmy.org LAYOUT AND DESIGN Kevin Dobruck, Art Director 562/491-8328 kevin.dobruck@usw.salvationarmy.org

New Frontier Chronicle founded 1983 Bob Docter, Founding Editor ISSN 2164-5930 westernusa.salvationarmy.org

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NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

T H E

G E N E R A L' S

C H R I S T M A S

M E S S A G E

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2 0 2 2

The Light of the World W

BY BRIAN PEDDLE, GENERAL

hen I consider the star that was a significant part of the first Christmas story, I’m reminded that scientists view the stars in the sky very differently than I do. For instance, they use light years to measure the distance of the stars from us on earth. A light year is the distance light travels in one earth year, so about 5.88 trillion miles (or 9.46 trillion kilometers).

The sun is our closest star and is some 93 million miles away. So, the sun’s light takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach us, meaning we see the sun as it was more than 8 minutes ago. The next closest star to us—Alpha Centauri—is some 4.3 light years away, so when we view this star today, we see it as it was 4.3 years ago.

It’s as if we are looking back in time.

This means that the Magi written about in Matthew 2:1-2 would have seen a star whose light was beaming before they could even see it. And yet, God used that star to lead them to Jesus: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2, NLT).

Jesus came to be the Light of the World. He came to shine his light in darkness—our darkness, the darkness of this world. We read in Isaiah 9:2 (NIV): The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. This was prophesied long before Jesus was born.

Are we talking about light years when it comes to Jesus? No, I don’t think so,

May you be a source of light in your corner of the world this Christmas, as you bring the Light of the World to others!

because the Bible tells us he is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end. He is as much a bright light today as he was at the beginning of time, or when he came to the earth to take up residence and move into the neighborhood (John 1:14, The Message).

Jesus is not constrained by time. He is the light of the world (John 8:12) and shines light into the darkest places of our troubled world, bringing change.

The Light has come! There are no light years that can separate us from this Light. He is here, he knows us, and we can walk and talk with him now. His purpose in coming was to be with us, but he has been, and always will be, with us.

If you do not know him already, you too can know this Light of the World.

His name is Jesus, and he came to the world to bring about transformation.

If you are seeking change, seek Jesus.

If you are living in a dark place in life, seek him who is the Light of the World.

For those who already know Jesus, he reminds us that we are light in the world.

In Matthew 5:14 (The Message) we read: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.”

May you be a source of light in your corner of the world this Christmas, as you bring the Light of the World to others!

May God richly bless you throughout this Christmas season! NFC Unwrap a simple unhurried approach to the holiday season with "The Light Will Come"—a 28-day Advent journey for families. See page 15 for more information or visit caringmagazine.com/advent.

San Francisco Kroc Center gives each child a safe place to learn

BY CAITLIN JOHNSTON

The San Francisco Kroc Center offers Krocventures to encourage families to spend time together outdoors. |PHOTO COURTESY MONICA RIOS

The Education Department at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center San Francisco has the same state-of-the-art community center feel Kroc Centers are known for, providing children and families with opportunity to discover their passions within their own community. But Education Manager Monica Rios takes the programming a step further.

Through her guidance and initiative, this Kroc Center, in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, serves children from all angles, giving special care to a multicultural community that includes multiple populations who have experienced trauma.

“Monica is gifted in empathy,” said Corps Officer Captain Arwyn Rodriguera. “That gift translates to her team. The care, the intentionality and the acceptance they bring to holistically serving each child is incredible.”

The staff is trained in ACES (Adverse Childhood Experience indicators and impact) and program funding from the San Francisco Unified School District helps pay for a behavioral specialist to better

assist kids with all kinds of backgrounds. The idea is to personalize each interaction, knowing the needs of every kid and family are different.

Rios, who is bilingual, thoughtfully considers how effective communication and learning looks for a multicultural community. Under her leadership, the team intentionally follows up with each family’s unique needs—food, family enrichment programs or referrals. Instead of a pool or membership-forward focus found in many Kroc Centers, the Tenderloin center is mental health, community and education-forward.

“It’s about creating that comfort and that space with them so they can begin sharing and opening up what’s going on in any area of their life,” Rios said.

The center serves kids ages 5-11 with a wide range of needs, whether that’s a learning disability, previous trauma or developmental disorder. Each day, they see between 40 and 48 students. The key, Rios said, is patience.

“Every single student is going through something, and every person has a story,” Rios said. “They deserve just as much love and attention as any other PLACE TO LEARN PAGE 11

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NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

‘Overwhelmed with gratitude’

After thieves stole from The Salvation Army, the Kona community came together to help.

BY VIVIAN LOPEZ

Every day Salvation Army Kona Corps Officers Captains Jose and Raghel Santiago check the storage area at corps in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. But on July 29, after they had been away due to COVID-19 exposure, Jose Santiago found the storage had been broken into. Thousands of dollars worth of donations had been stolen.

“It was really devastating,” said Raghel Santiago, adding that more than $5,000 worth of items were taken—including all the school supplies they were going to distribute to families during a back-to-school event that weekend. Canned goods for the corps’ food distribution program, coolers used for outreach to those experiencing homelessness and gardening tools were also stolen.

The Santiagos had never experienced anything like this in their five years at the Kona Corps. They reached out to The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Divisional Headquarters (DHQ) to let them know what happened, and the DHQ media team helped them get the word out to local news stations.

“It was all over the news,” Raghel Santiago said. “That is how the community found out.”

Children in Kona, Hawaii, pose with their new backpacks from the Kona Corps. |PHOTO COURTESY RAGHEL SANTIAGO

On the Sunday after the break-in, donations started coming in from the community to replace the stolen items.

“We live in a great community because as soon as they heard, they gave donations right away,” said Carolen Richey, a Kona Corps volunteer who helped shop for the original back-toschool items. “Our community came together, and that’s great.”

Raghel Santiago said during testimony time in the corps’ church service, one person came and donated about

$600 worth of school supplies. Another individual the Santiagos knew gave them a $1,000 check. The donations kept coming in.

“People just stepped up and said, ‘How can we help?’ and they started coming to the office to donate, whether it was monetary or canned goods or school supplies,” she said.

Donations came in from outside of the community, too. Raghel Santiago said people from as far as Sacramento, California, donated.

“I was very overwhelmed with gratitude because our doors never stopped having people come for that whole week,” she said.

Soon, the amount of donations surpassed the amount that had been stolen.

“The Lord multiplied that [$5,000]

by I think even four times that. The last time I heard, we had received close to $20,000,” Raghel Santiago said. “When I saw how many people still love the Army and support the Army my heart was so blessed.”

With that money, the corps was able to purchase all of the backpacks and school supplies again. And although the back-to-school distribution event was delayed by a week, they were still able to help 302 kids in the community. Additionally, the corps was able to use some of the extra money to buy clothing and shoes for children who needed those items for school, too.

When they were organizing all the back-to-school items again after repurchasing them, Richey said a family stopped by and the corps was able to give them school supplies.

“They were thrilled. They said, ‘We heard about the break-in and it’s so nice that you still could help us,’” Richey said. “[The mom] was really happy. She said the backpacks were what her kids really needed for school…

And to see that family’s faces, it was really a joy.” NFC

Hope Express aims to ‘feed everybody’ in need every day Yuba Sutter Salvation Army delivers meals to the community’s unhoused individuals.

BY KAREN GLEASON

Weekdays, Melissa Evangelista is up by about 5 a.m. She picks up the Hope Express delivery truck from The Salvation Army Depot Family Crisis Center transitional shelter program and then heads to the Yuba Sutter (California) Corps’ kitchen to prepare the day’s meals.

“My goal is to feed everybody,” said Evangelista, who has a background in food service. As the Yuba Sutter Corps’ Homeless Outreach Liaison, Evangelista coordinates the Hope Express initiative, which launched in April and aims to provide food security for the community’s unhoused individuals.

Currently Hope Express provides food for individuals at four shelters in Northern California, two in Sutter County and two in Yuba County.

“We’re providing hot, prepared meals Monday through Friday; then we also give them a sack lunch for dinner,” Yuba Sutter Corps Officer Major Julius Murphy said. “Each day they get two meals, and on Friday we give them enough food for the weekend.

So we provide food, two meals a day, seven days a week for this population.”

That’s a lot of time in the kitchen. Murphy said Hope Express has provided an average of 7,000 meals a month since its April launch.

“I prepare meals for almost 200 people a day,” Evangelista said. “I dedicate my time to cook in the morning. I just focus. If I don’t focus, and I don’t have what I need, guess what? Someone’s not going to get fed. My goal is to feed everybody that comes to our truck. It’s a really big thing. And I’m honored to do it.”

Evangelista gets help from family members and from Yuba Sutter Corps staff and volunteers, including the corps’ Emergency Disaster Services team.

They assist with meal preparation and food service.

“Once we prep everything and have everything in the truck—the main meal, the sandwich meal, water, fruit—we go to our first site at 11 a.m.,” she said.

It’s a tight schedule. Hope Express stays at each site for 30 minutes. Two of the sites are open to anyone, beyond those staying at the shelter. She said clients look for ways to show their appreciation, often asking how they can help. She often has assistance carrying water and cases of fruit.

“They help me in many ways and they don’t have to,” she said. “I’m supposed to be here serving them.”

Among those from the larger community who came for food is a single mother. Evangelista recalled that although the woman had a place to live, she had trouble making ends meet and did not qualify for CalFresh, California’s food stamp program. “She would come every Friday to get food for the weekend,” Evangelista said. “She told me she didn’t know what they would have done without that help.”

|PHOTO BY MELISSA EVANGELISTA

Interactions like this keep Evangelista going—her motivation stays high. She admitted her job can sometimes be stressful in the morning, when she considers the task before her. “But knowing that people are going to get fed…that just makes the difference,” she said.

These days, lines form at the shelters before Hope Express arrives. Murphy said funding for Hope Express comes from a federal grant administered by the state. Originally the project was set to end in September.

“But in God’s economy, he upsized that and it’s extended until next September,” he said, noting plans to request additional funds to further extend the program. “Our plan is to keep it operational, indefinitely…The community is really responding well, not just those who participate in the program, but also our community partners and our donors. They're seeing what we’re doing, and it’s unique.” NFC

NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

Las Vegas Salvation Army Thrift Store partners with influencers from Thrifters Anonymous to debut a hand-selected clothing rack twice a month.

Expert thrifters elevate Salvation Army thrift store

BY LOU BUHL

Instead of scouring through every item in The Salvation Army Las Vegas Thrift Store on East Silverado Ranch Boulevard, shoppers can head straight for the hand-picked selections of Shana Dahan and Edwina Registre. The Thrifters Anonymous duo selected their favorite pieces to showcase.

“It's one of our favorite places and it's something we always wanted to do,” Registre said.

“Our dream has come true,” Dahan added. “The hope is that people will go to The Salvation Army and know where the money is going—to help people in the community.”

More than 10 years ago, when Dahan and Registre began making YouTube videos to share their thrifting adventures and styling tips—Dahan said trips to Salvation Army thrift stores often went unrecorded because they considered the stores their “secret thrifting” spots.

“We didn't like to film there,” Dahan said, mentioning how she feared others would come to snag the best items before them. Registre said she also noticed how Salvation Army thrift stores receive “different types of donations,” including quality vintage items.

“The generation that grew up with The Salvation Army—the older generation, the baby boomers—you can tell the quality of items they give versus the other competing stores that receive most of the new items that are quickly discarded,” said Registre,

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Shana Dahan (left) and Edwina Registre go through the Las Vegas Thrift Store, filming their selection process for YouTube. |PHOTO COURTESY NICOLE WESSENDORF

touching on how fast-fashion brands often flood the racks at other thrift stores.

With the rise of thrift influencers on social media, Nicole Wessendorf, Public Relations and Community Engagement Manager of The Salvation Army

Southern Nevada, said she wanted to find a creative way to get people involved in the thrift store’s mission.

“I know these influencers shop at Salvation Army stores, but they may not realize what that actually benefits,” she said. By simply buying or donating

used clothing, housewares or furniture you can directly help change lives.”

Proceeds from Salvation Army thrift stores fund The Salvation Army’s costfree, six-month Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) programs to help those struggling with drug and alcohol use.

At the Las Vegas ARC, Administrator for Business Major James Boyd said about 500 people go through the program each year, with 87 beds available for men and 30 for women.

“It's a totally free program,” Boyd added. “The only funding is from four wonderful thrift stores throughout Las Vegas and the donated items people give us.” No matter how people find their way into the ARC program, Boyd said it’s his job “to offer the help and make miracles happen.”

“It's actually shopping for good,” Wessendorf said. “You can feel good about your decision to shop and donate to us because it's going to a good cause and staying local to help those in need in our community.”

To help raise awareness of the thrift stores’ mission, Wessendorf said she invited local influencers to help pull 1,000 items to be tagged as free in the five days leading up to National Thrift Shop Day on Aug. 17. While selecting items for the promotion, Boyd came to share the work of the ARC. Then after celebrations ended, the Thrifters Anonymous duo approached Wessendorf with the idea to curate an expertly thrifted clothing rack. AfTHRIFTING PAGE 10

Youth activists’ efforts support Door of Hope residents

BY LAUREL MILLER

As the daughter of Indian immigrants living in San Diego’s North County, 15-year-old Simran Saluja has always known the world is full of those in need. “My parents would tell me stories about how women and girls live in other countries and how they don’t have the privileges and resources that we do here,” she said. “I realized that even here in San Diego County, help is needed, so I decided to make an impact right where I live.”

Simran is the founder and president of The Optimism Project (TOP), a youth organization she launched with the help of a friend in May 2021. In addition to providing resources for and raising awareness about mental health, TOP helps those in need through online classes and food and clothing drives.

To date, TOP has collected over 1,000 items of clothing and dozens of canned food items, which were donated to The Salvation Army Door of Hope (DOH) Rady Campus women’s and children’s shelter in San Diego.

TOP also has branches in Oregon and Arizona, established by TOP’s Vice President and a friend of Simran’s, respectively.

Simran chose to initially partner with The Salvation Army because of its influence locally as well as globally. “The Salvation Army has helped so many women, children and

families,” she said. “It motivated us to see how we could help in our area, which we’ve identified as needing more resources for those dealing with mental health, food insecurity, and other issues.”

The teen says her biggest source of inspiration, however, is her mother, Rajinder, who works as a patient care coordinator at a San Diego hospital. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact she’s made on people’s lives,” she said.

“I believe that helping others through acts of kindness will aid those who are struggling to find hope.”

Mental wellness is a key component of TOP’s mission because youth, in particular, often don’t know where to turn for help or how to care for themselves, said Simran, who has had friends and other people in her life who have depression and other mental illnesses. To manage her own mental wellness, she takes “at least 10 to 15 minutes every day” to do something she loves: cooking, baking, drawing and volunteering.

In addition to providing resources like food, clothing, hygiene items and books, Simran has led online classes teaching basic self-care and mental health awareness, and partnered with Door of Hope’s own educational programming, which includes parenting classes and job training. In the future, Simran hopes to offer the latter for “older

Simran Saluja volunteers at the Door of Hope in San Diego. |PHOTO COURTESY MIMI WILLIAMS

women or women who want to transform their lives, like leaving a domestic abuse situation.”

For Door of Hope resident Sandra Gonzalez and her four children, the shelter—in combination with TOP—helped her get back on her feet after she said she left an abusive marriage.

“It’s comforting knowing I have help,” she said. “Door of Hope provided me with formula, diapers, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, a car seat, bassinet and crib, and because of Simran, we also had clothing and food [which are supplemented by DOH’s DOOR OF HOPE PAGE 11

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NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

Anchorage Korean Corps encourages learning Camp helps kids retain what they've learned over the summer.

BY HILLARY JACKSON

Anchorage Korean Corps Officers Captains Minhee and Richard Lee know education is important.

In their last three corps appointments as Salvation Army officers, the pair has held educational summer camps for youth in Las Vegas, Phoenix and now Anchorage. Their goal? To keep kids from backsliding academically in the summer.

A study published in the American Educational Research Journal found the average 1st-8th grader lost up to 34 percent of the prior school year’s learning gains over the summer. Add to that pandemic learning loss. To stave off further loss, the Anchorage Korean Corps held a summer day camp for children in 1st-5th grade focused on reading, math and having fun from July 5-28.

“We're just spreading hope for the community, and hope for the school education and hope for the future kids’ education,” Richard Lee said. “This way, they can learn a little bit more.”

After talking with community members, Lee said about 60 percent of the students the corps serve struggle with English, including those who were originally from Alaska. Lee said the corps prepared for the camp to serve about 20 kids based on the previous years’ numbers, but the 2022 camp grew to about 30 students.

In the camp, held Tuesday through Thursday, students covered math, reading and writing before lunch, which the corps provided. Then it was time for play and learning music or art, followed by jump rope or badminton. On Thursdays, the group took field trips in the community.

Lee said all of these elements served as opportunities to help the kids think about others, another goal of the camp.

“We tell them to clap your hands for everybody who did the cooking for your meal,” he said. “Then also, having younger kids appreciate the older kids.

So that way, they can help each other riding the bus or riding the car. We mix it with the younger kids and the older kids so they can take care of each other.”

|PHOTO COURTESY ALASKA DIVISION

During the day, kids were broken into groups, supported by volunteers—many of whom were the older siblings of kids in the program.

Jenny Park assisted the Lees with running the camp. Park, who originally came to the corps to volunteer about a decade ago, has since been a member of the congregation.

“I love everything about volunteering at The Salvation Army,” she said, noting her ability to speak both English and Korean helps when interpretation is needed.

Park knows the impact of the camp offerings first hand—her kids were in the program. She said she’s seen the impact of what two years of being “cut off from the whole society” has been for them. Now camps are back, but she said they can be expensive. The corps’ camp aimed to keep the cost low at $30 a week.

“Being able to reach out to kids and do a little bit of the service of God, like spreading the Word and

listening to that, I think that was just a really good thing besides just the camp itself,” said Park.

Leaders noted the name Korean Corps might be misleading—the camp is for everyone.

“Our program is always very interracial; we have many different cultures, and I think that's a positive impact,” Park said. “We try to involve at least a little something traditional Korean and the kids always enjoy that. Either it’s food or doing a craft or learning a little something about the culture.”

A highlight? The traditional seaweed roll—something Park said was picked because it was simple enough for the students to take home and make for their parents.

She said the feedback from the experience has been positive from both parents and campers.

“I think that camp was really needed emotionally,” Park said. “Of course, the camp physical part, but mentally, we just all needed some of that—the Jesus love.” NFC

‘Next Steps’ in Salem The Salem Kroc Center teaches life skills to high school students.

BY KAREN GLEASON

|PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTINA VASQUEZ

You’ve probably heard it: “High school—it didn’t teach me anything that I actually use!”

Perhaps you’ve even said it yourself.

To fill the gaps often felt after graduation, The Salvation Army Salem (Oregon) Kroc Center offered “Next Steps,” a free, four-week intensive program for teens focusing on foundational life skills and providing hands-on opportunities to integrate those skills. The program, which took place weekdays Aug. 1-26 from noon to 2 p.m., covered a specific topic each day.

“The Next Steps program is about the baseline skills that everyone needs to not only enter the workforce but also to go beyond the workforce right into everyday life,” said Clay Dunklin, Fine Arts and Education Coordinator for the Kroc Center. “If we’re only preparing them for work, but we’re not preparing them for real life, then how much good have we really done?”

To that end, the program included sessions on financial planning and credit, apartment hunting, home care and maintenance and car maintenance, as well as resume writing, mock

job interviews and a Kroc Center job-shadowing day.

“We’re excited about the Next Steps program at the Salem Kroc Center,” Salem Kroc Center Corps Officer Captain Quinton Markham said.

“It presents a fantastic opportunity for The Salvation Army to connect with young people in our community in their desire for career development and employability skills.”

Dunklin gives Christina Vasquez, Fine Arts and Education Rebound Program Lead, credit for developing an “extensive and robust curriculum.” Although they co-taught many topics, they brought in experts, too.

“On our financial days, we had a couple of folks from a local credit union come in,” Dunklin said. “We weren’t just relying on our own knowledge…we really wanted some folks who could share real expertise in those areas.”

Dunklin said they sought to create a “collaborative environment, one that values discussion over lecture.” He and Vasquez wanted to provide a level playing field, a platform where everyone could learn together.

“It really is about how we relate to the kids,” he said. “They're in school so often, and so NEXT STEPS PAGE 11

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(L) The Defenders of Justice sing at the Welcome of Cadets. (R) Commissioners Douglas and Colleen Riley install Colonels Eddie and Genevera Vincent as Chief Secretary and Secretary for Womens Ministries, respectively. |PHOTOS BY JOHN DOCTER

Western Territory welcomes Defenders of Justice, Vincents

BY CHRISTIN THIEME

The Western Territory welcomed 13 Defenders of Justice Sept. 10 at the Tustin Ranch (California) Corps in a meeting also featuring the installation of Colonels Eddie and Genevera Vincent as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, respectively.

The Cadet Chorus—including the Defenders of Justice and their sister session, the Reflectors of Holiness— opened the meeting in song with “In the Army.”

“I am excited by the future of the Army, especially when I look at these cadets,” said Territorial Commander Douglas Riley in his words of welcome.

“We’re here to celebrate God’s goodness and his faithfulness to us.”

After a College for Officer Training (CFOT) team led worship in song, Cadet Nicolas Carrillo-Saad prayed over the meeting and the Staff Songsters offered “I Sing Because I’m Happy.”

Captain Jennifer Masango, Territorial Candidates’ and Recruitment Secretary, presented the cadets to the audi-

I am excited by the future of the Army, especially when I look at these cadets.

— ­ COMMISSIONER DOUGLAS RILEY

ence, turning to a video in which each cadet introduced themselves and their family. Douglas Riley then presented the session flag to Cadet Sean Pease.

“Being a defender makes you think there’s a space we need to defend, where we would stay put,” said CFOT Principal Major Nigel Cross in introducing a congregational song. “And yet, being a Defender of Justice means to move out into the world and to defend others with justice. We’re told to be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in us with gentleness and respect [1 Peter 3:15]. It’s an offensive moving out.”

Cadet Emily Reed gave her testimony on behalf of the session, noting her call to officership while on a shortterm mission trip to Belize in 2017.

The years that followed, she said,

were filled with hardship and led her to question if she really had heard a calling. She began to pray God would give her a sign with the word “justice,” and later learned it would be in the name of her session.

“God heard my plea when I asked for confirmation and he gave me my word,” Reed said. “I’m here to tell you that our God is faithful. He will work things out far better than you could ever imagine.”

Commissioners Douglas and Colleen Riley installed the Vincents, officers of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, to their new leadership appointments in the West.

“We share with you the deep conviction that this appointment has been the response of God’s guidance on your lives,” Douglas Riley said.

“The God who was with you when you signed your covenants 36 years ago.

The God who today will continue to be your sufficiency…who will empower you for the responsibilities which you are now being placed in charge of.”

Both promised to be servants of the Lord under the flag of The Salvation Army, making every effort to hold its doctrines sacred.

Douglas Riley charged the Vincents to preach the word of truth and uphold its principles, to raise up officer candidates and others, to provide pastoral care, to empower all people to use their spiritual gifts, to make Jesus the focus of their ministry, and to administer the work of The Salvation Army in the West. Colleen Riley then prayed over them before Sophia Simoes and Kelsie Groenleer offered words of wisdom.

In response, Genevera Vincent shared her testimony “We don’t come with any great skills or abilities but we can promise you we do come with a deep love for God, deep love and appreciation for WELCOME PAGE 11

Reflecting on 2022 Service Corps Service Corps pushed one member out of his shell and inspired him to serve others.

BY CALEB GRIFFIN

When I first learned about the opportunity for Service Corps, I was not sure I wanted to participate in such an intimate social experience. Service Corps is a program that sends teams to areas of need around the world where The Salvation Army is currently serving. The team assists local officers and leaders with ministry, maintenance and community outreach.

I am an introvert with the desires of an extrovert.

I enjoy spending time alone, playing the guitar, listening to music and socializing with a particular group. Embarking on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, with Service Corps would mean meeting new people and forcing me into social situations I work hard to avoid. After a few conversations with my parents and grandfather, I decided to take a chance and try something new. After all, it was only two

weeks, and I used to live in Alaska and loved it there.

After my experience with the Fairbanks Service Corps, I know that any reason to participate in Service Corps is a good one. The reasons do not matter, whether you went to grow your faith, meet new people or even enjoy the cool weather (when I left San Antonio, Texas, it was 108 degrees); God will use you in ways you would never expect and show you that the rewards are worth so much more than a change in weather.

Over 10 days, I gained so many things, but the first that comes to mind are the friendships I made. When you work together as a team all day, you hope you will all get along. In this case, I got along with my team almost to a fault. My fears of each of us being so different quickly faded. Whether sorting clothes at the thrift store or canoeing and riding ATVs together, it was always fun.

Making friends was the best and worst part of SERVICE CORPS PAGE 12

(L-r) Members of the 2022 Service Corps team Zechariah Guess, Caleb Griffin, Michelle Wong and Ashanty Spencer enjoy an outing on all-terrain vehicles in Alaska. |PHOTO COURTESY ZECH GUESS

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NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

How one man is helping residents build community

BY LOU BUHL • PHOTOS BY JOHN DOCTER

Salvation Army Bell Oasis apartment residents join together for weekly arts and hobbies class.

N

ot long after The Salvation Army Donald and Priscilla Hunt Bell Oasis Apartments opened in 2018, resident Patrick Doran began teaching an arts and hobbies class as a way to give back to his new community.

Four years later, the class continues to grow, drawing in anywhere from 8 to 15 residents each week. While in the two-hour class, each resident can choose from various materials and craft kits Doran has available, from car and airplane modeling sets to paint-by-number kits to leatherworking supplies and needlepoint patterns.

“I know how much my hobbies help me with my depression and there’s no way I’m not going to pass that on,” said Doran. “When people want to learn something, I help teach them and help them get through it.”

Since Bell Oasis’ opening, the 64-unit permanent supportive housing complex has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness, including veterans and those facing chronic mental illness or disability.

Although Doran said the apartment buildings are separated between veteran residents and DMH (Department of Mental Health) residents, the class is open to everyone. “We try to do things as a community,” he added. “Some come to do projects, some just come to talk and drink coffee.”

Located directly next to the Bell Oasis apartments, the class takes place in the community room where each Thursday morning Doran brings the art supplies he’s collected over the years to share with others.

The room is bright and inviting with several large tables perfect for residents to

spread out their current project materials.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and often on the first meeting of the month a resident baker will bring in sweet treats, like German chocolate cake, to celebrate the birthdays of that month.

“From the beginning, Patrick’s always been someone who's open and willing to help out,” said Karen Lee, Bell Oasis’ on-site veteran case manager. “I think in having the arts and crafts group, he's really grown and helped a lot of people in the process.”

“It gives you something to do when you’re isolating,” said Doran, noting how crafting helped him through long periods of solitude during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even since the class started back up in January 2021, he said residents still tend to “stick to themselves” and he’s hoping the class will offer an opportunity for people to connect again.

By teaching people how to approach new arts and crafts projects, he said he’s also helping his fellow residents stay active mentally. “That way they don't go into bad areas of their mind,” he said.

“A lot of the barriers for the veterans we serve is related to past trauma, whether it's from childhood trauma or military trauma,” Lee added, mentioning how unaddressed trauma can lead to mental health and substance use issues for residents.

During the height of the pandemic, for “almost a full year,” Doran said the class couldn’t gather in person due to isolation orders and quarantines, which is when he said his “depression got a little deeper.” While Doran worked on his own projects independently during that time, he said he missed teaching the class and sharing his knowledge with others in need of a pick-me-up.

Research shows an association between engaging with art and lower rates of depression, according to a 2020 systematic review in the Journal of Public Mental Health. And

I know how much my hobbies help me with my depression and there’s no way I’m not going to pass that on.

When people want to learn something, I help teach them and help them get through it.

—PATRICK DORAN

for many residents, participating in the arts and hobbies class each week helps to improve their mental health.

“It’s therapeutic and it’s relaxing,” said resident Rosemary Pearson as she began working on an early Christmas wreath decoration. “It's really benefited a lot of our residents,” Lee added.

As someone with a great deal of artistic knowledge, Doran said he felt like “the person most equipped” to run the class. “He's always had this artistic side and this crafty side…like a jack of all trades,” said Lee. “Ever since I was a kid, when I got stuck at home with hives and they couldn't figure out what was causing it…I built every model I had because I was bored out of my mind,” said Doran.

“I did whatever I could just to keep my mind busy.”

Over the years, Doran took to new mediums like lego building, woodworking, crocheting and leather arts. While in the service, he added needlepoint to his toolbelt— a skill he continues to harness as he works to complete a large needlepoint canvas of a tigress and her cubs.

Not only does Doran help guide others in new crafts, but he also funds the majority of the class's supplies—even offering to drive to specialized hobby stores when someone is searching for something specific. “If I don’t have it, I’ll add it to my list and try to find it,” he said.

In addition to providing transportation to hobby stores, Doran said he helps to give residents rides elsewhere when needed. “He has been giving a lot of folks rides,” said Lee, noting how most residents live without reliable transportation and have difficulty with public transit and ride-sharing apps.

“On multiple occasions when a neighbor has had an emergency, he would help and go and take people to the hospital and he would go pick people up…that's just one of the many things he also does,” she added. “He's always volunteering and helping people out when they need it.”

For Doran, being able to drive others is rewarding in itself. “For the longest time I didn't have transportation and when my van broke down and it became my bedroom,” he said, mentioning the four years he spent living out of his vehicle before finding housing at Bell Oasis.

When asked where he draws his motivation for helping others, Doran cited his mother. “It was just the way we were raised,” he said. “We’d help whenever anybody needed something.” NFC

NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

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Some come to do projects, some just come to talk and drink coffee.

—PATRICK DORAN

Patrick Doran (above) teaches a weekly arts and hobbies class at The Salvation Army Donald and Pricislla Hunt Bell Oasis Apartments. Anywhere from eight to 15 residents attend the two-hour class and can choose from a variety of materials and craft kits Doran has available.

10 NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

BRIGHTER FUTURE

FROM PAGE 1

forgot where he came from. His love of his Central Valley home is what drove him to start Bay Valley Tech, aiming to empower the next generation to dream big, be creative and think beyond the familiar.

With The Salvation Army, Lan said he’s found an ideal organization to help fulfill his mission to make coding skills more accessible by sharing spaces like the Red Shield Center to provide classes. “An ancient African proverb reminds us to travel together if we seek to go far, and I cannot think of a better organization for us to ‘trav-

el’ with than our friends at The Salvation Army,” he said. “Working together, we can give people hope for a brighter future and inspire them to help others.”

It’s that spirit of service that aligns with The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope initiative, which was developed to help families break the cycle of poverty by addressing its root causes, said Morgane Dussault, Corporate Engagement Director for the Salvation Army Golden State Division.

“Through this program, we can help bridge opportunity gaps that exist for these students and provide a pathway to college and economic empowerment,” she said. “If we can inspire kids, expose them to different career fields to help them envision themselves in various sectors of industry that provide a path-

FIND YOUR PLACE FROM PAGE 1

part? Noble said they’ve already had new people coming to Sunday service, along with several new participants in Ladies Lunch and four new volunteers for their thrift store and food distribution.

The Find Your Purpose card is one of several customizable resources released by Commissioner Douglas Riley in September. The products include banners, lawn signs, postcards and posters that can bear the following phrases in English or Spanish: Find Joy, Find Hope, Find Your Place, Find Your Purpose.

“It seems that everyone is searching for something to make life better. I believe in many cases our neighbors aren’t even sure what they are looking for, and in many cases end up seeking happiness in the wrong things,” Riley said. “I am convinced that we have the

UNLV

FROM PAGE 1

with The Salvation Army Southern Nevada Director of Social Services Juan Salinas to learn about the needs of their community. They volunteer with The Salvation Army once a week for six weeks during the summer to get a better understanding of the population the agency serves.

“The goal was twofold. One, it really acted as an eye-opening experience so that a lot of the students who maybe come from more affluent backgrounds are able to see what the reality of what a lot of places in Las Vegas are like. Las Vegas is always glamorized in the news and all that, but in reality, there’s a lot of poverty here,” Toro said.

“The second goal is to introduce us to different avenues of volunteer work that we can do for the duration of our medical school class and as well as after we graduate medical school and we become doctors.”

The students do this work with The Salvation Army as part of an Emergency Response and Population Health course. Students break out into groups to study a zip code in their community and better understand its socioeconomic aspects.

In addition to the zip codes, students can also choose to study the Corridor of Hope—an area of Las Vegas where a large population of people experiencing homelessness reside.

The Salvation Army Las Vegas Owens Campus neighbors the Corridor of Hope.

way to financial stability, my hope is that we can mitigate the risk of them falling into at-risk behaviors, help them strive for college or career and eventually break the cycle of generational poverty so many of them face.”

Modesto Corps Officer Major Maggie Laubach, agreed, adding that “this program will stir creativity and allow the participants to have the skills needed to reach a brighter future.”

The best part, Laubach said, is that any local corps can provide these opportunities with a strong partnership like the one that’s been cultivated in Modesto. And it’s not just kids who can benefit from a fresh start and an open door to new possibilities.

Bay Valley Tech recently expanded the partnership by providing a free

answers. Our corps buildings, programs, outreach opportunities, are all designed to meet need at the point of need and bring people into a closer relationship with God. This is simply what we are about.”

With the announcement of the resources also came the opportunity for each corps to order up to $1,000 of resources at no cost to the local unit through the Printed Corps Resources App on the Landing.

“We ordered within the week, and got all the materials we have received in place right away because we saw the potential of implementing a unified and stylized strategy for communicating all that we do,” Noble said. “We’re grateful for the resources from THQ [Territorial Headquarters] that help people find out not just what we do and are, but how they can find their fun and fulfillment joining in the mission.”

For Farmington (New Mexico) Corps Officer Lt.

“They want to observe what the community needs and also what the medical aspects are,” Salinas said.

“For example, [for] somebody who is homeless, ‘What is it that they face when it comes to the medical side of [homelessness]? Or what is it that the agency is doing on a daily basis?’”

This year, Toro and his group chose to focus their learning on the Corridor of Hope. Throughout the six weeks, the medical students helped with the back-to-school drive and feeding people experiencing homelessness at the Owens Campus and the food pantry at the nearby Henderson Corps. They also got to tour The Salvation Army facilities in the Las Vegas Corridor of Hope area.

The experience gave the students a fresh perspective into what was going on in their community and what The Salvation Army did to help.

“I think for some of them, they didn’t realize that The Salvation Army did all these services,” Salinas said. “It opened their eyes to really what happens behind the red shield.”

This was the case for Toro.

“Coming from a Hispanic background and not having the best upbringing when I was younger in terms of just money, and being a first generation person here in the United States, I could empathize with a lot of the problems that I was seeing,” Toro said.

“The Salvation Army and their mission really aligned with my own.”

Toro said he learned a lot from his experience about the community The Salvation Army serves.

tech training program for women coming out of prison at the Casper (Wyoming) Corps as part of their WYSTEP Up program.

“My hope is that this concept will grow and that our friends throughout The Salvation Army will take advantage of the opportunity to work with Bay Valley Tech, or start similar programs in their area,” Dussault said, adding that Modesto’s young participants have already accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time.

“What Bay Valley Tech is doing at the Red Shield for our kids is truly a gift,” Central Valley Donor Relations Director Joanne Ramos said. “Through Phil’s leadership, this program has and will continue to transform the lives of so many very deserving people.” NFC

Christopher Rockwell, the opportunity for the resources came at the right time. “For Farmington,” he said, “getting these resources is an absolute blessing.”

Rockwell said prior to the new additions, many of the corps’ old banners and signs were either lost or worn out.

“This completely refreshes our inventory so we have a much better visual presence not just at the corps itself, but anywhere where we will host events,” he said.

Rockwell said the resources are being used to promote the corps at events, to give to Family Services clients and to attract people for Sunday worship. He also said they will be a part of the kettle season.

“It will be important for all our ringers in the field to give these cards to anyone who wants to know more about our ministry and how we can assist them,” he said. “I believe these resources will get people through the door, and that’s what matters.” NFC

“The big takeaway for me was every one of these people they’re just like you and I. They’re no different than anyone else. They happened to have bad luck and now they lost their house and now they’re living in the street and that’s the only option that they have,” Toro said. “Being open and receptive to these populations and even just volunteering one or two hours of your time a month, it makes a huge difference.”

At the end of the six weeks, Toro and his classmates presented their findings.

“We decided to make a video and compile the two months of work and research…to show everyone what is really happening in the city,” Toro said.

“Because unless you look, you’ll never see any of this. A lot of the homeless people are shuttled to specific areas and that’s kind of where they stay.”

Salinas was impressed by the enthusiasm of the UNLV School of Medicine this year. Some of the students, including Toro, continued working alongside The Salvation Army through Echelon.

“I really like working with The Salvation Army… I see myself working with The Salvation Army for the rest of my life,” Toro said. “With Echelon, we’re able to come together and find ways to bring in money or provide for the community in different ways and that’s a really big thing for me. I can genuinely make a difference in this environment.”

And Salinas believes the collaboration with the UNLV School of Medi-

cine will have a long-lasting impact.

“These are students who are becoming doctors, so when it comes to the needs that [the community] has and the services that [The Salvation Army] provides, it opens their eyes that we’re just not providing a handout but a hand up,” Salinas said. “And once they go out in the field and they become doctors, then they’re able to remember those days that they spent at The Salvation Army.” NFC

THRIFTING FROM PAGE 5

ter working with Boyd and the store’s general manager, Wessendorf said everyone was “completely on board” and Dahan and Registre returned to make their final selections.

“I think a lot of shoppers who may never have thrifted before will find this more approachable,” Wessendorf said. “Hopefully the store really benefits from the added foot traffic and The Salvation Army benefits from a growing awareness of what the thrift stores and the ARC does.”

To debut the rack, a live event and ribbon-cutting Sept. 3 also drew some Thrifters Anonymous fans looking for unique pieces.

“It warms our hearts and makes us happy to thrift, obviously,” Dahan said. “But at the end of the day, it felt really good because we knew we were doing something really good.” NFC

NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

PLACE TO LEARN FROM PAGE 3

student. We believe every student can be successful as long as they have the right people and tools in place.”

Parents are encouraged to drop off their children as early as possible and pick them up as late as possible so the staff at the center can fully serve each child. But the team’s service goes beyond the kids.

The center cares for entire family units, finding a way to connect with parents and children alike. This includes everything from hosting monthly family nights to encouraging family participation with bingo cards.

“Monthly heritage nights are our favorite times of the month,” Rios said. “We’re bringing everyone together and focusing on the parent-child positive relationship.”

It can be difficult for families to find quality time where they play games, relax together and create memories, Rios said. So the staff at the center plans the evening for them, providing dinner and activities

WELCOME FROM PAGE 7

people, rich Salvation Army heritage and firm belief in its ministry and mission to the world,” she said. “We have come here to learn, to listen and yes, we have come to lead as God directs us. We will do that by working with a great team and relying heavily on God to supply what we need.”

She read from Scripture, Micah 6:18, before the Staff Songsters sang “Take My Life and Let it Be.” In his message, Eddie Vincent shared about the journey into justice, noting that while “justice” has many interpretations, “we do know that God is just.”

He pointed to Micah 6:8: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. First, to walk humbly, Vincent said, means getting to know God and un-

NEXT STEPS

so parents don’t have to worry about anything except showing up and having fun.

Each month focuses on a different culture. Staff will bring in food from different countries so students can try new things. They plan activities that match the culture of the month, like Bollywood dancing or baking new recipes. All of it is designed to bring families together.

“We do all sorts of activities, like breaking a pinata,” Rios said. “It’s great to see the parents get in there, enjoying themselves and laughing. They get to be a child again.”

At the end of the night, the center raffles off different prizes like a globe, book or board games related to heritage. Each prize is another way to encourage togetherness.

Other family events include movie nights, which are open to the entire community, and Krocventures, where families explore new places in nature.

“We’re in an urban setting where everyone is living on top of each other,” Rodriguera said. “Many families that come don’t have vehicles, and these are places that aren’t easily accessible by bus or Uber and Lyft. But now they have a way to explore the

derstanding there is a God—and we are not him. “It means recognizing our place in the grand scheme of God’s kingdom,” he said, and surrendering to his will, which even Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Next, Vincent said the Christian should be the most likely of people to show mercy, “because we are the humble recipients of the undeserved mercy of God.” For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matt.

6:14-15).

“Established on the foundation of humility and mercy, we can do nothing less than be Defenders of Justice for those who are marginalized, abused, misrepresented, trafficked, shunned, excluded and whatever the reality

FROM PAGE 6

many of the kids in this program…don’t even want to go to school. So why would we replicate a classroom kind of environment?”

Dunklin said they had several conversations about setting up the different sessions as individual workshops rather than as a prescriptive curriculum, thus allowing students to come and go if they so desired, based on their interests. And that’s what they did. The program included 14 participants, with a core group of eight who attended most sessions.

“Teenagers—they’re going through that transition in life, where they’re trying to figure it out themselves,” Vasquez said. “Giving them the opportunity to be independent and drive their own learning, that helps them think better, and it helps build better relationships.”

Dunklin and Vasquez encouraged the teens to open up and talk about what they want to do in the future. For instance, if they want to go to college, that takes a certain kind of financial planning; if they want to go straight into the workforce, that’s a different conversation.

“We really wanted to try as much as we could to personalize it for each individual kid,” Dunklin said.

For the job-shadowing day, 12 Kroc Center employees representing various departments—membership, human resources, business, lifeguards, camp counselors— volunteered to be shadowed by Next Steps students.

“They really got to see what it’s like to be on the job,”

11

beautiful parts of nature they may otherwise not see, and they’re doing it as a family.”

Krocventures started during the pandemic as a way to get families outside together to hike and explore new parts of their community.

“It’s the most beautiful thing, watching the kids running up and down the hills, encouraging their parents and celebrating their experience afterward,” Rios said. “They come in the next week still talking about it, like ‘That was so hard, but we did it!’ They show up every single month.”

Rodriguera respects Rios not just as her corps officer, but as a mother of twins with disabilities who sees the care Rios brings to each and every interaction.

“Monica’s programs are ‘off the hook.’ She sees the unique needs of kids and families and seeks to accommodate,” Rodriguera said. “As a parent who is trying to seek outlets for my kids to socialize, there’s always a concern of am I bothering people? Is my family dynamic causing harm because they’re too loud?

“But here,” she said, “there’s a culture where you never have to apologize for who you are.” NFC

Commissioner Douglas Riley offers words of farewell to Lt. Colonels Kyle and Lisa Smith who will take up new appointments in Singapore. |PHOTO BY JOHN DOCTER

that attempts to squeeze the life out of those created by God to live life in abundance,” Vincent said.

A time of prayer followed his challenge to attendees to consider what might be preventing their humility or surrender. Finally, the Rileys offered words of farewell to Lt. Colonels Kyle and Lisa Smith, Territorial Secretary

Dunklin said. “And we actually have two or three of our core group who want to be lifeguards here…That was a huge win for us.”

Fifteen-year-old Maddie Kleiber didn’t know anything about the Kroc Center when her mother signed her up for Next Steps after hearing about it from a friend.

“When I first came, I thought it was going to be like a rigid, scheduled thing,” she said. “But it’s really relaxed…We kind of do what feels best, but we always get the work done. And just meeting the people here has probably been the best part.”

Maddie found the sessions on resume building and mock interviews the most helpful. “It’s very real world and something you can take everywhere you go,” she said. “You have to make a resume and have an interview everywhere you try to get a job.”

She doesn’t plan to desert the Kroc Center now that Next Steps is over. Next Steps made it easy for the kids to keep coming to the Kroc Center by offering them a free membership.

“That plays into the social/emotional component,” Dunklin said. “They can come here and hang out and make friends and get exercise—and just have a safe space where they can really build community with their peers that’s outside of the pressures of a school system. So [Next Steps] is more than just a four-week class. It’s really about their lives and how we can invest in the whole person, and who the whole person is and help them to build better futures.” NFC

for Communications Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Program, respectively, who soon take up new appointments in the Singapore, Myanmar and Malaysia Territory.

In closing, Colleen Riley led a closing song, “Are You Washed,” and Major Stacy Cross, CFOT Director of Education, led the benediction. NFC

DOOR OF HOPE FROM PAGE 5

onsite garden and Food Pantry].” Door of Hope also has a boutique where residents can find clothing for job interviews or other need-based circumstances.

The Optimism Project initially launched on social media, creating posts about mental health, discrimination and poverty issues in the regions they serve. The next step was providing resources, online programming and developing fundraisers, and connecting with local shelters.

“It can make a world of difference to provide women with assistance,” said Simran, adding she’d like to expand The Optimism Project to schools, to “inspire and educate” other teens.

“Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we can’t have an impact,” she said, adding that they’re always looking for people to start their own branch.

Gonzalez is proof places like DOH and youth organizations like TOP work. “I’m so grateful for this place; Door of Hope has honestly changed our lives,” she said, adding how inspiring she finds Simran, especially given her age. “She’s helping not only her community, but her county.

I think my oldest daughter, who is 11, can learn from that, as well. I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude.” NFC

PROMOTED TO GLORY

12 NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 MAJOR RICHARD L. BEAVER May 26, 1932–Sept. 16, 2022 Major Richard (Dick) L. Beaver was promoted to Glory Sept. 16 from his home in Bellingham, Washington.

Richard Beaver was born May 26, 1932, in Marion, Ohio, the first of seven children. When he was young, his grandparents introduced him to The Salvation Army. In 1944, when his parents purchased a fruit farm, the family moved to the country. During his teenage years, Dick stayed busy helping with the farm, and did not attend church.

In 1950, Dick joined the U.S. Air Force and served for four years. While stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, he found his way back to The Salvation Army, where he met Martha Tracy. After he left the Air Force, the two wed at the Inglewood (California) Corps June 30, 1954, and moved to Ohio. They attended Sandusky (Ohio) Salvation Army and eventually became corps assistants at the Canton (Ohio) Corps. The Beavers entered The Salvation Army training school in San Francisco in 1955 and were commissioned in June 1956 with the Sword Bearers Session.

They served as Corps Officers in Rock Springs, Wyoming; Pueblo and Greeley, Colorado; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Hobbs, New Mexico; Bremerton, Olympia, Bellingham and Yakima, Washington, and one divisional headquarters appointment in Denver. Both attended the Brengle Holiness Institute and the International Congress in London in 1978. They attended the Holy Land Congress with General Jarl Wahlstrom in 1985 and later were part of the first Holy Land tour from the Western Territory.

After 41 years of service, the couple retired to Bellingham, where Beaver enjoyed boating, fishing and crabbing.

He is survived by his children: LeRoy, Geraldine, Terri (Greg), Charles (Teresa), Elizabeth and Fina; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His wife, Martha, preceded him in death June 3.

A memorial service was held Oct. 12 at the Bellingham Corps. NFC

MAJOR DONALD BOWMAN Oct. 2, 1940–Aug. 28, 2002 Major Donald Ray Bowman was promoted to Glory Aug. 28 in Oklahoma City, following a brief battle with cancer.

Don Bowman was born Oct. 2, 1940, in Oklahoma City, to Herbert and Clara Bowman. The family, including his older brother, Roger, attended The Salvation Army Oklahoma City Citadel Corps, where Bowman played BB bass in the corps band. He acquired a lifelong love for music and enjoyed teaching music to young people.

Bowman met his future wife, Rachele Holt, at the corps. On June 6, 1961, the couple wed. Over the years they welcomed five children: David, Donna, Daniel, Darren and Deanna.

In 1966, the Bowmans moved to Denver, where they attended the Denver Citadel Corps. Bowman served as bandmaster and later as Corps Sergeant-Major. While attending the National Seminar on Evangelism in 1973, he heard God’s call to full-time ministry. After being commissioned as Auxiliary Captains in June 1974, the couple took their first appointment, in charge of the Denver Harbor Light Center.

Other appointments followed, as corps officers in Pueblo, Greeley, Denver West Adams and Boulder/ Broomfield, Colorado; Ogden, Utah; Laramie, Wyoming; and Bozeman and Billings, Montana. The Bowmans retired in June 2006 and moved to Tehachapi, California, to be near their children.

In 2009, Bowman accepted a post-retirement appointment, leading the Bishop (California) Corps for one year. He then continued serving with the Golden State Service Extension department for another nine years. The Bowmans sold their home in California in 2020, and with daughters Deanna and Donna, returned to Oklahoma.

He is survived by his wife, Rachele; five children; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A celebration of life service was held Sept. 9 at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, in Del City, Oklahoma. A luncheon fellowship followed at the Oklahoma City Citadel Corps. NFC

NEW APPOINTMENTS

SERVICE CORPS

Effective Aug. 31 unless otherwise noted: NORTHWEST Major Robert Covert, EDS Officer* Captain Steven Pavlakis, EDS Officer* SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Captain Bonita Kelsey, Social Services Chaplaincy Programs Coordinator, Divisional Headquarters SOUTHWEST Captain Kristy Church, EDS Officer* Lt. Johnathan Herzog, EDS Officer* TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS Major Janene Zielinski, Territorial Social Services Secretary Designate—Effective, Nov. 2 *Additional responsibilities

CAMP BUSINESS DIRECTOR

FROM PAGE 7

this trip. It was great to grow closer with each of my teammates, and I think that we all helped each other in different ways; however, soon after becoming friends, I began to dread the countdown until we would have to say our goodbyes.

There were many ministry opportunities ranging from day camp, Sunday morning worship, playing in the worship band, delivering food boxes and sorting clothes at the thrift store.

It was shocking to see how little some children knew about the gospel—some to the extent of not knowing who Jesus was. It was great to share the good news that I have been fortunate enough to have learned from a young age. I had parents and grandparents who taught me how meaningful and life-changing a relationship with Jesus is. I was excited to share this with others.

It made me realize just how different people’s lives

COMMISSIONER PETER H. CHANG May 12, 1932 – Oct. 12, 2022 Commissioner Peter Chang was promoted to Glory Oct. 12, from Redondo Beach, California.

Peter Chang was born May 12, 1932, to Oon Yong Chang and Ah Jee Lee in Seoul, Korea, where he was raised with seven siblings. A British missionary introduced his grandfather, a rice farmer, to The Salvation Army, inviting him to a meeting after assisting him in the rice paddy field. His grandfather later became a Salvation Army officer.

At age 16, Peter Chang made his commitment to life service in The Salvation Army during a youth councils’ meeting. After university, he became the first cadet from the Korea Territory to enter the International Training College in London. He later studied at New York Theological Seminary and at Columbia University, earning a master’s in Education.

Peter met his future wife, Grace, a high school music teacher, during The Salvation Army’s 50th Anniversary Congress in Korea. The two wed June 15, 1963, and they had two children, John and Miriam.

The Changs served in Korea, Singapore/Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United States Eastern Territory and International Headquarters. In 1986, they came to the U.S. Western Territory, where Peter served at the College for Officer Training as Training Principal from 1986–1990 before becoming Chief Secretary in 1990. In 1991 the Changs returned to Korea as territorial leaders. They headed back to the Western Territory in 1994 to serve as territorial leaders until their retirement May 31, 1997.

The couple settled in San Diego and eventually moved to the Silvercrest residence in Redondo Beach. The Changs traveled regularly to Korea to spend time with family.

He is survived by his daughter, Miriam Chang; sonin-law, Dr. Stephan Poulter; grandchildren: Matthew and Julia; and an extended worldwide family. He was predeceased by his wife, Grace, in 2018, and son, John, in 1980.

A memorial service took place Oct. 22 at The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Suffern, New York. NFC

are from mine. It was an excellent opportunity to help the less fortunate and try to put myself in their shoes. Little things I take for granted, like the clothes on my back or the food in my stomach, all had new meanings. Seeing the joy on a person’s face when we brought them a food box or gave them clothing and a toy at our carnival made me appreciate all I have.

I finally understood why my mother always encouraged me to volunteer. Serving others does make a difference.

My only complaint about this trip is that it was too short. I wish we had more time to grow as a team and help the community. Fairbanks loves The Salvation Army, and our team enjoyed sharing that excitement.

Most of all, I think this trip changed fear into courage. I have never been the most social person, and being in Service Corps pushed me to come out of my shell. All my nerves and doubts about myself going into the trip were erased as soon as we landed in Fairbanks. God took care of all the fear, and in the end, all I can say is: Here I am; send me. NFC

The Spokane Citadel Corps has an opening for a business director to oversee operations at Camp Gifford.

The Camp Gifford Business Director will be responsible for the success of the Camp Gifford business, marketing and income plans. The individual will also be responsible to supervise all year round and seasonal operations staff at Camp Gifford.

The Business Director will be the ministry leader for the staff and volunteers they supervise and will maintain the focus of presenting the gospel of Christ and providing a positive experience to all who visit Camp Gifford. The Business Director will be responsible for all rentals, operations, finances, and personnel requirements for Camp Gifford.

DALLAS | 2023

This is a Christian ministry position. Due to the nature of the programs that take place at the Salvation Army, scheduled work hours will be adjusted as program needs require and can change with minimum notice. This position and its direct connection with the spiritual purpose and goals of the Salvation Army. The employee must consider The Salvation Army Spokane their home Corps/church and work in conjunction with the leadership goals of the Corps Officer to see those goals move from objectives to reality. The Employee is expected to attend services every Sunday except those excused due to authorized program activities, vacation or illness.

Interested candidates should contact Traci Elliott at traci.elliott@usw.salvationarmy.org

April 17–20, 2023

Register Today!

PRESENTED BY

BetterTogether2023.org

AROUND THE WEST ALASKA

NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

seniors and families in need. During its 15 years, the event has raised more than $5.7 million. The Shake brothers, Sabu Jr. and Chris, received the “Others” award in 2013, the highest award The Salvation Army bestows on non-Salvationists.

Majors John and Judy Bennett are Monterey Peninsula Corps Officers.

HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDS

Teddy Bear Picnic supports local programs The Alaska Division held its Teddy Bear Picnic Sept. 24 at the Anchorage Corps. The event, billed as an afternoon of "fundraising and friendraising," supported McKinnell House Family Shelter, King's Lake Camp and youth programs in Anchorage through a live and silent auction. Prior to the event, people could take bare teddy bears to dress up that were judged at the picnic across several categories, including family pride, bears at work and bears at play.

Lt. Colonels Douglas and Sheryl Tollerud are the Alaska divisional leaders.

CASCADE Coos Bay gymnasium reopens The Coos Bay (Oregon) Corps held a grand reopening of its gymnasium, which had been closed for repairs and renovations since 2019; the pandemic delayed the restoration. The new gym features iron beams, a temperature-controlled air system, bleachers, state-of-the-art vinyl floors and a full-size Wi-Fi operable scoreboard. Cascade Divisional Commander Major Nancy Dihle spoke at the event, as did Major Steven Bradley, Coos Bay Corps Officer with his wife, Major Patti Bradley.

13

person worship,” said Tacoma Corps Officer Major Randy Kinnamon, who mentioned the public event was the first to be held at the corps in over two years due to the pandemic.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA El Cajon Red Shield receives large donation The Salvation Army East County Red Shield Community Center in El Cajon, California, received a large donation from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation to help to support educational efforts in the community. Included in the donation were 450 new children's books, 114 pencils and 60 packs of coloring supplies.

Captain Sam and Lt. Leah Fowler are El Cajon Corps Officers.

SOUTHWEST

Waioli Tea Room site celebrates centennial The Waioli Tea Room, located in Manoa, Hawaii, celebrated its 100th anniversary Sept. 16.

Originally, Waioli offered vocational training to orphaned girls living at The Salvation Army Girls Home in Manoa. When the home closed in 1970, the Tea Room stayed open. In 2019, Ross and Stefanie Anderson revived the restaurant, and its mission, after it had been shuttered for four years.

The Andersons primarily employ graduates of The Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Center and formerly incarcerated individuals. "We use food to keep the mission going," Stefanie Anderson told Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Majors Debbie and Phil Lum are the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands divisional leaders.

Division brings hope with beds On Sept. 15, the Southwest Division shared 50 Ashley Home Store beds with members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale, Arizona. The aim of the beds is to bring hope to families who need a little help.

Lt. Colonels Ivan and Jennifer Wild are the Southwest divisional leaders.

ARCC

INTERMOUNTAIN

DEL ORO

Helping Handbags 2022 aims to ‘Color Our World’ The 18th Annual Helping Handbags fundraiser, themed “Color Our World,” took place Oct. 1 at the Citrus Heights Community Center, hosted by The Salvation Army Sacramento (California) Women’s Auxiliary. Proceeds from the event, which featured more than 250 bags for sale, support the Army’s programs for people in need throughout the greater Sacramento area. Kitty O’Neal from KFBK/iHeart Radio was master of ceremonies.

Majors John and Pamilla Brackenbury are Del Oro divisional leaders.

Centennial Corps hosts community outreach luau The Salvation Army Centennial Corps (Colorado) held a community outreach luau. Included in the celebrations were the corps’ first “open-air” worship service in the parking lot, dance performances from Kalama Polynesian Dancers and Hawaiian music with fire dancing. Attendees also enjoyed authentic Hawaiian cuisine. “We thank God for such a beautiful day of worship and fellowship,” said Centennial Corps Officer Lt. Betty Vesikula.

Modesto Thrift Store holds ribbon-cutting for reopening The Salvation Army Thrift Store on McHenry Avenue in Modesto, California, reopened on Oct. 6, after a fire of unknown origin burned through the shop in June, destroying many donated items.

“We are so excited to re-open this critical location that helps to support the men who are part of our program at our Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Stockton,” said Stockton ARC Administrator for Business Major Sylvan Young. “The community of Modesto has always been here to support us and we are grateful for that.”

CFOT

NORTHWEST

GOLDEN STATE

Sabu’s Safari supports the Good Samaritan Center The 15th Annual Sabu’s Safari fundraiser took place Oct. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, California. Funds raised go directly to The Salvation Army Monterey Peninsula Corps to support the Sabu Shake Sr. Good Samaritan Center in Sand City, which provides essential needs for individuals,

Tacoma Corps hosts Seattle Temple Band and Songsters A free concert and worship service drew in nearly 100 people at the Tacoma (Washington) Corps on Oct. 4, featuring the Seattle Temple Band and Songsters. Longtime Seattle Temple Bandmaster Stefan Wennstig led a program with choir selections from Songster Leader Ken Lyons and piano accompaniment by Hil Lyons.

“We were pleased to see so many people reengaged in Christian celebration together for in-

Cadets converge on Las Vegas for fall campaign Both sessions of cadets, the Reflectors of Holiness and the Defenders of Justice, traveled to Las Vegas for their “Fall Blitz” weekend. They ministered at the Adult Rehabilitation Center and the Las Vegas Citadel Corps, and engaged in community outreach—a biking ministry at the Las Vegas Strip and a youth carnival at the corps.

“When we were worshiping together at the Owens Campus chapel [unhoused people, cadets, officers] God said to me, ‘This is the worship that pleases me—where there is no distinction between rich and poor.’ It confirmed my calling to officership,” Cadet Ji Young Seo said.

Major Nigel Cross is Training Principal. NFC

AROUND THE WORLD

14 NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

International leaders visit Newfoundland General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle both grew up in Newfoundland, Canada, but this September marked their first official visit to the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of the Canada and Bermuda Territory as international leaders of The Salvation Army.

Throughout the weekend, the General delivered messages centered on surrendering to God. “Our Founder William Booth said, ‘God shall have all of me,’ and because of that we have The Salvation Army.” He added the challenging question, “What does God want to do with you?”

During his final message of the weekend, the General assured those gathered that “God has a plan for The Salvation Army in Newfoundland and Labrador.” Then, he asked Salvationists to give themselves in service to God by saying, “Can God count on you? Surrender your all, the Kingdom is at stake!” Stirred into action by his message, many people moved forward to pray. NFC

Millions affected

by Pakistan floods The Salvation Army is providing essential supplies in Pakistan, where a mix of heavy rain and monsoon winds has caused one of the worst floods the country has faced in a decade. An estimated 33 million people have been affected by the flood, with one-third of the country underwater by late September.

More than 5,000 roads and bridges have been destroyed and at least one million homes have sustained some damage. Since June, the floodwater has claimed more than one thousand lives.

The Salvation Army has provided food including rice, lentils, flour, sugar and oil. In the Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces alone, more than 1,650 families received donations of food, hygiene products and other nonfood items. The Salvation Army will continue to provide relief as needed. NFC

Salvation Army assists in drought crisis in East Africa For five consecutive years, Kenya has faced insufficient rainfall, causing the price of staple foods and water to become unaffordable to many. “The situation is worsening day by day,” said Emergency Officer for Kenya West Captain Benjamin Omugaht. “It has led to a sharp rise in food prices and a deterioration in food security.”

As families spend more of their income on food and water, schooling fees become more difficult to afford, forcing many children to drop out of school. To combat this issue, The Salvation Army is starting a “Food for Fees” initiative which will provide food to schools to feed students and in return the schools can cut school fees in the knowledge that they no longer have to find funds for school meals.

Initially, the project will provide food to nine secondary schools and 50 primary schools in northern Turkana to ensure each child enrolled in the program will receive three meals and two snacks each day for three months. NFC

Salvationists attend World Council of Churches assembly Six Salvation Army representatives attended the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in September, which brought together more than 3,500 church leaders and representatives in Karlsruhe, Germany, under the theme “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity.”

The Salvation Army group included Commissioner Jane Paone, Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations at International Headquarters (IHQ), who headed the Army’s delegation; Commissioner Vibeke Krommenhoek, Officer for European Ecumenical Relations (IHQ); Lt. Colonel Bishwo Samhika, Secretary for Capability Development and Training (IHQ); and from the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, Lt. Colonel Karen Shakespeare, Lt. Colonel Jonathan Roberts and Lt. Jonny Whitmore.

“It became clear over these days

that the only way to reach our fractured world is for each follower of Christ to show his or her love to the world, beginning with his or her neighbor,” Paone said.

The Salvation Army is an observ-

er member of the WCC, which was founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. An assembly typically occurs every eight years. The last assembly took place in Busan, Korea, in 2013. NFC

‘Limitless God’: International Conference of Leaders 2022 Leaders of The Salvation Army’s 58 territories and commands gathered in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 24–Oct. 1 for the 2022 International Conference of Leaders (ICL), themed “Limitless God.” Although hybrid, this was the first in-person such gathering since 2017, and the first led by General Brian Peddle.

During the conference, officers examined a range of practical and theological issues. This year’s group considered how the international Salvation Army can best meet its mission in the 21st century, with a focus on “Our Identity,” “Our People” and “Our Priorities.”

As the conference began, the General spoke of the importance of discernment, of being able to recognize the Army’s strengths and weaknesses. “We are charged with intentionally and critically examining whether the movement is fit for purpose in today’s world,” he said. “Fruitful deliberation should help us to ultimately shape a strategy to help The Salvation Army flourish and meet the needs of the most vulnerable without prejudice or discrimination.” NFC

Salvation Army hosts soccer tournament The Salvation Army United Kingdom hosted its 11th annual soccer tournament in Manchester for those experiencing homelessness. Over 20 teams came together to participate, including players from housing shelters, outreach programs and Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA) services, all of which provide support to those in need.

The annual tournament is one of the many ways The Salvation Army promotes positive and independent living for its service users, while reinforcing its message that helping people to move on from

homelessness is more than just providing a home.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag attended the event as a special guest. “It was fantastic to attend today’s event in Manchester with The Salvation Army. The organization does great work in supporting homeless people to rebuild their lives,” he said. “Homelessness is a difficult problem in our city and anything I can do to raise awareness is important. It was great to see everyone playing football (soccer) together, showing energy, spirit and teamwork to promote well-being.” NFC

KNOW YOUR ARMY

NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

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The Light Will Come The Advent season guides us through four weeks of contemplation and response to the true reality of Christmas—Jesus sent to earth as a gift from God the Father. Advent invites us to know Jesus as more than a historical figure, wise teacher or good man. It invites us into the journey of knowing Jesus as The Rescue, The Remedy and The Savior of a broken world.

WEEK 1| NOV. 27–DEC. 3

WEEK 2| DEC. 4–10

WEEK 3| DEC. 11–17

WEEK 4| DEC. 18–24

Jesus is hope

Jesus is peace

Jesus is joy

Jesus is love

SOMETIMES WE WORRY. Sometimes we’re afraid. Sometimes we have hard questions that go unanswered. Sometimes we struggle and don’t feel like anyone is able to help us. When we experience the “hard stuff” of this life, it’s important to have hope. And Jesus came that we might cast our cares on him because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

GOD KNEW from the beginning that he would provide a way for humanity to know and have a relationship with him. The Way was (and is) Jesus! God sent Jesus to the world as a baby. But he also came as an unstoppable force.

As he grew, learned and lived as both God and human, he became familiar with the deep need of our world.

Jesus knew because he was with us.

He came to disrupt unfair power systems, bring justice to those who were treated unfairly and be peace for all people.

SIMPLY PUT, joy comes from Jesus.

Jesus isn’t wishy washy like our feelings. Scripture says he will never leave nor forsake us, so even on our worst days or ugliest moments Jesus is with us, helping us, and reminding us that he is good! Jesus took on every ugly, deceitful, shameful, selfish, prideful and broken part of us. He died for us and rose back to life three days later, showing that God’s power to overthrow sin and death was real, was for everyone and would enable us to do the same. Joy is rooted in this reality: Jesus freed us from sin.

WE UNDERSTAND that God’s best laid plan for humankind to know his love was by giving us his son, Jesus.

This action was selfless, gracious and full of compassion. God gave us everything when he gave us Jesus. His only and beloved son. What a gift we have been given.

Jo i n t h e A dve n t jo u r n e y Get on the list now for The Light Will Come: A 28-Day Advent Journey for Families. It has everything you need for preparing for the coming of Jesus with increasing expectation for the genuine gift. Along the way, we’ll send you a simple, daily email to help guide you through the journey, starting the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27.

Join today at caringmagazine.org/advent

SEE MORE about the impact of The Salvation Army and how you can

help Fight for Good today at caringmagazine.org.

16 NEW FRONTIER CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

Order these free customizable resources to spread the news in your community about what can be found at The Salvation Army.

Banners

Posters

Lawn Signs

Postcards

Information Cards

Stickers

Soldiers…ask your corps officers about the information cards you can have in your wallet to share with people who need our services, or want to know more about our Worship services.

FIND JOY, HOPE, YOUR PLACE and YOUR PURPOSE today!