vol. 1 • no. 1 | March 2013
sayconnect.com The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Youth Department
Unexpected—Youth Councils 2013 Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division youth come home to Jesus. BY GINA HALVERSON, CAPTAIN “Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world” (Exo. 34:10 NIV). Wonders never cease, especially when Christ is in control. The Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Divisional Youth Councils began with Captain Roy Wild, Western territorial
youth secretary, speaking on “unexpected forgiveness.” Delegates bowed their heads and knelt, opening their hearts to a weekend of growth in the Lord. The next morning, the youth woke to the “unexpected” surprise of seeing their dinner, a full pig, roasting on a spit. First, though, they had workshops to attend. One was a hike and devotional on giving all your worries and burdens to Christ. Delegates threw a rock over a cliff symbolizing the release of their burdens. Other workshops, led by officers, youth leaders, Revolution Hawaii participants and a dorm student (a divisional head-
quarters-run program for Salvationist college students), included spear fishing, crafts, ukulele, hula and multimedia (search YouTube for “The Homelani Harlem Shake Saga”). Each workshop related its activity to Scripture. The Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Gospel Choir opened the Saturday evening activities at the Kroc Center. A local Christian rap group, “Bridging the G.A.P,” also performed. Andy Gross, a comic/ magician/illusionist/ventriloquist stole the show with his act and had everyone roaring with laughter by using Captain Wild as his puppet.
Pine Summit hosts young adult retreat Sierra del Mar youth explore Scripture and serve in “family” groups.
Kroc Center, the Albuquerque Citadel and the Las Vegas Citadel. Each rally began with troop and uniform inspections. The boldness with which the young people participated showed that they already had an understanding of the theme of the day. In what has become a tradition for the Southwest Division, we hosted a Trash Bag Fashion Show—a real red carpet affair. Believing in everyone’s ability to participate, we asked the kids from each corps to dress up their youth leaders in the BRAVE-est costumes they could create, using items such as painter’s tape, fuzzy bottle cleaners, clothes hangers, birthday party hats and other random items—including, of course, trash bags. The youth leaders then had to walk down the runway, one-byone, to be judged by the crowd. One unexpected
BY KRYSTINA MACIAS The Salvation Army’s Pine Summit Camp, Big Bear Lake, Calif., welcomed over 120 young adults from the Sierra del Mar Division for a retreat designed to explore the ways in which Jesus “covers” them. The weekend began with praise music from Remanente, before delegates were placed in “family” groups that met every day, when they dug deeper into what it means to cover others with friendship. Special guest Rob Noland, director of Revolution Hawaii, spoke on Saturday morning. “Talk is cheap, love has feet,” he said, explaining that loving our neighbors really means loving those who are not liked, who are broken and hungry for love. “I loved his explanation of discipleship—living and loving like Jesus did,” delegate Matthew Ball said. Family groups were challenged to cover others in love. Groups went into the city, passing out toiletries, water, hugs and prayer, and offering a dollar to hear people’s stories. Later, Majors John and Pam Brackenbury, territorial candidates’ secretaries, led the marriage track while Noland led one for singles. With a focus on Psalm 32:1, Captain Lynn Stewart, divisional youth and candidates’ secretary, reminded attendees of the
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Brave in the Southwest Three youth rallies held across the division. BY ANTHONY BARNES, LIEUTENANT What does it mean to be BRAVE? That was the question put to the youth of the Southwest Division. The theme of this year’s divisional youth rally was “BRAVE”—a play on the title of Disney’s 2012 summer blockbuster movie. Much like the movie, the rally came complete with curly red wigs, bows and arrows, bagpipes and even bears! Participants sang songs, played games, and issued BRAVE challenges, but that’s not all. The division hosts three regional youth rallies in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. The specific locations change from year to year; this year the rallies were held at the Phoenix South Mountain
Lt. Colonels Doug and Diane O’Brien shared God’s Word on Sunday morning with power and conviction. The altar call reflected the weekend’s goal of coming to Jesus, when wonders never seen before start becoming clear. The altar overflowed with individuals giving or rededicating their lives to the Lord. “I left camp feeling re-energized and refreshed in Christ,” said Jessica Gazmen (Kahului Corps), “ and I am very blessed to have gone and experienced this wonderful life-changing event.” To watch the weekend rewind video, search YouTube for “Rewind/HIPA.”