SAconnects, Volume 2, Number 8

VOL. 2, NO. 8 • OCTOBER 2016

the magazine

play it

LOUD, fortissimo! page 7

the ministry

of Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings page 12

an interview with General André and Commissioner Sylvia Cox page 22 SACONNECTS.ORG

“We are happy that our money, when we are gone, will be used to further the cause and mission of The Salvation Army.”

– Jeannette & Michael

on remembering The Salvation Army in your will

16PG5SA110

our leaders

IN focus

REFORMATION Remembered A Cinco Siglos de la REFORMA It was a brisk day on October 31, 1517, in Wittenberg, Germany. An Augustinian monk walked up to a church door with a document, a hammer, and some nails in hand. On this historic day, he purposefully affixed the paper to the door. As he walked away, onlookers could see his 95 theses (protests) written above his signature: “Martin Luther.”

In the past, other people had taken similar actions, as this was a common practice to solicit debate on topics of the day. But the content of Martin Luther’s theses struck at the very heart of Church practice. He had but one desire— to bring the Church back to its scriptural foundation. Thus began the great “Protestant Reformation.”

Next year will mark the 500th anniversary of this great moment in Church and world history. It was Martin Luther’s desire to remind everyone of the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who wrote that we are all “saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). It is upon this truth that The Salvation Army bases its 8th doctrine, “Justification comes by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hallelujah!

I love the old song of the Church, “Grace there is my every debt to pay. Blood that washes every sin away. Power to keep me spotless day by day. In Christ for me!”* The people of 1517 heard Martin Luther’s call to reform their beliefs. Today, it is my prayer that you too will experience for yourself that grace of God by putting your faith in Him.

Era un día de aire fresco ese 31 de octubre de 1517 en Wittenberg, Alemania. Un monje agustino de ese pueblo se dirigió hacia la puerta de una iglesia con un documento, un martillo y unos clavos en las manos. En ese día histórico, el monje clavó en la puerta —con determinación— aquel documento. Una vez que se fue, los espectadores se acercaron y leyeron sus 95 tesis (protestas), con su firma debajo: “Martín Lutero”.

En el pasado, otros hicieron acciones similares, pues era una práctica común solicitar de esa manera un debate sobre los asuntos candentes del momento. Pero el contenido de las tesis de Martín Lutero asestaba un golpe al corazón mismo de las prácticas de la Iglesia. Su deseo era uno solo: hacer que la Iglesia regresara a sus fundamentos bíblicos.

Fue así como se dio inicio a la gran “Reforma Protestante”.

El próximo año marcará el 500avo aniversario de este gran momento en la historia de la Iglesia y del mundo. Fue el deseo de Martín Lutero recordarles a todas las personas las enseñanzas del apóstol Pablo, que escribió que “por gracia ustedes [nosotros] han sido salvados mediante la fe; esto no procede de ustedes, sino que es el regalo de Dios “ (Efesios 2:8). Es sobre esta verdad que el Ejército de Salvación basa su 8a doctrina: “Creemos que somos justificados por gracia mediante la fe en nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y que el que cree tiene el testimonio de ello en sí mismo”. ¡Aleluya!

Me encanta esa antigua canción de la Iglesia que dice: “Gracia hay que paga mi deber, sangre hay que quita mi maldad; fuerza que me guarda en santidad, en ti, Señor”.* Todas esas personas que vivían ese año de 1517 escucharon el llamado de Martín Lutero a reformar sus creencias. Hoy, mi oración es que ustedes también experimenten esa gracia de Dios creyendo en Él.

— Colonel / Coronel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr. Chief Secretary / Secretario en Jefe

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*Herbert Howard Booth (1862–1926)

2016 OCTOBER

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TRADE … OUR MISSION … IS YOUR MINISTRY!

usetrade

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words of life, is The Salvation Army’s daily Bible reading notes series. Use it to enhance your private devotional time, or with a group.

Offer God’s word, and you offer something ever–lasting.

The 2017 edition includes the following features designed to enhance your daily devotional reading:  prayer  guest segments  points to ponder  and a 4 month plan keyed to the church year

subscriptions available contact the Eastern Territory Trade Dept.

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6 ry- april 201

Vol. 2, No. 8

CONTENTS OCTOBER 2016

IN focus

12

1 our leaders 4 from the editor 6 sound doctrine 5

ON file

5 relevents Bill Burke, National Advisory Board chair, talks about his love for The Salvation Army.

28

unity

28

Soldier Ada Laporte, who survived a brutal knife attack, received a second chance at life and with God. 30 wholly living

Walk, pray, rest. Discover how these activities can greatly improve your physical and spiritual life.

32 profile

features

7 Play it loud, fortissimo!

30 22

Bandmaster and Territorial Music Director Ronald Waiksnoris retires this year and will leave a rich legacy.

The General and Commissioner Cox talk about ‘mobilizing’ the Army.

32

24 ‘I had the best

26

26 Q&A Cover: Ryan Love

The General and Commissioner Silvia Cox brought powerful messages to the Seaside Pavilion, installed terrritorial leaders, and participated in a “March of Witness.” A spectacular Pier Ministry mesmerized a record number of onlookers.

18 RISE–ing Above

job in the Army’ Betty Blankenship, a THQ staple for decades, retires.

Her story is an amazing journey of service.

The Fortissimo Music Program in Puerto Rico has brought young soldiers (and their parents) to The Salvation Army and to the Lord.

12 ‘Sonrise’ at OOB

FAITH in ACTION 22 An Interview

COVER STORY

Lieutenant Giovanni Romero reflects on his visit to Honduras, the place of his birth.

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Her Past

A heroin addiction thrusted “Angel” into the streets to work as a prostitute. But a Salvation Army program in Toledo, Ohio, has put her on the path to a better life.

Para leer más artículos en español por favor visite

SACONNECTS.ORG/ENESPANOL

2016 OCTOBER

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IN focus

from the editor

what’s happening at

THINK: ‘thanks’ ¡DEMOS GRACIAS! In this election year, it’s easy to be distracted by the political and social tension in our nation and overlook how everyday blessings truly sustain us.

In the next SAConnects, you’ll be encouraged to make your spiritual calling and election sure by thinking about and by thanking God. You’ll read inspiring stories featuring people whose lives have been miraculously transformed. Their testimonies will help you refocus on what actually matters.

For instance, Jerome Wray, a youth counselor at Camp Swoneky, will talk about how the sport of archery has opened a thrilling door to ministry. He’ll share the advice he gives other counselors. He’ll also talk about Amy, his life partner who, during their two years of marriage, has helped strengthen his connection with God. You’ll read about The Salvation Army’s Middletown (Citadel), Ohio, Corps. Renowned for sending soldiers to the College for Officer Training, it’s now home to the “Safe House.”

Through this successful program, God’s children seek help with addiction and reconnect with family. Together they walk a new path to become everything God created them to be.

Together with other exciting stories, such as the Territorial Arts Ministries (TAM) Conservatory Finale, you’ll also receive an effective tool designed to help you think of November as 30 days of pure thankfulness!

— Warren L. Maye Editor in Chief / Editor en Jefe

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En este año de elecciones es fácil distraerse con la tensión política y social que se vive en nuestro país, y olvidar las bendiciones cotidianas que realmente nos sostienen.

En el próximo SAConnects, te animarás a asegurarte de tu llamado y tu elección espiritual meditando en Dios y dándole gracias.

Leerás historias inspiradoras sobre personas cuyas vidas han sido milagrosamente transformadas. Sus testimonios te ayudarán a reenfocarte en lo que en verdad importa.

Por ejemplo, el orientador juvenil del Campamento Swoneky, Jerome Wray, disertará sobre la manera en que el deporte del tiro con arco ha abierto una puerta emocionante al ministerio.

También hablará sobre Amy, su compañera de vida que durante sus dos años de matrimonio le ha ayudado a fortalecer su conexión con Dios.

También leerás acerca del Cuerpo (Citadel) de Middletown, Ohio. Conocido por enviar soldados al Colegio de Entrenamiento para Oficiales, hoy es albergue del programa “Safe House” (“Lugar Seguro”).

A través de este exitoso programa, los hijos de Dios buscan ayuda con su adicción a las drogas y se reconectan con sus familias.

Entre otros relatos apasionantes, como el del gran final del Conservatorio de los Ministerios Territoriales de Artes (TAM, por sus siglas en inglés), también recibirás una herramienta de gran utilidad diseñada para ayudarte a pensar en noviembre como en los ¡treinta días de pura acción de gracias!

WATCH EVENTS LIVE! Did you know you can watch our territory’s live events online? From wherever you are in the world, you can enjoy the action as it happens!

Our next live event is FUEGO, (FIRE), a catalyst experience for young adults. It will air from October 7–10.

Watch here: SAConnects.org/live

Did you miss IT? See past livestreams from Commissioning Weekend, the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings, Star Lake Musicamp, Territorial Arts Ministries (TAM) Conservatory, the Welcome to Cadets, and inspirational messages from our territorial leaders.

Watch here: SAConnects.org/live

the magazine

Find all our issues in one place!

Digital versions of SACONNECTS, the magazine are available on SAConnects.org.

Go now to: SAConnects.org/category /saconnects-mag/digital-edition

Need RESOURCES? You’ll access pages on the arts, Mission & Culture, Salvation Factory, Strikepoint, Women’s Ministries, Spiritual Life Development, and more!

relevents

ON file

interview by Hugo Bravo

Bill Burke, the Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board chair, and senior V.P. of marketing for Nationwide Insurance, talks about his visit to Israel and the Army’s presence in his hometown.

When I was a teenager, I attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Manhattan, a private high school and seminary for young men like me who were interested in the priesthood. Though eventually I realized that the call was not for me, many of the principles I learned in Cathedral Prep have driven my love for The Salvation Army.

I specifically admire its correlation between loving the Lord and doing work for the Lord. The Army has been an outstanding outlet for me to do work for God.

I recently met Captains Cilianise and Luxene Claircius of the Yonkers (Citadel), N.Y., Corps. Marianne and I are from Yonkers, and we were interested in hearing about the Army in our hometown. The captains told us about the gang problem happening there, which I had not been aware of, and about the sports ministry at the corps. The Clairciuses invite local kids to participate. The opportunity provides an oasis for them amid a life on the streets, if just for an evening or even a few hours. The Army’s presence in Yonkers is a good reminder that neighborhoods from your past may change, but it’s in those changing neighborhoods where The Salvation Army does its best and most important work.

My wife Marianne and I love traveling. As empty nesters, we’re enjoying just being in each other’s company.

It’s like dating all over again! Of all our trips, two have been most memorable. The first took us to London last July for the Boundless International Congress. It was a blessing to witness such a historic event for The Salvation Army. The second one was a 9–day tour of Israel in 1999, from Lebanon to Mt. Sinai. We walked the path that Christ walked, from Jericho to Jerusalem. The book of Matthew tells the story of Jesus giving His sermon atop a mountain. We stood by the Sea of Galilee, where archaeologists believe Christ stood and addressed the people. It was such an amazing opportunity to see and understand the Bible in a new dimension.

Photos by Ryan Love

Reading a Psalm a day has been a wonderful source of inspiration for me. The book of Psalms offers practical elements for one’s life. In it are beautiful verses about placing your trust in God, as did King David. When I have my first cup of coffee in the morning, and I do my Bible study, I read those psalms and say to myself, I am going to trust God all day. The writers of these psalms trusted the Lord, and I will too.

Nine years ago, I completed a Master’s degree in ministry at Grace College and Theological Seminary. I enjoyed learning and studying ministry. As my retirement approaches, Marianne and I have been trying to figure out what’s next for us. We don’t have an answer yet, but we look forward to the morning when we wake up and the Holy Spirit tells us, “Bill and Marianne, this is what I have planned for you.”

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2016 OCTOBER

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IN focus

Sound Doctrine

by Colonel Richard Munn

the magazine

“Los tres pilares de la Iglesia” La Iglesia se describe, en las Escrituras, de diversas maneras: como un Cuerpo, un templo, una familia y como una viña. Cada una de estas imágenes destaca una faceta particular de la ekklesía, de “los llamados”, a los que el Arzobispo William Temple describiera como “la única institución que existe primordialmente para el beneficio de aquellos que no son sus miembros”.

Si bien hay muchos modelos eclesiásticos, son tres los pilares clásicos que los salvacionistas más valoran y que gozan de reconocimiento universal: Euangelion – “El evangelismo” significa proclamar a Jesucristo como Dios y Salvador; y, además, persuadir a las personas a que se conviertan en Sus seguidores y se integren a Su Iglesia. Esa es la esencia del Evangelio y el alma de la Iglesia.

Didajé – “La enseñanza” es un ministerio esencial de la Iglesia que comienza desde que las personas se nutren de la “leche” espiritual hasta que pueden nutrirse de la “carne” espiritual, conforme pasan de la niñez a la adultez.

Se trata de un proceso de maduración en los aspectos más sutiles de la fe e incluye el ministerio sin par de la Iglesia, consistente en educar a las personas a través del mundo y a lo largo de los siglos.

Diakonía – “El servicio” está conformado de un aspecto exterior que se manifiesta en acciones dirigidas a otras personas y un aspecto interior centrado en la actitud espiritual. Los incontables actos de bondad y las expresiones creativas de caridad hacia las personas son una de las manifestaciones más queridas del cristianismo.

Por cierto, a Jesús se le describe como alguien que “enseña, predica y sana; uno que modela esas gracias esenciales”.

El antiguo General John Gowans tenía eso muy claro: “Salva almas, forma santos, sirve a la humanidad sufriente”. ¿Cuán sólidos son estos tres pilares en tu Cuerpo?

‘ Three pillars of the Church’ The Church is variously depicted in Scripture as a body, a temple, a household, and a vine. Each image highlights a particular facet of the ekklesia, the “called out ones,” described

by Archbishop William Temple as “the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.”

While there are many ecclesiological models, three classic pillars are near and dear to Salvationists and are universally recognized: Euangelion – “Evangelism” is proclaiming Jesus Christ as God and Savior and persuading people to become His followers and members of His Church. It is the essence of the Gospel and the lifeblood of the Church.

Didache – “Teaching” is a vital ministry of the Church as people move from spiritual “milk” to spiritual “meat” and from childhood to adulthood. This involves growth in the subtle matters of faith and includes the Church’s unmatched ministry of educating people across the world and throughout the centuries.

Diakonia – “Service” includes both outward actions towards others and an inner attitude of spirit. Countless acts of kindness and creative expressions of charity towards people are a much– loved hallmark of Christianity.

Of course, Jesus, who is described as “teaching, preaching, and healing, models these strong graces.” (LK 9:35) Former General John Gowans got it right on—“Save souls, grow saints, serve suffering humanity.”

How sturdy are the pillars in your corps?

your connection to The Salvation Army

USA EASTERN TERRITORY TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr. COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Colonel Janice A. Howard EDITOR IN CHIEF Warren L. Maye MANAGING EDITOR Robert Mitchell EDITOR / HISPANIC CORRESPONDENT Hugo Bravo KOREAN EDITOR Lt. Colonel Chongwon D. Kim ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines PUBLICATION MANAGING DESIGNER Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Keri Johnson, Karena Lin, Joe Marino CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Lotz, Major Young Sung Kim CIRCULATION Deloris Hansen COMMAND NEWS CORRESPONDENTS ARCC Major Charles Deitrick

PENDEL R andall Thomas Major Kathryn A. Avery EMP Jaye C. Jones

GNY Major Susan Wittenberg MASS Drew Forster

NNE Cheryl Poulopoulos PR & VI Linette Luna SNE James Gordon

WEPASA Captain Kimberly DeLong NJ Siran Farrar

Territorial Music Liaison Ronald Waiksnoris

Territorial Youth Liaison Captain Gillian Rogers New command correspondents will be appointed soon for

CFOT, NEOSA, SWONEKY

THE SALVATION ARMY

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

SAConnects is published monthly by The Salvation Army USA’s Eastern Territory. Bulk rate is $12.00 per month for 25–100 copies.

Single subscriptions are available. Write to: SAConnects, The Salvation Army, 440 W. Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739.

Vol. 2, No. 8, October Issue 2016. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SAConnects, 440 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAConnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2016 by The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory. Articles may be reprinted only with written permission.

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OCTOBER 2016

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Play it loud,

fortissimo!

by Hugo Bravo

photography by Ryan Love

In 2007, Majors Richard and Linda López, then corps officers at the Salvation Army’s San Juan Corps in Puerto Rico, saw a need for music education in the community. So, they started a program and called it fortissimo, which means to play a note at its loudest.

Around 200 students in 10 of the 13 corps in Puerto Rico study the courses.

Fortissimo began with instruction in brass and percussion and has evolved to include electric guitar, bass, vocal classes, and electronic instruments. Some corps also offer lessons in dance, drama, and art. It’s common to see a Fortissimo student play in the worship band on Sunday, run backstage to change into a drama outfit for the next performance, and then change back into his or her band uniform for the final number.

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2016 OCTOBER

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“ I tell the students who are starting out, ‘You may not be the best musician today, but remember that you are playing that instrument for God. When you give it your best, and you do it for the Lord, you will succeed.” — Soldier Richard D. López

MABEL AND RICHARD

“We connect the meaning of fortissimo to everything we do—give your best effort to the Lord,” says Soldier Richard D. López, the oldest son of the Majors López, and divisional music director of the Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands Division.

He’s also the teacher and bandmaster of the Fortissimo Music Program in San Juan. Together with his wife, Soldier Mabel López, divisional arts director for the San Juan Corps, they introduce music and arts education to families.

“Mabel and I are in charge of spreading Fortissimo across the island. We’re the teachers everywhere with the exception of the Guayama and Fajardo corps. One day we’re in Bayamon, the next day, we’re in Ponce.”

The long days would take a toll on any couple, but Richard and Mabel accepted the responsibility and see it as time to share in what they love.

“God wants us to be here. Fortissimo is so much bigger than just us,” said Mabel.

A COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Fortissimo employs a staff of coordinators who handle the day–to–day business of running the island–wide music program. This leaves the teachers free to focus solely on the children. The corps officers are free to spend time with parents.

At first, they responded apprehensively to their introduction

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OCTOBER 2016

to The Salvation Army. But when crowds at Fortissimo performances grew larger, their trust in the Army grew too.

“Even though the program is relatively young, we’ve seen Fortissimo become the biggest tool for bringing the community to our corps,” said Richard D. López. “Many of our students begin knowing nothing about the Army, and eventually ask how they can become junior soldiers. After that happens, their parents also want to become soldiers. They see their peers participate in the church and they want to be part of it.

Both kids and parents see the bigger picture in what we do.”

“Discipleship happens in those classrooms,” said Mabel López. “The students see their teachers connect with them and with God through their art and through their lives.”

“We have 8–year–olds who finish their music lesson and then go work on a community project with members of the corps,” says Richard. He recalls a time when Fortissimo students in San Juan planned a canteen/concert event for the homeless. Many of the students were so busy with the planning, they neglected to bring sheet music.

“Fortunately, they played from memory,” says Richard, laughing.

Some parents have developed their own interest in Fortissimo.

They’ve progressed from encouraging their sons and daughters at Sunday performances to also wanting to perform.

“Though most Fortissimo students are under 18, many parents

Ashley, 13

“

Baritone Guayama Kroc Center

I like to play baritone because it has a unique sound. It’s between the high notes and low notes.

When I play for God, I feel as if my guardian angel is beside me.

” Leisha, 12

“

Cornet San Juan Corps

Leisha is one of four Fortissimo students who was recently accepted into the Puerto Rico School of Music.

She’s tiny with an infectious smile, but the music she creates surprises everyone.

”

—Richard López

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2016 OCTOBER

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Jonathan, 13

“

Percussion San Juan Corps

It gives me great joy and pride to play for God. He is our Savior and any talent that I have comes from Him.

”

Maria, 8

“

Alto Horn San Juan Corps

When I traveled to Hershey, Pa., for Star Search, I was so nervous. I didn’t know if I was going to do well enough to win. But my brother [Jonathan] was confident. He said he knew we would both win. And we did!

”

“ It surprises many parents to see their children get these kinds of lessons and opportunities through The Salvation Army,” — Soldier Ricardo Colon

now want to play piano, cornet, and alto,” said Richard. “They see their kids enjoying it and they want that opportunity too.”

THE GUAYAMA KROC CENTER

Fifty–six miles south of San Juan, Soldier Ricardo Colon, the Fortissimo Music Program coordinator at the Guayama Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Guayama, teaches lessons to children of varying ages and levels of experience.

The center is home to the second largest Fortissimo program on the island (San Juan has the largest).

Colon had been a high school music teacher. Richard D. López and his siblings were former students. Colon also got to know their parents, Majors Richard and Linda. In 2009, he

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OCTOBER 2016

accompanied them to the Star Search Finals (music awards) on the mainland. It was there Colon saw the Army at work with kids. “It was like a movement,” he remembers.

Colon’s attendance at the San Juan Corps Sunday service became a regular occurrence. Although his church had a robust music program, he became a Salvation Army soldier and a Fortissimo teacher. When a Fortissimo program began at the Guayama Kroc Center, the Lópezes gave Colon their blessing to apply for the job of teacher in a new corps.

“Fortissimo is the only arts program we have in the Kroc Center,” said Colon. “Everything else is sports–related. But thanks to our Fortissimo performances, we can expose the Kroc Center to the community. [This music] is not just part of our worship; it reaches out to souls who may not know God or the Army.”

Teaching Fortissimo has strengthened Colon’s personal connection with God. “On my way to class, I pray to God for help,” says Colon. “Not just for help teaching notes and rhythm, but so I can also be an example to my students. [I want them] to be good people and members of society. [I want them] to also take into adulthood the lessons and values they learned in Fortissimo and in the Army.”

A PROGRAM FOR CHANGE

“Fortissimo in every corps in Puerto Rico was my dream,” said Richard D. López. “And now, we’re close. When we reach every corps, perhaps this program will expand to other Latin American countries. Through their corps, Fortissimo might become an international brand.”

“A program like Fortissimo can change a place like Puerto Rico,” said Mabel.

“It can bring hope to communities and opportunity to young people and their families. Pick up an instrument or learn a new art form, even for just a few hours. Doing so can help one forget the problems at home or in one’s country.”

Fortissimo has enriched lives, spiritually and artistically.

Its students grow through Salvation Army Star Search, Star Lake Music Camp, and the Territorial Arts Ministries (TAM) conservatory.

A few students have been accepted into the Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan, a school focusing on music education. Richard D. López says those accomplished pupils still make time in their busy schedules for The Salvation Army and for Fortissimo.

“We know Fortissimo has become more to them than just music,” said Richard, smiling. “After school, they could just go home. Yet, they come back, wanting to practice, help, and teach. When the music class is over, they still want to be part of our Salvation Army family.”

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Al máximo de volumen.

¡fortissimo!

Durante casi 10 años, el programa de música Fortissimo ha enriquecido a innumerables personas a través de la música y el arte. Los Mayores Richard y Linda López lo comenzaron en el Cuerpo de San Juan del Ejército de Salvación en Puerto Rico. Actualmente, el hijo mayor de los López, el Soldado Richard D. López y su esposa, la Soldada Mabel López, continúan la obra que comenzaron los Mayores. De los 13 Cuerpos en Puerto Rico, 10 cuentan con programas Fortissimo.

El Soldado Richard López lo explicó de la siguiente manera: “La palabra Fortissimo, tal como se usa en la música, significa tocar tu instrumento musical al máximo volumen. El concepto también se puede hacer extensivo a la vida en la medida en que debes darle tu máximo esfuerzo a Dios en todo lo que hagas”.

Puesto que se trata de un ministerio de evangelización y de discipulado no menos que de un programa de música, Fortissimo ha logrado atraer al mismo tiempo talentos y nuevas almas al Ejército. Con el tiempo, los estudiantes se convierten en jóvenes soldados. Cuando los padres ven la alegría en los rostros de sus hijos e hijas, llegan a participar activamente en la iglesia.

La influencia del programa Fortissimo se ha extendido por toda la isla hasta lugares como el Cuerpo y Centro Comunitario Ray & Joan Kroc de Guayama. Ahí se imparten lecciones de banda, además de otros programas.

“Fortissimo ayuda a conectar la comunidad con la iglesia”, afirma el Soldado Ricardo Colón, antiguo maestro de música de López. En la actualidad, Colón es el coordinador del programa de música Fortissimo para el Centro Kroc de Guayama. “Gracias a las presentaciones musicales del programa Fortissimo, hemos logrado acercar al Centro Kroc y al Ejército de Salvación a Guayama”, comentó Colón.

Algunos estudiantes fueron aceptados en escuelas de música en Puerto Rico debido al entrenamiento musical que recibieron en el programa Fortissimo. A pesar de un currículo cargado, comenta Richard D. López, estos estudiantes aun dedican tiempo al programa Fortissimo y al Cuerpo del Ejército de Salvación.

Este es un resumen del artículo. Para leerlo completo en español, por favor visite saconnects.org/enespanol .

2016 OCTOBER

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‘Sonrise’ at OOB People in record numbers hear the Gospel at Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings 2016

Warren L. Maye, Robert Mitchell, and Hugo Bravo contributed to this story. Photography by Ryan Love.

Salvationists attending the 134th Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Camp Meetings literally marched into the history books. Record numbers of vacationers and Salvationists gathered at the Pier to see a “March of Witness” that included the New York Staff Band (NYSB) and newly appointed leaders of the USA Eastern Territory. Every evening at this venue, the most spectacular Army meetings ever held there captured the imagination of onlookers.

At the Seaside Pavilion, General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, world president of Women’s Ministries, led an intimate but packed meeting. Opening night was historic, featuring the installation of Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford as leaders of the USA Eastern Territory. Commissioner William Bamford III now serves as territorial commander and Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford as the president of Women’s Ministries.

Following the Bamfords’ installation, the General also recognized Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Jr., as the new chief secretary and Colonel Paula Johnson, as the secretary for Women’s Ministries.

Among the capacity crowd were many Salvationists and beneficiaries of the Adult Rehabilitation Centers.

The New York Staff Band, the Eastern Territorial Songsters, the ARC Chorus, and the Massed Chorus set a worshipful tone. The General delivered a thoughtful and sobering message, challenging Salvationists to appreciate their history, to contemplate their future, but to fully engage in the present, facing the problems of today’s world with a soldier’s spirit.

During the meetings, the territory paid a musical tribute to Ronald Waiksnoris, New York Staff Band bandmaster and territorial music secretary, who will retire this year. The NYSB and the Eastern Territorial Songsters performed a concert in his honor. Via a video presentation, Waiksnoris and the entire audience saw his 41–year career flash before their eyes in pictures, narration, and heartfelt greetings from Salvation Army leaders, composers, bandmasters, and friends from around the world.

Commissioner Bamford remembers ‘the call.’

Leading his first Old Orchard Beach camp meeting as commander of the USA Eastern Territory, Commissioner William A. Bamford III reflected on his call to officership, which he received 33 years ago at the Pavilion.

“It was right here where I stood when God called me,” Bamford said on the stage.

“I happened to walk in with my wife through the back of this place. God then called us to full–time ministry.

Why we were here that night in 1983, I have no idea. God knew, though, and here I stand today.”

Bamford, with arms wide, looked past the spotlights and into the audience and said, “This evening is about being obedient.”

2016 OCTOBER

13

The Seaside Pavillion

Using your gifts Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings exceeded my expectations. I am grateful for the opportunity to share a stage with so many diversely talented people and to meet others from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Our performances were focused on the community. We reached out to people who are not Salvationists and who don’t know all that The Salvation Army does.

At Old Orchard Beach, I used my talents for God’s purpose. Proverbs 18:16 says that our gifts will make room for us. I am grateful that I can use my gift to earn a living. But nothing feels as right as using it to give back to the Lord and to spread His message. No paycheck compares to that.

The Salvation Army is responsible for so much transformation in people’s lives. As an artist, such change is the reason I do what I do.

— J’Maine Jones (far right) is a musician from Toronto, Canada.

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OCTOBER 2016

Open Bibles on the beach, at pavilion Daily Bible studies on the beach and in the pavilion kept many Old Orchard Beach (OOB) camp meeting delegates in the Word.

A warm sun, soft sand, and a cool breeze framed the beach Bible studies led by Lieutenants Felix and Lorissa Padilla, assistant corps officers at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Dayton, Ohio.

Commissioners Judy and Steven Hedgren, former leaders of the Eastern Territory, led the Pavilion Bible study. They focused on leadership and drew their insightful lessons from the life of Moses.

Commissioner Steven Hedgren, who has battled cancer in recent years, said for the past year, he has been off chemotherapy. He and Commissioner Judy Hedgren have been traveling and speaking at retreats and at other events.

“I’m doing terrific,” Commissioner Steve said. “I’m in what you might call ‘remission,’ though the doctors don’t call it that. The cancer is still in my system, but it’s asleep, basically.

“It’s been the prayers of people that have generated such a wonderful feeling in Judy and in me. We’re telling people what God is doing in our lives.”

Lessons from ‘Moses’ For Oracia Morris (left, center), the presentation of “Moses” at this year’s Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings was far more than just another performance. She saw it as a teachable moment.

“It’s the story of how God used an ordinary man who stuttered,” Morris says. “God used someone like that to set His people free. It teaches us how He uses anyone to get His message across or to help His people.

“I think that message—He uses anyone—is important.”

Morris, who grew up in the Bahamas as the child of officers, plays several roles in “Moses,” billed as “Thirty Minutes of Original Music and Movement.” A large, appreciative crowd filled the pavilion. Morris hopes everyone got the message.

“God is real,” she says. “He works within our lives and He sets us free from our addictions and problems.”

The Creative Arts Services Team (CAST) presented “Moses.” Josh Pelletier, Bethany Kelly, Olivia Renkel, Jonathan George, Sarah George, Alex Voeller, Zachary Kelly, Oracia Morris, Laura Hevenor, and Hannah Furman were the actors. Ian Evans leads CAST.

What is God calling you to do?

It was hard to miss hearing or seeing something about the biblical Moses at this year’s Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings.

During the daily Bible study, Commissioners Judy and Steven Hedgren, former territorial leaders, used anecdotes from the life of Moses to teach listeners about leadership.

On the first Wednesday night of the meetings, The Creative Arts Services Team (CAST) “wowed” the audience with a cinematic and live–action production called “Moses.”

To close the camp meetings on the second Friday at the pavilion, best–selling author and motivational speaker Ken Davis (right) issued a challenge using the story of Moses.

Davis, who had studied to be in ministry, communicated his message by using a clever smartphone analogy. He noted that everyone gets calls on their phone and must decide to either “accept” or “ignore” the call.

“But what about when God calls?” he asked.

“When God calls, pick up the phone,” Davis said. “Answer it.”

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2016 OCTOBER

15

The Pier Ministry

Bigger than ‘us’

Balloons, joy, and happiness!

Since 2008, Shelia and Alfredo Lucero, Salvationists from the Queens (Temple), N.Y., Corps, have assisted the Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Pier Ministry.

“When we started coming to OOB, we had one truck, and few people to help. So, we set the tables, put up a few lights, and provided the supplies,” remembers Shelia Lucero. “If it rained, we covered everything with bags.”

Today, many Salvationists help. They erect tents, displays, and a professional stage seen from blocks away.

Ken and Maria Sanoguet, soldiers from the Bronx (Tremont), N.Y., Corps, said 10 years ago they could not have imagined OOB as a showcase for such diverse talent, all in the name of God. “It was all done at the ground level,” said Ken Sanoguet.

“Dancers and performers were on the sidewalk. Now, it’s a real concert, like you would pay to see. The sidewalks are still used, but they’re packed with people listening to the Lord’s message.”

The Luceros and Sanoguets are artists who delight the children at the Pier. They make free balloon animals, glitter tattoos, and paint beautiful designs on little faces. This popular street ministry began with Envoys Doug and Hélène Kornwolf and was continued

by Captains Angelo and Viriginia Bermeo.

“The balloons attract them,” says Maria Sanoguet. “When you attract a child, you bring in that child’s family. Eventually, they all hear the Word of God in music or in dance.”

“Ministries that attract children always grow,” says Shelia Lucero. “Those children persuade other children to enjoy a balloon or wear a temporary tattoo. They realize that being a Christian brings God’s joy and happiness.”

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OCTOBER 2016

I had visited the United States three times, but never this far north. To meet so many Salvationists from the northeast and from Canada shows me how big The Salvation Army is in the world. It’s one thing to see a webcast or a video of an Army event, but it’s an experience to be a part of one.

In 2015, I made the art of beat boxing my full–time job. Today, I teach it in schools and in music programs.

The genre has gained popularity in Puerto Rico in recent years. I want artists there to embrace it as they have in New York and in Los Angeles.

I am grateful to the Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory for this ministry platform. OOB is a great opportunity to enrich people’s lives.

Many artists get caught up in music’s material benefits. They forget the impact they have on someone who hears the music or sees them on stage. When the artist is gone, his or her influence will remain. It’s bigger than any of us.

— Black Rhythm, a.k.a Edgar Garcia (above), is a soldier from the San Juan, P.R. Corps.

Lt. Colonel Carole Voisey creates images in sand. (Inset) The completed drawing is projected on the screen behind her.

‘The Holy Spirit is doing something here’ A team of the Army’s finest artists, singers, dancers, musicians, and illusionists entertained a huge crowd that congregated for the pyrotechnic finale on Thursday. The audio/visual spectacle was matched only by the performers’ heartfelt passion for evangelism.

“This is a church without walls,” said Envoy Steven Bussey. “People are stumbling into the sanctuary. This is the cathedral of the open air. This is our birthright as Salvationists.”

Bussey and his wife, Envoy Sharon Bussey, co–directors of Salvation Factory, were in charge of the Pier Ministry again this year. They held it each night from 6–10 P.M., which coincided with camp meetings at the Pavilion.

“In the past, we built an incredible crowd for a performance, but when it was over, we lost people while setting up for the next act,” Steve says. The solution came from mimicking a concert at a music festival. We built separate stages for acts that require less space and preparation, such as sand art, juggling, and personal testimonies. We set up a projection screen so that every performance could be seen as if it were on the main stage.

“While these smaller, equally exciting performances hold the crowd’s attention, the main stage is prepared for DJs, rappers, and aerial modern dance performances,” Steve said.

Among the performers were the Creative Arts Services Team (CAST); Summer Brass; Crossfire Brass; DJ Morph and Rell; Zaney Janie and Mr. B. Loon; “Juggler for Jesus” David Cain; Resurgo, a musical group from Quebec; move.meant, a dance group; illusionist Bryan Drake; sand artist Lt. Colonel Carole Voisey; Unbound, a Christian evangelistic rock

Kathryn Higgins performs under the spotlight on silks.

group; illusionist Eli Morgan; beatboxer Black Rhythm; and Kathryn Higgins, Kroc Center Arts liaison/ dance specialist who presented a spectacular aerial modern dance on silks (right).

Steve noted that he was particularly glad to bring the Gospel to New England, recently documented as the most “biblically illiterate” (least biblically–minded) part of the country.* “It’s a sign of the tried–and–tested principles of The Salvation Army historically. The Holy Spirit is doing something here,” Steve said.

“We’re blessed to be a part of the Army, which believes in getting the Gospel out to ‘the whosoever.’ ” Steve said he had talked with some police officers from Old Orchard Beach, who told him The Salvation Army brought a “positive spirit” to the Pier.

“People outside of here often live lives that are hell in many ways,” he said.

“But here, they walk up to an environment like heaven and they realize there’s something different going on. As a result, they want to stay.

“We’ve had people come back multiple times to engage with our evangelists, listen to our acts, and just absorb these things.

“They don’t realize that where they’ve come is—to church.” * Based upon telephone and online interviews with nationwide random samples of 42,655 adults conducted over a seven–year period, ending in May 2012. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is 0.5 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. Respondents who reported reading the Bible within the past seven days and who agreed strongly in the accuracy of the Bible were classified as “Bible–Minded.” — Barna Group Cities database

You can watch the Old Orchard Live Stream on saconnects.org/134th-old-orchard-beach-annual-camp-meetings

RISE ing

above her past

by Robert Mitchell

Photo by Sara Galletto/EyeEm/Getty Images

“A

ngel” remembers every detail of turning her first “trick.” Just talking about it brings back all the pain and tears.

The road to that fateful street corner encounter in Toledo, Ohio, had been a long and painful one for Angel. She is now finding help, healing, and the power of God’s love through the Salvation Army’s Recovering Individuals from Sexual Exploitation (RISE) program.

At age 4, Angel was sexually molested. At 8, she was gang raped. When her mother died, Angel used drugs to numb the pain and was soon hooked and willing to do anything to fund her addiction.

One day, while on a street corner panhandling, a “john” pulled up and offered her $50 to go to a secluded area. Angel told him she wasn’t like that, but the man came back two more times.

“The more I stood there, the sicker I felt from the drug withdrawal,” Angel recalls. She considered the offer. After all, she thought, it wouldn’t be that bad or take that long.

When the man returned a third time, Angel relented.

“We were in the back of his car. At that point, I almost felt like I had been raped all over again,” she says. “The whole thing just made me feel so disgusted. The only thing I thought I could do to forget that feeling was to go get high.”

HITTING BOTTOM

In 2008, Angel lost her house and car because of a heroin addiction. She then lost custody of her four children.

“I was also homeless,” she recalls. “It had entirely destroyed my life. It’s a horrible, vicious cycle you get stuck in.

“That’s when I realized I had to do something. I had to prove to myself and to [child protective services] and to my children that I was not going to continue to live like that. I wanted to be the best person and mom that I could be.”

‘A DIFFERENT PERSON’

The drug court referred Angel to RISE, which helped her get into substance abuse therapy and on the road to being reunited with her children. She also is going back to school and hopes to soon become a certified health worker.

“I will be able to give back what was given to me and help people get their lives on track, which is really rewarding,” she says.

Angel said Marchon Noon, the RISE coordinator in Toledo, has also helped her secure permanent housing and legal advice, giving her a “voice” in court.

“If it wasn’t for [Noon], I wouldn’t be in school right now,” Angel says. “This program has helped me find myself and is making me a better person. I’m gaining self–worth. I’m in a better place. I’m a completely different person.”

COMING BACK STRONG

“If it wasn’t for this program, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I would either be in jail or dead. I don’t think I would be the person I am or feel the way I do about myself without RISE. “I do not put a needle in my arm anymore. I do not put a straw in my nose anymore. I do not smoke pot anymore.”

Noon said Toledo was ranked 4th in the nation for sex– trafficking arrests and convictions from 2006–2012. The city’s proximity to the Canadian border and major cities such as Cleveland, Columbus, and Detroit, Mich., make it a “hub” for

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2016 OCTOBER

19

Need help with an addiction?

The Salvation Army is always there to help.

www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/adult-rehabilitation

sex trafficking.

“I think if you live in Toledo, you’re at higher risk for either being prostituted or involved in drug abuse because of the availability of everything here,” Noon says.

RISE is part of the county’s anti–human trafficking coalition. While other organizations distribute hygiene kits to women in the streets, RISE focuses on intensive case management, advocacy, referrals, and education.

MEETING TOGETHER

Some of the clients come through the courts, as did Angel.

“I’ll take those clients on—no questions asked,” Noon says.

“We provide services to everyone. Nobody gets turned down.

“Our strength here is case management. We take a holistic approach.”

RISE operates out of a corps in Toledo and the staff includes Noon and two caseworkers.

Every Tuesday, about 10 to 20 women gather at the corps for a meeting where they receive love, support, a lunch, and a devotional.

“We try to give them empowerment tools,” Noon says.

Noon said she was overjoyed when a client recently took a RISE brochure back to the halfway house where she was staying.

The next day, Noon received calls from some of the women.

SETTING GOALS

“These women have gone through the same things I have,” Angel says. “Some have even had harder lives than I have

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OCTOBER 2016

“I know a lot of women who have turned tricks because of heroin. It is a vicious, disgusting, and horrible drug. You will absolutely do anything you possibly can to get that drug.

“Anybody can get it. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live. It doesn’t matter what color you are or your social status. Heroin is the easiest drug to get. It’s easier to get than marijuana. You can find it on every corner. It is in every school. It can be found synthetically in most homes.

“I took pain pills, but they were too expensive. Heroin is way easier to find and cheaper to get.

“I became consumed. It makes you do terrible things to get that high.

“It does not take long to get addicted, especially if you already have an addictive personality. When that’s the case, you get addicted to it harder and faster. It destroys your life. It destroys everything.”

had. To see where they were then and where they are now lets you know there is hope.

“We feel better about ourselves knowing that we have people behind us who want to help us become the best we can be. They give us tools that we really need and that aren’t offered to us in any other situation.”

Noon says the women set goals and a schedule. RISE helps them with such issues as housing & utilities, health & hygiene, mental health, transportation, education, and pursuing a career.

“They pick a path and we help guide them on that path,” she says.

Noon said it’s not easy to tell a woman who is making $50 a trick to take a minimum–wage job, but she presses on.

“We want to show them there is another way besides prostitution,” she says.

PRACTICAL HELP

Angel said the RISE program has also helped supply toiletries, clothes, food, school supplies, and bus tokens.

“They will do anything for their clients,” she says. “They will sacrifice their time and their energy to help us.”

Noon thought her career would be policy–based, but “once you get involved and you hear the heart–wrenching stories from these women, it makes you want to get involved and do something about it.”

Noon said whether it’s to provide transportation or money for a woman to do her laundry, she is there to help—even after hours or on weekends.

Photo by Getty Images

Heroin ‘destroys everything’

“Angel” talks about the dangers of heroin, a theme of an upcoming issue of SAConnects:

“I’m on call for Christ,” she says. “What would Christ do?

If a woman is vulnerable and needs me, I’m there. Christ calls on us to seek out people who are in the most need.

POWER OF PRAYER

“We show God’s love by helping women, starting with their smallest needs. It’s expressing the love of Christ through the work that we do and the love that we share.”

Tara Woodbury, a RISE caseworker, said she also shows that love by praying with the clients who are open to it.

“They often want that prayer,” Woodbury says. “It just brings another level of healing to them. We offer something that is missing from other agencies.”

“To me, it’s more than a job; it’s a ministry. It’s an extension of my faith. This is an underserved population that needs a tremendous amount of love, trust, respect, and care.”

Angel, who went to church as a girl, said the pain and suffering she went through as an adult made her question God,

but RISE “has made me really draw closer to Him.”

GOD’S PRESENCE

She now sees God at work in her everyday life, including the time she prayed about her housing situaton and Noon called that very moment to tell her RISE could help.

“It literally gave me goosebumps because I had just asked God to help me,” she said.

Angel said she still sees her young son most days—but it’s only when he passes by on his school bus. On a recent morning, as she walked to rehab, Angel thought she was too late to see him, but then she recognized his bus and ran to wave.

“It was the most amazing feeling,” Angel says. “It was early in the morning and the sun was just coming up and this sense of calmness just came over me. I thought to myself, thank you so much, God, for allowing me to see my son.

“It was a spiritual moment and made me realize that everything I’m doing is for a reason.”

Photo by Burak Pekakcan/Getty Images

Cómo Superó su Pasado “Angel” recuerda cada detalle de su experiencia con su primer “cliente”. Sólo hablar de ello la llena de angustia y la hace llorar.

El camino que la llevó a ese fatídico encuentro en una esquina de la ciudad de Toledo, Ohio, había sido largo y doloroso para ella. Ahora está buscando ayuda, sanidad y el poder del amor de Dios a través del programa de Recuperación de Víctimas de Explotación Sexual (RISE, por sus siglas en inglés) del Ejército de Salvación.

A la edad de 4 años, Angel fue maltratada sexualmente. A los 8, fue violada por una pandilla. Cuando su madre murió, Angel recurrió a las drogas para aplacar el dolor, por lo que pronto se hizo adicta al extremo que estuvo dispuesta a todo para financiar su adicción.

En 2008, Angel perdió su casa y su automóvil debido a su adicción a la heroína. Además, perdió la custodia de sus cuatro hijos.

Un programa del tribunal refirió a Angel a RISE, lo que al fin la ayudó a iniciar una terapia para superar su adicción y le allanó el camino para reencontrarse con sus hijos. También ha vuelto a la escuela y espera conseguir muy pronto su certificado de profesional de la salud.

“De no ser por este programa, no estaría sentada aquí”, dice Angel.

“Estaría en la cárcel o muerta. No creo que sería la persona que soy ni me sentiría como me siento ahora sin el programa RISE. “Ya no me inyecto en el brazo. Ya no aspiro drogas. Ya no fumo más marihuana”.

Este es un resumen del artículo. Para leerlo completo en español, por favor visite saconnects.org/enespanol .

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2016 OCTOBER

21

FAITH in ACTION

an interview with the

General & Commissioner Cox

by Warren L. Maye

Your constant travels must be a challenge. Do you grow tired from traversing the globe or does it energize you?

General André Cox: We try to live in the moment. Our planes usually fly at night so we can get as much sleep as possible.

Often when we arrive, journalists and all sorts of people meet us. We just go with it. But at the end of the day, we see so many positive things. So yes, this lifestyle does give us energy.

Commissioner Sylvia Cox: We count it a privilege to be able to do what we do.

Photos by Ryan Love

How do the Coxes spend their leisure time?

AC: When we are home, we walk to the office.

SC: As we walk, we talk. This is one way we rest. Another way is to speak to our children via Skype every day.

General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries, talk about their lives away from the spotlight, their message to Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Camp Meeting delegates, and their perspectives on issues affecting The Salvation Army and the world.

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OCTOBER 2016

What is the message you hope to convey at OOB? AC: We are called to be a worshiping community and a serving community. An army that stays in its barracks is absolutely useless. An army that lacks weaponry is useless. So, it is about being equipped, engaged, and mobilized. In many places, we feel sufficiency, satisfaction, and comfort. Yet, right beyond the doors of every corps in every community is tremendous human need. While we celebrate the many places in the world where we have volunteers, we who wear the uniform should be on the front lines. So, my message is, “be doers of the word” not only “hearers of the word.”

In our diverse Salvation Army world, what are the threads that bind its spiritual fabric?

AC: People say, “With 127 countries, it seems utopic to think that we have ‘One Mission, One Army, One Message,’ ” and yet, it is true! The uniforms are different, the people are different, and the languages are different …

SC: … But you know that you are in an Army meeting!

AC: Every soldier signs the covenant. Our call binds us. Our doctrinal beliefs bind us. Our global Thursday morning prayers bind us. Prior to the Boundless Congress 2015, we had an entire year of “The Whole World Praying” and then “The Whole World Reading.” Those things bind us. Other threads are our flag and our mercy seat, which is the greatest thing God ever gave to The Salvation Army. It’s not magical, but it is a place where people are called to commitment, repentance,

and a deeper step with God. During a recent meeting in Papua New Guinea, people stood in the pouring rain for two hours.

When the officer called them to pray, they knelt in the mud.

Precious moments such as this bind us as an army.

Christian evangelicalism is under attack on multiple fronts.

In Russia, new laws threaten to shut down proselytization outside the four walls of state–approved churches. In China, the government destroyed 2,000 Christian crosses.

In the U.S., the evangelical movement has seemingly redefined itself as a political block. Given these realities, what is the Army’s role and that of individual Salvationists?

AC: We shouldn’t despair because God has won and will have the final victory over these things. Throughout history, people have tried to eradicate Christianity and the Bible.

The more the Church is pressured, the more it is driven to its knees. But we shouldn’t be pessimistic. It’s true there are restrictions in Russia and China, but there are also opportunities in these countries. We must have the wisdom to know when to seize those opportunities. Jesus said we are to work while it is day because the night is coming. So, be vigilant and speak when our rights are infringed. Don’t take your freedoms for granted. The erosion of religious freedom is the thin end of the wedge that pushes away other freedoms. As individuals, we can make a difference. We may want to set the world straight, but the problems of the world begin in communities. Often people in those communities are discriminated against, disenfranchised, and marginalized. The problems come from these situations. We can’t solve the huge issues, but we can make a difference where we are.

What effect has “Brexit” had on the Army world?

AC: So far, Brexit has had a huge impact on the financial market, based on pure speculation. The market recovered fairly quickly, but we are still in uncharted waters. When the UK triggers the Article 50 Brexit Clause, which will start the exit process, we will see what effect it has on the world economy, including The Salvation Army. My greatest concern with Brexit are those politicians who speak to the fears of disgruntled people. This is dangerous rhetoric. The hate speech you hear in the U.S., we hear in the UK and in other parts of Europe. Throughout history, when these voices get louder and hate crimes rise, they become the precursor to armed conflict.

Brexit will not solve the UK’s immigration issue. Neither will a far–right agenda. Any extreme is bad news for human rights. So, we need to pray that sanity prevails and world politics becomes centered.

The United States has recently experienced unrest regarding social justice and equality. Tensions tear at the nation’s fabric. What should the Army’s response be?

AC: The Army has to be a strong voice. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will inherit …” We must be peacemakers. If the Army was ever needed as it was in London in 1865, it is today. We need to be agents of change and transformation. But it requires that we be at peace with ourselves and with God. The situation you’re facing in the States is extremely concerning. Unfortunately, you’re not the only place in the world where these things are happening. So, the Army’s engagement in social justice is required more than ever.

Are we making progress against sexual trafficking? Have interfaith coalitions been helpful?

SC: We would like to see this effort more on an international scale. Right now, we hear about territorial initiatives. In America, we hear good things. People are also active in South Africa, the UK, and in some parts of Europe.

AC: We’ve made good connections in the territories where we’ve worked with other organizations and with governments.

But the trafficking is going across borders. We need to leverage more from our international network.

SC: We are raising awareness in many places….

AC: … such as the U.N. and with governments. But we could do more as an international team.

You have probably received more feedback than anyone else regarding the Army. What encouraging words have you heard?

AC: The Army’s reputation in every country is stellar. This is something we should be grateful for rather than proud. We also need to protect our reputation at all costs because it can be destroyed in a moment. Before coming to OOB, we met with the vice president of Argentina. We discussed some of the political challenges they face. The vice president said, “We need and appreciate The Salvation Army. We know what you do.” We’re humbled to get such feedback. In many places, people are saying, “we want you to be who you are.”

So, we shouldn’t be afraid to step into the world. William Booth met all sorts of people, even royalty. People are saying, “We need you to be out there.”

SC: People are thanking us for what we are doing now as well as for what we did 100 years ago.

AC: The future before us is better than the past we leave.

We’ve got to get out there and seize the opportunity.

Thank you, and God bless you, General and Commissioner Cox.

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2016 OCTOBER

23

FAITH in ACTION

‘ The best job in the Army’ Betty Blankenship retires

by Robert Mitchell

Betty Blankenship, who had become a fixture at Territorial Headquarters (THQ), retired earlier this year after a 43–year career with The Salvation Army. But many people will be surprised to learn that she honed her expert secretarial and proofreading skills in the Manhattan advertising world.

A former officer, Blankenship worked almost her entire life for the Army, but left from 1970 to 1984 to work for McCann Erickson, the global advertising giant.

She lived and worked in Manhattan and was the secretary to the company’s chief financial officer. McCann Erickson played a prominent role in the final episodes of AMC’s “Mad Men” TV show. Betty says the Emmy Award– winning series was realistic, “… in a lot of respects.”

Ironically, “Mad Men” featured a secretary named “Miss Blankenship.”

While that elderly character died at her desk, Betty left McCann Erickson and returned to The Salvation Army when Major Charles Olsen, then the

“

She has been the glue that held everything

”

together.

— L t. Colonel James Reynolds

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OCTOBER 2016

director of the Community Relations and Development Department, asked her if she would be interested in filling an upcoming vacancy.

During the next three decades, Blankenship also worked in the chief secretary’s office and in the Business Section as an executive secretary.

“I had the best job in the Army,” she says. “That job was not only being a secretary, it was being a counselor and everything. People used to come just to sit in my office and talk because they needed somebody to talk to. That was a nice feeling.”

SAYING ‘GOODBYE’ Earlier this year, officers and employees at THQ honored Betty. As Blankenship entered the dining hall, she received a standing ovation.

“I was overwhelmed,” Betty says. “It was nice to see so many people who wanted to say goodbye to me.”

Lt. Colonel Donald Lance, secretary for business, said Blankenship had for decades been “extremely important to the territory.” Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, former territorial commander, called her a “true professional—at the top of her craft.”

REMEMBRANCES FROM AFAR Lance said when he took his new appointment; “Ask Betty” was a common refrain.

“They tell me she has the answer to every question,” Lance says.

“You are probably the greatest depository of Salvation Army information that we have,” Lance told her. “Your expertise will be greatly missed.”

Some of Betty’s former colleagues sent tributes, calling her superb and articulate and someone who blessed others while having the ability to put them at ease.

“She has been the glue that held everything together,” says Lt. Colonel James Reynolds, the former territorial business secretary.

Retired Major Janice May MacLean Angster recalled Betty as a hardworking, bubbly, efficient, trustworthy cadet in the 78–member Great Heart session. The 1959–60 class was the last one–year session of cadets.

“Betty is a Brave Heart through and through,” Angster says.

SALVATIONIST HERITAGE Betty came to training from Chillicothe, Ohio, where she grew up and started attending an Army corps at age 12. A friend who lived across the street invited her to attend Vacation Bible School.

Betty later worked at a Salvation Army camp, but she looked at life differently after a high school classmate died in a house fire. Betty accepted Christ at 17.

“But I didn’t feel called to officership for a couple of years,” she recalls.

Betty continued working to save money. In 1959, she became a cadet at the training school in the Bronx. The following year, she was commissioned

as an officer. She served for 10 years before going into advertising.

When she returned to THQ in 1984, while living in nearby Pomona, N.Y., she became the go–to person who knew everything, but she privately admitted she didn’t know it all.

PROOFREADER EXTRAORDINAIRE “It’s just because I’ve been there so long that they think that,” Betty says with a laugh. “I always said if I didn’t know the answer to a question, I knew who to call to find out the answer.”

Betty had another role at THQ, though this one was unofficial. She served as a proofreader for the Army’s various publications.

“We could always count on Betty to catch an error in an officer’s name or title,” says Warren L. Maye, editor–in–chief of SAConnects. “She had an eagle–eye for detail and a memory for Army history that was extremely valuable to us.”

Photos by Ryan Love

Lt. Colonels Renee and Donald Lance with Betty at her THQ retirement party.

Betty says of her proofreading days, “That’s the kind of stuff that comes with years of experience. I enjoyed doing that.”

Besides her on–the–job knowledge, Betty became an inspiration to the THQ family when she suffered her first bout with breast cancer in 1999. She said Colonel William Hunter, who also suffered from cancer at the same time, would often come by her office to talk.

“I think that really helped me because I never got depressed or down about it,” Betty recalls. “I’m a positive person; negativity is not in my vocabulary. You don’t want your friends to feel they have to constantly cater to you, but you also have to let them support you if they want to. That’s what happened with me. I’ve been so supported by my friends and family, especially the people in the Army.

“My spiritual life is fine and you have to have a lot of faith to go through these kinds of things.”

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CALLING MICHIGAN ‘HOME’ Seven years ago, the cancer returned in her breast and lungs. Today, Betty is receiving chemotherapy, but is in great spirits.

“It’s been under control pretty much,” she says. “I’m not in any pain at all, for which I’m grateful.”

At her retirement party, Betty testified that when she was diagnosed, doctors gave her five years to live.

“I’ve lived seven already,” she says.

“I expect to live another seven. I’m 77 years old, so I don’t think I’m going to work anymore.”

Betty, a self–described “career person,” never married, and is still close with her sister, Barbara Gabor.

Gabor told the THQ staff that she is taking Betty back to Michigan, where she will live in a nearby assisted–living center.

“She’s mine,” Gabor says. “I loaned her to you. Now I’m taking her back.”

2016 OCTOBER

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Photos by Ryan Love

FAITH in ACTION

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OCTOBER 2016

Q&A

Lieutenant Giovanni Romero

interview by Hugo Bravo

Lieutenant Giovanni E. Romero, corps officer at the Union City, N.J., Corps, was commissioned in 2014 as a member of the Disciples of the Cross session. He is also an accomplished photojournalist who writes about and broadcasts interviews with people who are influencing their communities for Christ.

Earlier this year, Romero and other officers from the Eastern Territory accompanied doctors from the Raymond Foundation on their 15th mission to Honduras.

They provided medical assistance to the country’s most impoverished citizens.

Romero shares his thoughts about returning to his homeland for the first time since becoming a Salvation Army officer.

As an embedded journalist with this medical brigade, you videotaped, photographed, and interviewed Honduran patients who were being treated for various illnesses. In doing this, what were some of the challenges you faced? When documenting something like the medical brigade, you need to be respectful when people express their physical or emotional pain. These were vulnerable people reaching out to us. For almost 15 years, I had served as a judicial interpreter. During that time, I became sensitive to a person’s right to privacy. Sometimes, journalists try to get that extra and powerful quote, or move in to videotape that wet tear rolling down a person’s hot cheek. But, I put myself in their shoes; I think, Would I want someone to take pictures or shoot video of me while I experienced pain? Would I want to tell people my story? So, when I photograph someone, I always ask for permission, and I never exploit the needs of people simply for dramatic effect. The truth is, a lot of the people we saw—even in the midst of poverty—were happy, God–loving individuals, who were grateful that we helped them.

T o see and hear more of Lieutenant Romero’s journalistic work, visit www.generacionfuerte.com (Spanish) or soundcloud.com/giovanniromero.

As a child, were you aware of the poverty that was literally in your own backyard?

No. Nor did I know that some of the towns and places we visited even existed. As a child, my parents had worked for a banana production and packing company, and althought it was hard work, they made a stable and steady income.

We were rather middle class compared to the people in real poverty. My wife Maria also grew up in Honduras. I remember visiting her home for the first time, located in a very rural community next to a high mountain. On our way there, I saw people living in real poverty for the first time.

Many officers who visit Honduras return impressed by the soldiers of the San Pedro Sula Corps, with whom you’ve worked.

What is your take on their ministry? When I first met them, they looked so happy to see us.

Their excitement made me curious. I learned that these soldiers had been helping the Raymond Foundation doctors and Eastern officers for years.

The soldiers volunteered their time away from school and from work to help during the week of treatment. Every year, they looked forward to participating with the brigade. I felt happy to see young people fulfilling our mission of love, humility, and service. I grew close to them. Every night after working, we would go out for pizza, talk, say “good night,” and then wake up the next day to serve again. It was gratifying to see the Army operate this way—and in my home country.

What lessons did you learn that proved useful to your ministry in Union, N.J.?

I learned that children need our love, security, and guidance, rather than the newest and most expensive toy. In our Western society, we think that the number of toys we buy for them measures a child’s happiness. Yet in Honduras, I saw a little boy playing with one toy car that he had made himself. He made the body from a bottle and the tires from bottle caps. Nonetheless, he smiled and enjoyed his car.

I also learned how an outreach by young people brings life to the corps. We need to make this a priority, because when youth are exposed to the needs of less fortunate people, they want to know how they can help. Kids have that instinct.

We must allow them to think of and implement new, creative ways to be part of the Church.

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” That was true 2,000 years ago and it’s still true today.

What would you tell Salvationists who want to serve in Honduras, but who are afraid of what they’ve heard about that country? Before I became an officer, I had traveled with my wife and children back to Honduras many times. We frequently felt like foreigners, but we never witnessed any violence or crime.

There is no need to be fearful, nor to think that you cannot help. A few officers that traveled with the brigade felt apprehension about their first trip.

Their fear was that they would have nothing to bring or contribute to the team. One said, “I am not a doctor, a nurse, or an interpreter.” However, after we arrived and began serving, he realized his gift. It was the ability to show genuine love and compassion for people. The supplies you bring on a trip such as this are important. But just as important is making the people you meet feel wanted and loved in difficult situations. This was a transformative experience that I will continuously cherish for the rest of my life.

You can watch Lieutenant Romero’s Honduras video on saconnects.org

ON file

My Second Chance

Photos by Ryan Love

by Ada Laporte

Mi Segunda Oportunidad En mis años mozos yo era una rebelde que vivía para complacerme a mí misma antes que al Señor. Ya adulta, tuve una relación abusiva. Vivía con un hombre que me decía: “Si alguna vez me dejas, te mataré”.

Al fin, un día, me armé de valor para decirle: “Quiero que te vayas”. Y, para mi sorpresa, estuvo de acuerdo. Me pidió que le diera una semana para hallar otro lugar donde vivir.

Fui tonta al dejar que se quedara esa semana.

Al cabo de los siete días, seguía ahí.

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OCTOBER 2016

Cuando lo enfrenté pidiéndole explicaciones, salió furioso de la casa hacia el patio trasero y dejó la puerta de par en par. En ese momento, una voz en mi interior me gritó: ¡Cierra la puerta! Era una advertencia muy seria de mi Dios todopoderoso.

Pero le contesté: “No voy a cerrar esa puerta. Si lo hago, habrá más violencia”.

Antes que pudiera alejarme de ahí, mi maltratador volvió a entrar.

Me dio un rodillazo, me agarró por el pecho con una mano y levantó la otra empuñando un cuchillo. Cuando me apuñaló grité con fuerza.

Y me hirió repetidas veces. La sangre brotó de mi cuerpo.

Mis nietos oyeron lo que estaba ocurriendo. Acudieron corriendo y me defendieron valientemente usando

In my younger years, I was rebellious, living to please me rather than the Lord.

As an adult, I found myself in an abusive relationship. I lived with a man who had said, “If you ever leave me, I will kill you.”

One day, I finally mustered the courage to say to him, “I want you out of my life.” And to my surprise, he agreed. He asked only that I give him a week to find another place to live.

I was a fool to let him stay that week.

At the end of seven days, he was still there. When I confronted him about it, he stormed out of the house and into the backyard, leaving the door wide open.

At that moment, a voice from within me screamed, close the door! It was a dire warning from my all–powerful God. But I answered Him loudly, saying, “I’m not closing that door. It will just cause more fighting.”

Before I could walk away, my abuser returned. He struck me with his knee,

palos de escoba, latas y cualquier objeto que pudieron hallar en la cocina.

Logré liberarme y agarré el cuchillo por el extremo afilado. Pensé que iba a perder los dedos, pero Dios me protegió las manos. Miré directo a los ojos candentes de mi atacante, y le dije: “Tú no me vas a matar”.

Cuando se dio cuenta de que yo no soltaba el cuchillo, se detuvo. Pareció confundido, como si de repente hubiese despertado de una pesadilla.

Ese momento era mi única oportunidad para escapar. Pero tenía que desarmarlo de algún modo.

Le arrebaté el cuchillo y con toda rapidez lo apuñalé dos veces. Sin soltar el arma, y cubierta por mi propia sangre, escapé de la casa junto con los niños. Gritamos pidiendo ayuda.

unity

by Soldier Ada Laporte

grabbed my chest with one hand, and raised a knife in the other. I screamed as he plunged it with great force.

He stabbed repeatedly. The blood gushed from me.

My grandchildren heard the commotion. They bravely defended me with broomsticks, cans, and anything from the kitchen they could get their hands on.

I broke free and grabbed the sharp end of the knife. I thought I would lose my fingers, but God protected my hands.

I looked into my attacker’s flaming eyes, and said, “You are not going to kill me.”

When he realized I was holding on, he stopped. He appeared confused, as if he had suddenly awakened from a bad dream. This moment was my only chance to escape. But I had to disarm him, somehow.

I yanked the knife completely from his grip and quickly stabbed him twice.

Still holding the knife, and covered in my

own blood, I scuttled out of the house with the children. We cried for help.

UNA SEGUNDA OPORTUNIDAD

Dios dice: ”Yo te instruiré, yo te mostraré el camino que debes seguir; yo te daré consejos y velaré por ti. No seas como el mulo o el caballo, que no tienen discernimiento”.

Ahora puedo ver que Dios me advirtió el peligro. E incluso, cuando me negué a escucharlo, de todas maneras guió mis pasos por terreno firme.

Tras recuperarme del ataque, me enteré de que todas las iglesias de mi pueblo natal de Ponce, en Puerto Rico, oraron por mí; por lo que visité a cada una de ellas para agradecerles por sus oraciones. Una de esas iglesias era el Cuerpo del Ejército de Salvación en Ponce, al cual pertenezco. Ahora tengo una familia que está dedicada a la Palabra de Dios. Yo escucho su voz y le sirvo.

Si estás pasando por una situación

Abrí los ojos sólo para hallarme en la más completa oscuridad. Pero entonces vi una pequeña estrella que brillaba a la distancia. Esto me asustó.

Me cubrí los ojos con las manos, pero seguí mirando con curiosidad por entre los dedos de mis manos. La estrella venía acercándose cada vez más hasta que su luz amarillenta cubrió mi vista.

Muy lentamente bajé las manos. Supe, por instinto, que esa luz venía de Dios.

Sentí mi cuerpo convulsionarse. Me di cuenta de que estaba en una sala muy iluminada personas en uniformes blancos. Desperté en un hospital en el que unos doctores me estaban aplicando descargas eléctricas intentando desesperadamente salvarme la vida.

En el libro de los Salmos 32:8–9,

A SECOND CHANCE I opened my eyes to find myself in complete darkness. But then, I saw a little star glowing in the distance. This frightened me. I covered my eyes with my hands, but continued to look curiously between my fingers. The star came closer and got brighter until its yellow light filled my vision. I slowly lowered my hands. I instinctively knew that the light was from God. Convulsions shook my body. I became aware of a bright room filled with people in white uniforms. I woke up in a hospital, receiving electric shocks from doctors who were desperately trying to save my life.

In the book of Psalms 32:8–9, God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, and guide you

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with my eye. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding.”

I now see that God had warned me about the dangers. And even when I refused to listen, He still planted my feet on solid ground.

When I recovered from my attack, I learned that churches from all over my hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico had prayed for me, and I went back to each of them to thank them for their prayers. One of those churches was the Salvation Army’s Ponce Corps, to which I now belong. I now have a family that is dedicated to the word of God. I hear His voice and I serve Him. If you are going through a situation such as mine, do not stay in an abusive relationship, believing it might get better tomorrow. Seek help now from trusted people and from God. He saved me, He has stayed with me, and I will live to give Him the glory.

como la mía, no sigas en una relación de maltrato creyendo que mañana todo va a estar bien. Busca ayuda ahora acudiendo a personas de tu confianza y a Dios. Él me salvó y permanece conmigo; por lo que viviré para glorificarle.

2016 OCTOBER

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ON file

This fall, take your rest

by Chris Stoker

It’s time for pumpkin spice lattes and hayrides. It’s the season for hearty chili in the crockpot and a cup of apple cider. It’s football and falling leaves; it’s harvest festivals and apple picking. There’s a lot to this season we enjoy. It’s my favorite season.

I think what I like most about fall is it’s a time of harvest and rest for creation. It’s a time to gather what we've planted, nurtured, and cultivated during many months. It’s a time to share in the ripe, delicious fruits and vegetables God has given to us. It’s a time full of flavor and abundance and it’s meant to be enjoyed.

There will again be soil to till, seeds to plant, and crops to raise. But for now, we have enough.

After the harvest, a time of rest and restoration begins. Natural processes, which have fed plants and trees, slow down and stop. Photosynthesis ceases. Chlorophyll (green pigments in the leaves) breaks down. For a few glorious weeks, we see the true colors of the leaves before they fall to the ground and become a natural fertilizer. When spring comes, the entire process begins anew.

There’s much to learn from creation.

When is your harvest time? Whether in ministry to others or in your own soul, do you know when you gather and enjoy the fruit of God? Do you have a season of abundance in your life?

Or do you move from project to project, program to program, week to grueling week, but miss the flavor of what God has grown?

How do you rest in the beauty of God’s creation? Do you give yourself a committed and regular Sabbath experience? When will you intentionally acknowledge and celebrate this past season of growth and life?

This month, slow down. Take time for you this fall. Commit to a break between the busy seasons. Celebrate what God has planted, nurtured, cultivated, and harvested in your life. Enjoy what has ripened and nourished your soul. Give your mind, life, hands, and feet a much–needed time of rest and restoration.

If rest is good enough for creation, isn’t it good enough for you?

wholly living

Take a Prayer Walk

to be with God

by Major Lauren Hodgson

■ Acknowledge God’s presence and invite God to walk with you.

We read how the Lord walked with Enoch, Noah, and David. He does the same with you and me. What an honor!

■B e aware of your body. Notice your posture and your balance. Pull your shoulders back and feel centered.

Expand your chest.

■ Breathe deeply. Observe the rhythm as you breathe. Take several deep breaths and get in touch with your body in God’s presence. Every breath is a gift from God. Relax any tightness in your body. Breathe into that place and ask God to relieve the tension.

■W alk at an easy pace and be fully present with the Lord.

This is not a race. There is no agenda.

■N otice everything. Be aware of your body, thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

■ T alk with God or be receptive to your surroundings.

Notice nature’s colors, scents, sights, and sounds (breeze rustling the grass), or even traffic noise (hopefully in the distance).

■W hen something catches your eye, stop. Be drawn and fully present in the moment.

■ End your walk as you began it. Thank God for His presence with you and for the gift of your body.

PRAYER WALK TIPS ■ Pick a route or trail that takes you away from your normal patterns and places.

■ Check the weather and dress appropriately.

Don't forget the bug spray on those warmer days.

■ Take a bottle of water and a small snack for your mid–walk break.

■ Listen for what God has to say to you on your walk.

■ An afternoon walk is warmer. You also see more.

■ Read any of these passages before and after your prayer walk for spiritual guidance.

• Psalm 96 • Hebrews 4:12–16 • Psalm 104:24–30 • Isaiah 40:25–31 • Revelation 4

The Spiritual Life Development Department has a resource entitled, Pray a Psalm in Its Nature Setting.

Download it at saconnects.org/psalms–in–nature and take it with you on your prayer walk.

2016 OCTOBER

Photos by iStock

When I first heard of the concept, I thought, how luxurious it is to stroll with God. But on second thought, perhaps too luxurious? I don’t think I can chisel it into my busy schedule. I concluded, God is with me everywhere I go, so I don’t really need a dedicated prayer walk.

At that time, I didn’t know the purpose of a prayer walk goes much deeper. It’s a time of meditation. It’s a spiritual discipline as you consciously invite God to go with you. It’s an opportunity to fully experience in your body the extraordinary gift of life.

At first, this idea may feel outside–of–the–box. Think about it as if it were a walk with a good friend, a time to enjoy each other’s company.

Outdoors is the best place for a prayer walk. God is so beautifully revealed to us in nature. Here are some ideas to help heighten your awareness of God as you walk.

31

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RON WAIKSNORIS leaves a rich legacy

Photos by Ryan Love

by Robert Mitchell

The first stop in Ron Waiksnoris’ unofficial farewell tour was at the Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Camp Meetings conducting his last concert as bandmaster of the New York Staff Band (NYSB).

With General André Cox, Commissioner Sylvia Cox, and Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford, territorial leaders, in the Pavilion audience, Waiksnoris concluded a more than 40–year career with the band, including 24 years as bandmaster.

“It was a good night,” Waiksnoris said.

“It was surreal. There were many emotions going through my head, so it was difficult to focus. But I just felt blessed to be a part of the band for 41 years.”

Waiksnoris joined the NYSB in 1975 and became bandmaster in 1992.

In August, Waiksnoris led his 32nd and final Star Lake Musicamp in the mountains of Bloomingdale, N.J. Waiksnoris attended Star Lake

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OCTOBER 2016

Musicamp 46 times, including twice as a camper, 12 times as a staffer, and since 1984 as the camp’s leader.

“I’ve had a good time watching the generations come up,” Waiksnoris said.

“A lot of the staff members today were kids who came through camp.

“I always enjoy Star Lake,” he added. “It’s a great experience to see these kids who are so spiritually sound making progress musically. It’s really a special week.”

Waiksnoris said his favorite camps involved the noted conductor and composer Eric Ball, who once conducted the tone poem “Kingdom Triumphant” in a way that spiritually moved Waiksnoris.

“It had such an impact on me that I’ve used it on and off ever since, including the last weekend of the camp meetings,” he said. “That came out of the Star Lake experience.”

Waiksnoris, who is almost 68, said he will miss Star Lake, “but it is time for

the next generation to put their stamp on things.”

Waiksnoris said he also enjoyed leading Crossfire Brass, the volunteer band of musicians performing each year at the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings.

“I’ve invested a lot in the Army’s brass banding because I believe in it,” said Waiksnoris, a faithful soldier of the Montclair, N.J., (Citadel) Corps. “It’s multigenerational. It’s multicultural. It’s what I call ‘Army culture.’ It connects The Salvation Army world.”

Waiksnoris noted that whether you go to Japan or the Congo, you’ll find a staff band.

“It’s really a thing that unites us and I would just hope we never lose sight of that,” Waiksnoris said.

Derek Lance, a NYSB member and the leader of Summer Brass, will succeed Waiksnoris as bandmaster. In 2017, Lance will also take over as territorial music secretary.

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