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FROM THE EDITOR

FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Brian Peddle TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioner William A. Bamford III Commissioner G. Lorraine Bamford CHIEF SECRETARY Colonel Ivan K. Rock DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS Joseph Pritchard EDITOR IN CHIEF / DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS Warren L. Maye MANAGING EDITOR Robert Mitchell EDITOR / HISPANIC CORRESPONDENT Hugo Bravo ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines PUBLICATION CONTENT MANAGER AND DESIGNER Lea La Notte Greene GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Dave Hulteen Jr., Joe Marino, Mabel Zorzano STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lu Lu Rivera

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CIRCULATION Doris Marasigan

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.

Member since 2015 Award winner 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021

SACONNECTS is published by The Salvation Army USA’s Eastern Territory. Bulk rate is $12.00 per issue for 25–100 copies. Subscriptions are available. Write to: SACONNECTS, The Salvation Army, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. Vol. 9, No. 3, 2023. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send all address changes to: SACONNECTS, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SACONNECTS accepts advertising. Copyright ©2023 by The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory. Articles may be reprinted only with written permission. All scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless indicated otherwise.

WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” —1 SAMUEL 7:12

Ebenezer in Hebrew means “stone of help.” It is mentioned in the Bible when the prophet Samuel placed a small stone monument between the cities of Mizpah and Shen to commemorate a victory by the Israelites over the Philistines. Samuel did this because, as the spiritual leader, he knew the value of remembering from where they had come. Today, after 150 years of ministry in the United States, The Salvation Army has many historic memorials, particularly in the USA Eastern Territory, that remind us how God has played an extraordinary role in building the Army’s legacy of faith and commitment to meet human need without discrimination. In this issue of SACONNECTS magazine, our writers have provided an amazing roadmap that includes historic sites of the Christian Church. From the triumphs and struggles of Salvation Army immigrant pioneers in Cleveland, Ohio, and New York City in the 1870s, to the official inauguration of The Salvation Army in Philadelphia, Pa., and beyond, you will discover the places and people who helped build the Christian faith among a multiethnic, multiracial mix of congregants. These stories will inspire you, whether you’ve also immigrated here or were born here. As you read about Salvationists whose lives were forged in the fire of persecution and transformed by faith in Christ, you’ll be surprised and even humbled. You’ll also see them minister courageously in neighborhoods amid changing demographics and values. As The Salvation Army continues its journey in the 21st century, may you enjoy the benefits that come from recalling the triumphs that the early pioneers experienced. With God’s help, may you also be so inspired as to remember and appreciate the personal, and heartfelt “Ebenezers” in your life.