FROM THE EDITOR
FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Lyndon Buckingham 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 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lu Lu Rivera
The unthinkable
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, 2022
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. 5, 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
The roles that most women play in society are typically underrated. What they do for their children and families is usually a matter of life or death, but because they are so steady and dependable at it, their work is frequently taken for granted. That is, until the unthinkable happens. That moment can be likened to a photo I discovered on social media the other day. Seeing it created for me one of those scrolling stoppers, when I had to investigate the story thoroughly before I could move on. At first glance, it appeared to be five baby birds in a nest with their mouths wide open. Clearly, they had anticipated receiving breakfast from their devoted mom. But upon closer inspection, I realized that I was looking at their tiny skeletons. To confirm this, I read the comments people had posted. I immediately came across this one, “The mother must have been killed.” That was also the consensus of other responders—that she would have never abandoned them for any other reason. In this issue of SACONNECTS, we talk about courageous women who have dedicated their lives to preaching the gospel of Christ from a pulpit and who perform other forms of essential ministry, volunteerism, and philanthropy. From helping African refugees find their way, to feeding and housing youth in the United States who have run away, to building a spirit of love in communities everywhere, women in our stories have helped to create sustainable, lifelong, and transformative experiences for everyone. You will see for yourself how, since its inception, The Salvation Army has been led by women who have played pivotal roles. Through God’s grace and love, they have helped families survive in the aftermath of disasters, during other crises, as well as ongoing struggles. As you face the many challenges of your life, be assured that The Salvation Army’s undying commitment is to make sure that the unthinkable, whatever that might be, never happens to you.
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