SAconnects, Volume 10, Number 3, 2024

The Salvation Army’s Others program offers flexible jobs and fair wages so people in other countries have access to decent employment. Through your purchases, we provide life–changing opportunities to over 1200 artisans in different parts of the world who produce quality, handmade products, like this embroidered pink scarf handloomed in Bangladesh.

WHO WE ARE |

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Programs The Salvation Army in Niagara Falls welcomes the community to its summer BBQ and Bible study. Plus: Topics for your next Bible study.

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People Lieutenant Shirley Figueroa knows that when God is looking for us, He always finds us.

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History The Salvation Army has survived storms, threats, and trials.

RECOVERY

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Feature Three sisters, soldiers from Puerto Rico, reflect on life after losing their papi in an accident.

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Thrift Store Finds Plan your next board game night.

LIVING

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Health Learning basic CPR techniques can save a life.

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Spiritual Life Development It’s never too late to ask God for forgiveness, or to find it in your own heart.

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Book Review She lost her sight but found a new way of life through the Lord.

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Family Sharing your home with a dog brings so much joy, even knowing you’ll have to say goodbye in the end.

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Volunteer Spotlight Massachusetts fashion icon Yolanda Cellucci says one of the joys in her life is being in service to others.

FOUNDER William Booth

GENERAL Lyndon Buckingham

TERRITORIAL LEADERS

Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz

Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz

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

COPY EDITOR / PROOFREADER Donna L. Ng

ART DIRECTOR Reginald Raines

PUBLICATION CONTENT

MANAGER AND DESIGNER

Lea La Notte Greene

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Dave Hulteen Jr., Joe Marino, Karena Lin

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lu Lu Rivera

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, 2023

WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

—Ephesians 4:32

Deborah was excited to serve as an usher. One Sunday morning, though, an incident literally sent her to her knees. She had just seated a first-time visitor. A third woman—a longstanding church member—towered over the trembling visitor and said, “This is where I always sit!”

Seeing tears well up in the visitor’s eyes, Deborah moved to intervene. But before she could speak, the elderly church member turned and said, “You’re not going to push me out of my seat. I belong in this church!”

Deborah recalls, “She was telling me about her rights and privileges, and her finger was all in my face.” The encounter shook Deborah. “It just squeezed everything in me.” She left the sanctuary, entered an empty usher’s room, and closed the door. “I said, God, if this is where you want me to serve, then You’re going to have to deal with this!”

Fortunately, Deborah was also a professional counselor. Having worked with adults in rehab, as well as in clinical situations, she recognized the signs of deep emotional distress, and what could even be an early indicator of dementia. She knelt, prayed, and then returned to the sanctuary.

10994–1739.

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SAconnects, 440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994–1739. SAconnects accepts advertising. Copyright © 2024 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.

In this issue of SA connects we ask, “Whatever Happened to Civility?” (p. 10). A good question, given the apparent lack of it in our society today, where people are eager to cancel, rather than nurture, each other.

Other articles show how the nurturing process begins with respect, which in Latin means to look again (re-, “back”; speciō, “to look”). By taking a second or third look at someone, we learn how to trust (p. 16), endure (p. 22), remember (p. 24), forgive (p. 28), and have vision to see beyond what is physically possible (p. 30).

“Yes, the friction is painful,” says Deborah. “But we grow in community if we allow ourselves to.” There are so many seats out there that must be filled by people of character, integrity, and love for others. Let us pray that we will sit as one with those who will allow civility to live again.

Viewers paying close attention to the movie Cabrini may notice parallels between the Italian nun’s story and the early days of The Salvation Army in America.

Francesca Xavier Cabrini, known as Mother Cabrini, founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 with seven young women. That same year, Commissioner George Scott Railton and seven young women known as the “Hallelujah Lassies” landed in New York City to plant The Salvation Army flag in America.

In 1889, Cabrini and six other nuns made the journey to America to help New York’s poor immigrants. That same year, Captain Emma Bown and Lieutenant Martha Johnson were appointed as The Salvation Army’s first “Slum Sisters” to minister to the same population.

Did you know?

The Salvation Army was the subject of a beloved sitcom in England.

Hallelujah! starred actor Thora Hird, a real-life supporter of the Army, as the fictional Captain Emily Ridley, a devoted officer determined to find and clean up sin in the quiet county of Yorkshire. The show ran for two seasons on the British television network

National Salvation Army Week is May 13–19

and celebrates our volunteers, donors, and program beneficiaries. The observance has been around since 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the U.S. Congress proclaimed a week to remind Americans to give freely of themselves.

Scan to donate today!

DONOR CORNER

To strengthen its Feeding Families for Life program and bring healthy food to families in need, the Bayer Fund awarded $40,000 to The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division.

The Bayer Fund, the philanthropic arm of the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has enjoyed a working relationship with The Salvation Army. Last year, the fund donated $30,000 to support the Love in a Backpack program, which helped feed 120 local elementary and middle school students when they were not in school. Bayer employees also helped build raised garden beds (above) at The Salvation Army in New Kensington, which provides vegetables year-round for its food programs.

“We are grateful to Bayer Fund for their continued partnership and support of The Salvation Army’s Feeding Families for Life initiative,” said Lauren Brant, director of corporate engagement for The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania. “Thank you to the employees who generously donated their time by planting garden beds at our New Kensington location this past May. It was a beautiful day that will have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our neighbors in need. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to fighting hunger in our community.”

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

—JAMES 1:17

In 1924, The Salvation Army received 116 acres of campground property in Sharon, Mass. The site, originally called a Fresh Air Camp, is now preparing to celebrate its 100th year as Camp Wonderland. Each year, “The Happy Summer Place” welcomes schoolchildren, many from underprivileged and inner-city areas, to experience a summer of music, activities—like climbing, swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, and archery—and a new understanding of Christ’s love, all amid His beautiful creation.

“From its earliest days, The Salvation Army has recognized that youth enrichment and empowerment is important,” says Captain Nate Hinzman, divisional youth secretary.

“Wonderland’s legacy is the generations of families that have been impacted by its ministry,” says Jen Forster, director at Camp Wonderland. “When you have someone that has come to camp, and then their children and grandchildren are coming to that camp too, it’s something that can’t be underestimated.”

BBQ & Bible Study at the Falls

In the early days of summer 2023, members of The Salvation Army Niagara Falls Citadel Corps knocked on over 2,000 doors to invite the community to a series of weekly summer BBQs. They also asked everyone if there was anything in their lives that they wanted the Salvationists to pray for.

“We made it a point to follow up with them on what we had prayed for. There were over 100 people who said ‘yes’ to our prayers,” says Major Andrew Murray, corps officer (pastor) at the Niagara Falls Citadel Corps. “If all we’re doing is offering food, we’re not doing enough as an Army. We have to feed them the Word of God too.”

As corps members cooked and served food every Monday, Army volunteers sat with the guests at picnic tables and talked with them about The Salvation Army while enjoying burgers and hot dogs. The volunteers mentioned that there would be Bible study afterward and asked if their meal companion would stay with them for it.

Each Bible study session featured a different parable of Jesus; if someone came for just one week, they would still take a full lesson home. More than 2,600 people were served food during 13 weeks of barbecues, and half of them stayed for Bible study.

“Niagara Falls is very similar to Atlantic City. Both of these cities have two different worlds within them,” says Murray. “Niagara Falls is home to its famous waterfalls, but it also has casinos, boardwalks, and expensive hotels. And just like Atlantic City, once you look past the tourist attractions, you’ll find a community struggling economically.

by HUGO BRAVO

“Our corps soup kitchen sees good numbers, but we wanted to remove the stigma that can come with coming to a soup kitchen,” he says. “Stigmas build internal labels that can make someone negatively say to themselves, ‘This is all I am.’ Some of the same people at the BBQ came to our soup kitchen. But the BBQ removes those labels; there’s no stigma about going to a community cookout. That’s a fun social event for everyone and their families, food insecure or not.

“We didn’t even want to put labels on our Bible study. It wasn’t evangelism. It was enjoying a meal, meeting our community, and then inviting them to stay after. We didn’t even mention Bible study when we knocked on doors, but our events would not have been a success without those visitations to our neighbors.”

One of the neighbors who accepted the invitation was an employee of a nearby Indian restaurant. He later approached Major Murray to say he was fascinated by the teachings of Christ—and he asked for a Bible translated to Hindi.

Murray remembered that, 400 miles away, The Salvation Army in Philadelphia served many Hindu families. The next week, he had a Hindi Bible delivered from the Philadelphia Citadel Corps.

“I don’t know what will ultimately come out of that engagement, but I do know I gave a gentleman a Bible in his own language because he wanted to learn more about Jesus,” Murray says. “Would that connection have happened at an indoor soup kitchen? Probably not. It did because he came to our barbecue, a community event that was open and approachable for him.”

Try these topics (with verses) at your next

Bible study

Money A discussion about the Bible’s teachings on money can guide attendees toward both financial freedom and generosity toward others.

1 Samuel 2:7: The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

Technology Show how Christians can embrace technology in a way that creates personal growth, not techfear or tech-obsession.

1 Corinthians 6:12: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Business As America moves toward a “gig economy,” one can implement good business practices and ethics, and witness from God’s teachings.

Proverbs 22:29: Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Tithing No one should give to their church out of force or guilt. Educate others on how generosity is an essential part of one’s walk with the Lord.

Leviticus 27:30: A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Leadership Good leaders influence others to be the best versions of themselves, and God has influenced leaders throughout the Bible.

Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A Great Pursuit

Interview by HUGO BRAVO

Lieutenant Shirley Figueroa, assistant corps officer at The Salvation Army’s San Juan Corps Community Center in Puerto Rico, talks about the way she honors both her father and God, lessons from King David’s loyalty, and her reason why accepting the call to officership can feel like a game of hide-and-seek.

The first time I met God was in the Catholic Church. I’m grateful that it gave me the foundation of who He was, but the Catholic Church was never quite a fit for me. It’s a much more ceremonial, sacrament-focused way to worship, and I felt un settled when I was there. I was young, and when you lose your connection to Him, it is easy to stray as I did. But even so, God had a plan for me, and He used everything that happened to shape me into who I am today.

When many of us first receive the calling, we don’t always want to accept it. Becoming an officer meant taking my children with me and away from Puerto Rico. I didn’t know English well, I had gone through a difficult divorce, and I would be far from my loved ones. But God was in pursuit of me, and it gave me such anxiety! Not from worry or dread, but from knowing that I needed to speak up and answer Him. Imagine children playing hide-and-seek, and only seconds away from being found. Right before it happens, they cannot keep their excitement inside and they yell out, “You got me!” That’s what it felt like. Every barrier that I put up, God was breaking down until I accepted that I had been found. He always finds us.

I grew up in a musical family. My mom played trombone, my brothers played the saxophone and the piano, and my father played the trumpet. I didn’t play an instrument, but when my father died, I started taking trumpet classes at the San Juan Corps. It was a way to remember him and continue his legacy. We were close, but learning the instrument that he loved is like getting to know him in a new way. When I play at the corps, I honor both of my fathers in Heaven.

On Stage Lieutenant Shirley Figueroa performs at You Matter/¡Eres importante! in Puerto Rico.

I used to be terrified to sing or dance in church. But for The Salvation Army, this type of worship ministry became my passion. When there was an opportunity to perform for last year’s “You Matter/¡Eres importante!” family gathering in Puerto Rico, I was nervous about even auditioning. At the first rehearsal, all the other dancers were younger than me and had been dancing and performing for most of their lives. But God reminded me that there’s no point in comparing myself to anyone, because in the end, it’s not about me. It’s about Him. When I feel scared or insecure during a performance, I remember that I’m not doing it for human eyes or ears, but for God.

After God proclaimed to David that he would be king one day, David faced many trials and challenges, such as the giant Goliath and attempts on David’s life by King Saul. Yet David refused to rush and go against God’s Word and promises. In turn, when the time was right, David became a great, influential king. Our suffering may be God working through us to bring salvation to others. A family emergency kept me from attending my commissioning ceremony—it left me in doubt of God’s promise. But in that pain, I had people who approached me and showed me how much they cared about what I was going through. I began to look at life’s misfortunes in a different way. What you are going through may be reaching others. Ask yourself, “Who is watching me? Is my reaction to this trial strengthening their faith?”

KEVIN

DIAZ

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

—PSALM 146:3–5

Whatever Happened to Civility?

This presidential election year is sure to bring rancor and discord to an already divided nation. How can our Christian beliefs lead us?

by ROBERT MITCHELL

Anna and I couldn’t have been more different beyond our love of journalism and dedication to our chosen field.

I grew up in a conservative family in the Midwest and became a born-again Christian at a young age. Anna hailed from the Northeast and was proud of both her liberalism and her Jewish faith. It’s fair to say we didn’t agree on much outside of the newsroom we shared every day, just a few desks apart.

I had been at the newspaper for almost a decade when she came on board. I found out later there was

some concern that we would clash, but the fears turned out to be unfounded. We respected each other. To her, I was a member of the “religious right.” To me, she advocated for the “loony left,” and we would laugh together before hitting the streets looking for stories. I just wanted a good teammate to help us beat the other daily newspapers, and she was as committed as I was to “scooping” the competition. When I saw her obvious talent and how she could help us win, we actually became fast friends. We bonded over our shared mission. We even started a radio and cable television show together discussing the media.

Our co-workers would look at us in stunned disbelief when we’d walk in together after taping our show or they saw us eating lunch together.

We had the kind of relationship where we could be honest with each other and agree to disagree. We often discussed politics, but mostly to analyze the races and never in a divisive way where we verbally attacked each other for supporting or opposing a candidate or party. We understood each other’s viewpoints. For example, when a national politician proposed tax cuts, Anna would say, “I’ll bet you’re happy, Bob. You’ve never met a tax cut you didn’t like.” I would counter with something like, “You would probably raise tax rates to 90% if you could.” It was fun banter between colleagues.

Our faith was one of our favorite things to talk about. I probably shared mine more than Anna, and we had deep discussions

about Jesus Christ; she knew that’s what Christians did. I never shied away from what the Bible says about any subject. Anna and I talked often about the differences and similarities between Christianity and Judaism. “We don’t believe Jesus was the Messiah,” she would tell me. I would often good-naturedly respond, “Go home and read Isaiah 53 tonight and we’ll talk tomorrow.” Both of us would laugh. She admitted the passage intrigued her. Anna would sometimes share elements of the Passover Seder, where I clearly saw Christ symbolically displayed.

I saw Anna as a sinner in need of Christ, no different from myself. She wasn’t someone to be demeaned or disrespected; she too was created in the image of God. When I would share my faith, I did so with “gentleness and respect” as the Bible orders us to do in 1 Peter 3:15. I didn’t see her as evil or unworthy of my friendship because her politics didn’t match up with mine.

Where is your hope?

I was endlessly amazed at the faith Anna and our co-workers put in human government. I covered government and politics as a news reporter for almost two decades before coming to The Salvation Army. I can unequivocally say that neither party fits neatly into the Christian worldview. At the end of the day, if your ultimate faith is in partisan politics and politicians, you will end up being terribly disappointed. I am always surprised when I meet people who

put all their faith in human institutions and political parties created by sinful men and women. I always think to myself, if only we put that much faith and trust in Christ.

When I considered leaving the newspaper business to work for The Salvation Army, Anna was the first work colleague I consulted for advice because I respected her opinion. The relationship of mutual respect and cordiality Anna and I were able to maintain is all too often not the case today.

Now, people decide on their favored candidate or political party and view anyone who disagrees with them as evil or at least horribly uninformed. And people are seen as advocates of every single position a candidate espouses when sometimes that’s not the case. There are no nuances anymore.

We used to pull a curtain and vote in secret in the voting booth for a reason. Unless it was a party caucus, voting was a private matter and our personal business. To ask someone who they voted for was considered rude. My mother, raised on such an ethic, taught me never to discuss religion and politics in polite company. That has all changed today. People sometimes even take a cellphone photo of their ballot and post it on social media to make sure you know they support Candidate X. If not, they certainly post about who they supported after they leave the booth—and they are sure to tell you why you should too.

In fact, social media has become a battlefield where longtime friends and family go to war around this time of year. Support the

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

—ROMANS 14:19

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

—EPHESIANS 4:29

“wrong” candidate or cause, and social media turns into a toxic back-and-forth verbal war that can divide even devout Christians. I’ve seen Christians fight on social media to the point their pastor intervened, calling for a cease-fire.

Adding to Christ

We have become so polarized that “unfriending” friends and family on social media if they don’t support your chosen candidate is now standard fare. I recall a social media friend posting, “I don’t unfriend people over politics.” A few sentences later they said, “But I’m unfriending you because you support Candidate X.”

Because of the political divide, family gatherings devolve into a “tension convention” instead of a time to enjoy one another’s company. Some families even have to lay down ground rules beforehand to keep politics out of the day. We don’t talk to each other anymore; we yell past each other, and holidays can become dreaded events where everyone holds their breath and hopes for the best.

That raises the question: Whatever happened to civility?

How did we get here? How should Christians, who are told to love everyone and do so with “gentleness and respect,” act in this environment?

Dan Boone, president of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., and author of the 2010 book A Charitable Discourse, says Christians have taken their personal cultural and political preferences and “mistakenly woven them into our

Christian identity.” They have forgotten that Christ should be the glue binding us together and nothing else.

“We’re now followers of Jesus who have a list of other things that also define what that means for us,” Boone says. “It’s to the point we are willing to break fellowship with other Christians on the basis of those other things rather than the central unifier that we have in Christ.”

Discipleship i s key

That list can include such modern hot-button issues as immigration, abortion, human sexuality, and a host of others. Boone says Salvation Army corps and other churches have not done a good job of identifying this trend as “idolatry” and calling it out as such.

“It basically is the enthronement of other gods that we have made,” he says. “We’ve basically turned our own opinions about politics into a god and we are serving that god to the point we are willing to disassociate or unfriend or walk away from those who might hold a different position, not recognizing the God above all gods and the Lord above all lords is the crucified Christ.”

With the 2024 presidential election looming, Boone says he would like to see churches add a “very robust discipleship curriculum” for all ages to help Christians discern what influences they allow into their lives.

Boone also would like to see pastors plan a sermon series on being more kind and respectful with one another, while allowing the congregation to engage in dialogue.

“I think preaching it from the pulpit doesn’t go nearly far enough,” he says. “I think we have to embed it in the holy conversations that happen at our gatherings. We have to embed it in our curriculum, our Sunday school classes, our small groups, our corps groups—everything that we do. We’ve got to find a place where people can talk it out, talk it through, and practice it with one another. I think if we can do that, we will prevent some of the splintering that is already happening.

“This kind of toxic communication is in the water source of culture today, and we’re all just drinking it without thinking about it. I think we’ve got to teach Christians to reevaluate the news sources they pay attention to, the social media feeds that they follow, the influence of friends. We need to teach Christians to say, how do I reach the opinions that I reach? I think what’s happening is we just slowly drink the culture’s water and all of a sudden, we’ve got this deeply held opinion that we’ve really not taken before the throne of God and submitted to the lordship of Christ in my life. Is this good? Is this true? Is this right? ”

The Bible speaks

When it comes to sharing Scripture with his audiences, Boone often quotes 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

“I talk a lot about that,” says Boone, who has spoken at several Salvation

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”

—JAMES 3:9–10

Army events. “We bring our opinions, our thoughts, our judgments to the throne of Christ and there we allow Christ to supersede all of that.”

Boone also uses Colossians 3, where Paul instructs Christians to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Another favorite is Philippians, where Paul says Christians should think on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

“In other words, allow the beautiful, the right, the true, the good to supersede the political opinions that you might have,” Boone says.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Boone says, Jesus’ admonition to take the log out of your own eye before judging was to emphasize how we should be careful passing judgment on opinions that might differ from our own.

Many Salvation Army pastors in the USA Eastern Territory recognize the problem and have taken various steps—some practical and some aspirational—to address the lack of civility in our midst.

Lieutenant Montserrat Esquivel of the Holyoke, Mass., Corps says her church holds meetings to bring everyone together.

“This allows for all of us to give input, disagree, and discuss,” she says. “Prayer at the very beginning and Jesus in the center reminds all of us that even though we may disagree, we can discuss with love towards our brother or sister in Christ.”

Likewise, Envoy Anne Rich of the Plymouth, Mass., Corps tries to promote

civility in a variety of ways during politically divisive times, including through “open and respectful communication.”

“I encourage open dialogue where we can express our opinions and perspectives without fear of judgment or hostility,” she says. “In one of our programs, called Common Ground, we emphasize the importance of active listening and respectful responses.”

Rich also establishes guidelines for interactions and encourages everyone “to focus on issues rather than personal attacks.”

Respectful disagreement is acceptable, but personal insults or derogatory language are not, and Rich works hard to lead by example. “If I model civil behavior in my own interactions, I can encourage my leaders to engage in respectful conversations and demonstrate empathy towards differing opinions,” she says.

Let’s talk it out

Another important exercise is for her congregation to engage in community service projects with other organizations to “bridge the political and language issues.” Rich believes this can help minimize division and foster a sense of common purpose.

Rich says she celebrates diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This also involves asking her flock to seek out diverse perspectives and engage in conversations with people who hold different beliefs, hoping this can help break down stereotypes and promote understanding.

When conflict does arise, Rich says, she

“encourages my people to resolve conflict promptly through peaceful dialogue and mediation if needed.”

“This is not all completely solved yet, but promoting civility is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and reinforcement,” she says. “By creating a culture of respect, empathy, and open communication, you can help foster a more civil and inclusive environment within the corps.”

Lieutenant Kristal Vazquez, who ministers to the Loiza Corps in Puerto Rico, says reaching civility is no easy task given the different perspectives in a congregation. Her corps is one of many where members debate the issues to find common ground.

“I believe that what has helped us is to create an example of a healthy environment of open dialogue, listening to understand, and mutual respect,” she says. “And even when things may start to boil, we remind everyone that Jesus does not choose to love one more than the other. Love your neighbor for me means to overcome any political divide.”

Major Stanley Newton of the Clearfield, Pa., Corps says he will occasionally remind people in his sermons that God expects us to treat each other with love and kindness regardless of our conflicting stances on different issues.

“I also remind our people that our actions toward each other should not be reflective of where we might stand on something,” he says. “I might not agree with something in their life, but it doesn’t lessen my love and respect toward them. I encourage everyone to do the same.”

It’s all about love

More than any other tactic, loving people the way Christ loved seems to be the dominant approach.

Major Martina Cornell, administrator of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Dayton, Ohio, agreed. She encourages people to promote “love and unity according to the teaching of Christ” through John 13:34–35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Major Ruth Thomas of the North Shore Corps in Salem, Mass., says her congregants often “agree to disagree, but come together around Matthew 12:25 and the admonition that “every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”

“It’s OK not to have the same opinion,” she says. “Focus on what we agree on: We live in a great country. But there are people who don’t have enough food. There are people who suffer from mental illness. There are people who need Jesus. We can help.”

Captain Kirsten Childs encourages members and volunteers at the Scranton, Pa., Citadel Corps to “treat each other with the love of God and respect, and thus civility is sustained.” Childs says she doesn’t discuss politics with corps members, stakeholders, community partners, or the general public, especially from the pulpit. Like many others, she believes in focusing on the

Kingdom of God and not partisan politics because God is ultimately in control.

“We are about Kingdom work and Kingdom matters,” she says. “What political party we may align ourselves with is not important nor is discussed or even noted in our social media accounts.

“We pray for our country and its leaders and the atmosphere, its current issues and events, and for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We know who is ultimately in control and that God has a plan and purpose that need to play out. We trust Him fully and completely. We encourage our corps members to do the same.”

God is sovereign

Lieutenant Jashira Figueroa, who is the assistant corps officer at the Akron, Ohio, Citadel Corps, makes a similar argument that our hope should be in Christ and not worldly princes and human systems.

“As pastors, we are responsible for teaching our congregations that our faith cannot be placed on politicians,” Figueroa says. “God’s sovereignty will use politicians to carry out His will.”

Major Mary Moore, a Salvation Army pastor in Spring Valley, N.Y., agreed with many others that this world and its leaders are not the ultimate authority and won’t have the final say.

“If we know God’s Word, if we read God’s Word and obey God’s Word, then we just have to follow where God’s Holy Spirit leads us,” she says. “We just have to be

“ Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

—JAMES 1:19

faithful to God’s Word and love people to be obedient to Him. I think everything else will work out the way God wants it to.

“There will be Christians who vote left and Christians who vote right, but God will make sure it all works out according to His plan.”

Moore said while Jesus did confront the corrupt religious leaders of His time, He spent the bulk of His life loving people and we should follow His lead.

“He went around doing what He could where He could, sharing the love of His Father,” she says. “If we could just model that and love those we meet and share the gospel with them … it doesn’t have to be about left or right or conservative or liberal. It just has to be about showing God’s love where we are.”

Looking back, I hope I showed that love to Anna and others I’ve encountered over the years. Anna and I eventually moved on to other professional endeavors, but we still talk occasionally about colleagues, the sad state of newspapers, and the good ol’ days in the news.

Not much has changed about our worldviews, but I hope we taught ourselves and our co-workers that people with different views can get along for a common goal. Treating people with Christian love and respect means more than winning a shallow argument. Being “right” doesn’t mean much if you hurt someone in the process and potentially turn them off to the Savior you represent. What have you really won?

Be civil. Leave the rest to God.

Trusting without borders

Known to the world simply as Taya, she sings one of the most popular Christian worship songs in history and has a fondness for The Salvation Army

by ROBERT MITCHELL

photosby SAM SCARCE

Long before she performed “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” in front of worldwide audiences with Hillsong United, singer Taya Smith-Gaukrodger took part in community worship nights that sometimes met at a tiny Salvation Army church in her hometown of Goonellabah, Australia.

“What was really special is it was held in a poorer part of the community, and I just loved getting to see The Salvation Army be right at the center of getting to help people,” Taya recalls. “What’s really cool is I can still picture the cross in that church and you could see it from many different vantage points in the community. I loved that experience.

“I have a lot of friends who have been heavily impacted in the best way by The Salvation Army church. I am grateful they met Jesus there.”

Taya will meet up with The Salvation Army again this summer when she performs during The Salvation Army’s Commissioning Weekend on June 7 in Hershey, Pa. She has already read up on the ordination and commissioning of the Defenders of Justice session and the celebration of the two-year journey the cadets have traveled to become Salvation Army officers. Taya’s husband, Ben, and the couple’s baby boy, Bo, will join her.

“I consider it an immense honor, and so does my husband, that we get to come with our team,” Taya told SA connects. “We’re believing and praying that God would have His hand upon that night and that it would be such a refreshing time in the presence of God—and that we can have fun together. I love in Proverbs 11 where it talks about those who refresh others will be refreshed. That’s really my prayer and my team’s prayer as we head into getting to be together.”

Taya will perform songs off her two solo albums and favorites from her Hillsong days, including the evocative anthem “Oceans,” one of the most popular Christian worship songs ever recorded. She is aware that most people know her as the “woman who sings ‘Oceans.’”

“I’m so OK with that,” Taya says with a laugh. “God has been so gracious and kind, and to get to sing a song God has used to encourage so many people is an honor.”

A song for the ages “Oceans” has spent 191 total weeks on Billboard ’s “Hot Christian Songs” chart—61 at the top—since its release in 2013. Billboard ranked it the top Christian song of the 2010s, and Christian congregations sing it every Sunday in churches around the world. The song made her an international star, and the ever-humble Taya admits it’s a lot to take in sometimes.

“What’s really cool about God is you just never know what He’s going to breathe on,” she says. “I think it’s a reminder that whatever we are doing, we’re working as unto the Lord. Even if it was only one person being impacted, it would always be worth all the effort. The way God has taken this song and used it to minister to people, and even called people unto Himself, is such a humbling honor. I’m very grateful.”

Taya didn’t write “Oceans,” but “getting to sing it ended up being a blessing in disguise for me.”

She had no formal voice training and didn’t attend Bible college before joining Hillsong.

“All of a sudden, getting placed on these crazy platforms around the world and getting to carry this song, I think I need the confession of this song to even be able to figure out how to carry this call of God on my life,” Taya says. “It’s become a prayer that I think I’ll be praying for the rest of my life to trust Jesus and surrender to Him.”

“Oceans” is based on Matthew 14’s account of Jesus walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. He invites disciple Simon Peter to do the same; the apostle was fine until he lost trust and took his eyes off Jesus.

“Even if there are stumblings while we’re learning, our God is going to be there and helping us and enabling us and picking us up when we happen to take our eyes off of Him,” Taya says.

Trusting her Savior

The trust theme of “Oceans” runs through two other songs Taya will perform in Hershey, including “For All My Life” from her 2022 self-titled debut solo album and “Gonna Be Good” from her upcoming sophomore album.

Taya calls “For All My Life,” based on Proverbs 3:4–5, her testimony in melody. She co-wrote the song with Hank Bentley and Jon Guerra, and when the chorus was done, Taya realized it was “the confession of my life.” She has learned to trust an all-knowing God “completely and wholeheartedly” with everything, not just pieces of her life.

“I’ve been so grateful to get to carry that song because the last couple of years have looked a little differently in certain ways and slightly unexpectedly,” she says. “It’s a reminder I’m not leaning on my own understanding, but I’m going to acknowledge Him in

everything and lay it before Him and allow Him to breathe and speak. If He wants us to change direction for things we didn’t foresee, so be it. He’s been faithful to do that, and I know He doesn’t change, so I’m confident He’ll continue to do that. I’m so pumped we’re going to get to worship Jesus through that song.”

New horizons

“Gonna Be Good,” based on Matthew 6, is about trusting Jesus and not worrying over the cares of life because He cares for the birds of the air and even the lilies of the field.

“I think it’s just that reminder not to worry and to learn how to trust and to be joyful at the same time,” Taya says.

“Even when you’re not sure how He’s going to do it, know that He will because He’s a good Heavenly Father and He sees everything.”

Taya has a few new areas of her life to trust God in, including her six-year marriage and role as a new mother. Her son was born last October, and Taya says her growing family is learning to “do ministry together” on the road. A single woman when she joined Hillsong, Taya says she and her husband are “in no way professionals” yet.

“Marriage is one of the great gifts that was a God idea,” she says. “It’s beautiful when you step into it, and it’s such an obvious thing that God has brought two people together and just watching Him go above and beyond in blessing it. Iron sharpens iron in partnership, and getting to do life alongside someone is such a gift.

“I didn’t know this is what God would have for my life and I’m so grateful for it. But I’m also grateful for someone who knows how to intercede and has such a beautiful relationship with God, when it came to reading the Word of God in a way that has encouraged me to do so in a way that I hadn’t been reading the Word of God before.”

Besides trust, Taya says the word that comes to mind for her in motherhood is surrender.

“All of a sudden you have this sweet little human that is totally dependent on you,” she says. “I think in many ways it’s opening my eyes to show me the way God looks at us. Our son doesn’t have to do anything to make us love him or even be proud of him. We already are. I think it’s expanding my view of God in the same way, where He is not saying, ‘impress me’ or ‘you have to do this to earn my love.’ He loves us regardless.”

Lessons of motherhood

Sometimes, Taya says, she has trouble wrapping her mind around the love of God expressed in verses like Romans 5:8 (“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”).

Motherhood has helped.

“I think you get to see that even more so when you have a child

of your own,” she says. “I think the surrender part in all this is surrendering our plans. Every day is quite unique with a little baby, especially our first one, and you’re learning everything, and you sometimes question everything. Is this a rash? Is he OK? I would say our prayer life is getting even better. I think we’re praying in the Spirit a little bit more than before.”

Being a busy mother can also make it difficult to spend time alone with God, but Taya is intentional about maintaining a vigorous devotional life, which doesn’t take a break when she’s touring the world and constantly in the public eye.

“Being on the road, for me, the most important thing is that time with Jesus,” she says. “Sometimes we can get into our routines, and it becomes more about the routine rather than being in the presence of God and being with Him and allowing Him to speak with us in every moment. For me, it’s important before I would ever step foot on a platform, that I would have that time of placing myself before God.”

In between concerts, Taya finds a quiet place, shuts the door, and reads the Bible and the classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest by the Scottish evangelist Oswald Chambers. She also spends time in prayer and journaling to express her deepest thoughts.

“I am definitely learning how to balance all that as a new mom,” she says. “I would say it’s one of the more important things because I can’t really pour out if I’m not filled up. It’s just making sure I know what the source is, and it’s not me. I’m making sure I’m going to the fountain of living water.”

Quiet time with God

“I know everyone writes differently,” she says. “For me, a lot of it comes from my quiet time with God. At different points, I’ll hop on the piano and just worship. Not all the time, but some things, I’ll hit record. I sometimes just write by ear and what sounds nice.”

Usually a melody will come first and then the lyrics, she says, “because hopefully

mind. Her mother, who led Taya to faith in Christ at age 5, would play an acoustic guitar from the yellowed pages of hymns. Taya and her siblings learned the piano, cello, clarinet, and other instruments.

“I knew early on that I connected really easy with Jesus while singing,” she says. “I think definitely growing up in that household and attending and serving in church in such a big way left an indelible mark on my life and my sisters’ lives. Music was always encouraged.”

Private devotional life is a key element of her songwriting process, Taya says, which “begins with a lot of prayer.” Returning to the theme of trust, she adds, she also must “trust the instincts God has given me on the inside” when writing. She announced her departure from Hillsong last year to embark on a solo career and focus more on songwriting.

I’m in the Word of God every day, and just whatever God has been putting on my heart for that season or that week. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will drop in a theme or a line.”

Music has always been a key to Taya’s relationship with God. She remembers running around her house at age 3 “singing to the Lord in my heart,” but as she grew up singing in church, becoming an internationally known singer never crossed her

Looking ahead to Hershey

At age 21, instead of going to college, Taya left her hometown for Sydney in 2010 with only $200 and dreams of becoming a recording artist. She found Hillsong Church’s City Campus and got involved in youth and young adult ministries and with the creative team while working in retail.

Taya, now 35, began touring with Hillsong’s worship team in 2013. With the release of the group’s Zion album, featuring “Oceans,” she began to believe her dream was possible.

“It was always something I wanted to do, but perhaps didn’t know how to make happen,” she says.

Her latest tour is taking Taya all over the United States and Europe before she comes to Hershey. She began looking forward to the show and praying for the future Salvation Army officers months before they completed their two-year training.

“We’re praying that God would speak to each person there that night, us included, in whatever way that He wants to,” Taya says. “Just know that my team and I will be coming prayed up and believing that God is going to instill something in every single heart and mind that’s there—whether it’s a refreshing or an empowering by the Holy Spirit or just a reminder of something God had said even within those two years of training.

“I pray that it would be a sweet sealing of the Holy Spirit and His presence for what happened those two years and for the future as these officers and their families step into what God has called them to do.”

If you’re looking for a place to worship, we invite you to join us. To find a location near you, go to easternusa.salvationarmy.org and enter your zipcode and view the map, or select Worship Center from the dropdown options.

Crises that Rocked the Army

The Salvation Army has endured through storms, threats, and trials

by ROB JEFFERY

In his 2001 book, Leadership Secrets of The Salvation Army, Commissioner Robert Watson wrote that Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, referred to The Salvation Army as the most effective organization in the United States. With such an accolade it would be easy to think of the Army as a big ship at sea, easily traversing the waves, constant and sure of its direction.

But the overall stability and good governance that characterize the modern-day Salvation Army were not always the reality. In our past, we were more like a scrappy little sailboat, buffeted by the waves, at times in great danger of being lost to the depths or scuttled on the rocks. The following crises rocked The Salvation Army to its core but also provided opportunities for growth and transformation.

Persecution (1865 to early 1900s)

The first challenge that Salvationists faced in this new movement created by William and Catherine Booth was persecution. Salvationists were routinely harassed and assaulted by angry mobs, some organized like the Skeleton Army (backed by liquor sellers, business leaders, and even local politicians), but many just spontaneously formed when the local Salvation Army set up in the town square. Early meetings were broken up by ruffians trying to rip out the seats or shouting obscene calls at the courageous (often female) officers who were trying to lead souls to Christ. Corps buildings were burned down with little or no intervention from the authorities. In fact, police would often arrest Salvationists for parading in the streets or disturbing the peace. It was not unusual for Salvation Army officers to be arrested multiple times. Fortunately, the wave of persecution began to wane when people grew used to the presence of Salvationists and came to understand that they were there to help the

poorest and most disadvantaged. Check out “Forged in the Fires of Persecution,” from SA connects, Vol. 9, No. 3, for more about this difficult period.

Women in ministry (1870s)

With the Booths’ Christian Mission now in full swing and experiencing explosive growth throughout England, most experts would probably advise leadership not to mess with the formula too much. But Catherine Booth, ever the innovator, knew a course correction was needed. She sprang into action when Phoebe Palmer, a Methodist evangelist who was also Catherine’s hero and mentor, was attacked in the press for preaching. Booth wrote and published a pamphlet called “Female Ministry; or, Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel,” in which she systematically dismantled popular arguments that said women should not be allowed to preach.

Feeling the call of God on her own life to preach, she did so, setting into motion a way of ministry still unique to The Salvation Army: spousal ministry. Every married Salvation Army officer couple serving in a joint appointment is a throwback to our founders who patterned this way of leadership through their own vocation and marriage. It was not appreciated by all, however. English clergymen were incensed that the Christian Mission (later The Salvation Army) would allow women to serve as officers and hold leadership positions over men. Lord Shaftesbury, an evangelical aristocrat, denounced the Booths as “anti-Christ” in response to women preaching.

Was there ever a temptation on the part of William Booth to revisit this decision considering the crisis it caused? It appears not. William and Catherine would not be deterred on the issue of women in ministry, even if it meant suffering a loss in popularity. They need not have worried though;

welcoming women into The Salvation Army to serve as officers resulted in even more growth as young women flocked to the Army’s training garrisons to commit themselves to officership.

Splits and factions (1880–1890s)

To borrow a phrase from politics, when officers receive new appointments, they are used to a “peaceful transition of power.” They move out of roles, responsibilities, even quarters, with the expectation that the officers coming behind them will continue the work, even if they take it in a new direction. The Army’s entire system is built on a sacred trust that officers will not act in ways that hurt the viability of the appointment, or more importantly, the people in them. This strong yet delicate system was put to the test in our pioneering days.

In 1884, Major Thomas Moore, national commander, left The Salvation Army after a dispute with William Booth over incorporating the organization as an American institution. Moore was so charismatic that about a third of all Salvationists followed him to join a new group he called “The American Salvation Army.” For several years in the 1880s, many towns had two Salvation Armies, both raising money to support their work. How confusing! Moore also took the Salvation Army crest and trademarked it so that the Army loyal to Booth could no longer use it in America. A new brand had to be developed, and so the eagle crest became the symbol of The Salvation Army in America until Moore’s trademark expired in the 1970s.

In 1896, Commissioner Ballington Booth, known as the Marshal, also the national commander for America, left The Salvation Army after several years of working under a strained relationship with his father, William. Ballington and Maud Booth, two popular Army leaders, left to form the Volunteers of America. Though not

Marching On A drummer leads Salvation Army marchers as onlookers jeer and harass them in Paris, in an illustration from Le Petit Journal of 20 February 1892.

as ruinous to the Army as the Moore split, several influential officers left with them, and the story made headlines for weeks.

The world wars (1914–1918; 1939–1945)

The outbreak of the first and second world wars threatened the unity of The Salvation Army. Just a few months before the first world war began, the entire Salvation Army met in congress in London. At the time, no one suspected that various Salvation Army territories would be cut off from International Headquarters by the end of the conflict. In many Axis countries, the Army was proscribed and its evangelization efforts severely curbed. Even after World War II concluded, the descent of the Iron Curtain across Eastern Europe spelled

the end of The Salvation Army’s operation in many lands. The Army’s flag would not fly again in those countries until the fall of communism in the early 1990s.

Leadership crisis in 1929

Thanks to General John Larsson’s book 1929, many Salvationists know a lot more about the leadership crisis that nearly broke up The Salvation Army. When the inaugural High Council met, its first duty was to deliberate and vote on whether to remove General Bramwell Booth from office. Ultimately, through discussions that lasted several months, the Army came up with a new, more democratic way of selecting its international leaders, a process we still use today.

One hundred years into the future, historians will look back and evaluate how we came through the global COVID-19 pandemic—a crisis that shook The Salvation Army that is still fresh in our collective memory. But through every crisis or trial of faith, there is an opportunity for growth.

God is not finished with The Salvation Army, and we can claim the hope in Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, 16, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. … Therefore we do not lose heart.”

Rob Jeffery is director of the USA Eastern Territory Heritage Museum.

Remembering

by HUGO BRAVO

Papi

Three soldiers from The Salvation Army in Puerto Rico reflect on the tragedy that changed their lives

When sisters Lydmarie, Alondra, and Lyanet Rivera began attending The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Guayama, Puerto Rico, in 2014 with their grandmother Lydmia, their father—their papi— Miguel A. Rivera Rodriguez saw the positive impact on his three daughters.

As a musician himself, he liked that the Army was teaching his girls to play instruments. And even though Miguel had not been a regular churchgoer for most of his own life, he was a believer who loved the Lord and wanted his daughters to have God and The Salvation Army in their lives as much as they had each other.

None of them could have expected how important this would be for their family, years later.

“On Jan. 27, 2022, our father did not come home after work. The next day, we were told that he had been in an off-road accident on his motorcycle and taken to

the hospital,” says Lydmarie, now 24. “It was concerning, but not too surprising; he had been in quite a few minor accidents on his bike in the past. It seemed like he was always a victim of unfortunate events that he somehow overcame.”

Weeks before the accident, Miguel had been in and out of the hospital with COVID-19, eventually making a full recovery. Still, the sisters all felt an uneasiness this time, though none wanted to be the first to say it. The next morning, they learned the truth: The accident had killed Miguel at the scene.

“In our shock and pain, we all thought the same thing: God had been preparing and warning us about this for over a month. Maybe even longer,” says Lydmarie.

Mourning

“We thought that our father’s death would bring us closer together. But at first, the opposite was true,” says Alondra, 21. “We

were three sisters suffering a loss of someone we deeply loved. Our pain was the same and different for each of us. We coped, mourned, and even lashed out in our own ways.”

“There was a void left in our home. We didn’t even admit to each other how truly broken we felt until half a year after our father’s passing,” remembers Lyanet, 19.

Lydmarie felt guilt. That January morning, she had borrowed the family van, which made Miguel have to take his motorcycle to work. Lydmarie wondered if he’d still be alive today if she hadn’t taken the van. As the oldest sister, she also felt that it was her responsibility to put on a strong face for her family.

“I remember how everyone always asked how my sisters or our mother were doing during all this. I wasn’t really asked how I was very much,” she recalls.

Alondra was angry. She didn’t understand why this had happened to their family,

and how they could get past losing the head of their household. “It was an impossible, painful sight to see our mother bravely argue with insurance agencies, fill out paperwork, and gather important documents, all while she mourned him along with us,” she says.

Lyanet felt weary from staying up nights, and she was falling asleep during school hours. “From the first day, there were times when I would see the shadow of a male figure, or hear a voice that reminded me of Papi, and I almost expected him to walk back into all our lives,” says Lyanet. And as she mourned, Lyanet couldn’t help feeling a hint of resentment toward her older sisters—they had gotten to share more years and milestones with their father.

“If we continued down these paths, we would end up unhappy our whole lives,” says Lyanet. “It was up to the three of us to focus on the memories that we did have with our father, and work together to take

this unbearable pain, and let it transform us into stronger women.”

Honoring

Two years after Miguel’s death, the sisters have settled into a reluctant, but welcome, inner peace. Holidays and anniversaries come and go with a heaviness inside their hearts and home, and they still wonder how different each of their lives would be if their father were still with them.

“None of us ever want to feel like we’re holding back our own feelings and questions about his absence,” says Alondra. “We also wanted to find ways to keep some sort of normalcy in our schedules and lives as we mourned, and that meant continuing our role as soldiers at the Guayama Corps.”

“The day Papi died, Captains Cristina and Dabiel Valdés, who were our corps officers at the time, left their vacation to come back and give us comfort. The Army helped

us financially, knowing that our mother was out of work,” says Lydmarie. “At our father’s service, which the Guayama Corps did for us, there was a beautiful crowd of uniformed soldiers and officers who came to pay their respects. There, we saw faces whom we had only met once or twice, yet they were here to offer their condolences. We don’t know how we would have gone through these two years without the Army by our side.”

Lydmarie received the love and support of Hands On, The Salvation Army’s overseas mission work program for young adults, and CAST, the Eastern Territory’s traveling Creative Arts Service Team. In both of these ministries, she met people who cared about her and her well-being, showing that those who try to be the strongest can still let others help carry their pain.

Alondra, who is studying to be a social worker, says she’s fascinated by what she has studied about trauma and loss, and how death is another part of the gift of life. When people tell her that her attitude and street smarts remind them of her father, it’s humbling and bittersweet.

Despite Lyanet’s initial feelings of bitterness that she didn’t have as much time with their father as her sisters did, she knows that every joy and pain happens through God, and He has a plan for their family. “It can be hard to understand, but that’s where our own faith needs to be the strongest. Our father would be happy to know that our Heavenly Father is still in all our lives, and through both of them, we are growing, succeeding, and living as he would want us to.”

Lydmarie says, “We each have a necklace with a different charm to remind us of our father. Lyanet has a tear, Alondra has four hearts joined together, and I have a tiny motorcycle.”

Sometimes she’s asked why she would wear a symbol of something that could be viewed as a graphic reference to their father’s death; neither Lydmarie nor her sisters see it that way.

“We remember who he was, and what he loved,” says Lydmarie. “This is another way of honoring Papi.”

ISTOCK; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: REGINALD RAINES



BRAIN TEASERS

Put your detective skills to the test with this Sherlock Holmes puzzle game.

Childhood favorites are often in stock.

 WOODEN GAMES

This board game case has checkers, chess, backgammon, and more.

by HUGO BRAVO

Stuck indoors? We’ve got you covered. Board games from your local Salvation Army thrift store.

Go to sastores.org to find a store near you.

 MEMORY

MATCH

Keep your mind sharp with a matching game.

If a sudden rain shower spoils your summer plans, why not make it a family game day instead? Board games, ranging from gently used to new, can be found at The Salvation Army.

PUZZLES

Do you prefer a few hundred pieces, or a few thousand?

CPR Can Save a Life

During cardiac arrest, every second counts

by HUGO BRAVO

If someone’s heartbeat suddenly stops, it means they have gone into cardiac arrest. Their heart is unable to pump oxygen-rich blood to their body’s vital organs. Without oxygen, an organ like the brain can suffer irreversible damage, even in a matter of minutes. To prevent this from happening, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a hands-on procedure anyone can learn, helps the blood travel through the body until expert medical personnel can restore the heart’s ability to pump blood.

There are two versions of this lifesaving procedure. The first

Why is knowing CPR useful? Check the facts

• Cardiac arrest is the cause of death for 436,000 Americans every year. Globally, it claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, pneumonia, the flu, and HIV combined.

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) most often occur in homes or places of residence (73.4%), followed by public settings (16.3%) and nursing homes (10.3%). Only about 40% of people who experience an OHCA get immediate help before professional help arrives.

• There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the U.S.

• The American Heart Association teaches 22 million people CPR each year.

Four steps to perform hands-only CPR

one requires in-depth live training with an accredited instructor and combines chest compressions with mouth-to-mouth breathing. The second version is “hands-only” CPR and can be used by anyone with no training required. CPR can significantly improve a victim’s chance for survival, especially if administered immediately. In fact, hands-only CPR has been shown to be as effective as traditional CPR if given within the first few minutes. 1 2 3 4

Check the surroundings. Make sure that you and the person needing CPR are in a safe environment, especially if you are outside and exposed to factors that may have caused the initial emergency.

Call 911. If the person is not responding to verbal cues or is not breathing, call 911 immediately. Look for an automated external defibrillator (AED) or send someone to do so.

Get in position. Place the person on their back on a flat, hard surface.

Apply chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand in the center of the person’s chest, and the other hand on top. Push down hard (5–6 centimeters, about 2 inches) and fast at 100–120 beats* per minute.

*Instead of counting, it can help to do chest compressions to the beat of a song you can remember. These songs all have the required tempo.

“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees (104 BPM)

“Everybody” by Backstreet Boys (108 BPM)

“Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen (110 BPM)

“The Final Countdown” by Europe (118 BPM)

“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga (119 BPM)

I know I am greatly forgiven through the mercy of God and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There was nothing I could bring to Him to cause Him to forgive my overwhelming debt. He blotted out what I owed on my debit ledger by grace and grace alone.

I think it is important to often remind myself how greatly I have been undeservedly forgiven before reading any Scripture. For example, see how powerfully the parable in Matthew 18:23–35 deals with the dual issues of divine and human forgiveness.

Jesus answers Peter’s question about the limits of forgiveness in the book of Matthew by telling a parable. The parable that Jesus tells makes it clear that the Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom of Forgiveness. It is a kingdom where forgiveness is free, plentiful, and undeserved. It is also a kingdom where there is little tolerance for unforgiveness.

The greatly forgiven should be among the most generous forgivers in the world. Yet, this is not always the case. I know this

because I have seen the contradiction all too often in my own life. I embrace divine forgiveness with both arms but sadly can clench my fist when forgiving others.

So, the question to consider is, when I have received forgiveness from Him so freely and kindly, how can I be so unforgiving, and vehemently so, when my brother or sister sins against me with (comparatively speaking) the smallest of infractions?

Let’s look at the math in this parable.

The master is settling accounts with his slaves. They owe him, and he wants repayment of what is rightfully his. In verse 24, one is brought before him who owes him 10,000 talents (NKJV ). How can we begin to understand this ancient measurement of currency?

Here is what some scholars and

accountants believe: In modern terms, 10,000 talents is the equivalent of 200,000 years of labor or 60 million working days. In dollars, we are looking at a figure approaching $3.5 billion.

What would it take to repay such a sum? Well, at 4% interest (a reasonable rate!), paying $5 a second would take 200,000 years of work to bring our debt down to zero balance! Incomprehensible, impossible, overwhelming, depressing, hopeless— choose your word.

The servant in our story has nowhere to run and can’t escape the master’s presence. How is this going to turn out?

The servant does his best to make promises he can’t keep (v. 26) by asking for patience until he can repay what he owes (what would that installment agreement look like?). The master listens to this curious offer and then does something completely unexpected; he forgives the entirety of the debt (he was “moved with

compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt,” NKJV v. 27).

This servant was brought into the master’s presence a deeply indebted and hopeless man. The weight of his debt was with him every moment of every day, inescapable and oppressive. But he leaves the master’s presence in a completely different state, free and forgiven!

If we didn’t know how this parable played out, how would we expect this unburdened man to treat his fellow humans? How would we expect him to treat someone who, comparatively speaking, owed him very little (approximately $5,800)?

In the light of what has just happened in the master’s presence, given the new lease on life he has just so undeservedly received, we expect him to be kind, generous, merciful, and forgiving (choose your word here).

Verses 28–30 tell a different story. I will leave it to you to ask the “how could this be?” question—the “why” of how the

by MAJOR PHIL WITTENBERG

greatly forgiven can, in turn, be so violently unforgiving.

As a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, I want to forgive as we expected the servant in our text to do. As I try to comprehend how greatly I have been forgiven, I pray that this directly impacts how I freely forgive those who have trespassed against me.

A sobering final word: The end of the parable (v. 32–35) shares that there is very little tolerance in the Kingdom of Heaven for those who are greatly forgiven but are not freely forgiving to those who have sinned against them.

Perhaps you need to ask for forgiveness, or there is someone you need to forgive. It’s never too late to ask God for forgiveness; you need to ask Him and accept that he has paid your debt.

*Need continued prayer? Go to sld.saconnects.org and complete a prayer request. We will pray for you.

Reading the Word

If you are wrestling with forgiveness, consider these verses to read and pray over.

FOR YOURSELF

“For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.”

—Psalm 25:11 (NLT )

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

—Acts 13:38

“He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.”

—Psalm 103:10 (NLT )

FOR OTHERS

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

—Ephesians 4:32 (NLT )

“But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

—Matthew 6:15 (NLT )

“Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.”

—Colossians 3:13 (ERV )

A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS

(make it your own)

God, there is nothing I have done or thought about that you don’t already know, but I come to you today to ask for your forgiveness—not because I deserve it, but because it is a gift of grace you have freely given me. It is hard to forgive others when I feel hurt, anger, and pain, but I ask you to help me with your love, grace, and strength to forgive. Have mercy on me, Lord. Amen.

Major Phil Wittenberg is the Spiritual Life Development and Holiness secretary for The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory.

God Gave Her Vision

by WARREN L. MAYE

Blindness and infidelity shook a young mother, but she found a new way of seeing the world

“For 31 years, I could see,” says Janet Perez Eckles, author of five inspirational books. “So, when my friends describe a sunset— the pinks, the oranges—I can picture it. I know exactly what orange and pink are.”

But her confident smile fades and her eyes narrow when she asks herself, “If my vision returned, what would I want to see first? I would like to see the faces of my grandchildren. People tell me they’re beautiful children, but nobody can really describe them to me. I would also want to see the faces of my sons because I saw them when they were young, but in my mind, I can’t visualize them grown. I would want to see Dale, my hubby. Everybody says he’s so handsome. Yes, to see those faces, that would be a beautiful thing if God allowed me to see them.”

Janet endured several experiences that were not pretty and today are indelibly etched in her mind’s eye. They are the horrific murder of her youngest son, the painful acquittal of the man responsible for his death, and her abandonment by her first husband after 42 years of marriage.

But in every instance, Janet says, God’s grace also allowed her to see signs of hope. “When I lost my sight, God’s Word became a lamp unto my feet,” she vividly remembers. “When my youngest son was murdered, God gave me the strength to regain peace and the ability to forgive. God also brought restoration, by giving me a new husband.”

Although the inherited and progressive eye disease retinitis pigmentosa caused her to eventually go completely blind, she says that at the same time, God gifted her with the spiritual vision to “see the other side of adversity, to see the joy, the beauty of His grace, and the power of His restoration.”

Launching a ministry

Janet’s compelling story is the foundation of her writing ministry. Her previous titles are Contagious Courage ; Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow ; Hola, Happiness ; and Simply Salsa, an Amazon.com bestseller. As an international speaker, radio host, and founder of JC Empowerment Ministries, she motivates audiences to rise above their circumstances and see God’s vision and purpose for their lives.

“You see, some people focus their eyes and ears on what they believe the world has done to them. They say to themselves, ‘Poor me. Look at what happened to me. Look at what this person did to me.’ Or ‘This or that offended me in some way.’ Rather we should ask, ‘What is God doing today? What can I do to further His kingdom?’”

Having worked many years as a professional language interpreter, Janet has perfected the art of listening empathetically to people to convey the heartfelt meaning behind their spoken words.

“So many people are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless and defeated, and we need to reach them more than ever before,” Janet says. “I think what happens is that we learn to listen to our feelings: So, ‘I feel so depressed. I just, you know, I really am angry.’ Or ‘I feel so anxious because … I don’t know why.’ What are they doing? They’re paying attention to their feelings when really, they should be paying attention to the power of God’s Word.”

Born in Bolivia, Janet moved to the United States with her family when she was 12. A love of Mark Twain’s stories about the South ignited her mom’s imagination. She was determined to experience it for herself and pursued a life in St. Louis, Mo. Janet grew up there, married, and had three boys.

But disease, tragedy, and betrayal would shatter Janet’s life. In her darkest moment, she found Jesus Christ. Against all odds, she turned her devastating disappointments into opportunities for ministry. Today, her mission is to motivate others to do the same through faith in Christ.

God’s amazing grace

In her latest book, Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining Joy, Janet takes readers along on her tumultuous journey.

The author’s introduction is an earnest and open letter to anyone suffering from a broken heart, body, mind, or spirit. “With your permission, then, may I come alongside you, dear friend?” she asks.

The early chapters show, in vivid detail, an explosive 1960s Bolivia, where 8-year-old Janet and her parents and brother hear the roar of fighter planes as they take off from a military base near her home in La Paz. The family runs for cover as the government tries to defend itself against another coup attempt by revolutionary forces.

Infused by the dynamics of Janet’s influential family, those short but breathtaking chapters, accented with family photos taken in Bolivia and later in the United States, are enough to hook anyone into eagerly turning pages. Each chapter begins with an inspiring verse from Scripture. Janet skillfully paces the episodes that follow, giving readers a transparent look into her emotional, spiritual, external, and internal struggles.

I quickly embraced Janet’s first-person narrative almost as if it were my own. Immersed in her story, I lived those often frantic moments in my imagination. I saw young Janet, her brother, and mother scramble to find shelter as war planes thundered overhead. I tasted the dust in my mouth, watched her grandmother’s colorful apron flow in the wind, and gazed into her wrinkled face as she pulled Janet into a fragile wooden house out of harm’s way.

Janet’s immediate family members and maternal grandparents are all vivid and memorable characters. Seeing their lives through her eyes was a captivating and culturally revealing experience for me.

For instance, her grandfather rises to political prominence in Bolivian society as a respected diplomat, but he’s forced into exile in Peru after the fall of the Bolivian government. Equally intriguing is his marriage to the woman who will become Janet’s Abuelita (“dear grandma”), one of 13 children born to a wealthy Peruvian family. The grandfather’s return to Bolivia to become a successful book author is short lived because of a subsequent addiction to alcohol. His drinking ruins future prospects and becomes one of the many reasons the family sets its sights for the United States.

The family stories kept me engaged, but Janet herself remains front and center and moves the narrative along with great pacing as she shares her many challenges.

There are also heartwarming moments. One comes when Janet attends a ceremony where she is to receive an Interpreter of the Year award from her employer, the world’s largest telephone-driven language interpretation company. When she takes the stage, the audience learns that she is blind. How will they react to this revelation? she wonders. Trust me when I say that reading about their response to this shocking news was worth the modest price of this book.

Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms The Deepest Pain to Shining Joy (2023; 272 pages; paperback or Kindle) is published by JC Empowerment Ministries and is available on Amazon.com.

Goodbye, Chewie

by DE QUENCY BOWEN

A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

—PSALM 133

At the beginning of 2023, my family had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Chewie. We were filled with sadness and tears but also relief that she would be free of her painful illness. She had been suffering from oral cancer, and we knew the right thing to do was to end her suffering. But it was impossible to envision life without Chewie. She was more than just a dog—she was our four-legged family member.

For 14 years, we had the opportunity to share our home with Chewie, and although we’re aware that a dog’s life span is short, we know that in our hearts, she will live forever.

Chewie was midnight black, a beautiful and regal Chinese shar-pei. She was a loyal, brave, funny, and intelligent companion. When my two oldest children were much younger, she would accompany them to the school bus stop in the mornings to watch them board the bus. In the afternoons, she patiently waited in the corner of our yard nearest the stop for them to return. Her wagging tail and excited expression when she saw my children exit the bus always melted my heart. Chewie knew that the afternoon would be filled with the joy of playful children running around the house and having lots of fun.

In the summer, I’d find her asleep outside basking in the sun, snoring loudly. In the fall, she’d playfully attack the leaf piles my husband and son had spent all day raking. We have many memories of our family sitting by the fireplace on a snowy day, eating popcorn and watching TV while Chewie waited for her share. Today, when we think of the times we spent with Chewie, we laugh and cry through those memories. Most importantly, we are grateful that we together cared for and loved one of God’s beautiful creations.

So, while we felt devastating grief when we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, we were comforted by our ability as a family to feel gratitude despite it all. Above the pain and tears, we are grateful that, as a God-fearing family, we also had each other to lean on during that challenging time— because family matters.

I pray that everyone in this world will have an opportunity to share love, patience, and compassion with someone whom they care about, especially when enduring those rough periods. Life is so much better when we can unite and bring comfort to one another.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV ), Paul writes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

De Quency Bowen, executive chef at The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory Headquarters, has a master’s in business management and leadership.

If you’re fortunate enough to meet style icon and business owner Yolanda Cellucci, it’s likely that she will greet you while dressed in the finest white outfit you’ve ever seen. White is her uniform for any event she takes part in, whether it’s hosting a fashion show with players from the Boston Celtics as runway models, or giving out toys at The Salvation Army in her hometown of Waltham, Mass.

“Wearing white reminds me of stars, celebrations, and bright, beautiful lights,” says Yolanda. “That’s what it feels like when I volunteer: like a bright light is shining on my day.”

Years ago, she was the owner of Yolanda’s, a first-of-its-kind boutique with handcrafted wigs, dresses, and a beauty salon. She served not just the fashion elite but also cancer patients and retirees suffering from hair loss. One Christmas season, a local TV station that Cellucci had worked with before asked her if she would like to be their “celebrity bell ringer” for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

“I had a lot of fun ringing the bell, and I started looking more and more into what The Salvation Army does. I knew about their kettles during Christmas, but I learned that they weren’t just active in December. They were working year-round,” says Yolanda. It was a concept that she understood well; fashion has no offseason, and neither does The Salvation Army.

“I wrote a children’s book about the

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

“I have friends who are healthier and younger than me, and they’re sitting at home bored all day,” says Yolanda Cellucci. “Those are the ones that I try to get to volunteer. Just relax, have fun, and find out how good it feels to get involved.”

celebrations that my late daughter, Linda, would have for every month as a child. We both believed that it’s important to keep joy throughout the year,” she says. “I’d love for the public to see how the Army is always hard at work too. They have programs and ministries for every week and month that deserve attention like the red kettles do.”

Cellucci grew up with modest means, but today, it’s hard to find a New England charity that she has not supported. She admits, though, that The Salvation Army’s daily presence in the community and its selfless work make its mission stand out.

“There are many organizations that do a lot of good, but sometimes they spend so much money trying to outdo each other that it becomes a competition. It becomes more about who can throw the most glamorous party, and helping isn’t the purpose anymore,” says Yolanda. “But for The Salvation Army, everything they do is for the good of their local community. That’s what they’ve become known for.

“The Army also allows you to see the direct results of the time or money that you’re giving. The face of a child lights up when they get to pick out a backpack for the new school year. Parents are usually the one making all the choices for kids. But ask a child ‘Which one do you want?’ and then let them choose. It’s a priceless feeling for them and you, and one that you want to experience again and again.”

In fashion, it only takes a small accessory to elevate an outfit; the right addition for the right occasion can make all the difference. In the same way, Yolanda says that although some think volunteering is something beyond their own abilities, the truth is that every small bit of help goes a long way.

“People see helping as something so big, that they may not know where to begin. When you show them, they see that the problem of, say, helping end food insecurity is so large that they feel as if they have to give a lot of their time to make a difference,” says Yolanda. “I remember meeting a woman from Waltham who wanted to get involved with the Army, but she only had a few hours to give. I gave her the names of the officers in Waltham, and said that those few hours would make them very happy.”

When work is done from the heart, even if it’s only for a few hours, it makes a difference. And everything that Cellucci has done as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur has come from her own heart.

“I’m always asked why I’m always so happy and smiling everywhere I go. It’s because I’m so fortunate,” says Yolanda. “God has given me a chance to enjoy my life, even today. And a big part of that enjoyment comes from giving my time to others.

“When I tell someone that I’m going to The Salvation Army to help, sometimes they ask what could I possibly be doing there. And I tell them, there’s so much to do.”

HUGO BRAVO

Hunger Disaster Illness

Loneliness

Basic Needs Shelter

Medical Bills

Unemployment

Despair

Spiritual Care

Measure

The goal of the Salvation Army’s Love Beyond campaign is to increase public awareness of our year-round services. We love beyond hunger, homelessness, destruction, fear, loss, addiction, loneliness, despair, overdue bills, and so much more. We love beyond the circumstances of those we serve, seeing and valuing each person.

THE SALVATION ARMY

Youth SUMMER CAMPS

An overnight camping experience where kids go to create new and lasting memories with their peers, enjoy the outdoors and fun activities, and grow closer to God at the same time! Summer work opportunities also available.

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