“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”
—PSALM 33:20
The Salvation Army has worship services every Sunday at hundreds of locations. Scan the code to find one near you. We’d love for you to come join us!
WHO WE ARE
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Programs Transforming lives through theater at the Ashland Kroc.
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People Major Charles Roberts embraces the mysteries of ministry.
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History The Nicene Creed turns 1700. Why do we still care about this declaration of faith?
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Faith in Action A new Salvation Army child care center hopes to inspire through the Holy Spirit.
FEATURE
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Home Again Frequent moves are hard, but there are ways to get settled in quick.
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Thrift Store Finds Give a kid’s room a new look with wall art, retro video games, and more.
LIVING
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Spiritual Life Development
Young or old, you can be an example of Jesus’ love.
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Editors’ Picks Stream these Christian shows anytime.
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Health How to stay cool while exercising in the heat.
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Volunteer Spotlight
After a traumatic event, Rahna Fahringer began taking part in a new ministry for prisoners.
Testimony
George Boychock cheated death at least twice and now serves God with all his heart.
YOUR PLACE, YOUR POTENTIAL, YOUR POSSIBILITIES
There’s Something for Everyone at the Kroc Center. Be a Part of the Community.
As an expression of The Salvation Army’s mission, the vision of a Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is to provide opportunities for all to discover and develop their full potential through Christ-centered, professional quality programs.
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, 2024, 2025
L. MAYE Editor in Chief
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
—Psalm
When I was a teenager, I left Cleveland, Ohio—a steel town—and headed to college in New York City. It was perfect timing because the steel industry took a nosedive in the 1970s, along with all the businesses that relied on it. Moving to the fast-paced Big Apple shook up my routines. Uncertainty was everywhere; friendships felt strained. I needed to adapt.
Moving tested my ability to bounce back. It meant planning everything from packing up to finding a place to live and work in this nonstop city. I had to figure out new things and reshape how I saw myself and my background. There were moments filled with stress and anxiety but also excitement. The experience pushed me to dig deep for strengths I’d never realized I had.
In this issue of SA connects, you’ll read stories about people who turned frequent moves into chances for growth, instead of just seeing them as disruptions (“Home Again,” p. 20).
They leaned on family and friends for support, which made a huge difference emotionally and practically. They cherished the relationships formed in each new town or city. And they figured out how to create new routines that kept them steady through all the changes.
In “Open Hearts and Cool Heads” (p. 15), you’ll read about Emergency Disaster Services professionals and volunteers who have stepped up to provide relief in the form of food, water, and other basic supplies as well as emotional support in times of overwhelming disaster—not just for survivors but for one another too.
Don’t miss the story of George Boychock (p. 25), who struggled with alcohol but now serves the Lord with all his heart.
And I’m excited to share that Cleveland has bounced back beautifully with topnotch industries like sports, entertainment, and health care. This issue of SA connects may just help inspire you to overcome challenges in your own life. Amen.
WARREN
WHO WE ARE
You can donate your airline miles through program (search “Delta SkyWish”) to support The Salvation Army’s efforts in providing transportation during disasters and helping people in need of medical care or social services. Donations, which are not taxdeductible, can be made online or via phone, with a minimum of 1,000 miles. “Your miles will be put to good use as they lift others in more ways than one,” says Delta’s website.
Pope Francis and The
Salvation Army
Pope Francis, who died in April at age 88, mentioned that his first taste of ecumenism came from his grandmother, who had a lot of respect for The Salvation Army while he was growing up. During his time as pope, he welcomed then-General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle along with their Ecumenical Council to the Vatican in 2019. Their trip to Rome was a big deal. With Pope Francis’ deep experience—especially in places like Latin America—these meetings mattered. For example, when local Catholic priests saw Pope Francis alongside a Salvation Army leader, it helped boost teamwork among local leaders.
In North America and Europe, most denominations get along pretty well, but there are still some areas with tension. In those situations, images showing unity between key religious figures are important for bridging gaps and encouraging collaboration.
Did you know?
Meredith Willson, composer of the Broadway musical
The Music Man, once played bass drum with his local Salvation Army band in Iowa. He wrote “Banners and Bonnets” about The Salvation Army, mentioning their uniforms and their mission to “love the unloved.”
In 1958, he conducted the New York Staff Band in a performance of the song on television.
Scan this code to donate your miles today!
DONOR CORNER
Among the renovations that The Salvation Army Carey House in Laconia, N.H., completed last summer was the installation of new playground equipment in its outdoor space (above). The equipment will serve families with young children who stay at the Carey House, a 42-bed shelter for people in need.
Thanks to a donation from the Bank of New Hampshire, the Carey House was able to purchase a new, bigger playground set for its yard. Rusty’s Towing, based out of Tilton, N.H., donated its time and drivers to move the Carey House’s old playground set to its new home, a nearby day care.
“The Carey House is more than just a building—it’s a place where families find comfort, support, and a true sense of belonging,” says Captain Heather West, corps officer of the Laconia Corps. “Thanks to the generosity of local businesses like the Bank of New Hampshire and Rusty’s Towing, we are able to continue offering a warm, loving, and safe environment where memories are made and the spirit of community thrives. We are incredibly grateful for the kindness and support of these wonderful businesses. Together, we are making the Carey House a home for all who walk through our doors.”
A HOLY MEETING Pope Francis greets Salvation Army General Brian Peddle (left) in 2019. Catholics and Salvationists, said the pope, can “assist one another and cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect and in a life of holiness.”
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
—PSALM 133:1
Milo Rivera, 5, meets a friendly goat during Family Fun Night at The Salvation Army’s Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings in Maine.
The evening is always a hit with kids and adults alike. A petting zoo with goats and other animals is just one of the fun things to do around the Seaside Pavilion—pony rides, inflatable bouncers, face painting, balloon animals, basketball, a rock wall, food, and more await.
For the perfect ending to a day at the camp meetings, there’s usually a short program in the Pavilion before everyone gathers for ice cream.
This year’s camp meetings are July 26–29. The popular Pier Festival, which features the best of Salvation Army arts ministries, runs July 24–27. From July 28 to July 30, anyone who’s interested can attend Bible studies on the beach and inside the nearby Salvation Army church.
Commissioners Barbara and Willis Howell, retired officers from the USA Southern Territory, are the guest speakers. The musical guest is Charlie Green, a Salvationist who was a semifinalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008 and sang at The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary “Boundless” Congress at London’s O2 Arena in 2015.
The camp meetings will also feature the New York Staff Band, the Eastern Territory Staff Songsters, the Unbound contemporary worship band, and MOVE Dance Company.
Salvationists have been gathering in Old Orchard Beach since 1885 (except in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19) for spiritual renewal and growth through worship services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, fun, and fellowship.
From Ashland to River City
by HUGO BRAVO
Put on a play for (and with) young people
Choose the right script. Pick a play suitable for the age and abilities of the children involved. Keep in mind the vocabulary, choreography, and themes of the story. Hold auditions, even if they’re informal, to help match actors to parts that suit their skills and personalities. There can be a special line or a solo for everyone.
Keep rehearsals organized but enjoyable and not too long. Encourage the children to practice their lines on their own.
Costumes and set designs are another way to get more kids involved. Allow them to share their own ideas on how to make sets, outfits, and props.
Positive energy all around. Build confidence by reminding everyone that mistakes, from forgetting a line to a broken set, are part of the learning process. Encourage everyone involved to embrace their roles and take ownership of the art you’re all creating.
The Ashland Kroc Theater Group had just wrapped its first production: Frozen Jr., a staging of the hit animated movie and Broadway musical tailored for young performers and audiences. In the middle of the cast party, one of the actors stood up and spoke about how he’d made friends during rehearsals, the energy of performing on stage, and how being part of it all had influenced him spiritually and emotionally.
Majors Annalise and Billy Francis, corps officers at the Ashland Kroc Center in Ohio, had a choice to make. It was December of 2021, and the person in charge of the production was leaving the Kroc. Without someone to direct future projects, the program was at risk of being dropped. The pastors decided to lead it themselves.
“There was too much excitement and momentum to stop,” says Major Billy.
Major Annalise says, “As a performer myself, I feel a stewardship and responsibility to help give an opportunity to a new generation of actors.”
Performances of Annie and Mary Poppins followed inside the Kroc’s gym, the center’s only available space for a stage. Audiences were filling the gym to capacity, and shoes were squeaking on the hardwood floors during shows.
As they were in rehearsals for Mary Poppins in 2022, a local theater that had been closed for a decade was being renovated to its original Art Deco state thanks to a group of investors. The renovations were finished at about the same time as the production of Mary Poppins.
Major Billy met with the theater’s manager and pitched the idea of moving the Kroc’s future shows to the Ashland Theatre, which could seat between 600 and 700 guests.
“Our next two performances, Matilda and The Music Man Jr., were at the Ashland Theatre,” says Major Billy.
Between productions, the majors hosted voice lessons, singing companies, and monologue workshops. Many of the cast members also went on to compete in Star Search, the Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory talent showcase.
“We saw some real growth and improvement from the children who had chosen to participate in Star Search,” says Major Annalise.
“Everything the Kroc does is an avenue of discipleship that promotes Christ and our Christian values,” says Major Billy. “Running the theater program is a herculean effort, and we couldn’t do it without this amazing team at the Kroc. Many of them have roles here during the day, then give their time at night for rehearsals.”
During preparations for The Music Man Jr., Major Annalise told the young performers the story of River City, the fictional Iowa town where the beloved musical takes place. A sly salesman named Harold Hill hopes to swindle the people of River City into buying instruments with the false promise of creating a marching band.
“But what no one imagined is the power that music itself has to transform a city,” says Major Annalise. “Everyone has a place in the band, and it changes them all. That’s what The Salvation Army does. Transformations can happen everywhere and for all of us.”
“There’s a scene where Winthrop Paroo, a boy from River City, receives his instrument for the first time and happily shows it off to his family,” says Major Billy. “That right there is a pure Salvation Army moment.”
TAKE A BOW The Ashland Kroc Theater Group closes out the night on The Music Man Jr.
An Embrace of His Mysteries
Interview by HUGO BRAVO
Major Charles F. Roberts, area coordinator and director of county operations for The Salvation Army Syracuse Area Services, talks about pastors in print, the importance of fixing your own mistakes, and how God’s blessings sometimes come without clear explanations.
The Salvation Army’s connections to government have never stopped us from evangelizing in any situation. That doesn’t mean we bark at someone and wave a Bible at them. But if you are full of the love of God, and someone asks why are you in the mood you are in, you have a right to give them an answer, done as Peter says, “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Through this, we can talk to elected officials about policies that can help others and promote justice. We understand the role of government, and I’ve had faith meetings with mayors and city officials. Jeremiah 29:7 says to seek peace and prosperity for the city, because if it prospers, you will prosper too.
Growing up, books were a reliable friend that stayed with me through my years as a pastor. There are books that I needed to mature personally to finish them. I may have finished chapters 1 and 2, but I wasn’t ready for 3 and 4 until much later in life. Sometimes I’ll go back to books that I read long ago, not necessarily for information, but for formation. Authors like Eugene Peterson and Thomas à Kempis have been “pastors in print” that influenced my life and ministry. I have also learned from The Rule of Saint Benedict, a book by St. Benedict of Nursia written for monks living under the authority of an abbot, the leader of a monastery. As Salvation Army officers, we are monks in a sense, serving in a monastic order too.
I used to have a habit of running the corps van beyond the “E” in the fuel gauge. When my mother would tell my father that we were running low on gas, he said not to worry because tanks have a built-in 5-gallon reserve. One day, driving some men home from church, the van hit E, but that reserve was not there. The men offered to walk to a nearby gas station, but I refused and said I would do it myself. As officers, we can delegate our mission, but we cannot delegate our mess. It makes me unhappy to see someone delegate to a subordinate a problem that they made themselves. We must lead by being tour guides, not travel agents, in ministry.
Social ministry, in its various forms, does gospel good, whether the gospel is being spoken about or expressed through actions. People who are connected to the Lord deliver His love in anything they do. I came to this thought when I worked as a casework supervisor in Pittsburgh. As I was packing groceries in a bag for one of our guests, I felt a sense that this act was a holy moment, and more than just a gift of earthly food. It’s a work of good that can change the structure around someone’s life, so that they can later receive a greater good. In the spirit of Isaiah 61, that person then becomes an “oak of righteousness” and a transmitter of the Lord going forward.
God is knowable, but He is also beyond our understanding. There are times and circumstances where only God knows when and how He will bless us. We should embrace the mystery of those blessings. We can chalk it up to luck or the high standards of the work we do, but those only take us so far. Success comes to those who show up, but the highest level of success achieved comes to those who trust in the mystery of the Almighty. He’s a Father who brings food at the proper time, and a God of overflow who provides more than enough. Not long ago, we received two anonymous checks written to the Syracuse Temple Corps and the Syracuse Citadel Corps. This person knows us and our churches by name. I’m going to dig in and embrace that mystery God brought to us, to see where He leads me.
EMILY KAE PHOTOGRAPHY
SALT CITY SALVATIONIST
Major Charles F. Roberts leads Syracuse Area Services.
WE BELIEVE!
Commemorating Christian unity 1,700 years after the Council of Nicaea
by ROB JEFFERY
This is a significant year for important commemorations: 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of the founding of The Salvation Army in 1865, as well as the 145th of the Army’s expansion to the United States in 1880. It’s also 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea—an ecumenical council of the early Church that took place in the ancient city of Nicaea.
Although it happened long ago, in A.D. 325, this council was so important to the development of the Christian Church and its doctrine that it’s worth reminding Salvationists and all Christians in the 21st century how we are still very much living in the legacy of Nicaea.
A gathering of elder church leaders to discuss theological matters may not seem all that exciting, but if you look closely, the events that took place during the First Council of Nicaea were riveting. Consider the times. Just a few years prior to the council being called, Christianity was still very much a persecuted religion in the largely pagan Roman Empire. Many historians today believe that Christians were torn apart by wild animals in Rome’s Colosseum for public spectacle. Some Roman emperors were tolerant of the growing Christian religion within their realms, but others like Nero and Diocletian treated the Christian community very badly and persecuted them in ways far too graphic to describe here. But by the early fourth century, times were changing.
Protecting a movement
Constantine the Great (272–337) became emperor in 306, and while accounts of his conversion experience before a key battle
differ in the details, he soon became an ally of Christians. In 313, he agreed to the Edict of Milan, which said that Christians would no longer be persecuted and were in fact protected under Roman law. Imagine what this meant for a largely underground movement that could now come out of hiding and publicly identify as followers of the Way of Christ.
Twelve years later, Constantine called for a great Church council to convene in the small city of Nicaea (in modern-day Turkey). Historians have theorized that Constantine wanted a cohesive form of Christianity to prevail in his empire, not one that was fractured with multiple theological differences. To bring this about, he had to get everyone together in the same room to agree on the fundamentals. This is what Nicaea sought to achieve.
Around 250 to 300 senior church leaders took part from all over the empire. Just a few years before, many of them might have been in hiding from the authorities. Now they were summoned to a council in grand style, paid for by the imperial treasury. Though no official documents exist of all that transpired over the course of three months, we know what issues were discussed based on the writings of those in attendance.
Clearly, this was a gathering of imperfect people trying their best to use near perfect language to define what Christians believe. The main takeaway from Nicaea is a confessional statement of beliefs called the Nicene Creed. It is based on earlier creeds written in Jerusalem and Antioch. It has since become one of the main statements of faith for the majority of Christians around the world.
Informing today’s faithful
The following excerpts from the Nicene Creed are taken from The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, published in 2010:
“We believe in one God the Father almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.” (Do you see some parallels to the first and second doctrines of The Salvation Army? There’s the communal “We believe,” followed by an assertion of God as the “Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things.”)
“And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the onlybegotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” (They were really hammering home the point of Christ’s equality with God. Our third and fourth doctrines support this part of the creed when we talk about the “Divine and human natures” being united in the person of Jesus, so that He is “truly and properly God and truly and properly man.” Salvationists affirm the belief that “there are three persons in the Godhead— the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.”)
One cannot read the 11 doctrines of The Salvation Army without seeing those Nicene expressions of Christian belief coming through their words. Today, when scripture and doctrine seem up for debate, how reassuring that our theology is in solid alignment with the confessions and creeds of the early Church. It grounds our movement in a faith that is truly apostolic, a faith that began with the teachings of Jesus and was passed on by his disciples
A MEETING OF MINDS
Depiction of the first ecumenical council in the Christian Church, held in Nicaea (modernday Turkey), A.D. 325.
through the wide scope of human history and countless cultures and languages, a faith that is still guiding and informing us today. Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians the world over are united in their endorsement of the Nicene Creed. Based entirely on sacred scripture, it is a canon (measurement or rule) of faith.
Handbook of Doctrine
Our Handbook of Doctrine stresses the importance of the creed for Salvationists: “The Nicene Creed contains the affirmation, ‘We believe in one holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic church’. … Thus the Church should be ‘one’ despite the plurality of expression and denominations; holy, that is set apart for the purposes of God.” It should be “complete in its proclamation of the gospel, for all people and able to meet every human need; and apostolic, or deriving from the teaching of the apostles.”
To celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea this year, take the opportunity to read those powerful words. Or better yet, say them aloud together in a Bible study or prayer group. How does the Nicene Creed inform your faith as a Christian and a Salvationist? You may find the words of the creed in The Salvation Army’s online Handbook of Doctrine (see QR code).
When we recite our Salvation Army doctrines and the early creeds of the Church and believe them with our hearts, we are standing on a living tradition of faith: We believe!
Rob Jeffery is director of the USA Eastern Territory’s Heritage Museum.
Scan this code to read The Salvation Army’s Handbook of Doctrine
‘Salvation Square’ Rises in Ohio
The Salvation Army is building a large child care center in Mount Vernon, Ohio, but Captain Christine Moretz says it will be much more than that.
“Anyone can take in children to care for them and to meet physical needs,” Moretz says. “What we have in our building is the filling of the Holy Spirit, who lives and abides in our facilities at The Salvation Army.”
The Salvation Army Learning Lighthouse—a separate 13,270-square-foot building—will complete what is being called Salvation Square. It’s an entire city block of Salvation Army facilities that includes the existing church building. The new center will accommodate 112 children ranging from six weeks old to fifth graders, with nine new classrooms, a sensory-aware area, a kitchen, a gym and play areas, and administrative offices.
Preschool children will be in the building all day, Moretz says, but school-age kids will come for breakfast before classes begin, catch a bus to school, and then return in the afternoon before being picked up by their parents at 6 p.m. During the summer and school breaks, children will be at The Salvation Army all day.
A 2017 program study and a 2022 needs assessment by the Knox County Area Development Foundation both identified a lack of child care as a major problem. The 2022 assessment found that with only five licensed child care providers in the Mount
The Learning Lighthouse will be a child care center and so much more—a shining beacon of God’s love
by ROBERT MITCHELL
Vernon area, 92.3% of those responding to a survey for the assessment said they found it difficult to find child care.
The problem is so bad that 55% of respondents have considered leaving their current job to care for their children fulltime. Meanwhile, 58% said someone in their household is unable to work full-time due to a lack of child care. Another 1,822 new child care spots are needed in Knox County, according to the assessment.
Support rolls in
The Salvation Army in Mount Vernon currently runs an after-school learning center licensed by the state of Ohio, but the Learning Lighthouse will take that to a whole new level.
“At The Salvation Army, children build self-confidence, and families thrive as a result of holistic programming. Every child deserves a safe and fun place to grow and learn,” says Zach Shoro, the director of the learning center.
Light the Day, a capital campaign started more than a year ago, is at 80% of the $6.25 million fundraising goal. Construction is already underway, and Moretz says the
The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon Corps Community Center in Ohio hosts worship services and social service programming.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
—MATTHEW 19:14
Shown under construction in January, The Salvation Army Learning Lighthouse, an all-day child care center, aims to open in 2026.
This preexisting depot has space for laundry, storage, and a garage.
RAISE THE ROOF While construction is underway, Light the Day, a capital campaign to fund the expansion, is at about 80% of the $6.25 million goal.
“ Anyone can take in children to care for them and to meet physical needs. What we have in our building is the filling of the Holy Spirit, who lives and abides in our facilities at The Salvation Army.”
—Captain Christine Moretz
opening of the new building is scheduled for January 2026.
“This project not only meets the need for child care; it provides hope and help for parents working to make ends meet, and jobs for those who are dedicated to the care and education of our children,” Moretz says. “We strive to make sure every person we encounter has the resources needed to grow stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually.
“As we care for children and their families, we share the love of God with the joy of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that is at work in and through us.”
Sharing Christ too
The plan is to connect families to “anything and everything that The Salvation Army provides here,” Moretz says. That means not only physical care but spiritual care as well, including everything from social services to worship and Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, Bible studies, and more.
“We are The Salvation Army, so naturally we’ll want to connect those children and families from the child care center to church and other things,” she says. “Child care is what may get them in the door.”
Five months later in June, much progress has been made.
The Learning Lighthouse’s central courtyard will be a playground.
Let the little children come
Throughout the process, the Bible verses Matthew 19:14 and Proverbs 22:6 (“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it”) have inspired Moretz.
“Those are certainly scriptures I go back to often,” Moretz says. “We want to plant seeds and show love to children, many of whom come from very difficult situations and don’t know what healthy relationships look like, or what love looks like.”
The Salvation Army, she says, has so many ways to speak into the lives of children and show them that there’s a better way, and that Jesus loves them.
Abiding light
Building relationships with the children and their parents, sharing in their struggles, and loving just as Jesus did is the goal, while providing a safe environment permeated by spirituality.
Sometimes that may happen outside of a formal church service. It could involve simply showing people how much The Salvation Army cares.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Moretz says. “That’s what we do. That’s who we are
at The Salvation Army. That may involve sitting down with them for a meal and doing all the things that I think Jesus would do for the people in this community. We’re here to make a difference and influence children for the Kingdom of God.”
The building will be prayed over, and everyone will know “the Holy Spirit dwells here,” Moretz says.
“All of the children and families who will be coming in—not just in year one, but throughout the ages—the Holy Spirit has influence over them,” she says. “Many of them don’t know that, but I know in the spiritual realm, the Holy Spirit is here. If we’re following God’s mandate and the mission of The Salvation Army to love Him, and to love these children, they will be influenced for the better.
“We want them to grow in the Kingdom of God.”
And decades from now, she hopes, the children and families who go through its doors will remember The Salvation Army Learning Lighthouse not just as a building where they went to learn numbers, shapes, and the alphabet—but even more than that, they will know it as a place where someone cared about them.
Open Hearts and Cool Heads
by WARREN L. MAYE
Serving in a disaster zone requires a flexible mindset and an eye to emotional and spiritual caregiving
OUR DAILY BRIEFING Morning announcements at the team’s base camp in the Salvation Army Social Services Center parking lot in Clearwater, Fla., after Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
Arecent plane crash in a busy Philadelphia neighborhood lit up the night sky with flames and scattered debris over the crowded streets. Tragically, the medevac flight carried a child, her mother, and a medical team along with the crew, who all perished. One person on the ground was killed and dozens injured. Videos from the scene went viral. The incident came during a period filled with disasters happening across the country—aircraft crashes, hurricanes and tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires all made headlines.
In every one of these situations, personnel from The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) jumped right in to provide crucial support along with emotional and spiritual care for survivors, first responders, and the Army’s own caregivers when needed.
Chris Farrand, territorial training and volunteer engagement coordinator, has worked for EDS in The Salvation Army Eastern Territory for almost 17 years. While he’s never been pessimistic about these events, he’s noticed that such disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity amid climate change.
“My job has gotten much busier,” says Farrand, who in his younger years trained as a bush pilot for missionaries in remote areas of the world. Major hurricanes or disasters would happen once every two or three years in his experience; now multiple incidents come within shorter intervals in between.
The Salvation Army and other agencies and nongovernmental organizations have mobilized resources to address emerging needs through financial support, personnel deployment, equipment provision, and other forms of assistance. For Farrand, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Moody Bible Institute (B.A.) who’s also served as a group home manager, a significant concern arising from these
DELIVERING HOPE Clockwise from left: Sydney Blackmore and her mother, Kim Blackmore, are two of the volunteers in Clearwater, Fla., who helped carry 80 food boxes and 60 cases of water up the stairs to residents of a 12-story building; Major Candy Fritsch and Captain Edward McMillen from the Northeast Ohio Division comfort a man named Shelby; ruined belongings were piled everywhere. Providing spiritual and emotional support, food, and other basic needs is the foundation of Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services.
“Emotional and spiritual care (ESC) is essential during crises. It emphasizes the importance of compassionate presence, effective communication, community connections, and continuous training resources. By integrating these practices into our daily lives, we can empower those around us and face challenges together with empathy.”
—Chris
Farrand, territorial training and volunteer engagement coordinator
A WARM EMBRACE At left: Captain Jessica Welch, St. Petersburg corps officer, hugs someone who came to pick up hot meals, snacks, cleanup kits, and water.
tragedies is emotional trauma. “Often it’s easier to repair external damage than to heal internal wounds,” he says. After such events, individuals frequently find it difficult to express their pain and loss.
Emotional and psychological impacts may not surface until long after media coverage fades. So EDS personnel offer practical aid and supplies for those affected by tragedy as well as long-term emotional and spiritual care through the ministry of presence—and the caregivers themselves often need care to cope with what they witness.
Many individuals have benefited from The Salvation Army’s comprehensive support system during their darkest moments. In a crisis, EDS workers like Farrand must be able to adapt swiftly to address complex needs with expertise and empathy.
On a mission in Clearwater
Bob Myers III is the territorial disaster services director for The Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory. Best known by family and friends as “Bobby,” he was just a kid when he followed his dad, Bob Myers Jr., into a Salvation Army canteen, or service truck, many years ago. Today, his passion for EDS work continues. He vividly describes a disaster response effort last year following Hurricane Milton (October), which struck an area already affected by Hurricane Helene (September) in the Southeastern United States, especially Florida and Georgia.
“The primary mission involved feeding people, particularly where many residents were still without power,” Myers says. “We had 11 or 12 canteens, mostly servicing Pinellas County, which is the area where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located. The whole area was without power when we first arrived, with few locations outside the main corridor having electricity.”
When the team left after two weeks, there were still a couple of pockets in the St. Pete area without power.
“This disaster was unique,” he says, “because they had already been hit hard by storm surge from Hurricane Helene two or three weeks earlier and were just starting to recover when Hurricane Milton struck.”
Local authorities had managed relief and cleanup operations during Helene. Myers and his colleagues arrived two days after Milton hit and supported relief efforts in the aftermath. Many residents had already cleaned out their houses and placed damaged possessions on their front lawns after Hurricane Helene.
Downed trees and wires and flooded apartment complexes presented logistical challenges, but Myers’ team distributed nearly 45,000 meals over two weeks while also addressing the emotional needs of the people they encountered. Myers saw resilience in the community but also a great need for spiritual support after back-to-back storms.
“Spiritually speaking, it’s really important to provide not just physical help but also to recognize the emotional issues that come up,” Myers says. “We got a lot of positive vibes from people affected, showing their strength even when things got rough. You can often see this in the little acts of kindness that people share with each other during hard moments. If we join forces, we can spread hope in our communities as they work on bouncing back.”
Navigating the needs
operations chief in heavily flooded urban areas like Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Perrett assessed damage to trailer parks, coordinated relief efforts, and ensured that supplies like food and drinks were distributed effectively.
“My goal each day,” she says, “involved directing teams toward specific locations and informing them about supplies they would distribute—whether food or cleanup kits—while ensuring crucial hydration needs were met. I saw some of the heavily impacted areas that were still very much flooded. Hopefully, those folks had planned ahead with (enough) food for days, waiting for the situation to improve.”
Hurricane Milton represented Kathryn “Katie” Perrett’s first EDS response in the South, but as a veteran of the U.S. Navy, she was no stranger to this kind of work. On the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship then based out of Virginia, she’d held a specialized rating as boatswain’s mate—a jack-of-all-trades, skilled at seamanship, deck maintenance, navigation, and supervising ship work parties and small boat operations.
On Myers’ EDS team, she served as the
Her naval training made her ready for anything. In EDS work, Perrett says, “people just have to have flexibility and a heart for service. Every day was a little bit different. Sometimes I would keep the teams together, or sometimes I would split people up. Someone could have been in a location for a week straight, and then I would put them in a different location every day.”
Despite the rigorous work, emotional connections formed between Perrett, volunteers, and recipients of aid. She too saw the importance of spiritual care for both
survivors and responders, even as she sought to deploy her team efficiently into areas with enormous needs.
“Everyone has different strengths,” Perrett says. “I had to assess everyone— their skill set and their character and who they were, what they could bring to the table. This team was really great. When I said, ‘I need you to do this tomorrow; I know it’s different than what you’ve been doing,’ they said, ‘Whatever you need.’ If you want to do this work, if you want to help people in this capacity, we need
helping the poor and downtrodden brings to mind George Bernard Shaw’s fictional Salvation Army officer in his famous play Major Barbara. Indeed, Major Barbara George is the real deal.
“For over 30 years as an officer,” George says, “I’ve always made myself available in disaster work because it kind of scratches an itch or ticks a box or whatever you want to call it, for me.”
When Myers called to ask if she would deploy to Clearwater as a divisional leader, George wanted to make sure she’d be of the best use to the Army and the people it serves.
people to go who have the mindset that you must be flexible.”
Bearing the burden
“I’d rather sit with people when they’re rejoicing, but I have a passion for people in crisis,” says Major Barbara George, The Salvation Army’s divisional director of Women’s Ministries and Officer Development for Northeast Ohio. “Not like a social work passion—it’s more of a sitting and suffering with people that comes naturally to me.” Her deep commitment to
“After discussing it with my husband, we decided, why not? It’s what I love, and I could set an example for other leaders that, yes, you can make time for important things. I knew God would bless me more than any blessing I’d give,” George says. “Every deployment is different. I’ve done quite a few national-level deployments and consider myself somewhat of a veteran. The biggest challenge usually is figuring out what I’m going to encounter when I get there—especially since we were the first team in the Clearwater area.”
Local authorities had been coordinating the response but couldn’t provide any good intel on the scope of the damage they might face.
“My role was to be part of the leadership team, and my title would be emotional and spiritual care chief. I was to coordinate any volunteers who were sent to us to do specifically emotional and spiritual care. So I had two tasks: one, visit people in their homes and make sure they were OK and get information back. And my second task was to approach the local corps officer to say, ‘I know there’s a lot of retired officers, corps people, staff, and you who have been
impacted. How can I assist in any way?’”
Helping people after a destructive storm takes an emotional toll. George remembers a distressing encounter with one elderly woman who had a very argumentative attitude. She was reluctant to accept any help from a stranger knocking on her door, despite her dire situation. Besides the flooding and the heat causing mold to grow inside her home, the woman had only six containers of drinking water left alongside empty jars once filled with peanut butter. Her rooms were defined by ragged curtains instead of solid walls.
“I was determined to kill her with kindness,” George says now with a smile. She gently asked the woman for the whereabouts of any family members, and as they talked, the woman gradually opened up and allowed glimpses into a life shaped through hardships endured over decades.
George also cared for the caregivers who returned each night to base camp—a group of RVs in a parking lot. She’d help them unpack the sights, sounds, smells, thoughts, and emotions experienced during the day so they could wind down and sleep through the night.
“We had probably 40 people in the base camp,” George says. “The first night, I had eight volunteers come and I played praise and worship music. I’d read some scripture from Psalms. Then I would open the floor and say, ‘OK, where did you see God today?’ or ‘What’s a challenge that you faced today that we all can support you with?’ And I tell you, there were some beautiful stories of God moments and of God encounters that these volunteers had with people who were coming either for food or waiting in the line for (federal assistance). Our people would just weave their way in and out, just having conversation, offering prayer. People were so receptive to prayer. It was amazing to me.”
Through these shared moments, George says, the realization dawned upon all the volunteers that serving others ultimately leads to discovering joy that may lie hidden beneath layers of grief and sorrow when calamity strikes. It is wrapped tightly around souls yearning for God-inspired healing and restoration.
TEAM SPIRIT The Incident Management Team (clockwise from left) in Clearwater: Michael Baldelli, Stan Carr, Katie Perrett, Major Barbara George, Major Fred Clarke, Bobby Myers, Rebecca Louis, Deborah Pollock, Jenny Valverde, and Captain Dustin Fitch.
COURTESY OF THE SALVATION ARMY
by WARREN L. MAYE
again again
A journey of service means understanding the cost of answering God’s call and learning how to settle in with each new move
ionce chatted with a young guy about where he was from.
“Nowhere really,” he told me. I must’ve looked puzzled because he quickly shared all the places he’d lived over the years. The son of Salvation Army officers, he moved around a lot as a kid and into adulthood, never really settling down anywhere. Now an adult with his own family, he has seen what it means to follow God’s call to ministry—and understands both the cost and the fruit it bears.
The stories you’re about to read come from folks who’ve moved around quite a bit in their lives. They travel light and live simply, focusing on quality instead of quantity when it comes to things. These individuals have made sacrifices that most of us can’t even imagine—ones that affect not just them but their families in significant ways. All of them demonstrate how every move is a chance to grow, try new experiences, and see things differently. They are leaders who know how to create a sense of community wherever they go, building relationships, developing routines, and being patient, especially with themselves.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
—Joshua 1:9
“Joshua 1:9 reminds me that no matter where we move, God is always with us, protecting my family and me,” Major Jessica Berkhoudt says.
Berkhoudt, a Salvation Army officer and mother of four children with special needs, has experienced the challenges and blessings that come with frequent reassignments. Through it all, she finds strength in her faith and biblical verses that encourage trust in God during transitions.
“This is a subject very close to my heart lately,” Berkhoudt says. “Moving has always been a significant part of my life. Through it all, my faith in Christ has been my anchor.”
She and her husband, Major Jon-Erik Berkhoudt, are currently pastors for and direct The Salvation Army’s Newburyport Community Center in Newburyport, Mass., a coastal city with a population of less than 20,000, 35 miles north of Boston.
Every relocation involves layers of complexity and anxiety. With each new environment, Berkhoudt must secure resources for her children to meet their needs. Establishing routines and connecting with local support networks helps her create a sense of belonging.
“Adapting to new surroundings and finding the right resources can be daunting. There are times when my emotions and mind tell me there’s potential for human error, leaving me feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility,” she says. “But I have learned to lean into God during difficult times, knowing that no human can knock me off the course He has set before me.”
Moves are always stressful, and yet Berkhoudt feels joy as she witnesses the impact of her ministry on each community she serves. In Newburyport, for example,
she sees affluence in the form of a busy boardwalk and yachts at the port, but she’s also observed that sometimes the people who need help find it very hard to ask for it. Navigating these currents requires patience and wisdom, and she’s grateful for her own personal growth.
“God has been teaching me about emotional maturity,” she says. “I’ve learned not to let my emotions dictate my choices. Instead, I bring them to Christ so He can accept, comfort, nurture, and guide me. This approach helps me maintain obedience to His will despite how I might feel about a move.
“Proverbs 3:5–6 states, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.’ It’s a reminder for trusting God’s wisdom over personal emotions.”
The Berkhoudts put on their uniforms, take their children to youth events, and meet people. They also help foster a culture of cooperation with other nonprofits in Newburyport rather than competition.
“Engaging with people while sharing Christ’s love leads to transformed lives. That brings immense fulfillment. Personal growth alongside deepening faith through all these experiences adds further joy,” Berkhoudt says.
“Moving evokes mixed emotions. Excitement for new opportunities contrasts against anxiety or sadness about leaving behind familiar places or people. Through it all lies solace found in Philippians 4:6–7: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’”
Following God’s call—to serve where you’re needed most—provides a compelling reason for relocating.
“Whether career advancement or ministry opportunities arise, I believe each move forms part of His divine plan,” Berkhoudt says. “These experiences foster resilience and adaptability while strengthening my belief in God’s provision.”
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
—Jeremiah 29:11
Major Brian Thomas grew up riding the crosswinds. He’s the child of an Air Force officer, and his family was often on the move.
“Throughout my childhood, I moved across various states, beginning in Maine and making my way to California,” Thomas says, retracing his steps.
“From there, the journey took me to Oklahoma, followed by Ohio and Texas. After spending time in two different parts of Oklahoma and then moving again within Texas, I transitioned to Alabama before heading to Georgia. My adventures continued as we relocated all the way to Hawaii, only to return once more to Texas. The cycle of change didn’t stop there. It led me on a path through Connecticut, New York, back again to Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, and ultimately arriving in Massachusetts.”
Despite these dizzying transitions, he has managed to find a silver lining in the relationships built along the way.
“My most significant challenge related to all this moving was grappling with the profound sense of loss that accompanied each departure from our last appointment or home base,” Thomas says. “Each move meant saying goodbye not just to familiar surroundings but also friends who’d become like family to me.”
But in the whirlwind of farewells, he embraced the opportunity to celebrate with the people they were leaving behind. He remembers heartfelt gatherings filled with laughter and shared memories.
The emotional journey, a mixture of excitement for new beginnings and grief over severed ties, could be overwhelming at times but also taught him how to be resilient and how to cope with anxiety.
His hopscotching life started with his parent’s military service, but ultimately, Thomas chose to be obedient to the call of God and became a Salvation Army officer. Today, after 25 years and several appointments, he is currently the pastor at the Salem North Shore Corps in Salem, Mass.
“The most compelling reason driving my decision-making when it comes to relocation has always been rooted in obedience—an understanding that such moves were part of a larger commitment,” he says. “Once I’ve settled into yet another unfamiliar environment—often feeling like a stranger—I’ve discovered valuable strategies that assist me in reclaiming a sense of belonging, primarily by actively welcoming myself into the new community around me while seeking connections with those who share similar experiences or interests.”
Barter believes we are all partakers in the Great Commission outlined in Matthew 28:16–20, which emphasizes spreading Christ’s message far and wide.
“The Salvation Army plays an integral role within this mission framework,” he says. “We must remember not to grow too comfortable or complacent in one location but instead adopt a mindset focused on addressing the urgent need for everyone around us to come to know Christ.”
The words of 1 Corinthians 15:58 remind Barter to be steadfast and unshakable.
“As I look forward to my next appointment, my hopes are high for what lies ahead. New experiences await that will undoubtedly enrich my life further,” Barter says. “And when I reflect on how scripture provides comfort during these transitions, it becomes clear to me that my missional role as a servant of God is paramount.”
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
—1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV )
“I’ve moved a considerable number of times in my life,” says Captain Justin Barter, the son of Salvation Army officers. “Each transition brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. As an officer myself now, I’ve had three distinct appointments: one in northeastern Ohio and two in Massachusetts.”
To cope, Barter encourages a mindset focused on outreach. He has served as pastor of the Pittsfield, Mass., Salvation Army for about five years and has seen the homeless population and the need for food and other basics increase. He and his wife, Captain Marsha Barter, provide community members with spiritual and emotional care. For him, the work is about service to God and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Of course, leaving is always bittersweet. “I grapple with leaving behind a place where I’ve invested so much time and energy over the past few years,” he says. Preparing the way for new officers to follow them also requires careful effort. “The process can be daunting as I work to ensure everything is organized for incoming officers. It’s important to me that they start their journey smoothly and find themselves in a comfortable environment.”
But Barter’s true comfort stems from engaging wholeheartedly in service to God and His people, wherever he may go.
“There is something undeniably thrilling about moving time—whether I’m personally included on the moves list or not!” Barter says. “When that day arrives, revealing new appointments, we’ll gather together with eager anticipation to analyze them closely. I’ll be scrutinizing all of the new assignments listed while reaching out via messages to friends whose names pop up among those appointments. It can certainly be challenging if I’m hesitant about moving. Some assignments are simply outstanding opportunities. But regardless of our personal feelings toward relocation or specific postings, adventure awaits us all—and adventure is always something worth embracing.”
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
—Psalm 37:3
Major Carl E. Avery, pastor at the Montclair Citadel Corps in Montclair, N.J., is used to frequent moves from his background in a Salvation Army family and his own role as an officer. He looks to Psalm 37:3, which emphasizes trust in God during times of change.
The disruption of carefully cultivated relationships can be painful, yet Avery appreciates the strong connections formed and strives to maintain relationships even after he departs from a posting.
“A deep sense of satisfaction comes from knowing we’ll be missed. It highlights how meaningful our interactions have been,” he says. “There’s joy in reflecting on all that God has accomplished through our time living at each location.” Despite the many positives, his feelings are complex and he admits to disliking the process overall.
“I invest heavily in the people within my community and my professional responsibilities,” Avery says. “My commitment leads me to engage deeply in long-range planning and visioning for improvements. It’s challenging to stop short of achieving goals I’ve set out for myself. Sometimes it is hard to understand what’s driving a reassignment. Personally speaking, I’d rarely choose to relocate if given free choice.”
Raised by Salvation Army officers, he got used to changing homes every three years or so and has called 13 places home.
“I’ve lived in states including New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut,” he says. “My most recent move brought me back full circle to the very town where I was born. It was a reminder of how life often takes us back home again.”
It’s important to create a sense of belonging through thoughtful organization, Avery notes. Things that help him feel at home quickly are essential—like setting up his family’s new space.
“We want it to reflect who we are as
individuals while also making a new home and office ‘ours.’ It is a way for us to regain a sense of belonging in the middle of so much change,” Avery says. “Establishing relationships with new neighbors nearby along with work colleagues—and church members—plays an equally crucial role.”
Moving advice
Get off on the right foot in your new home.
Unpack! Make your new space feel like yours with familiar objects.
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
—Psalm 139:9–10
Over the years, Major Heather Odom has refined her strategies for making a new place feel like home. Odom, now The Salvation Army’s assistant program secretary in Northeast Ohio, grew up in a family where frequent moves had a profound influence on her identity.
“I grew up in a military family, which means that moving from one place to another has become an integral part of my identity and life experience,” Odom says. “The running joke in our family is ‘most people spring clean, we just move.’”
Indeed, while some people engage in the ritual of spring cleaning their homes, Odom’s family simply embraced the process of moving as their own version of tidying up. One relocation involved traveling just 30 miles; another meant picking up everything to move 1,200 miles between Tennessee and Massachusetts as an employee of The Salvation Army. “I transferred from being the director of a shelter to the divisional headquarters in Boston,” she recalls.
But Odom, who first started off in The Salvation Army as a volunteer, then an intern, then an employee, and now an officer, doesn’t view relocating as a burden.
“Whenever I find myself having to settle
Meet the neighbors and introduce yourself to people who share similar interests.
Establish routines and connect with local support networks.
Keep your mindset on mission. Remember why you’re here.
Be open to new experiences.
Research the area online and look at maps for ideas.
Find activities for the kids where they can make new friends.
Get a library card for each member of the family.
Trust in the Lord.
into an unfamiliar environment, I make it a point to employ certain strategies that help me and my family feel at home once again,” she says. “I like to treat each move not merely as a logistical challenge but rather as an exciting adventure waiting to unfold.”
Key activities include exploring maps and researching places to go and fun things to do in the new area. She and her daughters gather around a table to look at Google Maps and conduct online searches. Odom says, “This activity generates genuine excitement for them as they begin imagining all the wonderful places we can explore together.”
Odom encourages her daughters to engage in summer activities to make friends before school starts. It’s a proactive approach that allows them ample opportunities to establish connections with peers even before they officially start classes in their new school environment.
She and her daughters also visit the local library right away. “It’s one of our first stops. The library is where we eagerly obtain library cards for each member of the family. For some reason—perhaps it’s the sense of belonging or access to countless stories— this simple act makes us feel like we’ve truly joined the community around us.”
Go to sastores.org to locate a Salvation Army family thrift store near you.
by HUGO BRAVO
MARVEL-OUS ART
Deploy a team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the wall.
PENNY SAVERS
Kids can learn the value of money with cute piggy banks.
A New Look for Your Child’s Room
Decorating a nursery, playroom, or kid’s bedroom doesn’t have to be expensive.
Salvation Army thrift stores have budgetfriendly wall art, fun photo frames, and other decor for any room. Whether you want to keep to a theme (dinosaurs? superheroes?) or mix it all up and make it original, you can find it at your Salvation Army store.
Every purchase you make at a Salvation Army thrift store helps fund local Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where people who are struggling from a variety of social and spiritual problems can find help and hope. Learn more at gethelp.salvationarmyusa.org.
DINO-ROAR
Have a boy or girl who loves dinosaurs? Dig up wall hangings (and books) featuring these awesome creatures.
OLD SCHOOL This classic video game setup plugs directly into your TV for hours of fun.
PICTURE PERFECT
Show off a favorite photo in one of these bright, playful frames.
Redeemed for a Purpose
When a fall from a fire escape didn’t kill him, George Boychock knew God had a plan
by ROBERT MITCHELL photographs by JEFF BRUCE
George Boychock is 72 years old and has lived a harrowing life. He’s wrestled with drugs and alcohol, been in and out of prison, and faced two near-death experiences, but God finally has his attention.
“I’ve just had a rough life,” George says with an exhausted sigh.
Today, George is a volunteer cook at The Salvation Army in Carlisle, Pa., but his story begins in the coal mining city of Pottsville, Pa., with a mother and father who both drank heavily. He and his siblings were often abused, and George says his father once punched him in the eye and broke his leg by throwing him against a wall.
“I left home when I was young and just started traveling,” he says. “I got involved in drugs really bad and stealing cars. It got worse as time went on.”
George’s drug problems started with marijuana and quickly escalated to cocaine, crack, and heroin. In between doing 12 years in prison over the decades, his addictions cost him his marriage and business and put him in life-threatening situations.
SOUP KITCHEN DUTY George Boychock at work in the kitchen of the Carlisle, Pa., Salvation Army. He may be 72, but he is still going strong.
BLESS THIS TIME George Boychock holds hands and prays with others before his shift in the kitchen at The Salvation Army.
His first prison term came in 1968 for car theft. A fellow inmate and handball partner asked George if he knew anything about Jesus Christ. Raised Catholic, George replied that he didn’t know much.
“He explained to me about being born again and how I could ask God to forgive me for all my sins,” George recalls. “He also told me I could have eternal life and live forever.”
New life, but old ways
Sitting in his prison cell, George tearfully invited Christ into his heart that day.
“I felt like the whole world was lifted off me,” he says. “I felt so peaceful. I was happy and I just felt really free.”
The inmate told him to read his Bible and grow in the faith, but George returned to doing marijuana and booze upon his release from prison three years later. He also went back to stealing cars, but when he got arrested again just five months later in 1971, police offered to cut a deal and make him a narcotics informant.
George thought the job would be easy until one night he was forced into a car and taken to the top of a mountain. Someone put a rifle to his head. He thought it was the end.
“They had a gun and said they were going to kill me,” he says. “I was scared. One of them asked me what flowers I preferred for my funeral.”
George doesn’t know why, but his captors stopped at a bar and drank heavily. He pretended to go along but was able to run away. He spent the next few years bouncing around towns in rural Pennsylvania.
Instead of changing his life, George continued his old ways. He was busted for stealing cars again and did two more years in prison. His longest prison stint, seven years, began in 1983 after an armed robbery of a bar where he stole alcohol and broke into the slot machines while high on cocaine.
The turning point
The defining moment of George’s life came five years ago when he was drunk and fell 15 feet off a fire escape as he was looking for more alcohol. He suffered a host of injuries and was in a coma for four days at Holy Spirit Hospital near Harrisburg, Pa. Doctors
gave him just two hours to live at one point.
“I didn’t even know where I was or what happened,” George says. “I came out of the coma and I just felt like the Lord wanted me to get back in the Word of God. I just got back with the Lord. I started reading the Bible. From that time on, I’ve kept going with Jesus.
“When they told me I almost died, I realized there has to be a plan for my life or the Lord wouldn’t have allowed me to live. The devil could have taken me. The Lord spared my life for a reason. I don’t know what the reason is. I don’t know what His plan is.”
George believes that reason could be to start a prison ministry, as his past could help him relate to those behind bars. He is praying that God will open a cell door for him.
“That’s the deepest desire of my heart,” he says. “I really care for those people. I’ve been there. I’ve been in prison, and it’s a great time to get people and lead them to the Lord. I just feel that’s my calling. I want people to be saved. I’d love to share my testimony with prisoners and let them know that there is a God.
“My message would be to get them to understand that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins and He forgives them for anything they’ve done in the past. I want them to know that they can be born again and live eternally.”
Fed by the Word
George shares that message now at The Salvation Army, where he attends church and a weekly Bible study. He also cooks the daily meal for the church’s soup kitchen and interacts with people.
“I get excited because I get to talk to all the homeless people who come in,” he said. “I love listening to their stories. I like to make people happy. I talk about my story, too.”
George tells them about his five years of sobriety through the power of Christ.
“I have no taste for alcohol at all,” he says. “I quit doing drugs. I’m really into the Word of God now.”
Captain Rebecca Smith, the corps officer in Carlisle, agreed and said George brings “love and laughter” to the church.
“George is hungry for God’s Word and is passionate to share the good news of Jesus’
forgiveness and love,” she says. “He has a reverence for God and is guided by the Holy Spirit. George encourages and prays for us as his pastors, which means so much to us.”
George has also seen more miracles, like recently finding his long-lost sisters in Pottsville. He hadn’t seen them since childhood. And he thanks God for good health and the ability to still work. For the last 50 years, when not behind bars, George has worked at Fay’s Country Kitchen, a Carlisle restaurant he once co-owned.
“Since I got back with the Lord, there’s no turning back for me,” George says. “I can’t go back. I want to tell prisoners and everyone else that there is a God. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. After my life, no one could convince me otherwise.”
UPLIFTED Captain Rebecca Smith (right), a Salvation Army pastor in Carlisle, Pa., calls George (left) an encouragement to her and her husband, Captain Joseph Smith.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
—1 TIMOTHY 4:12
What Does It Look Like To Be a Christian?
No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, you can be an example of Jesus’ love—full of patience, compassion, and grace
by ANNABEL DO SANTOS
What is the definition of Christian behavior? The Bible verse in 1 Timothy 4:12 is from a letter written by a Christian leader who was moving on, to a young man who would be taking on leadership in his place. But the lesson can be followed by any person today, whether you know Jesus very well, or are still learning how His teachings may apply to your life. Regardless of your age, you can be an example to others and ensure that the title of Christian describes a person full of patience, compassion, and self-control.
In one of His teaching moments (Mark 12:28–31), Jesus said there is no commandment greater than these: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
So if you find yourself in a season of wanting to be a bridge-builder and peacemaker in your community—having a desire to connect in-person below the surface of small talk, or to be a safe person who offers others the grace and presence
of Jesus—then you’re already on the right track to be the example that the young person is encouraged to be in 1 Timothy 4.
But how can we see past our age and love each other in a way that will make us unified? We must know one another. We can start by looking at one another face-to-face.
The Hebrew word for face, pānîm (פָּנִים) means not only “face” but “presence.” Presence isn’t only being in the same space as someone, like when we ride the bus or wait in a long line. There’s a difference between seeing and knowing (or realizing or understanding). We can see physical attributes, or go deeper than that and appreciate the character of a person. It may be difficult to know someone’s character, especially if we feel there is too large of an age gap, but we can start by considering
that everyone is a unique creation of God’s—loved purely by Him.
Being present
Think of a time when a face-to-face encounter was healing and restoring for you. A time when you felt like someone really saw you, got you. Perhaps they couldn’t change your circumstance, but they valued you. There are several examples in the Bible of people who had a face-to-face encounter—pānîm to pānîm—with God, and were changed because of the simple fact that they felt authentically known and sincerely loved.
Now consider the power that your full presence with a person can have in the way they relate to the world around them. You, stopping and sharing your presence with someone fully, if only for a few moments, can be that person’s greatest example of the God who sees, until they get to know Him better.
But what if you feel that you already know someone’s character and find them difficult to love? Let’s explore this through the lens of God’s grace. One of the first Bible stories is about the first people God created. They lived unified and satisfied with the environment in which God created them. And yet, they chose to turn away from Him.
This thoughtless choice brought them shame, and so they hid from God. At the time there was no need for clothing because the world was pure. But when sin disrupted their purity, their nakedness became a source of shame. When God found them, He didn’t try to convince them of why they should not be concerned about their situation. Instead, He reacted with love. He outlined their consequences, but then He sewed them clothes.
That is grace. God met them in their circumstance, addressed how they were feeling, and made them clothing.
We operate in many communities—with our family, school, neighborhood, job—and may find ourselves in a circumstance where we feel that someone does not deserve our love. Even so, when we do the work to be a safe person who offers others the grace and presence of God, and when we create a safe space where a friend or stranger can experience the welcoming love of Jesus, we are practicing setting an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. We don’t reserve the right to show grace only to those we like or can relate to. We offer everyone grace equally by addressing what they are feeling, and we bring them out of shame, so they may have a new experience in their faith.
A welcoming heart
Offering a welcoming heart to others is how we open ourselves up to the welcoming heart of Jesus. Developing our practice of hospitality and conversational skills that put others at ease opens us up to realizing a person’s character beneath the surface of their physical self, or any labels they may have. It’s a way of loving our neighbor in the same way God has loved us. Connecting with others by seeing their character and showing them grace, by honoring them, is one way to express your love for God. Our world desperately needs safe people and safe places—people who will look at a stranger, see past their circumstances, and see someone who is loved by God Himself, and therefore unconditionally deserving of the love of their neighbor. If you desire to be that example talked about in 1 Timothy 4, you may be experiencing a pull from God’s Holy Spirit to draw closer to Jesus. Your youth, or being relatively new in your faith, is not the kind of limitation that should prevent you from participating in God’s work. You can still be an example to others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Annabel do Santos is the youth discipleship coordinator in the USA East Territorial Youth Department.
Put It Into Practice
Pay attention to the interactions you have with people and notice when they can become opportunities to connect faceto-face (presence to presence) in a meaningful conversation.
Appreciate the person you’re speaking with by thanking God for them as you look at them, opening your heart to see that they are loved and valued by God Himself.
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
—Hebrews 13:1–2
Away
Christian themes abound in shows you can watch anytime
THE CHOSEN
This conversation-starting series, which streams for free on numerous platforms, portrays Jesus and His disciples in a relatable, down-to-earth manner. Much of The Chosen has been produced at The Salvation Army’s Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian, Texas. Captivating storytelling and music and impressive production quality set the show apart, though some people are concerned about creative liberties taken like added dialogue or modern twists to biblical narratives. But many are excited about the show’s vibrant retelling of biblical events. Many actors from the show’s talented cast descend from the peoples and places depicted in Scripture.
HOUSE OF DAVID
House of David on Amazon Prime dives into King David’s journey starting from his days as a shepherd to his epic showdown with Goliath and becoming king. Gorgeous visuals, strong acting, and adherence to Scripture are impressive. The biblical characters feel relevant and interesting as the show takes on themes like faith, obedience, and destiny, giving us a new take on stories we already know. Like The Chosen, it focuses on character development and emotion. Heads-up: It shows the brutalities of ancient life realistically, so it’s better suited for teens and adults.
GOING HOME
Going Home follows a group of nurses who help patients, and their families, find peace as they approach the end of life. The writers handle tough topics with grace and optimism, focusing on themes like forgiveness, faith, and what comes after we’re gone. It captures the surprising ups and traumatic downs faced by both patients and caregivers. A lot of fans call Going Home an inspiring tearjerker. Stream it on Pure Flix or free on the Roku Channel.
BIBLEMAN: THE ANIMATED ADVENTURES
Reviews for this animated series are mixed. Some people really like how Bibleman tries to teach kids about biblical values through superhero stories, with Bibleman and his crew taking on villains like Dr. Fear and the Master of Mean. They appreciate its focus on faith and moral issues. But critics have pointed out problems with the quality of animation and voice acting and say that it oversimplifies complex topics. Still, the show has a dedicated fan base that enjoys how it shares the gospel in a fun way. It’s available to stream on Pure Flix and Minno by subscription or a free trial.
VINDICATION
A blend of faith-based storytelling and crime drama, Vindication follows Detective Gary Travis as he solves cases in a small Texas town while navigating his own faith journey. Viewers can appreciate the series’ strong Christian themes, which include redemption, prayer, and forgiveness. The plots are engaging, emotionally deep, and realistic, and crimes are depicted without glorifying immoral actions. Some episodes tackle tough topics like addiction, family dysfunction, and sex trafficking, making it thoughtprovoking and suitable for mature audiences. It’s available on multiple platforms.
When we exercise, our heart, muscles, and lungs work harder than usual. Adding summer’s soaring temperatures and humidity to all that activity can put stress on our bodies, no matter our age or fitness level.
Since the body prioritizes cooling, heat increases the amount of work done by our anaerobic system, the metabolic process that creates energy for bursts of intensive physical action, and we get tired more quickly. (If you’ve ever tried to get in 1 last mile on your run or a few extra push-ups, your anaerobic system is hard at work, and you may “feel the burn.”) You can also lose a liter of sweat (or even double or triple that!) per hour of exercise in the heat. Sweat is how your body cools itself down, and if you don’t replace the lost fluids with proper hydration, your blood volume decreases, and your body struggles to maintain its core temperature.
Cold-weather exercisers tired of heavy sweat suits or endless treadmill sessions look forward to summer and outdoor training, pickup games at the park, and breezy runs. Some even prefer the extra challenge that comes with the heat and humidity. No matter what gets you out there, there are steps you can take to keep yourself healthy and your workout productive.
Exercise Safely
in Summer
Learn how to protect yourself during your hot-weather workout
by HUGO BRAVO
Set the right time for your workout. Exercise in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures can drop to a more tolerable level.
Watch what (and when) you eat.
Our bodies need food for fuel. But give yourself time between eating and working out in the heat. Your body uses blood and energy to digest food. That creates extra body heat, which is what you need to avoid during exercise. Wait an hour after eating a light meal, like fruit or yogurt, and two to three hours for bigger meals, such as burgers or chicken. Heavy, protein-filled foods take longer to digest.
Take care of your skin.
Skin tissue is designed to move warm blood away from vital organs, keeping them cool. Help your body stay at a comfortable temperature by wearing loose, lightweight clothing, ideally made of moisture-wicking fabrics, which pull moisture away from the skin to cool it. And wear sunscreen if you’re going to be outside to avoid an inflammatory sunburn.
Stay hydrated. Start drinking water an hour before your workout, during the workout itself, and afterward. Try to aim for a half liter to a liter for every hour you’re exercising in the heat. If your workout is going to be longer than an hour, you might want to include a sports drink or enhanced water to replenish electrolytes and sodium lost in sweating.
Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
Dehydration and exercising in high temperatures and humidity can lead to a condition called heat exhaustion. Symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and muscle cramping. If you’re with someone suffering from heat exhaustion, immediately move them indoors or to a shaded area away from the sun. Pour water over their head or spray them with cold mist, focusing on cooling their head and face, armpits, and abdomen. These are all areas of high blood flow. When cooled, the blood from those parts travels to help refresh vital organs.
Without treatment, heat exhaustion can turn to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition where heat overwhelms your body’s ability to control its own temperature. Heatstroke doesn’t always happen outside or during exercise. It can develop within a very warm, enclosed space, like a home without air conditioning, or inside a car in the summer. It shares some symptoms with heat exhaustion, except for one significant difference: Heatstroke can affect brain function, causing confusion, dramatic changes in behavior or mood, and slurred speech. If you notice signs of heatstroke in yourself or others, call 911 immediately.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
by HUGO BRAVO
Rahna Fahringer took precautions before starting a relationship with Terrence Abel, who had just served time in jail for petty theft. She ran a background check on him to make sure that he was being honest about his crimes, specifically looking to see if there were any cases of violence or domestic abuse. When she saw that there weren’t, Rahna introduced Terrence to Mark Fahringer, her exhusband and father to their two children, Brock and Blair.
“He seemed great for her, and he sounded so motivated to change and move on from his past,” remembers Mark.
Terrence worked as a washer and dryer repairman, and Rahna reluctantly let him use her garage as a repair shop and storage space. But after six months, he wasn’t getting the supplies and machines he needed to continue working.
“This was where it went downhill,” says Rahna. “He had lost his livelihood and started becoming very angry. Eventually, he also became abusive towards me.”
With her initial fears now a reality, Rahna made Terrence leave her home and got a protection order against him. But on a Friday afternoon in November 2012, Terrence broke into Rahna’s house armed with a gun and said to her, “I came here because I’m going to kill you and myself today.” Terrence held Rahna hostage for 30 hours, shooting her in the leg about an hour into the ordeal.
SWAT team negotiators kept speaking with Terrence on the phone, eventually talking him into accepting a food delivery through an open window. After an unsuccessful attempt to grab him, members of the SWAT team opened fire and killed Terrence through that window—but Rahna was shot a second time, hit in both hands as she covered her face.
The event became the main local news story, and in the small community of Brunswick, Ohio, Rahna became a figure of resilience and survival. A few months later, at a vigil for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, Rahna shared her story.
“Having worked in social services, Rahna had an idea of what to do and what Terrence wanted to hear so he wouldn’t kill her,” says Mark. “She was a warrior, determined to survive for her children.”
Rahna couldn’t go back to work because of her injuries. Her therapist suggested, however, that she find somewhere to volunteer. Mark, who worked for The Salvation Army Service Extension Unit in Brunswick, recommended her for a role in their office.
“At the time, we had lost some funding,” says Mark, “but we still needed a volunteer to be in our building a few days a week.”
For Rahna, it was all new at first. She says, “I remember being confused when I received a call asking if The Salvation Army could assist someone paying for their car repairs.” Mark informed her that, in fact, the Army could help cover the purchase for parts.
Mark also started the 49-9 Project, a prison ministry program under The Salvation Army’s Northeast Ohio Division to help guide recently released inmates to available resources. It began as a 92-page directory to give away in prisons but grew to include classes, case management, mentoring, and job search assistance. The Christianbased program is named after Isaiah 49:9 (NLT ): “I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures.”
“The God moment is when you come into freedom. But what about going from darkness to light?” says Mark. “Prisoners come out of jail with nothing.”
One of the events hosted by the 49-9 Project is a reentry simulation, where inmates learn to navigate their first four weeks out of prison. Some start out with mandated court appearances; others, with limited funds or a lack of documents. Rahna has been involved in this new ministry too, speaking at presentations for inmates who are about to start life again on the outside.
“I’m always learning more about The Salvation Army. Being here has helped me, and I want to be more productive, maybe even find ways to directly help others inside prison,” says Rahna. “I still feel like there’s more that I could do.”
SALVATION THERAPY “I didn’t want to volunteer at first,” says Rahna Fahringer (left), with Mark. “All I wanted to do was be alone and think about what had happened to me. But my therapist insisted that I needed to get out of the house to help me with my depression.”
For the past 125 years e Salvation Army has been responding to natural disasters and other emergencies within the United States. Our mobile feeding units and teams of trained disaster workers are always ready to o er help, hope, and healing to disaster survivors and rescue workers.
