n Largest-ever High Council elects 19th Salvation Army General.

Following a week of meetings and fer-vent attention to the future of The Salvation Army, the 2011 High Council announced on Jan. 31 that Commissioner Linda Bond—a former leader of the Western Territory—will be the 19th General of The Salvation Army. Commissioner Bond will assume office April 2, following the retirement of the current General, Shaw Clifton.

Bond, 64, is the third woman and fourth Canadian to become General.

After her election, Bond spoke to the High Council:

“I love the Lord Jesus Christ and pledge my utmost obedience to him. I am absolutely committed to a life of praise and thanksgiving to God,” she said. “We, The Salvation Army need to be an Army of praise and thanksgiv-ing to God and we must place our trust in God. We need his Holy Spirit to come might-ily on The Salvation Army.”

Bond currently serves as territorial com-mander and territorial president of women’s ministries of the Australia Eastern Territory, a position she has held since 2008. With 42 years of experience in the Army, Bond began serving in the Canada and Bermuda Territory as an officer in her local corps—an ordained minister in the church—in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1969. She became divisional com-mander in 1993.

Other appointments include divisional commander in the Manchester region of the United Kingdom from 1998 to 1999 and territorial commander of the USA Western Territory from 2002 to 2005. Bond also served at the Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) in London as under sec-retary for personnel from 1995 to 1998 and returned as secretary for spiritual life devel-opment and international external relations from 2005 to 2008.

The Western Territory’s news source for 29 years February 4, 2011 • Vol. 29, No. 2

Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Musician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Promoted to Glory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Prayer Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10From the Desk of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Spice Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Doing the Most Good

Inside:Organizational chartThe Salvation Army’s organizational struc-ture can appear complicated, but in essence there are just six steps from a soldier in the local corps to the General at International Headquarters. See page 6

High Council 2011

Other nominees

LINDA BOND NAMED GENERAL-ELECT

n The following officers were also nominated to be the Army’s 19th General.

CommissionerDick KrommehoekTerritorial CommanderFinland and Estonia

CommissionerJohn MatearTerritorial CommanderUnited Kingdom withthe Republic of Ireland

CommissionerWilliam RobertsNational CommanderUnited States ofAmerica

CommissionerRobert StreetInternational SecretaryEurope

CommissionerBarry SwansonInternational Chief of the Staff

An abundance of leadersn Knaggs elected President of High Council.

After the nomination of nine Salvation Army leaders for General, Western Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs was elected President of the 17th High Council—he was also nominated for General but declined.

Throughout the High Council, events unfolded dramatically, creating a number of firsts in Salvation Army history. With 109 members, this High Council was the largest ever, and included 57 women and 52 men—the first time women have outnumbered men. This group of leaders also put forth the largest number of candidates to stand for election as General.

When original High Council President Commissioner William Francis declared himself a candidate for General, he was required to step aside from the presidency.

Vice-President Commissioner Betty Matear assumed the position for a brief time, before she too stood down since her husband was a candidate.

This unprecedented situation—both the President and Vice-President stepping down—required a suspension of the Orders of Procedures to allow for new elections. Knaggs was elected President; Colonel Birgitte Brekke was elected Vice-President.

In reflection, Knaggs said: “We were hon-ored to join the nations of The Salvation Army to elect the 19th General of our beloved move-ment. Notable among the members were the eight commissioners originally commissioned in the Western Territory USA [the Bells, Burgers, Hodders and Seilers]. We sought the will of God and will support General-Elect Linda Bond as she takes office in April. We too cel-ebrate the service of General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton as they enter honored retirement.”

CommissionerMax FeenerTerritorial CommanderU.S.A. South

CommissionerWilliam FrancisTerritorial CommanderCanada and Bermuda

Commissioner James Knaggs, Territorial Commander U.S.A. West, was also nomi-nated, but declined candidacy.

CommissionerM. ChristineMacMillanDirector International Social Justice Commission

GENERAL-ELECT, page 7

Commissioner Linda Bond has been selected as the 19th General of The Salvation Army.

We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go. (Proverbs 16:9 CEV)

Helping men on the ‘Path to Prosperity’

With a $17,000 grant from Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the San Bernardino (Calif.) Citadel Corps will augment healthcare—including dentistry and health screenings—for the men in its Path to Prosperity transi-tional/recovery program.

“Many health problems face men recover-ing from addiction,” said Captain Stephen Ball, San Bernardino corps officer. “Often they have dental problems…which can lead to more serious health problems.”

Steve Barron, president of St. Bernardine Medical Center (owned by CHW), said “We appreciate the work they do, and are happy to help them.”

Kroc Center gets beautification awardDeSantis Landscapes in Salem, Ore.,

announced its Grand Award—for work at Salem’s Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center—in the 2010 Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program, sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET).

“The team from DeSantis Landscapes…was professional, talented and just a great partner,” Major Donna Ames, executive director, said.

Highlights include a 52-zone centrally controlled irrigation system, entry water feature of four boulders designed to mimic a Northwest forest, a prayer garden with a decomposed granite surface, nearly 100,000 sqaure feet of lawn area and 35,000 plants and trees.

Salvation Army provides day shelter in Mesa County

When Grand Junction (Colo.) Corps Officers Captains Dan and Terrie Wilson saw a news report on homeless families—often mothers with children too young for school—that had no place to go during the cold days once their night shelters closed, they knew they had to help. They trans-formed a Salvation Army gym into a play-room with books, games, a nursery and even a workout center for the moms.

Alamogordo’s ‘crafterganza’ Lt. Stephanie Lueras, corps officer with

her husband Bob in Alamogordo, N.M., is expanding the horizon of her women’s min-istry group. Known for its handmade quilts that they donate to Habitat for Humanity, Lueras wanted to create a program that would also appeal to non-quilters.

Beginning in February, the corps—and kitchen—will be open three days a week for all crafters who want to talk and eat while working on their projects.

Lueras is looking forward to seeing more women socializing, sharing and networking.

Latte, anyone?Every Friday night, the Farmington (N.M)

Corps’ Underground Cyber Café opens its doors to local youth. Corps Officers Majors Brian and Cindy Anderson started the cof-fee house to give teens an alternative to just “hanging out.”

The café offers activities including a full-size pool table, air hockey and Foosball, a widescreen TV connected to a Wii game console, and another widescreen hooked up to an Xbox 360.

Lattes, cappuccinos and Italian soft drinks are available and pre-approved movies are shown throughout the evening.

The Underground opens at 6:30 p.m. and closes around 11—“or whenever the last par-ent shows up,” Anderson said.

February 4, 2011New Frontier2

KarenGleason

Editor

N E W S B R I E F S O F T H E W E S T

Doing theMost Good

n Corps reaches out to orphans of fallen Iraqi policemen.

When Cliff Spencer, a Salvation Army volunteer, heard that the Hawaii National Guard wanted to help the orphans of Iraqi policemen killed in the line of duty, he returned to The Salvation Army Kahului Corps and Point Man Ministries to col-lect donations.

Corps members—along with other Maui donors—quickly

responded with enough items to fill 15 boxes. Each box contained hygiene kits, clothing and candy for the widows and children of fallen policemen in Baghdad.

“This was a way for us to show compassion to the Iraqi police families,” Colonel Matthew Nagasako, Hawaii Army National Guard, said. He noted that many children will be expected to give up school and to provide for their family.

Captains Mark and Kathy Merritt are Kahului corps officers.

n Grant supports upgrades to 50-year-old shelter in Salem, Ore.

The Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Shelter is a brighter place today thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s Oregon State Giving Program to The Salvation Army in Marion and Polk Counties.

The Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities for people to live better. This grant—award-ed Jan. 18 at the Lighthouse—is funding upgrades to the shelter.

The Lighthouse has been serving the needs of people in Salem and the sur-rounding communities since 1885 by providing housing, meals and the chance to establish independent living skills. By so doing, the shelter fulfills its mission to aid the homeless without discrimination and to guide them back into a more pro-ductive life—all done in a safe, secure, hopeful and helpful atmosphere.

“This grant came at just the right time and will help make necessary improve-ments in our facility,” Tim Engstrom, social service director, said.

The donation will help provide a new six-burner stove, two commercial-sized washers and dryers, more than 70 mat-

tresses, 35 bed frames and 35 steel stor-age lockers for residents.

“The Walmart Foundation is pleased to present The Salvation Army with this grant that will provide some of the most needy Salem area residents with access to basic life essentials,” Matti Havener,

Walmart regional general manager for Oregon and Washington stores, said. “Our hope is that the new commodities will help these individuals lead healthier, productive lives.”

Major Jerry Ames is the Marion and Polk Counties coordinator.

Lighthouse shines brighter

John Clifton, market manager for Walmart, presents Major Jerry Ames with the check for $40,000. Photo by Jeni Niquette

Doing unto others

Volunteers from the Kahului Corps pack boxes for families of fallen Iraqi policemen. Photo by Cliff Spencer

Major Victor Doughty, Intermountain Division (Colo.) divi-sional commander, receives a check and congratulations from Dan Visser, president of Denver Mattress Company, from its annual Operation Rest Assured charity campaign. This is the 11th year Denver Mattress has partnered with The Salvation Army during the Christmas season to raise funds that help local communities. (L-R) Larry Killingbeck, national sales manager, Doughty, Visser and Thomas Shearer, general manager of Denver Mattress Company. Photo courtesy of Denver Mattress Company

INTERMOUNTAIN TAKES PART IN OPERATION REST ASSURED

Army on hand at annual Polar Bear Jump in AlaskaA rare breed of Alaskan “polar bears” is spotted each January in Seward, Alaska, jumping into icy Resurrection Bay as part of the Polar Bear Jump. The Salvation Army lends its support to the event, which helps raise funds for the American Cancer Society, providing coffee, hot cocoa and fresh doughnuts to spectators and partici-pants alike. With temperatures hov-ering in the mid-20s, The Salvation Army is always a welcome sight! Photo by Mark Thielenhaus

February 4, 2011New Frontier 3Doing the

Most Good

n National survey shows 94 percent increase in need.

BY ALMA BAHMANThe Salvation Army National Headquarters

surveyed over 30 of its U.S. food assistance programs from Oct. 20, 2010, to Nov. 22, 2010, measuring demand for services, food sup-ply and donations. The results, released Jan. 18 and titled Feeding the Need, examine the past 12 months of program operation in cities from San Francisco to Amery, Wisc. The Army hopes this study will emphasize the need for public support.

“Food programs nationwide are noting sig-nificant increases in demand still, despite the official ‘end’ of the recession,” Commissioner William Roberts wrote in the report.

Feeding the Need notes that an expanding group of clients—including young people, families with children and the working poor—led to a general increase in food assistance in 94 percent of the surveyed programs. It also attributes steady or reduced donations from government, public and private donors to tightened budgets. Other findings include:

• There was no reported decrease in demand, but 10 percent of programs. reported an increase of 50 percent or more

• Donations remained the same or decreased in 58 percent of programs.

• About one-third of respondents reported that food stocks were approaching low (20 to 40 percent full) or are at low (less than 20 percent full) levels.

Food items most requested at these Army programs include meat, produce and dairy followed by ready-to-eat meals (e.g. canned soup), assorted grains, diapers and personal hygiene products.

Despite these times of need, volunteer rates are promising with 57 percent of programs reporting sustained levels of volunteers and 23 percent seeing an increase. The study also reports nearly half of the programs felt they could meet needs in the coming year.

With the proper support, the Army can assist approximately 30 million people per year.

Visit salvationarmyusa.org to read or down-load the full report.

n Redesigned website launched in 2011

Starting in January, if you Google “New Frontier” you’ll discover a new web address—newfrontierpublications.org.

Alongside the release of its first issue in the 29th year of publication, New Frontier launched a newly redesigned, modernized, and dynamic online news site. Now—in addition to the biweekly printed periodical of Salvation Army news from the Western Territory, the nation and the world—read-ers can stay current on news at any hour.

Pages on the new site include: Feature, Viewpoint, News, Divisions and Commands. In the latter, select your divi-

sion to see all pertinent news. Visitors can also leave comments on stories, offering a better relationship between the editorial staff and the readers.

Stay tuned for the introduction of audio slideshows and videos to enhance your news experience.

The previous Web archive (select “Archives”) will remain active, allowing readers to access articles from issues of New Frontier dating back to 2003.

Be sure to follow New Frontier Publications on social media sites as well: facebook.com/tsanewfrontier; facebook.com/caringmagazine; and on Twitter @caringmagazine.

New Frontier launches new website2010 red kettle income reportedAlaska $536,423Cascade $2,251,989Del Oro $2,681,036Golden State $1,697,119Hawaii $933,192Intermountain $3,979,779Northwest $4,007,596So Calif $2,029,523Sierra del Mar $1,682,212Southwest $4,305,292

Total $24,104,161

This represents the largest amount in kettle history—a 2 percent increase over 2009.

Army conducts foodassistance study

n Department receives gold certification during social services review.

The Salvation Army’s San Francisco Family Services Department is a large operation, encompassing multiple corps locations with family service caseworkers, a family service center, a central kitchen and a home-delivered meal program—Meals that Heal. With all this to manage, what an achievement it was when the department earned gold certification dur-ing the divisional social services review in late 2010.

Claire Dunmore, San Francisco Metro pro-gram coordinator, embraced the program stan-dards, aiming to do what they already did well, even better. “This process promoted a lot of learning for the department…it is great to have a written, fully functional policy and procedure manual for the department—and we use it.”

The review process entailed meeting an extensive list of requirements. Prior to assign-ing scores, the review team inspected each loca-tion, interviewed clients and scrutinized staff, volunteers and case notes.

An action plan developed by Cynthia Sutter-Tkel, social services consultant for the Golden

San Francisco’s Family Services gets the gold

“More than a Meal”

Cynthia Sutter-Tkel, social services consultant for the Golden State Division, shares an experience during a client interview, part of the Social Services review of the San Francisco Family Services Department.

His name was Cory. Small in stature and bound to a wheelchair, he didn’t allow his situation to get in the way of greeting me with a huge smile. His cheerful attitude on that autumn day masked the fact that this young man—only in his 30s—was badly stricken with brittle bone disease.

I first met him in the lobby of CORY, page 9

Feed the childrenn Event helps Sacramento-area families in need as holiday donations dry up.

BY MATT KAWAHARAFor charity programs and the people who

rely on them, January can be one of the cruelest months.

The donations that flowed into programs during the holiday season have tapered off. Families who were already struggling with

finances are trying to get back on track after the holidays.

“We just went through Christmas and Thanksgiving, and it pretty much wiped us out,” Diane Romano, 62, of North Highlands said from her car in a Cal Expo parking lot.

But piled up in Romano’s back seat were a box of hygiene products, a box of Avon products and one 25-pound box of food,

FAMILY SERVICES, page 9SACRAMENTO, page 9

Volunteers load donations into a recipient’s car. Photo by Sydney Fong

n Members of the chorus appear with Katy Perry on awards show.

People noted the angelic performance of the boys from the Tabernacle Children’s Chorus (TCC)—from the Pasadena (Calif.) Tabernacle Corps—on “Dancing With the Stars” when they accompanied Michael Bolton singing “Hallelujah.”

Shortly afterward, Barbara Allen, director of TCC, received a request from Katy Perry’s agent for a group of boys from TCC to accompany her live at the 2010 American Music Awards (AMA) at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. With additional vocals recorded at Pasadena Tabernacle by some of the Tabernacle Youth Chorus members, the boys set off to the AMA for an experience they will likely never forget.

Lining up for backstage passes, they were stunned to see Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber—who high-fived all the boys. Following a long day of rehearsals, the boys finally sang “Fireworks” with Perry before the live audience and many millions of viewers around the world.

Later, Perry met with them backstage to thank them personally. She was so pleased with their per-formance that she asked if they would be willing to help her on her next CD, which got a resounding “yes” from all the boys.

Visit the TCC Facebook page—look up “Tabernacle Children’s Chorus”—to view pho-tos from their AMA appearance. A video of the performance is available on YouTube: http://tiny.cc/3gp8y.

—Barbara Allen

The MusicianFebruary 4, 2011New Frontier4 Doing the

Most Good

Singer Katy Perry poses with the Tabernacle Children’s Chorus outside the American Music Awards.

Photo courtesy of Tabernacle Children’s Chorus

American Music Awards welcomes Tabernacle Children’s Chorus

n Seattle Temple Corps and community groups join for annual concert.

Since its inception almost 20 years ago, the Seattle Temple Corps’ Red Kettle Concert has become successful both musi-cally and as a fundraiser. The corps partners with community ensembles to present a power-ful, multifaceted program. This year, Corps Officer Major Dave Harmon served as announcer and encouraged the spirit of giving. A huge red kettle sat in the lobby for donations, which totaled $3,200 from the over 330 audience members and 150 per-formers.

The Seattle Temple Brass

Band, directed by Bandmaster Stefan Wennstig, began the concert with Erik Leidzen’s “Christmas Joy.” Divisional Music Director Matt Woods performed John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol” as a cornet solo. The Rain City Women’s Chorus followed, singing “Alleluia” by Randall Thompson, accompanied by the Contrasts String Quartet from the Seattle Youth Symphony. The Seattle Temple Songsters, led by Ken Lyons, offered a dramatic pre-sentation of “Linus and Lucy,” illuminating the true meaning of Christmas. The final ensemble, Seattle Civic Band, opened their segment with “In Dulci Jubilo” and concluded with an audience

carol sing to Leroy Anderson’s “Christmas Festival.”

Jo-Ann Christen, conductor of the Rain City Women’s Chorus and the Seattle Civic Band, said, “This concert has become a tra-dition in Seattle. The audience keeps growing and continues to be exceedingly generous to the red kettle effort. All of the groups performed beautifully, with a final standing ovation. From its inception, there have been a few years of respite, but the last four or five years have seen a growth in attendance and contributions. We hope to continue this suc-cessful December event to help The Salvation Army in their important work of helping oth-ers.”The Seattle Temple Songsters perform during the annual Red Kettle Concert.

Photo by Dayton K. Knipher

n ‘Brass Bash’ weekend hits Salem.

Musical and practical min-istries—these were goals for the Western Territorial Band’s (WTB) first outing of 2011, held Jan. 6-9 at the Salem (Ore.) Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Bandmaster Neil Smith, territorial music and worship development secretary, is the band’s director.

During this “Brass Bash” weekend, the band’s ministry included outreach on Jan. 8, with musical workshops—free and open to the community. Breakout topics included solo-ing, orchestral reading, contem-porary brass and breath control; individual lessons were available and two massed band rehearsals took place.

“The Western Territorial Band is much more than a bunch of musicians; we are a minis-try team,” Captain Matthew Madsen, band member and Southern California divisional youth secretary, said.

The concert opened with several cornet and trombone players featured in front of the band during Handel’s “Royal Fireworks Suite—La Rejouissance,” after which the entire group stood to perform a vocal arrangement of “Be Still”

with piano accompaniment. Following a time of devotion,

the band continued with “Praise My Soul,” “Hallelujah,” “I Will Wait” and “How Great Thou Art,” followed by “South Shields Celebration.”

Just before intermission, the band debuted “Triumphant,” written specifically for the WTB by James Allen, California State University Long Beach music

student and Pasadena Tabernacle corps member.

The second half of the concert featured “Lowell Anniversary,” “They Could Not” and “In Good Company” paired with “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” and followed by “Light of the World.”

Dean Goffin’s musical medita-tion of Christ knocking at the door—inspired by the painting

Light of the World by William Holman Hunt—featured the cornet section on the first tune, “O Jesus Thou Art Standing Outside the Fast Closed Door,” and the horn section on the second tune, from “Behold Me Standing at the Door.”

Following a devotional on “Christ, the Light of the World” by Lt. Colonel Ron Strickland, executive officer for the WTB,

the band concluded the evening with Peter Graham’s “Seize the Day.”

A special worship service on Sunday morning combined both the English and Hispanic congre-gations.

A highlight of the morning was when Smith invited Lars Lignell—Salem Corps bandmas-ter of 35 years—to the stage to lead the WTB in “The Healing Waters.” Territorial bandsman Ralph Pearce wrote the piece in honor of Lignell.

The band sang, “When Jesus Looked Over Galilee.” Bandsman John Opina played an arrange-ment of Leonard Ballantine’s “Don’t Doubt Him now.”

Major Warren Dabis, Tacoma (Wash.) corps officer, began the praise and worship segment with a slow rendition of “The Doxology,” then led into “Forever” by Chris Tomlin. He closed the set with “Mighty to Save.”

Following the band’s selection “Wonderful Healer” (Goffin), Strickland brought the message, based on Matthew 6:25-34, titled “The Sin of Yrrow”—“worry” spelled backward. The band’s postlude was the march “Cairo Red Shield.”

Compiled from information received from Laura Foley, Tom

Ferrin and Chad Ingram

Seattle’s Red Kettle Concert

WTB—on the road again

The Western Territorial Band performs at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Salem, Ore.Photo by Ron Fenrich

n An international effort to eradi-cate poverty

BY CHRISTIN DAVIS In an eight-part series, concluding

here, New Frontier explored the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate poverty and achieve basic human rights for all peo-ple, and detailed Salvation Army work to accomplish the goals.

Goal 1: To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 3.Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 5.Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 7.Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 9.

Goal 5: Improve maternal healthRead more about this goal in New

Frontier, volume 28, number 12.Goal 6: Combat AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 16.Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustain-ability

Read more about this goal in New Frontier, volume 28, number 19.

Goal 8: A global partnership for development

The Salvation Army’s Sally Ann Fair Trade is transforming the lives of poor producers in the developing world by enabling them to use skills and resources to build sustainable livelihoods for their families and communities.

Fair trade has to work within the complex system of international trade while ensuring a fair wage for producers to cover the product cost and make a reasonable profit.

The international fair trade move-ment has developed a fair price system

for commodities in the world market, such as coffee and cocoa. If the product is recognized as fair trade, its packaging will bear the fair trade mark.

Fair trade can also include advance payments so producers can buy raw materials, pay wages and rent premises up front. Moneylenders often charge extortionist levels of interest, but The Salvation Army currently provides advances with no interest.

The Army offers Sally Ann suppliers, via International Headquarters, design advice and market information. Appropriate advice can help producers in the develop-ing world make viable products to sell in Western markets. The goal is to always make fair trade items of good quality, and when possible better than the comparable goods on the market.

See more about the MDGs in the past parts of this New Frontier series and at endpoverty2015.org. Look for an article about a Salvation Army direct trade coffee project with Vietnam in the Caring spring 2011 issue.

February 4, 2011New Frontier 5Doing the

Most Good

Elsewhere in the world

BRAZIL—The Salvation Army is working with the Brazilian government to support relief efforts—including distribution of sup-plies and donated goods—following flooding and landslides that have killed more than 650 people.

Major Téofilo Chagas, territorial commu-nications director for Brazil, is coordinating the Army’s response, with help from Major Jorge Silva from Santa Cruz (a suburb of Rio de Janeiro) and Cadet Fagner Castanho, who is on summer assignment.

From an international news release

CHILE—A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit the southern portion of Chile on Jan. 2. The tremor lasted approximately one minute, cre-ating panic.

Some areas lost electricity and water but experienced no major damages or deaths.

“This second large earthquake has added to their state of shock,” Salvation Army Chile South Divisional Commander Major Antonio Arguedashas said, adding that the people are still suffering from trauma caused by the major earthquake in February 2010.

From an international news release

BERMUDA—Described as an extraordinary man who consistently gives of himself to help others, Salvationist Lionel Cann was recognized for his commitment to the mis-sion of The Salvation Army during the Caron Bermuda Community Service Awards for 2010 in Hamilton. Cann operates a soup run in the city with numerous volunteers five nights a week.

Caron Bermuda provides adult and adoles-cent residents with direct access to quality off-island residential drug and alcohol treatment.

From Canada’s Salvationist, Feb. 2011

CANADA—In September 2010, Hurricane Igor caused over $100 million in damage to Newfoundland. The Salvation Army contin-ues to receive and process applications from victims of the disaster, and the Hurricane Igor Advisory Committee still meets regular-ly. To date, individual and corporate donors have contributed more than $1.6 million, not counting approximately $200,000 in pledges not yet received.

Early applications were for basic sup-plies—food and personal items. Now, with government and insurance claims finalized, people are finding gaps that still exist, so they are turning to The Salvation Army to help them recover their losses. The committee will not establish a deadline for applications until it is certain everyone needing assistance has had a chance to apply.

From salvationarmy.ca

U.K.—A government report on food security calls for urgent action to avert global hun-ger. The culmination of a two-year study, the Foresight Report on Food and Farming Futures involved 400 experts from 35 coun-tries. The report concludes that the food production system needs not just to produce more food, but also to produce it sustainably.

“Currently 925 million people suffer hunger and perhaps a further billion lack micronutrients…those at risk of hunger have the least influence on decision-making,” the authors stated.

The report notes that China, with its sig-nificant investment in agriculture, is one of the few countries to have met the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving hunger.

Over the last year, New Frontier has reported on the MDGs; see Vol. 28, No. 3 for more about the MDG on hunger.

Read about the Foresight report at http://tiny.cc/w2z1x.

NEW FRONTIER SERIES (8/8)

The Army and the MDGs

n The Salvation Army is officially at work in the Solomon Islands.

With the General’s approval, Feb. 1 marked the official opening of Salvation Army work in the Solomon Islands, bringing the number of countries in which the Army is operat-ing to 123.

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Territory will be responsible for the work, with funding from the Australia Eastern and Australia Southern territories.

A feasibility study into the potential for Army work in the islands was proposed in 2005. The PNG Territory conducted

the study. That territory, along with the Australia Eastern Territory (who funded the study) had expressed interest in mission outreach to the islands.

Provisional approval to move ahead came at the end of 2009. Later that year Major Soddy Maraga, form the PNG Territory, was appointed to oversee the work.

By late 2010, Commissioner Andrew Kalai, PNG territo-rial commander, confirmed that regular Army meetings were happening in the Solomon Islands, with soldiers being sworn in and local officers being commissioned. Two soldiers are already planning to apply for officer training.

From an international news release

123…The Army extends its reach

n The Japan Territory welcomes Commissioners Barry and Sue Swanson to the event.

Salvationists gathered from across Japan in December 2010 to meet the Chief of the Staff Commissioner Barry C. Swanson and Commissioner Sue Swanson, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, guest leaders for the Japan Congress.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Makoto Yoshida wel-comed the commissioners and attendees to the first meeting. The time included a look back over the Japan Territory’s 115 years.

“Let us seek for blessings like Caleb, who looked back on his-tory, remembered God’s promise and sought for blessings in his total obedience,” Commissioner Barry Swanson said. Many people gathered at the mercy seat after his message.

At the next morning’s service, Commissioner Sue Swanson spoke to the children, using a compass to illustrate that “we can find God from anywhere.” She then prayed for them as

they stood. The service included enrollment of 11 senior soldiers and an

announcement of another two candidates’ acceptance into the Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session at the School for Officer Training. “Holiness” was the topic of Commissioner Barry Swanson’s message.

For the final congress meeting, Commissioner Barry Swanson spoke on the topic “Show Us the Vision.” Commissioner Sue Swanson helped serve at an after-service sushi buffet. The com-missioners then joined the youth for a question-and-answer time.

At the conclusion of officers councils, all those present attend-ed a Christmas “Promenade Concert” to launch the territory’s Christmas kettle program. The Japan Staff Band and Cantata Musica Tokyo—a Christian choir—provided music.

After the performance, the commissioners came to the stage to make the first donation to the Christmas kettle.

From an international news release

Japan holds congressCommissioner Sue Swanson answers questions from young people in Japan. Photo courtesy of International Headquarters

miles flown and driven, countries visited, engagements attended and visits to the International College for Officers.

After reading Luke 12:22-34, he declared, “He [God] has it covered—the needs of the High Council, the needs of the smallest corps, of the newest soldier

or junior soldier, of the Salvationist bond workers in Pakistan who can’t get out to worship and for the humblest expression of social outreach and concern. We must pray for the Army, but we don’t need to lose any sleep over it…tonight we ask God for new trust and new courage to serve him. We come to the cross together to kneel and find new strength for service.”

In an immediate response, people soon filled the mercy seat.

In conclusion, he said, “We are in the hands of Almighty God whose hands are safe and loving in every circumstance.”

Technological accessA total of 1,503 computers were linked

to the live streaming of the meeting. More than 200 people followed brief tweets from the High Council Twitter site.

The meeting is viewable at www.salva-tionarmy.org/highcouncil.

From an international news release

Major Pat Wetter was promoted to Glory on Jan. 7, 2011, from Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Pat Jernigan was born Feb. 13, 1954, in San Jose, Calif. She accepted the Lord at age 7 while attending a Baptist church.

Jernigan attended beauty school where she met and married Kit Wetter, an instruc-tor. While operating a food pantry, the couple came in contact with The Salvation Army and began working with them. Wetter was in her early 30s when she and her hus-band pioneered the Army’s work in Gilroy, Calif. While there, she established a vital women’s ministry, which is still active today.

Although the couple never attended training school, they worked with Lt. Colonel Joe Posillico, who appointed them envoys and placed them at the Gilroy Corps.

After establishing the Army’s work in Gilroy, the Wetters became soldiers at the San Jose Citadel Corps.

Following a brief training period in 1988 in Chico, Calif., they pioneered the Roseville, Novato and Visalia (Calif.) corps. In 1996 they left California to build a new corps facility in Fort Collins, Colo., and returned in 2001 to serve in the Stockton, Oakland Garden Street and El Sobrante corps. In her final months of ministry, Wetter had started a new Hispanic women’s

ministry program at the El Sobrante Corps.

While in Stockton, Wetter received her Doctorate of Divinity degree from Golden State School of Theology.

The Wetters shared God’s love with many children. The couple adopted one son and, at times, fostered entire families of chil-dren. At one point, they provided a home to 11 children.

Wetter is survived by her husband; four children: Captain Vickie Harvey, Eric Wetter, Heather Wetter and Frank Halgas; her mother; two brothers; seven grandchil-dren and one great-grandchild.

The Concord Corps hosted a Celebration of Life for Wetter on Jan. 16. Lt. Colonel Joe Posillico opened and closed the service and Major Doug Riley gave the message.

Commissioner Andrew S. Miller was promoted to Glory on Jan. 19, 2011, in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Miller was born Oct. 14, 1923, in Roselle Park, N.J.—a fourth-generation Salvationist.

In 1941, Miller felt called both to Salvation Army officership and to the Navy.

He received permis-sion to attend train-ing school and be commissioned, and then take a leave of absence for Navy ser-vice before returning to his commission.

In 1942, he entered the School for Officer Training from the Newark (N.J.) Corps with the Valiant Session. In 1946—after his military tour—he was reinstated as an officer. While stationed in Dover, Ohio, he married Lt. Joan Hackworth.

During his 47-year career in The Salvation Army, Miller held many positions in the Eastern, Central and Southern territo-ries, before serving as national commander from 1986-1989.

Miller graduated from Akron University and attended Asbury College, serving on its board of trustees and receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree in 1986. The Akron Class of 1956 awarded him the Alumni Honors Award for Excellence in Community Service in 1988. In 1989, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of

Humane Letters from Akron. The Millers retired in 1989 and moved to

Lawrenceville, Ga. Well known as a pulpit speaker, Miller

was just as comfortable out of the pulpit helping those in need. He also befriended many people in powerful positions.

Miller’s personal commitment was to share Jesus Christ with at least one person every day and he shared this pledge with President Ronald Reagan. Inspired, Reagan later told Miller that he had witnessed to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

While jogging on the streets of New York City, Miller met Robert Kennedy and later ushered at Kennedy’s funeral.

Surviving Miller are Mrs. Commissioner Joan Miller, his wife of 64 years; his daughter, Commissioner Sue Swanson, of London, England; his sons, Major Andrew Miller Jr. of Kansas City, Mo., and Envoy William Miller of Minneapolis, Minn.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Atlanta Temple Corps will hold a memorial service on Feb. 11 with Commissioner John Busby officiating and General Paul Rader bringing the message.

February 4, 20118 Doing the Most Good

CENTER DIRECTOR

The Denver Red Shield Community Center is seeking a new center director. This individual should have experience in a youth/family center environment and have leadership and manage-ment skills working with a diverse population. This position is the overall director of the center operation. This center offers boxing, football, bas-ketball, karate, computer labs, arts and crafts, af-ter-school licensed child care and a host of other programs for children, young adults and seniors. The current membership is 2,886. Contact Lt. Colonel Rich Love, business administrator, for in-formation: (303) 295-2107 or Richard.Love@usw.salvationarmy.org. The center address is: 2915 High St. Denver, CO 80205.

Red Shield Community CenterDenver, CO

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY COORDINATORThe children’s ministry coordinator (CMC) will be responsible for the development of youth ministries programs for ages 0-12 including but not limited to Sunday school, troops, creative ministry classes, VBS and other seasonal programs. The CMC will help recruit, train and schedule, prepare materials for each class and/or activity and arrange for teachers, volunteers and assistants. The CMC will be respon-sible for enforcing all SA child safety policies within these programs and complete required reports. The CMC will help evangelize and disciple youth of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and help build ministry bridges between the recreational programs and congregational life. The CMC would also facilitate and teach as needed. Candidate must have a practical experience of 5 years or more in the field required. A bachelor’s degree in christian education or in a related field is preferred. Proficient with current Microsoft software computer programs including Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint, e-mail, Internet and standard office equipment and systems. Effective verbal and written communication. Must be able to plan and implement teaching materials, records and reports. Ability to multi-task. The ability to maintain a self-motivated and self-directed schedule. Able to address mul-tiple projects in a timely manner. Responsive, detail oriented, ability to take projects from beginning through completion.

Deadline for resumes is Feb. 11, 2011Resumes should be e-mailed to: administration@salemkroc.org

Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center • Salem, OR

into his pocket, produced his passport and said that he was ready to go at any time! We next met on the platform at the congress following the showing of the video. We exchanged some further words, and then, to the great amusement of the congregation, Gary again pulled out his passport and reminded me that he was ready to come with us—anywhere and at any time!

The video interview with Gary summed up for me the role that now was mine.

And as I looked around International Headquarters I was reminded that, in the words of its mission statement, it “exists to support the General as he leads The Salvation Army to accomplish its God-given worldwide task to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need without discrimination.” I had for the last three years been part of that supporting team. My task was now to lead the Army to accomplish its God-given mission.

WHY A GENERAL from page 7

LEADERS SALUTED from page 7

n Grass Valley Corps—committed to helping those in need and growing God’s kingdom.

Preventing homelessness and serving the needs of those at imminent risk of los-ing housing—or already homeless—is a top priority at The Salvation Army Grass Valley (Calif.) Corps, led by corps officers Captains Donald and Martha Sheppard.

The corps recently received a grant for $1.6 million—as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—to oper-ate its Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) for Nevada County, which offers housing opportuni-ties for families and individuals. Also in operation is the Booth Family Center that houses nine families at a time in a refur-bished hotel.

The success of these two facilities inspired the congregation to expand its outreach. This year, it opened a drop-in center for homeless families.

“It gives families with small children a place to go during the day. They can make lunch, look for jobs on our computers or just give their toddlers a nap,” Captain Martha Sheppard said.

More than a century ago, emigrants from England poured into Grass Valley to join the booming mining industry. This influx caused a population explo-

sion, adding people to the corps. Today, this same spirit of mining impels each one to keep looking for those “hidden trea-sures,” knowing that no rock can be left unturned.

Every day at 9:09 a.m., the staff and corps members gather for a Concert of Prayer for those asking for help.

“Every person who comes into our doors is regarded as a potential family member,” Robbin Swales, College for Officer Training applicant, said. “We offer them a home to belong to.”

Many visitors stay to become part of the family and join Forward Edge, a disci-pleship program that encompasses people at all spiritual levels. As a result, church attendance and spiritual growth have increased, allowing increased possibilities for leadership development.

Corps growth“God finds treasure in each person

and our job is to help them to discover it,” Sheppard said.

Attendance at Sunday worship has been steadily growing, with a current average of 50 people. “Most of the growth has come because of our Christmas bell ringing ministry,” Sheppard said. “We really take care of the bell ringers. They show up at the corps for breakfast and a pep talk—they hear the gospel message each morn-

ing, and van drivers who are part of the corps team take them to their spots with sack lunches. The congregation prays for them. Every January, we end up retaining bell ringers as part of the corps family.”

The corps also has a good linking pro-gram from the HPRP to the congregation.

As further evidence of God’s work in Grass Valley, five new families are com-

ing to family Sunday school, a creative way of promoting family discipleship—even for those kids and adults who come on their own. The corps also sent 12 young people to the Del Oro divi-sional young adult retreat, and its Girl Guards—a new troop—placed second in the territory.

February 4, 2011 9Doing the Most Good

Still mining for gold

Corps members participate in a concert of prayer each morning at the Grass Valley Corps.Photo by Kim Winters

State Division, and Elisabeth Hudson, Sacramento County oper-ations social services director for the Del Oro Division, highlighted successes, best practices and areas still to work on.

The Family Services team noted several positive outcomes: a sense of accomplishment, an improved ability to analyze actions taken, seeing strengths and areas for improvement, and most impor-tantly, achieving a better product of service to clients.

his single room occupancy hotel, maneuvering his wheelchair into the elevator while welcoming the San Francisco Meals That Heal director, Eleanor Katopes. Given his circumstances, Cory’s willingness to invite me—a complete stranger—into his home to share his story was encouraging. He brought us to the rooftop garden and began to reveal how the Meals That Heal program was more than a meal to him.

At age 20, Cory was homeless in his wheelchair and living on the San Francisco streets in a rough neighborhood. On top of the expected physical toll of the homeless life, Cory experienced many falls, accidents and fractures, exaggerated by his brittle bone disease—plaguing him with chronic pain and bouts of depression. Thankfully, a local agency referred Cory to the Meals That Heal program.

The program provides home delivered meals to a growing population of individuals of all ages who—due to incapacitating disabilities and illness—are unable to leave their home to shop for food or travel to one of The Salvation Army’s congregate meal sites. Meals that Heal offers hot, nutritious meals Monday through Friday and a weekend bag of groceries for people who have no other way to provide for themselves.

Program staff and volunteers also create a human link for the participants to the outside world. For many, it is the only

human contact they receive each day—this personal touch builds friendships that last for years. Staff members provide visitations, assessing the physical and emotional state of the individual and arranging for further assistance when necessary, including wheelchairs, social services, walkers, refrigerators, clothing, blankets, mattresses and more.

For Cory, the program has literally been a lifesaver.

“Without the nutritious food provided by Meals That Heal, I don’t think I would have lived this long,” he said. “The food [tastes] so much better than other programs and is so nicely served.”

Cory also expressed his gratitude toward the volunteers and staff who show up every day and often are the only reason he has to get out of bed each day. Even during the holidays, the staff usually does something special to show they care.

“In over 11 years of service, they have never missed a meal,” he said. “Not one single delivery.”

Upon our departure, Cory offered us farewell hugs and an invitation to return to talk more about the program he was so grateful for. Through my conversation with Cory and review of the Meals that Heal program, I discovered that we’re delivering more than a meal—we’re providing encouragement, companionship and hope.

CORY from page 3

FAMILY SERVICES from page 3

Volunteers (l-r) Larry Rowe, Eleanor Katopes and Helen Phay Photo by Cindy Sutter-Tkel

enough to support a family for one week.On Jan. 18, The Salvation Army, the

national nonprofit Feed the Children and the Sacramento Kings joined forces to dis-tribute food and care products to 1,600 local families in need.

Feed the Children obtained funding in December to provide goods for needy fami-lies in 35 cities nationwide in January, said project coordinator Aaron Wynn.

Through its Americans Feeding Americans program, Feed the Children selected the cities based on poverty level and changes in their unemployment rate, Wynn said. Sacramento qualified.

Romano said she is on disability and her husband is on Social Security.

The aid they received “means food on the table,” she said.

Many of the families at Cal Expo were among the 4,500 families that also received food from The Salvation Army for Christmas, said Sacramento County coordi-nator David Bentley.

“This keeps families going, which is abso-lutely vital,” Bentley said.

Families were given canned goods, bags of rice or pasta, peanut butter and cereal. They were given cleaning supplies, sham-poo, soap, garbage bags—and Avon beauty products, which come in handy for job interviews, Wynn said.

“It’s very helpful,” said Janet Velasquez, 22, of Sacramento. “Usually you have to wait to buy things like toilet paper and shampoo.”

Velasquez and her boyfriend Joseph Gasbarro, 25, said they’ve been trying to get by mainly on Velasquez’s unemployment funding. They’re also supporting daughter Makayla, who turns 1 year old in a week, Velasquez said.

“I buy her diapers first,” Velasquez said.Several hundred of the families were

selected by the Sacramento Kings organiza-tion. Players nominated families they knew through churches or other organizations they work with, said Fat Lever, the Kings’ director of player development.

Just back from a six-game road trip, a few players also turned out to distribute boxes.

Rookie DeMarcus Cousins was the first to arrive, his 6-foot-11 frame drawing some surprised looks from the people in their cars.

“You’ve got a big responsibility with being a basketball player,” Cousins said. “You’ve got to give back to your commu-nity and show that you care about them the same way they care about you.”

Sheila Hardin, a Salvation Army volun-teer, felt a responsibility as well. Donating her day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., she loaded boxes and sent each car off with a cheery, “God bless you!”

“It’s good to smile at them, to be friendly, because there but for the grace of God go I,” said Hardin, 56, of Sacramento. “I could be needing a box.”

Used with permission of The Sacramento Bee 2011

SACRAMENTO from page 3

Volunteers distribute food boxes at the Feed the Children event in Sacramento. Photo by Sydney Fong

Every day, the Internet carries a lot of e-mail information to my computer that I quickly delete. One of my most used keys is the delete button! I can never figure out how my name is on so many e-mail lists—or how I can get off. My spam file is bulging every time I open it to do a cleaning job.

Sometimes, however, an article is so inter-esting and moving that I print a copy for my “keeper” file. This file contains thoughts and prayers that have blessed me and that I keep as a reminder of who I am and “whose” I am. The following is just such a keeper. When you read it you might feel, as I did,

that it is something worth holding onto. I don’t know who the author was, or even who sent it to me, but it is a keeper to share with others.

The Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time

Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night may be a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with

homework, do the laundry and spend a few pre-cious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly, is a worried 19-year-old college student,

balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for

next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking man, begging for money in the same spot every day

(who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our

worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress is savoring this moment, knowing that, based

on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that

they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is

not enough to share that love with

those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but

to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive—quick to show

patience, empathy and love. Thank you Lord, for loving us so much that we can

spill your love out to others.

If you clip this out of New Frontier, or find it at newfrontierpublications.org, and send it to five others, then you will share a blessing and a reminder of your love to other people who might then share it with someone else. You won’t get any material reward for doing this, but you might find a moment of inner serenity for yourself and warm the heart of another person.

To request prayer and view other prayer requests and praise reports

visit saprayusw.com

February 4, 2011New Frontier10 Doing the

Most Good

Gatorade and cookiesOn the way to a much needed staff

retreat in the Philippines, I was talk-ing with the other officers in the car. Because my legs are longer than the average Filipino, and since the rear seats offer little legroom, I sit in the front, so I was facing backward as we drove.

As we came to the outskirts of a small town area or barangay, I saw what appeared to be a body on the side of the road. Fearing that the staff wouldn’t take me seriously, I said, “I think I just saw a dead person.” That got their immediate attention! I said I wasn’t sure, but I really did think it was a body on the side of the road. I asked the captain who was driving to turn around so we could check it out. We did, and, yes, it was a person.

We got back into the car to notify the authorities and were able to find two women involved in the local gov-ernment. When we came back to the spot with them, several children surrounded the person. The women began to poke and prod him and after several minutes, he moved. He had been asleep, curled up in a tight ball on the side of the busy highway. He was a young man with wild hair, perhaps 20 years old, and covered with filth. We found that he could not speak or hear and that his legs were twisted and useless. There was no way to learn his name or his story. All we could do was to give him our Gatorade and cookies.

As we returned the women to the town, I overheard one of them mention to the officers that Americans have a high regard for human life. I felt it was important to talk to them. I told them that this dirty, helpless person who seemed to have no hope in the world is very impor-tant to God. I told them that God loved him just as he loves each of us. I told them that it would make God very happy if they took care of him, and I saw tears in their eyes as they promised that they would bathe and feed him, and try to find him a place to stay. They said that they would make a report to social services and that he would be followed up on. It was difficult to leave him in their care, but we had no other option.

The next day on the way home from our retreat, we found one of the women. She said that the man was being cared for. Further down the road, we found him—still filthy and skinny, but alive, and surrounded by empty food containers.

This was a couple of weeks ago. I think of him often and I pray for this person without a name. I wonder if he is hungry—if he is clean—if he is alive.

I do not believe it is merely a Western or American characteristic to place value on human life. It is how Jesus lived. It is how he expects us to live. He wants us to do what we can, when we can—even if sometimes it is only Gatorade and cookies. If we can generate compassion in

others, then what is sometimes a very ugly world begins to have hope.

I saw the tears in their eyes. They got it. And so, I have hope.

LindaManhardtMajor

“You have been more like a son than my own boy.” My intoxicated father did not intend for me to hear those words, as I lay in the bed next to my cousin, but I did. He had left my mother and me several years earlier, and my mother thought it would be good to accept an invitation from him for me to spend the summer with him. As I heard those painful words, my only thought was, “I want to go home.” The next day I did, vowing never to return.

I must say that over the years, many men—mostly Salvation Army officers—helped fill the role of father in my life. I believe God sent them at the right time, to come alongside to provide direction, accountability and encouragement.

I have always loved Psalm 68:5: …a father to the father-less, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. It was as though God were writing just for me. However, even with the people that God sent my way and the spe-cial verse that I claimed, there was still a void and empti-ness. Why wouldn’t my father love me? Why would he not want me?

I lived most of my teenage years with my aunt, a retired Salvation Army officer. Other than my wife and children, I have never felt more loved and accepted by anyone in my life. I look back on most of my life, and up to the time she passed away she was at every major event of my life (my commissioning, my wedding, the birth of my children). I never remember us parting when she did not tell me how much she loved me and was proud of me.

My aunt had a stroke at the age of 92. I went to see her about two weeks before she died. She would not speak and would only make a few non-verbal signs when she was thirsty or needed something. When it came time for me to return home, I asked my family if I could have a few brief moments alone with her. As I stood next to her bed, with tears streaming down my cheeks, I asked her, “How do you say thank you to someone who has always been there?” Words seemed so futile and meaningless. I bent down and kissed her face, and said, “Thank you. I love you so much.”

My aunt opened her eyes, turned and looked at me,

and said, “You have been like a son to me.” Of all the words she could have said, nothing would have touched my heart so much. On her deathbed, she was teaching me one more lesson: I was worthy of being someone’s child.

Jesus told his disciples on the evening of his betrayal, “I will not leave you as orphans.” By doing so, he gave them assurance that no matter what happened, he would be with them. Paul echoed these words in his letter to the Romans 8:15-16: …but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testi-fies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Many people go through their lives feeling rejected and unaccepted. They fear that even the people who profess their love wouldn’t if they really knew them. Thank God he knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us all the same. Thank God, his love is unconditional.

I received an e-mail from an officer who, at the bot-tom of his letterhead, has the words, “We make citizens of the rejected.” I read that and say, “Absolutely.” That is a primary role of the Church. The family of God is largely made up of a bunch of rejected people, who struggle to believe in themselves and long to feel like they belong. Our response must be, “Welcome home.”

Like a son

DaveHudsonLt. Colonel

Mervyn MorelockLt. Colonel

prayerPower

The best prayer I’ve heard in a long time

The cat keeps re-setting my laptop. Twice she has reset the screen orientation so I had to turn my laptop on its side if I wanted to read the screen. Do you have any idea how awkward it is to type with your computer standing on its side?

This time she stepped on the keyboard and called up a site for Tidy Cat coupons.

Actions have consequences. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes the consequences are positive, sometimes negative; sometimes they are the intended consequences, some-times not; sometimes they are funny; some-times disruptive, even tragic.

The book of Proverbs is full of warnings about consequences. One of my favorites is Proverbs 26:18-19:

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, “Am not I in sport?” Or as we might put it, “Look, man, I was just kidding!” It doesn’t take a genius to know that even careless words have consequences far beyond what was intended. Nor does it take genius to rec-ognize that “I was just kidding” or “Look, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to do it!” rarely serves to ameliorate the unexpected consequences of our words and actions.

For Christians it is a fearsome truth: God has endued you and I with great power—perhaps even more power than we fully realize. He has given us the power to hurt and to heal, and authorized us to act in his name. And the scary truth is, when we claim that name, when we claim that pres-ence in our lives, when we testify that God lives within us and can be known through the work he has accomplished in us, people believe it! They actually believe that what you and I say and do reflects the nature of the God we claim to serve! The way we live, the way we speak, the things we say and do—all these have consequences. People see us, and what they observe they interpret as the result of our relationship with God.

I truly believe that most Christians des-perately desire to communicate the reality of Christ in their lives to those with whom they come in contact. I also am convinced that most of us have little idea of just how incon-sistent is the actual message we commu-nicate through our daily lives, our careless actions, our thoughtless words. We would like to believe that the unexpected conse-quences of our actions can be dismissed

with an “I’m so sorry,” “I didn’t mean it” or an implicit, “Well, but I’m only human, after all” and walking away. It doesn’t work that way. The heart—wounded by angry, unkind words—may never be completely healed; the life —shattered by a negligent action—may never be made whole; the self-esteem—damaged by mockery, slander, gossip or bullying—never restored to health. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that!” doesn’t cut it.

Understandably, life today has taken on a defensive pattern. No matter who we are, we tend to look for the easy, most comfortable way, even when that choice means closing our eyes to the consequences for others. Christ asks that we surrender that comfort-able pattern and choose to put others first.

It is not a coincidence that putting the needs of others first may be called a sacri-fice. A sacrifice is the giving up of something that is dear to us. Jesus did it; his disciples did it knowing that the ultimate gain was more important than their personal con-venience or comfort. Christ does not ask us to surrender our humanity, or even our enjoyment of our own humanity. He was a great advocate of joy; he came to make joy in its fullest sense available to each of us. He does ask us to follow him, to imitate him, to seek his mind in our choices. He expects us to laugh, to make jokes, to enjoy using the gifts God has given us. He also expects us to think before we act, before we speak, and—because he knows well the weaknesses of humanity—he admonishes us to look to God for wisdom and guidance in our daily choices.

We cannot take our Christian witness for granted, assuming that Christ will make himself known through our lives simply because that’s what he (and we) would want. It is absolutely vital that every Christian man, woman and child who claims Christ as Lord and Savior make a choice to: 1. Daily examine his/her own life to identify those things that would taint or distort their living testimony, 2. Daily petition that the wisdom of God guide his/her choices, words and actions, 3. Pray for a consciousness of consequences, that the Holy Spirit will remind you to consider—before speaking or acting—how others will interpret the reality of Christ in your life. After all, it’s the little things…

The Salvation Army’s 17th High Council has chosen Commissioner Linda Bond to be The Salvation Army’s 19th General by ballot at Sunbury Court, London.

Selected from among nine nominees, Bond takes office on April 2 with the retirements of General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton, April 1, 2011.

Dear Linda,Receipt of this news pleases us greatly.We are fortunate in this grand old Army to have people like you

willing to spend a lifetime in quality service to God and mankind. We know you—the dimension of your commitment, the consistency of your belief system, the sacrifi-cial readiness to put others first, the inspiration of your words, the deftness of your thought, the sanctity of your values. You have what it takes to be a great General.

You assume this important post at a sensitive and dangerous time in world history. What an opportunity is yours.

Instant communication across the globe is yours. The development of the com-puter, which made social media possible, speeds communication across continents, oceans and around the world. With it goes culture, and culture carries the norms and mores, the values and beliefs of a society. Culture is always in transition. Everything is confronted with change.

The Army must look within the dramatic cultural shifts we see evident today and determine how they can be used to stimulate both spiritual and social change.

Population demandsTensions rise across the globe as God’s children demand recognition of their

humanity—of their existence—of their hopes and dreams. Many of them across this tired, wobbly old star express their worship with words different than those we use; have beliefs that seem widely variant from those we hold; express value systems seem-ingly at odds with ours. These perceptions burst into our consciousness primarily through our fear of cultural difference.

Jesus lived in such a world. Your background of service to others indicates your steadfast awareness of this reality. He modeled a relationship of love and acceptance, of respect and value, of commitment and consistency. He had no fear of difference.

Women change agents—CatherineIt’s fascinating to note that many of the most dynamic change agents in the Army were

women. From the very beginning, William’s wife, Catherine, was a vital source of inspira-tion and ideas. Her eloquence and courage allowed her to play a vital role in the Army’s beginnings. When she died in 1890, William, now in his later years, lost a significant aide in dealing with the far flung issues of an international Army. He also lost the mother of his children, three of whom resigned as officers during the period before his death and Catherine’s. She might have handled matters in much different way.

Restrictive tradition never got in her way. She helped him in every way possible.

EvangelineThe seventh Booth child, Evangeline, born Evelyne Cory Booth, on Christmas Day,

l865, was a power house of creativity and leadership. As Roger Green put it: “She reigned as the Army’s National Commander for 30 years”—and then was our fourth General for five more.

I never met her, but over the years I’ve heard enough about her to know that I really like her style. I’m sure some of the reported anecdotes might be labeled apocry-phal, but they certainly described a woman unwilling to be stereotyped by the tradi-tional feminine customs.

Unafraid to take risks, she obtained dramatic visibility. Her messages were always pointed, inspirational, challenging. After sensing unfilled needs, she did the unex-pected—doughnut girls (and guys) in huts and caves directly behind the front line trenches of World War I—spending an annual budget totally on recovery of the San Francisco earthquake and then raising more than she gave away.

MaudWe can learn much from Ballington’s beautiful, energetic wife, Maud—a true woman

warrior. In Diane Winston’s terrific book Red-Hot and Righteous, we read how she led the way for her “Women Warriors into dives, brothels and dance halls with refined and angelic demeanor.” Winston adds: “Booth’s words and deeds, her Army persona, chal-lenged the notion that becoming a Salvationist meant an end to a woman’s respectability.”

Another Eva—BurrowsIn 1986 The High Council elected Australian-born Commissioner Eva Burrows to

the office of General. She spoke with power and persuasion and revealed strong com-mitment to matters of universal brotherhood, racial equality and dramatic expansion of the Army’s work. Henry Gariepy notes that “at age 56 she became the youngest elected to the office, the first to have earned a university degree, and the first to have served for many years in the third world (17 years in Africa).”

Clearly, she is the kind of Salvationist who wants to “win the world for God.” She demonstrated this by extending the Army’s work in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, Latvia and Russia plus significant advances into Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.” Gariepy describes this as a “thunderclap of freedom.” During her seven year tenure she traveled tirelessly well over a million miles all over the world with a motivational message of servanthood and love for all mankind.

Truly, she carried a dynamic message to fit the Army for service to the present age.

BondWith you at the helm, Linda, we don’t have to be named Booth or Burrows to do

something different, to communicate widely, to care for the poor and destitute and to lead people to Christ. Bond will do.

Lead the way. Vaya con Dios

A letter to the General-Elect

February 4, 2011New Frontier 11

Consequences

Doing theMost Good

RobertDocterEditor-In-Chief

SharonRobertsonLt. Colonel

NEW WEBSITECONGRATULATIONS to you and your

staff for the innovative new look of the New Frontier website... we especially enjoyed the Ralph Story clip which you dug up from the archives about the LA Congress Hall and Hollywood Tabernacle Bands holding their “open airs” in downtown LA and on Hol-lywood Boulevard.

This brought back so many wonderful

memories as we were privileged to serve as corps officers at both of these historic corps from 1966 to1975... Tumultuous yet happy years. Thanks for the memory!

Col. George ChurchRetired

Aurora, Colo.

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