What’s New
by Hugo Bravo
You might have heard about professional athletes being pulled from games or taking time off to heal due to a concussion. A concussion is a type of head injury that happens when a physical hit, like a tackle, causes your brain to shake or even twist inside your skull. Years ago, an athlete who took a hit to the head was told to “shake it off” and keep playing. Today, we are better prepared to recognize the symptoms of a concussion. Read on to know the dangers of head injuries and how to stay safe.
by Robert Mitchell
Jonathan Torres knows what it’s like to be hungry and wonder where he’s going to sleep at night. When he wasn’t in a prison cell, he spent most of 2007 to 2011 living on the streets. Today, Torres has come full circle as part of the men’s ministry at the York, Pa., Spanish Temple Corps. He helps minister to homeless people and others in need every Tuesday evening from a Salvation Army canteen.
by Warren L. Maye
Four movies, three based on real-life stories, will move, uplift, and inspire you.
by Hugo Bravo
Most grandparents are content with the role of occasional babysitter, weekend dinner host, and shopper for that extra-special Christmas present for the grandkids. But sometimes, a loss in the family, health issues, or legal problems may mean that grandparents must step up and become the primary caregivers for their children’s children. The Salvation Army of Greater Hartford’s Parents Second Time Around program is giving these families the tools, information, and support they need.
by Hugo Bravo
On a cold February evening at Maple Ski Ridge in Schenectady, N.Y., Captain Bree Barker, an experienced skier and snowboarder, showed Dominick Fogle the proper way to stand after a fall on his board.
by Hugo Bravo
Getting ready for the playoffs? Score some team gear at your Salvation Army thrift store.
by Hugo Bravo
In many communities, the local church serves as a cornerstone of cultural and spiritual life. For Black members, it’s also a space of resilience, identity, and empowerment. These interviews with African American Salvation Army officers, employees, and supporters highlight their contributions and ministries, while also recognizing some challenges they’ve faced. We acknowledge them by sharing their testimonies with you. We celebrate the integral role they each play in the mission. Most of all, we honor them for their work in honoring the mission of The Salvation Army every day.
by Hugo Bravo
Through his studies, his musical talents (he performs hip-hop as “Ephraim Kings” and recently won a Gospel Choice Music Award), and his role at the Paterson Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, Efrain Reyes hopes to help others develop a better understanding of God in our lives.
by Hugo Bravo
Fahmy Mamuya, a cancer researcher, discovered a community of like-minded volunteers and neighbors in Manchester, Conn. “Volunteering builds relationships. Not only with fellow volunteers, but with the people we serve,” says Fahmy.
by Guest
The Salvation Army is politically neutral but has long partnered with governments and civic authorities. In countless cultures and countries around the world, the Church has always had interactions with government. The early Church had a contentious relationship with authorities (particularly the Roman government), which resulted in the outright persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire until the Edict of Milan was issued in 313. During medieval times in Western Europe, the Church even took on governmental functions, crowning kings and queens to rule over the secular world according to Church dictates.
by Guest
As I was enjoying scrubbing some pots lately, it made me think of the contrary ways in which we clean ourselves spiritually. If we give our lives to Jesus, we may focus more on cleaning our bodies externally than we do internally: We try to scrub off the worldly lifestyle that we’ve been living and alter our external habits so that people can notice changes in us.
by Warren L. Maye
As 2025 comes into focus, we thought we’d take a look at how The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign makes an impact all year long. From Thanksgiving through Christmastime, the sight of dedicated kettle workers ringing their bells on cold winter days evokes a warm feeling in many hearts. It’s an invaluable opportunity to share God’s abundance and generosity with those who are most in need.
by Hugo Bravo
Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious, virus based illness that develops in your respiratory system. Flu viruses spread by tiny droplets released when you cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets travel and infect others through their mouth or nose. You can also catch the flu by touching an object that has the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth; flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours.
by Hugo Bravo
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.
by Robert Mitchell
Charles Moore and his family used to be able to afford housing, but their life changed when his wife, Tiara, suffered a devastating stroke and couldn’t return to work. All the family had to live on was his modest disability check each month. “That’s how we ended up homeless,” Charles says.
by Robert Mitchell
The first time she walked into the building, she wasn’t a Salvation Army officer or even a Christian. She’d been invited by Jean Sainteme, who attended church there and had chosen this as the location for the couple’s first date. “My mother was impressed because he did not invite me to a club or to party or to drink. He invited me to church
by Hugo Bravo
You might have heard about professional athletes being pulled from games or taking time off to heal due to a concussion. A concussion is a type of head injury that happens when a physical hit, like a tackle, causes your brain to shake or even twist inside your skull. Years ago, an athlete who took a hit to the head was told to “shake it off” and keep playing. Today, we are better prepared to recognize the symptoms of a concussion. Read on to know the dangers of head injuries and how to stay safe.
by Robert Mitchell
Jonathan Torres knows what it’s like to be hungry and wonder where he’s going to sleep at night. When he wasn’t in a prison cell, he spent most of 2007 to 2011 living on the streets. Today, Torres has come full circle as part of the men’s ministry at the York, Pa., Spanish Temple Corps. He helps minister to homeless people and others in need every Tuesday evening from a Salvation Army canteen.
by Warren L. Maye
Four movies, three based on real-life stories, will move, uplift, and inspire you.
by Hugo Bravo
Most grandparents are content with the role of occasional babysitter, weekend dinner host, and shopper for that extra-special Christmas present for the grandkids. But sometimes, a loss in the family, health issues, or legal problems may mean that grandparents must step up and become the primary caregivers for their children’s children. The Salvation Army of Greater Hartford’s Parents Second Time Around program is giving these families the tools, information, and support they need.
by Hugo Bravo
On a cold February evening at Maple Ski Ridge in Schenectady, N.Y., Captain Bree Barker, an experienced skier and snowboarder, showed Dominick Fogle the proper way to stand after a fall on his board.
by Hugo Bravo
Getting ready for the playoffs? Score some team gear at your Salvation Army thrift store.
by Hugo Bravo
In many communities, the local church serves as a cornerstone of cultural and spiritual life. For Black members, it’s also a space of resilience, identity, and empowerment. These interviews with African American Salvation Army officers, employees, and supporters highlight their contributions and ministries, while also recognizing some challenges they’ve faced. We acknowledge them by sharing their testimonies with you. We celebrate the integral role they each play in the mission. Most of all, we honor them for their work in honoring the mission of The Salvation Army every day.
by Hugo Bravo
Through his studies, his musical talents (he performs hip-hop as “Ephraim Kings” and recently won a Gospel Choice Music Award), and his role at the Paterson Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, Efrain Reyes hopes to help others develop a better understanding of God in our lives.
by Hugo Bravo
Fahmy Mamuya, a cancer researcher, discovered a community of like-minded volunteers and neighbors in Manchester, Conn. “Volunteering builds relationships. Not only with fellow volunteers, but with the people we serve,” says Fahmy.
by Guest
The Salvation Army is politically neutral but has long partnered with governments and civic authorities. In countless cultures and countries around the world, the Church has always had interactions with government. The early Church had a contentious relationship with authorities (particularly the Roman government), which resulted in the outright persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire until the Edict of Milan was issued in 313. During medieval times in Western Europe, the Church even took on governmental functions, crowning kings and queens to rule over the secular world according to Church dictates.
by Guest
As I was enjoying scrubbing some pots lately, it made me think of the contrary ways in which we clean ourselves spiritually. If we give our lives to Jesus, we may focus more on cleaning our bodies externally than we do internally: We try to scrub off the worldly lifestyle that we’ve been living and alter our external habits so that people can notice changes in us.
by Warren L. Maye
As 2025 comes into focus, we thought we’d take a look at how The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign makes an impact all year long. From Thanksgiving through Christmastime, the sight of dedicated kettle workers ringing their bells on cold winter days evokes a warm feeling in many hearts. It’s an invaluable opportunity to share God’s abundance and generosity with those who are most in need.
by Hugo Bravo
Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious, virus based illness that develops in your respiratory system. Flu viruses spread by tiny droplets released when you cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets travel and infect others through their mouth or nose. You can also catch the flu by touching an object that has the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth; flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours.
by Hugo Bravo
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.
by Robert Mitchell
Charles Moore and his family used to be able to afford housing, but their life changed when his wife, Tiara, suffered a devastating stroke and couldn’t return to work. All the family had to live on was his modest disability check each month. “That’s how we ended up homeless,” Charles says.
by Robert Mitchell
The first time she walked into the building, she wasn’t a Salvation Army officer or even a Christian. She’d been invited by Jean Sainteme, who attended church there and had chosen this as the location for the couple’s first date. “My mother was impressed because he did not invite me to a club or to party or to drink. He invited me to church
by Hugo Bravo
Distribution Day is the highlight of the year for The Salvation Army in Syracuse. That day, families who have signed up through the Army and met income requirements visit the Syracuse Oncenter Convention Center and receive a donation of toys for their children and food for their home, meeting with an assistant to guide them in making selections.
by Warren L. Maye
Her most recent book is Gimme Some Sugar: 90 Devotions to Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way. Kozar’s family was always warm and affectionate, and in a brief introduction, she highlights the importance of expressing care for the ones you love—without prompting.
by Robert Mitchell
Christian recording artist Lauren Daigle performed the Christmas songs in a New York City subway station last December with members of the New York Staff Band while two Salvation Army officers—Captain Clifford Douglas and Envoy LeNissa Sukhdeo—rang the bells.
by Hugo Bravo
Captain Stanley Pierre-Louis, corps officer at the Jamaica Citadel Corps in New York, talks about his early goal of serving in the Haitian military, the importance of self-care as a pastor, and seeing the work of the Salvation Army “Slum Sisters” through his wife, Captain Ermance Pierre-Louis.
by Hugo Bravo
When Mary and her husband, Chris Howland, successful entrepreneurs, looked to financially support organizations that help others, they approached The Salvation Army first. Upon their retirement in 2018, the Howlands moved from Connecticut to Newport, R.I., and became directly involved as volunteers at The Salvation Army Newport Corps. Chris is also chairperson of The Salvation Army’s Rhode Island advisory board, and Mary is chair of the Newport Corps advisory council.
by Robert Mitchell
The Salvation Army’s music and arts programs help children (and even some adults) find a place to belong and use their talents to bring glory to God.
by Guest
In case you haven’t heard, Christmas is coming. We all love Christmas. The story is one we know so well, whether we hear about it sitting in the pew on a Sunday morning or listening to Linus in the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Could it be possible to know it too well?
by Guest
For many years, the General of The Salvation Army has recorded a Christmas message. Thanks to the internet, nearly every Salvationist around the world can now hear those words of hope. Some of our great pioneers also shared their thoughts about Christmas, and we’re sharing them again here.
VOL. 11 NO. 1 2025
VOL. 11 NO. 1 2025
In this issue, we emphasize the importance of giving, by showcasing programs, individuals, history, and faith in action that result from your heartfelt generosity. From the observation deck of the Empire State Building to the streets of York, Pa., you’ll discover how The Salvation Army is making a significant impact on people in our territory who are in the greatest need. Additionally, in recognition of Black History Month, you’ll see how African American Salvationists play a vital role in the Army’s cultural and spiritual life. Enjoy!
