Majors Nora and Scott McNeil attained the rank of major in June 2022 as this story about Major Nora McNeil was in process. However, Major Scott McNeil was suddenly promoted to Glory. The following is about how Nora became an unlikely Salvationist, due in large part to Scott’s loving witness for Christ in her life.
It’s not uncommon to see Honesty and Brittin teach in the after–school program, pass out free coats, or volunteer in the soup kitchen at The Salvation Army in Oil City, Pa. “The Pathway of Hope program helped to get me and my sister new beds,” says 18–year–old Brittin, a senior at Oil City Senior High School. “They also gave us winterwear. They helped my parents when we didn’t have enough money for the mortgage. We’re grateful.”
No one can fathom the depth of commitment, sacrifice, and sometimes despair many grandmothers experience today in their pursuit of a deferred American Dream. But despite advanced age, and meager resources, they press on for their families, determined to mend the jagged tears in our socio– economic fabric.
“Mei,” an elderly woman living in Swampscott, Mass., recently dragged her small cart more than 4 miles to The Salvation Army in Lynn, just to get some meat from the food pantry. Inflation has driven up the cost of meat and other goods in local stores, and desperate times call for desperate measures. “She got some for her neighbors too,” said Captain Helen Johnson, the Salvation Army co-pastor in Lynn. “A lot of our clients double up and get meat for their neighbors and other seniors.”
Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love,” but the homicide rate there in recent years tells a very different story. The Salvation Army hopes to reopen a long-shuttered community center soon that could make a huge difference in troubled North Philadelphia.
Fitch, who pastors the Columbus Citadel in Columbus, Ohio, as its corps officer, always hopes that in watching the game, he’ll pick up some pointers to help him in two electric football leagues in which he participates. Yes, it’s electric football—the tabletop, motor-driven game that captured the imagination of a generation of young men and perhaps reached its peak in the 1970s and 1980s.
“We’re seeing that volunteerism has really been a challenge for a lot of human service organizations,” Trew said. “The volunteers are older, and they have been a little bit more cautious during the pandemic, so The Salvation Army had fewer kettles out. Then we’re also seeing less traffic because more people are buying their things online because of the pandemic. So, we knew we had to help the helpers.
I often hear friends say, “This has been an insanely busy week for me,” or something along those lines. That seems to be the refrain of our rushed society. Distractions come from every direction. Our cell phones vibrate constantly. Every few minutes, another “ding” alerts us to more messages, breaking news, and information that we ostensibly can’t live without. Can all the stimuli coming at us every second really be that urgent?
Michael Vandenburgh likes to say he “belongs” at the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Providence, R.I. Someone recently challenged Michael and said he probably has just grown comfortable at The Salvation Army facility. But he was having none of it. “No,” Michael said. “I love being at The Salvation Army. I’m where I belong—among God’s people where all of us put our trust in Christ and grow.”
The sight of colorful church buses dotting America’s roads on Sunday mornings is a tradition predated by D.L. Moody’s horse-drawn “church wagons” in Chicago during the late 1800s. While many churches offer bus ministries, The Salvation Army boasts a vibrant “van ministry” that brings people to church and other activities. The name of the church is usually emblazoned on the side, along with the familiar red and white Salvation Army shield.
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.
The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Headquarters
Serving communities in Connecticut, Delaware, Northeast Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.
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