Soccer is celebrated for its accessibility, creativity, and welcoming spirit. It unites communities across cultures and languages. The ministries of The Salvation Army embrace those same values. Through youth programs and community projects, The Salvation Army is using “the beautiful game” to strengthen communities.
For Black History Month, SAconnects spoke to pastors, employees, and members of The Salvation Army Eastern Territory about the ministries in which God has placed them. Some arrived with experience suited to their responsibilities. Others were caught off guard, forced to learn quickly under pressure. But all their ministries have been enriched thanks to their willingness to take these roles into their hands and let the Lord guide their feet forward.
Like other Salvation Army ministries, the Bloom Initiative anti-human trafficking program walks closely alongside the people they help. But walking with someone who has dealt with the abuse and manipulation of human trafficking isn’t a simple straight line. Building trust is crucial for both sides, but trust doesn’t come easy. It’s a process involving case work, one-on-one interactions, and showing that every survivor is worthy of love and hope for a better future.
The New Jersey Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, named after the African American soldiers of the U.S. Army after the Civil War, is one of The Salvation Army’s most well-known volunteers. The Club’s members help during Christmas toy distribution and kettle season, proudly bringing their motorcycles for photos and sharing the Buffalo Soldiers’ impact in American history and expansion.
Christmas is a time for joy and gatherings with friends and family. But the shopping, decorating, and celebrating that come with the holiday season can also leave us stressed out and worn down physically, mentally, and emotionally. So can disagreements with visiting loved ones, or the disappointment of looking back at the year and feeling unfulfilled. Learn about how stress can affect us, and ways to face these triggering situations, along with Bible verses for inspiration.
When family and friends make surprise visits during the season, you never want to be caught short on cups or mugs. Stop by your local Salvation Army thrift shop to stock up on drinkware for the Christmas season. You can find mugs decorated with your favorite pop culture characters, inspiring quotes, and much more. Warm up with some hot chocolate on cold nights or start a collection and display it year-round!
One of the most important lessons that the 49-9 Project teaches to inmates getting ready for a life outside jail is to see the core self, both in themselves and in others. “Who you are inside is your core self. Your core self is good. It cannot be destroyed, and it makes all of us equal,” says Mark Fahringer, director of the 49-9 Project. “Each of us is good, because we are all created in the image of God.”
After retirement from the military, James Knight returned to his hometown in Williamsport, Pa., and became a dedicated volunteer at the Williamsport Corps. “My parents taught me to always find a way to give, even if it’s just a sandwich,” says James. Despite all his volunteer work, he prefers that the spotlight be on the work done by the Army in his community, especially for his fellow veterans who frequently visit the corps.
Ramesh Sukhdeo did not understand how Salvationists at the Harlem Temple Corps could pray next to someone like him, who smelled of alcohol and was dirty from living on the streets, and embrace him even. Today, as corps officer of New York Temple, Auxiliary Captain Ramesh Sukhdeo now knows that they were showing him the love of Christ. “That’s what we do at The Salvation Army,” he says. “We show others the love of Christ.”
Angelita Rosario has been involved in Salvation Army ministries in Queens and Schenectady, N.Y. But her most renowned ministry occurred in her home country of the Dominican Republic. It was there that Angelita, having been a soldier for only a few years, established the first Salvation Army corps on the island. “I didn’t know anything about running a church, much less starting one,” says Angelita. “Officers had been unable to accomplish this. How could a soldier do it?”
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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