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?
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.
The world can be a noisy place. There’s always something going on, making the next sound, grabbing our attention. Street noise. Or the kids are talking, or the TV is on. How about those fancy rectangles in our pockets that help us make phone calls, surf the web, check social media, and play games? Noise happens all the time. Do you sleep at night with the TV on or music playing? We’ve gotten so used to the noise that we can’t even reach a restful state without it.
One of the main expectations any charitable organization must live up to is transparency—to be an “open book” to the public to ensure that it’s worthy of being trusted. When that organization is also a religious movement modeled after the gospel of Jesus Christ, gaining and keeping the public’s trust becomes even more important.
In the Gospel of Mark, the Lord encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. The story left me with mixed emotions. This man’s inability to be free of such spirits filled me with sadness and regret.
A familiar feeling comes over me as I remember the sounds of a tinkling piano, the sight of sneakers and a cozy cardigan, and the familiar warm face of a friend singing, “What do you do with the mad that you feel?” My friendly neighbor on the TV, Mister Rogers, talks about how toys don’t have feelings, but people do.
Salvationists have served through wars and conflicts, and their stories are important to tell, particularly for those of us who’ve only known stability.
At the beginning of 2023, my family had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Chewie. We were filled with sadness and tears but also relief that she would be free of her painful illness. She had been suffering from oral cancer, and we knew the right thing to do was to end her suffering. But it was impossible to envision life without Chewie. She was more than just a dog—she was our four-legged family member.
Jesus answers Peter’s question about the limits of forgiveness in the book of Matthew by telling a parable. The parable that Jesus tells makes it clear that the Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom of Forgiveness. It is a kingdom where forgiveness is free, plentiful, and undeserved. It is also a kingdom where there is little tolerance for unforgiveness.
The Salvation Army has endured through storms, threats, and trials and has been described as the most effective organization in the United States. With such an accolade, it would be easy to think of the Army as a big ship at sea, easily traversing the waves, constant and sure of its direction, but that was not always so.
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.
440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, New York 10994 | 1-800-SAL-ARMY | Privacy Policy | © The Salvation Army Eastern Territory
