Planting Seeds
A single intervention will not change the world, but people must work together, over time, to protect God’s creation and regenerate the earth— for our children and grandchildren and the vulnerable among us.
SAconnects: Our 10th Anniversary
Excitement filled our hearts the day we began the rollout of a new multimedia, multilingual magazine designed to reach people with the love of Christ. Its name, SAconnects, implied that it was also intended to link you, our reader, to everything about The Salvation Army and beyond. Our plan was to connect you to a diverse community of believers through English, Spanish, and Korean languages, in print and online.
Linda Evans Shepherd’s ‘Make Time for Joy’
Linda Evans Shepherd is a firm believer in the power of prayer. Her latest book, Make Time for Joy: Scripture-Powered Prayers to Brighten Your Day, can be looked at as a daily devotional or as a resource to turn to in times of need. “I took these scriptures, paraphrased them in modern vernacular, and put them into conversational prayers,” she said in a recent interview with SAconnects.
Soldier on the Inside
"I have learned how to listen for the voice of God and say ‘yes’ to the Holy Spirit. That is what’s been leading me on this journey,” said Paul A. Jordan, a former firefighter and Emergency Disaster Services employee for The Salvation Army in Pennsylvania. “I never thought that I’d end up in prison, but I am here. But while I’m here, I’m hearing the voice and reading the word of God.”
Snapshot
They say that at any given moment, we pretend not to see, hear, feel, or smell something around us. It’s a reflex. A mechanism of self-preservation, a way of getting through our discomfort. Be it on the street, on the train, or in a room, we reason that to do anything else would be inappropriate, awkward, or downright dangerous. But the truth is, we do see, and many times we deeply care. In those moments, God calls us to sense His presence and be prepared to do something.
Walk by the water
On the eve of their retirement, Commissioners William A. and G. Lorraine Bamford reflect on their ministry as leaders of The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory and share their hope for the future.
International Volunteer Day
Co–authors Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Lawrence Robinson believe volunteering to a worthy cause brings deep gratification and fulfillment. In a recent article entitled “Volunteering and its surprising benefits,” they wrote, “The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.”
A Second Chance
Sterling C. Green Jr. is one of several concierges who graciously help guests find their way around the sprawling Hershey Lodge, part of Chocolatetown and Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa.
Snapshot
Lieutenant Clifford Douglas, a Salvation Army officer and pastor, rings the bell at Christmastime in New York City. Bell ringers typically share heartwarming reflections when asked about their service on those frequently cold December days. One said, “Some people give us donations, others stop to chat, and some even stay and sing awhile with us.”
The beauty of God’s creation
One clear and starry night, an adolescent’s life–long love of God’s creation began. That evening in Ohio, he lay on his back on a comfortable blanket in the middle of an open field. To his amazement, he would soon fathom the heavens and, at the same time, explore the mysteries of his own mind.
