Faith in Action
by Robert Mitchell
Holy Week is a special time at The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Captains Irseris and Ismael Ortiz make sure everyone learns the significance of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The past five years have featured reenactments of the Last Supper and Jesus’ last seven words. This year, the corps is adding Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and Mary Magdalene going to the tomb the morning of the Resurrection. Read how the events have changed the lives of those taking part.
by Robert Mitchell
Watching sports can be an enjoyable pastime and a good alternative to often-carnal movies, but when does it become too much? When does it infringe on our spiritual growth? It’s easy to let sports become an idol when God should be the top priority in our lives. Don’t let sporting events, which are often forgotten with the next news cycle, keep you from reading your Bible, praying, and meditating on God’s Word.
by Robert Mitchell
Attending church and a midweek Bible study are keys to spiritual growth, but one-on-one discipleship is where new believers can ask questions and discuss spiritual pitfalls with a trusted mentor. It involves a commitment between mentor and mentee to explore Scripture together and allow the Holy Spirit to chip away at the rough edges. Read about a few examples in the USA Eastern Territory.
by Robert Mitchell
Jewel Caquias has touched many lives at The Salvation Army in Poughkeepsie over the last 70 years. She exemplifies everything a Salvation Army soldier should be and is an example not only in her corps, but in the community she serves. She is at the corps day after day, year after year, ready with a smile, welcoming strangers who become family and pitching in wherever there’s a need. She also has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
by Hugo Bravo
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?”
by Robert Mitchell
Brendy Best thought she had beaten breast cancer in 2007, but the disease returned in 2024 and got everyone she knows praying. The treatment has been exhausting, but she continues to show up to help feed the least of these at the Bushwick Corps in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she serves in the soup kitchen. Her steadfast faith and Christian example in battling cancer a second time inspires everyone, including her officers.
by Robert Mitchell
The Salvation Army’s Learning Lighthouse, a new child care center for 112 children, is rising in Mount Vernon, Ohio. When completed, the 13,270-square-foot facility and the existing corps will take up an entire city block called “Salvation Square.” Captain Christine Moretz, the corps officer in Mount Vernon, said the new center will not only take care of children physically but also spiritually because the Holy Spirit “lives and abides in our facilities at The Salvation Army.”
by Hugo Bravo
Olivia Williams spent last summer visiting six of The Salvation Army’s summer camps. Getting a new view of how camp operates — through Olivia’s enthusiastic eyes — will show the families of the Newport, R.I., Corps, where Olivia’s parents are corps officers, that a summer for their kids with The Salvation Army is closer than they think.
by Robert Mitchell
Cathleen Virgalla didn’t know her life would change the day she walked into a Salvation Army soup kitchen looking for help. She found a lot more than food that day and has even attended a Salvation Army leadership seminar to be a leader at her corps in Bristol, Conn. Her children have found a home at the corps too.
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 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 Hugo Bravo
The Salvation Army’s LIGHT Project reminds people caught up in human trafficking that recovery is not something they have to face alone.
by Hugo Bravo
During the worst flooding disaster Vermont had seen in decades, pastors Keith and Katherine Jache led recovery efforts in the name of God and The Salvation Army. “When you arrive at your new assignment, there are certain people you should seek out and get to know immediately. Of course, people like the mayor are important but also town management workers like the local fire chief. In a disaster situation, that’s the person who is going to be in charge,” says Major Keith.
by Robert Mitchell
The Salvation Army is meeting a major housing need in Buffalo, while creating opportunities to share God’s love.
by Guest Contributor
For more than two weeks last February, the Asbury University campus was transformed—and the global effects of the event are still evident. In February of 2023, a small group of praying students expanded to include an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 visitors from all over the United States and nearly 40 countries. They came to witness what is known among Christians as an outpouring—the moving of the Holy Spirit.
by Hugo Bravo
The first time Jordan Ernest Burroughs stepped inside a wrestling class, he saw how different it was from the pro wrestling he had watched on TV. In the class, there were no intricate storylines and larger–than–life characters with names like “The Ultimate Warrior” and “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
by Hugo Bravo
When Major Richard Sanchez got the news that he and his wife, Major Lolita Sanchez, would be the next officers to serve as pastors at The Salvation Army in North Shore, he couldn’t help but feel excited.
by Robert Mitchell
Jackie Bradshaw’s once–promising tennis career at Bethany College in Kansas disappeared after she underwent elbow surgery and four shoulder procedures, including a full replacement.
While her body seemingly failed her, Jackie’s love for the game and desire for athletic competition never totally disappeared. She longed to play again someday if the opportunity arose. That chance came a few years ago when she took up a new paddle–ball game that swept the country.
by Hugo Bravo
For new fundraiser ideas to help its mission, The Salvation Army in Buffalo, N.Y., got some inspiration from the Midwest. “In Minnesota, the Minneapolis Corps offered a day of events that included a competition like the show ‘The Amazing Race,’” says Laurie Krajna, development director at The Salvation Army Buffalo Area Services, WNY Region.
by Robert Mitchell
Most young men first learn about woodworking in their high school wood shop class, but Captain Darell Houseton, a pastor in The Salvation Army, discovered a different path.
“My high school didn’t offer anything close to wood shop,” says Houseton, who went to Irvington High School in Irvington, N.J., before his days as an officer.
by Hugo Bravo
Members of Joanne Small’s community lovingly gave her the title “Mother of the Kroc” because she was a warm, motherly soul with a love for people and boundless energy to help others, whether it be as a teacher, a caregiver or as a listening ear. Her expertly crafted nails and Air Jordan sneakers earned her the nickname “Ms. J.” There wasn’t a job at the Boston Kroc Center that Ms. J could not do, and there wasn’t a person in need who she could turn away.
by Hugo Bravo
Hours before their historic concert in Cuba, members of The Salvation Army’s New York Staff Band (NYSB) traded their brass instruments and uniforms for paintbrushes and T–shirts. Joining them was Commissioner E. Sue Swanson, territorial president of Women’s Ministries, Lt. Colonel Kenneth W. Maynor, territorial program secretary, and soldiers and officers of the Havana Central Corps. That morning, everyone pitched in to help give the 55–year–old corps, which also serves as the Divisional Headquarters, a makeover.
by Guest Contributor
I have always been intrigued by the existence of human trafficking in our world. I’ve often wondered, how could such a heinous crime be so prevalent in a world that we say is so advanced?
In pursuing this question, I was told that the answer is to combat this crime through our purchasing decisions...
All of these strategies were great, but I wanted to do more.
by Robert Mitchell
“Will you content yourselves with sitting in a chapel, week after week, while countless men and women, boys and girls, die and go in to eternity without ever hearing the good news of Jesus Christ?”
At the recent Candidates Seminar, Lt. Colonel Eddie Hobgood asked this question of his audience as he portrayed Joe the Turk, the Salvation Army’s legendary evangelist.
by Robert Mitchell
The audience at the Friday night Candidates Seminar had just witnessed a powerful drama about the life of Salvationist pioneer Joe the Turk, a courageous evangelist who took Christ’s message to the streets.
Then Colonel Janet Munn, principal of the College for Officer Training (CFOT), told a gym full of potential officers that God is looking for people from the current generation to demonstrate a similar evangelistic spirit.
History
by Guest Contributor
On April 10, Salvationists in the U.S. commemorate the birthdays of Salvation Army founders William Booth and Catherine Booth. But why do some Salvationists celebrate in July? What were the founders like as young people? How did they meet? And how should we celebrate? Here’s everything you need to know about Founders’ Day in The Salvation Army, from Heritage Museum Director Rob Jeffery.
by Guest Contributor
We dive into the rich history of this landmark building, the Centennial Memorial Temple, which has stood in the heart of New York City as a gathering place, worship space, and community hub of The Salvation Army for almost 100 years. You’ll read how this amazing concert hall also served as a sanctuary for preaching the gospel of Christ and an altar for the saving of lost souls.
by Guest Contributor
Imagine being part of a dynamic instrumental group and playing the latest trends in music sweeping the nation. You’re also wearing clothes that make an even bolder statement, catching the attention and imagination of young people. And the year is 1887. For the past 138 years, the New York Staff Band has served as the musical cornerstone of The Salvation Army in the United States. Read how it is still going strong, not just to please the ear, but to transform the spiritual lives of young musicians, who please the heart of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
by Guest Contributor
As Salvationists, when we talk about our beliefs, we’re tapping into a vibrant tradition of faith. Even though it happened 1,700 years ago, the First Council of Nicaea still plays a key role in shaping Christian beliefs today. How does the Nicene Creed inform your faith as a Christian and a Salvationist? Rob Jeffery, director of the Eastern Territory’s Heritage Museum, explores the meaning behind this meeting of the early Church.
by Guest Contributor
To call it simply a cemetery or a graveyard feels incorrect. The size of a small town, it is a resting place for thousands of people, with many communities represented among the orderly plots. Salvationists “promoted to Glory” lay buried in countless cemeteries across the country, but the beautiful grounds of Kensico help tell the story of The Salvation Army in America.
by Guest Contributor
When The Salvation Army ventured into the United States, a young woman in her teens led the way, circa 1880. Her name was Eliza Shirley, and her ministry to people of all ages lit a spiritual flame in Philadelphia that spread across the nation and still burns brightly today.
by Guest Contributor
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 Contributor
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.
by Guest Contributor
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.
by Guest Contributor
Salvationists have served through wars and conflicts, and their stories are important to tell, particularly for those of us who’ve only known stability.
by Guest Contributor
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.
by Guest Contributor
To say that women have played a vital role in the history of the Church is the understatement of the millennia. But in the Western evangelical tradition of which The Salvation Army is part, women in many denominations are seemingly relegated to the sidelines of ministry. They are welcomed to serve, they are welcomed to teach children, they are welcomed to feed others—yet they are sadly unwelcomed in the pulpit.
by Warren L. Maye
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.
by Robert Mitchell
On Oct. 31, children and adults will again indulge in the pagan custom of Halloween. But did you know that a history–changing event known as the “Protestant Reformation” marks the same day?
by Warren L. Maye
Recent national and world events with respect to social, racial, and political unrest have in some ways hindered and in other ways helped the spirit of reconciliation among our diverse populations.
So, a burning question is, “How do we actually rekindle a sense of hope and restoration among people and rise from the ashes of pain and suffering in a post–COVID–19 world?”
by Warren L. Maye
Rehabilitation has always been the goal of the Salvation Army’s ministry to people who are tempted to misuse substances. From its inception in 1881 when William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, opened shelters in England for the homeless and alcohol abusers, to the 1900s in the United States where men who suffered from similar social and spiritual handicaps collected discarded cardboard and metal scraps to make ends meet.
People
by Hugo Bravo
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.”
by Hugo Bravo
Major Gilbert Parkhurst, corps officer in Danbury, Conn., knows that a close-up view of the Army’s ministry can change a person. He has seen teens, board members, and government officials impacted just by witnessing the ministry of The Salvation Army. “Even our ministry of presence—to be there for someone in their time of need—can change hearts,” says Parkhurst. “Sometimes all it takes is seeing work done in the name of God.”
by Hugo Bravo
“All my value comes from God,” says Captain Dustin Fitch, corps officer at The Salvation Army Columbus East Main Corps Community Center in Ohio. “Alone, my best is not all that good. God Himself can do anything, but it requires all of us to show up. The Lord cannot work if we, His vessels, are not available to Him.”
by Hugo Bravo
“Pathway of Hope is not a handout, and it’s not going to change a life immediately,” says Janette Romero, Pathway of Hope case manager in Meriden, Conn. “But it is successful because case managers stay involved and engaged with their clients.”
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
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 Robert Mitchell
Keith Bryant Sr. is known as the singing Salvation Army bell ringer outside the Roche Bros. Supermarket in Westborough, Mass. A Worcester resident, the 60-year-old Bryant has been ringing the bell for 24 years now and mixes in Christmas classics and oldies for his shoppers.
by Hugo Bravo
Major Valerie Kahn, program secretary for The Salvation Army Massachusetts Divisional Headquarters, talks about how the Army’s work in Jamaica helped direct her future, being reminded of the first time she met her husband, and following God’s guidance.
by Hugo Bravo
Captain Kendall Stout, corps officer of The Salvation Army Lock Haven Corps in eastern Pennsylvania, talks about Bible sword drills, welcoming people who are homeless to the church, and how becoming a married partner in ministry will change the way she serves.
by Hugo Bravo
Lieutenant Shirley Figueroa, assistant corps officer at The Salvation Army’s San Juan Corps Community Center in Puerto Rico, talks about the way she honors both her father and God, lessons from King David’s loyalty, and her reason why accepting the call to officership can feel like a game of hide-and-seek.
by Hugo Bravo
Nigeria-born Clifford Omoruyi first learned to play basketball at The Salvation Army Newark Westside Corps in Newark, N.J. Muhammad Oliver, Cliff’s legal guardian and basketball coordinator at the corps, wanted Cliff not just to get the benefits of learning to play, but also to understand how many people were committed to seeing him succeed.
by Hugo Bravo
Sebastian Galvez, president of The Salvation Army’s Echelon Chapter in Morristown, N.J., talks about his gap year after high school, a pet contest on social media that introduced people to the Army’s work, and the power of an act of kindness.
by Hugo Bravo
Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz, territorial commander of The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, talks about how being the eyes for his sightless parents prepared him to be a visionary leader and Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz, territorial president of women’s ministries and territorial leader for officer development for The Salvation Army USA East, talks about why ministering in Eastern Europe made her see Jesus’ sacrifice with new eyes.
by Hugo Bravo
Michelle Harris, volunteer coordinator and outreach worker at The Salvation Army York Citadel in Pennsylvania, talks about why she enjoys working with children at the corps, the ministry that her volunteers have requested to start, and practicing the hobby of coloring in the church’s women’s group.
by Hugo Bravo
Lieutenant Melissa Bonet, pastor at The Salvation Army Ridgewood Citadel in Queens, N.Y., talks about her former career in pastry design, and why being “God—fearing” is a different mindset from “fearing God.”
by Hugo Bravo
Chris Farrand, the Salvation Army's regional Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) director for Massachusetts and Southern New England, talks about recognizing a sign from God, visiting COVID–19 patients in hotels, and lessons he learned from shepherding in England.
by Hugo Bravo
Cassidy Bowers, formerly an event and volunteer program manager for The Salvation Army Massachusetts Divisional Headquarters, talks about learning new skills and ways to serve during COVID–19; what it’s like to put on the Salvation Army’s mascot costume; and what she looks forward to doing when the pandemic is over.
Programs
by Hugo Bravo
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.”
by Hugo Bravo
In Vermont, the Burlington Corps’ Friendly Kitchen serves dinner to around 100 people six days a week. Envoy Stacy Liskey sees it as one way to give individuals who may be suffering from homelessness back the dignity they feel they’ve lost living on the streets. “There are many places that serve free breakfast and lunch,” says Liskey, “but none that serve dinner as often as us.” She wants anyone who is hungry to come, whether they are homeless or not.
by Hugo Bravo
Majors Annalise and Billy Francis, corps officers at The Salvation Army Ashland Kroc, are the minds behind the Kroc’s Theater Group. “Running the theater program is a herculean effort,” says Major Billy. “But everything the Kroc does is an avenue of discipleship that promotes Christ.” With a hardworking Kroc staff and young performers dedicated to the craft, the theater program has continued to change lives, becoming one of its most exciting ministries.
by Hugo Bravo
The Salvation Army’s Joy ministry brings the arts, along with some famous superheroes and princesses, to children at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York. “Children at this hospital have serious, life-threatening conditions,” says Resa Berry, director of Joy. “I hope that the memories we bring can connect the families with the love, grace, and hope of Christ.”
by Hugo Bravo
The Salvation Army in Harrisburg, Pa., is showing that anyone, any age, can serve their community. Families Go M.A.D. (Make a Difference) hosts volunteer activities for elementary and middle school-age children and introduces them to the Army’s mission.
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
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 Hugo Bravo
Give people a chance to express themselves through the arts, and they can blossom—and even grow into something beyond their imagination. When The Salvation Army in Delaware saw an opportunity to encourage members of its Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) to explore their talents, a new ministry of art and enterprise emerged.
by Hugo Bravo
The men at Muskingum County Jail in Zanesville, Ohio, were at Bible study. Two participants whispered, as if each was trying to convince the other to speak up. They had just listened to Salvation Army Envoy George Bates and ministry assistant Seth Hall talk about the Book of Exodus, and how God told Moses that He would be with him as Moses set up his tent outside of the Israelite camp, where Moses could work and settle disputes.
by Hugo Bravo
In the early days of summer 2023, members of The Salvation Army Niagara Falls Citadel Corps knocked on over 2,000 doors to invite the community to a series of weekly summer BBQs. They also asked everyone if there was anything in their lives that they wanted the Salvationists to pray for.
by Hugo Bravo
Before Captain Wanessa Moore planned the first Women’s Empowerment Day at The Salvation Army’s Northern Kentucky Corps, the center was already a welcoming space for survivors of trauma.
by Hugo Bravo
Captain Bree Barker, a longtime snowboarder and skier, knows that those winter sports provide lessons in perseverance. “When you start, you are going to fall a lot. And when you fall in the cold snow with your skis or snowboard, and all your heavy gear on you, it’s a task just to get back up,” says Barker, a pastor at the Troy Temple Corps in upstate New York.
by Hugo Bravo
The Salvation Army’s contribution to Toyland, a two–day Christmas celebration at the Jackson Township Senior Center in Jackson, N.J., begins with a gift of about 2,000 teddy bears.
by Hugo Bravo
For a new fundraising ministry, members of the Salvation Army’s Buffalo N.Y., Corps got some inspiration from the Midwest. “The Minneapolis Corps was doing a day of events and competition across the city,” says Laurie Krajna.
by Hugo Bravo
“The Salvation Army Plugged in Podcast,” originated from the need to reach others, is hosted by Matthew Luhn, divisional Music & Gospel Arts director, and Captains Loreita and Nate Hinzman, divisional youth secretaries in Massachusetts.
by Hugo Bravo
Like many grade schools, high schools, and colleges, Sunday schools have adapted to significant changes due to COVID–19 restrictions. They have fewer meetings and far shorter time periods than do other schools, and some have gone virtual or have been canceled.
Snapshot
by Hugo Bravo
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.
by Hugo Bravo
In August, Boston’s TD Garden hosted The Salvation Army’s annual Back-to-School celebration. Over 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were given to children as they got ready to start the new school year. Along with the bags, a local barber was on hand to give fresh haircuts, and Grace Chapel in Cambridge also donated new winter coats. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services provided drinks and snacks.
by Robert Mitchell
Milo Rivera, 5, meets a friendly goat during Family Fun Night at The Salvation Army’s Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings in Maine. The evening is always a hit with kids and adults alike. For the perfect ending to the day, there’s usually a short program in the Seaside Pavilion before everyone gathers for ice cream. This year’s camp meetings are July 26–29. The popular Pier Festival, which features the best of Salvation Army arts ministries, runs July 24–27. From July 28 to July 30, anyone who’s interested can attend Bible studies on the beach and inside the nearby Salvation Army church.
by Warren L. Maye
Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y., is the final resting place for many prominent figures within The Salvation Army who have been “promoted to Glory.” We take time to remember them and their dedication to serving others and offer prayers of thanksgiving for their lives and contributions.
by Warren L. Maye
At the Lancaster, Pa., Citadel Corps, a sewing club for seniors offers a welcoming space with ample opportunities to come together, work on projects, and share knowledge.
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 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
The Boston Celtics were in the middle of what would turn out to be their 18th championship season when the organization came together with Dunkin’ to unveil a renovated basketball court at The Salvation Army South End Corps in March. The two Boston-based entities, which have a history of working with The Salvation Army in Massachusetts, collaborated on the project.
by Hugo Bravo
In 1924, The Salvation Army received 116 acres of campground property in Sharon, Mass. The site, originally called a Fresh Air Camp, is now preparing to celebrate its 100th year as Camp Wonderland. Each year, “The Happy Summer Place” welcomes school children, many from underprivileged and inner-city areas, to experience a summer of music, activities—like climbing, swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, and archery—and a newunderstanding of Christ’s love, all amid His beautiful creation.
by Hugo Bravo
The solar panels over the parking lot and on the roof at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Camden, N.J., have modernized the Kroc, says Benjamin Ovadia, the center’s community relations and development director.
by Warren L. Maye
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.
by Warren L. Maye
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.”
by Warren L. Maye
Young campers pray together after seeing a “Jesus Theater” performance at a Salvation Army camp in Ohio.
by Warren L. Maye
Recently, the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army used music to express the glory of God in a concert called “Creation” by Dorothy Gates, then the band’s composer in residence. The band, now more than 145 years in existence, is among the finest Christian band in performance.
by Warren L. Maye
These young dancers of the Territorial Arts Ministries (TAM) summer camp are diligent in their pursuit of skills that will allow them to express their heartfelt message of hope.
by Warren L. Maye
People line up outside The Salvation Army Brooklyn Sunset Park Corps Community Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., during lunchtime.
