The Western Territory’s news source for 29 years November 4, 2011 • Vol. 29, No. 18

Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Multicultural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

The Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Promoted to Glory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Prayer Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

From the Desk of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Spice Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Inside:

On the web:Find more stories and features at newfrontierpublications.org• Haitianstudentsreturnto reconstructedschools• Chaplainsattheprotest• TournamentteesoffinAtlanta• DailyCupmobileappnamedfinalist

www.newfrontierpublications.orgFacebook: tsanewfrontierPRAYER, page 9

PANTRY SHELVES, page 6

Weengageinan immense practical ministry with strong social commitments... — Commissioner James Knaggs~

~

First THQ Missions Councils held

Commissioner James Knaggs speaks to THQ officers and employees at the first THQ Missions Councils in Long Beach, Calif. Photo by John Docter

Feeding the hungry next doorn The Salvation Army is hard at work to keep its food pantry shelves full.

BY KAREN GLEASONPlanning a Thanksgiving feast?Most people reading this newspaper are busy

now with holiday plans, and face the daily question of “What’s for dinner?” instead of “Will I be able to eat tonight?” Yet today, around the world, and significantly, in our own neighborhoods, many people are asking that question.

World Food Day was Oct. 16—how many people gave it even a passing thought? This year’s theme was “Food Prices—From Crisis to Stability,” recognizing that rising food prices threaten to push millions more people into hunger.

The Salvation Army, seeking to feed the body and the soul, maintains food pantries and works with community food banks and other local resources to feed the hungry that come to its doors for help. In the last few years, need has increased dramatically, while supplies have significantly dwindled, due to fewer donations and decreased government funding. Many who used to donate food must now seek assistance. Salvation Army leaders are implementing creative thinking and expanding community partnerships to bridge the gap and fill the shelves.

Volunteer Teresa Engel packs food boxes in Gresham, Ore. Photo by Scott Streble

13th biennial Multicultural Ministries Conference held

General Bond calls Salvationists to weekly prayer

Dear Salvationists:Every Thursday, The Salvation Army

around the world is in prayer for the entire day. Territories, commands and individual Salvationists have signed up, covenanting to use 30 minutes each Thursday between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. to pray for the Army – its zeal for God, its compassionate service in every community and its daring and fruitful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Driven by a desire to be the people God wants us to be and to do what he wants us to do, we commit ourselves to seeking the only one who can empower us with the Holy Spirit and energize and equip us for ministry in the 21st century.

One officer has written to me, “Some corps and divisional headquarters have changed their regular weekly prayer time to Thursday so more and more of us are lifting our requests to God at the same time. I’ve just come from the

BY BOB DOCTER“This is an officers councils,” Commissioner James Knaggs,

territorial commander, announced, “but it’s like no other officers councils in my memory, for we have invited all of you—all of the employees at THQ [territorial headquarters] to spend the day with us. We want you to learn the way God’s spirit gets into our minds and our hearts. This is ‘mission inclusiveness.’”

Knaggs welcomed employees and officers alike to the first-ever THQ Missions Councils in late October—a day designed to ensure that everyone understands the nature and scope of The Salvation Army’s worldwide mission and that of the Western Territory, which reaches across eight time zones and touches millions of people from hundreds of cultures.

“The Salvation Army is the largest army in the world—an Army that has never fired a shot in anger nor captured a single acre of ground,” Knaggs said. “We engage in an immense practical ministry with strong social commitments that seek to address every sort of need within every culture. We also

MISSIONS COUNCILS, page 8

n Conference stressed relationship between Christianity and migration

The 13th biennial Salvation Army Multicultural Ministries Conference took place in Chicago in mid-October to reinforce the vision of ministry work within commu-nities of different backgrounds and cultures. Seven delegates from the Western Territory attended—two representing the Southern California Division and five as mem-bers of the THQ Multicultural Ministries Department. They share the experience here.

MigrationandtheBibleBY ELICIO MARQUEZ, MAJOR

Many biblical heroes cross borders to ful-fill the design of God.

Abraham was an immigrant who had only promises when he left his land of hunger and scarcity, which reminds me today that there are many immigrants coming with pain in their heart, leaving land and relatives in search of what they need, some acting with honesty and others having to lie to authori-ties. Abraham said at the border that Sarah was his sister, when in fact it was his wife.

We also have Joseph, a young man, sold by his brothers and forced to cross borders. Ruth, an immigrant who crossed borders for her family, did not want to break away from her mother, Naomi. Jesus was an immigrant, too. As a baby, his parents fled with him from Bethlehem to Egypt to save his life.

The good news is that Jesus looks out

MULTICULTURAL CONFERENCE, page 4

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it (Heb. 13:2 NRS).

HOONAH, ALASKA—Lt. Liane Newcomb has been working with others to find shelter—vital with winter coming—for a homeless man, a veteran, who struggles with alcohol. Corps members have taken him food, provided a new sleeping bag and blanket, and transported him to the weekly community lunch. Lately she has seen positive changes in him, and she hopes a local senior housing facility will accept him.

“Although many in the community have written him off,” she said, “God doesn’t write us off no matter where we find ourselves. His love finds us and remains with us one step at a time.”

PHOENIX, ARIZ.—Last year, when The Salvation Army and Arizona’s Family 3TV teamed up for the 17th annual Big Guy Turkey Drive, they set a record, collecting 5, 125 turkeys and $45,000.

The 18th annual event will take place Nov. 17, and the Army hopes to break that record as they accept turkeys and monetary donations to help feed more than 10,000 local families in need.

Thanks to community support last year, The Salvation Army did not have to spend a penny to provide Thanksgiving meals, allowing funds to go to other projects.

SAN DIEGO—The Kroc Center’s new RJ’s Preschool Academy is up and running with more than 25 students. The center unveiled the program this fall at an open house attended by approximately 50 families.

The school offers innovative curriculum models for reading and writing, extended hours, potty training, free lunch, annual hearing and vision tests, and opportunities for children to explore their potential through swimming, ice skating, art, dance and sports.

For more information, visit kroccenter.org.

STOCKTON, CALIF.—The Stockton Corps attended the SAY (Salvation Army Youth) rally at the Concord Corps on Oct. 22, where its Sunbeam and Girl Guard troops received the 2010-2011 Standards of Achievement Award for the Del Oro Division. In addition, the troops received a superior rating for uniform inspections and the Adventure Corps earned an excellent rating. The Stockton Corps Singing Company presented a song during the anniversary celebration of an Army donor.

Captains Eric and Jasiel Tumale are the corps officers in Stockton.

MOLOKAI, HAWAII— “I thank God that there is a Salvation Army outpost on Molokai,” said Envoy Georgina Kuahuia. “I know we are reaching people in need.”

The Army, in partnership with the Maui Food Bank, distributes food for 17 agencies on the island. Usually, they receive only two food pallets a month, but somehow, Kuahuia said, “God always multiplies our food resources, so that no child will go hungry no matter what their family circumstances may be. Our wonderful God always meets our needs.”

November 4, 2011New Frontier2

KarenGleason

Editor

N E W S B R I E F S O F T H E W E S T

Doing theMost Good

n Center welcomes program alumni for the 10th anniver-sary of its women’s program.

BY HOWARD BENNETT, CAPTAINAcknowledging the 10-year anniversary of its women’s pro-

gram and the continued sobriety of thousands of program alumni, the Anaheim Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC), led by Majors Bill and Laura Heiselman, hosted a celebration on Oct. 15. The 530 people attending included current beneficiaries, 130-plus alumni, ARC employees, volunteers, Salvation Army officers, and over 100 community leaders and supporters.

For over 52 years, the Anaheim ARC has provided rehabilita-tion for men seeking recovery from addictions. Its record of suc-cess is due to the combination of traditional treatment elements with the Army’s unique work therapy and spiritual formation components. The 145-bed men’s facility was augmented 10 years ago with additional space housing 28 women—making it the larg-est ARC in the Western Territory.

During the ceremony, a series of female graduates walked to the stage holding up placards with simple, hand-written phrases describ-ing their condition prior to intake, revealing words including “Lost,” “Broken,” “Hopeless” and “Enslaved.” Then smiles and applause erupted as each woman reversed her sign to unveil her current condi-tion: “Found,” “Restored,” “Hopeful” and “Free.”

The event included music, prayer, a commendation from the mayor’s office presented by City Council Member Gail Eastman, an alumni testimony and a special address by Dr. Daniel Amen.

Amen is a noted psychiatrist, researcher, and innovator in the use of brain scan imaging to diagnose and correct many behav-ioral issues previously thought to be psychological in nature. He has worked successfully with thousands of patients who were

unresponsive to conventional therapies. Pastor Rick Warren and his network of Saddleback Churches have embraced Amen’s teachings about brain health as related to proper nutrition and exercise, featuring it prominently on their main web page as the “Daniel plan.” Warren and members of Saddleback congregations have lost a cumulative total of 250,000 pounds since the inception of the program.

Although memorable for the quality of programming and large turnout, the ARC celebration’s highlights were found in the transformed lives of alumni, as families wept in joy over restored relationships, and the hope for a better future shone in the eyes of the men and women who have placed themselves in the care of the Anaheim ARC and God’s own Army.

Anaheim ARC celebrates restored lives

Current ARC beneficiary is reunited with her mother and brother after a three-year separation. Photo by Mike Beaudreau

Still going strong after 25 yearsn Metro Denver Women’s Auxiliary celebrates 25 years of auxiliary camp.

BY JOY CHURCH, COLONELMembers of Colorado’s Metro Denver

Women’s Auxiliary gathered for the 25th anniversary of auxiliary camp at Intermountain Division’s High Peak Camp. “Patchwork of Memories—Stitched in Silver” was this year’s theme.

The first auxiliary camp in 1987 began due to the auxiliary’s desire that the underprivileged children of Denver experi-ence nature and magnificence of the Rocky Mountain area. The children had such a good time that the members asked if they could have a similar experience. Since then, the auxiliary camp has continued annually for the past quarter of a century.

At the first session the group of 25 women welcomed new auxiliary representative, Lt. Colonel Helen Starrett, divisional director of women’s ministries, and special guest Lt. Colonel Judy Smith, territorial secretary for program. Camp administrators presented updates on various projects, including the climbing wall, which is now complete. This project was one of many sponsored by the auxiliary over the years.

Traditionally, auxiliary members take part in many of the activities that the children experience, including crafts, the

annual camp photo and the flag raising ceremony. Devotional times and small group meetings gave campers the opportu-nity to share their testimonies.

An outing to the nearby Aspen Lodge included a chuck wagon dinner and west-ern entertainment.

Relating to the theme of this year’s

camp, Smith’s presentations included “Fabrics of Faith,” Patterns of Hope,” and “Finished Needlework of Love.” Memories played an important part of the program-ming. Colonel George Church, who was instrumental in purchasing the Double JK Ranch for the Intermountain Division, provided an historical overview.

At an afternoon tea, camper Joan Maclachlan presented her program, “If teacups could talk.” Maclachlan also shared her collection of memorabilia.

“Memories Stitched in Silver” was the final program presented by Colonel Joy Church and auxiliary camper Virginia “Gini” Schneider. The room was set up in a circle with a large basket in the center containing 25 strands of silver cord. Each year was identified with a memory item and a silver mounted card that gave the year, theme of the camp and a significant thought. Each camper stood, read the quote, and placed the item into the basket. The first piece was a circle of wood with branded initials representing the first craft. Schneider, who attended all 25 camps, placed the final piece in the basket.

A celebration luncheon, hosted by divi-sional leaders, Lt. Colonels Dan and Helen Starrett, and supported by members of the divisional staff, concluded the camp.

Denver Women’s Auxiliary members create a “patchwork of memories” during the 25th auxiliary camp.

BY HEATHER ANDREASENThe new Southwest Divisional

Headquarters building, currently under construction, has the cross of Christ as its foundation. Literally.

At the Deeper Life meetings held over Labor Day weekend, Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs presented a message about being united to Christ, by Christ, and for Christ. Using basic 2 x 4s, he formed the pieces of wood into a cross. Delegates were then invited to sign the cross as a symbol of their dedication to God.

In a brief service Sept. 28, that cross was placed into the foundation of the new building, located in the floor of what will be the main hallway.

Lt. Colonel Joe Posillico, divisional commander, reminded participants of the concept shared by Knaggs. He said that being united to Christ, united by Christ, and united for Christ “is our spiritual commitment that we are making as the cross becomes a permanent part of the foundation of this building.”

Posillico shared the following words from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-11).

Southwest DHQ built on the cross of Christ

Southwest Divisional Headquarters officers and employ-ees pray for God’s blessing on the new building. Left to right: Captain Derek Strickland, Major Patti Brooks, Lt. Col. Joe Posillico, Jeff White, Mark Sorensen and Nancy Keith

Photo by Marlon Jones

n Denver ARC officer wins first place at recent martial arts compe-tition.

Major Sylvia Hoogstad of the Denver ARC not only likes to “rumble,” but is pretty good at it; she won first place in her division in forms at the recent

“Rumble in the Rockies” competition in Aurora, Colo.

“Forms are ancient fighting pat-terns that have been passed down for thousands of years,” said Karen Eden Herdman, program director at the Denver Red Shield. “Having good snap and focus are keys to winning in this category. Major Hoogstad has only been training in martial arts for a few months. It’s definitely a sign of how good she will get as she continues to train.”

Hoogstad earned a yellow belt in the Red Shield Warriors martial arts pro-gram, which Herdman originated and has taught at the Denver Red Shield for the past 11 years. The program has even spread to Salvation Army corps across the U.S. and in Canada.

“We are a Christian martial arts program,” Herdman said. “All of our instructors sign off on our articles of faith, which state that we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Hoogstad trains with her husband, Major Erik Hoogstad, and their four children. Daughter Nicole took sec-ond place in her division in forms, and daughter Ashley received a medal for her participation.

Herdman has promoted six black belts since starting the program in 2000. The first corps officer to be promoted to

the rank of black belt was Major Carole Abella, now the corps officer with her husband, Major Daniel Abella, at the Bakersfield (Calif.) Corps. She and her four children were among the first of Herdman’s students and were all pro-moted to black belt in 2004.

For more information on the Red Shield Warriors martial arts program visit redshielddenver.org.

November 4, 2011New Frontier 3Doing the

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TCSPEAKwith Territorial CommanderCommissioner James Knaggs

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Find Commissioner Knaggs’ blog online at tcspeak.com.

Burgers retire from active servicen Couple recognized during chapel service at Territorial Headquarters

Commissioners Kurt and Alicia Burger celebrated their retirement from active duty in The Salvation Army—with a combined total of more than 70 years—at a chapel service held at Western Territorial Headquarters Oct. 14. They officially retired in September as territorial leaders of the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory.

Fellow officers, family, friends and employees gathered to wish them well at the meeting, themed “Faith Connection.” Their wish was that the meeting not be centered on them, but on the loving and faithful God who guided them in service for 35 years. “It’s not about us; it’s about God,” they said.

Lt. Colonel Ron Strickland, who presided over the meeting with his wife, Pam, read a letter of appreciation to the Burgers from General Linda Bond. Alicia Burger then gave her testimony, wondering “what if” she had not responded to the call of Jesus when she was 19 years old. She examined the connection between faith and service, declaring that she was “not saved to serve, but saved to be his,” and she explored all she learned in her years as an officer, summing it up with, “Stay close to the source; stay close to Jesus Christ.”

In a testimony spiced with his characteristic humor, Kurt Burger said that he wanted to avoid the trap of “the older I get, the better I was.” He expressed gratitude to God for his faithfulness through his years of service. He also spoke of his gratitude to and for his family, to Alicia for her partnership, friendship and support, and to The Salvation Army for the opportunities and variety of service and for his mentors and friends.

Commissioners Bill and Gwen Luttrell conducted the retirement ceremony, sharing memories before presenting the certificates. Gwen Luttrell described Alicia Burger as a “can do” person, with an energetic and dynamic personality, who has reached countless people around the world for Jesus Christ.

In characterizing Kurt Burger, Bill Luttrell said, “Change was never a problem for you; you didn’t fear change.” He spoke of Burger’s commitment to progress and his sense of humor.

The Burgers accepted the gift of a wall hanging, a tapestry of 100 pieces assembled to represent their blending of gifts.

In his devotional message, Bill Luttrell spoke on finding and accepting God’s call, referencing Paul in 1 Timothy 3:13, For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which

Lt. Colonels Kurt and Alicia Burger

BURGERS, page 9

Rumble in the Rockies

Left to right: Nicole Hoogstad, Ashley Hoogstad and Major Sylvia Hoogstad

Photo by Major Erik Hoogstad

Cadets Manuel and Daisy Gaytan and Regeina Williams from the ‘Aftershock’ brigade lead a balloon Scripture game in children’s open-air meeting in Auburn, Calif. Photo by Ron Toy

Cadets complete annual blitzBY STEFANIE VRAPI AND KEILAH TOY, MAJOR

The cadets from the Western Territory’s Crestmont College for Officer Training—105 in total—stormed 10 locations in the Del Oro Division in mid-October for the college’s annual Fall Blitz that aims to put ministry skills into service.

Throughout the weekend, the cadets participated in a flurry of activities, from carnivals, to homeless feedings and commu-nity care ministries.

At the Suisun City Kroc Center, nearly 30 cadets learned how to minister to youth and promote the soon-to-be-opened center. From craft booths, the cadets taught children how to make Christmas wreaths out of paper plates and provided door-to-door invitations to the center.

In Roseville, Calif., the cadets saw firsthand the true need in the surrounding areas. They cooked and served meals to 150 homeless people and families with the help of Lieutenant John Murrow, Roseville corps officer.

“The cadets assigned to the Roseville Corps were a true

blessing,” Morrow said. “They gained first hand pulpit expe-rience, but, most importantly, they paved the way for the unsuspecting of people to accept Jesus in their life.”

Other corps throughout the division held similar commu-nity outreach events in order to provide cadets with practical experience. Cadets at the Hayward Corps ministered to the elderly at various local nursing homes, where they prayed and listened to residents’ stories. The Auburn Corps held a com-munity picnic at an area park where they fed low-income fam-ilies and in Santa Rosa, participants at the Self Denial Dinner learned about the Army’s World Services program.

“The events of this weekend presented an opportunity, a perfect storm of ministry that God used to rain down his spirit,” said Major Douglas F. Riley, Del Oro divisional com-mander. “When it was all over, the rainbow appeared and 200 people made decisions. Give God the glory and we thank the cadets for their participation.”

MulticulturalNovember 4, 2011New Frontier4 Doing the

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for all of us, including immigrants. As we read in Psalm 146:9, The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but frustrates the plans of the wicked.

We must remember that what we do for our neighbor, we are doing for God (Matt. 25:34-40).

Welcome the strangerBY PILI MARTINEZ MOORE

The issue of immigration for those who live in the western U.S. is not unusual. We know these individuals have broken the law, we hear about it in the news, we fight about it, we talk about it, we have opin-ions about it, and believe it or not, many of our own soldiers and congregants in The Salvation Army are affected directly by it.

The conference workshop “Welcome abroad: A biblical response to the immi-gration debate,” discussed many of the myths and facts about illegal immigra-tion. For example, although the major-ity of illegal immigrants in the U.S. are from Mexico and Central America, one in five are Korean, one in six are Filipino and one in eight are from Asian/Indian descent.

As Christians we are called to look at immigration in three ways: the bibli-cal way, remembering that many bibli-cal characters have a resemblance to the stories of immigrants today. We must also see it as ecclesiology, recognizing that our Christian roots were marked by immigrants who made a difference in the

lives of others, as in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). And finally, we must view immigrants as missionary: in Matthew 28:19 the message is clear, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.

With the face of America changing dramatically, remember your own immi-gration story; it’s very possible that you didn’t come from another country, but God took you from the darkness into the light. We must be ready to inform, educate and even fight as Christians for a renewed immigration debate in America with a Christian response to the issue. Let’s look at this issue as an opportunity and not a threat.

Ministering to MuslimsBY MIGDALIA ROEHL

It is expected that in the next 20 years, the U.S. Muslim population will reach 6.2 million, surpassing the Jews and making Islam the second largest religious faith after Christianity. With the growing trend of Islamic evangelism and various Muslim groups in our communities growing, the leaders of the church today cannot ignore this reality.

In the workshop “From one faith to another faith—incorporating Islam effec-tively into your world,” Naeem Fazel, a young man born in Pakistan and raised in Kuwait, presented on how to remove bar-riers and create bridges to reach our local Muslims for Jesus, including the following elements of evangelizing:

1. We must sincerely love them with the passion that Jesus Christ showed to us.

2. Offer a sincere friendship before try-ing to win them over.

3. Pray for them as if their salvation depended on your prayer.

4. Invite them over and over again without accepting a “no” for an answer.

5. Explain: God is Jehovah, Yahweh or Elohim (names of God in different languages); Allah is not the distant God, which only makes demands and dictates of obedience trials, that the Qur’an shows us; God became the sacrifice for the world rather than animals; Jesus was a great prophet but is also the son of God and was resurrected; and everyone can go to church—converted or not.

I am praying that God will use my life, somehow, because I feel a burden and an obligation to do something for these people of different ethnic groups that are lost even in our own surroundings.

The church, reflecting the communityBY MARYULI DARBY

Dr. Mark Deymez, pastor of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and author of several books, directed the conference workshop, “Building a healthy multi-ethnic church: The terms, commitments and practices of a diverse congregation.” He focused on the seven core commit-ments of a multiethnic church: embrace the dependence, make intentional efforts, support diverse leadership, develop inter-cultural relations, expand our intercultur-al competence, foster a spirit of inclusion, and mobilize the purpose of impact.

“Demographic changes have trans-formed North America,” Deymez explained. “The failure to recognize the changing social landscape, will soon turn your work, or worse, his message, irrel-evant.”

It is important to note the difference between assimilation and adaptation.

“In an increasingly diverse society and in turn cynical, people do not find credible the message of God’s love for all people, when it is preached from pulpits and churches segregated,” Deymez said. “Without realizing, it undermines the message of Jesus Christ and a God who loves all people, regardless of the color of their skin.”

We must change our thinking. The church is not a bridge that connects the community; the church should be a reflection of the community it serves.

MULTICULTURAL CONFERENCE from page 1

Above, left to right: Major Darlan Marquez, Maryuli Darby, Envoy Belsy Martinez, Migdalia Roehl, Pili Martinez Moore, Corey Moore and Major Elicio Marquez Photos courtesy of the Central Territory

BY COREY MOORE

Salvationist Corey Moore, who attended the 13th Biennial Multicultural Ministries Conference with his wife, Pili Martinez Moore, shares his testimony.

Usually, when we first hear something different, we tend not to like it without reason—just because it’s different.

At the keynote session of the Multicultural Ministries Conference, Mark de Ymaz told a story that illustrates this point. He recalled a 13-hour drive that he took with his daughter, when they played DJ with an iPod. He confessed that he didn’t like some of the songs she selected when he first heard them. After hearing them a few times, though, he started to rock along with them.

In the church today, resistance is often the first reaction to the suggestion of a multi-ethnic,

multicultural church. But Jesus’ ministry was all about preaching the gospel to all people of all nations—check out Matt. 28:16-20, also known as the Great Commission.

My mind was buzzing. I felt that God was opening my mind to a truth I knew, but had taken for granted.

The next day, in a session on the Multicultural Generation, Robyn Afrik posed the question: “Who do you think is the multicultural generation?”

The answer that popped into my head shocked me a bit: “I am the multicultural generation.” Here’s why: I am Jamaican, married to a Chilean, worshipping at a church in a white neighborhood, and I live in a Vietnamese neighborhood. This realization was powerful, as I see the face of my own family model some of the changes evident in society today.

Another statement challenged me: “The church for the most part is racist and we all have a bit of racism in us.” My reaction was “NO!” But again I

was confronted by truths, ever present but not always apparent, in examples of subtle racism. One time, Afrik said, he drove up to a convenience store, but as he prepared to stop he noticed a group of young black men in the parking lot, seemingly loitering. He thought, “Do I really want to get out of the car right now?” Most of us have witnessed such stereotypes.

The good news is that racism is not biblical, and in Gen. 1:26-27, God’s intention is clear. Thank the Lord that racism is manmade; it came to be on the other side of the fall and is the movement of sin rolling downhill.

Where we get our identity is key to ministry. God has to continually deconstruct and rebuild us daily, lest we fall victim to the pressures of this world. By dying daily to self, we can live for Christ. It is all about God’s identity. We are blessed to have the Word of God to work in and through us daily.

The multicultural generation

November 4, 2011New Frontier 5DOING THE

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Central Territory Salvationist wins international photo competition

What the church can learn from Occupy Wall Street BY STEVE SIMMS

In Luke 19:13 of the King James Bible, Jesus says, “Occupy till I come.” Somehow, I don’t think “occupy” means to sit in a pew once a week and passively listen to a sermon. “Occupy” is much more aggressive than that.

A good example of this is the Occupy Wall Street Movement, which consists of ongoing demonstrations in New York City and around the world. The people involved in this movement are not pas-sively sitting in a building once a week. They are on the streets, day after day, clamoring for change. They are forceful, determined, and committed.

Have you ever seen a group of Christians with that kind of passion and persistence and willing to sacrifice for what they believe in? To occupy is to take and hold territory. Occupiers don’t become like the land they occupy. Instead occupiers strive to mold the land they occupy into the image of their mother country.

Perhaps it is time for the church to take Jesus’ instructions to “occupy” seri-ously. Perhaps believers should stop let-ting themselves be brainwashed by this selfish culture and instead begin to live by the culture of Heaven. Rather than being swept along with the trends of society, what if believers instead actually followed and obeyed the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus?

Protesting greed in other people won’t change our society. However, repenting of the greed within our own hearts and embracing Jesus’ example of laying down his life for others would be a good first step.

The occupiers of Wall Street and other streets around the world are bold and courageous to stand up for what they believe in. The church could learn a lot from their example.

If you live in Nashville, help us occupy the McFerrin Park neighborhood of East Nashville. Stand with us on Sunday mornings at 10:45 at 225 Berry Street—The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.

From stevesimms.wordpress.com

The winning entry [shown at right]for the All the World Photographic Competition 2011 had a national twist—the photographer is a Salvationist from USA Central Territory who currently lives in Korea.

“I was brought up in The Salvation Army and have a huge heart for its mission,” said Keri Shay, first place winner. “I studied photography in college and feel called to share God’s people and their stories with the world through pictures.”

All The World Editor Kevin Sims said when the competition closed Aug. 18, they had received an astonishing 370 images from all over the world.

“We were sent photos of brass bands, songbooks and laughing officers; thrift stores, worship meetings and a dog wear-ing a bonnet!” Sims said.

A panel of judges, including Sims, Berni Georges (designer, All the World) and Lt. Col. Laurie Robertson (editor-in-chief and communications secretary, International Headquarters) had the tough job of work-ing through the large number of images to choose the photos that fulfilled the theme—“This is The Salvation Army”—

while being engaging, interesting and avoiding cliché.

Shay’s first place photo featured a Salvation Army gathering in Pakistan. “We loved the dynamism in the picture, along with the aspect of the unexpected,” Sims said. “Take the Army flag away and

it could appear to be something complete-ly different.”

The top five photos, and a selec-tion of other entries, are featured in the October–December issue of All the World and can be viewed online at sar.my/photo-comp2011.

Majors Rafael and Raewyn AspeitiaNEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TONGA TERRITORY3 Camden PlacePapatoetoeManukan 2025New Zealand

Commissioners Donald and Debora BellNEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TONGA TERRITORYThe Salvation ArmyP.O. Box 6015Wellington 6141New ZealandHome: 132 Cortina AvenueJohnsonville, Wellington 6037New Zealand

Lt. Colonel Douglas Danielson MEXICO TERRITORYEjército de SalvaciónSan Borja No. 1456Colonia Vertiz NarvarteMEXICO 03600, D.F.Home: Tajín No. 524Colonia Vertiz NarvarteMéxico 03600, D.F.Mexico

Lt. Cols. Walter and Ardis FugeUNITED KINGDOM WITH THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TERRITORY37 Altyre WayBeckenham, Kent BR3 3EDUnited Kingdom

Majors Patrick and Kitty GranatPOLAND, GERMANY AND LITHUANIA TERRITORYArmia Zbawieniaul. Zabkowska 23/25, lok 903 – 736 WarszawaPoland

Major Daniel andCaptain Anya HendersonFINLAND AND ESTONIA TERRITORYThe Salvation ArmyVäike – Ameerika 13-1210129 Tallin, Estonia

Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene HodderUNITED KINGDOM WITH THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TERRITORYOne Laurel RoadHampton Hill, MiddlesexTW 12 1JLUnited Kingdom

Majors Jim and Sallyann HoodMEXICO TERRITORYLabradores 85, Colonia MorelosDelegación Venustiano Carranza Mexico, D.F. - C.P. 15270

Majors Ted and Debbie HorwoodANGOLA COMMANDExército de SalvaçãoCaixa Postal 1656-CLuanda, Angola

Major Linda ManhardtTHE PHILIPPINES TERRITORYPantay Road, Sitio Bukal Brgy.Tandang Kutyo1980 Tanay, RizalPhilippines

Major Beryl PierceZAMBIA TERRITORYThe Salvation Army—Chikankata MissionPrivate Bag S-2Mazabuka, Zambia -or-The Salvation Army - THQ685A Cairo RoadLusaka, 10101, Zambia

Major Susan WunHONG KONG and MACAU COMMANDThe Salvation Army Lai King HomeBlock A, Flat C,200-210 Lai King Hill Road,Kwai Chung, NT., Hong Kong

Remember overseas officers and workers at Christmas and throughout the year...

Country singer Jimmy Wayne’s hit single “Paper Angels”—a musical account of his turbulent childhood and his life-changing experience through The Salvation Army’s Angel Giving Tree program—was a hit in 2010. This November, Wayne released a book by the same name.

Paper Angels, out Nov. 1, is a story based on his hit song about an unlikely boy showing a disillusioned businessman the true meaning of Christmas.

“Jimmy Wayne has used his God-given talent for songwriting to craft Paper

Angels, an inspired and beautifully written time-less story that will bless you and encourage you to make a difference,” said Ron Hall, New York Times bestsell-

ing author. “Like other classic tales of Christmas, this one should be read year after year as a reminder why we celebrate and give.”

Wayne co-wrote this novella with fiction author Travis Thrasher. The story reminds us how simple acts of kindness can forever change the lives of others—the same way Wayne’s life was forever changed by the kindness of his own

“Paper Angel.” The story first introduces us to Thomas

Brandt, a 15-year-old boy trying to cope with years of verbal abuse from an alco-holic father. On Christmas day, Brandt’s mother packs him and his sister into the car so they can leave their abusive father behind. Penniless and struggling, his mother copes with this turmoil through her faith, yet Brandt feels abandoned by God in a time of need.

Simultaneously, Kevin Morrell, a 43-year-old husband and father, is also struggling to retain hope after his success-ful business crumbled. While Christmas shopping, Morrell is humbled when he comes across the Army’s Angel Giving Tree. His wife insists that he take an orna-ment; he does and the name on the orna-ment is Thomas Brandt.

Find the book on Amazon and adopt your own angel today through The Salvation Army’s Angel Giving Tree; visit jcp.com/angel to get started.

Paper Angels: A novel by Jimmy Wayne

Salvation Army 2011 Annual Report released

The Salvation Army’s 2011 Online Annual Report is now available, themed “A Time for Every Purpose,” detailing ser-vice to 30 million Americans in 2010.

The recession has created a higher demand for food services and a decline in charitable donations that resulted in food shortages, yet the Army served 64 million meals in 2010.

Here are some additional numbers:5: The number of completed and

opened Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers this last year; there are now 17 completed centers throughout the country.

7,675: The number of operating Salvation Army units nationwide.

$1.82 billion: Total public support—an increase from $1.66 billion in 2009.

$3.24 billion: The amount the Army spent serving people—an increase from $3.12 billion in 2009.

82 cents: …of every dollar spent went toward Salvation Army program services.

In addition, the report includes examples of The Salvation Army’s expanded efforts in the fight against human trafficking.

Read the annual report at annualreport.salvationarmyusa.org.

From blog.salvationarmyusa.org

present a wonderful spiritual dynamic that changes lives. Employees are part of our mission and play a vital role.”

Lt. Colonels Doug and Diane O’Brien, personnel secretary and community care/women’s auxiliaries/older adult ministries secretary, respectively, together articulated the meaning of “salvation,” and, with song, spelled out large chunks of history. They described the Army as “omni-sacramental where all of life becomes a sacrament to God.”

The O’Briens also covered other Army distinctives, touching on gender matters, multicultural commitments, uniform wearing and that we are all “partners in mission.”

Knaggs spoke of new programs and events in the West—“mission advances” to win the world for Jesus—including: The Gathering, a territorial congress in 2012 held in conjunction with the ordination, commissioning and assignment to the field of the “Friends of Christ” session of cadets and the first visit of General Linda Bond to the West; savn.tv, an online outreach to communicate the message and meaning of Christ; People Count, an intentional effort to draw people to our mission priorities through the weekly collection and presentation of data from every corps and social service program in the territory; California United, with a goal to be at the table with legislators, the governor and other administrators; and a plan to better connect Adult Rehabilitation Centers beneficiaries and graduates to our corps.

The Church and the ArmyCommissioner William Francis, who retired from

appointment as territorial commander for the Canada and Bermuda Territory, presented the historical development of Christianity from its beginning to the present day.

He articulated the phenomenal growth of the early Church—moving from 11 disciples plus Paul through the evangelization of Asia Minor, spreading into the Roman Empire and eventually becoming the official religion of the empire.

“The church was called by the power of God’s grace and exists to worship and witness, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8),” Francis said. “Those who heard were convinced of the message of personal salvation in Christ, and that Christ alone was the hope of the world.

Quoting from John 13:35, Francis identified the mark of a Christian. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another, and further explained the message of the Christian through John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believed on him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

“The church was committed to evangelism,” Francis said, as we need to be today. “Unless we all communicate the message

of Christ we won’t ever achieve our goal. We need to start by loving people.”

Commissioner Larry Bosh, international secretary for the Americas and Caribbean, spoke about the Army’s organization internationally, including leadership of Army work in 124 countries, 175 languages and 60 territories. Divided into five zones, Bosh explained that international secretaries give oversight and coordinate the work in each area, serving as the administrative link to the General.

The United States is part of the Americas zone, the largest geographically. Thirty-one percent of all Salvation Army officers are located in this zone, but only 11 percent of senior soldiers and nine percent of junior soldiers are. In contrast, Africa has 42 percent of senior soldiers and 67 percent of junior soldiers. Simultaneously, over 70 percent of the international budget comes from North America.

As Bosh asked, “What’s wrong with this picture?”Let’s first form the best answer to that question and then

figure out what to do about it.

November 4, 20118 Doing the Most Good

MISSIONS COUNCILS from page 1

n Salvation Army leaders share ministry news from the field.

BY TIM SCHAALPeople—that’s the most important aspect

of The Salvation Army’s ministry.As a tool to help keep people at the

forefront of the Army’s thinking and agendas, Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs launched the territory-wide People Count initiative in mid-October.

“We are in the business of providing worship experiences, growing the kingdom and serving people who need our help,” Knaggs said. “It is with this focus in mind that I launch the People Count initiative. Quite simply this is an opportunity for us all to share and celebrate on a weekly basis the good that is happening in our corps and centers in the area of people.”

Every Monday morning, leaders at all Salvation Army corps, adult rehabilitation centers, institutions and programs receive an email from Knaggs asking them for four people-related statistics reflective of the prior week. The statistics reflect people saved, worship attendance, members enrolled and people assisted. Leaders can easily enter the information through a web page optimized to work on mobile devices such as Blackberries, Droids or iPhones.

In addition, leaders have the opportunity to share a brief story of success from their ministry in the past week.

In early November, the information will be available to the public at the People Count website, peoplecountusw.org, which will include a weekly video message from Knaggs or another Salvation Army leader, sharing in a positive manner the reported information, a random sampling of the submitted success stories, and an interactive graph of the four key pieces of data for every location in the territory.

Response from the field has been overwhelming so far, with almost 250 success stories and over 1,100 pieces of information submitted in the first two weeks. And the territory-wide totals indicate that each week has seen over 1,000 visits to the mercy seat!

People Count launched

FIND US ON FACEBOOKfacebook.com/tsanewfrontier

Special guest Commissioner Larry Bosh, international secretary for the Americas and Caribbean, speaks during the THQ Missions Councils.

Photo by John Docter

territorial headquarters prayer meeting where one pray-er likened this worldwide prayer meeting to a “Mexican wave” mak-ing its way around the globe as Thursday dawns in each new place—that’s one massive Mexican wave which God will not ignore.’

May the Lord hear the prayers of the tens of thousands of Salvationists united in seeking him.

The logo above features the “One Army, One Mission, One Message” headings which are at the heart of the vision for the international Salva-tion Army launched on Oct. 13. The statement is brought to life through the Vision Plan (downloadable from http://sar.my/one), which includes 12 International Mission Priorities. The priorities are headed by a determined “we will.”

Let’s pray through the vision. Let’s pray specifically for each Mission Prior-ity. Dwell on each phrase in the Vision Statement and in each priority. Explore what they mean for you personally as well as for your corps/center, division, command/territory and for the Army internationally.

Begin with praise and thanksgiving, for we have been a blessed people, and a blessing, since he called the Army into be-ing almost 150 years ago. Then let’s move to confession—where we have failed him —possibly because we have been more concerned about our own image and self-preservation than the winning of the lost. Let’s petition and intercede so that we will be found faithful in holy living, sanctified activism and fruitful ministry. Let’s offer ourselves afresh for him to use his Army for his will and purpose in the 21st century.

Locally your territory/command may be using different language or terminol-ogy when it comes to mission and vision, but at the heart of it all is being faithful as his people in his service.

So together, let’s praise, confess, ask and surrender to him to see Spirit-inspired and Spirit-blessed action.

May the Lord be honored and glorified as we unite in prayer.

Yours sincerely,Linda BondGENERAL

Majors Peter and Estelle ClackMajors Peter and Estelle Clack officially

retired as Salvation Army officers on Oct. 1. They served more than 44 years as

corps officers in England (Hexham, Leytonstone, Leeds Central and Sutton) and in the U.S. (Seattle and Tucson), on staff at the East Midlands Division in England and the Southwest Division in Phoenix, Ariz., and in the Bahamas, Jamaica and Pakistan.

Commissioner Alex Hughes officiated at a retirement service Sept. 10 at Upper Norwood Corps, London, with family and friends, including General Shaw Clifton (Ret.) in attendance. A highlight was a

song in their honor written by longtime friends Peter Cooke, Terry Camsey and Ivor Bosanko, sung by Peter’s sister, Ruth Dalton.

The Clacks served in the U.S. Western Territory from 2001-2011. They enjoyed a farewell service at the Phoenix Citadel Corps as well as a chapel service at divisional headquarters. Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Joe Posillico presented their retirement certificates and a book of letters from friends and fellow officers around the world.

The couple will make their retirement home in Bethel, Ohio.

Majors Peter and Estelle Clack wish to thank friends, colleagues and family for their congratulations on their retirement.

November 4, 2011 9Doing the Most Good

A/Captain Alvin Solts, 76, was promot-ed to Glory Sept. 9, from Nampa, Idaho.

Solts was born in Harrah, Okla., Oct. 19, 1934, and moved with his parents to Fairbanks, Alaska, when he was 2 years old. Five years later, the family moved to Nampa, where he attended school.

While working one summer in Portland, Ore., he met his future wife, Roberta, the minister’s daughter. They wed in 1955. Their five children, Kay, Kevin, Kenneth, Kerril and Keith were born during the next six years.

Solts’ employment took him to various states, including

Idaho, Arizona, California and Montana. He owned and oper-ated a dry cleaning plant in Phoenix, Ariz., and was co-owner of a restaurant in Nampa. During those years he was involved in youth work and music ministry in the churches they attended.

Feeling the call of God to full-time ministry, he joined The Salvation Army Nampa Corps. The Soltses began their Salvation Army ministry in Sacramento and then Grass Valley, Calif. They retired in November 1999 from the Grass Valley Corps and made their home in Nampa.

Solts is survived by his wife, Roberta, their five children and spouses, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Rev. Matthew Haggard of the Boise New Hope Nazarene Church conducted the memorial service.

recentRetirementsBURGERS from page 3

PRAYER from page 1

is in Christ Jesus. He reflected on the connection between servant work and faith. So what is our calling? It is to serve in faith—to grow in faith for the glory of God.

The Burgers served in the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory from September 2007 until their retirement, Kurt Burger as territorial commander and Alicia as territorial president of women’s ministries. Prior to their overseas service, Kurt Burger was territorial secretary for business administration. During this time, Alicia Burger ministered at the College for Officer Training as vice-provost for cross-cultural studies, inter-cultural director and assistant training principal. She also served as territorial secretary for multicultural ministries. Previously, the Burgers were Cascade divisional leaders. Before their marriage, they served in individual appointments throughout the Western Territory.

The Burgers will make their retirement home in Lynnwood, Wash.

November 4, 2011New Frontier10 Doing the

Most Good

Thanks for everything Following to leadI had been dreaming about it for

weeks, and had it all planned out. The cadets were enthusiastic and we had a whole day to make it happen.

Behind the Philippines training college is a hill that expands over the entire width of the compound. From this wilderness of weeds, rocks and lemongrass, we were going to create a prayer garden. A week earlier, we had placed a rough wooden cross at the highest peak to signify that this place would be centered on Jesus, and that all that would happen here would be centered on the cross.

And now, we were ready to begin.I asked one artistically inclined cadet to grid the entire

area so I could assign a space for each of the 16 cadets to cultivate. I planned to drive stakes and crisscross the hill with string so they could identify their individual area of the garden.

As Cadet Winnie began to draw, I slowly became aware that the other cadets were already at work weeding and clearing the hill. I, too, weeded and removed trash as I watched the garden evolve.

I noticed that the cadets had migrated to three different areas of the hill—center, left and right—and were now engaged in creating paths up the hill that led to the cross on the highest rock. All paths led to the cross. Right. Good. As it should be.

But wait! The work was not going as I had planned!As I watched them talk and work and laugh and be

generally excited about what they were creating, I abandoned my plans. I realized that we didn’t need them.

They were making it happen even more beautifully than I ever imagined they could. They rushed out to other parts of the compound to find plants and flowers to transplant. Two of the men created a rock wall to line the whole front of the garden. It was hard work, but they kept at it the entire day.

I laughed at my silly idea of measuring and plotting and assigning individual areas, as I realized that it was not my job to micromanage the project.

It was my job to inspire the cadets to create something beautiful and meaningful.

It was my job to work alongside them, encourage them and care for their needs (rest, water and snacks).

It was my job to supply them with what they needed to do the job, like a new green wheelbarrow, tools and lots of plants.

It was my job to celebrate with them at the end of the day, which we did with a great feast that evening.

Several weeks have passed since that first day in the prayer garden, and the enthusiasm has not waned. Each day, the cadets spend time clearing, planting and weeding.

We now have a permanent concrete cross and a waterfall with a pond. We have benches, a covered area for the herbs, stairs leading to the cross and a sign in front of the prayer garden.

As I write, two cadets are completing a traditional “Nipa Hut,” which will serve as a prayer room.

They are happy, invested and proud to have created the “Resurrection Garden,” and through this experience I have learned that sometimes in order to really lead, you have to follow.

Yes. I believe God is already using that garden!

LindaManhardtMajor

sharperFocus

The longstanding controversy over the true identity of the author who penned the words of William Shakespeare has been re-ignited by the recent release of the new motion picture “Anonymous.”

In this film, the Elizabethan-era bard who brought us Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and King Lear is not the Shakespeare we know and love but Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. In a tale that takes great liberties with what we do know about that time period, we are introduced to the “real” genius behind the popular productions performed at the Globe Theater. Prevented from publishing these works in his own name by royal politics and the proper decorum of the age, de Vere is forced to look for a way to anonymously present his plays to the world.

Through a series of unlikely events, a talented but illiterate actor, Shakespeare, becomes the channel through which these works reach the London stage, allowing the true playwright to remain anonymous. For the 17th Earl of Oxford, this anonymity provides the identity protection he needs but at the expense of the public recognition for his creative work that he so desperately seeks.

Anonymity is a theme that finds expression among the creative arts in church history as well. A glance through The Salvation Army Song Book or any hymnal will reveal several offerings of anonymous origin. Some of the best-loved songs and hymns have come to us from anonymous sources: “Come, Thou Almighty King,” “Fairest Lord Jesus,” “The First Noel,” “How Firm A Foundation” and “Would You Know Why I Love Jesus?”

According to Charles Nutter, the writers of these songs “had such humble opinions of their work as to feel it was not worthwhile to attach their names to their productions.” They “had no thought whatever of writing anything of interest or value to others, and least of all anything that would be used in public worship; but, on the contrary, they were simply writing to give expression to their own religious experiences, feelings and aspirations.”

It seems only natural that one would want to take credit for what one creates. We live in a culture that values, recognizes and rewards individual achievement. Our society believes in giving credit where credit is due. And yet, more than one person has wondered “how much more might be accomplished in this world if nobody cared who got the credit.” In a message calling

contemporary Christians back to the first principles of the Jerusalem Church, Kim Harrington underscores this thinking when she writes: “The people [of the Jerusalem Church] went everywhere, and everywhere they went they shared the word, and they did it without worrying about human recognition.”

Anonymity can be an important virtue and a useful exercise in humility as in the example of refusing to broadcast personal accomplishments. At the same time, Tim Challies warns that as Christians we must avoid living as “anonymous, impersonal people in a largely anonymous, impersonal world.” Os Guiness writes: “More of us today are more anonymous in more situations than any generation in human history.” As a result of this increased anonymity, caused by increased mobility and fewer close-knit relationships, we need greater accountability than ever before. Challies concludes: “Life is far too difficult and we are far too sinful to live in solitude. We need community. We need accountability. And God has anticipated our need by giving us the local church as the primary means of this accountability.”

Nowhere is the reality of modern anonymity more prevalent than online. A woman known only as Marilyn posted the following on the Internet, entitled “The Incivility of Anonymity”: “In our virtual world of connecting and relationships I am increasingly disturbed by the incivility of anonymity. Because online someone is known as ‘heroicsteve’ or ‘bigpurple’ or ‘neonatalpenguin’ or ‘picnictime,’ they are free to say whatever they want. Civility is not only lacking but nonexistent.”

This incivility of anonymity extends far beyond the Internet into every aspect of our daily lives. As Marilyn points out, this incivility is evident “in driving, in coffee queues, at check-out lines and in movie theatres. Because we don’t know the person, its OK to treat them rudely...What’s important is that they have taken away my right to convenience, to quiet, to being first in line, to any number of things that I want and so I can treat them as I wish.”

As Christians we must be prepared to embrace the anonymity of humility, having the mind of Christ and taking on the very nature of a servant as so clearly presented in Scripture. At the same time, we must escape the kind of anonymity that separates us from each other in the body of Christ and isolates us from a world that so desperately needs our willing hands and loving hearts.

May it be said of us and our witness as it was said of Shakespeare: “And he will be remembered as long as words are made of breath; and breath, of life.”

Anonymous

Victor DoughtyLt. Colonel

Each year around this time we begin to think of pumpkins and tur-keys and families getting together for a Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving didn’t start with the Pilgrims in Massachusetts. It began with the ancient Jews. They left their homes and dwelt for a week in booths made from the branches of palm, olive or myrtle trees. The Greeks had a Thanksgiving Day called the Feast

of Demeter. The Romans observed a day of honor of Ceres, the fabled goddess of cornfields and gardens. In old England, the Harvest Home Festival was observed at the full of the September moon. It was as popular a celebration as Christmas, and Queen Elizabeth I ordered that there should be no “servile labor” performed on this day.

But it was the Pilgrims who began our American cel-ebration of Thanksgiving. And they had good reason to celebrate, because they were alive in the new land, even though the cruel winter before had taken many lives due to the bitter cold and lack of food. They had something to be thankful for, and they offered many prayers to Almighty God for their survival.

What character trait most clearly reveals a person’s moral and spiritual health? Is it love? Is it integrity? Is it kindness, cheerfulness, or trust? Opinions differ, to be sure.

In his essay, “Who really gives thanks?” Otto Fredrich Bollnow said, “There is hardly another quality of man that is so suited to reveal the state of his inner spiritual and moral health…as his capacity to be grateful.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “The sentence which has most influenced my life is ‘some persons grumble because God placed thorns among the roses. Why not thank God because he placed roses among the thorns?’ I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life and has given it an optimistic trend.”

Yet, when the Franklins received a barrel of pork, young Benjamin could not understand why grace should be said over it every day before each meal. He asked his parents why they did not just ask a blessing over the entire barrel!

T.J. Villers said, “Millions want to lump their thanksgiv-ing, instead of daily repeating it.”

He continues, “In our national calendar only one day is set aside for Thanksgiving, wherein the President and Governor exhort us to cease from our daily work, and in our homes and accustomed places of worship, devoutly give thanks to the Almighty for the many and great favors we have received. It would be preferable to have just one day wherein to voice our croaks and complaints, our dis-appointments and dissatisfaction, our grunts, and growls, and grumbles, and leave the other 364 days in which to bless the Lord who satisfies our mouth with good things, forgives all our iniquities, redeems our lives from destruc-tion and crowns us with loving kindness and tender mer-cies! We should be more like Ebenezer Scrooge, for when Christmas came into his heart he tried to keep it every day! So let us honor Thanksgiving in our hearts, and observe it all the year!”

God’s blessings are continuous and they call for con-tinuous gratitude. We are entitled to no days off from giv-ing thanks!

One of Rabbi Ben Jochai’s disciples approached his mas-ter and inquired, “Why did not God supply enough manna to Israel for a whole year, all at one time?”

“I will answer you,” the Jewish leader replied, “with a parable. Once there was a king who had a son to whom he gave a yearly allowance. It soon happened that the day the allowance was due, was the only day in the year when the father saw the son. So the king changed his plan, and gave his son, day by day, that which sufficed for the day. Now, the son visited that father every morning, realizing his continual need of his father’s love, companionship, wisdom and giving.”

Recently, a graduate of the ARC expressed thanksgiv-ing to his wife. She had the police arrest him, put him in jail and then escort him to the ARC. And for the first time since he was 16, he was able to stop drinking. He found Christ, and was starting a new life, clean and sober. He was thankful that his wife loved him enough to have him arrested. Her prayers are answered, and so are his.

Our prayers will have power when we include praise and thanksgiving!

To request prayer and view other prayer requests and praise reports visit saprayusw.com.

prayerPower

Mervyn MorelockLt. Colonel

Albert Orsborn wrote those words in his magnificent poetic language. We sing them in song 591 in the Army Song Book:

In the secret of thy presence, Where the pure in heart may dwell,

Are the springs of sacred service And a power that none can tell. There my love must bring its offering There my heart must yield its praise, And the Lord will come, revealing All the secrets of his ways.

In the secret of thy presence In the hiding of thy power Let me love thee, let me serve thee Every consecrated hour.

Orsborn’s life was a quest for an ever closer walk with God—an intimate relationship with him—a desire to know him better, to understand him more fully, to do his will more completely.

He was born in 1886 to Salvation Army officer parents and became an officer himself in 1906. Forty years later, in 1946, the fourth High Council elected Commissioner Orsborn to be General.

The UK’s BBC referred to him as the poet General of The Salvation Army. He could really write.

Prose can paint evening and moonlight,But it takes a poet to sing the dawn …(Meredith)

Orsborn’s words proved the truth of that. Poets reach inside us with a sweet, sweet painful pleasure that mixes metaphor and meaning. We are lifted to places of greater understanding; places denied us formerly in the whirlwind of mundane, new deeper places that combine both our thoughts and our emotions with the gentle power that true love brings.

Albert Orsborn, the sixth General of The Salvation Army, was such a man. In his poems that we sing, the dawn comes up like thunder…as mysteries unfold within us.

He led the Army during the difficult days following the end of World War II. During the war the Army suffered significant losses, not only in personnel, but also in countries as governments shut down the work in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Latvia and Estonia. Shortly after the war, fighting broke out in Korea and many Salvationists perished.

King George VI awarded Osborn, on behalf of the Army, with the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

Orsborn’s poetry feels very personal, transparent and spread with remarkable humility. I wonder if, one time, he could have been moving through a difficult period, a series of taxing trials, possibly, very similar to those that we, ourselves face. He wrote in song 522:

Savior, if my feet have faltered On the pathway of the cross, If my purposes have altered

Or my gold be mixed with dross, O forbid me not thy service, Keep me yet in thy employ, Pass me through a sterner cleansing If I may but give thee joy.

Have I worked for hireling wages,

Or as one with vows to keep,With a heart whose love engages Life or death to save the sheep?All is known to thee, my Master, All is known, and that is whyI can work and wait the verdict Of thy kind but searching eye.

We all pass through difficult periods; our

faith is tempted as we begin thinking about self rather than our relationship with God, and sometimes we act. Orsborn wrote of such a situation where we stand crumpled, distant from God, separated from him, wanting to be healed. Song 647 tells us how to pray:

Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving;

Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;

Cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden.

And when the waters flow let my healing appear.

From a hill I know, Healing waters flow; O rise, Immanuel’s tide. And my soul overflow!

It was the summer of 1964. The Pasadena (Calif.) Tabernacle Band had been invited to London for bandmasters’ councils in the Royal Albert Hall. We were led by Ron Smart, and I went with them playing solo cornet and delivering a monologue—I think it was about Stephen, the first Christian to die for his beliefs. I spoke of his strong commitments, his compassion for others, his spirit of love for all mankind, and I spoke of his closing speech to the Sanhedrin. Somewhere in the monologue I used Orsborn’s chorus to song 527:

The Savior of men came to seek and to save The souls who were lost to the good;

His Spirit was moved for the world which he loved With the boundless compassion of God.

And still there are fields where the laborers are few,

And still there are souls without bread, And still eyes that weep where the darkness is deep,

And still straying sheep to be led.

Except I am moved with compassion, How dwelleth thy Spirit in me? In word and in deed Burning love is my need; I know I can find this in thee.

After the program, an officer came up to me and said that General Orsborn wanted to meet me.

He was one of my heroes, and I felt almost overwhelmed. We walked up to the first balcony and the officer presented him to me. He expressed his gratitude for using his lines and I, almost tongue tied, thanked him for the opportunity to meet him and for the quality that seemed to sing in each of his songs—a quality of love, dedication and commitment.

November 4, 2011New Frontier 11

Daddy, how?...Daddy, why?...

Daddy will you?What is more

familiar to the lov-ing parent than the interminable ques-tions of the young child?

It’s enough to drive the most indul-gent of fathers and mothers to distrac-tion. They say it’s a stage all children go through; it will pass—hopefully, by the time they reach 18!

But then again, how do children learn but through asking questions, experimenting, and testing the world around them? Sometimes a verbal answer is enough to satisfy the child, but more often it takes some sort of reinforcement before real learning takes place. Telling a child a fire is hot may warn him of danger, but all too often it is not until he experiences “hot” for himself that he learns to avoid the flame.

So the child asks how, why, what, and any other question he can think of, and Daddy patiently tries to answer in a way the child will understand, and at the same time tries to guide the child’s little experiments and interaction with his environment, hoping to keep the child from suffering the consequences of learning “why” too late, after the damage is done. The parent loves and teaches and guides and corrects and forgives, and with each new experi-ence the child learns. But, oh, those interminable questions! Sometimes it makes you want to cry, “Enough! I’m busy! Go play with your toys! Go clean your room! Go outside! Go…go…do something!”

I wonder if God ever gets tired of my interminable questions. Do I ever drive him to distraction, pestering him for answers I should have learned a long time ago? Does God ever wish I’d just leave him alone to get about his more important business? Is he ever tempted to say, “Look, stop wast-ing my time!”

Questioning GodWe like to think of God as a lov-

ing Father, but we also recognize that he is, above all, God. James tells us to come to him for wisdom and that he will respond in a straightforward manner, not holding back, and that he never chides us for asking. He understands our needs better than we do. No matter how intellectual or

wise we may affect to be, he recog-nizes our spiritual immaturity, our need to grow in wisdom and spiritual understanding in order to minister effectively in his name. He knows that no matter how long we have walked with him, we continue to need one-on-one tutoring sessions with him. That’s what “pray without ceasing” is all about—the constant walk with him, asking sometimes stupid ques-tions, irrelevant questions, giving him opportunity to teach us, to sort out the wise from the ridiculous, the rel-evant from the irrelevant. God loves being our teacher; he loves it even more when we listen carefully to his responses.

And herein lies the key: no ques-tion is too small, too trivial to bring to God, but God does expect us to listen as he answers. God is God. He does not get distracted. He does not need to neglect other, more important, matters to listen. He doesn’t need a secretary to take his calls, and he con-siders all his calls to be important and worthy of his attention.

God considers our prayer time as a learning session, a classroom where he is the teacher, and we sit at his feet seeking to learn wisdom. As his stu-dents, his children, we need to learn how to listen for his answers. He is a good teacher and knows how best to deal with his students. Sometimes, instead of giving a direct answer in the way that we expected, he answers with a question. Sometimes he will suggest that perhaps there is a dif-ferent question we should be asking. He pushes and prods us in the right direction and challenges us to deeper inquiry. He doesn’t make it easy. He knows how tempting it is for us to look for the “easy way” to our goals, and he understands too well that what we find too easily we tend to take for granted as our due. He knows how apt we are to be satisfied with a “C” in Christian living when he has made it possible for us to get an “A.”

Our parents want the best for us. They always tried to teach us how to make right decisions, to handle life’s challenges competently, with wisdom and maturity. Our Father just wants the same thing, and in every interaction with us he strives to help us accomplish these goals. He never minds if we ask questions. He just expects us to pay attention when he answers!

Doing theMost Good

RobertDocterEditor-In-Chief

The springs of sacred service

SharonRobertsonLt. Colonel

New Frontier is published twice a month by The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Commissioner James Knaggs, Territorial Commander Colonel Dave Hudson, Chief Secretary

We welcome submissions of news stories of interest to the Western Territory. If you have something you’d like to share, submissions can be sent electronically to:

new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org

or by postal service to:

New Frontier, P.O. Box 22646, 180 E. Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802

The editor reserves the right to edit material submitted. Articles should be roughly 300 words in length.

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General Albert Orsborn

was international leader of

The Salvation Army from 1946

to 1954. He was promoted to

Glory Feb. 4, 1967.