A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y S O U T H ER N T ER R I TO R Y
D E C E M B ER 2 0 2 3
VO L 3 9
I S S U E 12
TRADITIONS OF BLESSING A Christmas Message
FR O M CO M M I SS I O N E R K E L LY I G L E H E A R T As the hardwood trees were turning bright red and burnt orange in the autumn, Donna made her way to Dahlonega, Georgia, a perfectly clear Saturday drive that concluded with a few short visits to the shops along the public square. As she wandered through the store aisles, surely images of sugar plums danced in her head when suddenly, what should appear, but Santa, the abominable snowman, and a tiny brown reindeer! If those characters sound familiar to you, perhaps you were a child raised in the 1960s. On Christmas Eve our family would visit a grandparent or the home of a favorite uncle where one of the three channels on the TV would also broadcast Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. On her shop visit in Dahlonega, these three stuffed tree ornaments were located in the antique collection. How does that happen? Our memories of Christmas past are now conveniently found in the history section of a curio store. Christmas traditions, the familiar smell of a fir tree, the sound of boiling chocolate fudge candy, long family road trips, and special singalong corps programs bring back memories of an innocent, simpler time in our lives. Or perhaps it was the expectation of Christmas morning that you remember most. In my house, it was a race down the stairs as the commotion woke up Mom and Dad from their cold winter slumber. Under the brightly lit tree was the culmination of a year of staying off the naughty list and the painstaking hours of poring through the Sears Christmas catalog to select the perfect bicycle or wind-up astronaut toy. What traditions are you creating this Christmas? Standing at a kettle with children or grandchildren? Playing your instrument as you search through the Carolers’ Favorites or giving gifts at the Angel Tree on distribution day? If you’re not able to help in this way, perhaps a call can be made to a family who needed your Army this year. Imagine the warmth you can provide by sharing a friendly hello and a warm prayer for the New Year. It is Christmas 2023, and you have the opportunity to be a tremendous blessing to someone else, to others. Your gift may be tangible or take the
form of a silent prayer. Your gift to others becomes a Christmas blessing to family, friends, and those in need in your community. The perfect gift that God gave to all humanity is the gift of a Savior. Born to set the captive free. Born to our world as promised by the Father. Born in ancient history but also born for you and for me this Christmas season. Luke 2:11 says, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
The Quiet Heart of Christmas
T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y 1424 N O R T H E A S T E X PR E S S WAY AT L A N TA , G A 3 0 3 2 9 W W W. SO U T H ER N US A . S A LVAT I O N A R M Y.O RG
FR O M G E N E R A L LY N D O N BUCKINGHAM The scene was a familiar one. A street filled with festive lights and decorations, music playing and crowds of people moving along, taking note of all the Christmas details. Right at the end was a house that was in relative darkness, with just a small box containing a nativity scene set up on the front lawn. Most people did not even bother to check it out. Most simply considered the Christmas display was over before they reached that house. But right there was a visual representation of the quiet heart of Christmas. Not a flashy display. Not a lot of lights and sounds. Just a quiet focus on the one who is born to be our Savior. I sometimes wonder whether it is easy for us to miss the quiet heart of Christmas. Even when we are looking at some of the Christmas story, we may miss the central message of it all. Each of the gospel writers presents Christmas in a different way. Some might say that only Matthew and Luke include the Christmas story. But I want to suggest to you that each of the gospels brings its own special emphasis.
Mark – possibly the oldest of the gospels – does not have any birth or infancy stories. Instead, Mark’s ‘Christmas’ is embedded in the opening words, ‘The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’ (Mark 1:1 New King James Version). Jesus is shown to be Son of God from the very beginning. That’s the good news. John also does not contain birth or infancy stories but shows the center of Christmas originating in the heart of God. The word made flesh dwells among us – full of grace and truth. Matthew opens with a long list of names in Jesus’ family tree. It’s easy to skip over this and miss its significance. Included in it are five women who all showed remarkable faith, despite that society may have judged them harshly. Tamar – who tricked her father-in-law into pregnancy; Rahab – a prostitute who helped the Israelite spies; Ruth – a despised foreigner; Bathsheba – an adulteress; and Mary – an unmarried mother. Each were part of Jesus’ family history. If Jesus will later be shown to identify with sinners, it’s because it’s ‘in his genes.’ Jesus is connected with people like us who – despite sinfulness and frail humanity – show faith. Matthew then makes the connection with Jesus being Immanuel – God with us, in our humanness. All of this happens before the traditional Christmas characters – the Wise Men – even appear. They come to find the one born to be King. “Quiet Heart...” continued on page 2
“Quiet Heart...” continued from page 1
Luke has the angels announcing that Jesus is the Savior, Christ the Lord. This is not given to the people who you would expect, but rather to shepherds – often considered to be religious outcasts because of the nature of their work. For such as these, living on the margins of society, Jesus comes as Savior. Each of the gospels presents a different view of Christmas. It’s easy for us to become so engaged with the trappings of the Christmas story. That may include things that we have become accustomed to, that are not even mentioned in any of the gospels. Instead, we can sometimes miss the quiet heart of Christmas as related in Scripture. This year, perhaps we can focus again on what the gospels actually tell us about the coming of Jesus. One who comes for those who are sinners and outcasts. One who comes to be King. One who comes to be Immanuel – God with us. One who comes to be our Savior. One who has existed from all eternity. With all the other things that happen at this time of the year, may we focus our hearts and minds on the quiet heart of Christmas: the reality of who Jesus is. The Son of God. The eternal Word made flesh. Our King. Immanuel. Our Savior. Christ the Lord. With the songwriter, we say ‘O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.’ May God bless you at this Christmastime and throughout the coming year. Lyndon Buckingham General
Territorial Headquarters Celebrates Launch of New Territorial Initiative BY KRISTIN MUDGE Officers and employees of the USA Southern Territorial Headquarters (THQ) joined together on October 19, 2023, to celebrate the launch of the new territorial priorities. The THQ dining room filled to standing room only, attendees enjoying coffee, cookies, donuts, games, and fellowship, as they prepared to learn more about this new initiative and how they would be involved. Commissioner Donna Igleheart, territorial president of women’s ministries, opened the program by pointing out the banner displayed prominently on stage with the territorial priorities logo. “Three specific headings: LOVE, SERVE, and DISCIPLE. All three are interconnected, love at its core. It’s what we do; it’s what we’re known for: to love the least, the last, and the lost… All for Jesus. Everything that we do must point to Jesus.” Commissioner Kelly Igleheart, territorial commander, then said this year’s focus will be DISCIPLE. “Under DISCIPLE you’ll see prayer, discipleship, leadership development, and holiness. And this is where we want to make it personal as well as corporate… I can’t force a plan like this to change somebody’s heart for Jesus; that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. But we can set the table.” Commissioner Kelly encouraged all officers and employees to consider the work they do through the lens of being a disciple and working to disciple others. “It’s our hope that these priorities would be considered for volunteers, for employees, for Salvationists, for officers – anyone really who comes in contact with The Salvation Army. It’s also an opportunity for us to be a witness for Christ.” He stated that more information and resources will be released over the next year, all with a
Photo Credit (all this article): Laura Dake
Commissioner Kelly Igleheart, Territorial Commander Colonel Deborah Sedlar, Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel Mark Israel, Publisher Bernie Dake, Communications Director Kristin Mudge, Editor Brad Rowland, Staff Writer Stewart Art & Design, Layout and Design Wallace Graphics, Printing and Shipping Published by The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory 1424 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA 30329 USA Phone: (404) 728-1300 Email: kristin.mudge@uss.salvationarmy.org http://southernspiritonline.org All materials are copyright of The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory and cannot be reproduced without permission. For further information or to donate, please visit: www.uss.salvationarmy.org Subscriptions are available at a rate of $10 per year. Submit check and particulars to the editor-in-chief.
2
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
DISCIPLE focus, and territorial events for the next program year will also emphasize being a disciple of Christ. “All of us together, marching as one Army, focusing on one thing: discipleship. Imagine what we can do when we unify our voices, our resources, and our energy.” Commissioner Donna underlined the importance of the work done by THQ employees, saying that every phone call, every email, every touch point an employee has with anyone in the field, is a vital moment of ministry. “Thank you for what you do. Those things that are seemingly small to others, in the Kingdom of God, they are significant.” Colonel Deborah Sedlar, chief secretary, closed their time together by praying, “Lord, please help your Army to be strengthened as we focus our attention on these priorities and as we faithfully give our all for Jesus. We dedicate the territorial priorities to you, for your glory.” Addressing the divisional leaders joining the meeting remotely, Commissioner Donna said, “We thank you for all that you are doing, for the way that you love, you serve, and you disciple where God has planted your feet today.” Lastly, turning to the room filled with THQ officers and employees, Commissioner Kelly concluded by saying, “Thank you for joining us today. This really is, I believe, a seismic motion in the territory going forward.” For resources and ideas on how to plan your own territorial priorities launch party, visit ministrytoolkit.org.
DISCIPLE
Showing Up for the Next Generation B Y M A J O R S M AT T A N D J A M I E S AT T E R L E E The church has been given a wonderful gift, the opportunity to lead young people to Jesus and disciple them to be resilient, faithful followers. Tom Shefchunas, a veteran leader in youth discipleship and development, imagines youth discipleship as a three-legged stool. One leg is based on curriculum or what we’re teaching. The second leg is relationship, shared experience and history together. The third is time. In a perfect world, our stool is perfectly balanced, each leg equal to the other. We have time, the lifetime of the disciple to build relationship and to impart biblical knowledge. The reality is, though, that our stool is often wobbly, with more emphasis placed on one leg than the others. Our teachings must be grounded in the Word. Barna reports that only 4% of Gen Z (those born between 1997-2013) have a biblical worldview. There are several reasons for this, such as a decline in family church attendance. I wonder if it might go beyond that. I wonder if we might be guilty of using our program time to entertain instead of to teach. That’s not to say we can’t play games and have fun, but if we want our young people to have a biblical worldview, they have to know what the Bible says. Young people want a place where they can ask the hard questions. The cool thing about Gen Z is they don’t mind if you don’t have all of the answers. They just want to talk it through and to be able to dialogue about the questions they have and the challenges they face. Discipleship takes time. Time is unrelenting. There is never enough of it, and it goes so quickly. To disciple young people, we must invest our time. It’s important to show up for them, setting aside time to go to their performances, their games, their concerts or their birthday parties. I recently listened to a podcast on youth discipleship with Kara Powell, Executive Director at Fuller Youth Institute, who has spent the last 15 years studying young people of faith. While doing research on what keeps young people in church, one youth group consistently talked about staying tied to the church because of Bill. Bill is in his late 70s. He’s retired, so he decided he wanted to spend his retirement years showing up at games and recitals of the young people in the youth group at his church. He remembered how it felt as a young person, when it seemed that everyone but him had a cheering section. He didn’t want the kids in the youth group to not have someone cheering them on. Bill has even
Photo Credit: Jon Avery
Photo Credit: Jon Avery
Photo Credit: Laura Dake
recruited other retirees in the congregation to attend the games and recitals. They don’t teach programs. They don’t volunteer at youth group. They just show up at games and cheer the kids on. Those efforts are keeping young people tied to their church. Discipleship takes relationship. This is critical for discipling young people. If we want to disciple a young person, we first have to build relationship with them. Know their names. Ask them what is going on at school. What classes are going well? What classes are challenging? Find out their hobbies, what they’re passionate about. What worries them about the future? In their study on young resilient disciples, Barna found that inter-generational relationships are key. 65% of these resilient disciples shared that they felt valued by people in their lives that were older than them. Our corps have a great opportunity in discipling young people, but it can’t just be done by corps officers. The discipleship of young people is a responsibility for the whole corps. We need our local officers and soldiers to be engaged. Show up to the kids’ games. Serve as table leaders on youth night. Pray for and with the young people in your corps. Studies show that if a young person has five adults that pray for them, they are more likely to become resilient disciples and stay integrated in the church. Local officers and soldiers have an advantage that officers don’t, in that they stay in the corps while officers transition. When local officers and soldiers are invested in young people, that foundational leg of the stool, time, continues. When asked if she could sum up the 15 years of research into one sentence, Kara Powell said this: “All you need for youth spiritual formation is caring, Jesus centered adults investing in young people.” Youth ministry is the mutual fund of ministries. You may not see the fruit of your investment today or tomorrow. It will show itself in the disciples they become, the husbands and wives, the moms and dads, the candidates, officers, local officers and soldiers, in twenty years. If we want to see those fruits, we need to balance the stool.
LOVE – SERVE – DISCIPLE M O N T H LY P O D C A S T
To hear more from Majors Matt and Jamie Satterlee on discipleship through purposeful relationship, join us for this month’s episode of the LOVE – SERVE – DISCIPLE podcast. To listen, visit linktr.ee/loveservedisciple
Find additional resources and more about each month’s guests at allforjesus.salvationarmysouth.org
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
3
Territorial Music Groups Make an Impact Through Ministry Weekend BY BR AD ROWL AND A ND BE R N I E DA K E
THE SOUTHERN STAFF BAND The Georgia Division hosted the Southern Staff Band (SSB) for a ministry weekend from October 20-24, 2023. The band, featuring members from each of the eight divisions in the USA Southern Territory, gathered in the Atlanta metro area for rehearsal, educational ministry, worship, fellowship, and music-making. Setting the tone for the weekend, members assembled for a day of rehearsals on Friday, diving into new repertoire and preparing for public ministry. The band then traveled to Camp Grandview in support of the Georgia Division’s Music and Arts (DARTS) rehearsals, instructing and rehearsing alongside the young people. The SSB also gave an afternoon concert, modeling Salvation Army musicianship and ministering through testimony, both musical and spoken. Following a busy Saturday at Camp Grandview, the band supported Sunday worship at the Gwinnett County Corps, including the morning message from Major Michael Harris, area commander in Greenville, SC, and Southern Staff Band chaplain. “Sunday morning worship at Gwinnett County was a highlight of the weekend,” said Nick Simmons-Smith, territorial music and creative arts education secretary. “The band led worship through prayer, praise and worship, and a powerful sermon by Major Harris. The band rose at the end to an uplifting rendition of ‘I’ll stand for Christ,’ which inspired all who attended.” Sunday evening featured rehearsal and preparation alongside the University of Georgia’s British Brass Band and world-renowned euphonium soloist David Childs at Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall in Athens. The two ensembles, along with Childs, came together for a concert on Monday, with the SSB pushing back its usual weekend schedule to accommodate a Monday night performance. Before returning to UGA’s campus for the Monday evening concert, the band ministered at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross. This continued a dedicated and emerging ministry for the band at local schools, and it was a meaningful time of worship and education. The finale of the weekend was a dynamic and stirring concert in Athens, with Childs dazzling attendees with virtuosic musicality and both bands leaving a clear impact. The UGA British Brass Band performed “The Present Age” by Leslie Condon, a notable favorite in both Salvation Army and brass band competition circles, and the SSB featured on “Walking With Jesus,” a new work from Simmons-Smith debuted during the Georgia ministry weekend. “I am so proud of the Staff Band members,” Simmons-Smith said. “Whether they be leading worship, teaching kids at camp, performing at a high level at a concert program, or connecting with kids at a local school, they do so with humility and a true spirit of Christian ministry through brass band music.”
Photo Credit: Rachel Wiley
4
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
Photo Credit: Rachel Wiley
Photo Credit: Ian Mudge
THE SOUTHERN STAFF SONGSTERS The same weekend, the Southern Staff Songsters, under the leadership of Robert Snelson, territorial music education director, arrived in Tennessee from all corners of the territory, ready to embark on a journey that promised to uplift and inspire in the Kentucky-Tennessee Division. Thursday and Friday were days of preparation and anticipation at the Johnson City Corps, the Songsters rehearsing for the events they would participate in over the weekend. Their dedication extended beyond singing, also focusing on preparing their hearts and minds for the individuals they would encounter. As they sang in the chapel, bathed in the warm sunlight streaming through stained glass windows, they couldn’t help but notice transient individuals in and around the corps building seeking a meal and a place to rest. Little did these people know their souls were being prayed for and would be blessed with the power of music if they chose to enter the room. The prayer of every Salvation Army music group is that their gifts and talents will bring people closer to God. Friday evening, the Staff Songsters joined forces with the Milligan University Concert Choir, led by Dr. Noah DeLong. With board members, staff, and residents from the surrounding area in attendance, both groups showcased a diverse range of pieces, from a cappella to Appalachian tunes, praise and worship, and more. An 8-piece a cappella group from Milligan called “Heritage” stole the show, receiving thunderous applause
Photo Credit: Tim Burleigh
and calls for an encore. The celebration continued outside with the dedication of the new Café of Hope. Jeff Keller, Advisory Board chair, expressed the heartfelt mission behind the café: aiming to provide essential items and a safe space for those facing daily challenges within the community. On Saturday, the Songsters headed to Knoxville, TN, where Majors Cam and Paula Henderson hosted a concert attended by members from the Knoxville, Maryville, and Sevierville Corps. The Songsters opened with Snelson’s stirring scripture setting on “Psalm 24,” the entire program thoughtfully crafted to narrate the Christian journey from who we are as Christians, to how one can become a Christian, and what lies ahead. Sunday morning brought the group back to Johnson City, where they led worship alongside the corps officers, Captains Benny and Crystal Carringer. The gathering was filled with beautiful fellowship, including a local Junior Soldier reading scripture. Major Rick Mikles delivered an inspirational message titled “The Music of Heaven,” using verses and choruses from popular hymns to engage the congregation, encouraging them to imagine the celestial sounds of Heaven and turning their thoughts toward the boundless love of God. While we may not fully comprehend the immediate impact of weekends like this, we trust that the Lord will use our musical offerings for His glory. This journey is one of inspiration, unity, and spreading faith and love through the power of music.
Photo Credit: Ian Mudge
Photo Credit: Ian Mudge
New Album Provides Fresh Resource for Corps Music Classic Hymns for Orchestra
BY A N D R E W WA I N W R I G H T The name Kenneth Downie will be familiar to anyone connected with Salvation Army music making, and if you have ever sung in a singing company or songster brigade, or played in a band, chances are you will have seen his name in the top right-hand corner of the page. Countless congregations have been blessed by his musical offerings, and at over 300 published works, he is one of the most prolific and renowned Salvation Army composers. After producing a sell-out album of his piano playing in 2019, he expanded his horizons to writing for orchestra – a true passion he has not often had opportunity to pursue. The first offering from this new endeavor focuses on 15 much-loved hymns, giving them fresh and creative treatments. Whether scoring for brass, vocal or strings, what is common to all Kenneth’s music is a deep sense of spirituality. In listening through all the tracks of his new album, Classic Hymns for Orchestra, his Christian faith is in evidence, and one can’t help but be spiritually renewed by the musical offerings. Clearly, he has a deep understanding of the words of the hymns, and this is borne out in the settings, many of which have the trademark Downie sound. Thinking back to when he first felt an interest in penning music, Kenneth recalls, “While most musicians are perfectly happy to play, conduct, or listen, a minority want to try and write, even though there is no guarantee that anyone will listen to their efforts, let alone publish or record them. The desire was there from a very early age, and my first real exposure to music was in The Salvation Army.” Kenneth’s inspiration for this particular album came when he created a number of orchestral tracks for a Christmas solo album with BrookWright Music entitled Sounds of the Season. “It sparked off the interest in writing for orchestra again, which I had not done since university days. The extra tone colors available proved irresistible.” He continues, “I listen to classical music all the time. Having written a large quantity of instrumental music for brass band, it is very exciting to have a larger palette to choose from to create the sumptuous chords that an orchestra is capable of. Applying these to the hymns that I grew up listening to played and sung by choirs is a treat!” With such a plethora of hymns, one might wonder how Kenneth selected the mere 15 chosen for the album. He explains, “I wanted to keep to well-known and well-loved hymns spanning the centuries. There are good reasons why these hymns have remained popular: they speak timeless messages to people of all generations. I wanted to clothe them in new, orchestral settings, in the hope that they will reach out to even more listeners.” Creating the album has taken the best part of two years, Kenneth writing all the arrangements and then sending them off for production. He explains, “The fun then started with the team at BrookWright, who fused state-of-the-art sounds such as those of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, some of London and Berlin’s finest session musicians, the renowned Tallinn Choir from Estonia, and even the famous Royal Albert Hall organ!” Complementing this talent are guest soloists Tom Hutchinson, principal cornet of the world’s top-ranked brass band, The Cory Band, and London-based mezzo soprano soloist Susanne Dymott, formerly a member of the International Staff Songsters. Kenneth says, “It was a real privilege to have Susanne and Tom making telling contributions to the album. I knew Susanne as a little girl in the Singing Company at Southampton, and watching her singing career flourish in the way it has, has been rewarding. I have not met
Prolific Salvation Army composer Kenneth Downie has over 300 published works, providing music for worship in corps around the globe.
Tom personally, but I feel that I know him through his wonderful musicianship, as demonstrated superbly on this recording in his playing of Come Home! My grateful thanks to both!” Of the process, Kenneth reveals, “Consulting over the nature of these sounds was at times a challenging process, and one that can never be perfect. But overall, we feel that this recording brings something new and special to the table, and we are praying it will be a blessing to many.” Fellow Salvationist composer Stephen Bulla was intrigued by the concept, concluding, “This new collection of hymns will become a welcome resource with beautiful orchestral settings for listening and worship. Kenneth’s imaginative settings contribute to a recording that is one to savor.” Journalist and author Paul Hindmarsh, long-time friend and supporter of The Salvation Army and respected music critic, explains, “Kenneth’s brass band music has been part of my musical experience for 50 years. His prolific writing for brass band displays sincerity, imagination, and skill in equal measure.” Kenneth hopes that the recordings will prove to be a highly effective min-
istry tool, that will “reach out to many people and perhaps be used in public worship services, as well as in more intimate settings like house groups.” There is a plan to produce orchestral parts for those churches that have the musical resources to use them, while brass band and brass choir versions have already been published of the opening track, Now thank we all our God, with more to follow. Through these, Salvation Army groups will be able make use of the settings. The settings, which vary from soothing to majestic and bold to sprightly, are crafted in such a way that many could be used in corps to aid congregational singing, particularly those that don’t have live music. In addition, they will be effective as preliminary or offertory music. A video with the lyrics and evocative imagery has already been created of one of the tracks, He hideth my soul, with the potential for further videos to be produced with more of the hymns. Kenneth concludes, “My greatest reward as a composer comes from knowing that my music has touched someone’s heart and brought someone closer to God. As it goes out into the unknown now, it goes with the prayers of many that it will produce a harvest.” Classic Hymns for Orchestra – The Symphonic Music of Kenneth Downie is available as a CD and digital download from brookwrightmusic.com and directly from Kenneth at kennethfdownie@ gmail.com.
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
5
The USA Southern Territory Helps Renovate Corps in Namibia A DA P TE D FROM A R E POR T BY C A P TA I N S E D O U A R D & LY N N Z O L A , WINDHOEK CORPS OFFICERS, SOUTHERN AFRICA TERRITORY When The Salvation Army restarted its work in Namibia in 2008, meetings took place under a tent in a convert’s backyard, the backyard’s owner eventually becoming a soldier and later a corps sergeant major. After meeting like this for four years, worship was moved under the carport at the Windhoek West quarters where the group met for an additional five years. It was not ideal, but it was what we had, and we made the best we could of the situation. In 2018 a structure was built on a corner of the property where there was an uncompleted pool. The ‘wasted space’ became useful, as we now met there, though still at the mercy of the elements. But at least there was a roof providing some protection, and great worship and service to the Lord and His people took place there. Even though there was a roof, the structure was still open on all sides, and sound travelled out to our neighbors during worship meetings. Most of those neighbors are businesses except for two directly to the east and southwest. Over Easter weekend this year a neighbor began to complain about the noise volume during worship meetings. Instead of approaching us directly to come to a mutual understanding, they
6
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
Photo Credits (this page): Southern Africa Territory
chose to call the City Police. They continued to do so many times after as well. It became necessary to address this and to work to mitigate the noise issue while seeking legal ways to address this predicament. For various reasons set by the city of Windhoek, we cannot build an additional permanent structure on the premises, so we needed to improve our current structure in ways that would
control the volume of noise emission, especially since this neighbor refuses to meet with us to discuss the issue. It is here that the USA Southern Territory stepped in with a donation that would allow us to close in our structure. “All they had was a roof and cloth walls,” Commissioner Kelly Igleheart, territorial commander, explains. “When the neighbors complained about The Army’s ‘noise’ (the band and drum), the corps was forced to stop playing music in worship. Captain Edouard Zola expressed to us, ‘In Africa, you must have a drum.’ The Southern Territory paid for the construction of the walls, new chairs, and other small renovation costs, which provided a more permanent corps dwelling.” Renovations began on August 21, 2023, and were concluded on September 9, 2023. We are thankful to God for His provision, and grateful to the USA Southern Territory for being the channel through which this blessing came to us. The City Police have not been at our doors lately, and we continue to engage the municipality regarding our church services here. Our soldiers have regained the joy of worshipping with songs and dances, and there is an atmosphere of renewed zeal and joy. We are very grateful the USA Southern Territory for the ‘rescue package.’ All for the glory of God and for the salvation of souls.
Mexico Territory Springs into Action as Category 5 Storm Hits Acapulco F R O M I H Q C O M M U N I C AT I O N S The people of Acapulco are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Otis, the Category 5 storm which hit the city of Acapulco in Mexico in late October. The hurricane sustained winds of 161 miles per hour (mph) with gusts of 195 mph causing severe damage to the city as well as Salvation Army facilities including the Acapulco Children’s Home. Children from the children’s home were evacuated to safe locations. Fallen trees and damaged buildings had cut off essential services including electricity, major roads, drinking water and communications. The Salvation Army’s Mexico Territory and International Emergency Services (IES) team at International Headquarters had been closely monitoring the situation and were able to act as soon as the storm hit. It took the team more than 20 hours to reach the area from Mexico City as debris blocked some of the major road networks. When they arrived in Acapulco, they established an emergency canteen and an operations center to prepare and deliver food and water to locals who had been affected by
the hurricane and to local first responders. The emergency canteen has distributed more than 3,500 meals since it opened (as of November 13, 2023). Additional support, including the possible provision of supermarket vouchers, is being explored. IES Director, Damaris Frick, said, “The Salvation Army in Mexico was able to act quickly to support the community in the crisis, including helping to clear debris from roads and preparing and distributing food and water. I thank the Mexico Territory and international Salvation Army personnel who are working tirelessly to support everyone affected. Please pray for our officers and the people affected in the city of Acapulco.” Major Reyes Cervantes, divisional commander, Capital Division, along with divisional emergency coordinator, Captain Hiram Martinez, travelled to the city of Acapulco with nine officers, eight cadets, and 25 volunteers from Acapulco, Mexico City, Querétaro, and Villahermosa. This team is assisting in the efforts to clear debris from roads, provide meals for those who have been affected, and assess how the community can rebuild damaged buildings and infrastructure.
“Delivering food to the command center of the authorities in charge of emergency: paramedics, rescuers, police elements, urban sanitation services, cleaners, divers, marines, military and National Civil Protection System personnel.”
“Every effort brings us closer to Acapulco’s recovery, thanks to all who have joined this cause.”
Territorial Commander, Colonel Ricardo Fernandez said, “We have been working with government bodies and the Mexican Navy in Acapulco to ensure that Salvation Army personnel can safely access the affected areas. I commend the efforts of our personnel on the ground working hard to support the emergency service workers and affected community members.”
(Photo above) “Our Emergency Brigade consisting of officers and volunteers continues to work, strongly demonstrating their commitment to this Emergency. Nearly all the removal of fallen debris, branches and trees at our Acapulco facility has been accomplished.”
Camp Rappahannock Thanks First Responders BY K A R E N YO H O For the second time in just a few months, the Richardsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue visited The Salvation Army’s Camp Rappahannock in Virginia. This second visit was at the invitation of the Potomac Division to share their praise and thanks for the volunteers’ efforts to extinguish a forest fire on September 7, 2023. “The fire was only 200 yards from the tree line behind the chapel,” said Major Bobby Parker, divisional youth secretary. “We were thankful for the multi-agency response from local and state emergency personnel.” In addition to the Richardsville team, nine fire and forestry teams worked toward containing the blaze. That included the Virginia Department of Forestry,
which assisted with digging trenches around the camp perimeter to contain the flames over 60 acres. Water was pumped from the camp’s lake with a drone team monitoring active fires, wind shifts, and threatened areas. “We were very blessed,” said Lenny Grove, Camp Rappahannock facilities supervisor. “It was like God was blowing it back in the other direction away from camp. Thanks to all those firefighters for coming out fast and getting it under control.” The follow-up visit from the Fire and Rescue to Camp Rappahannock came in the form of an appreciation dinner in October. This time, they brought in fire and rescue equipment for officer families to see up close, with The Salvation Army again expressing its tremendous gratitude.
Photo Credits: Major Bobby Parker
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
7
FROM THE EDITOR
B AT T L E L I N E S
Find Your Ministry
It Was Right There the Whole Time
BY KRISTIN MUDGE Growing up as pastor’s kids, we were always expected to be leaders in our peer groups and representatives of Christ and the Church wherever we went. When I was little, I interpreted this as being the first to answer all the questions in Sunday school, and as I grew older it became figuring out how to fit in while maintaining standards and integrity, living as a light in sometimes dark places. Now having spent over 30 years with this mentality, I naturally find myself seeking out ways to be creative in ministry. In my past few jobs, I’ve been able to utilize that to craft meaningful worship experiences at divisional and camp events, and it has influenced the way I tell stories, writing with purpose to provide the best impact of a testimony. We are all called to use our creativity, but we don’t always have to be the ones to invent new programs or generate brand new ministry opportunities. There are countless other Christians who have utilized their own gifts and talents to open doors for God to work in peoples’ lives. Some-
times we’re called to participate in the ministries of others. This Christmas season, as you and your family are looking for ways to make an impact in your community, you don’t have to create a big event or come up with some new program; you can find ways to participate in ministry through Angel Tree, Kettles, supporting our partners around the world through World Services giving, or by simply joining in worship at your local corps. God has already impressed these methods of ministry upon His people, providing us with paths to walk alongside one another to make a difference. If God is leading you to create new avenues to serve His Kingdom, that’s wonderful! But He is calling all of us to serve, and there are already so many ways you can get involved in meaningful ministry in your community. If you love music, start a praise and worship team or join the corps band. If you are gifted in youth ministry, consider teaching Sunday school. If you like building things, or you love dogs, there are programs like men’s ministries and Paw Parties that you can be a part of or start a version of in your corps. We are all called to love, serve, and disciple in our own communities. You can discover your own unique place in ministry by contacting your local corps officer.
WE ARE AN ARMY! A column exploring how the principles, practices and culture of our military services might apply to The Salvation Army
Loose Lips Sink Ships BY DR. STEVE KELLNER During wartime, what had previously been harmless talk suddenly becomes very important, even dangerous. Such is the case with information about the location of ships – their departure and arrival times, their port of destination, who and what they are carrying onboard, and what route they will take. This commonplace conversation can be overheard by spies and communicated to the enemy who will use it to plot their own deadly naval strategy. During World War II the U.S. Navy developed a famous advertising campaign called “Loose Lips Sink Ships” to discourage everyone, military and civilians alike, from talking about things that could unintentionally get ships sunk and sailors killed. Other military forces had similar campaigns. The British phrase was “Careless Talk Costs Lives,” which was cleverly shortened to “Keep Mum,” and the French phrase was “Qui a trop parle?” which translates as “Who said too much?” Another starkly blunt poster showed a drowning sailor with the caption “Who blabbed?” Our modern military has updated this campaign with the phrase “Loose Tweets Sink Fleets” (Amen to that!). This kind of warning should be familiar to Salvationists because the Bible contains many warnings about the dangerous power of the tongue. “The tongue has the power of life and death,” and “is also like a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” James warns us that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” And Paul warns us in Ephesians 4:29 that what we say must “be only what is helpful for building others up according to
8
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” While the power of the tongue for good or evil in the body of believers is obvious, less obvious perhaps is how powerfully our tongues can affect our entire movement. The Army can’t improve without self-criticism, but it must be done carefully. We all have opinions about what needs to change in the Army, but we must express those opinions in a way that builds our movement up, rather than tearing it down (I’m preaching to myself here, chief among sinners, lest any should boast!). “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,” the “salt” being the criticism and the “grace” telling us how the criticism should be delivered. Both are absolutely necessary, but the art is in getting the mix right (Colossians 4:6). So, loose lips can sink individual Salvationists and the whole of The Salvation Army as well. Since we Salvationists are always on war footing there is really no time when loose talk is permitted. No, we don’t have to keep our location, movements, and routes secret! But we do have to be careful what we say around fellow Salvationists and to those we serve. Let’s use Psalms 141:3 as our “loose lips” slogan: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
B Y LT. C O L O N E L A L L E N S AT T E R L E E What I was asking for mystified the people in our Information Technology Department (IT) because it was clearly there already. As for me, I looked but could not find it. I asked, and they answered. Several times they answered. With pictures and instructions. They even circled the little button I was supposed to push that I said wasn’t there. Each time, they repeated the instructions because, as it turned out, the only way for me to get what I wanted was to follow the steps they kept telling me to follow, that I kept telling them I could not do. Then, lo and behold, I followed the instructions. It was miraculous. A whole new world opened to me. I immediately wrote a letter of apology. It was all right there the whole time. A couple of thousand years ago the Magi figured it out. With only a star to guide them and the remnants of Scriptures left behind centuries before by the Jews when they were captive in their land, they made their way. As they approached Jerusalem, they surely expected the place to be abuzz with excitement. Here, right where it all was happening, where the Scriptures had been written, the very place they talked about, they were surely aware of what was happening. But the place was asleep, dully napping, blissfully unaware. The star blazing overhead was little more than a nightlight; the Scriptures no more than pretty poetry.
Finding their way to the palace where all royal things should transpire, the veil of ignorance was impenetrable. Herod didn’t like what he heard, summoned the ones who should know, found out that all these things were happening a mere seven miles away in that know-nothing village of Bethlehem, and began to plan corrective measures. It was clearly there for them to know; they just didn’t get it. Jesus as the answer to the world’s problems is not hard to find, yet there are people looking, groping, thrashing around in all the wrong places, claiming they just can’t find Him. Worse yet, they are filling in the blank with wrong answers because they can’t bring themselves to admit it can be Him. Not Jesus. Please. Not Jesus, they say. But like my IT problem, you can’t get around it as the only right answer. There is only one way that it will work. Jesus said it clearly: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It’s been right there the whole time. It remains so. He will always be the only answer.
Paws for the Kingdom BY BR AD ROWL AND In October 2021, The Salvation Army’s Sherman Avenue Corps in Washington, D.C. was facing an interesting challenge. The corps was seeking new avenues for outreach in the local community and also navigating issues with approachability and communication as the neighborhood around the corps facility was changing. Then, Sage arrived. Major Srikant and Captain Indrani Bhatnagar, corps officers, adopted their first dog, Sage, and immediately noticed an uptick in conversation and connection with others walking their dogs. This led to a thought bubble and, according to Captain Bhatnagar, paved the way for Major Srikant to develop a “crazy idea” for outreach through dedicated “Paw Parties” that would bring people together and to the corps. “Like many other times, I thought he had lost his mind again and soon would be back to normal,” Captain Bhatnagar said. “Nonetheless, that did not happen, and he got more persistent with the idea.” The Paw Party, or Paw Program as it is sometimes called, now takes place monthly after its formal creation in the summer of 2022. The gathering is held either on Saturday morning or a weekday evening, with the program featuring music, snacks and drinks for both dogs and dog parents, water play, games, and what Captain Bhatnagar describes as “the obsession with chasing the ball.” The Sherman Avenue Corps now owns a puppy pool to go along with treats and toys, and local pet stores have donated items including gift certificates that can be used as door prizes. The party can and has been held at both the corps and within a local dog park, with each month following a Photo Credit (all this article): Major Srikant Bhatnagar theme. In February 2023, the meeting was centered on “Mardi Paws” and, in without discrimination. Though the Paw Program does not fall within the traMarch, the focus was “St. Pawtrick’s Day.” Not every month is explicitly tied ditional programming structure, its outreach has proven valuable in the comto an already existing holiday, but the association helps to raise awareness munity and opened fruitful doors in a short period of time. and establish relationships that The Salvation Army perhaps would not en“We have gained corps members, many volunteers, and program memcounter through other means. bers throughout this special program,” Captain Bhatnagar said. “We are beOne such example of an unlikely connection stemmed from a neighbor yond blessed by the Lord for using us in many ways for His people.” who repeatedly complained and sometimes even hassled The Salvation Army in previous months. This neighbor felt an overarching concern with The Salvation Army’s property housing a shelter Camp Keystone Dining Hall, Starke, FL population and feeding program, with skepticism about its being located in the midst of an area of Salvation Army Family Store, San Antonio, TX the nation’s capital experiencing gentrification. This relationship was tenuous for a long period of time, perhaps due to unfamiliarity and inaccurate assumptions, but the neighbor now embraces The Salvation Army and its ministry, becoming a friend to the corps and its soldiers. “After the neighbor came to the Paw Program along with his pup and his wife in 2022, he came Camp Keystone Holiness Center to (Major) Srikant and apologized for his behavior Starke, FL toward us and toward The Salvation Army,” said Captain Bhatnagar. “He explains that he always believed the Army had nothing to offer them, he believed the Army was only for the homeless or Camp Keystone Cabins, Starke, FL someone who is less fortunate. His words were ‘I’m sorry, today I learned that The Salvation Army Is it time for a new building, is for everyone, including people like me.’” The Salvation Army’s mission in the Washexpansion, or renovation? ington, D.C. area remains unchanged in winning Scherer Construction can souls for the Kingdom and meeting human need
help!
Camp Keystone Multipurpose, Starke, FL
We are ready to become your project partner by helping you understand the process and methods to achieving your mission through the facilities you use. From your initial need to moving in, we will walk you through the steps, costs, schedule, and impact of your project.
DESIGN/BUILD • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • NEW CONSTRUCTION • DEMOLITION REMODELING/RENOVATIONS • TENANT BUILDOUT • CONSULTING • SERVICE/MAINTENANCE St. Hagop Armenian Church Pinellas Park, FL
Salvation Army District Headquarters Lutz, FL
Florida Suncoast ARC Chapel St. Petersburg, FL North Florida Office (352) 371-1417
Northeast Florida Office (904) 288-6060
West Florida Office (727) 321-8111
www.schererconstruction.com
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
9
Sage: A Testimony of Transformation BY KRISTIN MUDGE Sage Sanderson joined the “party crowd” in the summer of eighth grade. But what started out as a party quickly spiraled into loneliness and desperation. Sage grew up playing sports and was sought out by a few high schools in his city for basketball. “I’d actually received a few scholarships. My freshman year, basically, all I had to do is just stay the right path.” But Sage chose the route of popularity and opportunity. He went through different schools and cities, having to make new friends at every turn. “The only kind of common factor was alcohol.” Hiding his alcohol use, and trying to appease his parents, Sage attended a junior college for a brief time. “At that point, alcohol became the most important thing for me.” His parents were allowing him to live with them, providing him with a safe place to stay, and Sage admits that he took advantage of that situation and their love for entirely too long. “Eventually it got to a point where they didn’t want me to drink in the house. So, I basically had to drink outside of the house.” “At that point, I started drinking a lot more heavily. The people that I surrounded myself [with] became more lower tier people.” At six-foot-six, Sage was quite noticeable while out drinking on the streets. “I got multiple Drunk in Publics, which is probably the one thing that did save me.” Sage tells us that while he was nearing his rock bottom, his parents started learning about programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, “and my mom decided to get sober. So basically, all my tricks… and everything was exposed, and she learned
Sage and his mother celebrate their recovery journeys together—a family experiencing the joy of healing.
the right ways to love me.” One night Sage came back from getting a “drunk in public” citation and tried to enter the house, and his parents wouldn’t let him in. “That pivotal moment was because of their tough love. They had exhausted every single sort of love and resource that they had for me, and none of that worked. And the only love that they had left was tough love.” “And because of that…I was able to seek help.” Sage reflects, “You start burning bridges and start hurting not only yourself, but people that you love. And basically, you start isolating, because you don’t want people to see you in that situation.” This downward spiral continued for Sage, but “luckily, I was able to find help through The Salvation Army ARC.” The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARCs) provide a non-clinical, faith-based rehabilitation program to individuals with a variety of social and spiritual needs who have lost the ability to cope with their problems and provide for themselves. Sage found himself one of many beneficiaries seeking assistance and opportunity for change in one of The Salvation Army’s inpatient rehabilitation programs. “Alcoholism is a very lonely place, … and The Salvation Army kind of forces you out of isolation. Now you’re surrounded by 120-plus guys going through the same thing.” Sage tells us that through the ARC program, “God’s basically allowed me to learn how to follow, allowed me to learn how to lead, allowed me to learn how to be available for others.” Starting as a truck driver, Sage has worked for The Salvation Army for over eight years, going on to fill the roles of dispatcher, administrative assistant, and now as a counselor. “The key moment was when I was offered the opportunity to be the intake counselor. I basically went from sitting in the lobby hopeless, to now being in a position where I can help people in the same position I was, and offer hope, and let them know that I was, too, inside that lobby, and get them into the program that helped me.” Prior to his time in the ARC, Sage says he had always had a selfish mentality, “But now my whole mindset has changed to where it’s, ‘how can I help others?’ And when I do help others, it’s not because of me. It’s because of God and what He’s done in my life that I’m able to even do these things. I totally took myself out of the situation and replaced it with God getting all the credit for it.” Sage says everything clicked into place for him after getting baptized in 2019. “That’s where
Sage says the biggest blessing he’s received from The Salvation Army is being able to be in his son’s life.
everything changed for me, caused me to mature.” He says moving away from the enabling environment of home and no longer having the safety net of family helped him to learn to take care of himself. “And then here I am in Austin, nine years later, and I finally stopped doing what I wanted to do and my plan; I surrendered to God’s plan.” Sage tells us, “The biggest blessing of the Salvation Army has been that my son Cade has never had to see me use or drink … I get to be a part of every aspect of his life, which would have never been…an option had I had not turned my life and my will over to God and entered into The Salvation Army ARC program.” “I think The Salvation Army does a wonderful job of helping people that would have been forgotten. They also offer services throughout the whole world where basically they’re just doing different deeds for people in bad situations that need help. But they’re doing this all just to express why, which is Jesus Christ. They get to express the love and grace and the story of salvation to different people that have maybe never heard the message.”
AOK Celebrates Soldier’s 63+ Years of Service and Ministry B Y C A P TA I N S C O T T H O O V E R On October 1, 2023, the Altus Corps in Oklahoma celebrated the long-standing service of senior soldier Rudolph (Rudy) Kosechequetah. Rudy has been teaching Sunday School and Bible studies for over 63 years with The Salvation Army. Originally from Lawton, OK, Rudy began attending The Salvation Army when he was 14 years old. He started diligently studying the Word of God and began teaching Sunday School shortly thereafter. Over the last several decades, Rudy has played and taught brass instruments. In fact, The Salvation Army’s Arkansas-Oklahoma Divisional Music Conservatory presents the Rudy Kosechequetah Award of Excellence to the most outstanding conservatory student each summer at Camp Heart O’Hills. After a morning breakfast and the cutting of a celebration cake to kick off this momentous occasion, Rudy, surrounded by friends and family of the Altus Corps, was properly recognized, thanked, and presented with a beautiful shadow box for his faithful service to God and The Salvation Army. While officially retired, there is a sense that he still has plenty to teach us all from his lifetime of experience. Rudy is well known and loved by many who have lived and served in the AOK Division. His dedication to serving God and The Salvation Army will have lasting impacts for years to come. For that we all say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
10
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
PROMOTED TO GLORY
PROMOTED TO GLORY
PROMOTED TO GLORY
Major Henry Russell
Major Chiffonia Woody Smith
Major Lorraine Delaney
Major Henry Russell was Promoted to Glory on October 20, 2023, at the age of 95. James Henry Russell was born on January 10, 1928, in Rock Harbor (Key West), FL, along with his twin brother, Samuel Harry Russell. At age 16, Henry gave his heart to Jesus, stating that from that moment on he always tried, with God’s help, to walk in this light given to him. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and after basic training was sent to the military base in Koshien, Japan. After honorable discharge, he returned to Key West to marry the love of his life, Lily Anna Edna Freeman. Henry saw her for the first time while she was participating in an evangelistic street meeting. Soon after, their youth groups, hers Baptist and his Methodist, had a combined time of fellowship. They started dating and were later married on December 15, 1947. About a year later, Henry and Lily visited her sister, Lieutenant Evangeline Freeman, who was stationed in St. Petersburg, FL. Soon after, they felt the call for a greater service to God: to win lost mankind for Christ. Henry’s call said, “I have work for you to do, that none other can do.” After much prayer, they were led to join the work of The Salvation Army. Of that calling, Henry wrote, “I thank God for such an organization that offers such a large field of work and service to a young person, who desires to serve God and do what the Word says: ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.’” Henry and Lily entered the Atlanta training college from Brunswick, GA as members of the Ambassadors session of cadets, and were commissioned as lieutenants on June 4, 1951. Their first appointment was as corps officers in Orangeburg, SC. Captains Russell were later transferred to Key West to reopen the work that had been closed 18 years prior. At this time Henry’s brother, Harry, was a Methodist minister pastoring the Fleming Street Methodist Church in Key West. So, a rarity: brothers serving God in pastoral roles in the same town! After nearly eight years in Key West, the Russells felt God’s call to missionary service, and were transferred to the Central America & West Indies Territory. There they gave over 27 years in a variety of positions: corps officers in Nassau, Bahamas; Panama City, Panama; and Kingston, Jamaica; sectional officers in British Honduras (now Belize); and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; regional commanders in Bahamas and later St. John, Antigua; officers-in-charge in San Fernando, Trinidad; divisional secretary in Jamaica; and a return to Belize as regional commander. The Majors Russell returned Stateside to serve as corps officers in Aiken, SC, before a return to the Caribbean Territory in Nassau, Bahamas, and then to Freeport, Grand Bahamas before entering retirement on June 30, 1991, after 40 years of faithful active service. Major Henry Russell is preceded in death by his wife, Major Lily Russell. He is survived by his children: daughter Major Priscilla Broome, and son Harold (Eva) Russell. He also leaves six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, along with one niece and four nephews.
Major Chiffonia Smith was Promoted to Glory on October 21, 2023, at the age of 59. Chiffonia Gayle Woody was born on May 2, 1964, in Logan, WV, to parents James and Helen Woody. She started attending the Logan Corps as a child, and by age 12 she knew she wanted to someday become a Salvation Army officer. She entered the Evangeline Booth College in 1982 as a member of the Proclaimers of the Gospel session of cadets. Upon commissioning in June 1984, Lieutenant Chiffonia Woody was appointed to the Durham Corps in North Carolina. During her training experience, she met Cadet Mark Smith. They were married on January 17, 1987, in Alexandria, VA. Following their wedding, the couple went on to serve in Columbia, SC, and later as corps officers in Kenner and New Orleans, LA; Florence and Bessemer, AL; Columbus, MS; Decatur, Anniston, and Tuscaloosa, AL; and Shreveport, LA. Her first staff appointment was to the North & South Carolina Division, where Chiffonia served in the Women’s Department. From there they went to the Maryland-West Virginia Division, where Major Chiffonia served in a dual appointment: Older Adult Ministries Secretary and Candidates Secretary. The latter was a position she truly loved and remained proud of the work she did to send candidates to the training college. Returning to the field, the Majors Smith were Area Commanders in Chattanooga, TN; followed by a corps appointment to Huntsville, AL, from which they retired on October 1, 2023, devoting over 37 years of service as Salvation Army officers. Major Chiffonia used her creative skills to serve as divisional timbrel leader for many years. Because of her artistic ability, she was called on repeatedly to provide decorations for many divisional events. She served on multiple divisional advisory and planning committees. She was at her happiest when working with young people. Her life verse was Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Major Chiffonia Smith is survived by her husband of over 36 years, Major Mark Smith; two children, daughter Kathleen (Kat) Smith, and son, Christian (Macaira) Smith; and three grandchildren.
Major Lorraine Delaney was Promoted to Glory on November 2, 2023, at the age of 94. Even amid declining health, she remained faithful to the Lord. Lorraine Belle Leeson was born on December 22, 1928, in Shinnston, WV, to Clyde and Opal Leeson. She met the love of her life, Elwood Donald Delaney, at The Salvation Army, and the couple married at the corps in Parkersburg, WV. During World War II, Lorraine worked as a combat bootmaker while her husband served in the South Pacific. At the age of 19, she entered the training college as a member of the King’s Messengers session of cadets. Commissioned in 1948, she went on to faithfully serve as a Salvation Army officer for 44 years in seven divisions, including 19 different appointments and numerous post-retirement assignments. In retirement, she continued to serve the Lord as a substitute Sunday School teacher for the preschool class at the corps in Panama City, FL. Major Lorraine had the gift of engaging soldiers and young people in the Army’s mission and ministry. She had a love for music, playing in the band as a child, playing the timbrel, and was often featured as a vocal soloist. When They Ring Those Golden Bells was one of her favorite songs to perform. She leaves behind a legacy of music through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She also had a great passion for preaching the Word of God and continued to share Christ in her later years while living at the Charter Senior Living Facility in Panama City Beach, FL. Major Lorraine was the epitome of a feisty, hardworking, and faithful soldier of Jesus. She had a deep love for her Lord, as well as for her family. Major Lorraine Delaney is preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Major Elwood Delaney; one son, Major Dan Delaney; and one grandson, Garrick Shaun Bledsoe. She is survived by two daughters: Major Patricia (John deceased) Bledsoe; and Vanessa (Bill deceased) Houseal; one son: USMC 1st Sgt. Timothy (Thelma) Delaney; and one daughter-in-law, Major Lynda Delaney. She also leaves 22 grandchildren and their spouses, 35 great-grandchildren and their spouses, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
NEWS BRIEFS • In Orlando, Florida, The Salvation Army constructed the world’s largest kettle. The structure debuted at the 52nd Annual “Fiesta in the Park” at Lake Eola Park and also appeared at the 2023 Veterans Day Parade. The Salvation Army partnered with Valencia College, with welding students and instructors aiding in the creation of the kettle. • In addition to the annual Kettle Kick-off event on Thanksgiving featuring Dolly Parton in 2023, members of the Dallas Cowboys and executive vice president and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones joined with The Salvation Army on Tuesday, November 14 to feed hundreds in the North Texas area. “I think what is so great is how many players that come year-after-year,” Jones said. “We always know you can get more out of giving than what you actually give, and I think this is an example of that today. To be able
to have early Thanksgiving with The Salvation Army is truly a blessing for all of us.” This was the 20th year in which the Cowboys served in similar fashion, with acclaimed offensive lineman Zack Martin calling it “a really great staple event” for the players and staff. • World-renowned comedian Jeff Foxworthy served as the keynote speaker for The Salvation Army’s Doing The Most Good Gala in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was held in the Great Hall of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Major Thomas McWilliams, area commander, indicated that “(Foxworthy’s) values are perfectly aligned with ours, and we are certain he will inspire others to make a difference in their community.” More than $200,000 was raised in support of The Salvation Army’s human services programs in the city, including hunger relief and housing assistance.
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
11
Meet the Divisional Men of the Year B Y M A J O R M A R K S AT T E R L E E The Salvation Army in the USA Southern Territory is blessed with many godly men who often give their service unnoticed. There are those, however, who stand out, and these are recognized by each division at their yearly Men’s Camp as their “Man of the Year.” We want to introduce them to you and congratulate each of these Christian gentlemen, thanking God for what they mean to their families, corps, divisions, and the Southern Territory.
Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division BILLY DEMPSEY • Greenwood, MS Billy, a long-time member of The Salvation Army, serves as the Men’s Club President in his home corps and makes it a point to disciple the young men. He is known throughout the corps and community for his genuine Christian witness. A stellar bell ringer each Christmas, he consistently brings in the top kettle, and this is even despite physical limitations. “He is a true man of God,” reports his corps officer and his family. Divisional Men’s Ministry of the Year: Decatur, Alabama Arkansas-Oklahoma Division TERRANCE KRATZ • Altus, OK A retired Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force, Terrance is deeply involved in the ministry of the Altus corps and their outreach to the community. He assists the corps officer by doing yard work, driving the canteen as it ministers to the community through its 5th Sunday feeding program, and even driving the young people to the divisional arts and music weekends at camp. He teaches a Sunday School class and Junior Soldiers. During Christmas he gets his retired Air Force buddies to ring bells for the local corps. His corps officer reports, “He greets everyone with a joke and a smile every Sunday morning.” No divisional men’s ministry of the year this year Georgia Division TONY HICKEY • Thomasville, GA Tony is an all-around helper at the corps, leading meetings, running the PowerPoint, cleaning and setting up the corps for meetings, and regularly seeing to the corps lawn work. Involved as the acting corps sergeant major and in Men’s Club, he plans and leads their quarterly breakfast which includes ministry to the men by praying for and with each other. “He is never one to blow his own horn,” writes the Corps Administrator. “He is not a Sergeant, but he is right beside me in our Corps and ministry. And I couldn’t be more proud of the man of God he is.” Divisional Men’s Ministry of the Year: Gainesville, GA Kentucky-Tennessee Division BILLY HOLT • Bristol, TN Billy was an incredible soldier who was unexpectedly promoted to glory last December. His corps officer describes him as an incredible soldier who was very active in his local corps. He served as an Adventure Corps leader and Men’s Club President. For years he volunteered to drive the corps bus to pick up people for programs. Billy wanted to ensure that everyone had a way to get to the corps and was not left out. Billy also drove the bell ringers and made it a point to form relationships with those that worked, inviting all to corps activities.
12
S O U T H E R N S PI R I T • D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 3
The corps officer says, “Billy Holt was not only a fantastic soldier, but he also embodied the spirit of Salvationism. He simply loved Jesus and loved to tell others about Him.” Divisional Men’s Ministry of the Year: Paducah, KY North & South Carolina Division GLEN-ALLEN ANDRESS High Point, NC A young man with a strong personal witness, Glen-Allen and his new bride work in tandem to build the Kingdom of God. He works to build a bridge between the corps and the Boys and Girls Club via “Cross Link,” and as a result the corps recently enrolled 12 new Junior Soldiers. Two years ago, he started a men’s basketball outreach on Thursdays which includes a basketball game followed by a devotion and a meal. Over 20 men now attend each week. His corps officer writes, “He speaks with others about Jesus as naturally as most people talk about the weather.” Divisional Men’s Ministry of the Year: Fayetteville, NC Potomac Division DAVID TERRELL • Danville, VA A senior soldier of 36 years, David sees the corps as his second home. He is well known in the community for his work and advocacy for The Salvation Army. A dedicated Christ follower, David serves as the Corps Sergeant Major. He serves as the kitchen manager over the feeding program, knows many of the clients by name, and has no hesitation to speak and pray with them. Beyond this, he serves with Community Care, works with the young people, and is active in the corps’ men’s ministry as well as the Corps Council. The corps officer says, “I have never been more inspired as a soldier or proud as an officer to know and serve alongside David.” No divisional men’s ministry of the year this year Texas Division JESSE ZAPATA • Lubbock, TX Jesse is one of those individuals whose primary purpose is to live for Christ. He has not only served as the Corps Sergeant Major of his home corps for a number of years, but he has also served as the Texas Divisional Corps Sergeant Major. He is active in Men’s Club, corps youth activities, teaches a Sunday school class, leads the Sunday morning worship services, and coordinates scores of other activities for The Salvation Army both inside and outside the corps. His corps officer writes, “Above all, Jesse’s heart wholly belongs to the Lord, and daily he strives to live a holy life and walk in the footsteps of Christ.” Divisional Men’s Ministries of the Year: Sherman, TX and Wichita Falls, TX