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COMMISSIONING 2024 Walking Like Jesus
As people continue to make plans and schedule their lives in this new year, we would invite you to look at your calendar and consider adding one of the most important events you will attend this year: Commissioning 2024, May 31 – June 2. “The ordination and commissioning of cadets, coupled with sending them into the field is a high and holy gathering for Salvationists annually,” says Commissioner Kelly Igleheart, Territorial Commander. “We celebrate the faithfulness of God and recognize that He continues to call and send forth laborers into the field. Commissioning rallies our people around the cross of Christ and encourages our hearts for service in the communities where we live.” Set to be held once again at the Atlanta Temple Corps, this year’s theme is “Walking Like Jesus.” The focus verse, 1 Peter 2:21 says, “This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it step by step” (The Message). “The Territorial Priority for 2024 is ‘Discipleship,’” Commissioner Kelly says. “By definition, a disciple of Jesus walks with Him and remains close to Him and His teaching. Jesus Himself calls us to ‘Go and make disciples’ which is where we will focus in June 2024.” Commissioner Kelly says he prays that all attendees walk away with an understanding, “that we all walk like Jesus because we walk with Jesus. He was the Master Teacher, a rabbi to all people for all ages. My hope and prayer is that all those in attendance and those who participate virtually will be drawn close to Him. I pray that we are all inspired to tell the story of Jesus to all those with whom we come in contact.” “You’re not going to want to miss this next Commissioning 2024 event,” Roberta Simmons-Smith, territorial director of special events urges. “With the excitement of sending the newly commissioned Defenders of Justice into the field, surrounded by endless opportunities to fellowship, you will experience amazing teaching, all while learning to go deeper in your discipleship journey.” “Commissioning 2024...” continued on page 2
Photo Credit: Laura Dake
Photo Credit: Jon Avery
Arlington YET Program Director Receives NFL Changemaker Award
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BY KRISTIN MUDGE The National Football League (NFL) recently started a social justice initiative called “Inspire Change.” According to the NFL this initiative is “aimed at reducing barriers to opportunity, particularly in communities of color, and showcasing how the NFL family is working together to create positive change.” The NFL says their social justice work aims to invest in organizations, programs, and initiatives in four focus areas: education, economic advancement, community-police relations, and criminal justice reform. Every year since the creation of the initiative, each team in the NFL is encouraged to select one individual in their market area making a difference in their community to receive the Inspire Change Changemaker Award. For 2023, the Dallas Cowboys selected Tyler Chambless, program director for The Salvation Army’s Gene and Jerry Jones Family North Texas Youth Education Town (YET) at the Arlington Corps, to recognize and honor his work through this incredible award. The YET is a legacy project from Gene and Jerry Jones stemming from Super Bowl XLV. “We serve youth in our community that are elementary age, from kindergarten through sixth grade pri-
marily,” Tyler explains. “We also have some teen and preteen outreach programs.” They provide all sorts of programs from after school, summer day camp, music and arts, and more. “All that, just providing a positive place for youth where they “Arlington...” continued on page 2
Tyler Chambless with wife Sara and North Texas Area Commanders Majors Paul and Dawn McFarland after receiving the Inspire Change Changemaker Award from the Cowboys.