A publication of

The Salvation Army

USA Southern

Territory

Volume 27, No. 1

January 21, 2010

he entire nation joined The Salvation

Army in mourning the passing of Major Philip Wise, who was gunned down in an apparent robbery attempt in the parking lot of The Salvation Army’s North Little Rock Corps. Major Wise, 40, was fatally shot by two unidentified gunmen as his three young children looked on.

Major Wise was making his way into

Nation joins Salvationists in mourning for Wisethe corps building to pick up his wife on Christmas Eve when two armed men approached him and demanded money. One of the men shot Major Wise, and the two robbers fled into a nearby housing project. Major Cindy Wise, who was inside the corps building at the time of the shooting, called police, but Major Wise died before medics could arrive.

Majors Philip and Cindy Wise and their children Vincent (8), Dorothy (6) and Thomas (4) had planned to set out a few hours later for a Christmas trip to West Virginia to visit friends and family. Major Wise made his final journey

to his West Virginia home for the funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown and committal at the Center Point Christian Church Cemetery.

On the Sunday after the tragedy, Major Cindy Wise spoke to the corps congregation and promised to continue the ministry she and her husband had carried out since being appointed to North Little Rock two and a half years before. “I believe I have peace today because I know the work is not done here yet.” She said she will work to bring “hope to the hopeless. Together

he entire nation joined The Salvation

Army in mourning T

By Major Frank DuracherSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

he corridor of U.S. Highway 441 in eastern Tennessee is a year-round tourist destination encompassing the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and

Gatlinburg. It is a family destination with much to do and see – some families vacation there every year. So if you haven’t been to the Sevierville Corps lately, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. The small facility seems to be bursting at the seams with children, teens and parents – all involved in a corps program that doesn’t look anything like it used to.

“There is a good reason for that,” said Lieutenant Justin Caldwell, corps officer. “We have wonderful local officers, like Cindy and Jim Brock.”

In fact, Cindy Brock serves as both the young people’s sergeant-major (YPSM) and the corps caseworker. That alone is probably the biggest reason why lasting relationships within the

The 4 Priorities• EFFECTIVE PRAYER • DISCIPLESHIP • VISITATION • DYNAMIC WORSHIPcommunity are being forged within the corps. She took it upon herself to add to her job description the unofficial title of corps recruiter.

“As our social caseworker, Cindy is here every day,” Lieutenant Caldwell said. “She meets scores of families who need assistance. And she carefully determines whether they have a church home of their own. If they don’t, she invites them – and they’re coming!”

Lieutenant Caldwell said that the economy in the area has always been poor despite tourism, which is usually a bright spot. But with the downturn of the economy, even that has suffered

FAMILY DESTINATION

he corridor of U.S. Highway 441 in eastern Tennessee is a year-round tourist destination encompassing the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and

Gatlinburg. It is a family destination

T

Vigorous outreach effort that starts with kidshas Sevierville, Tenn.,Corps on the move

Children sing Christmas carols during a holiday program at the Sevierville Corps.Major Frank Duracher

Please see SEVIERVILLE, page 6

Army mobilizes for relief effort after quake rocks Haiti

we will minister to this neighborhood. Together we will still provide salvation and grace to this neighborhood.”

Major Philip Wise was born May 8, 1969, and was commissioned with the Crusaders for Christ in June 1994. He served as assistant corps officer in Portsmouth and Winchester, Va., and as corps officer in Prince William, Va.; and Charleston (Oakland), W. Va. He and Cynthia Lynn Bovender were married Oct. 17, 1996, and they served together in Charleston, Moundsville and St, Albans, W. Va.; before their appointment to North Little Rock.

Please see ARMY, page 6

Salvation Army disaster teams in Haiti are finding ways around the logistical difficulties of providing urgent aid to people affected by the earthquake in and around Port-au-Prince. Storage facilities have been acquired and local Salvationists continue to provide whatever assistance they can.

Major Tom Louden, Fort Lauderdale area commander, was part of the team from the Salvation

Army World Services Organization (SAWSO) that drove across Haiti to reach the capital on Jan. 15. He reported that The Salvation Army has secured a building at the end of the runway in Port-au-Prince. The building is secure and provides 16 rooms for sleeping accommodations, with a media room and a place to cook food. He also said the team has use of two warehouses nearby that are available for supplies

and equipment.Major Louden reported that after landing, the

team drove three hours on treacherous roads in the dark before finding lodging for the night in a Catholic parish. The team, traveling in two SUVs, encountered holes in the road the size of semi trucks. Often they

January 21, 20102

M A J O R F R A N K D U R A C H E R

May I cut in?My mother was so weak in

the last days of her life; I had to lift her from her sickbed to the wheelchair. Each time I did, I’d say, “Come on, Momma, let’s dance!”

One time I even added, “This time let me lead!” For a brief moment the light of her laughing eyes came back and she managed a half smile.

During those sad days the thought often occurred to me that for nine months she carried me; and now it was I who was carrying her.

On the very last day my two sisters, my wife and I kept vigil around her deathbed. Her breathing became shallower with every passing hour. We sang her favorite hymns and I read over and over her favorite Scripture passages.

Finally that evening the last breath came. I felt a tap on my heart’s shoulder, and heard a still, small voice ask of me, “May I cut in?” At that moment, my cousin,

Wayne, commented, “Just think, Frankie, now your mom is dancing with Jesus!”

Thank God that for the Christian, death is not the end, but the beginning. I may be crying now, but he promised to turn for me my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11).

And the Lord made another promise, just for me. On the morning of her funeral service, I heard the selfsame voice comforting me – allowing me to look forward to my own Homegoing.

I will be allowed to walk up behind Jesus…tap him on the shoulder…and ask, “May I cut in?”

Brigadier Lillian Blackburn was promoted to Glory on Dec. 17, 2009, from Atlanta. She was 96. The funeral service was held at the Atlanta Temple Corps with Lt. Colonel Edward Laity presiding and Colonel Rodolph Lanier speaking. The commital was at Westview Cemetery.

Lillian Veneta Blackburn was born Nov. 17, 1913, in Toronto to Joe and Frances Blackburn and at age 7 moved with her family to San Antonio, Texas. Reared in the Methodist church, she was busy in youth ministry, but at age 21 she accompanied her father to services at The Salvation Army. Attracted by the spirit of the meetings, the joy of the Salvationists and fervent messages by the corps officer, Major William Stephenson, she was enrolled as a soldier prior to moving with her family to Tampa, Fla. It was from that corps that she entered training in Atlanta with the Hold Fast session. She was commissioned May 27, 1940, and appointed as assistant officer in Waycross, Ga.

Her long and faithful career included service in the North and South Carolina (including Mountain Mission work in Waynesville, N.C.), Florida and Texas divisions. Following an appointment as youth officer in Greenville, S.C., she was made the divisional guard and sunbeam director and later coordinated those programs at the territorial level. She was also a delegate to the International College for Officers in London in 1963. Her later appointments were in the Correctional Department at territorial headquarters; Home and Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., with her final appointment as assistant education officer at the Evangeline Booth College. After 38 years as an active officer, she remained a faithful soldier of the Atlanta Temple Corps and ministered as librarian at EBC and worked at territorial headquarters. She will be remembered for her devotion to Christ, love of God’s Word, ability to communicate and relate, mastery of the English language and skill with the violin.

She is survived by a sister, Annie May Brown, and many nieces and nephews, including Fred and Jane Keating, who gave her special care and attention; and great-great nieces and nephews.

Major Dorothy Riggs was promoted to Glory Dec. 5, 2009, from Tulsa, Okla. She had entered early retirement after lingering health problems.

The funeral service was held at the Sapulpa, Okla., Corps with Majors Robert and Charma Green and Captains Warren and Cynthia Jones officiating. A memorial service was held in Jackson, Miss., with Lt. Colonel Gene Slusher, A/Captain Ken Chapman and Major Susan McClure participating. The burial was at Lakewood Memorial Park with Major Sue Dorman officiating.

Dorothy Yvonne Waltman was born Sept. 30, 1952, in Jackson, Miss., to Asa and Willie (Franklin) Waltman. She began attending the Army as a child and at age 16 felt called to officership and began preparing herself for a life of service. She entered training in Atlanta as a member of the Lightbringers session and was commissioned June 11, 1972, and appointed to assist in Annapolis, Md. She married Lieutenant Gregory Riggs, a session-mate, Nov. 10, 1973. They served together in corps appointments in Maryland-West Virginia, Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi, Maryland-Northern West Virginia and Arkansas-Oklahoma. She served tirelessly with dedication and love and never lost her determination to serve her God in any field of endeavor. Dorothy loved people and felt deep concern for those who were under her care and attention. Her beloved Greg was promoted to Glory Jan. 29, 2001. Dorothy continued her service in four appointments until ill health forced her to enter sick leave and then early retirement Aug. 1, 2006.

She was known for her ability to coordinate well-maintained and effective programs. She possessed a strong spirit of Salvationism and a great love for the Army and was a faithful servant of God.

She is survived by sons Michael Paul and James Andrew Riggs; brothers Wayne and Horace Waltman; sisters Eunice Johnson, Sandra Perkins and Judie Bradford; and two grandchildren. She will also be missed by several nephews and nieces, including Major Annette Kent.

The peace in persecutionBlessed are those who are persecuted because of

righteousness ... Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad ...

Matthew 5:10-12 There are two types of suffering. First, we suffer for our humanity. These experiences

are common to everyone and include illness, grief, disappointment, depression, loneliness and the like. If you keep breathing you can be assured that this kind of suffering awaits.

Second, there is suffering specific to our position in Christ. Most of it is unseen through acts of self-denial where the one who would pursue a holy life finds it takes him from the mainstream. It can be lonely. But beyond this there is the suffering that is inflicted from the outside. That is persecution.

We need to clarify by saying what persecution is not. If you are obnoxious or an angry person, people disliking you is not persecution. If someone discriminates against you because you are old, young, thin, fat, black, white, male or female, as wrong as it is, it isn’t persecution in the biblical sense.

Rather, persecution is the focused and deliberate singling out of a believer because of his allegiance to Christ. But even here we need to clarify. The nominal Christian has little fear from persecution because he has proven he is not willing to suffer in everyday life. There will be no testing in the big moment because there has not been any sacrifice in the little moments.

Some will remark that persecution has caused the Church to grow. Certainly that is evident throughout history and in places like modern day China. But it also is an effective tool to slow or exterminate Christianity in places. When the Muslim armies swept across northern Africa in the early days of Islam, the demand to convert to Islam or be killed effectively wiped Christianity out in that region. North Africa has never recovered. The reason Satan uses it is because it often results in Christians renouncing their faith or being silenced out of fear.

Why then did Jesus say we should rejoice when we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness?

As much as I love my Lord and seek to live a holy life, I can never have a life as pure as his. No matter how focused I am, I cannot perform miracles like Jesus did. When I die, there will be no miraculous resurrection a few days later. Regardless of how sincere my intentions, there are so many points where I will fail to equal or even approach anything that Jesus was or did in the flesh. But what we can do is share in the sufferings of Christ.

Christ denied himself, bravely turned his face to Jerusalem, silently endured the taunts of those who hated him, watched as the friends that promised him their allegiance fled for their lives, submitted to the crown of thorns, the nails, the spear in the side. Although my experience may not perfectly follow what happened to Christ, when the enemies of Christ come to persecute I can rejoice because here in my pain I can taste something of what my Lord drank for me. Like the disciples we can rejoice because we have been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41).

A reward is promised for those persecuted for the sake of righteousness, but to the true believer sharing in the suffering of Christ is the reward. Owning Christ, reaching out to hold his bleeding hands with our bleeding hands is more than anything the world offers.

Brigadier Lillian Blackburn

Major Dorothy Riggs

Cynthia Jones officiating. A memorial service was

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January 21, 2010 3

A magical flightSeveral days before Christmas, The Salvation Army in Jackson, Miss., took 60 of the most needy children on the Angel Tree on a magical journey. The children were loaded on a National Guard cargo plane and strapped in with their moms seated beside them. The kids could hear the big jet engines revving up and felt the aircraft rolling down the runway. They were told that magic dust would speed them on their journey. Moments later, the plane taxied to a stop, the engines shut down and the rear cargo ramp opened. The plane had come to stop in a hangar decorated as Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, and there to welcome them were a host of elves and Santa Claus himself. The kids got a chance to visit with Santa and they received bikes and bags of toys and goodies. At the conclusion of their magical visit, the kids boarded the airplane again and were soon ‘back home.’ A/Captain Ken Chapman said it was an amazing event for the children as well as supporters from the Jackson community and the Air National Guard.

Christopher Priest is director of the Communications Bureau for the USA Southern Territory. The bureau is part of the Community Relations and Development (CRD) Department, headed by Major C. Mark Brown. Major Frank Duracher, of the Southern Spirit staff, recently interviewed Mr. Priest about his staff’s groundbreaking work in producing video and audio projects, as well as advances in webcasting.

SS: What are the functions of the Communications Bureau?

CP: The Communications Bureau has been operating for about three and a half years now, serving really as The Salvation Army’s advertising agency. There are three distinct areas of responsibility for the Communications Bureau.

The first is the communication of informative emails sent to every officer and public relations/development professional. The next part is multimedia ministries. In 2009 we produced some 200 video pieces, many of which are television and radio commercials with the ability to be customized to local needs. And we duplicate, print and distribute DVDs and CDs. The Bureau has also begun photographing special events and placing slide shows on the web, usually sent out with the online edition of Southern Spirit. Finally there is web-development, which includes webcasting and podcasting.

SS: How does your bureau help the corps? CP: We have been helping most Salvation Army

units develop websites that conform to the same look and feel, making local websites “official” in function and relevance. This also includes training an operative at every corps or center. In 2009 the Commissioners Conference approved the integration of all our websites, which means that the visitor looking in, trying to find The Salvation Army in their town, will first see the national website and then be directed to what services and opportunities are available where they live.

We have a number of projects slated and are currently working on a four-minute piece for the upcoming National Advisory Board meeting in San Antonio.

We are also developing a new website for the field known as the Ministry Toolkit. This is going to be a unique resource center for officers, soldiers and those involved in programs and the leadership of a corps or center. This should be ready in the spring.

SS: What do you see your bureau doing in, say, five years?

CP: I don’t think The Salvation Army should be at the cutting edge of technology – that shouldn’t be our mission emphasis. But I do think we should be close behind that. We should be using technology that we can afford and that helps us promote the mission.

We’ve heard it said that kids who are in school now will have careers that we’ve never dreamed of. There could be technologies that are unheard of right now. So I can’t make a reasonable prediction.

I hate the thought of a corps, command, or a division spending a lot of money to a local vendor for a video for an annual meeting, for instance. We have the skills, resources and are here to be used and be available to the entire territory.

One thing we are intent on doing is to provide resources for the field that are effective and cost-efficient – using video and audio technologies on the web and for internal use. This will help us realize our promise of doing the most good, and propagate the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army.

QA &C h r i s t o p h e r p r i e s t

SS: What else has your bureau done to communicate the territory’s message to the general public?

CP: We have used technology to narrow down searches online which result in the public viewing the territorial site. We’ve introduced the Southern Spirit online, and we soon found that more than 60% of those we send the paper to (on our mailing list of close to 7,000) open your publication and read it immediately! That’s pretty impressive.

And the number of people regularly reading the Southern Spirit is probably much more because there’s no telling how many times the e-newspaper is passed on to someone else online.

We’re making each issue of the Southern Spirit web-friendly.

SS: Tell me more about webcasting Salvation Army events.

CP: We experimented last May with webcasting the appointments service online. We then webcast the welcome service in September for the Ambassadors of Holiness session of cadets. Over 1,200 computers logged on for that event. But by far our largest event to date was the visit of General Shaw Clifton at Atlanta Temple back in October, where we estimate that 3,000 computers were logged on to our live webcast, and many more watched the archive version that appeared a few days later.

SS: What projects are you working on at present?CP: I spent some time with Aaron Neville in

New Orleans. He recorded his song “Please Don’t Forget” for the Weather Channel but wanted to visit the Center of Hope in his hometown. The recorded footage made it to the Weather Channel’s website!

January 21, 20104

By Major Frank DuracherSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

Looking to combine ministry with honing musical skills, the Southern Territorial Band, Songsters and Creative Arts Ensemble moved their annual venue from Atlanta to New Orleans for a four-day marathon of evangelism and rehearsal.

“We’re here (in New Orleans) for our annual rehearsal, but we also want to do ministry in the territory,” said Nicholas Simmons-Smith, territorial music secretary. “This is like a spiritual retreat for us!”

Intense rehearsals were interspersed with public appearances. Devotional periods and Christian fellowship also punctuated their ministry in New Orleans. Simmons-Smith said that it is his goal to minister somewhere in the territory every year during their scheduled rehearsal period, rather than meeting annually in Atlanta.

One outdoor concert was held at the historic Washington Artillery Park, located across from iconic Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral. Captain Frizzell told the audience it was fitting that the concert should be held there since a sidewalk plaque is fixed nearby commemorating the opening of the Army’s work in New Orleans in 1886.

A Saturday afternoon concert was given at the Audubon Nature Institute. The event was dubbed a “thank you” from the Army to everyone who contributed to the 2009 Christmas fund-raising effort in New Orleans. Captain Frizzell said that when thank you notes were mailed out to all contributors, two tickets provided by the Audubon Zoo were included as a further enticement to the concert.

Later that evening, the Salvationists were seen proclaiming the gospel at a most unlikely place, or not – the hotel bar at the “Bourbon Oh!” on Bourbon Street. The three groups performed from 7-9 p.m. and were very warmly welcomed by patrons and hundreds of passersby. The bar is located in the Bourbon Orleans Hotel and actually opens out onto Bourbon Street, where revelers file by with little or no thought of their sinful condition.

“Where else should we be but on Bourbon Street, with those who need the gospel of Jesus Christ most?” reasoned Captain Frizzell.

In keeping with their unique locale, the band and songsters often slipped into jazz mode – to the delight of locals and tourists alike. One of their musical numbers has what Simmons-Smith called “a very New Orleans street beat” – Eric Alexander’s “Lord, Lord, You’ve Sure Been Good To Me!” Alexander hails from New Orleans and is a former member of the territorial band.

The last appearance of the combined group was at a Sunday morning service held at the Woodland Presbyterian Church. A brass ensemble provided support at a Sunday evening worship service at the New Orleans Citadel Corps.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Captain Frizzell said of the combined ministries of the three groups in the Crescent City. “It is only because of the generosity of supporters here who made it possible for these musical and creative art forces to come. They’ve shown New Orleanians a facet of The Salvation Army that people here wouldn’t otherwise see.”

The Southern Territorial Songsters feature soloist Ken Chapman singing ‘I Couldn’t Stay Away.’

A historic plaque marks the spot in the French Quarter where Salvationists disembarked to begin the work of The Salvation Army in New Orleans.

Captain Ethan Frizzell introduces the Southern Territorial Band, Songsters, and Creative Arts Ensemble to their four-day mission to New Orleans, La.

With the iconic Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral as a backdrop, the Southern Territorial Band, Songsters and Creative Arts Ensemble begin four days of ministry and rehearsals in New Orleans.

The Southern Territorial Songsters perform ‘Swinging With The Saints’ on the steps of the Washington Artillery Park in the French Quarter of old New Orleans.

The Southern Territorial Creative Arts Ensemble dons high collars and bonnets for ‘When The Army Comes To Town.’

Musicians, ensemble minister ‘Way Down Yonder

In New Orleans’

The Southern Territorial Songsters feature soloist Ken Chapman

January 21, 2010 5

The Southern Territorial Band features soloist Jamie Hood playing ‘So Glad.’

The Southern Territorial Songsters perform ‘Swinging With The Saints’ on the steps of the Washington Artillery Park in the French Quarter of old New Orleans.

The Southern Territorial Creative Arts Ensemble dons high collars and bonnets for ‘When The Army Comes To Town.’

Locals and tourists pause to observe the Southern Territorial Band, Songsters and Creative Arts Ensemble perform at Washington Artillery Park in the French Quarter of old New Orleans.

Despite a wind chill factor of 9 degrees, passersby were warmed by the sights and sounds of the Southern territorial musicians and artists.

Photos by Major Frank Duracher

January 21, 20106

Continued from page 1somewhat. It seems hardest on many families tucked away in the hills and hollows amid the Appalachian culture.

“Once a connection is made with a family showing an interest in the corps program, we visit them,” Lieutenant Caldwell said. “And when there are children involved, we hope that by targeting them we win the mom and dad as well.”

When it comes to the corps program, Cindy and her husband, Jim, work with the children – and lately there have been a lot of them. Up to 35 kids were involved in a Christmas play put on for their parents.

That frees the lieutenant to concentrate on the teens. Teen Night is every Friday, where youth gather at the corps for games, food and fun. Lt. Caldwell always has a verse of Scripture – often leading to times of serious discussion on topics that especially matter to young people. Lately, about 15 teens faithfully attend. “More than anything else, (teens) just want someone to talk to,” Lieutenant Caldwell said.

“It’s what we do during the week that keeps people coming around,” said YPSM Cindy Brock, pointing to

By Major Frank DuracherSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

Clint Carnley grew up in government housing in Pensacola, Fla. For three or four years his parents were barely able to make ends meet, let alone provide a merry Christmas for Clint and his eight siblings.

That’s when Carnley met The Salvation Army.

“I remember the big old Salvation Army bus coming by our home and taking all of us to the corps there in Pensacola,” Carnley recalled. “They fed us a huge meal and gave us all gifts. It made our Christmas for each of those years – if it weren’t for The Salvation Army, we would not have had Christmas at all!”

During the 50 or so years that passed, Carnley always dropped money

Local Santa wants to repayArmy for childhood gifts

into a red kettle pot, or would mail a check in during an appeal. Now that he lives and works in Sevierville, Tenn., and with a rapidly-growing Salvation Army presence in that area (see related story), Carnley hit on a great idea.

“I called Lieutenant Justin Caldwell with an offer he couldn’t refuse: I’ll shut down my barbecue restaurant on the Sunday afternoon before Christmas and invite the entire Sevierville corps family to a party – just like the Army did for me those years so long ago!”

Nearly 200 children, parents and friends were served pulled-pork barbecue and all the fixin’s. Carnley secured Duane Laflin, a local Christian magician, to volunteer his time with a magic show. In fact, Carnley’s restaurant employees all volunteered their time as well to serve the crowd. Everything

was underwritten by Carnley, who sang Christmas carols as he helped serve up each plate.

The party ended with Christmas presents for the children and teens; gift bags filled with gloves, scarves, toiletries and school supplies; and food baskets

for the parents.“This is a remarkable gift Mr. Carnley

has given to us because most of these families don’t get to eat out, and many wouldn’t have much of a Christmas were it not for generous people like him,” said Lieutenant Caldwell.

youth and music programs begun during 2009. She said that the growth has really been over the past 12 months, making 2010 and the new decade exciting to embrace.

Robin Wright is another soldier who works with the youth – particularly in Girl Guards and Sunbeams. “I love working with these girls because they want to be a part of what we do here. I feel the Spirit of God very strongly in this church, and that’s something everyone wants to experience,” Wright said.

For Lt. Caldwell and a group of soldiers now on fire to help the Army make a difference in Sevierville and environs, perhaps their greatest weapon is the ability to “think outside of the box.”

“We’re willing to do anything to make the Army visible in the community,” Lieutenant Caldwell said. “One local businessman approached us with a novel way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas” (see related story).

“We are responsible for two counties – Sevier and Cocke. The tourists never see that there is so much need here. But that makes for a rich field of opportunity for us to grow the Kingdom of God!”

In addition to a barbeque dinner, magic act and Christmas presents, Sevierville Corps children were given a gift bag with toiletries, gloves, and school supplies at a Christmas party hosted by local businessman Clint Carnley.

Major Frank Duracher

Major Frank Duracher

Sevierville, Tenn., Corps connectingwith local kids and their families

Lieutenant Justin Caldwell and Clint Carnley welcome the entire Sevierville Corps family to a closed seating at Carnley’s famous barbecue restaurant.

Army personnelbegin work in HaitiContinued from page 1had to make their way around the holes on the edges of cliffs that had no guard rails.

Major Julie Louden said her husband told her that the top safe speed on the roads is 20 mph. “And you shake constantly as you go down the road,” she said. “He said it looks like a bomb went off everywhere. He’s never seen anything like it in his life.”

Major Louden has returned to the U.S., where a command center has been set up at National Headquarters, and a second team has flown into Port-au-Prince, including the Haiti-born territorial commander of the Caribbean Territory, Colonel Onal Castor. Also on board were experienced emergency worker Major George Polarek and Major Ron Busroe, currently the Atlanta Temple corps officer who is the former divisional commander for Haiti. This second team accompanied a cargo plane loaded with vital supplies.

The SAWSO team members are working closely with local Salvationists to ensure aid gets to people who need it most.

Staff from Salvation Army medical clinics are inundated with people who need urgent care and continue to help as many people as possible. Interviewed by Larry King on CNN, Bob Poff, an American serving as The Salvation Army’s director of disaster services on Haiti, said that he, along with almost everyone in Port-au-Prince, is sleeping outside because the buildings are unsafe. Children from the Salvation Army home are sleeping in the middle of the divisional headquarters compound.

More international personnel, including members of the International Emergency Services from International Headquarters, are being looked after by The Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., while they await the availability of private planes to fly them to Haiti.

Lt. Colonel Mike Caffull of International Emergency Services said it is still very difficult to get to Haiti: “The many cargo planes, and the occasional VIP plane, crowd out airspace and make it difficult for our aircraft to get a flight plan approved before being subject to last-minute changes because of the crowded airspace around Haiti. I am told that what should be about a three-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale is sometimes taking up to seven hours because of the need to circle and wait for a space in the traffic to land.”

January 21, 2010 7Major John F. White entered

honored retirement during a Celebration of Service held in his honor at the Atlanta Temple Corps on Jan. 2. The program theme was “No Greater Joy,” and was led by Lt. Colonel W. Edward Laity and Commissioner John Busby.

One striking feature of this retirement service was the duty band – a composite of retired Youth Band members from four divisions influenced by White’s ministry over the years (Georgia, North-South Carolina, Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi and Texas).

Other notable participants included: Commissioner Fred Ruth, Lt. Colonel Kenneth O. Johnson, Rick Perez, Angela Epps, Captain Julio da Silva, Jude Gotrich, Captain Filipe Gonçalves, Captain Luís Viriato. Majors Michael and Bette Jo McDonald, Mike McGraw, Lt. Colonel Eddie Hobgood and Commissioner B. Gordon Swyers.

John Frederick White was born in Houston as a fourth-generation Salvationist. As a young musician, White was attending TMI where he was converted in 1958. A year

Major John White (center) receives his retirement certificate from Commissioners Max and Lennie Feener and Commissioners Raymond and Merlyn Cooper.

Major Frank Duracher

RETIREMENTHONOREDMajor John

White

later, at TYI, he responded to the call of God on his life to become a Salvation Army officer.

Commissioned in 1965 as a Proclaimer of the Faith, White served in all but two divisions of the USA Southern Territory. He served in four appointments as assistant officer and 10 as corps officer. He has also served in four divisional headquarters and in two posts at THQ. These total 23 appointments over the span of his career.

Major White also served overseas in five appointments at territorial headquarters in Brazil, and the command headquarters in Portugal. In addition to the divisional youth bands already mentioned, he led corps bands in Hialeah, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Lisbon, Portugal.

He authored four seminar books: “Holysport,” “The Army on Time,” “Prayer Warriors – Steps to Prayer” and “As Your Money Burns.”

Major White’s address in retirement is: 19214 Weymouth Drive, Land O Lakes, FL 34638-7718.

Major Frank Duracher

The World Youth Convention will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, July 15-18, and International Headquarters is requesting that Salvationists from every command throughout the world support the event through prayer in the weeks and months leading up to it.

The convention has the potential to make a deep impact on the lives of young people attending in person as well as the “virtual” delegates who view it online.

Retired officers are being specifically asked to be prayer partners with convention planners. “The prayer power of our retired officers, one generation praying for the next generation, would be immeasurable,” said Colonel Birgitte Brekke, an organizer for the event. “What an encouragement to our young Salvationists, our future, to know that the Army’s elders, those who have held the course, are upholding them in prayer.”

Prayer groups in corps, schools for officer training and other installations are being asked to lend their support for the convention through prayer in the upcoming weeks.

Following is a listing of specific areas in need of prayer:

Pray for speakers, focus group leaders and creative arts groups:• For General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton as they speak to and with the young people; • For the new Chief of the Staff, Commis-sioner Barry Swanson, and Commissioner Sue Swanson as they greet many of their young people for the first time;• For focus group leaders and Bible study leaders as they prepare their topics; • For creative arts groups participating in ministry during the WYC;

• For international secretaries from each zone as they mingle with the young people and help address the topics of discussion and points of action for the future.

Pray for delegates and leaders:• For delegate passports, visas, travel documents – that they may be received in time to travel;• For safe travel – many will travel several days from remote areas;• For territorial youth secretaries and other leaders accompanying delegates.

Pray for finances – This is a huge invest-ment for the Army in these days. We have been blessed by the giving of territories and commands: • Pray we raise adequate funds;• Pray for those who may wish to assist finan-cially in any way.

Pray for communication: • The WYC will connect the world through the Internet and via live streaming of events from Sweden to the world and from the world to Sweden. We are an inter-connected Army and this may be the largest gathering of Salvationists ever! Pray for the staff working on communications both at the venues and around the world.

Pray for all involved in planning WYC:• For the planning group representing every zone;• For the planning group in Sweden which is doing much of the legwork on site;• For the more than 200 volunteers who will be working night and day to facilitate every detail of the WYC.

Salvationists are asked to supportWorld Youth Convention in prayer

OUR VISIONDoing the most good.OUR CORE VALUESPassionate, Compassionate, Brave, Uplifting, Trustworthy.OUR AFFILIATIONWith informed individuals who want to positively affect their world.“ ... There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.”

- Evangeline Booth

Several weeks ago, one of the men in the Lubbock, Texas, Men’s Club noticed some youngsters coming to the corps in thin, short-sleeve shirts. That wouldn’t have caused much of a stir, except the temperature was 32 degrees. Jesse Zapata told the rest of the club he would like to do something about it. The men rallied around this simple need and arranged a fund-raising dinner for the following Sunday after church. Several men barbecued a beef brisket, some made baked beans and others made potato salad and sold tickets for $5 a plate. The jackets were presented as a gift to the young people of the corps on a recent Sunday.

Meeting a simple need

The Salvationist Service Corps is a summer mis-sion experience designed to give 18- to 25-year-old Salvationists a glimpse of God’s heart for the world. Started in 1968, the SSC has sent young adults to more than 20 countries in 40 years.

While the SSC is only a six-week experience, the benefi ts and lessons learned stay with the young people their entire lives.

Lieutenant Cherika Gage, who is stationed in Daytona Beach, Fla., went to Peru on a 2006 SSC team, and said the lessons she learned helped her prepare for becoming a Salvation Army offi cer.

“I learned that when the Lord is calling you, you may have to give up some things, and that doesn’t mean that things will always work out wonderfully. But what I gained in the end was worth everything I had to give up and everything I went through. Those lessons all paralleled my training experience,” said Gage.

Captain Jamie Satterlee, corps offi cer in Ports-mouth, Va., agreed with Gage that her SSC experi-ence gave her skills to carry into offi cership – a call-ing she received while serving with the SSC. “My time in Chile provided me with experience in plan-ning and platform ministry, as well as preparing me for the need to learn to feed myself spiritually while providing ministry to others.”

Similar lessons helped Lieutenant Lacy Parrish, corps offi cer in Conroe, Texas, take ownership of her faith. “Before the trip, I think my relationship with God was dependent on others teaching me. But after being (in Portugal) I learned the necessity of

feeding ourselves.”Already a commissioned offi cer when she led the SSC team

to Belize in 2006, Captain Cristina Trantham – corps offi cer in Charlotte, N.C. – said the trip encouraged her to be open to new things. “I was continually stretched to approach someone I didn’t know, or even just function in a place that was unfamiliar to me. That particular type of experience has been helpful in offi cer-ship, as there are times when you just have to step out in faith and continue working even when things seem unfamiliar and uncertain.”

Captain Jonathan Fitzgerald, an offi cer in the Central Territory, said his SSC experience also shaped how he serves the congre-gation at the Bloomington, Ind., Corps. When he returned home, his passion for the world – particularly poor nations – had in-creased, and he now tries to instill that passion in others. “I feel a passion to help my soldiers understand the global, universal love of Jesus Christ. Also, I have a passion to make our world services

and self-denial a meaningful experience for our corps.”Not only does the SSC give young people the chance to

explore their faith at deeper levels and take away useful skills, but for some – like Daynes Viera – it radically transforms their perspective of who The Salvation Army is. After going on an SSC trip in 2003, he was given the chance to lead a team in 2007. But he was unsure at fi rst whether he should go.

“I went with hesitation because at the time I was strug-gling with whether or not I wanted to remain in The Salva-tion Army and felt as if it was unfair to take an opportunity like this if I was not committed 100 percent to the Army.

“In Kenya, I was completely transformed in my perception and true vision of the Army mission. For the fi rst time I saw and understood what it was to see the widow and the or-phan, and God showed me that he was still very much work-ing and living in the mission of The Salvation Army, and my heart lit on fi re for it.”

Viera later served as a SAMS at the Lakewood Corps in Atlanta, and he is now employed as the Christian education director of the South Atlanta Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Com-munity Center.

Mission trip has lasting impact on young adults

Top: Daynes Viera, back center, led a team to Kenya in 2007.

Middle: Alyce Martindale said her experience on the 2006 Belize team shaped the career she has chosen to pursue.

Bottom: A trip to Portugal helped Lieutenant Lacy Parrish take ownership of her faith.

1996 – Jamaica1997 – Moldova1998 – Moldova

1998 – Republic of Georgia

1999 – Portugal1999 – Zimbabwe

2001 – Brazil2001 – Texas/Mexico

2002 – Haiti2002 – Argentina/Paraguay

2002 – Chile2003 – Haiti

2003 – Moldvoa2003 – Bolivia

2004 – Barbados2004 – Antigua2004 – Texas

2004 – Ecuador2005 – Russia2005 – Chile

2006 – Malaysia

2006 – Belize2006 – Peru

2006 – Charlotte, N.C.2007 – Gulf Coast, Southern U.S.

2007 – Kenya

2007 – Peru2008 – Dominican Republic

2008 – Guatemala2009 – Antigua

2009 – Costa Rica

While a mission trip is life-changing in many ways, the experience can also help shape the course of a person’s career. The following Sal-vationist Service Corps team members are cur-rently engaged in careers or study programs that were impacted by their service overseas.

They found that their time as SSC team members was pivotal in their own spiritual and vocational development – giving them pause to consider the path God had for their lives – just as Esther considered it when Mordecai posed the question, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NKJ)

AlyceMartindale

Although Alyce Martindale grew up in The Salva-tion Army, she ad-mits that college was a time when she strayed from the Lord. Still, after studying abroad in Spain, she wanted to actively show the love of Christ

overseas. After traveling to Belize in 2006 with the Salvationist Service Corps, she returned to the Lord with all her heart.

“Before the trip, I did not feel close to God at all; post trip, I was ignited to show (not just tell) people about his love. It was also a great experience to see the work that The Salvation Army does outside the U.S., and to really see how fortunate we are here,” said Martindale.

Her experiences shaped her desire to help those in need. She is currently working to de-velop the community health program for a Catholic hospital with its mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

“We strive to break down barriers to health care, and ensure that every one of God’s chil-dren has access to health care, regardless of

their ability to pay. We have developed pro-grams that use our resources eff ectively so that we are good stewards of what God has given us, and so that we can reach the most people,” she said.

Martindale added that her time in Belize helped her see it’s more important to live the teachings of Christ rather than simply “go to church and go through the motions. It’s im-portant to get your hands dirty, doing the work of Christ.”

AngelSanders

Angel Sand-ers was on M a r t i n d a l e’s team, and she adventured to Belize as one of the young-est team mem-bers. Just 18,

she was in be-tween her freshman and sophomore years at Liberty University and wanted to serve outside her comfort zone.

One of the biggest things she learned wasn’t from the people she met in Belize, but from her teammates. “My teammates showed me what it meant to be a servant. I learned the value of hard work and to never underestimate what God can do for and through you,” she said.

Upon her return home, Sanders said she was convicted to not follow her own plans – to fi nish college – but to obey the Lord’s calling. When she was 14 she felt led to become a Sal-vation Army offi cer, so after SSC she went to Evangeline Booth College and is now a corps offi cer in Williamsburg, Va.

While she was prepared vocationally by doing a variety of things on the trip to Belize – painting, cleaning, vacation Bible school, visitation, evangelism and praise meetings – Sanders said the bigger preparation was what her SSC trip gave her spiritually. “I grew closer to God and more sensitive to his voice.”

Charting the courseSSC timelinein recent years

their ability to pay. We have developed pro-grams that use our resources eff ectively so that we are good stewards of what God has given us, and so that we can reach the most people,” she said.

Martindale added that her time in Belize helped her see it’s more important to live the teachings of Christ rather than simply “go to church and go through the motions. It’s im-portant to get your hands dirty, doing the work of Christ.”

AngelSanders

Angel Sand-ers was on M a r t i n d a l e’s team, and she adventured to Belize as one of the young-est team mem-bers. Just 18,

she was in be-tween her freshman and sophomore years at Liberty University and wanted to serve outside her comfort zone.

One of the biggest things she learned wasn’t from the people she met in Belize, but from her teammates. “My teammates showed me what it meant to be a servant. I learned the value of hard work and to never underestimate what God can do for and through you,” she said.

Upon her return home, Sanders said she was convicted to not follow her own plans – to fi nish college – but to obey the Lord’s calling. When she was 14 she felt led to become a Sal-vation Army offi cer, so after SSC she went to Evangeline Booth College and is now a corps offi cer in Williamsburg, Va.

While she was prepared vocationally by doing a variety of things on the trip to Belize – painting, cleaning, vacation Bible school, visitation, evangelism and praise meetings – Sanders said the bigger preparation was what her SSC trip gave her spiritually. “I grew closer to God and more sensitive to his voice.”

AprilMcCormick

On her 2002 SSC trip to Argentina, April McCormick also heard God speak. During her trip she felt him call her to become a Salvation Army offi cer. She was commissioned in the

God’s Fellow Workers session at Evangeline Booth College and now is the assistant corps offi cer in Conway, S.C.

When McCormick was in Argentina, she was terrifi ed of having to speak in front of people. But one of the requirements on her team was to preach, so she dug into the Bible.

“God gave me a passage of Scripture from the book of Jeremiah: chapter one, verses four through nine, where God told Jeremiah he will place his words in his mouth. And God was telling me the same – that he will place his words in my mouth to give to his children, and it still happens today as I preach his words to his people. That became my life verse,” she said.

NinaBorum Lieutenant Nina Borum did two SSC trips – one in 2004 to Barbados as a team member and one in 2005 to Chile as a team leader. On her trip to Chile she accepted God’s plan for her to be-

come a Salvation Army offi cer. Stationed in Hickory, N.C., Borum said she loves being an offi cer and working with college ministries. She also hopes to re-turn to overseas mission work some day.

Charting the course

Activities and outreaches on past SSC trips

- Visiting Salvation Army schools for children- Painting Salvation Army buildings

- Leading corps meetings- Conducting Vacation Bible School for children

- Attending programs with senior citizens- Leading open-air meetings

- Cleaning projects

Left: A team in Kenya completes a building service project.

I was 20 and was look-ing into college and didn’t really know what I wanted in life. I was doing a lot of searching at that time. Searching for God, search-ing for myself, searching for who I was in God, searching for what God wanted me to do.

We had a time of prayer one night, as we did every night, and I re-member we were pray-

ing about diff erent things for people living at the place that we were visiting. And one of the concerns on the people’s hearts was the drought that was currently going on in the land. This was a big deal because a lot of the people depended on their crops and the money they made from selling their crops. So we were praying that God would send rain to the land so that people could continue to grow their crops and feed their family and

searching for what God

We had a time of prayer one night, as we did every night, and I re-member we were pray-

ing about diff erent things for people living at the place that we were visiting. And one of the concerns on the people’s hearts was the drought that was currently going on in the land. This was a big deal because a lot of the people depended on their crops and the money they made from selling their crops. So we were praying that God would send rain to the land so that people could continue to grow their crops and feed their family and grow their crops and feed their family and

have money for the things that they need. As we were praying, it began to rain. Instantly, my faith in God grew. I was searching for God, and he met me that night.Captain Jonathan HowellCorps offi cerDothan, Ala.

I am a sixth-generation Salvationist raised in the corps, but I had reached a point in my life where I needed to develop my own set of core beliefs. I had spent 12 consecutive summers at Camp Keystone in Florida. I’m not even sure I can tell you when I felt I should go on sum-mer service; I just know I did not like change. I wrestled with God in prayer more than I ever had before, and he won. Two years earlier, I had gotten in an extreme comfort level with God and had my life changed in amazing ways. Over the course of the following two years at college, my faith grew stale and God used the summer of 2007 to break me in half.

It shook the very foundation of what I be-lieved in myself. I am a sixth-generation Salva-tionist and I take great pride in that, but I re-alized there in the slums of Korogocho that it does not take pedigree to be great.Jesse HinsonYouth director at Evangeline Booth CollegeAtlanta, Ga.

Before I went on the trip, my biggest ques-tion to God was, “Am I called to be a mission-ary?” While I was on that trip, he didn’t answer my question, but I came home knowing that I could do it if the opportunity ever presented itself. I had experienced a small taste of how hard it could be, but also how faithful God was and knew missions was something that would be a part of my future.Joy MiklesTerritorial young adult andmission deployment coordinatorAtlanta, Ga.

I came back with a whole diff erent perspec-tive on God, the world, my future, etc. The sum-mer helped me grasp just a tiny bit of how great our God is. He crosses barriers of language and cultures that may hold us back from connect-ing or understanding each other, which brings us together in the end. It also provoked me to realize how massive this world is and how selfi sh we can be at times – also, how blessed I am.

I left my world with hopes of returning to college to study music and become a music director for the Army. Instead I came back with an overwhelming love for God’s people and a strong desire to serve. I am currently in my ju-nior year of college studying social work. Sheena HamptonStudent

I remember feeling so full of joy, with such a diff erent perspective on life, and I didn’t want to lose that. I came back knowing more about who I was in Christ and what my passions were.Lieutenant Gretchen GranadosCorps offi cerNorfolk, Va.

How did your SSC trip impactyour relationship with God?

Above, from top: Sheena Hampton, center, pursued social work as a result of her experience on an SSC trip. Jesse Hinson marched with his Kenya team three miles to do an open-air service, which he said taught him the importance of going to the people you’re serving rather than expecting them to come to you.