Central News Pages Feb08
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The Salvation Army / USA Central Territory News and Views from the Midwest “We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.” Eph. 4:3,4 (NLT) Volume 44, Number 11 November 2014 The General and Commissioner Cox spur Central onward! General André and Commissioner There’s a Welcome Here Silvia Cox inspired more than 5,800 Salvationists during a four-city tour he Cadets’ Welcome and of the Midwest this fall. Their solid Soldiers’ Rally not only intro - biblical message and vision for the Tduced the 22 “Messengers of Army resonated with people, with Light” session, it gave a taste altars lined time and again, and of the rich talent and cultures of the 118 individuals making a public Metropolitan Division, such as the declaration for officership. People Chicago Mayfair Community Church, Ill., Corps Songsters and the Des also were drawn to their down-to- Plaines, Ill., Corps Hispanic Sacred earth personas, sense of humor and Dance Team, and featured the territo - genuineness. Often throngs lined up ry’s own Chicago Staff Band. with their Bibles and Army flags to Introduced by Territorial Cadets Aaron and Sarah-anne Kruse from be signed and cameras to take the Fargo, N.D., salute General André Cox. ever-present selfie with the General Commander Commissioner Paul R. and Commissioner Cox. It was as if Seiler, the General and reminding them the development of Commissioner Cox saluted the con - they belonged here and were coming their spiritual life must be their pri - y e gregation, especially Rockford, Ill., The General and Commissioner Cox with r home. Well, after all, we are one ority as they enter training. G Rockford Temple, Ill., Corps soldier Stella y soldier Stella Lennox, d Lennox, who is 106 years old! n big family. 106, who was in A y b attendance. s o t “If ever there was a need for The o h After a moving pre - Salvation Army in our world, it’s P sentation of the ses - now,” the General proclaimed. He sion flag to session then charged Salvationists to live flagbearer Cadet Ross out their faith with a sense of Anderson by Major urgency, knowing God’s Word and Cherri Hobbins, train - being witnesses in both speech and ing principal, action. Upon his urging, the audi - Commissioner Cox ence gathered in groups of five to gave a wisdom-filled six to seek God’s blessing. charge to the cadets, Continued on page 6 Serving our nation’s heroes Kansas and Western Missouri Division’s programs fight hard for veterans he Salvation Army has a long and funding streams, SSVF provides tion from their apart - history of supporting those services and temporary financial ment. But that’s Tserving in the military. Many assistance to intervene early to pre - when “God stepped of us learned this from talk - vent homelessness or to quickly re- in,” said Aaron. At a ing to our grandparents and great - house homeless veterans. job fair, he learned grandparents who served in WWI The Kansas and Western Missouri about SSVF and soon and WWII. Division program was one of the first received financial The Salvation Army also has pro - awarded SSVF funding in 2011 to and medical assis - vided services to homeless veterans serve Kansas. The program was so tance, counseling and for decades through a multitude of successful it was recognized by the even found he quali - national programs and services. The Kansas State Legislature that year fied for VA disability. Kansas and Western Missouri’s and in 2012 received another award Without this program, Aaron and ans and their families achieve hous - (KWM) Supportive Services for to serve 10 counties in Northwestern his family faced homelessness and he ing stability. Veteran Families (SSVF) programs are Missouri, including Kansas City. might have continued to struggle to “I’ve found where I belong, help - stellar examples of The Salvation The programs help people like find adequate employment. Through ing veterans like myself who’ve fall - Army’s ministry and dedication to Aaron who served in the military for the partnership and grant with the en on hard times and just needed those who have served our country. 18 years. Upon leaving, he moved to VA, The Salvation Army was able to someone or an organization to care Introduced in 2011 SSVF is part of Wichita, Kan., to be with family and provide a “hand up.” Ultimately, about what we as veterans have a comprehensive plan by the U.S. quickly found a job but within two Aaron came to work as a veteran done for our country and what they Department of Veterans Affairs to years was downsized. Though he peer mentor for the very program can do to help us vets,” he said. prevent and end homelessness tried again and again, there were no that had assisted him. Now he “Without the assistance of the VA among veterans. With new strategies prospects and his family faced evic - spends his weekdays—and the occa - sional weekend—helping other veter - Continued on page 2 6 1 0 0 6 s i o n i l l I , s e n i a l P s e D , d a o R n i u q n o g l A . W 0 1 , r e g a n a M n o i t a l u c r i C : o t n o i t c e r r o c r u o y h t i w l e b a l d e h c a t t a e h t d n e S ? g n i v o M 6 1 0 0 6 s i o n i l l I , s e n i a l P s e D d a o R n i u q n o g l A . W 0 1 Y M R A N O I T A V L A S E H T 2 socially conscious values in our port - Saving for the future or folio investments) and understand - ing that being greedy becomes a investing in it? handicap rather than an investment. Just putting money, time and per - by Commissioner Paul R. Seiler safely to the wealthy man. Without sonnel into the same safe approach Territorial Commander valuing stewardship for the resources seems to me to be like using a sav - given, the third servant lost the ings account at less than 1 percent he principle of “Invest opportunity. If those were bags of interest because the effort of stop - Intentionally” in Creating a rice rather than money, the first two aren’t surprised when there are results. ping something and intentionally TShared Future is challenging individuals would have fed more It’s investing in people and relation - investing in a different direction because it is linked to con - people in the future. The third indi - ships. It’s giving time and effort for life- might have risk. Even worse, of scious decisions about the value of the vidual didn’t get any value for the changing steps out of poverty. It’s tak - course, is keeping everything in a future in contrast to the value of the rice as it likely would have decayed. ing time with youth to teach and guide checking account so it’s “ready to use” but not earning any interest. past or present. It is linked to steward - Investing intentionally is about them at our camps and in our charac - ship of our resources for the future of putting resources to work as good stew - ter-building programs. It’s a local offi - When we consider investment of the work God appoints us to do. ards of what God has given us. This is cer identifying and mentoring a poten - the Army’s resources of time, funds One bank’s marketing says: Do not utilitarian; it is scriptural. It is also tial local officer. It’s starting to save for and people as honoring God’s trust you have the right balance between common sense. Investing intentionally the kids’ college fund or your retire - in us, we are compelled not to be saving and investing? Savings happens on many levels, and by nam - ment when you have an income, not a the third servant. We are compelled accounts, money market funds and ing this as a principle I’m praying we few years before it happens. not to be random in our approach - CDs may feel safe, but you’re just The difference between saving and es. We are compelled not to just keeping your money on the sidelines. investing in the financial arena is the hold on and bury what we have. Let us help put your money to work. degree of risk for growth or loss. We are compelled to be intention - Sounds a lot like Matthew 25:14- There are checks and balances to al about investing in God’s mission 30—the parable of the talents—to me. make good decisions, but there is still through The Salvation Army that Focus on the servants. Two multi - an element of risk with investing. will result in more souls saved, plied the impact of the resources Investing also requires saying no to spiritual maturity and growth, and given to them. One buried the what is not aligned with values and service to people resulting in mean - resource so it could be handed back purpose (the territory has strong ingful outcomes. Serving our nation’s heroes Continued from page 1 family members who are at-risk of losing permanent housing or who and Salvation Army, I don’t know are homeless.