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 50, Number 11 December 2020 Salvation Army sets out Envoy Theo Coleman greets passersby to the pandemic. It’s hoped the ex - COVID-19. Parents are making difficult to rescue Christmas tended fundraising season will help choices between paying bills and buy - offset these challenges. ing Christmas presents for their chil - by Camerin Mattson or below the federal poverty line. Un - “Our hopes are to build awareness dren,” Captain Rich Forney said. “Now fortunately, the elevated need comes in the community about so many fam - more than ever, we need partners to orking people and at a time when the Army expects to ilies who will not be able to have a join with us in taking care of the least tourists in downtown have fewer red kettles out, as well as Christmas celebration,” said Major of these in our community.” Chicago were likely W less foot traffic than in the past, due Victor Stasiuc, Des Plaines, Ill., corps The spotlight at the Aurora, Ill., checking their cal - officer, who rang bells on Michigan Corps helped acquaint the community endars on September 14 when Avenue. His wife, Major Christina, with their new location and brought they came upon an unexpected added that a passerby told them, “If it curious neighbors to their parking lot, sight: red kettles and bell - snows tomorrow, I blame The Salva - including one woman who wants to ringers. As part of The Salva - tion Army.” They all laughed. volunteer and another seeking Christ - tion Army’s early launch of the mas assistance. national Christmas campaign, Though the red kettles didn’t hit the Rescue Christmas, the Metro - streets fulltime until November 9, offi - At the Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., Corps, politan Division posted 75 red cers, soldiers and staff were pleased to staff and volunteers met those seeking kettles along Michigan Avenue raise funds during the launch but the source of the spotlight with Christ - for a one-day event to ring out even more grateful for the local media mas candy and a red kettle. “One cou - the news the fundraising sea - which covered the event, encouraging ple drove from Lombard, saw the red son had begun. viewers and readers to donate online. kettle, realized they didn’t have money on them, drove back home to get cash, For the first time The Salva - Two days later a spotlight shone then came back to make a donation,” tion Army launched the into the night sky from each of the di - said Cathleen Himes, Oakbrook Ter - Christmas campaign two vision’s 28 corps, announcing the race resource development director. months early, a change moti - early launch of the Christmas cam - vated by the ongoing financial paign and signifying the hope that “Even in the darkest times The Sal - hardship brought on by shines from each of these locations. vation Army continues to be a shining COVID-19. In the Metropoli - At the Elgin, Ill., Corps, the spotlight light,” said Major Caleb Senn, Oak - tan Division, some corps have was accompanied by a 10-piece brass brook Terrace corps officer. “This seen up to a 500 percent in - ensemble playing Christmas carols, a event helped to remind our commu - crease in requests for help; in red carpet, a giant inflatable red kettle nity that our light still shines as we work together to rescue Christmas.” Chicago it was recently an - Des Plaines, Ill., Corps Officers Majors Christina and a canteen from which staff passed nounced that nearly 20 per - and Victor Stasiuc man one of 75 kettles on out boxed meals of hotdogs, chips and Ask your corps officer how you can help cent of residents now live at Michigan Avenue in Chicago. cookies. “Elgin has been hit hard by rescue Christmas this year. Territory looks at possible A People of Peace reorganization by General Brian Peddle he Central Territory has many locations into lockdown. His he year 2020 has been undergoing a process preliminary report to the Territorial been unique, in - Tof evaluation over the last Cabinet indicated there is indeed an Tteresting and year to determine if reorgan - “appetite for reorganization” and challenging. We have lived through a cal regimes, institu - ization of divisions would better en - what the next steps might be to - tionalized religion able the Army’s mission to be ward the goal of making the terri - global pandemic, the ramifications of which and suffering. So, al - carried out in the Midwest with tory leaner, more efficient and more though the man maximum stewardship of resources. effective. continue to impact our lives. We have witnessed Jesus lived 2,000 “In The Salvation Army, mission is This spring a task force was the best of humanity as years ago, his words what we are all about. Whatever we formed which includes Territorial communities came to - still have relevance do, it not only needs to support the Headquarters representation and a gether and helped to care for the because he, as the mission but to enhance and enable cross-section of divisional leaders, vulnerable and those who needed to Son of God, has an eternal perspec - the missional work and activity,” other officers, soldiers and employ - shield. We have seen the worst of tive. said Commissioner William A. ees from across the territory. The humanity as racism cost lives and So, what did Jesus teach us about Roberts, who was engaged in July task force has met virtually every led to violent protests by demonstra - peace? In the Sermon on the 2019 to lead this endeavor. month, with individual working tors from varying viewpoints. All of Mount, as he began his teaching In order to ascertain if there was groups also meeting virtually each this has combined to both exhilarate ministry, Jesus said: “Blessed are support for such a momentous week. During this process, the task and exhaust us throughout this year. the peacemakers, for they will be force not only has looked at data change and to get input, he began in It is into our messed-up, complex, called children of God.” (Matthew September 2019 to visit all 10 divi - such as finances and programs but 5:9) Then, in preparing his disciples also has consulted both the South - ever-changing, uncertain and per - sions to survey divisional leaders plexing world that Jesus comes as for his departure and the arrival of and their staff, wrapping up his trav - ern and Western territories, which the promised Holy Spirit, Jesus have undergone reorganizations in the Prince of Peace. Jesus was famil - els providentially in February just iar with prejudice, oppressive politi - says: “Peace I leave with you; my before the pandemic hit and sent Continued on page 7 Continued on page 8 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H , y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 , 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 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 Y M R A N O I T A V L A S E H T 2 h t i d An Interview with Lt. Colonels e r e M e c i r u Lonneal and Patty Richardson a M y b o t o h Lt. Colonels Lonneal and Patty Richardson were recently given the additional P appointment of Territorial Racial Diversity and Inclusion Secretaries. Here we get Lt. Colonel Lonneal Richardson, Commissioner Brad Bailey and Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings at the dedication of the to know them a little better and get a glimpse of this new responsibility. Ferguson Empowerment Center in 2017. How did you meet or come to and expertise to assist us in our re - The Salvation Army? demptive mission. Lonneal: My mother worked at a How has your officership, and Salvation Army battered women’s any appointments in particular, shelter in Memphis near the South - prepared you to take on this side Corps. She shared with the offi - cer, Mrs. Brigadier Gertrude Purdue, new responsibility? her difficulty finding childcare for Both: We feel tremendously my youngest brother. Mrs. Brigadier blessed that all our corps appoint - Purdue told my mom the corps had a ments were in urban areas. childcare center, took her there and Through those experiences we dis - together they enrolled my brother. covered Christ at work reconciling After that my other two brothers and His people unto Himself for the I started attending character-building work of The Salvation Army. God programs. We had our own church; led us to work with individuals who my mother always made sure we at - The Richardsons with the Minneapolis Chapter of Echelon founded in 2018 had similar callings to minister in tended, but we often struggled to the heart of the city.