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 45, Number 3 March 2015 Omaha Kroc celebrates five years of ministry development. “Programs are where our building’s by John Wehrle 2009, and opened fully in January potential and communi - he Omaha, Neb., Ray and Joan 2010, the center is on the exciting ty need come together.” Kroc Corps Community leading edge of Joan Kroc’s revolution - She continued, TCenter is celebrating five years ary vision to offer exceptional opportu - “Programs are the prime of making its city a better nities that would change lives. The connection point with place. Dedicated on November 6, center’s fifth anniversary presents an partners like the Omaha opportunity to assess progress, tell the Symphony, Nebraska center’s story and plan for even more Shakespeare, The Latino success. Center of the Midlands, “As wonderful as the facility is, we Omaha Conservatory of know that what happens inside is Music, Boys Town, and what really matters,” said The Josh Collingsworth Major Cathy Thielke, Foundation.” officer for Omaha’s Kroc Center now runs program the largest adult soccer league in the area and just launched the largest indoor youth league. Soccer is poised for more growth this spring when the weather warms and the new lights on the outdoor field are turned on. Healthy Home Project, an Omaha Kroc Center original, helps families integrate time together, healthier eating habits and exercise into their busy lives, while Camp Kroc, the sum - mer student enrichment program, has given hundreds of children a safe place to learn and play, as well Continued on page 2 University 2020: motivated to serve he Radisson Star Plaza Hotel Gospel Arts Secretary William Himes California Division, rein - in Merrillville, Ind., was the emphasized to the 216 delegates the forced the focus with s a m venue for University 2020, three objectives of University 2020: challenging devotional o h T T t two days of practical instruc - get started, keep going, remain faith - messages in each united t o c tion and useful resources designed to ful. It was apparent the full schedule session. Well-known for S y enhance the content and impact of of united and breakout sessions was their songwriting through - b s o t Sunday worship. Drawing its name geared for corps officers, worship, out the Army world, sam - o h from the terri - music and gospel arts leaders—pre - ples of their stirring P torial goal of sent and future. music were featured “Live Music in Special guests Majors Ian and throughout the weekend. Worship in Isobel Robinson, mission develop - From Friday evening through ning brass session Every Corps ment secretaries for the Southern Saturday afternoon, 19 breakout ses - was enhanced with by 2020,” the sions were offered in seven tracks: the help of several event was preaching/worship (Major Paul young players from sponsored by Moore, Peggy Thomas), drama (Joe the East Chicago, the territorial Caddy, Marty Thomas, Bill Booth Ind., Corps who music and Theater Company), vocal (Meghan helped Ben Kinzie gospel arts Pierson, Kaela McDougall), instru - and Bill Himes as department. mental (Ben Kinzie, Peggy Thomas, they demonstrated Kicking off Bill Himes, Zane Koehler, Marty various teaching the Friday Thomas), keyboard (Brett Tolcher, techniques. evening Bill Himes) praise band (Eric Himes, “The breakout keynote, Erica Johnson, Major John Aren) and sessions seemed to Territorial media (David Andrews and visual be very well Music and communications staff). The begin - Major Ian Robinson Continued on page 12 Major Isobel Robinson 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 Preaching through Additionally many people in corps, credible service adult rehabilitation centers, divi - sional and territorial headquarters by Lt. Colonel Paul Smith are joining each week with Salvationists around the world in Territorial Secretary for Program Boundless...The Whole World famous quote attributed to tractions of life to pull our focus Praying. St. Francis of Assisi has away from Jesus. When that hap - of Creating a Shared Future, we are It is important to remember spiri - Aalways challenged me. It pens, a careless word or sharp challenged to be “spiritually nour - tual refreshment is not just for our goes: “Preach the Gospel at response can slip out, resulting in a ished, emotionally mature, relational - benefit. We are called to meet the all times, and when necessary, use disconnect between our faith and ly healthy and physically prepared needs of those who come into our words.” The principle is God’s mes - behavior. We have to depend daily for the demands of Kingdom-building sphere of influence, regardless of sage of love, reconciliation and trans - on God’s grace, mercy and empower - work.” We will be empowered to whether they are presently part of formation is most effectively commu - ing of the Holy Spirit. We need regu - provide credible, vigorous service in our corps or center family. Service nicated when it is clearly and easily lar periods of spiritual renewal. proportion to the fullness of Christ naturally flowing from our relation - seen in our actions. When we have Fortunately, we are in the middle of we are experiencing individually and ship with Christ will “preach the opportunity to speak, our words Lent. It is a time of reflection and spir - corporately. gospel” powerfully and credibly. aligning with our actions will carry a itual renewal as we prepare to cele - The use of the Lenten worship I am encouraged and inspired to credibility and power often viewed brate the death and resurrection of series in our Sunday services is just hear about examples of Kingdom- as lacking in this post-modern age. Jesus. This year’s theme for our terri - one of the tools available to help us building service. If you want to This is the essence of James 2:14-18. tory’s Lenten worship series is be spiritually nourished. Right now, share how you are modeling the Our desire to consistently reflect a “Resurrection Life.” The series’ pur - more than 4,300 people are reading gospel through service during Lent, vital, Christ-centered life is one we pose is to “guide you into experiencing through the New Testament by par - please send it to me at cannot achieve on our own. It is far the gospel of Christ in its fullness.” ticipating in the Boundless...The [email protected]. too easy to allow the stresses and dis - In the “Serve Vigorously” section Whole World Reading challenge. org so I can pass the idea along. Omaha Kroc Continued from page 1 the traditional as 20,000 meals in just the past three Salvation Army years. social service pro - Major Todd Thielke, senior Kroc grams. Two of these Center officer said, “Knowing how are sisters, Betty fortunate we are to have great facili - and Amanda, who ties, we provide access to the Kroc loved the open, Center for an event or special meet - warm reception ing to a different Omaha non-profit they received at the each month, as well as hosting the Kroc Center so South Omaha Neighborhood much that they are Alliance’s monthly meetings.” The non-profit agencies that work to now adherents, their children are Omaha Kroc Center is an increasing - improve this vital community, junior soldiers, and they are deeply ly valued partner of government and including being a South Omaha involved in ministry and center pro - enrollment site grams. and key In the past five years, Omaha’s employer for Kroc Center has enjoyed nearly 1 the STEP-UP million visits from members, people Omaha sum - attending community and corporate ter for kids, parents at work, at mer jobs pro - events, future soccer and swimming gram. school and in a community in stars—a huge cross-section of the which all can succeed,” said Major The congre - metro area’s residents and guests Todd. “When people come to the gation also is from all over the world. Instead of an Kroc Center, we work with them to serving a broad abandoned meat-processing plant discern their innate spark, to help cross-section of where gang initiations and drug deals them identify their talents, and Omahans, origi - were starting to be the norm, this then to create a program that devel - nal Omaha area of the city now has The ops their potential. We inspire South Corps Salvation Army’s Kroc Center, a growth.” members, modern facility with top-line equip - neighborhood ment and staff dedicated to helping residents, and people grow in ability, confidence people who are and potential. moving for - “Joan Kroc knew that providing ward after gain - opportunities for all people to be Get ing stability in healthy, happy and confident is bet - Connected! Check out our complementary material on the web.