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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV)
Karen Gleason, Editor
SANTA MARIA, Calif.—At its first meeting in 2012, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors honored Lt. Matthew Jensen, assistant corps officer in Santa Maria, for his efforts in the 2011 National Bell Ringing Contest. Jensen rang a bell for 41 straight hours, breaking the previous record of 36 hours set by Captain Kyle Smith in 2010. The county supervisors presented him with a resolution recognizing his endeavor, which helped raise money and awareness for the ministry of The Salvation Army.
McMINNVILLE, ORE.—McMinnville Corps members were surprised to find a $20 gold piece in one of their red kettles this past holiday season.
“I had never seen one before,” said Corps Officer Major Diana Trimmer, “so I took several minutes to turn it every which way.”
Divisional headquarters advised her to get as much money for it as she could, so she took it to a coin dealer and sold it for $1,508.
To see a photo of the coin, go to newfrontierpublications.org/nf/?p=2441.
VANCOUVER, WASH.—More than 400 bikers attended the “True Apostles” motorcycle club’s 26th annual toy run. Corps Officers Majors Ron and Ronalee Fenrich read Scripture and shared Christ’s message of love to everyone in attendance.
SUISUN CITY, CALIF.— One Sunday, each member of the Suisun City (soon to be Kroc Center) congregation highlighted verses with special meaning for them in Bibles purchased for the corps and signed their names to them. At the service’s conclusion, everyone traveled to the Kroc Center site where they placed the Bibles in the foundation of the future corps. They also stood in what will become the sanctuary and sang and prayed, before taking their first corps photo.
Captains Jonathan and Vickie Harvey are the corps officers.
BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZ./LAUGHLIN, NEV.—The Bullhead City Corps is now the proud owner of two new mercy seats, handmade by Soldier Richard Steven. Corps members used them right away, coming forward to pray following the dedication by Envoy Bruce Rogers.
COEUR d’ALENE, IDAHO—Dale Eller, a fitness coach at the Kroc Center, rang the bell at Walmart for 41 hours during one weekend over the holidays, sharing his testimony with hundreds of people who stopped at his kettle. Eller also appeared on TV and was featured in an article in the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Majors John and Lani Chamness are center administrators and Majors Benton and JoAnn Markham are associate officers.
MANOA, HAWAII—In 2011, The Salvation Army presented its 25th annual live nativity at Wai’oli Gardens. The free event is a re-enactment of the first Christmas with costumes, live animals and an outdoor setting. The program is performed to a taped narration of the first Christmas by Sidney Poitier and Brooke Shields.
Check out the event’s Facebook page; look for “The Live Nativity at The Salvation Army Manoa.”
