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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality…live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.”
(Romans 12:12-13, 16)
I like these practical words; read on, and you’ll find wonderful expressions of this same hope, hospitality, and caring by Salvationists throughout the West.
ANACORTES HONORS KELSOS
A mural of John and Elizabeth Kelso, stationed in Anacortes, WA, as Salvation Army captains in 1910, was unveiled at Causland Park in Anacortes recently. Four generations of officers participated in the event, including the Kelso’s daughter-in-law, Brigadier Alma Kelso (R); granddaughter, Major Dorothy Covert; great-granddaughter, Capt. Beth Paugh; Paugh’s husband, Capt. Mike Paugh; and their children, Andrew and Sarah Covert. The Paughs currently serve as Anacortes corps officers.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
As hundreds of firefighters battled the Reche Canyon blaze, The Salvation Army in Redlands, CA, was on the scene assisting the firefighters and nearby residents with food and beverages. According to Captain Jack Bowen, Redlands corps officer, the Army was the only local service agency assisting at the fire.
The Alaska Division’s emergency canteen was dispatched to the Moose Pass/Seward area at the request of Alaska State Troopers to serve meals to temporary evacuees, firefighters and other emergency personnel who battled a wildfire near Moose Pass.
Volunteers at the Ogden, Utah, canteen supplied firefighters and support teams with water and other refreshments during the Fort Ranch fire near Promontory. Thanks go to volunteers Rick and Judy Schropshier, Jerry Bentson, Mark B. and Major Dallas Pedersen, corps officer. The fire consumed more than 48,000 acres of dry vegetation.
MASTER’S DEGREES
Captain Brian Saunders, director of Continuing Education and coordinator of OffSite Studies, reports that Major Rebecca Sparks, Roswell New Mexico corps officer, and Captain Man-Hee Chang, Pasadena ARC administrator, CA, have both earned Master’s degrees. Sparks was awarded a Master of Counseling degree from the University of Phoenix, and Chang was awarded a Master of Business Administration from California Pacific University.
GOD’S POWER IS GREAT
Mary Rubacha, Chula Vista Corps, CA, greeting sergeant, reports that God never has a power outage; that his power is beyond human comprehension. “I was walking down the street, singing in the rain, and my foot slipped. I was plunged into a deep mud hole. As I lay bleeding and badly broken, I cried out in anguish to God to stop the pain,” she said. “I was transported to the hospital, examined by three surgeons who decided to replace the crushed bone in my leg with a metal rod from my hip to my right knee. Five hours of surgery, two blood transfusions later I awoke. From the time I cried out to God I never felt another pain. He has power that no one else can provide.“
LOVE A PARADE
Puyallup Corps soldiers Lloyd and Penne Mathison decorated their 45-foot sail boat with 3,000 daffodils for a recent marine parade. They were helped by members of the Olympia, Tacoma and Puyallup Corps, WA. The boat had a large Salvation Army sign on its side; band members from Olympia and Tacoma formed a musical group that played during the sail. Northwest Divisional Commander Major Ron Strickland was in the band, which was directed by Glen Greet.
POSITIVE PARTNERS
The Modesto Red Shield Community Center and the Turlock Corps, in partnership with the Modesto Bee newspaper, recently held the 5th Annual Kids’ Day benefiting local Salvation Army programs. The combined efforts raised $54,656 for the Army’s programs, reported Captain Derek Strickland.
