Commissioner Helen Clifton, former World President for Women’s Ministries, was pro-moted to Glory June 14, from St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. General Clifton (Ret.) was at her bedside.

Helen Ashman was born May 4, 1948, and spent her child-hood in London growing up at the Edmonton Corps. She has

a Bachelor of degree in English Language and Literature from Westfield College, University of London, and a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. Helen Ashman married Shaw Clifton in 1967. She was a teacher before entering the International Training College at Denmark Hill, London.

Commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 1973, Lieutenants Clifton served as corps officers at Burnt Oak, North London, and served for a few months in the Literary Department at International Headquarters. The Cliftons were then appointed to Zimbabwe.

They held subsequent corps appointments in Enfield, North London, and Bromley Temple, South London,

The Western Territory’s news source for 29 years June 24, 2011 • Vol. 29, No. 11

Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2The West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Commissioning 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5A View from the Board Side. . . . . . . . . . . .10Sharper Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10From the Desk of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Life Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11On the Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Doing the Most Good

Ambassadors become officers

COMMISSIONING 2011

Arizona wildfirecontinues to burn

Commissioner Helen CliftonPromoted to Glory

n 52 Ambassadors of Holiness commissioned

BY CHRISTIN DAVISOn Pentecost Sunday, June 12, the 52

Ambassadors of Holiness were ordained and commissioned as officers in The Salvation Army as part of this year’s “Spirit Aflame” Commissioning week-

end. Pentecost—50 days following Easter Sunday—annually commemorates the descending of the Holy Spirit on the dis-ciples after the resurrection of Jesus.

In a meeting aptly centered on holiness, Colonel William Harfoot, chief secretary, presided and conducted the affirmation of faith as the session recited its declaration of belief and promise to proclaim them.

“This session of cadets came to [train-ing] as individuals called by God,” said Major Tim Foley, College for Officers Training principal, in his commendation of the session. “They came as a family of believers, each to begin their own journey and answer the call to serve as officers in The Salvation Army.”

To each individual, Commissioner James Knaggs, territorial commander, said, “We rejoice that God has called you, has equipped you and gifted you for

The Ambassadors of Holiness sing the session song during their ordination and commissioning service. Photo by Luis Uribe

On the web:

Inside:

Find more stories and features at newfrontierpublications.org

The day I heard the drumsSalvation Army officer recalls a day that would shape his future.

Annual spring festival benefits Pinehurst LodgeEvent raises thousands of dollars for women’s adult rehabilitation center.

Riding bikes to change a lifeBikers ride 100 miles to raise donations.

The General’s commissioning message to the Ambassadors of Holiness Session

FAN THE FLAME

‘Called to be God’s people’n Workshops offer practical ideas and resources for spiritual life development.

BY KAREN GLEASON

I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. …For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spir-it of power, of love and of self discipline (2 Tim. 1: 6-7 NIV).

What is the Holy Spirit saying to us? What is God calling us to do? How do we become sanctified?

Salvationists tackled these ques-tions at the Spiritual Life Development Seminar on June 11, the Saturday morning of Commissioning weekend, in workshops led by special guests Lt. Colonels Richard and Janet Munn, the principal and associate principal, respectively, for the International College for Officers and Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London. Richard Munn also serves as secretary for international ecumenical relations and Janet Munn as international secre-tary for spiritual life development.

“All over the world the gospel is bearing fruit and growing in ways never seen before,p” Richard Munn said. He acknowledged the full room at the keynote session: “This is a symbolic

FAN THE FLAME, page 8

CLIFTON, page 9

A Pentecostal ordination

ORDINATION, page 6

Salvation Army volunteers assist at an evacuation shelter. Photo by David Sherman

n The Salvation Army remains on the scene pro-viding assistance.

BY HEATHER ANDREASENStill burning across more than

520,000 acres, eastern Arizona’s Wallow Fire is now the largest wildfire in Arizona history. At one point, nearly 10,000 people

had to evacuate their homes, and as of June 21 it was just 56 per-cent contained.

The wildfire started on May 29, when an abandoned camp-fire in Bear Wallow Wilderness, located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, changed the lives of thousands of Arizona

WILDFIRE, page 4

n 2nd Chance Kids works with The Salvation Army to help kids with medical needs.

Two teenagers are seeing things much more clearly these days, thanks to help from 2nd Chance Kids and The Salvation Army.

Matthew, 13, and Amy, 16, are regular participants in the San Bernardino Corps’ youth programs. Both also struggle with poor vision.

Matthew, who will soon enter seventh grade, had never worn glasses before and was straining to read anything not inches in front of him. For him, even reading what his teacher wrote on the board was difficult.

“I would sit near the front and squint,” Matthew said. “When Kelly [Salvation Army Corps Assistant Kelly Raabe] told me they had found a way for me to get new glasses, I was so excited.”

“Both of them needed glasses, but their families could not afford them,” said Corps Officer Capt. Stephen Ball. “When 2nd Chance Kids learned about this, it paid for each of them to receive an optometrist’s exam and a new pair of glasses.”

Matthew’s mother, Dodie, said: “When I found out 2nd Chance For Kids wanted to do this, I cried. It has been so hard for me to get health care for us, let alone glasses for Matthew.”

Amy has worn glasses since she was 5, but had been wearing the same pair for the last three years. She will soon be a junior at Arroyo Valley High School.

“These new lenses help me a lot,” she said. “My old ones were scratched, and these are 20/600 instead of 20/500.”

This spring, Jimmy McDougald, founder of 2nd Chance Kids, and John Lops, president of the organization, contacted Ball. 2nd Chance Kids is a newly formed non-profit organiza-tion that provides for the medical needs of at-risk children ages 3-17.

“2nd Chance Kids has a heart for children,” McDougald said. “We want to help those who are in the most need of help.”

“When they told me about the services his organization could offer, I immediately thought of Matthew,” Ball said. “We then began looking at other children, and realized Amy also needed this kind of help.”

Other children and teens may also receive glasses or other health care equipment from Second Chance Kids, according to Ball. Second Chance Kids intends to work with The Salvation Army to help the children who have medical needs in the areas of vision, hearing, asthma and diabetes.

The Salvation Army provided transportation for both teens to their eye exams, and later to pick up the glasses.

Matthew received his new glasses in mid-May, a few weeks before finishing sixth grade at Jones Elementary School in San Bernardino. Amy received her new glasses on June 3.

From a press release

I wait for the Lord to help me, and I trust his word (Ps. 130:5 NCV).

PETALUMA, CALIF.—Despite unseasonably cool temperatures, over 100 bicyclists from across California rode in the 100-mile century ride fund-raiser in May to benefit the Petaluma Corps. The event—planned mostly by the corps’ adviso-ry board—raised $4,600. Plans are underway for next year’s ride.

“We are hoping for better weather,” Captain Barbara Schneider, Petaluma corps officer, said. “We think we will be able to have a lot more participants at the event next spring.”

PORTLAND, ORE.—On June 11 The Salvation Army continued its tradition of participating in the Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade. This year’s float theme was “Honoring Those Who Serve.”

Twelve veterans from the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard rode the float, which displayed a Salvation Army shield, made of organic materials surrounded by flowers, and American flags.

Lt. Emmanuel Masango, Tualatin Valley corps officer, represented The Salvation Army.

SHOW LOW, ARIZ.—White Mountain Outpost held its 2nd annual “Gimmee Shelter Rally and White Mountain Deuce of Clubs Motorcycle Fun Run” on Memorial Day weekend, featuring a 180-mile bike ride through the mountains, bike games and vendors.

Although heavy winds along the route brought down participation, the event gener-ated $1,000 for the outpost’s homeless and youth programs.

Planning for next year is underway and will include camping areas and motel deals.

David Sherman is in charge of the outpost.

YAKIMA, WASH.—Eighty-one nursing home residents attended the 56th annual luncheon in their honor, held by the Yakima Home League at the corps on May 5.

Themed “A Day at the Circus,” the event featured local professional clowns Oochee and Snickers.

Major Chris Morrow coordinated the event and Dorothy Woodward and Joellen Decker decorated the room. Each guest received a gift and an animal pin courtesy of Decker, Sandy Lutschg, Barb Couch and Kitty Quinn.

SAN FRANCISCO—More than 300 people attended the Pinehurst Women’s Auxiliary’s annual spring festival/fundraiser on June 4, raising almost $7,000 for Pinehurst Lodge, a women’s adult rehabilitation center. Guests especially enjoyed the cheesecake and tea café where beneficiaries spoke.

“It’s important to share these stories,” said Yvonne Daubin, president of the auxiliary, “to show how far they’ve come and the role The Salvation Army played in their journey.”

Pinehurst accommodates 24 beneficiaries and two resident managers.

HOONAH, ALASKA—Forty-one kids attended vacation Bible school at the Hoonah Corps the week of June 6.

Hoonah is a town of 850, with a strong attitude of community networking and cooperation. The early VBS worked well this year, considering summer school, other churches’ VBS programs, the annual fishing competition, and the fact that Corps Officer Major Lonnie Upshaw is moving to a new appointment in Ketchikan.

Check out a photo of the kids at http://tiny.cc/o4vmj.

June 24, 2011New Frontier2

KarenGleason

Editor

N E W S B R I E F S O F T H E W E S T

Doing theMost Good

Teens get a second chance to see

Optometrist Lien Nguyen checks the eyes of Amy, age 16, at the Colton Wal-Mart. Photo by Chris Sloan

ARC women savor the sweet lifen First-ever territorial ARC women’s retreat held at Camp Redwood Glen

BY BETH DESPLANCKE, CAPTAINIn late May, 179 women made history

at Camp Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley, Calif., at the first-ever Western Territory Women’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) retreat, led by ARC Command leaders Majors Man-Hee and Stephanie Chang and ARC women officers. At the “Sweet Life Café,” with décor resembling a 50s diner, the women could taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).

Major Stephanie Chang said, “It was only three days—short in their life-long journey of recovery—but how sweet it was to be in the presence of the Lord.”

Special guest Becky Baker—model, actress, comedian and motivational speaker—shared Psalm 4:7: He has filled my heart with joy. During her personal testimony she encouraged the women to “forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it.”

Baker said Satan likes to tell people two lies: God is not good and God cannot be trusted. “Two ways we can counter those lies,” she said, “is by having a heart of surrender and a heart of gratitude. Pursuing these virtues leads to joy.”

She introduced a Creole word, brata, meaning a bonus gift given for no rea-son. Everything is a brata, Baker said, “a bonus gift from God to make our life more joyful.”

Workshops on self-worth and self-esteem dealt with brokenness, life jour-naling, how to handle change, how to have personal devotions, relationships in recovery, understanding the differences between men and women, and God’s design for intimacy.

Amber, from San Francisco, said, “I learned even though I am broken men-tally and emotionally, God still loves me

just the way I am.”The women also enjoyed the ambi-

ance. Melissa, from San Francisco, said, “I found serenity in the beauty of tower-ing redwoods, a babbling creek and a few deer I spied once or twice crossing the pathways.”

Deflecting arrows

Delegates shared testimonies relating hopelessness, despair and bondage before they were set free.

One woman from Fresno said, “Sometimes you have to come to a point in your life when you completely surrender everything. It’s all about his timing and his will for you.” Another thanked God “for the gift of desperation that brought me to recovery and The Salvation Army.”

Major Michele Lescano encouraged the women to “not let the message of the devil’s arrows be the final word in your life” and prayed for God to deflect them.

Throughout the weekend, Major Lisa Smith led praise and worship and directed a voluntary camp chorus that performed two numbers—a brata in itself for Karen, from Anaheim.

“The women sang, ‘I know that I can make it,’” Major Sylvia Hoogstad said.

“You could see in their faces that they meant every word of it. It made my day.”

Lescano gave the Sunday message, linking John 6 with Psalm 23 and stress-ing that Jesus is all we need. “Every time you partake of the bread of life, you are being changed into your Father’s likeness, into the likeness of the divine family,” she said. “Come to the Bread of Life daily no matter how you are feeling, no matter how broken you are.”

Melinda, from Anaheim, shared, “This weekend was amazing. I now have a close, happy, loving and fulfilling rela-tionship with God. This has changed my life.”

The weekend concluded as the women broke bread together, remembering Jesus who gave his life for them.

“When we all broke bread it was so moving for me,” said Brittany, from Pasadena. “This was the first time in years I have felt God’s presence all around me; it was an amazing feeling.”

Leaving confidently, Michelle, from Anaheim, said, “This experience opened my heart to the Lord and helped me real-ize I’m not alone, and with God in my heart, I can do anything.”

Delegates to the first-ever ARC women’s retreat pose outdoors. Photo by Erica Shields

June 24, 2011New Frontier 3Doing the

Most Good

newAppointments

My first year as an officerBY RYAN MILLER, LIEUTENANT

Alaska in the spring—the white twilight of winter fades into longer, sunny days—finally!

I cannot believe so much has happened in my first year as an officer. I’ve experienced the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, includ-ing the majestic moose eating the trees in our yard.

Some days imitated the dark days of an Alaskan winter, like when the temperature warmed up to melt the snow and then froze again at night, leaving the corps parking lot a solid sheet of clear glass. With vehicles slid-ing perilously close to each, corps members bonded, forming a chain to help people ice skate to the building in their dress shoes. My life flashed before my eyes as the door of the 15-passenger van almost slammed into the side of my head, missing me by an inch. These days illustrate the difficulties and spot-light lessons learned and memories created.

However, even in the darkest days of win-ter the light dances off the snow and frost on the trees, showcasing the majesty of God’s creation. I have discovered that we choose whether we focus on the darkness or the beauty of whatever life throws at us.

As the summer sun replaces the dark days of winter, I rejoice that in my first year of officership even the dark days have a beauty and light to them—ultimately, the sunny ones far outweigh the dark ones.

The many “sunny” days encouraged us in our ministry. We were able to bring some light to a family grieving the loss of a 22-year-old mother of three, providing physical, emo-tional and spiritual stability. Added to this are sunnier days of enrolling five new soldiers of The Salvation Army Anchorage Corps—soldiers energized and excited to expand the kingdom of God. Certainly a bright moment was opening a high quality community center

Recently on

TCSPEAKwith Territorial CommanderCommissioner James Knaggs

Thank you, LordWe received a wonderful answer to prayer today...

Employee of TSA helps othersBusy as he is these days, Curtis McClean always makes time to walk the streets around his Iwilei office...

Even more candidates acceptedAn amazing 18 Candidates for Officership were accepted this week...

Find Commissioner Knaggs’ blog online at tcspeak.com

NORTHWEST DIVISIONMajor Jonathan Apuan

Chaplain—Seattle William Booth CenterEffective August 1, 2011

SIERRA DEL MAR DIVISIONCaptain David Kauffman

Associate Camp Director —Pine SummitEffective June 1, 2011

FIRST YEAR, page 10

n UCLA fraternity volunteers at Southern California’s Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center

BY DAWN WRIGHTThe men of UCLA’s Alpha Epsilon Pi

fraternity recently dispelled the miscon-ception of self-centered “Greek life” as their voices commingled with those of tiny tots at Southern California’s Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center.

The center is a state-of-the-art preschool program supporting the Westwood Transitional Village, a resi-dential housing program for homeless families in Southern California. It was “Community Service Day” for Alpha Epsilon Pi—an international Jewish fra-ternity—and 10 representatives took the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with the children.

“People hold certain stereotypes against the Greek community, so we really try to be well-rounded academi-cally, as well as give back to the com-munity,” said Josh Canter, UCLA Alpha Epsilon Pi vice president.

Within minutes of arriving, they were outside with the children, playing hide-and-go-seek, tag and basketball, racing around on tricycles and climbing the jungle gym. During lunch, each volun-

teer took a seat in the tiny toddler chairs to continue talking with the children.

The center has a special place in the heart of one Alpha Epsilon Pi who is the great-grandson of its namesake. Striving to volunteer quarterly, this was the fraternity’s second trip to the property. Last time, they volunteered at neighbor-ing Westwood Transitional Village.

Volunteers are a mainstay at the cen-ter, joining qualified child care staff in providing a nurturing and safe environ-ment for the children, many of whom

have special needs, including develop-mental delays due to disintegration of the family unit, homelessness or abuse.

The center also works with Jump Start—a work-study program at UCLA—as well as with local elementary schools, which provide pen pals for the children in addition to putting on plays.

The center is always in need of volun-teers for recreation activities and edu-cators who can teach life skills. To get involved, call 1-310-477-2772.

Big kids helping little kids

Fraternity brothers from UCLA ‘s Alpha Epsilon Pi volunteer at the Bessie Pregerson ChildDevelopment Center. Photo by Dawn Wright

n Corps invites guests to dinner and a tour.

BY STEFANIE VRAPIDozens of advisory board members and friends of The

Salvation Army attended the Yuba Sutter (Calif.) Corps’ 2nd Annual Progressive Dinner, held May 10.

The event was not a typical Army fete. Instead, it required hands-on participation—and guests needed their walking shoes! The goal of this progressive dinner was for guests to witness the progression in the lives of program beneficiaries—those people re-building their lives through services offered by the Yuba Sutter Corps. Attendees were first given a rundown of church and social services offered by the corps.

“Then we told guests to lace up their shoes and get in the van with us because we were going on a ride,” Captain Thomas Stambaugh, corps officer, said.

Diners arrived at the Transitional Housing Center and the Depot Family Crisis center—a shelter for families once on the streets and those struggling with drug and alcohol addic-tions. Along with enjoying appetizers and a tri-tip dinner, they toured the facilities.

During the tour through the two-bedroom, one-bath tran-sitional center, walkers witnessed the ins and outs of an inter-mediary house—a facility where Depot graduates can live after their treatment and experience a normal life. Many realized for the first time just how the Army changes lives.

“I didn’t know what a proper home was until I came to The Salvation Army,” a program beneficiary said while delivering her testimony to the crowd. “I feel like this is my home. I take care of it like it’s my own and I feel proud that my children get to live in a place this nice, as they have seen situations much more dire.”

At the Depot Family Crisis Center—a refurbished 100-year-old train depot—guests saw what is, for many, the first step in a long road to recovery. The Depot offers a safe place where families can stay and learn to live productive, drug-free life-styles.

“The changes you see with these families within a few short months are astounding,” Stambaugh said. “They come through our doors wrecked and rattled and they leave clean and sober with a fresh outlook.”

Guests were able to freely tour the facility, peak into dorm rooms and talk to the clients who served the meals. Applause broke out spontaneously as visitors listened to one success story after another and witnessed how The Salvation Army ministers within their community and works to improve it.

Yuba Sutter makes a progressive move

Guests are served their dinner inside The Depot Family Crisis Center by program beneficiaries. Photo by Stefanie Vrapi

Trailblazers honored

Trailblazer award recipient Paul Covington receives his plaque from Commissioner James Knaggs, Commissioner Carolyn Knaggs and New Frontier Editor-in-Chief Bob Docter during Commissioning festivities at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Other Trailblazer award recipients honored were Joseph Heston, Majors Luis and Maria Luisa Martinez and Mary Theroux.

Look for more Commissioning photos and stories beginning on page 5. Photo by Ron Toy

The WorldJune 24, 2011New Frontier4 Doing the

Most Good

Elsewhere in the world

WILDFIRE from page 1

Volunteers serve food to residents evacuated from their homes. Photo by David Sherman

n Book relates successes and failures of evangelism on “the hard side of life.”

New Frontier reviewed Meeting Jesus in vol. 28, no. 18.

Major Howard Webber’s Meeting Jesus: Inspiring Stories of Modern-Day Evangelism has been named Christianity magazine’s Book of the Year. The book, published by The Salvation Army’s UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland, was a runaway winner, receiving 82 percent of readers’ votes.

Launched in 2010, Christianity’s Book of the Year category celebrates quality, original, Christian-themed writing.

Steve Morris gave Major Webber’s book five stars in his review in Christianity.

Morris wrote: “Fred is high on drugs and doesn’t want Howard, the then Salvation Army captain, to come round to his flat because it is in chaos, rather like Fred himself. They meet, instead, in the café at a supermarket in a nearby town. But the road isn’t straight and we follow the twists and turns of Howard and Fred’s relationship—through missed promises, desperate heartache and self-destruction and final redemption.

“This book is perhaps the most extraordinary one I’ve reviewed since writing for Christianity. It is a series of stories of evangelism on the hard side of life. It is painfully honest and lists as many failures

as successes, as many deaths as new lives. It documents Howard Webber’s spiritual battles too.

“It is perhaps the most mov-ing set of accounts I’ve ever read and the most hopeful. It is all too easy to see the role of being God’s ambassadors as reduced to preaching, or set among those who we love and are safe. But this book chal-lenges us to be where Jesus would be, with the down-and-outs, with the hopeless and the broken. It looks the cost of such ministry square in the eye and carries on just the same.”

Ruth Dickinson, editor of Christianity, adds: “I want to commend Howard Webber for this great achievement, all the more phenomenal because, as a first-time author, he didn’t have the same following as the other more well known writers on the shortlist. What I loved about Meeting Jesus was the way it documented his ‘failures’ as an evangelist as well as his success stories. It’s very rare to read something so honest and so inspiring at the same time.”

Other books in the shortlist, all of which received five-star reviews during 2010, were The Best Idea in the World by Mark Greene, Mere Theology by Alister McGrath, Forgotten God by Francis Chan and Present Perfect by Greg Boyd.

Meeting Jesus is available at amazon.com.From an international news release

Salvation Army writer wins Book of the Year awardPOLAND—Seekers

at corps meetings included Gabi, from the after-school pro-gram, who began attending meetings with the youth center coordinator. Gabi responded during an altar call, and later asked about becom-ing a corps member.

Other children have made com-mitments to Christ, and a junior soldier program will soon be inaugurated—a historic step for The Salvation Army in Poland, which has requested IHQ approval and funding for the project.

Western officers Major Patrick and Captain Kitty Granat serve in Poland as regional officer and Warsaw corps officer, respectively.

NEW ZEALAND—The Army’s work in Christchurch intensified after 6.3 and 5.7 magnitude aftershocks on June 13. Bruce Coffey, Salvation Army earthquake response manager believes many residents would ben-efit from support of the Army’s psychosocial workers.

Major Darrell LePine, Southern Division secretary for program, said residents “are really stretched, as far as tension and anxiety go.”

All Army buildings are functional. Several quarters were damaged and the divisional headquarters buildings sustained cracks.

From salvationarmy.org.nz

UNITED KINGDOM—Among those “living below the line” (see New Frontier, Vol. 29, no. 9) were U.K. Territory with the Republic of Ireland leaders Colonels Brian and Rosalie Peddle, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women’s ministries, who met their needs for about $1.50 daily for five days.

Peddle wrote: “We’ve chosen to support this campaign…because there are around 1.4 billion people who are forced to survive every day on less than one pound a day.”

For more information go to salvationarmy.org.uk/id.

Gabi, her mother and Major Patrick Granat.

residents. As displaced inhabitants and business people left the area, The Salvation Army headed in.

Evacuees found temporary shelter at Blue Ridge High School in Lakeside, and The Salvation Army was called upon to provide meals. The White Mountain Outpost’s mobile kitchen was deployed, and David Sherman, employee in charge, along with several volunteers, began pro-viding three meals a day to evacuees and fire responders. One evening, they were able to serve a special meal of steak and shrimp when the Amberian Peaks Lodge in Greer donated the food—valued at more than $5,000—after they were forced to evacuate.

As the fire grew and more cities were evacuated, a Salvation Army team from Las Vegas arrived with a mobile kitchen, support truck and food service supplies.

In response to the great need created

by such a disaster, local grocery store chain Bashas’ established a partnership with The Salvation Army to collect money that would directly benefit the Army’s fire relief efforts. Additionally, Albertsons gro-cery store donated $20,000 to assist with disaster relief. Volunteers and donors also stepped up to help, providing gifts of time and money to help fire victims.

Although the fire is still burning, the shelter has closed and the Army’s focus has transitioned to recovery assistance. Jim Puza, Phoenix area Emergency Disaster Services director, said, “We will be providing recovery assistance at least until reentry into all evacuated areas is permitted.”

The Salvation Army has provided 2,700 meals, 673 snacks and 206 food boxes to evacuees.

Karen Gleason contributed to this article.

COMMISSIONING 2011 June 24, 2011New Frontier 5Doing the

Most Good

A musical rendition of holinessBY CHRISTIN DAVIS

Brengle: My Life’s Ambition, a Saturday evening musical production at Commissioning 2011, told the story of Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle featur-ing a cast of members of the Ambassadors of Holiness Session in 12 musical numbers and 10 scenes. Lt. (then Cadet) Joel Boyd played Brengle in his 20s. Lt. Col. Eddie Hobgood, program secretary for the Southern Territory, wrote and composed the musical, and played Brengle in his later years.

“This is a story of a man’s journey of surrender,” said Director Joy Lee, creative arts director for the Western Territory. “We can lose focus while we serve. Our motivations can be tainted. We want success. We want recognition. We have our own ambitions.”

The play depicted Brengle’s desire to be rich and famous before discovering that his destiny lay in the ministry of The Salvation Army. Today, Brengle is con-sidered the Army’s leading teacher on the doctrine of holiness.

“I really felt like in some ways I could relate to Brengle,” Boyd said. “As I portrayed his struggle for holiness, I was reminded of deep times of soul search-ing and pleading with God to purify my heart.”

Lee said the musical is a good reminder that God can use man when he surrenders his own ambitions.

“He has his doubts about his calling, but in the end,

Brengle:My Life’s Ambition

Right: Cadet Joel Boyd portrays Samuel Logan Brengle. Below (l-r): Cadet Jay Koebel; the cast performs a spiritied dance; Lt. Col. Eddie Hobgood portrays Brengle in his later years.

Photos by Christin Davis and Jim Sparks

BRENGLE, page 6

Display of ‘Amazing Grace’

The Pasadena Tabernacle Songsters perform scenes from Les Misérables during the “Amazing Grace” concert at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Photo by Jim Sparks

n Tab Songsters perform concert prior to international tour

BY JOY LEE“Amazing Grace,” a Friday evening

concert at Commissioning 2011 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, proved a warm send-off for the Pasadena Tabernacle Songsters just ahead of the group’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. The concert featured 60 voices in 17 songs, many from the recently recorded Amazing Grace album.

The evening’s message was clear—God’s amazing grace gives reason for all creation to sing praises, for those mourning loss to find joy and for all of humanity to be transformed by an undeserving second chance given to us through Christ.

The media, well-executed choreogra-phy and various instrumental features provided a diverse presentation of the

gospel. Every song in the two-hour con-cert was memorized and every transition well thought out in order to bring alive the message of God’s grace.

During the second half of the concert, the group dramatized highlights from the musical Les Misérables and showed an example of a man transformed by grace. It always came back to that one idea—God’s amazing grace.

Near the conclusion, each songster came forth with a piece of cardboard that listed a personal struggle on one side. Once shown to the audience, the cardboard was turned to reflect the vic-tory over the struggle and the hope the individual has in Christ. Within minutes the stage was filled with these testimo-nies of God’s working in each member’s life. While watching, you could not help but to examine your own life, to surren-der any burdens and discover newfound joy.

COMMISSIONING 2011June 24, 20118 Doing the Most Good

n Parents and mentors hon-ored at annual banquet.

BY KAREN GLEASON Each year, the Fellowship of

the Silver Star Banquet hon-ors parents or mentors of the graduating cadets. At this year’s banquet on June 10, the cadets of the Ambassadors of Holiness Session acknowledged the “stars” who shine in their lives.

Major Mariam Rudd, Fellowship of the Silver Star sec-retary, welcomed the honorees and Major Tim Foley, College for Officer (CFOT) Training principal, gave the invocation.

After Duncan Sutton led the CFOT Chorus in “Church on Fire,” Territorial Commander Commissioner James Knaggs introduced the special guests.

Commissioner Carolyn Knaggs, territorial president of women’s ministries, spoke to the guests, reflecting on 2 Peter: 1:19: And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart.

Acknowledging that the verse refers to Jesus, she recalled the journey of her own son to offi-cership, and said: “You, too, have experienced your children’s faithful response to the Lord. You have witnessed the transfor-mation of your cadet becoming, as the Scripture says, as to a light shining in a dark place.

“These new lieutenants, said

Knaggs, “are moved by the passion they have for others; they are faithful and eager to serve this generation and full of innovation and zeal—and they delight in the Word of God not only to instruct others, but also for their own spiritual formation.” Knaggs thanked the guests for their influence and support for these new officers.

Emphasizing God’s faithful-ness, Knaggs concluded, “The Silver Star represents the light of God that is coming from your family member to bring light to a dark world. This star is also a reminder that God is the light in your own heart as you lift your requests to him.”

The cadets then pinned the Silver Star on the recipients and read letters they had prepared for them.

After a prayer of dedica-tion by Chief Secretary Colonel William Harfoot, a cadet vocal ensemble sang “I Bring My Heart to Jesus.”

Those cadets whose loved ones are deceased received a white rose in remembrance from the Knaggs, supported by Major Cindy Foley and Major Beth Paugh.

This year attendees had a spe-cial treat—a preview of Saturday night’s musical drama, Brengle: My Life’s Ambition—when Cadet Joel Boyd performed a selection from the play, “Dream of My Own.”

The banquet concluded with a benediction by Cindy Foley.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE SILVER STAR

Stars come out at banquet

Cadets Matt and Vanessa Jensen with daughter Brooke and other family mem-bers pose for a photo with Commissioner James Knaggs at the Silver Star Banquet at Crestmont. Photo by Eugene Jo

FAN THE FLAME from page 1

Above: Lt. Colonel Janet Munn, International Secretary for Spiritual Development, gives the keynote address at the Spiritual Life Development Seminar. Right: Kevin Dobruck was one of two artists who painted during the conference. Photos by Luis Uribe

statement and a warning to the enemy…the West is committed to spiritual life development.”

Majors Glen and Linda Madsen, Western ter-ritorial spiritual life development secretary and associate secretary, organized the seminar. Major Lisa Smith led a praise team that contributed wor-ship music, including the theme chorus, “Fan the Flame.”

Two artists, Carole Gooch and Kevin Dobruck each created from start to finish a painting inspired by the “Fan the Flame” theme. Their completed works were displayed in the prayer rooms, which remained open 24/7 throughout the weekend.

As sin increases, grace increasesIn the keynote address, Janet Munn addressed

the question, “What is God saying to us?” She exposed global atrocities, including gender abor-tion, live infant burial and children sold into slavery, and showed how Salvationists around the world—ordinary people empowered by God—are combating these evils.

“This communicates to heaven and hell,” Munn said, “that we mean business about this war. We are a voice for the voiceless. …This is what God is doing through us in these days.”

As Romans 5:20 says, where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

Munn challenged listeners to take America for God, recalling George Scott Railton and the “halle-lujah lassies” and reminding everyone that nothing is impossible with God. She quoted General Paul Rader (Ret.), who said we have to grow stronger on the inside to battle the increase of wickedness on the outside. We must be intentional about this—we owe it not only to ourselves, but also to the world.

Munn shared the vision of the Centre for Spiritual Life Development, which commenced in July 2008:

• Every Salvationist involved in ongoing, intentional spiritual development, and

• 24/7 prayer—a day and night cry for jus-tice (SAglobal247.org).

“Indeed,” Munn said, “the great need of the times in which we live and serve urges us onward in day and night prayer.”

How long will the battle last? “However long it takes. When the Son of Man comes, he’ll find the Army on its knees.”

Spiritual Life Development workshopsAfter the united session, delegates could attend

two of four workshops, led individually by the Munns: “Call to Life Together,” which explored the biblical foundation of the people of God in community; “Call to Holiness,” which examined the idea of holiness for everyone, every part and every day; “Call to the Inner Life,” which presented a variety of spiritual disciplines that become life patterns, forming us in Christ’s likeness; and “Call to Worship,” which surveyed basic worship prin-ciples, seeking to fashion a Salvationist theology of worship.

The Munns encouraged participation, allowing time for questions and discussion.

Each of these workshops is a chapter in the book Called to be God’s People, originally published by the International Spiritual Life Commission in 1999, revised in 2008, and now coming to life and bearing fruit. The book is available for download at http://tiny.cc/ryons.

Major Glen Madsen said, “We were blessed to have the Munn’s publicly kick off the minis-try of Spiritual Life Development in the Western Territory. Their presentations were a glorious personification of the core mission of Spiritual Life Development, which is to energize all ministries and people of the Army with the grace, mercy and power of God’s presence.”

Bible Bowl 2011n Top three teams square off during Commissioning weekend.

BY IVAN WILD, MAJORNine divisions participated in the 2011

territorial Bible Bowl season with matches that were closer than ever—all leading up to the finale during Commissioning weekend.

In May, divisional winners met at Camp Gifford in the Northwest Division to compete in two-day double elimination play-offs. The purpose of the weekend was greater than the competition; it allowed time to focus on the meaning of study-ing Scripture, and to enjoy meeting and spending time with other “Bible Bowlers.”

After hearing testimonies during Sunday morning’s worship, Cari Arias,

from the territorial Youth department, said: “To find out how significantly [Bible Bowl] has changed the lives of not only teens, but also coaches, was eye-opening for me. This is not just a competition. It is a life-changing path for many people of all ages. It’s not just a program. It’s a tool for discipleship and helping others deepen their faith alongside us.”

The top three divisions—Northwest, Vancouver Corps; Southwest, South Mountain Corps; Intermountain, Fort Collins Corps—went on to the final round at Commissioning. Southwest won the semifinal round against Northwest, and then went up against the giant of Bible Bowl, five-time winner Fort Collins.

The championship match was close, but in the final minutes, Fort Collins

pulled ahead, achieving a world record of six consecutive wins.

Though Intermountain won, none of the teams were losers. The Scripture they

memorized from the Book of John will never leave them. Now the real coaching starts—to disciple these Bible Bowlers in a lifelong walk of holiness.

Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs award the Bible Bowl trophy to six time champions from Fort Collins, Colo. Photo by Ron Toy

June 24, 2011 9Doing the Most Good

CLIFTON from page 1

before appointment as divisional lead-ers in Durham and Tees Division (United Kingdom). In 1995, Lt. Colonels Clifton were appointed leaders in the Massachusetts Division (USA Eastern). Two years later, Colonels Clifton became leaders of The Salvation Army in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. While there, Helen Clifton chaired the Pakistan Territory’s Human Resources Development Board, and directed the Army’s nationwide Mother and Child Health Education (MACHE) project in Pakistan. She was an invited facilitator/con-tributor to the Army’s international Summit on Poverty.

In March 2002, Commissioners Clifton became territorial leaders of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, and then as leaders of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland in June 2004.

The Cliftons have three children and three grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place at Beckenham Crematorium on Tuesday, July 5, and a service of thanksgiving will be held at the William Booth College later the same day.

The family requests no flowers, but instead donations be made to St. Christopher’s Hospice, Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, London SE26 6DZ.

From an International Headquarters official biography and IHQ news release

Lorin Corliss was promoted to Glory on April 10, 2011—his 90th birthday.

Corliss was born to Salvation Army officer parents, Majors Lorin and Elsie Corliss, on April 10, 1921, in St. Joseph, Mo. He was the eldest of four children—Richard, Elsie (Kogler), and Janet (Roth).

Corliss served in the U.S. Air Force as an officer, instructor and navigator during World War II. He attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1949 with a degree in engineering and securing a job at North American in California.

Living in Los Angeles, he joined The Salvation Army Los Angeles Tabernacle Corps—now Pasadena Tabernacle—as his place of worship. A faithful soldier, Corliss served as assistant young people’s sergeant major, a Sunday school teacher, and a songster (for 50 years). He proudly carried The Salvation Army flag in parades and open airs. Corliss was known for helping those in need. Through the years, he assisted many widows, lending a hand with the women’s estates and giving rides to church.

Corliss met his wife, Millie (Wiseman), also the child of Salvation Army officers, at The Salvation Army Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin. They were engaged on February 14, 1951, and married that June 23 at The Salvation Army Corps in South Bend, Ind.

The couple welcomed their first daughter, Debbie, into the family two years later, followed by Donna and Sherry, and raised their children in East Whittier, Calif.

Corliss enjoyed traveling, camping,

sports and playing the playing. He was known for his friendliness,

sense of humor and generous spirit.Corliss is survived by his wife, Millie;

daughters, Debbie (Ron) Ruschmann, Donna (Jay) Schudel, and Sherry (Kent) Mitchell; his brother, Richard Corliss; and a number of grandchildren, great-grand-children, and nephews and nieces.

The Pasadena Tabernacle Corps held a celebration of life service; Major Ron Toy officiated.

Ernest Witmond, 94, was promoted to Glory on Oct. 24, 2010.

He was born in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 11, 1916. The family moved to Los Angeles and attended The Salvation Army Congress Hall Corps, where Witmond accepted Christ at age 9.

At 16, he graduated from high school and worked in his family’s laundry business during the Great Depression. He joined the Young Peoples Junior Band, played basket-ball and later became a senior bandsman. He also served as Young Peoples League assistant secretary, band sergeant and Sunday school and corps cadet teacher.

Witmond met his wife, Elga, at Congress Hall and they married in 1937. The couple was part of The Samaritan Players, a drama team that performed in churches through-out Los Angeles. They participated in the church musical sections and held weekly Bible studies in their home.

When the Witmond’s moved to Bellflower, Calif., they attended the Long Beach Corps where they were band mem-bers and Bible teachers. During this time, he worked for Douglas Aircraft until drafted

into the U.S. Army during WWII. Prior to his deployment, Witmond was hospitalized and not sent overseas. He researched the information technology field, which eventu-ally led him to computers.

Witmond worked as the Los Angeles regional supervisor for the Veterans Administration Western U.S. When the family moved to La Habra, Calif., he worked with several wholesale grocers in the com-puter departments. His final job before retirement was as a letter carrier.

The Witmond family eventually trans-ferred to the Santa Corps—now Tustin Ranch—where Witmond soldiered until his death.

He is survived by two daughters, Violet and Sharlene; four grandchildren: Kaurene, June, Wendy and Erik; and seven great-grandchildren: Kenny, Zack, Charlie, Rachel, Kaleb, Konnor and Kingston.

Tustin Ranch Corps (Calif.) held a cel-ebration of life service; Major Lee Lescano officiated.

CORPS YOUTH ASSISTANTThe Salvation Army Las Vegas Citadel Corps is seeking a youth assistant. This exempt posi-tion will assist with the organization of effec-tive youth programs, outreach strategies, the planning and coordination of The Salvation Army Youth Club & Sunday school, as well as the coordination of Jr. Soldier and Corps Cadet Classes and curriculum. This position will also participate in the Sunday services in regards to the youth programs and ensure that all the divisional youth calendar activities are carried out, as well as various other special events. Can-didates must demonstrate an active Christian lifestyle and be willing to make The Salvation Army their church home.

Please submit a resume by June 29, 2011, to (702) 870-4391. All inquiries will be consid-ered to be confidential.

Las Vegas Citadel Corps • Las Vegas, NV

Visit New Frontier online:newfrontierpublications.org

facebook: tsanewfrontier

New Frontier welcomes columnist Dick Hagerty, who has served on the Modesto (Calif.) Advisory Board since 1971—twice chairing it for a total of five years—and the National Advisory Board, currently as the only acting emeritus member.

With officer moves are upon us, it is important to recognize that the local advisory board can ease the trauma of these transitions.

I’ve witnessed the need for the advisory board in these officer transitions. We recently had an officer leave in mid-assignment, and our council did not have sufficient warning nor access to quarters to determine the status of the home that had been vacated. Sadly, the house was left in poor condition and the new offi-cer was not able to immediately take possession of the home. Following our own written guidelines on this matter would have saved both frustration and embar-rassment.

Another officer transition, in another setting some years ago, also suffered from a lapse in our transi-tional rules. Sitting with a different captain at a civic event—five months after taking command of our operations—he turned to me and said, “I have never met the mayor!” I was astounded and chagrined. How could this happen? How could it be that our officer did not know the mayor in his city? We, the advisory board, had failed in assisting the officer to get estab-lished in our community.

The National Advisory Board recently completed work on a strategic plan for The Salvation Army. As a part of that, I wrote “The First 30 Days.” Here are a few of its key steps for facilitating a successful officer transition:

• Welcome- Make certain that quarters are clean, complete

and acceptable.- Key board members should meet as soon as

possible with the new officers.- Notify all board, council and auxiliary mem-

bers of the pertinent details of the newcomers.- Meet with the officers at the corps to help

make introductions and to provide a brief overview of programs and “issues.”

- Schedule a meeting with full board and/or executive committee as soon as possible.

• Introductions- Mayor, city manager and other key city officials

at City Hall- County CEO, county officials and managers at

County Hall- Key donors who are not members of the board- Leaders of other agencies in the community

such as United Way, Red Cross, etc.- Local newspaper to meet editorial staff and

religion writer- Leading community pastors and church leaders

• Relationships- Sponsor the officer in the key service club in

the community.- Board chair and key members should make

private appointments to help to familiarize the officer with the community and its needs.

- Board members should reach out to build per-sonal relationship and support with the new officers.

The effective board recognizes that the officer will only have a temporary relationship to the commu-nity, yet must quickly be established as the leader and executive in charge during his/her tenure. The caring board will do all in its power to fulfill this task.

Contact rghagerty@aol.com for a complete copy of “The First 30 Days” or to discuss community or advisory board topics, including topics to address in this new column.

June 24, 2011New Frontier10 Doing the

Most Good

These are our peopleI remain awestruck at the power

of words. Have you ever noticed how sometimes it’s the simplest phrase that grabs our full attention and shapes change? I had one of those moments a few weeks ago, and the words still echo in my heart and mind.

It was South Asia night at the International College for Officers in London, one of five zonal nights that introduced us to the global Army and the world at large from the local per-spective of officer colleagues. On this night we listened intently to the story of the Army’s work and witness in India and Sri Lanka.

Although I’ve been able to visit, live and work in many places around the world, India has never been in the mix and I found myself breathing out a barely audible, “I had no idea,” repeatedly throughout the evening.

I had no idea that to become a Christian in India means walking away from access to government-provided social and educational assistance. I had no idea that the dowry system, which places a crippling financial burden on the family of a bride, is still widely practiced in spite of being declared illegal in 1961. And although I’ve been aware of the caste system as a social structure, I had no idea of its implications for The Salvation Army. The untouchables—the lowest of the low on this man-made scale of relative human value—are our people. I had no idea.

It’s one thing to hear a phrase once. It’s another thing to hear it five times. Five times in one evening says, “pay attention!” With both humility and persistence, our broth-ers and sisters in Christ echoed the phrase, willing us to get it: “These are our people.” Not those people, or just some people. Our people—people with whom we need to identify and for whom we need to fight. Men and women and children with intrinsic value, because they were cre-ated by the same God who formed you and me.

Our people are the people Jesus would see. The Gospel of Luke is known for its focus on the least, the lost, the last—those who in the mind of many would be declared “untouchable” because of their physical condition or social status. Yet Luke repeatedly records that the Lord saw people, these people. His were not casual glances that swept the crowd for a friendly face. I get the sense that Jesus locked eyes with those that others would look past, his gaze moving beyond the exterior and penetrating deep into the soul, transmitting courage and strength, new resolve and healing all in a few fleeting seconds.

Suffering is not unique to any corner of this globe. The toll of injustice is as relevant in the U.S. as it is in India. The question is—what are we prepared to do about it? “These are our people” must become the rallying cry of every Salvationist, wherever injustice rears its ugly head. “These are our people” is the description we must begin to use in defense of those in our cities whose lot in life has pulled them down, lower than low.

I am beginning to understand that it is not enough to deliver humanitarian services because it feels good or does good. It is not enough to see the global picture and hope things change. “Untouchable” needs to be replaced with “unforgettable” in our hearts, minds and actions. I’m beginning to understand that we need to have the courage to look people in the eye and say, “you are our people.” You belong with us. We’re in this together.

It was just a simple phrase, but I tell you, it has changed me forever.

Saramma, Sarojini, Ashok, Salve…I don’t know that I will ever fully grasp the context in which you minister daily, but I am going to keep trying, I promise! May God grant you grace and strength enough for each day.

May God bless The Salvation Army in India! Amen!

KellyPontslerMajor

Dick HagertyAdvisory boardmember

Officer moves—easing the transition

As Salvationist servants we are able to witness the transformation process of those we serve. We rejoice when we see one who had once lived in a gut-ter be transformed through Christ, to now stand before us in uniform, boldly witnessing to a life-changing experi-ence. Also marvelous is seeing a young person who has grown up in the ranks of The Salvation Army, certain of the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, rejecting the “ways of the world.”

The caterpillar often symbolizes the miracle of transformation: this tiny creature fashions, by God’s design, a cocoon within which it metamorphoses into the beautiful butterfly—free of the shackles that kept it bound.

In this past year I have gone through somewhat of a “transformation” myself—both physically and spiritually. As you may observe from my recent photos, I’ve changed a little! I’ve had to get used to people greeting me with shocked expressions on their faces and words like: “Wow! I didn’t recognize you!,” “You look so different” and of course my favorite, “you look so much younger!” At first I was a bit embarrassed by all the attention and frankly puzzled by it, asking myself, “Well, what did I look like before?” But lately I’ve just been enjoying the looks on faces and the kind words expressed.

With this in mind, I began to wonder what folks in Jesus’ day thought and said about the people transformed

by his healing touch. Did they say to Mary Magdalene, “You look so different,” following her release from seven demons? And when the man cured of leprosy was restored to his family, were shocked looks on people’s faces as they gazed upon his transformation? These people were made new!

And what about you? Do others see a life transformed by the “renewing of your mind” and the power of Christ’s love? When people look at you, do they know that something is “different” about you—and want to make a change in their own life, too? Paul, in Romans 12, writes about transforma-tion that sets us apart. The Message expresses it like this:

So here’s what I want you to do, God help-ing you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offer-ing. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, devel-ops well-formed maturity in you (Rom. 12:1, 2).

Transformation

SharronHudsonLt. Colonel

a view from the Board Side

that people are excited about, that will empower them and lead them to a life-saving relationship with Christ. Happily, through all of this we were able to do everything as a family.

When certain situations careen around us, sliding out of control like we did on the ice sheet on the corps park-ing lot, we can give thanks that we have people who can help us press the brakes and from a chain to lead us to solid ground. We can always take firm foot-

ing in the knowledge that even Christ who lived on this earth a short time was able to confidently say, “it is finished” on the cross, even though he had multi-tudes of people to lead to the Father.

We rejoice that we are able to fall into the arms of Christ and know that in our future years of officership our calling will be sustained—through Christ and the Spirit’s guidance we will be able to fulfill the mission of going out and making disciples.

A year into officership, sitting in the sun enjoying the beauty of Alaska, I am completely amazed at the wonder-ful time I’ve had this first year. Even though I know more dark winter days will punctuate the sunny ones, I eagerly look forward to many years as an offi-cer of The Salvation Army. I know that whatever life throws at me, the sun will always shine through.

FIRST YEAR from page 3

As I write this, it’s June 21, 2011, at 10:16 in the morn-ing in California. This beautiful star on which we ride, this magnificent home where we reside, finally achieved its annual maximum tilt, a 23.4 degree lean in relation to the sun, and our hemisphere turned its face fully into its warmth. At this exact moment our summer solstice began and ushered in its own season.

Sirius, the dog star, shines more brightly than any other star in the heavens. At this time of the year it rises and sets in conjunction with the sun and ushers in what we call “the dog days of summer”—supposedly, the 40 hottest and mug-giest days of the season. This year they fall between July 3 and August 11.

The dog days tend to produce an easy ennui in each of us. Focus turns else-where. Time crawls. Absent “hurry” has left for vacation. A single sunbeam searches out a pathway through the spreading shade and radiates the glory of the roses bursting their bounty on a nearby bush. The bees, undeterred in their tasks, dutifully fulfill their obligation to the garden, pollinating the products of spring and singing their own song of summer.

The long, lovely summer afternoons slowly meld into evening as the pleasant cordiality of a day resisting night spreads its hypnotic vapors, and “genial friend-ship plays the pleasing game of interchanging praise” (Oliver Wendell Holmes).

Gershwin found the mood best.

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high. Your daddy’s rich and your mamma’s good lookin’, So hush little baby, don’t you cry. One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing, Then you’ll spread your wings and you’ll fly to the sky. But till that mornin’ there’s a’nothing can harm you With daddy and mamma standing by. Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’, and the cotton is high Your daddy’s rich and your mamma’s good lookin’, So hush little baby, don’t you cry.

Even with their optimism and hope, Porgy and Bess suffered through their own tragedies.

Not everybody finds the “livin’ easy” these days, either. Many live within the experience of crushing disappointment—of achievements terminated in a new-found poverty, of homes foreclosed, of federal unemployment compensation ended, and of continued rejection of full résumés. The pain of undeserved fail-ure makes breath itself difficult through unspoken sobs. Roles in the household reverse. Medical plans hitched to employment vanish. Building new skills to sell and honing old skills with new information consumes them. More and more, they accept the dangers of isolation to avoid an unearned sense of shame.

New graduates from high school find no work. They do find, however, extreme difficulty in achieving admittance to any college regardless of honors recently received. Even if admitted, they find the classes needed unavailable due to overenrollment. We failed to provide space, and promises evaporated.

No, the fish may be jumpin’ but someone else harvests the high cotton. But families love each other. They practice the power of practical empathy and

band together in support whether or not “daddy’s rich.” Mamma’s still “good lookin.’”

Love enjoys the summer. Its fragrance spreads a pleasant pain in regions of the heart as boys finally find the courage and the will to talk to the most beauti-ful girl in the world. His halting voice stammers an invitation. She turns toward him. She’s perfect in every way imaginable. Her eyes dance to a tune of welcome. Her voice sings as pure as gold. Her posture reveals no fear. Her words flow in iambic pentameter. Her copper skin glows and a sweet, sweet smell contributes to the separate worlds they inhabit together.

“That would be fun. I’d like that,” she says.His legs almost collapse as they walk away together, talking and smiling. Soon,

he takes her hand.One summer, 58 years ago, I met Diane. She still triggers the same pleasant

pain in regions of my heart.

Diane …

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

William Shakespeare – Sonnet 18

June 24, 2011New Frontier 11

Memory testCommissioning 2011 is

now a distant memory. The Ambassadors of Holiness are well on their way—fly-ing, sailing or driving to exotic destinations from Juneau to Oceanside, and San Francisco to Greeley. They are energized by excitement, filled with anticipation and ready to win the world for Jesus. They have received masterful advice, exhor-tation and encouragement from a rich vari-ety of experts and are about to put two years of intensive training into practice.

But how much of that advice, exhortation and encouragement do they remember? I admit with a little shame that having heard many sermons and lectures in my life, I don’t remember much about any of them. Confess it now, how many sermons can you recall? Not many, I suspect!

Over 100 years ago, German psychologist Ebbinghaus wrote that we only remember 20 percent of what we hear. He also revealed the “forgetting curve,” which shows that most of the information we hear is lost within 20 minutes!

I dredged my brain to find a memora-ble sermon and only a couple came to the surface: John Gowans’ famous three-legged stool sermon and Doris Noland’s farewell message at Santa Ana, which was, “sit down, shut up and keep rowing!” A lot of people recall bits of sermons, usually funny illustra-tions, and will tell you they still remember the “monkey” sermon or the one about “Billy and Bob surrounded by wolves.”

The best advice, exhortation and encour-agement I ever received did not come from a sermon. Colonels George and Joy Church shared it on the day my wife and I were appointed auxiliary captains. Over lunch George gave us the advice that has been indelibly engraved on my psyche and has guided me so well for the past 18

years. He said, “Just remember these three things: preach the Word, love the people and keep the receipts!” We laughed, but the advice stuck and I’d like to pass it on to the Ambassadors of Holiness and anyone else who cares to read it:

Preach the Word is self-explanatory but most important. God’s Word changes lives, so make that your focus. Keep the Bible at the center of your messages and your life, and help people understand what it means to them today. Paul told Timothy, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction (2 Tim. 4:2).

Love the people doesn’t need much expla-nation either. Sometimes this will be a chal-lenge—some people are unlovable. But isn’t that our creed? “To love the unloved, never reckoning the cost?” It’s the single most vis-ible sign that we belong to Christ: If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12).

Keep the receipts simply means be a per-son of integrity. Transparent leadership must be your motto. Never fudge your expenses, don’t claim for anything you didn’t do or shouldn’t have and make sure that you can back up everything with clear documenta-tion. Paul instructed Timothy that church leaders must be above reproach and have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Tim. 3:2,7). It’s easy to say and not so easy to do, unless you live up to your name, Ambassadors of Holiness.

Now go and win the world for Jesus.

Doing theMost Good

RobertDocterEditor-In-Chief

Summertime

IanRobinsonMajor

Name

address

City

state Zip

phoNe

Send this coupon along with your check or money

order for $15.00 payable to The Salvation Army to:

Arlene De Jesus/Circulation Department

P.O. Box 22646, 180 E. Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802.

$15.00 PER YEAR

2911

Have New Frontier delivered to your mailbox for just $15.00 per year. That’s just $1.25 per month for the Western Territorial news you need. Don’t wait. Subscribe today.

lifeLines

New Frontier is published twice a month by The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Commissioner James Knaggs, Territorial Commander Colonel William Harfoot, Chief Secretary

We welcome submissions of news stories of interest to the Western Territory. If you have something you’d like to share, submissions can be

sent electronically to: new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org

or by postal service to: New Frontier, P.O. Box 22646, 180 E. Ocean Blvd.Long Beach, CA 90802

The editor reserves the right to edit material submitted. Articles should be roughly 300 words in length.

editoriaL staFFrobert L. Docter, Editor-In-Chief • 562/491-8330email: bob.docter@usw.salvationarmy.orgChristin Davis, Managing Editor • 562/491-8723 email: christin.davis@usw.salvationarmy.org Karen Gleason, New Frontier Editor •562/491-8332email: karen.gleason@usw.salvationarmy.orgBuffy Lincoln, Associate Editor • 562/491-8329email: buffy.lincoln@usw.salvationarmy.org LayoUt & desiGN/adVertisiNGKevin Dobruck, Art Director • 562/491-8328email: kevin.dobruck@usw.salvationarmy.orgAdriana Rivera, Graphic Designer/Web coordinator • 562/491-8331email: adriana.rivera@usw.salvationarmy.orgCirCULatioNArlene De Jesus, Circulation • 562/491-8343email: arlene.dejesus@usw.salvationarmy.orgnew.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.orgmember - eVaNGeLiCaL press assoCiatioN

New Frontier online: www.newfrontierpublications.org

Facebook: tsanewfrontier

subscribeNow

Brengle musicalDear Editor,

I attended the musical Brengle: My Life’s Ambition at Commissioning in Cerritos last week. The musical was amazing and well pre-sented, but I absolutely loved the quartet by the soloist secretaries to Brengle. What a blessing that number was to my ears and my soul.

I want to know if there will be a CD soundtrack available for that presentation.

Dana BardonSacramento, CA

Pasadena Songsters on tourGreetings from Australia. Tonight we

have witnessed the most wonderful program from the Pasadena Tab Songsters and their accompanists.

The Brisbane City Temple was filled to overflowing with Salvationists and friends. We came with an expectation that the Holy Spirit would not only envelop the the song-sters and congregation but would descend on each of us.

Truly we were not disappointed. The eve-ning was of the highest standard. To each of the organizers, songsters and leaders, thank you; we were truly blessed.

Graeme RoweGold Coast Temple

Queensland Australia