thesouthernspiritA publication of The Salvation Army Southern TerritoryVolume 33, No. 3February 29, 2016

DOING THE MOST GOOD

Jeremy Rowland and the South-ern Territorial Band tuning up for a new CD and an appearance at the Western Territory’s North America Brass Celebration this spring. Story, page 1.

Photo by Laura Dake

The Salvation Army1424 Northeast ExpresswayAtlanta, GA 30329www.uss.salvationarmy.org

PRSRT First ClassUS POSTAGE

PAIDPermit 1037ST MTN GA

thesouthernspirit

SOuTHErN TErrITOrIal MISSION STaTEMENTSalvationists of the USA Southern Territory are

answering God’s call to make radical followers of Jesus Christ who love inclusively, serve helpfully and disciple effectively

in the communities where they live.

EDITORIALCommissioner Donald Bell, Territorial Commander

Colonel Bradford Bailey, Chief SecretaryLt. Colonel William G. Mockabee, Publisher

Dan Childs, EditorBrooke Turbyfill, Publications Editorial Coordinator

Laura Poff, Writer-ReporterCecily Carson, Circulation Manager

Published by The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory1424 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30329

Phone: (404) 728-1300 Fax: (404) 728-6734e-mail: Dan_Childs@uss.salvationarmy.org

All materials are copyright of The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory and cannot be reproduced without

permission.

For further information, or to donate, please visit:www.uss.salvationarmy.org

DOING THE MOST GOOD

thesouthernspiritDOING THE MOSTGOOD

Volume 33, No. 3 A publication of The Salvation Army Southern Territory

A little help fromour friendsAdvisory boards and women’s auxiliaries are a crucial part of The Salvation Army’s effort to fulfill its promise to do the most good ... Pages 4 & 5

Bringing new blood into the Army sphereEchelon is involving young professional adults who want to contribute to the community through The Salvation Army...

Page 3

A ministry that countsMike and Regina McGraw reflect on the conclusion of their years of building and nurturing The Salvation Army’s broadcast ministry ...

Page 7

February 29, 2016

M

www.uss.salvationarmy.org

news inbrief

M

Please see TERRITORIAL, page 2

NEW THQ EMPLOYEES BRING SUPPORT TO FIELD

ASBURY HOSTSDISCIPLESHIP EVENTAsbury University hosted a weekend discipleship conference the final weekend of January that brought together Salvationists from across the nation.“Growing Saints: a Conference for Salvation Army Discipleship” included workshops, breakout sessions and corporate prayer. Discussion topics included imagination, youth ministry and the preeminence of love in the theology of John Wesley.General Paul Rader, former international leader of The Salvation Army who also served as Asbury president, delivered the keynote address.

By Dan ChildsSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

ay 2016 will be an eventful time for the Southern Territorial Band. The band will release its first recorded collection

since 2013’s “A Beautiful Savior” before embarking for the Western Territory and the North American Brass Celebration.

The new CD, titled “War and Peace,” will reflect both the martial spirit and meditative side of life in The Salvation Army. It will be comprised of 10 compositions, with five of those written by territorial band current members

Southern Territorial Bandtunes up for a big spring

Nick Simmons-Smith, Steve Kellner, Andy Barrington and former member Jim Curnow.

The content will be wide-ranging with classic marches, a new take on an old beloved hymn and a cornet quartet featuring Jeff Barrington, David Delaney, Lars-Otto Ljungholm and Manny Muñoz. Jason Hathorn, Clarence White, Tom Hanton and Matt Broome will be the featured players on a trombone swing arrangement by Simmons-Smith, the bandmaster.

“I like variety,” said Simmons-Smith, who is also the territory’s

Frederick, Maryland, Pathway of Hope helps multiple generationsBy Brooke TurbyfillSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

orrissa Travers has known Beverly Banks for nearly 10 years – since she’s been coming to the Frederick, Maryland, Corps to

participate in Christmas assistance. Yet Travers, a caseworker at the corps, said it’s only been since Banks was accepted into the Pathway of Hope initiative that she’s gotten to know her.

“This (Pathway of Hope) is getting to really know the person and knowing what’s going on in her family dynamics,” Travers said. “Before, I just saw her one time every October to fill out a Christmas application and wasn’t really getting time to talk to her or figure out what’s going on with the family.”

When the Banks family began Pathway of Hope – a national social services initiative rolled out in the USA Southern Territory last spring that aims to end generational poverty – they needed more than just help at Christmas. Beverly Banks, the head of household, had several adult daughters, who lived with her along with their own children. Beverly was unemployed and didn’t have career aspirations; one of her daughters, Chrissy, was also struggling socially and didn’t know how to read.

Banks’s “big goals were to get her car

fixed, to get her GED and get a full-time job,” said Lieutenant Mike Michels, corps officer. While he admits Banks made some mistakes along the way, she was quick to rectify them. He also said that apart from getting her GED, she achieved her goals and had met all the Pathway of Hope assessment guidelines in order to graduate on Feb. 19. “She is definitely to the point that she is ready to graduate. She believes in herself.”

Banks is employed full-time, has a car and, at first, was saddened to hear she was graduating; she and her family have been attending corps services regularly and the grandchildren are involved in

the Frederick Corps character-building programs. She was afraid she’d have to stop all that. Once Lieutenants Mike and Cathy Michels told her they were welcome in the corps and its programs, she felt much better about graduating. She and her daughter Chrissy are even starting a Bible study together because of all they’ve learned. Lieutenant Michels said Chrissy has come out of her shell and is “soaking up the sermons. It’s nice to know that we’re making an impact across the board. The corps family has opened their arms to the kids and . . . these kids now have an outlet and they’re

Hope for the entire family

Please see FREDERICK, page 7

(L-R) Major Art Penhale, Maryland-West Virginia divisional commander, POH graduate Chrissy Breeden, Beverly Banks, Lieutenant Cathy Michels and Lieutenant Mike Michels.ARMY IN FIJI RESPONDS

TO WINSTONCyclone Winston devastated parts of the Pacific nation of Fiji overnight on Feb. 20. With winds exceeding 200 mph, and 30-foot waves, Winston was one of the most severe weather systems ever to hit the southern hemisphere. At least 20 people were killed, and thousands moved to evacuation centers. The Salvation Army established 10 such centers in Labasa, Ba, Nadi, Sigatoka, Suva Central, Raiwai, Lomaivuna, Nasinu, Saweni and Lautoka.

(L-R) Southern Territorial Band members Jeffrey Barrington, David Delaney, Lars-Otto Ljungholm, Manuel Muñoz and Sara Elliott are shown during recording session.

Laura Dake

February 29, 20162

mycalling

promotedtoglory

thejobboardLead corps accountant

Bradenton, FloridaThe Bradenton Corps is looking for an experienced lead corps accountant to serve as lead worker by supervis-ing and participating in the performance of comput-erized double-entry bookkeeping tasks requiring ba-sic knowledge of fund accounting; apply fundamental bookkeeping knowledge and skills to varied book-keeping tasks such as posting, checking entries, issu-ing checks, balancing accounts and preparing financial reports for assigned accounts; prepare and maintain financial records in an accurate, complete and timely manner while ensuring the integrity, security and ac-countability of Salvation Army financial accounts. For questions about the position or to apply, please con-tact Jennifer Underwood (Jennifer_Underwood@uss.salvationarmy.org).

Lt. Colonel Elsbeth Frierson was promoted to Glory Feb. 3, 2016. Her funeral service was held Feb. 8 at Atlanta Temple Corps. Speaking words of tribute were Commissioner John Busby, Irene West, Lt. Colonel Mary Ward, Major Marion Durham and Commissioner

Merlyn Cooper. Commissioner Raymond Cooper brought the message. The burial was at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.

Beth was born Aug. 3, 1935, in Rockville Centre, New York, to officer parents, then Captains John W. and Elsbeth Busby. In 1939, the Busby family was appointed to the Southern Territory. After graduating from Atlanta’s Henry Grady High School, Beth attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After teaching school for a year, she entered officer training from Atlanta Temple. She was commissioned with the Pioneers session of 1959 and appointed to assist in Macon, Georgia.

She married Captain Alvin Loy Frierson Nov. 26, 1959, and they served as corps officers in Birmingham, Alabama, and Columbus, Mississippi. In 1964, they were appointed to the Texas divisional staff, and while they were there adopted a newborn son whom they named John Mark Frierson. In 1967, the Friersons were appointed to the Virginia and Southern West Virginia divisional staff, followed by an appointment to territorial headquarters in 1970.

Beth worked for 24 years in the Territorial Women’s Department and continued to serve there for more than 15 years following the Friersons’ retirement in 1994. Beth was a delegate to the 1990 international congress and attended the Brengle Institute in Chicago.

An Atlanta Temple soldier described Beth as the most gentle person she had ever met. Known for her hospitality and charm, for many years she hosted the Atlanta Temple Home League women for an afternoon tea at the Southern Bible Conference.

Lt. Colonel Loy Frierson was promoted to Glory in 2010. Beth is survived by son John Mark (Sandra), brother Commissioner John Busby and sisters Irene West and Lt. Colonel Mary Ward.

Captain Beth Swyers

I never wanted to be an officer. For years as I was growing up as the child of officers, I saw the daily difficulties my parents faced. I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted a nice car, and more importantly, I wanted to never move again.

I started college and started preparing myself for the life I wanted to lead. In the summer of 1998, I had the wonderful opportunity to be on the summer service team to Moldova. It became such a summer of clarity for me. When you enjoy socializing as much as I do, sometimes the Lord has to take you to a place where you have

I heard God’s voice so clearly in the silence

to listen instead of always talking. That place for me was Moldova.

We spent a lot of time that summer in personal devotions and devotion time with our team. I learned to wait and listen upon the Lord. In the silence of the summer I heard the Lord speak to me quite clearly about his plans for my life. They definitely didn’t correlate

with my plans. I came to see that

even though officers face difficulties, they don’t face them alone. I knew that if I wanted to be obedient, I needed to follow the Lord’s plan. When I came home from Moldova. I changed my major so I could finish college in a year. Then in 1999, I entered the School

for Officers Training. A day has not gone by where I have questioned that decision. Even though I have faced many hardships and challenges these past few years, the Lord has always remained faithful. As it turns out, I actually enjoy moving every few years.

The Scripture the Lord shared with me that summer was Philippians 3:9: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ. When you give up everything for him, you gain so much more.

Commissioner William Robert Henry Goodier was promoted to Glory Feb. 3, 2016. His funeral will be held March 6 at the Clearwater, Florida, Corps.

He was born on May 23, 1916, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the son of William Norbury Goodier and

Ethel Annie Hargrave. His great-grandparents were among the earliest pioneer officers of The Salvation Army dating back to 1865.

While a soldier of the Montreal Citadel Corps, Bill met Salvation Army officer Renee Laura May Tilley, whom he married Sept. 16, 1936. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Bill entered officer training in 1940. After his commissioning in 1940, Probationary Captains Bill and Renee Goodier were assigned as corps officers of the Miami Edison Corps in Florida.

The Goodiers later served in corps in Augusta, Georgia, and in Lakeland, Florida. Divisional leadership appointments followed in Kentucky, Texas, Washington, D.C., Maryland and North/South Carolina. They were appointed to Southern Territorial Headquarters, where Bill was public relations secretary, and later chief secretary. In 1974 he became the national chief secretary for the USA.

In 1975, Commissioner Goodier was appointed as territorial commander of Australia’s Southern Territory, and in 1977 General Arnold Brown appointed him as territorial commander of the USA Eastern Territory. In 1977 and 1981, Commissioner Goodier served as a member of the High Council of The Salvation Army, and in 1981 was elected by the High Council as its president.

The Goodiers retired in 1982 after 41 years of active service and moved to North Redington Beach, Florida, where they lived for 28 years. In 2010 the Goodiers moved to Largo, Florida, and the following year celebrated 75 years of marriage. Renee was promoted to Glory in February 2012.

Commissioner Goodier is survived by daughter Joan E. R. (Campbell) Robinson; son Lt. Colonel William R. N. (Mary Lee) Goodier; son Robert G.E. (Christine) Goodier; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; nieces and nephews and their families.

Continued from page 1music secretary. So we tried to have something for everyone, old and new, classics and blues.”

The tracks for the new release were recorded in mid-February in Atlanta. Phil Bulla, a Grammy Award winner, is mixing, mastering and engineering the recording. Dr. Ron Holz will write the program notes and performed quality control work on the recording. The southernterritorialband.com website will eventually include devotional thoughts on each song.

Upon its release in May, “War and Peace” will be available through iTunes and the Supplies and Purchasing Department.

The North American Brass Celebration, meanwhile, will take place May 21 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California. Along with the Southern Territorial Band, the festival will feature the Canadian Staff Band, the Chicago Staff Band and the New York Staff Band. The event will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Western Territory Staff Band.

Each band will perform in concert on that Saturday afternoon, and those performances will be followed by an evening concert featuring the massed bands. On Sunday, each band will minister at corps in the Los Angeles area.

The Columbus, Georgia, Corps welcomed the Southern Territorial Band as special guests for its holiness service on Feb. 14. The band was joined on the visit by Lt. Colonel William Mockabee, executive officer, who brought the message in the service.

One of the highlights of the service was a sensitive solo: “Prayer for Courage,” played during prayer time by Jeffrey Barrington, brother of the arranger of the solo, Andrew Barrington. The band’s praise team, led by Matt Broome, also led worship, and the corps’ singing company performed for the first time.

Captain Matt Cunningham, Columbus corps officer, has arranged with Columbus State University for music majors from the school to come into the corps and work with its young bandsmen and songsters on music fundamentals.

Lt. Colonel ElsbethFrierson

Commissioner W.R.H. Goodier

Territorial band

Columbus Corpswelcomes STB

Hearts and craftsThe Valentines party put on by the Greenville, South Caro-lina, Women’s Auxiliary warmed the hearts of the women’s and children’s shelter, men’s shelter and men’s rehabilita-tion program. The auxiliary provided arts and crafts for the kids and their moms as well as homemade treats and candy. The women also baked muffins, cupcakes and cookies and shared the goodies with the people in the women’s and children’s shelter, men’s shelter and men’s re-habilitation program. The reaction by the women and chil-dren at the party was heartwarming. The kids experienced a moment of happiness and their mothers appreciated the reaction of their chilldren. The men’s reactions ranged from smiling gratitude to tearful thanks because someone took the time to bake cookies and treats for them.

February 29, 2016 3

Chris Flanagan of the NSC Division brings the viewpoint of young adults into the mix as a member of the Territorial Soldiers Ideas, Needs and Concerns council.

By Laura PoffSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

A new type of advisory board that initially developed as a junior women’s auxiliary in Dallas is spreading across the nation as corps seek ways to engage millennials in Salvation Army fund raising.

During their time as area commanders in Dallas, Majors Ward and Michele Matthews were aware of the National Advisory Board’s concern over an inability among local boards and auxiliaries to attract younger members.

The Dallas Women’s Auxiliary decided to take matters into its own hands, inviting one member’s granddaughter, Michelle McAdam, to start a junior women’s auxiliary that would engage young twenty-something women who would eventually become members of the auxiliary program.

With a $75,000 donation from the women’s auxiliary, McAdam held the first meeting with 15 of her college classmates. By the second meeting, the group had grown to 40 members.

After one full year, the junior auxiliary members asked Majors Matthews if the group could be expanded to include young men as well. The Matthews agreed, and from there the group morphed into a young

professionals organization soon to be labeled Echelon, a name and brand developed with the help of the Richards Group.

Since then, several chapters have opened across the nation as young professionals with a desire to give back recreate the success in Dallas.

Echelon is now a fully-formed organization with bylaws and elected positions. Each position is held by both a male and female counterpart. Each chapter also includes a chaplain who takes every opportunity to bring the word into fund-raisers, volunteering opportunities and simple get-togethers.

Now in its sixth year, the Dallas chapter has seen several changes in leadership as young professionals often relocate to pursue career and educational goals. As they move onto new cities, many members have begun seeking opportunities to start Echelon chapters in their own communities.

“They had a focus from the start that this would be bigger than themselves,” Major Michele Matthews said. The Dallas chapter paid for and developed the national website, leaving room for other chapters to add their own page. They also created a handbook with information on how to start an Echelon chapter.

The formation of Echelon was

driven by existing board members and young professionals who wanted to get involved in the corps. Major Michele said that element is crucial to the success of any chapter.

“It’s not going to be the same if it’s officer-driven,” she said. “You need young people with that passion and vision.”

For years Millennials have been portrayed as a selfish, me-centered generation. Major Ward said he found that is not the case, as evidenced by the hundreds of young adults who flock to annual events and monthly gatherings at the Dallas corps.

“They want to add meaning and significance to their lives and have found that they can do that through Echelon and still have a good time,” he

said. Both officers stressed the importance

of support from existing board members who can offer mentorship and guidance as needed to the young adults who will hopefully one day take their place.

Echelon members age out of the program at 35 and many of the Dallas chapter’s founding members are closing in on this age. Major Ward suggested that they might create an intermediary group for those under 50 to keep them engaged in the middle ages as well.

“The hope is that they will join a council or board or women’s auxiliary,” Major Ward said. “You need constant renewal.”

For more information on Echelon, visit salvationarmyechelon.org.

Echelon bringing new blood into leadership roles

By Laura Poff SOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

The Territorial Soldiers Ideas, Needs and Concerns committee (TSINC) gained its first young adult representative when Chris Flanagan was appointed to the role in 2014. Since then, he’s pushed for several young adult initiatives and tried to be a voice for the

find the right person with maturity that represents young adults well and can sit in a room with other adults and be able to prove their worth at that table.”

Flanagan is the youth evangelism and outreach coordinator for the North-South Carolina Division, which became the first Southern division to have young adult representatives on its DSINC board when Gessica Chadic and Aaron Jackson were installed earlier this year.

“They have strong voices,” he said. “They are both able to speak up on behalf of our young adults, and that’s what matters – that you are able to be at that table and have a voice.”

Flanagan has used his seat to educate and encourage representatives about existing young adult initiatives and ministries that they can take back to their divisions and local corps. He has worked with Jovannie Smith, territorial young adult coordinator,

to support programs like Mind the Gap. Flanagan has been encouraged by the enthusiasm and support that the board has shown for young adult ministry.

“They really care about young adults and want to effect change for young adults,” he said. “It’s cool to see older people say that, and that’s comforting to think about for the future.”

Though TSINC has never excluded young adults, adding Chris to the team was an intentional move to ensure consistent representation where it was lacking. He says that this move shows a strong desire among leadership to engage with and listen to the generation that will one day step into leadership roles.

“It shows that The Salvation Army recognizes the ability to change for young adults,” he said. “Just because you have a seat at the table doesn’t mean that they have to follow everything that you say, but the fact that they are willing to listen is huge.”

TSINC getting fresh, young adult perspective

The first service event of the year for the Dallas Echelon chapter is serving dinner at the Dallas Adult Rehabilitation Center.

By Brooke TurbyfillSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

The Greenville, South Carolina, Women’s Auxiliary – only in existence for one year – has come up with an innovative fund-raising idea that could easily “pop up” anywhere.

The Greenville Auxiliary Attic Pop-Up Shop began to take shape when the auxiliary members donated gently used, high-end items such as clothing, purses, furniture and home décor last fall. Those items are then sold in a shop that can be assembled anywhere, in this case, the Greenville Corps.

Major Melody Davis, corps officer, said the sale – which took place in October – was first extended to

invitation-only pre-sale shoppers. Those shoppers had the opportunity to win door prizes, and an auxiliary emcee featured a special item every 15 minutes. Pre-sale shoppers dined on appetizers and shopped their way through the pop-up boutique.

The following day, the pop-up shop was open to the public. As the main fall fund-raising event that the auxiliary

does, Major Davis said it “was a lot of fun and a great success,” one that they plan to duplicate – and expand – in 2016.

During the final weekend in September, the auxiliary boutique will pop up again with more items and a vendor fair to expand what is sold. All proceeds from the annual

Greenville auxiliaryis off and running withinnovative boutique

fund-raiser go toward The Salvation Army’s Women and Children Refuge in Greenville. “It is our goal to supply support, in a variety of ways, to each ministry that our area command has,” said Sarah Byars, auxiliary president.

For more information on pop-up shops, contact Major Melody Davis at Melody.Davis@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Pop-Up Shops’proceeds benefitArmy refuge forwomen, children

Pop-Up Shops could be assembled almost anywhere across the Greenville area.

needs of young men and women across the territory. His latest project is to convince each division to appoint at least one young adult representative to the committee’s divisional counterpart, DSINC, before his tenure ends.

“It is kinda tough,” Flanagan said. “You’ve got to

February 29, 20164

Alabama-Louisiana-MississippiBirmingham, Alabama,Advisory Board Florence, Alabama,Women’s AuxiliaryTop: Advisory Board members get into the spirit of the season, ringing bells with their families.Bottom: Joanne Jefferies and Jane Shirley selling tickets to the Empty Bowl Luncheon

Arkansas-OklahomaNorthwest ArkansasWomen’s Auxiliary Central OklahomaAdvisory Board Left: Ladies on the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Auxiliary baked cookies for a recent event.Right: Advisory board member Ryan Frace helps out in the Salvation Army food pantry.

GeorgiaMetro Atlanta Women’s Auxiliary Rome Advisory BoardLeft: Ladies on the Metro Atlanta Wom-en’s Auxiliary stuffed stockings at Christ-mas for kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Atlanta.Right: (L-R) Captain Douglas McClure, David Hunter (lifetime advisory board member) and Mark Kozera (board chair-man) at the Holiday Can-A-Thon.

FloridaLakeland Advisory Board Jacksonville Women’s AuxiliaryLeft: The Lakeland Advisory BoardRight: A few founding members of the Celebrity Chef Fundraiser (L-R) Sally Evans, Rita Joost and Darlene Unger

Women’s Auxiliaries & Advisory BoardsThe USA South’s auxiliaries and advisory boards work hard. Find out how they’re doing the most good.

Along with highlighting the Birmingham Advisory Board, area commander Major Bob Parker wanted immediate past chairman Jim Gorrie to be fea-tured. Gorrie has led the capital campaign to raise over $11 million of the $15 million goal before the campaign even went public. A 10-year Birmingham board veteran, Gorrie is also a

One of the premiere events of the Florence, Alabama, communi-ty is the annual Empty Bowl Luncheon – organized by the Shoals (Florence) Women’s Auxiliary. The 12-year-old event has raised a cumulative amount of nearly half a million dollars. Empty Bowls, a registered trade name, promotes hunger awareness and money is raised through ticket sales, shops and a silent auction. “Guests enjoy soups and breads provided by more than 60 local restaurants and bakeries. Either a handmade ceramic bowl or cross is given to each guest to keep as a reminder of the meal’s purpose,” said Susanne Wadsworth, auxiliary president. Major Sharon Raymer, women’s ministries director, said the women are the “most hard-working and dedicated group of Salvation Army volunteers that I know.”

The Northwest Arkansas Aux-iliary is a brand new auxiliary, yet divisional com-mander Major

style items, ask friends and fam-ily for donations for the cause and spend hours refur-bishing furniture and collectibles to sell. In 2015, the ladies doubled their 2014 proceeds, raising $10,885. The auxiliary’s goals at this event are to raise funds, bring about awareness of the treasures at Family Stores and inform the com-munity about what their donations and purchases support.

The Central Oklahoma Area Com-mand recently conducted a capital campaign

to build the new Center of Hope. The Central Oklahoma Advisory Board was instrumental in that and is active in the Benevon model of raising the community’s awareness of The Salva-tion Army. The model involves hosting tours of the Center of Hope weekly, where board members invite friends to tour and those friends later attend what they know as an “ask” event, where funds are raised for the Army.

The Metro Atlanta Women’s Auxiliary is very active and well-rounded in its service –everything from serving ARC beneficiaries to area command. Yet they envision more – they will soon organize events for Haven ATL and expand their reach in other areas. Major Casey Cunning-ham, women’s ministries project coordinator for

Atlanta Area Command, said, “The truly amazing and humbling factor of this auxiliary is its prayer power.” She added that auxiliary president Dawn Menear has been integral and forward-thinking in expanding membership.

The Rome, Georgia, Advisory Board has advanced the Army mission for 128 years, and has in the last few years, seen a sharp increase in board member involvement. The board also recently facilitated the first Advisory Board and Women’s Auxiliary Retreat. Chairman

Mark Kozera’s leadership helped the board acquire a kettle chairman that reduced the workload of the officers and staff, get volunteers to serve 770 hours of kettle service and implement a development committee to establish the 365 shelter campaign.

The Lakeland, Florida, Advisory Board led the way for the capital campaign of the first phase of the George W. Jenkins Community of Hope campus. They also just helped acquire a grant from the State of Florida for the construction of a disaster warehouse on the Jenkins complex.

The Jackson-ville, Florida, Women’s Auxil-iary is celebrating 30 years of Celebrity

new National Advisory Board member. He declined the first time he was asked to serve on the local board, but later ac-cepted. “The more I witnessed the work of the Army, the more I felt called to join in,” he said. “When the second invitation was given, I accepted and feel like I have received far more than I have given.”

Steve Morris calls them a “group of go-getters” with a strong desire to do things right. They host a booth at the

annual Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show, helping sort items in the Family Store warehouses to find “boutique”

Chef, an event featuring food tastings from local celebrity chefs, a major fund-raiser held March 30. The auxiliary has 114 members, actively recruits new members and serves countless volunteer hours, inspiring many.

February 29, 2016 5

Kentucky-TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee, Women’s Auxiliary

Nashville, Tennessee, Advisory BoardLeft: Auxiliary members Tina Roberts and Jan Sawyer enjoying Christmas Tea FundraiserRight: Nashville Advisory Board member, Walker Mathews

Maryland-West VirginiaCentral Maryland A/C Women’s AuxiliaryPrinceton, West Virginia,Advisory Board

National Capital-VirginiaWaynesboro, Virginia, Advisory BoardNational Capital AuxiliaryLeft: (L-R) Dr. Mick Andersen and Danny Leech install a new Waynesboro Corps sign and flagpole.Right: (L-R) Susan Kreamer, Sheila Stabile, Major Jacqulyn Reckline and Dottie Mergner.

North-South CarolinaGreenville, South Carolina, Women’s AuxiliaryColumbia, South Carolina, Advisory Board

Left: Columbia Advisory BoardRight: Members of the Greenville Auxiliary serve Valentine’s treats to shelter residents.

Texas Tyler Advisory Board and Wom-en’s AuxiliaryLeft: (L-R) Tony Morgan receives the Bean Counter Award from a friendly CPA competitor who battled to see who could raise the most kettle funds. Right: Installa-tion of the new 2015-2016 Tyler Auxiliary officers.

Women’s Auxiliaries & Advisory BoardsThe USA South’s auxiliaries and advisory boards work hard. Find out how they’re doing the most good.

The Memphis, Tennessee, Wom-en’s Auxiliary has approximately 500 members, and they serve consistently at the VA hospital, in shelters conduct-ing Bible studies and at the Mid-South Adult Rehabilitation Center. Auxiliary president Susan Madden said that just 18 months ago, they started the Give,

Pray, Serve Squad (GPS). Its aim is to get high school students involved in volunteerism (ring-ing bells, working at Angel Tree warehouse, wrapping gifts, bak-ing cakes for the ARC, hosting a back-to-school fair and attend-ing monthly family fun nights for the shelters) in the name of The Salvation Army. “Today it has grown to over 200 student members. These young people

are volunteering all over our communi-ty. Best of all,” said Madden, “they are thinking ‘Salvation Army’ at an early age which we hope will transfer into their adult life.”

Having previ-ously served as chairman of the Nashville, Ten-nessee, Advisory Board between 2013 and 2015, Walker Mathews understands not just what goes on behind the scenes of a successful board, but also the heart that goes into the service. Major Jim Arrowood, divisional commander, said Mathews has been “a tremendous asset to the Army for years.” Mathews has a particular passion to serve Angel Tree families. He volunteers to interview clients and adopts angels every year. He has personally continued to support

the Angel Tree families by providing for children needing braces, paying for college and other financial needs.

Captain Jason Per-dieu, corps officer, said the Waynes-boro, Virginia

With a flagship fundraiser being the 67-year-old fashion show, the National Capital Women’s Aux-iliary raises upwards of $100,000 annually for min-istries such as Turning Point, a transitional hous-ing program for mothers and children and Camp Happyland. Last year, the group raised $150,000 for such needs as Easter baskets for the kids at

The Columbia, South Carolina, Advisory Board has helped to reinvent The Salvation Army in the Midlands of South Carolina. In the last five years, United Way funding has increased from $17,000 to more than $350,000 per year. The meals service to the homeless and

thousands of dollars were donated for Salvation Army disaster relief work.

New to the auxiliary network is the Greenville, South Carolina, Women’s Auxiliary. As the state’s flagship, and first ever, auxiliary, the group hit the ground running upon its inception one

year ago. Seventy members strong, they volunteer weekly; some teach an art class at the women’s shelter while oth-ers transformed an area into a prayer garden at the shelter. One member – a doctor – sponsored a couch-to-5k for women at the shelter to promote a healthy lifestyle.

hungry has grown from preparing and serving one to three meals per day – breakfast, lunch and supper – an average of 18,000 meals served per month. The board’s support helped the growth process during the Midlands’ “1,000-year flood” in October 2015 when hundreds of

Turning Point and Solomon G. Brown Corps, an endowment education fund for the Turning Point participants and a camp endowment. Past presi-dent Deborah Push insists on putting the “fun” in fund-raising and appreciates all the auxiliary does.

Some of the ways that the Tyler Ad-visory Board serves are by leading Angel

Tree volunteers; soup drives; tutoring for the after-school program; providing

transport for resi-dents in the William and Catherine Booth Apartments; and free movie nights for children as well as free eyeglasses for residents. Financial support has replaced worn furniture and provided Christmas toys for children through sponsorships during the annual golf tournament.

From its beginnings in 1985, the Tyler Women’s Auxiliary has grown from 21 to 380 members. Fund-raising projects total in the millions

of dollars and are year-round: Games Day, U.S.O. Show, fashion show and multiple-day sales during the spring, fall and Christmas seasons.

Advisory Board is just over two years old, headed by board chairperson Teresa Gauldin. Property and store committees have made steady improve-ments on the family store and corps signage, and the board actively volunteers with Angel Tree and kettles. “We are blessed that our advisory board has really bought into the mission and message,” said Captain Perdieu. “One of our board members, Harold Cook, has even made The Salvation Army his church and will be enrolled as an adherent.”

The Cen-tral Mary-land Area Command Women’s Auxiliary in Baltimore has had a strong,

ery office except treasurer during her tenure and she raises $6,000 annually by influencing friends and family to donate towards Christmas stockings for older children. “She also consis-tently writes personal thank you notes to all of our donors on a monthly basis,” said Major Rebecca Hogg. “We have credited her to helping increase our top level donors by 10 to 15 per-

cent. She averages about 500 notes per quarter.”

The Princeton, West Virginia, Advisory Board is also buoyed by a long-serving member in Jake Hatcher, the oldest living World War II veteran in West Virginia. Major Art Penhale, Maryland-West Virginia area com-mander, said Hatcher is still very actively serving the board.

enduring 91-year-old force behind it in Anne France since 1988. She’s held ev-

February 29, 20166

Commissioning 2016June 3-5, 2016 Atlanta, Georgia

Friday, June 310 a.m. Commencement Atlanta Temple Corps

Dr. Sandra Gray, Asbury University, will speak2-4 p.m. Men’s conference Atlanta Temple Corps registration12 noon Silver Star Luncheon THQ (By invitation)

Commissioner Debi Bell will speak6 p.m. Men’s conference Atlanta Temple Corps beginsSaturday, June 48:30 Men’s conference Atlanta Temple Corps morning session12:15 p.m. Men’s conf. lunch Atlanta Temple Corps1:30 Men’s conference Atlanta Temple Corps final session4 p.m. Long Service CEPAC Recognition Dinner7 p.m. World Service, SSC CEPAC & EBC presentationSunday, June 59 a.m. Ordination and CEPAC Commissioning

Colonel Wayne Maxwell will speak2:30 Appointment service CEPAC

Commissioner Don Bell will speak

More than 1,000 kids and leaders are expected for the National Jamboree for Girl Guards and Rangers to be held at Huzzah Valley Resort in Steelville, Missouri, July 10-15. It will be the first nationwide gathering of Guards and Rangers in more than 20 years and is being held in celebration of 100 years of Girl Guards in the U.S.

Wanda Newton, territorial boys and girls work director, has been working on planning the event with a team from all four territories for the past three years.

It is her hope that delegates

“will get to meet kids from all over the U.S. and experience nature at its finest.”

Kids and leaders will camp out in tents organized by divisions but all in close proximity to each other. The week will begin with a county fair to help delegates get to know people from different parts of the country. Similar to the Boundless pin exchange, each division will be expected to bring an item representing the unique culture of their home state which they can trade with people from different regions, collecting one item for each person they meet.

Rafting, canoeing, archery, tubing, pellet gun and fun challenges will all be offered onsite. Delegates will also spend one day at the Meramec Learning Ranch for team building exercises, obstacle courses and a high ropes challenge. By the end of the week, the Guards and Rangers will be more independent, having learned also to prepare their own meals, and will, Newton hopes, have the opportunity to participate in activities they might never be able to do at home in an environment that is safe and fun.

If you’re interested in attending the National Jamboree, talk to your corps officer. Registration costs $250 and all delegates must have completed sixth grade and be at least 12 years old. Emblem requirements also apply. For more information, visit youthdownsouth.org.

Laura Poff

Army youthleaders prepfor Jamboree

The Forum in Rome, Georgia, rocked and rolled with a booming voice as the Rome Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary hosted its first annual “Making Memories to Make a Difference” Sock Hop fund-raiser to benefit the greater Rome area Salvation Army children’s programs. The auxiliary in Rome, Georgia, sure knows how to put the FUN in fundraiser for people of all ages. “This is the first of what we hope to be many more successful fund-raisers for The Salvation Army,” said Moni Owen, auxiliary president. Catered by Steak ‘n Shake, ham-burgers and milkshakes were flowing as leather jackets and poodle skirts streamed into the perfectly decorated ballroom. Hit after hit from the 1950s played to the thrill of partygoers.

Facilities Planning ConferenceThe Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens

Pine Mountain, GeorgiaSept. 12-15, 2016

For more information and registration, visit: www.ussthqproperty.org

Who should attend?Attendance should include divisional secretaries and professional staff responsible for property matters in their divisions, facility managers of Salvation Army properties, field of-ficers, advisory board members who serve on property committees and anyone interested in obtaining a better understanding of Salvation Army property processes, procedures and best practices for effective facility management, design, construction and operation.

Questions?Contact Katie Baxter (404) 728.6700 x10438katie.baxter@uss.salvationarmy.org

Rockin’ in Rome

Korean officers and cadets from across the Southern Territory met at Evangeline Booth College for the second 2 Degree Change Conference. The conference, hosted by the Territorial Intercultural Department, set leadership, youth and adult programming, evangelism and the upcoming National Korean Ministry Consultation as its discussion topics.

Korean officers from seven of the Southern Territory’s nine divisions gathered to discuss and evaluate the Korean ministry in The Salvation Army, addressing the church’s health,

Korean officers setministry strategies

the evolving diversity of our communities and the challenges that churches face in reaching out to a diverse society. The conference was a follow up to the first such gathering to map out strategies for Salvation Army Korean ministry, held in 2013.

In the conference’s main sessions, Captain Samuel Kim of the Stuart, Florida, Corps led a session on a Korean perspective of intercultural ministry, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah spoke on evangelism and Lt. Colonel John Needham, territorial personnel secretary, spoke on challenges of cross-cultural leadership.

Korean officers of the Southern Territory exchanged ideas about ministry in culturally diverse com-munities.

February 29, 2016 7

By Laura PoffSOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF

When Regina McGraw started working for The Salvation Army THQ in 1982, she was a newlywed just looking for a temporary job while she got settled in Atlanta. She started out in the Community Relations Department under the direction of Major Leon Ferraez, who told her she would spend some time each week working with the Radio Ministry Department as well.

“I found the job to be wonderful,” McGraw said. “It was very intriguing for me because it gave me an opportunity to be a part of something that got the gospel out around the world.”

As the ministry grew, Regina joined the Radio Ministries Department full time. Soon after, her husband Mike, who was working as a music teacher, joined the department as well, heading up production while Regina managed the marketing and business.

The pair, who soon became synonymous with Salvation Army radio, retired earlier this month after more than 30 years of service for Regina and 28 for Mike.

“In the beginning with radio ministries we had just a few stations on reel-to-reel tape and it was just Regina and I and the secretary,” Mike said.

“Wonderful Words of Life” (WWOL), the most popular program of the department, began in 1955 and became national in 1975. For many years, this 15-minute program was the entirety of radio ministries until in the early 1990s, when the culture and technology shifted dramatically, prompting many changes under their leadership.

In 1992, a Spanish language version of WWOL was created, called “Maravillosas Palabras de Vida.” Then in 1996, a one-minute program called “Heartbeat” was created in response to the need for short soundbites and lowered attention spans among radio listeners. In 2000, a Spanish language version of this program, “Latido” was also created.

In 2001, WWOL moved online and in 2003, all of the programs soon joined it. In 2005, WWOL was awarded the NRB milestone award for 50 consecutive years of broadcasting. In 2013, the Soundcast app was launched, from which all programs can be streamed on mobile devices.

Even as the technology has changed, the work has remained consistent.

“We are continuing to get out the unchanging gospel,” Regina said. “Everything else changes, but the essence of the gospel does not.”

Over the years, Mike and Regina have received countless letters from listeners around the world who were touched by their programming and ministry. The radio programs reach remote areas of the world

where many other media cannot. After all of these years, many of these notes have faded or been misplaced, but some signs of the scope of their work have remained. Regina turned to the filing cabinet behind her desk and retrieved a worn cassette tape, sent in to her in 1993, more than 20 years ago.

“We received this little cassette tape in the mail from a listener in Thailand,” she recalled. “After he made the cassette tape, he talked about how much he was ministered to by the program and how much he appreciated the program. Being blind and living in Bangkok, he couldn’t get out much. His whole contact with the outside world seemed to be through the radio.”

Listener mail and testimonies reflect the driving force of the McGraws’ combined

McGraws bid farewell to ministry that countsHusband-wife teamreflect on 30-plus yearswith radio outreach

(Left) Mike and Regina McGraw recently retired after their long association with Salvation Army radio ministries “Wonder-ful Words of Life,” “Maravillosas Palabras de Vida.” “Heartbeat” and “Latido.” (Below) The McGraws are pictured with the radio ministies team from the mid-1990s. L-R, unidentified engineer, then Captain WIllis Howell, Major Henry Arrowood, Ernie Bangs, Regina and Mike McGraw, Major Jorge Booth and Major Jim Hylton. (Bottom) Commissioner Phil Needham and the McGraws are shown at a 50th anniversary celebration of the radio ministry in 2005.

50-plus years of service: to advance the mission of The Salvation Army around the world and to serve others.

“I think if you can do everything that you do with The Salvation Army’s mission statement in mind then you will be successful in The Salvation Army,”

Regina said. “It’s been thrilling; it’s been a great ride. Our passion for the ministry has not waned at all. If you’re going to live your life, you’ve got to live it for something that counts, and we believe that this counts.”

Continued from page 1learning.” And through the Pathway of Hope partnership with the Literacy Council of Frederick County, Chrissy has learned to read.

“Now she’s able to read a level one book by herself,” said Travers, “and she’s more confident. She talks more – she will tell you everything that’s going on with her; she’s made a lot of progress.”

The next step for the Frederick Pathway of Hope initiative is to hire a full-time caseworker that can be devoted just to POH families

and to garner more partnerships in the community. Travers said she’s already in contact with two families who are awaiting initial interviews for POH, and the corps hopes to partner with Second Chance Garage and the local bus system. Second Chance Garage takes in donated cars, fixes them and sells them to low-income families, and Travers said some families will be able to ride the bus to their appointments once they’ve gotten a discount ticket partnership going. She’s also thankful to the Sheets Convenience

Store for donating a year’s worth of gas cards to help the Banks family get back and forth to their appointments.

Because Travers also works with regular social services clients, she said it’s a marked difference in seeing the Pathway of Hope clients because they’re coming in so often that she sees them not just at their point of emergency, but also on regular days when they are calm and collected. They tend to open up more because they’re not so stressed – they have hope.

Frederick clients glimpse new hope