LAKE HAVASU, ARIZ.—Major Larry Feist is race track chaplain at Havasu 95 Speedway where he has formed strong relationships. Recently he prayed for Street Stick Driver Dave who has lung cancer, although he never smoked. The last PET scan astounded doctors; it showed fewer lesions with several shrinking significantly. Soon after, Dave won the track championship for his class. He lost all his hair, but gained faith!

Major Larry and Captain Julie Feist are the corps officers.   

SEATTLE TEMPLE, WASH.—The Catherine Booth House for domestic violence victims wanted to send kids from the shelter to camp this summer, but had no camping items. The Seattle Temple Home League provided nine new sleeping bags, 12 hygiene kits and several handmade fleece blankets to the shelter so the kids could attend.

Major Ron and Ronalee Fenrich are the corps officers. 

PORTLAND TABERNACLE, ORE.—The corps hosted a Rose Center block party to reacquaint seniors with their services. The senior line dancing group performed, as well as a believeable Elvis impersonator. Approximately 300 people attended.

Lt. Raymond and Major Nancy Dihle are the corps officers.

ROSWELL, N.M.—The corps is holding its third season of Friday night open-air meetings on the Chaves County courthouse lawn, where recently 24 corps members served 100 people between 7-10 p.m. Several gave testimonies of deliverance from drugs.

“I went to the enemy’s camp and took back what he stole from me,” said one individual.

The group also prayed for a couple considering divorce.

Captains Ramon and Amanda Perez are the corps officers.    

LANCASTER, CALIF.—During the Powerhouse wildfire on June 3, the corps delivered food and water to first responders and evacuees, and stocked the evacuation center with toiletry items.

“Thankfully there has been no loss of life and all the other service organizations are really pulling together,” said Captain Carlos Souza, Lancaster corps officer. “We will be checking in with the first responders and the evacuation centers for as long as this fire burns and will respond to whatever need arises.”

WESTERN TERRITORY—The New York Staff Band recently completed a tour of the West. Watch and listen to their concert at the Torrance (Calif.) Corps via onlinecorps.net; scroll down the home page to the “Specials” section.

The Western Territory’s own Laura Fyn (Foley) is a band member, with her husband, Adam.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule” (Matt. 5:3 MSG).

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO—Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Mayor Sandi Bloem, who after 12 years in office won’t be seeking re-election, recently spoke about what has influenced her…and it’s The Salvation Army.

“The work with the Salvation Army—which I didn’t know much about before working with the Kroc Center—truly changed my life,” she said, “watching the people I [worked] with in the Army, their dedication, their commitment to what they’re doing, their sacrifices of what they’ve made giving their lives to others.”

MODESTO, CALIF.—On a visit to The Salvation Army, 7-year-old Ben Parker noticed the people waiting to receive a meal. He learned that the Army would feed about 200 people.

Returning home, he and his brother Jed put a picture of a red shield on a coffee can and labeled it, “Ben and Jed’s Can of Hope.” They started accepting donations and by the next day, they already had $9.

Lt. Colonels Richard and Bettie Love are the corps officers.

STOCKTON, CALIF.—Corps members volunteered at a Salvation Army booth during Stockton’s annual three-day Asparagus Festival. They shared information about the Army and its programs in San Joaquin County.

The award-winning festival—the largest charitable special event in California—has donated over $5.8 million to date to 129 charities that volunteer each year at the festival.

Captains Cristian and Rebeca Sibaja are the corps officers.

BELLINGHAM, WASH.—The corps’ social services director, Cathy Dearman, visited a corps member who was dying in a nursing home. The woman had been unable to speak for several years, and her family was unsure of her salvation. Dearman knelt by her bed and prayed the salvation prayer for the woman. At the end of the prayer, the woman miraculously spoke, saying, “I know him.” Shortly afterwards, she was promoted to Glory.

Majors James and Beverley Lloyd are the corps officers.

SAN FRANCISCO—New Frontier recently printed a story about Envoy Roger McCort, in-charge at the Lighthouse Corps, and his online sermons. Until then, his posts brought in about 900 listeners each month. Since the story ran, the podcast “attendance” rose 36 percent. Just two weeks after the article appeared, over 1,400 listeners showed up in the monthly report—an increase of 500 listeners!

YAKIMA, WASH.—The Home League held its 58th annual Nursing Home Luncheon, themed “Angels All Around.” This event began with 11 women and has expanded to over 100. Home League Secretary Dorothy Woodward has been to all but one of the luncheons.

Captain Dawn Smith, corps officer with her husband, Jack, led the program, Major Kathy Sargent gave the message and Joanne Sargent played piano for a singalong.

PUEBLO, COLO.—Corps members visited 40 patients at the Pueblo Veterans Administration Nursing Home on March 30. One man, a World War II Purple Heart recipient and POW, hadn’t come out of his room for several days. Excited about the visit, he emerged, thanked the visitors and requested a weekly worship service.

Envoys Jim and Rose Mertz are the corps leaders.

LEWISTON, IDAHO—The corps, led by Captains Ralph and Margaret Guthrie, welcomes Young Life to meet weekly in its youth center; almost 50 youth and about 17 leaders attend. Some of the group’s leaders have attended the corps’ Sunday service.

The corps is also building a connection with the Northwest Children’s Home. The young people’s sergeant-major, who works there, has brought a few of the teen boys to the youth center, and recently four youth from the home attended worship service; one of them participated as the day’s drummer.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIF.—A community member wrote to the Peninsula High School principal about how she observed a young man stopping his car to assist an elderly lady who fell in front of the school. She provided the car description and license number, and the school tracked down Keegan Wild, Peninsula High senior and Torrance Corps soldier.

Wild was driving home when he saw the woman falling. He stayed with her until she was ready to walk to the bus, and he escorted her there.

EL CENTRO, CALIF.—The corps, led by Captains Jerry and Vicky Esqueda, held two open-air meetings every day during Holy Week, outside the corps and the thrift store. More than 100 individuals attended each day.

On Easter morning, corps members, dressed in Bible costumes, walked the annual one-mile March with the Cross. Drivers honked their horns and slowed down, paying tribute to the cross.

DENVER, COLO.—Intermountain Divisions’ 13 “Front Range” corps sent 226 people to join Denver Harbor Light and Denver Adult Rehabilitation Center for Good Friday services, themed “Stations of the Cross.”

A Bread and Broth service—“Do This in Remembrance of Me”—followed, organized by Captain Julie Brown, divisional women’s ministries secretary, with more than 25 homemade butters and cream cheeses, 20 different breads and toppings including raspberry-jalapeno butter, orange marmalade, honey pecan and garlic-onion cream cheese.

SUISUN CITY, CALIF—The Daily Republic newspaper listed the top “power couples” in the Fairfield-Suisun City area, with Corps Officers Captains Jonathan and Vickie Harvey in fifth place.

Winners were based on both members having independent power.

“An exception to the different-areas-of-power rule, [the Harveys] are co-leaders of the Kroc Center in Suisun City—a huge job at a king-sized place that makes a colossal impact in the area,” said Brad Stanhope, Daily Republic writer.

Read the story at http://tiny.cc/avcnvw.

Karen Gleason, Editor

BEAVERTON, ORE.—In March, Jason Zacher ran 100 miles—from Portland to Lincoln City—to raise money for two charities, including The Salvation Army Veterans and Family Center in Beaverton. He ran the “Angels Flight 100” in about 23 hours.

Donations are still being accepted for a wheelchair ramp and a handicap accessible shower. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army Cascade Divisional Headquarters, 8495 SE Monterey Ave., Happy Valley, OR 97086, with “Angels Flight 100” in the memo line.

Richard Stoller is director at the Veterans and Family Center.

MONTEREY, CALIF.—Coffee Mia in Marina, Calif., celebrated five years of successful business with a gift to the Monterey Peninsula Corps. Business owner Horace Mercurio wanted to honor his deceased mother, Gloria Mercurio, who served for many years on the corps’ advisory board, holding many offices including chairperson. Mercurio held a birthday party raffle and was able to present a $400 check to the corps.

Majors David and Gaylene Yardley are the corps officers.

EL CENTRO, CALIF.—Corps Officers Captains Jerry and Vicky Esqueda reported that a newly-married couple called the corps to inquire if The Salvation Army does marriage counseling. After hearing more about the Army, the couple came to the Sunday service. At the altar call, both of them came forward to receive the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

WRANGELL, ALASKA—The Adventure Corps Rangers are working on the lifesaving badge. Captain Debra Davis, corps officer with her husband, Ronnie, arranged for the group to take a CPR/first aid class with the local fire department. Five teens and three adults participated and are now certified.

Guardian Flight (an air ambulance service) provided a grant to fund the class. The gentleman processing the grant remembered being helped by The Salvation Army and was eager to provide the assistance.

ANTIOCH, CALIF.—The corps celebrated the one-year anniversary of its new building on March 3 with a celebration including a brief history of the corps’ early days. It originally opened in 1887, but closed in 1890. In 1991, 101 years later, the work reopened, first as an outpost of the Concord Corps and then as a corps. Since then, it has grown and now conducts programs for all ages and provides social services to Antioch and the surrounding Delta communities

Majors Neil and Beth Saunders are the corps officers.

MODESTO, CALIF.—Salvation Army youth director Wade Patton and seven kids from the corps, ages 7-12, created a full-color activity brochure and assembled 60 bags of candy to give to children who come to the corps’ social services office, hoping to interest them in the corps programs and activities.

Lt. Colonels Richard and Bettie Love are the interim corps officers.

LEWISTON, IDAHO—Each week the corps, led by Captains Ralph and Margaret Guthrie, welcomes Young Life to meet in its youth center; almost 50 youth and about 17 leaders attend. Some of the group’s leaders have attended the corps’ Sunday worship service.

The corps is also building a connection with the Northwest Children’s Home. The young people’s sergeant-major, who works there, has brought a few of the teen boys to the youth center, and recently four youth from the home attended worship service—one of them participated as the day’s drummer.

MODESTO, CALIF.—Salvation Army youth pastor Wade Patton and seven kids from the corps, ages 7-12, created a full-color activity brochure and assembled 60 bags of candy to give to children who come to the corps’ social services office, hoping to interest them in the corps programs and activities.

Lt. Colonels Richard and Bettie Love are the interim corps officers.

 DENVER—After watching “Courageous,” a movie depicting police officers dedicating their lives to God and showing it in everyday life with their wives and children, most of the men from the Denver Adult Rehabilitation Center indicated their desire to make the same commitment.

Chaplain Major Wes Sundin started a Restoration class and held a dedication service with each man receiving the same certificate as in the movie. The men meet weekly for accountability and to encourage and pray for each other.

PHOENIX—The Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center will hold its first Easter Eggstravaganza March 30, featuring an Easter egg hunt, parade, music, games, Easter bunny tea party, splash pad and refreshments. The games will include a sack race, egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow, water tower and Easter egg toss.

Majors Guy and Denise Hawk are the corps officers.

WRANGELL, ALASKA—Since The Salvation Army’s past Easter egg hunt on the nature trail was so successful, this year the corps will have it downtown with the help of the local businesses. The Chamber of Commerce is excited to help with the event.

Captains Ronnie and Debra Davis are the Wrangell corps officers.

CARSON CITY, NEV.—Lieutenant Mark Cyr, corps officer with his wife, Leslie, has been appointed the official clergy for the Nevada State Senate. So far he has given the invocation at three different sessions.

AURORA, COLO.—During the corps’ ministry at a local prison, 161 women inmates attended the service, and 23 gave their lives to Christ. After the service, two prison guards asked some questions and upon hearing the answers, then gave their lives to the Lord as well.

Lieutenants Randy and Sheryl Skelton are the Aurora corps officers.

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF.—The corps teamed up with American Red Cross Bay Area to shelter 19 people, including four children, who were displaced by a fire in East Palo Alto.

Captain Andres Espinoza, Sr., is the corps officer.

SAN DIEGO—Community Care Ministry participants Mary Johnson and Joy Romey celebrated Valentine’s Day at the Centre City Corps, serving a meal to over 100 homeless people. Men from the Lighthouse program and teenage boys from McAlister Institute helped them.

Afterward, they had a friendship circle with their helpers, who reported following through on a previous challenge to contact their mothers and express their love, and to do something helpful for a woman they didn’t know. They also brought a long-stemmed white rose for both Johnson and Romey.

And this is what he promised us—eternal life (1 John 2:25 NIV).

PHOENIX, ARIZ.—Phoenix Advisory Board member George Flores received the Sally Award at a volunteer appreciation luncheon. A board member for 10 years, he served as chairman for two years and provided a steady hand at the helm during the development of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and the redevelopment of the Herberger Center.

TURLOCK, CALIF.—The corps was voted “Best Community Organization” in the 2012 Turlock Journal Readers Choice poll. Mayor John Lazar also issued a proclamation honoring Corps Officer Major Debi Shrum for over 10 years of guidance and spiritual inspiration to her congregation and for her dedicated participation in many church and community projects.

CARSON CITY, NEV—After an apartment fire displaced several families, the corps was able to provide them with emergency housing in a local hotel.

The family living in the apartment where the fire started could not move back in, so, working together, The Salvation Army, a local agency and another church helped them secure a new apartment.

Lieutenants Mark and Leslie Cyr are the corps officers.

SAN PEDRO, CALIF.—The Archstone Foundation granted $20,000 to The Salvation Army’s Sage House, a program for dependent older adults and their caregivers. Monday through Friday, it provides free pickup and dropoff, nutritionally balanced meals, medication distribution, case management, intergenerational activities, computer-based memory improvement activities, and social activities for low-income older adults. It also offers caregiver relief and off-site caregiver support groups.

The grant will fund the program for one year, serving 80 older adults and 170 caregivers.

Captains Aurelio and Ligia Ambriz are the corps officers.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—A young woman came to The Salvation Army for mandated community service hours. She worked in the kitchen for a month, and when she completed her required hours, she stayed on as a volunteer. Soon after, the woman obtained a full-time job at Red Robin as a line cook. She said she has The Salvation Army kitchen to thank.

Majors John and Judy Bennett are the corps officers.

DENVER, COLO.—The Denver Mattress Company donated $110,000 to the Intermountain Division through its 13th annual holiday campaign. The company matched every dollar donated to The Salvation Army within the areas of Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, as well as San Angelo, Texas.

Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Dan Starrett said, “Through the generosity of our partners, The Salvation Army was able to provide 23,650 nights lodging for Denver’s homeless.”

By Karen Gleason, Editor

MODESTO, CALIF.—The Salvation Army honored Jerry Morris, retiring as director of homeless services after 22 years. Morris received national honors for his social service work. Hundreds of clients—known as “Jerry’s kids”— asked for him by name.

Viewing his job as a ministry, Morris believed he should tithe his time as well as his money. Whether in the social services department or at the Berberian Homeless Shelter, he always had a good attitude, a smile, and often a song.

Captain Michael and Major Beth Paugh are the corps officers.

TUCSON KOREAN, ARIZ.—In 2012, the corps committed to reading the Bible through in a year, and 10 soldiers met the goal. The habit is catching on, and this year more soldiers are starting to read the Bible every day. Lts. Eric and Amy Park are the corps officers.

DENVER—The Centennial Home League is making cancer care pillows for breast cancer patients who have had mastectomy or reconstructive surgery. Project Director Julie Ewert and Corps Officer Captain Stacy Cross appeared on the local TV show “Colorado’s Best” to speak about the ministry. The publicity generated donations for material for the pillows, which are free and made with care and prayer.

SALT LAKE CITY—The corps, led by Majors Richard and Deborah Greene, recently began soldiership preparation classes with six students; two came through family services and the Christmas program, and one is an employee. An eight-week study on gifts of the Spirit is also underway; 16 attended the first class. The number of attendees is almost half of the number who worship on Sunday.

LODI, CALIF.—The corps conducted a series called “Living Debt Free, God’s Way of Handling Money, Tired of Being Broke,” which covers debt, counsel, honesty, giving, work, saving and investing, and children. The source material, from Crown Ministries, implements Scripture references and weekly budget exercises. The corps also helped a shelter client reconcile with her children, obtain a full-time job and secure an apartment.

Captains Martin and Tory Ross are the corps officers.

PUEBLO, COLO.—Envoy James Mertz invited semi-retired businessman Harvey Smith to join the advisory board; he accepted and has helped the corps save money on maintenance expenses. He also connected the corps to two local radio stations that provided free promotion for the Red Kettle campaign. Smith invited one of his employees, Robert Garduno, to the corps. The young man is now responsible for the audio-visual ministry, assisting in Sunday worship.

CORRECTION—An item in the Frontlines column of the Jan. 18 edition of New Frontier was incorrectly attributed to the Klawock (Alaska) Corps; instead, it was the Kodiak Corps. New Frontier apologizes for this error.

ANACORTES, WASH.—One Monday, a man came to the corps asking to speak with a pastor. Lt. Ryan Boyd, corps officer with her husband, Josh, met with him. He said that the grandmother who raised him had just died in the last two hours. A friend drove him to a church, but it was closed. So he walked to every church he knew of —all of their offices were closed. Finally, he came to The Salvation Army, and found it open. After Boyd prayed with him, he left, saying, “Thank God for The Salvation Army.”

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Portland Tabernacle Corps, led by Lt. Ray and Major Nancy Dihle,  began a new book club on Feb. 3. The club meets monthly at a coffee shop on Saturday morning. The first book is “To Heaven and Back,” by Mary Neal, M.D.

YUBA-SUTTER, CALIF.—The corps’ Open Door Program assisted its first 2013 client. “Ms. Lisa,” an elderly woman suffering from mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse, was on the verge of homelessness. Through connections with a local sober living facility and funding through a Sierra Health Foundation grant, the corps provided her with housing, food from the pantry, clothes from a church member, and got her back on her medications. The program will continue to help her, including transportation to doctor appointments.

Captains Thomas and Kimberly Stambaugh are the corps officers.

HOMER, ALASKA—Corps members provided food and coffee to 60 emergency search and rescue workers looking for a lost snowmobiler. They offered prayer for the searchers and the missing man and his family, and rejoiced with the family when the man was found alive.

Lts. Jeffrey and Michelle Josephson are the corps officers.

KROC CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER, HAWAII—More than 1,000 people attended the center’s community open house, held to encourage everyone to make a fresh start in health and wellness. The corps also fielded six teams in the island-wide Salvation Army volleyball league.

With the Kroc Center’s one-year anniversary approaching, Corps Officers Major Philip and Captain Debbie Lum report that many community center members now attend the corps’ two Sunday worship services.

YUMA, ARIZ.—Corps Officer Captain Randy Hartt visited the emergency room with torn leg ligaments and muscles after aiding a woman being carjacked by an escaped convict still wearing his stripes and shackles. Hartt opened the car door and tried to stop the man, but was dragged several feet. The thief reversed direction and drove away; the police are still looking for him.

The experience provided new contacts for The Salvation Army: the mayor visited Hartt, and the woman has family members in the police department.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV)

KODIAK, ALASKA—A transitional housing resident approached Major Cathy Quinn, corps officer with her husband, John, with a financial problem. Although the corps couldn’t help, Quinn suggested that she call the bank. When she did, the bank employee said, “You must be the woman in my dream that God told me to help.”

Afterwards, Quinn told the woman, who had often wondered why God was mad at her, “God isn’t mad at you; he was just waiting for you to be able to recognize his care.”

EL PASO COUNTY, COLO.—The El Paso County Command provided utility assistance to a military family living there after the veteran’s medical discharge. The family’s savings were drained as they traveled to and from Galveston, Texas, where the veteran received treatment for a brain injury from combat duty in Iraq.

Majors John and Judy Bennett are the county coordinators.

TUSTIN RANCH, CALIF.—Emma Lee, Erica Huang, Justin Koga and Samantha Lee, cello students at the Pioneer School of Music, received prizes in the 2012 American Protege Competition (americanprotege.com) and invitations to perform in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in Washington, DC.

True products of the corps’ music program, the students collaborated with pianist David Dunford, learned music skills from Nathan Lewis and recorded for the competition with Justin Lansing. All are involved in outreach groups, such as Hospitality House.

SEATTLE, WASH.—Financially challenged parents “shopped” for Christmas gifts for their children free of charge at The Salvation Army’s one-day “Toy and Joy” event. More than 12,000 kids in the Seattle area and another 30,000 in western Washington had gifts thanks to donations from companies, individuals, schools and service clubs.

“The Salvation Army wants to give parents choices and a little dignity, two things that are often in short supply when times are tough,” said Lora Marini Baker, divisional community relations director.

PETERSBURG, ALASKA—The corps celebrated its volunteers at an appreciation dinner Jan. 5 at the Seaside House Restaurant. Awards included the top grossing Christmas kettle volunteer group, the Rotary Club of Petersburg;  their kettle raised over $3,000. Advisory Board member Steve Homer, corps member Gayle Espeseth, and thrift store volunteer Marina Leblanc were named Volunteers of the Year 2012.

Members of the advisory board, the community and the corps joined Corps Officers Lts. Caleb and Christin Fankhauser at the event.

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Portland Tabernacle Corps’ Christmas Sunday celebration included enrolling six senior soldiers: Barry Houck, Sammy Wright, Annalisa Green, D.D. Thomas, Deshay Woods and Leanna Woods. The corps also enrolled junior soldiers: Heather Wright, Odejia Adams, Odell Adams and Levi Evans.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13 NIV).

ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMAND, CALIF.—The Salvation Army East Bay, serving Alameda County, held its first kettle kickoff, “Beyond the Bells,” at the Oakland ARC with Dave Clark, KTVU Fox 2 news anchor, as master of ceremonies.

The Oakland A’s received an award for its support of the Army during Hurricane Sandy, and for the volunteer work of the A’s wives at the Booth Child Development Center. They read to the children and provide new school shoes, backpacks and supplies.

Captains Dan and Kimberly Williams are the county coordinators.

KOLONIA, POHNPEI, FSM—The corps’ men’s group started a jail ministry, visiting the institution every Saturday from 6-7 p.m. Recently, Corps Officer A/Captain Taylor Santos shared the story of Nicodemus with the prisoners. One by one, they came and stood beside him, accepting Christ as Savior. Three others, confined to their cells, also stood. As the men formed a circle and prayed, the three in their cells reached out their arms to join the group in prayer.

BILLINGS, MONT.—In November, the corps marked the one-year anniversary of the Sunday Evening Celebrate Recovery Program, a year of men and women working through their recovery, reconciling with family and friends, and growing closer to God.

Majors Kevin and Linda Jackson are the Billings corps officers.

SEATTLE—After the Nov. 11 worship service, the Seattle Temple Corps celebrated its 125th anniversary with a concert featuring music, drama and God’s Word. Approximately 250 people attended.

During the service, a young woman, who had attended the corps as a child and recently returned, was enrolled as a senior soldier. Another woman, a college student drawn to the corps by the brass band, accepted the Lord.

Majors Ron and Ronalee Fenrich are the corps officers.

SITKA, ALASKA—Corps Officer Captain Terrance Wright was invited to pray at the graduation ceremony for the newly commissioned state troopers and local police. During the prayer time, he shared God’s message of peace, love and safety. Those in attendance, including the Sitka chief of police, expressed their appreciation.

MAUI, HAWAII—The Salvation Army, partnering with the University of Hawaii’s Maui College nursing program, held the 12th annual Health Fair for Homeless.

Over 100 homeless individuals received free assistance from 19 participating agencies, including AIDS testing, dental services, legal help, housing placement, elder and disability services, safety and domestic violence referrals, job opportunities, financial assistance, mental health and family planning services.

Major Brian West is the Maui County coordinator.