The Vocalize contest provides an opportunity for self-expression through spoken word and poetry.

“Vocalize” is a territorial spoken word and poetry contest, sponsored by the Music and Worship Development Department, that anyone can enter with creative, original expressions through words.

While entries do not have to be thematic, the contest theme, “Unexpected,” parallels that of Youth Councils 2013. Entries that incorporate the theme could be shared at divisional and corps events.

WHO CAN ENTER: Anyone affiliated with a corps or program in the Western Territory: cadets, kids, officers, youth, employees, corps members, and beneficiaries.

CATEGORIES: Youth, age 24 and under as of 1/1/2013; Adult, age 25 and over as of 1/1/2013.

PRIZES: Cash prizes and scholarships to the Worship Arts Retreat.

JUDGING BASED ON: 50 percent literary content; 50 percent performance.

CRITERIA:

•  Write original poetry.

•  Record yourself or someone else performing it. The writer does not need to perform the poem.

•  Submit the video or audio file of the performance. Include your full name, corps, division, age, and the title of  your piece.

•  File must be unedited and under four  minutes. You will not be judged on visual quality, but on the quality of the poem and performance.

•  Audio must be clean quality.  Music or  sound effects are not allowed.

•  Each writer is permitted a maximum  of five entries.

•  Submissions must be made by March 1, 2013, to joy.lee@usw.salvationarmy.org.

For more information on the West’s creative arts ministries, visit uswcreativearts.com.

By Marlene Klotz-Collins

When 16-year-old Katie Wilkinson decided to start a Red Kettle Club at her high school in Tempe, Ariz., she couldn’t have imagined the way her peers would embrace the concept. Under her leadership and the support of her classmates and administration at Corona del Sol High School (CDS), the club has already proven an inspiring entity in serving The Salvation Army.

More than 20 students have joined the club and, on Dec. 3, multiple clubs on campus supported its bell-ringing effort.

On a cold and rainy Saturday, school Principal Brent Brown and Assistant Principal Dan Nero also stood kettles with their students. Tempe School District Superintendent Dr. Ken Baca came by with a jar filled with coins. Wilkinson and several other soloists from the premiere choir at CDS drew groups of passers-by as they caroled around the kettle. And a group of band members entertained as well for shoppers and supporters.

The students raised $1,386! “Katie, with her example and influence, has made service the ‘thing to do,’” said Tempe Corps Officer Captain Robyn Bridgeo. “Their kettle total averaged what we typically might see from up to five volunteer groups combined.”

“I love how this club has brought the school and community together to help such a wonderful organization,” Katie said. “Not only is the amount of money we raised in 10 hours awesome, but also just making the students aware of the many programs that their bell-ringing will benefit was tremendous. Most had no idea of the many meaningful ways The Salvation Army reaches out to help those in need.”

Wilkinson was invited to attend the Phoenix Advisory Board’s Christmas appreciation luncheon for donors and supporters. Though she arrived with her mother and grandmother, she was surprised to be joined by the rest of her family as well as her school principal.

The efforts of the Red Kettle Club were recognized and Katie was presented her own red kettle as founder of the first high school Red Kettle Club in America. Brown also was surprised when he was called forward to receive a red kettle for display at school.

“It has been very special to watch Katie develop the concept of a Red Kettle Club from an idea into such a successful program within our campus and community,” Brown said. “She has given and will continue to give all of us new opportunities to experience the goodness of helping others.”

Club members since have sorted and bagged toys at the Tempe Corps. And they are already looking forward to a spring collection day at school to benefit the Adult Rehabilitation Center.

Wilkinson has been invited to participate in a meeting of the Young Adult Task Force preceding the National Advisory Board meeting in San Diego in mid-January.

“Never in my 20 years with the Army have I found such a dynamic young lady,” Bridgeo said of Wilkinson.

Brown concluded, “She and her fellow officers and club members are a great source of pride to our school and district. This club will, indeed, be one of Katie’s legacies at Corona del Sol High School.”

The TAPIOCA team

Western Salvationist youth maintain

a dialogue on Facebook about

social issues.

By Ivan Wild, Major

TAPIOCA—Territorial Action Planning Initiative On Creating Awareness—is an acronym created by Andrew Smith, a Western territorial delegate to Time to be Holy, The Salvation Army’s 2010 World Youth Convention.

During the convention, territorial spokespersons reported on what could be done in their territories to support holiness and social justice. Smith, the West’s spokesperson, thought of TAPIOCA. It has since become a Facebook group connecting Salvationists around the territory in a dialogue about social justice.

Following the Time to be Holy convention, the West’s youth department asked each delegate to read and discuss Major Danielle Strickland and S. Carvosso Gauntlett’s book, Challenging Evil; Dispatches from the Frontlines of Radical Justice, which reviews stories from Salvation Army history on seven major social justice issues from human trafficking to prison reform. After each chapter, a discussion section challenges readers to think critically about the issues and ways to take action. Since TAPIOCA members are dispersed across the territory, Smith created the Facebook group to make communication easier. Each week, questions from the book are posted to Facebook, generating conversations on what The Salvation Army’s past responses have been to social injustices and what we should be doing now about the same issues. After completing the book, the youth department will challenge TAPIOCA members to commit to action based on these ideas.

TAPIOCA members from the Golden State and Del Oro divisions had their first “official” call to action on April 9, during youth councils at Camp Redwood Glen. A social issues session took place, with TAPIOCA hosting stations highlighting specific social injustices. Members carefully prepared to become experts on the topics that they presented to youth councils’ delegates. Following their presentations, they provided a Top 10 list to each delegate of the most practical things they can do to start making a difference. Delegates then gathered in corps units to commit to at least three actions to implement as a group to impact social injustice both locally and globally.

Check out TAPIOCA’s Facebook page at http://tiny.cc/ogc3n

Lt. Colonels Sharron and Dave Hudson participate in a DJ hero battle.

By Aleen Bradley

To embrace the epic love of God—that was the purpose of the 2011 Southern California divisional youth councils, held at Camp Mt. Crags in Calabasas, Calif. Upon arriving, approximately 250 delegates immediately encountered the theme for the weekend in an original song by Lincoln Hawk:

A cross, a King; together they

changed everything,

From death to life, forever

through the sacrifice…

Holy one to you we reach,

make us complete,

You give, we keep this epic love.

The weekend’s events included epic slang card and DJ hero battles between our divisional and territorial leaders, workshops, discussion groups, girls’ and guys’ sessions and a VIP corps cadet lounge. Territorial youth leaders are Majors Ivan and Jennifer Wild; divisional youth leaders are Captains Matt and Dianne Madsen. Also participating in the battles were Lt. Colonels Victor and Rose-Marie Leslie, Major Steven Bradley, Majors John and Pamilla Brackenbury and Lt. Colonels Dave and Sharron Hudson.

The weekend’s special guest, Canadian communicator Michael Collins, spoke on Saturday evening, addressing the seemingly “epic fail” of Christ’s death on the cross, but assuring Christ’s resurrection power. Collins encouraged young people that the real “fail” comes when they don’t allow the Lord to take control, saying, “If Jesus has you in a choke hold; tap out.”

Collins paved the way for Hudson’s Sunday morning message about the “epic victory” found in Jesus, which challenged delegates to value the gift God gave us through the sacrifice of his son. Every young person responded to the challenge by applying a temporary tattoo of the Epic Love logo as a sign of commitment.

During the weekend, youth from Salvation Army social services programs joined local corps to be able to participate in divisional youth events. By the end of the weekend, three of these attendees accepted Christ for the first time.

Back row left to right: Michael Moore, Brianna Murray (girls team leader), Steven Hughes, Lauren Estill, Matthew McQuade (boys team leader), David Smith. Front row left to right: Bridgette Mendez, Catherine Stremple, Glenn Fulton Photo by Rob Noland

Salvationist youth minister to those

in need in ‘paradise.’

By Rob Noland

Revolution Hawaii is in its fifth year, waging war with love in some of the harshest battlefields in the 50th state. For the last eight months, the 2010-2011 team has lived like Jesus: loving God with all their heart, mind and strength and loving their neighbor like themselves.

This year Revolution Hawaii has gone international. For the first time we have two team members from Melbourne, Australia: Glenn Fulton, 23, and Catherine Stremple, 22. The other five come from the Western Territory: Bridgette Mendez, 23, from the Phoenix South Mountain Corps; David Smith, 19, from the Globe Corps, Southwest Division; Lauren Estill, 25, from the SOMA Corps, Golden State Division; Michael Moore, 24, from the Eureka Corps, Del Oro Division; and Steven Hughes, 22, from the Mat-Su Valley Corps, Alaska Division.

Some of the team members share their experiences below.

Michael Moore

A year ago my dad died unexpectedly and my world crumbled. Life didn’t make sense and I went into a spiritual free fall. I was angry. I felt alone, feared the future and questioned God. I lived in despair and hopelessness. I wanted hope. I desired direction.

In Revolution Hawaii, I’ve spent time at the adult rehabilitation center and slept on Chinatown’s streets by myself for two weeks. Reading the Bible and spending time with Jesus has made the greatest impact on me. Reading God’s Word daily allowed him to speak into my life in ways I was “too busy” to receive before.

I miss my dad holding me, but I now know I have my heavenly Father holding me all the time. In Deuteronomy 1, Moses instructs Israel to remember all the great things God has done for them: Remember…how the Lord your God carried you just as a man carries his son…(1:31) through the desert and the hard times. God spoke to my heart through that verse. I knew he was saying the same to me, “Michael, I want to carry you. Trust me. I am the answer to all your hurt and pain. I love you and I am your perfect, loving Father.”

David Smith

I didn’t know much about the program when I signed up, but the more I heard about it I knew that God had called me to it.

I finally made it to Hawaii. As I got more involved with the Chinatown outreach and met the people in Waianae, I felt I was in way over my head. How am I supposed to help out here?

Volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club is where I do most of my ministry. Showing these kids the love of Christ Jesus deepens my relationship with him. Lucky for me I am not fighting on my own; God is the one doing the real work. He is the one working on their hearts. I have been able to get to know a few of them and tell them Bible stories  and about our church.

Before Revolution Hawaii, I kept ministry in the corps’ walls. Now I can’t imagine not talking to people in the street or just hanging out with the kids at the park.

Revolution Hawaii’s motto is, “A Year to Change a Lifetime.” I never thought this would mean a change in me.

Steven Hughes

When I first heard about Revolution Hawaii [RevHI] I was in high school and working a job I hated, so I asked God to guide me to something better. One day on Facebook I watched a video of Rob Noland explaining RevHI. God told me to apply, so I did.

I met the rest of the team in Hawaii. At first we split time between Waianae and Kauluwela. One day at the adult rehabilitation center in Kauluwela, I realized God wanted me there.

The first few months I was really shy around the guys. But I trusted God and became more confident when talking with them. When I started doing things with God’s help and not on my own, my ministry really started to grow. Conversations became freer and easier for me. Now I have relationships and deep conversations with some of them.

I still mess up and try to do things my own way, but God reminds me it’s a lot easier when I work in his strength. I went from being someone who shied away from doing difficult things to being eager to do whatever God wants me to do—with boldness.

Find more information about Revolution Hawaii at saynetwork.com/revhi

For more information about service corps, visit http://sayconnect.com.

Fiji
The team divided its time among four corps and three social service centers. When they arrived, the local people met them with smiles, handshakes and “welcome home” greetings.

“As a team and as individuals, we wanted nothing more than to serve the people we were about to meet,” Lauren Estill said.

Realizing that the youth were their main ministry focus, they set out to form relationships. When the combined meeting came around, they knew most of the kids in Suva by name.

The team members—who supported and encouraged each other throughout the mission—were Samantha Neal (Clovis Corps, Southwest Division), Lauren Estill (San Francisco AAYB Corps, Golden State Division), Joseph Ostby (Salinas Corps, Golden State Division) and Ruben Cordero (Whittier Corps, Southern California Division).

Mexico
Team Mexico spent two weeks in Veracruz (Alvarado Corps) and two weeks at the Tampico children’s home. Their fifth week was in Acapulco to attend the Territorial Youth Congress. They served their final week at the Cuernavaca children’s home and the Xochitepec Corps.

One of their most memorable sites was Ciudad de Madero—a city built on a landfill, previously the town dump for a larger city called Tampico. Although torrential rains flooded the city and plagued their entire stay in Madero, the team refused to let the rain interfere with the mission as they packed bags of rice, beans, pasta and sugar to take to Chispoos, an even poorer village than Madero.

“Most of them did not have shoes and half of them weren’t wearing shirts, even in the rain. We handed out what little food we had to every family and they were so grateful. It was an experience we’ll never forget,” Nancy Tuttle said.

Team members were Nancy Tuttle (Grass Valley Corps, Del Oro Division), Brittni Jarvie (Oceanside Corps, Sierra del Mar Division), Alexandr Solis (San Pedro Corps, Southern California Division), Gabriela Lima (L.A. Central Corps, Southern California Division) and Jessica Stennett (Boise Corps, Cascade Division).

Philippines
The hot, humid air failed to deter Team Philippines. Splitting their time between the Central Philippine Division and the Northern Luzon Division, they led children’s programs in the Bethany and Joyville Homes—both houses serve abused and street kids. They also visited the Community for Evangelism Ministry.

Going to a total of 15 corps, the team painted one entire facility, visited and prayed with 75 families and led and preached in holiness meetings, Sunday school and young adult fellowships.

“As soon as we got off the plane we were submerged in ministry for The Salvation Army,” team member Meagan Hawk said. “This continued until we got back on the plane. We were blessed to serve the Army and local officers in the Philippines. Mabuhay!”

The team was Meagan Hawk (Phoenix South Mountain Corps, Southwest Division), Steven Hughes (Mat-Su Valley Corps, Alaska Division), Jordan Allen (Pasadena Tabernacle Corps, Southern California Division), Krystina Macias (Whittier Corps, Southern California Division) and Rikki Ortiz (Grass Valley Corps, Del Oro Division).

Alaska
The team visited six different locations in Southeast Alaska. Their work with children at each site reinforced the fact that spiritual hunger is a major factor in Alaskan Natives’ lives.

“I was astonished by the way Native people live. They live simple lives. They were humble and grateful for all they had. They were about community, helping one another in times of trouble. Jesus was about community and loving one another,” Brisa Fregoso said. “My heart was broken so many times…it changed me!”

Team members were Brittany Mathews (Riverside Corps, Sierra del Mar Division), Matthew Oldham (Great Falls Corps, Northwest Division), Isacc Flores-Vega (L.A. Central Corps, Southern California Division), Xiomara Reyes (Los Angeles Central Corps, Southern California Division) and Brisa Fregoso (Visalia Corps, Golden State Division).

Pohnpei/Marshall Islands
The team spent half their time in Pohnpei and the other half in the Marshall Islands. In Pohnpei they conducted two vacation Bible school (VBS) programs at an outpost and a corps. Although they worked tirelessly, the also had a chance to see some of the sites when their new friends took them to local ruins and a waterfall.

Arriving in the Marshall Islands, the group was excited about the possibility of building a home for a family. Before they worked on their home construction project, they worked around the corps cleaning up trash in the streets and painting a wall around the basketball courts.

In their final week they met Jonathan and Joyce, the couple who needed a new house.

“The fact that five American young adults took the time to drive a nail into a piece of wood so they could have a real home spoke to them,” Cynthia Garcia said. “There may not have been time to really sit down and talk about the Bible or what great things God has done in our lives, but I know they could see God’s love in us.”

Members of the team were Jose Soto (Salinas Corps, Del Oro Division), Ashleigh Hale (Redding Corps, Del Oro Division), Deryn O’Brien (Seattle Temple Corps, Northwest Division), Cynthia Garcia (Whittier Corps, Southern California Division) and Stephen Hartt (Flagstaff Corps, Southwest Division).

Photo by Kelsey Pearce

Eight Commissioner’s Sunbeam award recipients were recognized during the welcome and installation of the new divisional commander in conjunction with the Worship Arts camp concert in the Cascade Division. L-R: Major Bob Louangamath, Alyssa Stratton, Victoria Fuqua, Ashlei Brady, Mary Saunders, Mackenzie Green, Marisol Ruiz-Hernandez, Maggie Campbell, Makayla Green, Lt. Col. Eda Hokom and Captain Joanne Louangamath.

by Chris Toy

Edward Tate reflects on God's love at WYI. Photo by WYI photography class

Love was the theme uniting 166 Western Territory delegates, aged 16-25, at this year’s Western Youth Institute (WYI), Aug. 7-13, 2010, at Camp Arnold in Eatonville, Wash. Leading the institute were Territorial Youth Leaders Majors Ivan and Jennifer Wild and Youth Development and Leadership Director Jim Sparks.

Territorial leaders Commissioner James and Carolyn Knaggs participated, along with Territorial Secretary for Personnel Lt. Colonel Dave Hudson.

Reflecting on the theme verse, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us… (1 John 3:16)—youth learned about God’s pure love, how to claim that love, how to distinguish true love from the world’s false love, and finally how to share God’s love.

Four main workshops covered leadership, evangelism/discipleship, team building and a video class. Electives included photography, guitar, set design, scrap booking, video production, worship design, hula, media critical studies, finance studies, crafting, radio show, story telling, print making and sound production. Videos from the main workshops can be viewed at saynetwork.com/WYI10Videos.

Accepting God’s love
Leaders challenged attendees to a deeper commitment to God. In her testimony, Commissioner Carolyn Knaggs spoke of being ready to share God’s love in times of gain or loss; Commissioner James Knaggs, in his message, reminded all that there are times when we need to give it up to the Lord, knowing he alone can save us.

On the second night, Hudson explored the nature of God’s love: “It’s not about us. It’s not about what we’ve done to deserve his love. Sometimes we feel unlovable but that just means our focus is wrong. God doesn’t always make sense to us because God is not human.”

Letting go of whatever stands between us and God’s love is necessary—we must accept his love in order to share it with others.

The third night focused on false love and the devastating effects of pornography. Jake Larson, from the XXXChurch, spoke on pornography addiction and his passion to free people from its hold. He message is one of hope: “If you surrender your life to Christ asking for forgiveness, he will take you. You can’t make God love you any more and you can’t make him love you any less.”

Testimonies and Outreach
Campers testified to the revelation of God’s love. One said, “I was done trying to take control of my life. The more I tried to take control, the more I lost control.” Another said, “How are you going to feed other people spiritually when you’re running on empty?”

On the final full day of camp, delegates conducted outreach; some groups went to local corps, others went to downtown Seattle and the Seattle White Center to witness and pray with people. One group went to the Puget Creek Restoration to clean up and pull weeds.

At the final banquet, art projects completed that week were sold at auction, with all proceeds going to Bangladesh to aid in the fight against sex trafficking. With a total of $800, Wild asked people to dig deeper and make it an even $1,000; eventually the total reached $1,300.

Delegates left WYI refreshed, armed with new knowledge and the hope of a risen savior—free to live for God in hope and most importantly, love.

Read the WYI blog and view pictures and video at saynetwork.com/love.

My Testimony

Before WYI, my spirit was dry and thirsty. I knew I had to make a change in my life—I needed something to replenish my empty spirit.

So I signed up for WYI, knowing it would change me because I went with an open heart, ready to receive anything the Lord had in store for me.

Tuesday’s speaker was Captain Terry Masango. The Lord spoke through him directly to me.

When he said, “You’re in the church, but the church is not in you,” I knew that was about me. He also said, “If you can’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” This was true—I had no stand in my faith; therefore, I was weak and confused. He went on to tell us that the Lord sacrificed his Son for us so that we could live in his love. The Lord was continually searching for me, calling for me to come back home, earnestly telling me that he loves me.

For the first time in years I experienced God’s love again—what an amazing feeling to realize that my imperfect self is loved by someone who will never give up on me, who gave up his life so that I can live mine. His presence fills my soul and I’ve come back home ready to show the love that the Lord shared with me.

No one said the Christian life was going to be easy, but the beauty of it is that the Lord just keeps on overflowing us with love. His love protects us, brings us truth, gives us hope, and encourages us to persevere.

His love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8a).
Lily Vasquez

by Chris Toy

“SAYnetwork.”
“Network.”
“No, I don’t want you to say, ‘network.’ It’s SAYnetwork.com.”

SAYnetwork.com stands for Salvation Army Youth Network. It’s the one-stop place for all things Salvation Army youth in the Western Territory. And it’s recently expanded to include news and blog posts from Salvationists all over the world.

The Western Territory’s youth department has redesigned SAYnetwork to be an aggregator of all the SAY sites, compiling their news feeds onto one site. If you visit SAYnetwork.com, you’ll see the latest five news posts on SAYconnect, the latest five videos on SAYtube, the latest five blog posts from Revolution Hawaii and more. Now SAYnetwork.com will always be updated with fresh content automatically from 11 different sites.

But that’s not all. Clicking on “Salvation Army Aggregator” will bring you to a page containing over 50 Army sites, blogs and Twitter feeds of Salvationists who are passionate about saving souls and seeing lives transformed. All of these are now located in one place so you can easily find them (saynetwork.com/aggregator).

Now SAYnetwork really is your one-stop place for all Salvation Army news.

If you have an engaging, high quality Salvation Army blog you’d like featured on the SAYnetwork, just email the request to “sayconnect@gmail.com.”

by Ralph Pearce

Corps Officers Captains Stephanie (left) and Robyn Bridgeo (right) with band leader Mark Michaud (top center) and Tempe Corps Youth Band (Photo by Ralph Pearce)

When summer music camps were over, so was the playing of the instruments. They were returned to the corps and locked away until the next year…in the past, that is! In the Southwest Division, corps youth bands are thriving thanks to dedicated Salvationists who pass their musical skills on to the younger generation. At the recent installation of the territorial commander and Welcome of Cadets, the 30-piece Las Vegas Young People’s Band performed.

Under the leadership of Peter Cooper, the group includes youth who are new to the Army. Assisting Cooper are other corps members along with some area brass musicians who help with lessons and—because of this exposure—are now showing interest in The Salvation Army.

Meanwhile, at the Mesa Citadel Corps, Marlon Jones and Holly White lead a group of over 20 players, and Terron Craig leads a beginners’ class of 22 at the Phoenix Citadel Corps.

And while the Sun Cities Corps serves a senior community, Major Federico Craig teaches a group of more than 14 players. Twenty-seven brass players form the Chandler Corps Youth Band, and other instruments are also taught. A thriving music program is in place at the Tucson Amphi Corps. The Tempe Corps’ youth band recently performed for the first time during a morning service. Mark Michaud leads the band with assistance from his wife Mareika. Again, many of these young people are new to the Army. These leaders are proving that bands still have the power to attract and keep youngsters in the Army.