Volume 25, No.17

New Orleans ARC faced uphill battle to resume ministry
following Katrina
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of God. The effort to re-establish the ARC has been a battle against the odds, he said, but through God’s grace paths were found through the obstacles and the center is back in the business of restoring hope to shattered lives.

“This is a place for grace,” Feener said. “It is a place for God’s name and for his work. But this is also a place for his glory. This is God’s place.”

Its rebuilding ministry sodden by the waters that covered 80% of the city after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the city’s ARC was forced to cease operations, along with The Salvation Army’s New Orleans Citadel Corps and other ministries. With the city’s infrastructure in a state of collapse, tens of thousands of the city’s residents dispersed to other cities and states and the ARC’s donor base vanished.

The Citadel Corps eventually reopened, resuming its work in October 2006.

In June 2007, Guy Nickum, formerly an administrator in the ARC Command, was asked to go to New Orleans to oversee the restoration of the ARC program and facility. The challenges he faced were many. The facility itself needed attention: There were nagging problems with mold on the dining room floor, the FamilyStore and part of the warehouse needed new roofing and new paint and furnishings were needed throughout.

“When I first got here, I didn’t have an office, a desk or a chair,” Nickum said. “About all I had was a cell phone.”

Nickum realized that getting the center re-established was going to be a long-term project in which gains would be made gradually and by degrees. But he and two employees of the center got right to work and began rebuilding from scratch. In addition to getting the building in shape, equipment and vehicles needed updating and replacement, and the ARC’s ties with the community had to be re-established.

“Really, we had to re-educate the community about ourselves,” Nickum said. “We made contacts with the folks in the community we associate with regularly, like the drug and alcohol rehab programs that refer people to us, and we had to do an ad campaign to get the word out that we were getting back in business.” When Katrina devastated New Orleans,117 men were in the program. When the center reopened in early October, 13 were in the program. There are fewer than 20 employees now, but Nickum, who has been named the ARC’s administrator, plans to add about 10 more over the coming months.

The Family Store operation is likewise scaled-down. What was once the flagship Family Store is now the sole Family Store operated by the ARC. The store held its grand reopening at 9 a.m. on a recent crisp Saturday morning. Shoppers, many of whom were pre-Katrina customers, lined the walk across the front of the store awaiting the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the opening of the front doors. Many of them greeted and embraced store employees whom they had not seen since before Katrina’s landfall. The center is operating as many as three collection trucks daily, and Nickum plans to increase the number to four in coming weeks. Dropoff donation sites are also being worked into the plan and used automobile sales are projected to resume early next year.
“Once we get a couple of months under our belt, we’ll have a better feel for things,” Nickum said. “Right now, we’re concentrating on filling the center with men. We’ve got our bed count up to 50 now, and we’ll expand

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Shawnee Corps at work in community
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Fit for The Salvation Army

The Dallas Cowboys have teamed up with The Salvation Army in Arlington, Texas, to create a Fitness Zone for youth. (L-R) Cowboys Andre Gurode, Ken Hamlin, Bradie James, Roy Williams and DeMarcus Ware helped unveil the Fitness Zone. The fitness area, underwritten by Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities, includes Strive fitness equipment which is specifically made for adolescent users. Major Mark Brown (far right) thanked the Cowboys for their contribution and longstanding support.

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Breaking barriers of language while building
bridges of love

Salvationist Jennifer Hoosier just completed a fouryear stint as an English teacher for university students in Lanzhou, China. Her sojourn as an overseas worker was sponsored in part by her family and many friends within and outside of The Salvation Army. She is the daughter of Majors George and Sherry Hoosier and holds a bachelor of music education degree and a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif.

Major Frank Duracher of the Southern Spirit staff interviewed her recently regarding her experiences as a Christian worker serving so far away from home.

SS: What made you decide to teach in China? Was it something you wanted to do for a long time?

JH: It all came about very quickly, actually. I was the assistant divisional music director in Florida, and I told my parents that I was thinking of career options – among them seminary, youth work or going overseas. In February 2004 a friend gave me a brochure about teaching English in the Far East. I thought that this was something I’d like to do. I filled out an application and by August 2004 I was in China.

SS: Language, of course, is an obvious obstacle. What other challenges did you face in thatculture?

JH: Chinese culture is very different from any other culture I’ve encountered. I’ve been exposed to many Western cultures, but Chinese culture is very “collective.” Here in America we are accustomed to having our own space and privacy. People here understand if you decline an invitation because you are too tired, or there are other things you need to be doing. That’s not O.K. in China.

All teachers live on campus, so we are all available to the students when they need us. So if a student knocks on my door at 9 o’clock at night, that’s O.K. in Chinese culture.

There’s a big difference between “task” and “people” there – we have many tasks and responsibilities, but when someone comes to you for help the expectation is that you must
see them right away. In Chinese culture the person is always more important than the task. To refuse to see them because you are too busy is not well received – it is considered rude and even insulting. I learned to put my privacy aside in order to be culturally sensitive to their needs and expectations.

SS: How were you able or not able to share your witness as a Christian?

JH: It is a misconception to say that religion is illegal in China. It is legal as long as worship is done in a state-registered facility. However, “house churches” are not legal. Also, if you wish to be a member of the Communist Party you must sign a document that states that you have no religious belief. Many claim to be atheists, and there is persecution, but there is a lot of freedom to explore your faith. If a student comes to me and asks me about my
faith, I can share with him/her. It was no secret that I am a Christian.

SS: Do you recall any incidents that you will always cherish?

JH: I remember one day walking with a close friend, whose English name was Shelby. She called me Jie Jie, which means “older sister.” That is a term of affection, friendship and respect.

That assured me that I had made China my home in a certain way. She felt close enough to give me that name, and she called me Jie Jie from then on.

SS: How has your time among the people of China changed you?

JH: I’ve thought about this a lot in coming back to the States. I think the thing that impressed me most over the last four years is that God doesn’t just love
me or people like me. God loves everyone in the world – we are all his sons and daughters.
I got very close to several people, and I want to see them again. I want them to know that they are very special to God and that he loves them.

Texas Brass tunes up on Fiji trip

Greeted by the gentle strum of a ukulele, 38 members of Texas’ youth band, Texas Brass, stepped into what seemed like a completely different universe. A world where palm trees replace skyscrapers, where the water shines a brilliant hue of teal and affable natives wave at everyone they pass. On August 4-14, the band had the opportunity to serve the Lord on the beautiful
island of Fiji.

Led by Bandmaster Philip Burn and aided by Major Gordon Daily, the band traveled to many different corps for fellowship and musical ministry.

“My time in Fiji was an absolute blast,” band member Sarah Raymer said. “The Fijian people were so kind and wouldn’t hesitate to wave at us every time we passed.”

In the middle of the week, the band, despite illness, was split into groups and served in three different areas, including a girls home, family shelter and the Raiwai Corps. There the band taught kids music and drama.

“It was great to be at the girls home and see how they live on a daily level,” flugel player Katie Street said. “It’s was a blessing to all of us to see how we can be so different but still have the Lord in common.”

The band gave their musical testimony in many outdoor parks and schools throughout the trip and had the opportunity to talk oneon- one share their witness with the people.

While the band performed and worked most of the time, there was still time left for relaxation. Surrounded by the South Pacific, they relaxed on the bright white sand of an island, snorkeling with colorful fish and kayaking.

“The thing I took away from Fiji was how amazing it is that The Salvation Army is the same,
regardless of the location,” ADMD Jeff Marquis said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m at home in my corps
or if I’m on a tiny island in Fiji, the love of the Lord still shines through the soldiers and the army continues marching on.”