Name may be new, but Community
Care
Ministries is still all about care for others
Commissioner Max Feener, territorial commander, recently announced
a change in the department name of Territorial League of Mercy/Community Care
Ministries to Territorial Community Care Ministries.
All
Divisional League of Mercy/Community Care Ministries throughout the nine
divisions are now to be known as Divisional Community Care Ministries. In the
corps, all Corps League of Mercy sections have now become Community Care
Ministries.
Community Care Ministries is a compassionate
Christ-like ministry of The Salvation Army, with hands-on, heartfelt care for
the community. This is demonstrated by volunteer service given through
individuals and groups. Focus on the caregiver is a main goal.
Community Care Ministries is conducted by volunteers through
visits to local nursing homes, hospitals and private homes. This ministry's
membership is open to anyone 14 and over, while the Junior Community Care
Ministries program is for ages 6-13.
Community Care Ministries members
provide weekly, monthly and seasonal visits to hospitals, nursing homes,
veterans medical centers and private homes. The members conduct spiritual and
recreational activities. When possible, material assistance is also
given.Major Frank Duracher
To
Russia
with love
Southern officers lead
marriage
enrichment
seminar in
Moscow
As the Delta jet touched down on the
runway in Moscow after an 11-hour journey from Atlanta, Lt. Colonels Don and
Connie Canning and Captains Thomas and Julie Louden peered through the windows
to get their first glimpse of a country they had only read about. They were in
Russia for a teaching mission that would span 12 days of last November.
Hosted by Captains Bradley and Anita Caldwell (shown above, far
left), the visitors spent three days of sightseeing and body clock adjustment.
Among their stops was the territorial headquarters and officer training
facility. On behalf of the Southern Territory and Commissioners Max and Lennie
Feener, they presented the Eastern European territorial leaders, Commissioners
Barry and Raemor Pobjie, with a projector and two laptop computers.
The Cannings and Loudens participated in Sunday worship services
at the Institute for Officer Training and the Moscow Corps and that afternoon
were transported to a picturesque lodge in one of the city's wooded parks.
There they would lead a marriage enrichment retreat and conduct marriage
enrichment leadership training for 11 officer couples (shown below) from the
five nations of the territory: Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and
Romania.
The Americans were anxious about the training, language barriers,
cultural differences and other concerns. "But our concerns quickly
evaporated as we were lovingly and warmly received by all the delegates,"
said Don Canning. "They were delightful people, eager to learn and to
appropriate this learning into life."
The initial stage
of training focused on community building and included the sharing of
objectives, ground rules and guidelines, introductory exercises, connecting
with self, spouse and group and the role of the leader couple. The second stage
dealt with awareness and included reflections on one's marriage and
marriage inventories. In the third stage, attention was given to communication
skills, conflict resolution and intimacy. The fourth stage concentrated on
planning for growth in the marriage, and stage five was about celebration and
closure.
Each couple was asked to design a marriage
enrichment event followed by a presentation of a sample teaching segment. At
the conclusion of the week, participants were given the opportunity to share
with the group about how the seminar had affected them and their marriages, and
the time of sharing was punctuated with both tears and laughter.
The
closing session on Sunday morning included the signing of marital growth plans
designed by the couples and a renewal of marriage vows. Commissioner Barry
Pobjie's message focused on the love that flows from the heart of God to
all people.
Tuscaloosa Mercedes-Benz employees take record number of
Angel Tree kids
In what may
be a territorial record for corporate sponsorship of Angel Tree children,
employees of the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., once again
made Christmas merrier for about a third of the corps' annual effort,
according to Major Mark Smith, corps officer.
"The
Salvation Army's Angel Tree campaign is a unique opportunity for our team
members to help those in need at this time of the year," said Bill Taylor,
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) president and CEO. "I tell my
team members, ‘Just imagine the hundreds of smiles that will be on their
faces on Christmas morning!"
The MBUSI
plant in Tuscaloosa provides jobs for over 4,000 employees. The annual Angel
Tree campaign in the plant is very popular, resulting in as many as 800
sponsorships in each of the last few years.
"The Mercedes plant has
a huge Christmas tree in their lobby, and another large tree in a separate part
of the plant. The employees bring literally thousands of toys that are left
under these trees. It's really a sight to behold!" Major Smith
said.