"Is the bride ready?"
By Captain
Jonathan Gainey
Ancient Israel had many customs and
practices that would not be allowed in our culture today. One such custom was
the engagement process. A young man in his 20s would go with his father to the
village where the girl whom he was to marry lived with her parents. While
there, the young man and his father would meet the girl, about 14 years old,
and her father for the first time.
A Jewish matchmaker
called a shadkhan would put the young man and young woman together based on
yihus (stock, family background, reputation in the community and personal
virtue). Jewish marriages placed an emphasis on love after marriage, as opposed
to marrying the one you love.
When the young man arrived at
the young woman's house, the two fathers would settle on a
"bride-price." Payment by means of money or material items was a way
of honoring the family that would be losing the daughter. When the price was
settled, the young man's father would pass his son a cup of wine. The young
man would drink from the cup and pass the cup to the young woman, signifying
that he wanted her to be his wife and that he was giving his life to her. If
she drank from the cup, she was in effect saying, "I want to marry you. I
accept your life, and I will give you mine."
Then the
young man and his father would travel back to their village where the young man
would begin building a room onto his parent's home. Generations of sons
would build on to the house, creating what is called an insula, a house with
many rooms. The young man would work on his house until his dad, the only
person who could give a final approval for the new home, would say, "It is
ready. Go and receive your bride."
While the young man
worked on the new house, the bride-to-be would make wedding clothes and learn
to take care of a home. She was expected to always be ready for his return at
any moment. During this time of preparation, all of the people in the young
woman's village would refer to her as "one who has been bought with a
price."
Eventually, the home would be ready, the young
man's dad would give his approval and send his son to receive his bride.
When the bridegroom entered the village of his bride-to-be, he would blow a
shofar and all the village would hear the horn and know that the bridegroom had
arrived. A wise bride would be ready when her bridegroom arrived.
Those who have been learning, preparing and have kept themselves
ready for the groom will join him when he returns and sends his angels to sound
the trumpet.
"Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust
in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-3).
Airport
ministry
a resource for
troops, travelers
By Major
Frank Duracher
Southern Spirit staff
While waiting for paperwork to be processed to allow their return
to missionary service in Guatemala, Majors Donald and Jean Wilson hit upon a
meaningful appointment that they say they'll never forget.
Assigned as Salvation Army representatives with the Interfaith
Airport Chaplaincy at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport,
the Wilsons experienced a broad spectrum of service to travelers, concerned
families and particularly to U.S. military personnel leaving for and returning
from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We've made
ourselves available to help in any way: from something simple like praying with
a nervous passenger or giving directions to a proper gate or concourse, to much
more complex issues like counseling grieving families during the recent plane
crash in Lexington (Kentucky)," said Major Jean Wilson.
Airport chaplains also help reunite children who wandered away
from parents. Among the most meaningful, the Wilsons agree, is their ministry
to military troops.
"We tell them how much we
appreciate their service to our country, and assure them of our prayers on
their behalf," she said. During the Christmas season, the Wilsons
distributed candy to the troops, and Christmas cards with personal messages
written by members of the Jonesboro, Ga., Corps.
The
Chaplaincy includes members of various denominations and faiths, including a
Jewish rabbi and a Muslim imam. The concept for the chaplain service is based
on a model in place for over 30 years at London's Heathrow Airport, where
several Salvationists are also assigned. About 50,000 passengers use the
Atlanta airport daily.
The Atlanta chaplaincy director took
note of the London model and wanted Salvationists assigned to
Hartsfield-Jackson. The director telephoned Lt. Colonel Donald Faulkner at THQ
and requested that officers be assigned.
"The
(Salvation Army) uniform is easily recognized and easily leads us to provide
pastoral care, counseling, and one-on-one evangelism," said Major Donald
Wilson.
While proselytizing is not allowed, chaplains are
able to share their faith once the door is opened by the person seeking a
chaplain's help. While the chaplaincy service is not as much for
evangelism; it is more of "a presence and encouragement" for those in
need of helpful and prayerful support, he said.
Director of development
Houston Area Command
The director of development will be responsible for researching,
studying, identifying, and cultivating financial support and funding from
foundations, corporate contributions and major individual donors; researching
and applying for foundation and government grants, including the compilation of
statistics and required information to prepare a complete proposal package in
compliance with strict timelines; building and maintaining a database of
funding resources and donor information; planning and administering an annual
development budget; planning and coordinating special events and fund-raisers;
performing public speaking to promote awareness and financial support for
Salvation Army programs. Requirements: bachelor's degree and a minimum of
10 years in development-related field as well as experience as director of
development. Salary is negotiable according to experience.Vehicle provided.
Send resume to:
Major Marshall Gesner
1500 Austin
Street
Houston, TX 77002
Director of development
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Plans, implements and
monitors an aggressive direct fund-raising program targeting greater Volusia
and Flagler counties. Secures funding for Salvation Army programs through a
variety of financial development vehicles including individual gifts and
individual donor upgrading, corporate gifts and sponsorships, foundation
support for specific programs and projects, government grants and major donor
special events. Plans and coordinates public relations activities to create
greater community awareness of The Salvation Army and its programs.
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing or
a related field, and at least two years of experience working in fund raising,
marketing or a related field. Salary negotiable. Interested applicants may
contact/send resume to:
The
Salvation Army
Attention: Major Mark Harwell
1555 LPGA Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL
32117
Information technology
systems specialist
Dallas, Texas
The Salvation Army seeks an
experienced professional to serve as a technical resource to the IT manager by
working to ensure that the Dallas Metroplex Command business process and
systems (computers, printers, copiers, telephones, cameras, etc.) are supported
by the appropriate information technology systems and that these systems and
processes are fully integrated and aligned in support of daily operations and
department needs. Must have W/MS SQL and Crystal Reports Developer experience
or familiar with Crystal Reports. Associates degree from an accredited college
or university in business, computer science or related field, and three (3)
years of varied work responsibilities in an information technology department.
Must have a valid Texas driver's license. Submit resume and salary
requirement to Randy Coleman: Fax 214.678.0379. E-mail
Randy_Coleman@USS.salvationarmy.org. No phone calls please.