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The War Cry | FEBRUARY 2015
W
hat do you call a place where every day seven kids
commit suicide, six are murdered by fi rearms, 581 are
arrested for drug use, 8,767 are abused or neglected, 1,923
babies are born into poverty? They call it home.
All too often America's children are unseen, unheard and
uncared for. They are the children of poverty--12 million of
them. Seventeen percent of America's children live in poverty.
Another 22 percent live just above the poverty line. That's
roughly two out fi ve who are poor or "near poor." Children of
poverty live in unsafe housing, often with inadequate food and clothing. They
are far more likely to suffer neglect and abuse. Their harsh environment sows
the seeds for drug abuse, gang membership, unwed pregnancy, teen crime.
They need hope, a place that is safe, somewhere they can feel good about
themselves and others.
Johnny was one of these children who are served by the Salvation Army Ray
and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers. Growing up in a housing project that
had lost its luster, his grandmother put him to bed in the bathtub to protect him
from stray bullets from gangs and drug dealers. Most of the kids he grew up with
had been killed, were in prison, or strung out on drugs. Johnny says the center
was his safe haven after school. A caring staff mentored and looked after him,
helped him do homework and encouraged him. It was a proud day when he
graduated not only from high school but college.
Ray and Joan Kroc cared for kids. Mrs. Kroc said, "I realized the children
desperately needed a safe gathering place with facilities and trained professionals
to nurture their social skills, arts appreciation and athletic potential. We can help
our city together by declaring our love to all of its children and show them the
faith that we have in their future. I believe these young people will grasp the
opportunity to become some of the fi nest leaders and citizens in America's
fi nest cities."
We are humbled and challenged by the gift of these remarkable people
who made possible 26 Kroc centers across the United States for tens of
thousands of Johnnys.
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COMMANDER
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
W
ILLIAM
B
OOTH
FOUNDER
A
NDR�
C
OX
GENERAL
D
AVID
J
EFFREY
NATIONAL COMMANDER
The Salvation Army Territorial Commanders
P
AUL
R. S
EILER
Central Territorial Commander
B
ARRY
S
WANSON
Eastern Territorial Commander
D
ONALD
B
ELL
Southern Territorial Commander
J
AMES
M. K
NAGGS
Western Territorial Commander
The Salvation Army National Publications Department
Allen Satterlee
Editor�in�Chief
Frank Duracher
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Jeffrey McDonald
Editorial Director
Roger O. Selvage Jr. Art Director
Gloria A. Hull
Design & Production Editor
Ashley C. Schena
Graphic Designer
Andrea K. Ricker
Graphic Designer
Cynthia A. Edelen
Publications Marketing Manager
Charles Piercey
Electronic Communications Co ordinator
Erin Thibeau
Editorial Assistant
Esther M. Satterlee Circulation Man ager
Elizabeth Duracher Publications Outreach Officer
Melissa Hollinger
Administrative Specialist
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Now in its 135th year, the
"War Cry" prints
on average 180,000 copies monthly, 1,700,000
at Christmas and 750,000 at Easter.
O U R M I S S I O N
The Salvation Army, an international
movement, is an evangelical part of
the universal Christian church.
Its message is based on the Bible.
Its ministry is motivated by the love of God.
Its mission is to preach the gospel of
Jesus Christ and to meet human needs
in His name without discrimination.
National Publication of
T H E S A L V A T I O N A R M Y
FEBRUARY 2O15
Volume 135 | Number 2
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The War Cry (ISSN 1550�5286) is published 14 times a year at
615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313.
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�2015 The Salvation Army
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken
from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright �1996,
2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.
W
e had the good fortune of being corps offi cers for 25
years of our service in the Army. During that time we
served in a variety of places with widely differing programs
and services. Some of our facilities were excellent while others
were less so. Like generations before, we adapted to what we
found or if needed, worked to improve it. I can't imagine what
it would have been like to be appointed to one of The
Salvation Army Kroc Centers. I have had the opportunity to
see several of them now and each time I walk through one it
takes my breath away. They afford a unique ministry opportunity unlike that
seen in almost any other Salvation Army setting. The potential value to the
Kingdom of God is incredible.
Like any advance, there are problems. When the fi rst wave of enthusiasm, the
fi rst generation of Kroc advisory board members, offi cers and staff are gone, will
there be mission drift? The danger is that there is so much excellent program that
this can become an end in itself. This is a common problem faced by The Salvation
Army elsewhere. How do we keep the main thing the main thing?
In 26 locations around the USA we have been given an incredible toolbox to
implement our goal of salvation for the world. We have begun to build wisely
and with great vision. We seek and can settle for nothing less than God's glory
through the transformed lives of new believers.
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