I am not ashamed
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)
I was privileged to attend a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet last Friday, sponsored by the Salvation Army of Savannah. While the food was tasty, and the speeches, engaging, what impressed me most was their open display of Christianity at such a public gathering. Here stood an organization that was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, as they openly displayed their belief for all the world to see.
In today’s world of political correctness, hearing words of unabashedly Christian thankfulness did my heart good. While the term “salvation” admittedly stands at the forefront of this charity’s name, I was still pleasantly surprised at their open acknowledgment of Jesus Christ. This was not a private church event, after all, but a celebration of community volunteerism.
I was there as a representative and invitee of the volunteer arm of my workplace. I was not expecting prayer to be a part of this assembly. Thankfully, my expectations were all wrong.
According to the Savannah CEO website, “The Salvation Army, an international movement is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” (1) Somehow, I’d missed that memo and was caught off-guard by all the references to Christ.
Upon entry, I looked at the banner that marked the entrance to the gymnasium where the event was held. Walking beneath the sign that read, “Jesus is Lord,” I could not help but smile.
Even their manifesto, printed on bookmark-sized papers at every table, surprised me:
“I serve a community.
A region.
A nation.
A world.
I serve heroes.
I serve victims.
I serve a sovereign God…
I am an Army.
Drafted by the Creator.
Commissioned by a man who defied death.
My enemies are despair and destruction.
My ammunition is grace and mercy…
I am doing the most good.”
Amen to that. The Salvation Army is doing the most good. I learned just how much good they were doing in Savannah when I participated in their Red Kettle Campaign last December. According to information provided on the kettle tripods, more than eighty-thousand meals were served, and over twenty-nine thousand nights of lodging were provided to Savannah’s neediest individuals in 2018.
The Salvation Army’s Facebook page reported that nine-hundred and fifty-two families received Christmas care packages, with gifts for two-thousand, seven-hundred children last December. Additionally, over one-thousand, two-hundred turkeys were distributed to needy families in our community. (2) An impressive set of statistics, indeed!
With alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, disaster relief services, and after-school tutorial sessions, it’s plain to see that this organization, celebrating its one-hundred and twentieth anniversary in Savannah, is doing an incredible amount of good. In truth, the word “good” hardly seems sufficient to describe the changed lives, second chances, and invigorated lives they are facilitating.
I, for one, was especially encouraged by hearing the public opening and closing prayers at this assembly – not to mention the guest speaker’s reading of the Prayer of St. Francis. While the prayer is not one with blatant mention of Christ, the life of St. Francis was one surrendered to the principles our Savior embodies.
“For it is in giving that we receive,
In pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” (3)
While many organizations seek to “do good,” it’s encouraging and refreshing to know that there is one that does so in an unashamedly Christian manner. The homemade meatloaf, yellow rice, green beans, and chocolate cream pie couldn’t begin to satisfy my soul anywhere near as much as the assurance of knowing the Salvation Army seeks to better our community through such open, Christ-centered conduct.
May we all take such a stance when given the opportunity. Our world would be a better place if we were all willing to stand guilty of such open proclamations of love and Christian faith.
Reference:
- Feb. 2020. The Salvation Army Salutes Its Volunteers At Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Retrieved from http://savannahceo.com/news/2020/02/salvation-army-salutes-its-volunteers-annual-volunteer-appreciation-dinner/
- December 17, 2019. The Salvation Army of Savannah Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmySavannah/
- Catholic News Agency. Peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Retrieved from https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/saints/saints/peace-prayer-of-st-francis-of-assisi