Who Are You?

Luke15:17-18 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” Intolerance of the presence creates your future. Get out of the mud hole and go back to your Father’s house! Like the prodigal son, when he remembered who he was and decided TO GO BACK TO THE FATHER’S HOUSE.

When I just got asked that question I said I was the Director of the Christian Caring Center. But that is what I do not who I am. Then I said I was a wife, mother, grandmother. But all those of those are position assignments (and most times a blessing). But I am the natural daughter of Al and Grace Barone and I am the daughter of the most High God which makes me a joint heir of the kingdom of God! “Sinners will not come to Christ, and enter into his service, till they are brought to see themselves just ready to perish in the service of sin. And though we be thus driven to Christ, He will not therefore reject us, nor think himself dishonored by our being forced to him, but rather honored by His being applied to in a desperate case. I will arise and go to my father” (Bensen commentary). This truth is what we strive to proclaim every day at the Christian Caring Center, and so does the Salvation Army. One of the programs of the Christian Caring Center is that we serve as a Salvation Army Service Unit. We have served as a service unit for 31 years now. It was the second program added to the Christian Caring Center Ministry. The way that Salvation Army works is in major cities there is a Core Unit: a building holding church services and programs from there with ordained ministers (the people in uniform), but in every other town/city across the United States there is a service unit manned by volunteers supported by a field representative and state headquarters. We are given an assigned area to serve. For the Christian Caring Center it is 6 towns: Pemberton/Browns Mills, Southampton, Tabernacle, Chatsworth, New Gretna, and Shamong. We are given a budget and areas that we can minister basic needs. We usually help in areas of homelessness/emergency shelter and prevention (rent), prescriptions, utilities/heating assistance, etc. One of the many reasons we love the Salvation Army is that they go well beyond that: praying, sharing the Gospel to children and seniors at a weeklong camp; socks, blankets, hats, gloves and hygiene kits for Code Blue Shelter and other agencies; toys at Christmas, etc. Most people don’t know that the Salvation Army is a church first and second gives to the basic needs as resources are available. To me, this is the ultimate fulfillment of the Gospel and Scriptures. We are coming into a season where the world sees the Salvation Army out in stores, malls, and on corners ringing bells. As a service unit we have the opportunity to raise the much needed funds that our service unit needs to keep ministering. The exciting news is so do you! This is a great opportunity for you to give two hours of meaningful and fun service to God and your community that desperately needs you. We all will be going shopping why not take two hours before and ring the bell before you go in? I receive many requests from families that want to help and teach their children how to give back. This is a great way to show children how they can be effective for the kingdom and community and literally pay it forward. You can also have your choir, girl scouts/boy scouts, rotary club, women’s club, Bible study, Sunday School class, church members, etc. come and ring the bell locally and all the funds will go directly back into the local community. If you would like to volunteer, feel free to contact us and we can set it all up.

Thank you for support this vital work of God! We minister to hundreds of people every month that need to hear the gospel message over and over again.

Abiding in Him

Madelyn Sutton