June 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Forgiven! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10-12

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on the forgiveness of God. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

May you never forget that you are forgiven, because He was forsaken. Let’s celebrate His “Amazing Love.”

June 2025 Craft: Kintsugi

By Major Tammy Ray, Sara Ray and Carol World
Redding, CA Corps – Del Oro Division

Kintsugi is an artistic technique of repairing broken pottery in a way that enhances imperfections in a beautiful way. This traditional Japanese artform uses a precious metal, such as liquid gold or silver to bring together the broken pieces and fill in the gaps of a damaged piece of pottery. It strengthens and adds value and beauty, but it doesn’t take away the original purpose or look of the piece. The art of Kintsugi is often referred to as “The Art of Embracing Brokenness” or “The Art of Precious Scars.” This is the perfect way to illustrate how God takes our imperfections, our brokenness, our scars and makes them into artistic expressions of His grace in our lives, while keeping the best part of our beauty intact.

Supplies:

  • Pottery
  • Hammer
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Gold or silver paint pen
  • Clear Coat Spray or Modge Podge

Process:

  1. Check out Thrift Stores for pottery pieces. This could be a fun outing for your group in preparation of this craft.
  2. Place the pottery piece in a shoe box size plastic tub. This keeps all of the broken pieces together and doesn’t get mixed with someone else’s project.
  3. Use the hammer to break the pottery.
  4. Use the hot glue gun (the high heat setting, so be careful!) to piece the pottery back together.
  5. When set, use the paint pens to cover the glued cracks.
  6. Use a clear coat spray or Modge Podge to seal and protect your project.
  7. Place your finished Kintsugi art project in a place that will remind you that YOU are forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled into a beautiful piece of art.

As you craft, listen to this song by Crowder, and be reminded that you are Forgiven:

Download printable instructions for this craft:

May 2025 Craft: Book Knife Block

By Lt. Colonel Noelle Nelson
Director of Special Services
Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command

Instead of throwing out your old hardback books, rescue them from the trash heap and make a knife block! It’s easy, unusual, and sure to be a conversation starter. Maybe springboard the conversation into how God rescued you and gave you a new purpose in life, just like these old books!

As you are crafting, enjoy Jordan St. Cyr’s song, “Rescue.”

Supplies:

  • 3 or 4 hardback books, of similar size/height. It looks best if the colors match or coordinate. If you don’t have books that match or coordinate, you can opt to spray paint the books in the color of your choice.
  • Hot glue gun
  • Popsicle stick, chopstick, or a pencil . Use this to press down on your ribbon after applying hot glue. Blisters are no fun!
  • Ribbon (I used Burlap) – choose different colors, widths, or textures that will play off the color of your books
  • Lace or twine
  • Scissors
  • Knives

Directions:

  • Make sure books are clean, dry, and dusted off.
  • Line up books in the order you’d like them to be.
  • Hot glue the books together. Some glue on each corner and a bit in the middle should do the trick.
  • Stand one book on its end and press it against the next one.
  • Repeat until all books are glued together. Press the stack together to make sure the glue is secure.
  • Wrap your ribbon around the stack of books and hot glue ends of ribbon together, on the back side of the books. (this is where the popsicle stick, chopstick, or pencil comes in handy!) You may want to measure your ribbon first to make sure it won’t be too short.
  • Wrap Your lace or twine over the ribbon, and secure with hot glue on the back side. (use the popsicle stick or chopstick or pencil)
  • You can also add any fun or seasonal embellishments for extra flair.
  • You are now ready to store knives in your new knife block!

Download printable instructions of this craft:

May 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Rescued! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our rescue story from the Gospel of Mark. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

When Jesus rescued you, it was a “Glorious Day.”

August 2025 Craft: Mosaic Cross

By Captain Jan Pemberton
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Cascade Division

Materials Needed:

  • Veneer or very thin wood
  • -Cricut Machine, exacto knife, precision cutting sheers
  • -colorful mosaic tiles or Faceted gems
  • glue (Mosiac glue, strong bonding glue, or Hot glue

Instructions:

Step 1:

Use either your Cricut, Exacto knife or sheers to cut out a predetermined pattern. This is the pattern I chose.

Step 2: (Optional)

Since this step is optional, you can skip to the third step if you’d like. If not, continue with this step.
⦁ You can layer your crosses as shown below.

Step 3:

Have your participants carefully glue each tile or faceted gem—I chose faceted gems because I like bling- to their cross.

Step 4:

As participants carefully arrange the colorful tiles or faceted gems to create a mosaic pattern on the wooden cross, they are invited to reflect on how their lives have been transformed by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

While each tile or faceted gem is placed, talk about how each piece (tile or facet) represents a piece of their journey and the beauty that emerges from brokenness.

When completed, ask if anyone would want to share how Christ has healed them or is in the process of healing them and making them whole after their brokenness.

Step 5:

By taking these different items, they become a trophy of grace and transformation, much like us. It may not be perfect, but it is ours. Much like we are God’s creation, we aren’t perfect, but He still loves us more than any gem.

Display your transformed cross as a testimony of your personal transformation journey!

Enjoy this song by Lincoln Brewster, and remember you are “Made New” as you do this craft:

Download printable directions for this craft:

July 2025 Craft: Bird Plaque

By Major Harryette Raihl
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Southern California Division

Items Needed:

  • Wooden frame, hanging plaque or what you want to use!
  • Scrapbooking paper
  • Miniature bird
  • Moss
  • Ribbon and flowers
  • Glue

Instructions:

Cut to size and paste designed paper onto wooden inside frame (see in photo). Add flowers, ribbon, moss, bird and ribbon on the back to hang if desired.

A Scripture verse could also be added onto the paper. The sky is the limit on creativity! Let your ladies use their imagination.

Download printable instructions for this craft:

As you craft and think about how birds fly free, enjoy this song to remind you that in Christ “We Are Free.”

April 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Redeemed! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. Luke 1:68

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our redemption story from the Gospel of Luke. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Also included in this month’s issue are highlights from our Second Annual “Women Preach Sunday” which was held on March 2nd of this year.

Download this month’s newsletter:

Let this song by Influence Music remind you that you are “Redeemed”

April 2025 Craft: Resurrection Easter Craft

By Major Lynn Stewart
Kapolei Kroc, HI – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division

This Easter craft is not only a beautiful centerpiece, but it’s also a perfect visual for devotional purposes. It’s great to know that you don’t necessarily need a Cricut machine, as lantern templates can be found online. To make the enchanting Easter Lantern, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:

Supplies List

  • You will need a Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machine to cut the intricate designs.
  • Use a 12×24 Cricut mat with a Standard Grip to secure the materials in place during cutting.
  • It’s best to use high-quality 12×24 Olive paper, available on Amazon for the best results.
  • Purchase 12×12 Vellum sheets to create a delicate, translucent effect. (Amazon)
  • You will need a scoring tool and fine-cut blade for precise and clean cuts.

Instructions

  1. Open Cricut Design Space online and search for the “Easter Lantern” project.
  2. Gather all the necessary materials and prepare the cutting mats.
  3. Use the scoring tool to mark the designated lines on the paper. Cricut Design Space will prompt you to insert the scoring tool at the right time.
  4. Assemble the lantern by gluing the sides together and adding the optional bottom to complete the project.
    For easy and secure attachment of the pieces, I recommend having a glue gun or clear glue dots on hand. It’s also a good idea to pre-cut all lanterns prior to your women’s ministries program so that the ladies can simply assemble them.

Download printable directions:

As you craft, enjoy this song by North Point Worship, “Death was Arrested”

Women Preach Sunday 2025

In honor of International Women’s Day (which was March 8, 2025), the USA Western Territory held its second annual “Woman Preach Day” on Sunday, March 2.

The goal was to have as many pulpits as possible filled by women on that specific Sunday. This year, the event went National, as all four USA Territories celebrated Women Preach Sunday. Doing this nationally is a great opportunity to bring emphasis on women preachers and The Salvation Army’s special mandate and prophetic voice to women’s roles in ministries.

In our territory, 141 Corps and 3 Adult Rehabilitation Centers participated in this event. Both active and retired officers as well as lay leaders spoke throughout the Territory. Lt. Kristin Boyd from the Chico, CA Corps stated, “Women covered all elements of the holiness meeting. Our Home league Secretary of many years, Linda Valdez, preached for the first time! It was a beautiful day celebrating our freedom to preach as women!”

Several corps included women and girls in all aspects of the worship service, besides the preaching. In Federal Way, WA teen girls led worship for the first time. Sophia Reed, daughter of Lt. Emily Reed (Prescott, AZ Corps) was featured in a video promotion the sermon for the week.

Ivy Swain, daughter of Captain Jennifer Swain, helped her mom preach at the San Diego Adult Rehabilitation Center, and then Captain Jennifer preached a second sermon at the El Cajon, CA Corps.

Captain Belle Green, from the Wrangell, AK Corps said this regarding Women Preach Sunday, “I don’t preach regularly. My heart desires to and I know that God has given me a voice He wants heard…This Sunday pushed me to preach and brought to the forefront of my mind the importance of me preaching more. Especially as I looked out at the teenage girls in the congregation. We are blessed to be in an egalitarian movement, and I think days like this helps remind us of that blessing, and encourage us not to take it for granted. I know after this Sunday I plan on being behind the pulpit much more.”

Next year, Women Preach Sunday will be on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

March 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are a Masterpiece! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our Creator God. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

Be reminded today that God doesn’t make mistakes:

March 2025 Craft: Creating a Masterpiece

By Captain Aimee Docherty
Intermountain Division

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Goal: Using Alcohol inks you will create a beautiful work of art. then you can take your artwork and turn it into a card that you can give to someone that you would like to remind that they are a masterpiece created by God.

Supplies:

Note: All items can be found on Amazon, at a craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby, while some items can be found at Dollar Tree. The alcohol inks can be a messy project so do this in a space that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.

Time frame expected: 1 – 2 hours.

  1. Alcohol Inks
  2. Rubbing Alcohol
  3. Smaller Squirting bottles
  4. Alcohol Ink paper
  5. Straws
  6. Scissors
  7. Typed up and cut out Bible Verse
  8. Gloves
  9. Table Coverings
  10. Paper towels
  11. Glue sticks

       Step 1

Prepare the space

  1. Cover all the tables with a plastic tablecloth.
  2. Put down paper towels as a place mat for each person with some extra paper towels for each person to absorb any extra mess.
  3. Put plastic gloves out for each person.
  4. Open all bottles of alcohol inks in advance if they are brand new.
  5. Place alcohol inks in center and place one piece of alcohol ink paper on top of their paper towel place mat.
  6. Put one small squirt bottle, filled with alcohol ink at each place.
  7. Place one straw at each place.

Step 2

a. Put a few drops of alcohol ink on the paper.

b. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol on top of the drops of ink.

c. Use straw to blow the liquid about until you are satisfied with the art.

d. Repeat, as desired, using different colors.

e. Put sheet of artwork aside to draw and create another one. Artwork will dry by itself in approximately 20 minutes. If you would like to move it along more quickly use a hairdryer on low.

Step 3:

a. After the artwork has dried, take the sheet that you like the most and fold in half to create a card shape.

b. Cut sheet in half so that you can make two cards.

c. Open up and glue the printed-up Bible verse into the card

d. Write a message to a friend to remind them that they are God’s masterpiece.
(Be aware that the more you handle the ink the more it spreads to your hands and all over the white paper. Also, it will leak around the edges when you are initially doing the ink work).

Other ideas: Take a cookie cutter and cut out a shape from your alcohol ink masterpiece. Then glue it to a white piece of construction paper folded in half to make a card. Finally glue your masterpiece note inside and write a personal note to a friend.

Download printable directions for this craft:

As you are creating your masterpiece, enjoy this inspiring song, Masterpiece, by Danny Gokey

February 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Loved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18 NLT

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on the immeasurably great love God has for us. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

You are Priceless! You are Loved! And as Micah Tyler reminds us, there’s never been a moment that we haven’t been loved by God

February 2025 Craft: You Are Loved Heart

By Captain Serina Woods
Haines, AK Corps – Alaska Division

Supplies Needed:

  • Cardboard for each person 8 x 11 (recycled cardboard)
  • Puzzle Pieces (500 is what I used)
  • 1 Big heart and 1 small heart (patterns included in the downloadable instructions)
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • X-Acto Knife
  • Red Spray Paint – fast drying
  • Cutting board or large cardboard piece
  • Cardstock for banner

Directions:

Before craft preparation

Step 1: Print out hearts – one large and one small for each person (Pattern included in the downloadable instructions below).

Step 2: Print Banners using cardstock (I used Baguet Script – 48)

Working on craft

Step 3: Glue big hear to cardboard, cut out big heart around out edge.

Step 4: Cut out small heart and glut to big heart, center it. Then using X-Acto knife to cut out small heart. This will create a frame heart.

Step 5: Glue puzzle pieces to frame heart making sure some pieces are a little off the frame on both the outer frame and inside frame as as close to each other as possible.

Step 6: Place more puzzle pieces on top of the first layer to make it a double layer. Put glue directly on to puzzle pieces. Let glue dry for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Take fast drying spray paint outside in a shallow cardboard box. Spray heart piece two times. Allow time for first layer to dry. (Optional spray some pieces a different color for a top color).

Step 8: Turn over to glue banner on to back of frame

Download printable directions and templates:

As you craft enjoy this song by Riley Clemmons, Loved By You:

January 2025 Craft: Created In His Image Mirror

By Major Peggy Helms, Riverside, CA Corps
& Major Angela Strickland, Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Golden State Division

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

Don’t be swayed by the thoughts and comments of others. Understand who’s you are and how much God loves you – so you can understand and love yourself. God wants you to give Him the places in your heart that you won’t let others see. When you look into the mirror, allow the reflection coming back to be whom God sees – as you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” – Psalms 139:14.

Materials:

  1. Small mirror (handheld or stand type)
  2. Butterfly or flower stickers (3D style)
  3. Colored chalk markers (reversible tip)
  4. Clean cloth and water or glass cleaner

Directions:
⦁ Choose mirror style, handheld or stand type (Dollar/discount shops have them)
⦁ Wipe mirror so that it is free of dirt and smudges
⦁ Write “You Are Beautiful” on the mirror (you can print vinyl stickers with Cricut)
⦁ Decorate the mirror with your stick-on butterflies and/or flowers. You can also use a hot glue gun for items that are not stick-on.

Additional Scripture:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:7

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5-10

Download a printable version of this craft:

Enjoy this song, “Mirror” by BarlowGirl to remind you that the mirror does not define you.

January 2025 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Beautiful! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that emphasizes what the Lord wants His daughters to “wear,” to look and act like Christ. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

Listen to this song by Megan Woods, and be reminded of “The Truth.”

December 2024 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Saved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that traces the salvation story through the lives of women. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

During this holiday season, spend some time meditating on this beautiful Christmas song, and think about how God chose to save the world.

Be sure to check out our Spotify Playlist to hear more great songs that speak of our identity in Christ. WM 2024-2025 Priceless

December 2024 Craft: Lighted Garland

By Major Jessyca Carr
Education Officer
College for Officer Training

There are so many different combinations of fabric or ribbon and lights; you can check out YouTube for other options. Using fabric is the MOST economical way to do this craft, but it may take more time. I had several rolls of Costco ribbon, so I used what I had. Last year I used a combination of fabric and ribbon. That was pretty too. NOTE: If you plan to do this with your ladies, I suggest precutting the ribbon/fabric. I had our ladies bring me their selections two weeks before the meeting. I cut all the ribbon/fabric and placed them in baggies for each lady. During our meeting, we began our garland and got 1/3 done. (We chatted a lot!) What was not finished during the meeting they were able to complete at home. Below are instructions to make a 100 Light Ribbon Garland. You can follow these instructions for the fabric style, just the sizes used will be different. See fabric notes at the end.

Supplies:
⦁ Christmas lights – 100 lights
⦁ 12 -15 small zip ties (You can use yarn)
⦁ At least 400 8”-10” strips of ribbon – This will vary depending on the size of the ribbon or fabric.

⦁ Pictured: 7 ribbons used – 5 were 2.5’ and 2 were 1”. If you use a smaller ribbon, you will need more strips.
⦁ If you use a set of 50 lights you will need fewer ribbons/fabric.
See below for Fabric details.

Preparation:
⦁ Cut the ribbon – I removed the wire from my ribbon that was wired.
⦁ Place the ribbons in a pattern you like best.

Process:

  1. Fold the strand of lights in half.
  2. Using zip ties or yarn connect the two sides of the lights together.
  3. Cut off the excess zip tie or yarn.
  4. Begin to tie the ribbons around the two strands of lights – only one knot.
  5. Keep the pattern going until you reach the end.

Fabric notes:
⦁ ¾ of a yard of at least 3 coordinating fabrics.
⦁ Use pinking shears or a rotary cutter to cut fabric 1” strips.
⦁ In the picture I didn’t use traditional Christmas lights. These are battery-operated.

Download the printable version of this craft:

Here is a coordinating devotional, way you can pray for people as you make this craft.

As we prepare for the holiday season, consider adding a homemade decoration that also helps you focus on the Reason for the Season! Do you ever think to yourself, “Man, I have a lot of people to pray for lately”? Do you need a reminder to pray for those people you said you would lift up in prayer but actually forget to pray for? Or perhaps you want to spend some significant amount of time in prayer but are easily distracted. This craft may just help you. Using fabric and or ribbon, tie a knot around Christmas lights for a beautiful fabric garland.

Prayer Focus Options:

As you tie knots you can:

  • Designate each color for a different prayer focus.
  • Designate each set of knots to a prayer focus.
  • Designate each light to a different prayer focus.
  • As you tie the knots pray for the person you plan to give the garland to as a gift.

Color Example:

Red – Pray for the Salvation of those who don’t know Jesus.

Green – Pray for the spiritual growth of those who do know Him.

Gold – Pray for the corps.

White – Holiness within yourself, Your walk with God.

Patterned – Pray for your community.

Each time you look at the garland throughout the season, you will be reminded to say a quick prayer for those who you covered in prayer as you made the garland.

Enjoy the song “God Came to Save Us” as you make this beautiful craft.

December 2024 Bonus Craft: Thank You Cards

By Margaret Grieco
Territorial Women’s Ministries Department

Philemon 1:4-5 – “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.”

The celebration of our Savior’s birth always brings along with the season a beautiful sharing of gifts with those we love and cherish. As a special “thank you” to our family and friends, why not create a card for them that’s personal and very unique!

Supplies:
Plastic gems (I use 1-inch in size, but you can go smaller too)
Cardstock (8.5 x 11 – in any color)
Glue Dots (or Tacky Glue)
Gel Pen (or calligraphy pen)
Envelopes (4 x 6 – thicker paper would be better for mailing)
Paper Cutter
Ruler (optional)

Step 1:
Turn your cardstock to landscape and use a paper cutter to cut each sheet down the middle.

Step 2:
Turn your half sheets longwise and fold them in half (the fold should be a top).

Step 3:
Using a ruler, mark the center of the top of the card and line up your gems as you would like them to look on the card. Using Glue Dots, place a Dot on the back of each gem and secure it to your card, placing the gem where you lined it up originally.

Step 4:
Starting at the top of the card, draw a line (straight or curvy) from the top to the card to the gem and add a little bow anywhere on the line.

Step 5:
You can write “Thank You!” or “Thank You So Much!” at the bottom of the card, write a simple note on the inside and place it in your envelope for mailing to your intended recipient.

Each card will be unique and a fun surprise for those who didn’t expect a fabulous “Thank You” card!

Download printable instructions of this craft:

As you write out your thank you cards for all the wonderful gifts that you receive during this Christmas season, spend some time thanking God for His salvation.

Devotionals: Reflections on Justice

We are excited to announce a brand-new series of daily devotionals produced by the IHQ Women’s Ministries Department, “Reflections on Justice.”

The series contains 31 devotionals, written by women of different ages and stages of life from across the international Army, making it perfect as a daily reading for an individual or a group. Each daily reading contains Scripture, a devotional reflection, a prayer and a challenge to bring goodness, justice and light into the dark places in this world.

As well as being available to download and print for individual use, “Reflections on Justice” will be available as a reading plan on the Bible App by YouVersion. We are inviting you to read the devotional series with us as part of a global reading event, starting on 1st November and ending on 1st December.

Find everything you need to know here: https://salvationarmy.org/ihq/reflections-on-justice

November 2024 Newsletter

You are Priceless! You are Fully Known by God! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

O Eternal One, You have explored my heart and know exactly who I am; You even know the small details like when I take a seat and when I stand up again. Even when I am far away, You know what I’m thinking. Psalm 139:1-2 (VOICE)

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and Bible reading plan to help you focus on your identity as being fully known by God. As included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

Be sure to check out our Spotify Playlist of songs that speak of who you are in Christ: WM 2024-2025 Priceless

November 2024 Craft: Fingerprint Tree

By Major Gaylene Yardley
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Southwest Division

This craft is a tree with all the lady’s fingerprints as leaves in fall colors. You can make one print together and display it in your meeting room, or provide enough canvas so each lady can have their own tree to take home.

Put the Scripture Verse on it: “How precious to me are your thoughts O God. How vast the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

You can put each woman’s name by their fingerprints and then put the scripture at the bottom. Perhaps you want to put the words “He Knows My Name” on the bottom.

Supplies needed

Finished project

Enjoy yourself and be thankful that God knows you fully and you are not one the same.

As you craft, perhaps play the song “He Knows My Name” by Francesca Battistelli

Download the printable version of this month’s Devotional, Craft & Bible Study:

Battle Cry!

Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women’s Ministries shares this letter:

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be salt and light in our communities, bringing hope, healing and transformation wherever we go. Battle Cry is a movement that seeks to empower and mobilize women to engage in local acts of social justice; it is our response to the call of Isaiah 1:17: ‘Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.’

The Salvation Army has always been home to women involved in social justice and action that positively impacts the world. I think of my friend in New Zealand who, having recently retired from a long nursing career, is seeking a space to continue her ministry of care among those in need of judgement-free guidance and medical attention. I consider the 19-year-old who combats period poverty among peers through fundraising events that partner local stores with community centers. Her thoughtful intervention has helped many female students.

These examples remind us what is possible when women use their gifts and skills for the greater good. This is nothing new for Salvation Army women, but we have a responsibility to intentionally nurture, tend and guide this organic, missional work for all generations. This is where Battle Cry comes in!

To engage in Battle Cry is to identify a social need – no matter how big or small – and to feel released to respond to it. It is an invitation to rally your team of friends, colleagues, mums, daughters and granddaughters together, and consider how to serve as a uniquely placed and gifted group of women. Work to your strengths – if you can sew, then sew; if you can teach, then teach; if you can cook, then cook; if you can network, then network. Use your skills to connect with people beyond your usual corners. Step outside your church building and do something beautiful for others, in the name of Jesus!

Globally, The Salvation Army recognizes the role of women in addressing social justice issues. Our desire is that, through these first Battle Cry resources, we will see more women stepping confidently into their calling as agents of social justice. A devotional plan will be released over the coming months and, later in 2025, online courses will educate and equip those who are interested in exploring informed justice response.

Though we may doubt that our offering will make much difference and it might seem easier to leave things to the professionals, we must remember that, as is the way of the Kingdom, we each have a part to play. Start simple. Start small. Start with what you know. There will always be a place for high-level, trained and coordinated responses, but your contribution to creating a better world is also needed. We are stronger together.

My prayer for you is this: ‘May God bless you with discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships so that you will live from deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, equality, and peace … May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done’ (Sister Ruth Fox, 1985).

I invite you to join us in this important work. Together, may we be bold in speaking out with wisdom and grace, and may we be courageous in our pursuit of justice.

Grace and peace to you,

Bronwyn Buckingham

Commissioner
World President of Women’s Ministries

International Headquarters has re-launched the Battle Cry resources from the International Women’s Ministries Department.

On their website – https://salvationarmy.org/ihq/battlecry-resources you will find resources such as a variety of Battle Cry posters and an information brochure that can be downloaded and used at all levels of our global movement. This site will be continually refreshed with resources, stories, and translated materials.

International Headquarters hopes that this information will be used to stir the hearts of our women and girls to step out and engage with our communities to positively impact the world.

We need to be bold in our response to the needs in our communities. Florence Booth was when she began the ministry to women many years ago. We too are called as Salvationists to do something. This is our chance! Let’s rise to the challenge and help to sound the Battle Cry for all women and girls.

For more information check out IHQ’s website: https://salvationarmy.org/ihq/battlecry-resources

From Trash to Treasure

By Major Gaylene Yardley
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Southwest Division

From Trash to Treasure – Acts 3:1-26
It was, is, and will be only through Jesus that…

  1. The lame man was restored – v. 6-10
    a. Physically Restored

Illustration: Many years ago, I found myself in a new appointment with upholstered dining room chairs. They were, of course, white and they were no longer white. I felt bad when I looked at those chairs. They were so dingy, distressed, and dirty. The Lame man was I am sure, all those things, dingy, distressed, and dirty. After being carried to the city gate called “Beautiful” every day to beg, I ‘m sure he looked a little like my chairs. I decided one day that I was going to do something about the look of those chairs, they were nice chairs, they just needed to be physically restored. Therefore, they were restored and now look like they have a new life. Restoration of trash to treasure is like this…Jesus takes our trash that we make of our lives with the decisions we make, and He alone can make our trash into a treasure.

  1. You can be restored – v. 17-20
    a. Spiritually Restore

Verse 19 tells us that we need to repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out! What a great promise that if we accept Jesus as our Savior and God, we can have our sins taken completely away.

Illustration: I have a big whiteboard in my office that I put all kinds of notes on. I even use my windows for notes. When I am done with one of those things on my list, I just wipe it off the window or whiteboard. It is gone if I use whiteboard markers. If I do not use those, it stays there a bit longer until it wears off. We do not have to wait for the wearing off with Jesus. He takes it off immediately and it is gone!

  1. All things will be restored in the end – v. 21-26

We are heirs of the kingdom due to our adoption into His family and as we continue to follow His will in our lives, we have the assurance of being with Him in the end. We will be restored to a new heaven and in new bodies and in perfect fellowship with Jesus forever.

Trash to treasure is in the eye of the beholder.

What can you do today with any of these things I have brought into the program? The treasure is in your creative mind. Let us see what we can make today from this “stuff.’

Directions
I found these at a thrift store, and I like mushrooms so I wondered what I could do with it. Thanks to Pinterest, I found some great ideas. I picked this one as I love wind chimes. The Hat was my creation as I doodle all the time.

I also made a dirty felt hat into something fun to wear. I used sharpie markers and hairspray to set it.

This is what I found and wanted to make into something I liked. I paid $3.00 for it.

Supplies needed. I bought the long-beaded garlands from Hobby Lobby for half price and got two times as many beads from that.

I got the buttons from the thrift store.

For attaching the beads.

The bells were half price at Hobby Lobby and on a garland of their own. I cut them apart.

This is the finished project. I really like it. It is fun and a bit funky like me.

Use gloves if you have problems with your skin and jute. It can mess you up.

Download printable directions:

October 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to the third year of the Flourish Newsletter. This year we are going to focus on flourishing in our identity in Christ. You are priceless to God!

What is identity? Identity is the unique set of characteristics that can be used to identify a person as themselves and no one else. The word can be used in different ways in different contexts. On a personal level, identity often refers to a person’s sense of self, meaning how they view themselves as compared to other people. The concept of identity in Christ is a Christian belief that a person’s identity is rooted in their relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than in themselves. This month the newsletter focuses on our identity as children of God.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and Bible reading plan to help you focus on your identity as a child of God. New this year is a column entitled, “Identity Statements,” verses from Scripture that proclaim who you are in Christ, for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.

Also this year, we have a Spotify Playlist filled with over 50 songs that speak of who you are in Christ – your identity because of Him: WM 2024-2025 Priceless

Download this month’s newsletter: