Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/358103
Mass youth 'Stand Strong' CAPTAIN JASON KNAGGS youth councilS >> 'WEPASA Strong' MAJOR MARK S. MACKNEER Returning to Camp Allegheny for the fi rst time in 10 years, Colonel William A. Bamford III and Colonel G. Lorraine Bam- ford, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women's ministries, joined in the Youth Councils celebration of "WEPASA #Strong!" Nearly 300 youth from the Western Pennsylvania & Dela- ware Division joined the Bamfords along with Cadet Ashley Farrell and Cadet Ash- ley Luzader for an inspiring weekend. "Putting On The Full Armor of God!" was the theme, as interest sessions, panel discussions, and testimonies all focused on challenging youth to have "strong hearts" for God. On Friday evening, Shawn Harper, a former NFL player, ministered on the topic of breaking the spiritual chains in our lives so as to be fully used of God. In response to Harper's message, nearly 100 people came to the altar to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Dave & Brian, a comedy team, gave the youth something to laugh about during a Saturday evening concert. On Sunday morning, Colonel William Bamford brought a powerful message. In response, the altar was again fi lled with young people seeking to dedicate their lives to Christ. Auxiliary Captain Alberta Rakestraw joined the ranks of prospective offi cer candidates and many other young people responded to the call to fulltime service for the Lord in The Salvation Army. Imagine: A soldier's silver armor gleams brilliantly as it defl ects the enemy's fi ery darts. Emblazoned below this compel- ling image is the command "Stand Strong." Delegates who attended Youth Councils at Camp Wonderland in Sha- ron, Mass., from May 16–18 were 275 strong and encouraged to put on the full armor of God in order to stand against the devil's schemes. Major Philip A. Lloyd, territorial youth secretary, told how, during his fi rst day of high school, an upperclassman who had bullied him in the cafeteria later asked, "Are you 'Little' Lloyd?" That's when young Philip realized that he was under the protection of his older brother, Leo, a senior—whom no one dared cross. "We try to act strong in our own strength," Lloyd said to the delegates, "but God stands at the ready to protect us, to 'get our back.' We just have to turn to Him." Commissioner E. Sue Swanson, ter- ritorial president of women's ministries, shared from her heart how The Salvation Army shielded her mother as she grew up in a desperate situation. "Praise God that corps was open every day, because it truly was my mom's safe place when no other place was safe." On Saturday afternoon, delegates tested their strength in the "Armor Run," a paint ball battle. They revealed mul- ticolored "scars" on white Stand Strong "T" shirts made by the pigment, which fl ew all over an ob- stacle–covered fi eld. Participants hurled pigment–fi lled tennis balls and balloons and barely escaped colliding with one another in the "Belly Bumper Arena." Saturday evening at the Boston Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center, "Holy Hip Hop" from Beyond Muzik and Major Jodi Lloyd, associate youth secretary, and a black light timbrel drill had the delegates jumping. After surprising them with her rap skills on the LL Cool J classic, "I Need Love," Major Lloyd encouraged delegates to surrender to God and to watch how He surprises them with His love, grace, and provision. On Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit's presence was powerful as Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, territorial commander, spoke. "I just want you to know how much I love you," he said. Then Swanson displayed a shield from antiquity. "The shield is an interesting thing. Yes, it could be used for an individual's protection— and many armies had the technology to link each shield together. Those united shields formed a wall of protection that allowed the army to advance." In response, delegates committed to standing strong lined the altar as the congregation sang "How Great Is Our God" led by Major David Kelly, divisional commander. More than a dozen young people made a public declaration of God's call on their lives to become Salva- tion Army offi cers. 12 August 2014