At the Frontier

Research has shown volunteering improves physical and mental health, provides a sense of purpose, and nurtures new and existing relationships. And it can also get someone involved in a faith community—especially at this time of year.

That's what happened for Captain Edith Dye-Mabie, who first met The Salvation Army when her husband was a participant in the Adult Rehabilitation Center program. With her children, she got connected to the nearby Salvation Army corps or church and when they asked for volunteers at Christmastime, she showed up.

The rest, as they say, is history—though quite a bit happened along the way.

Today, Captain Dye-Mabie and her husband are corps officers or pastors of The Salvation Army in Roseburg, Oregon, now working to get others involved with those personal invitations that make all the difference.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

You recently heard from a few people donating to a Salvation Army Red kettle on why they do it.

Today, I want to take you deeper into what that giving can do.

As a young mother, Billie Lawson was married to an active member of the military. There was one Christmas in 1986 that they were struggling to make ends meet. She remembers it well.

In fact, she wasn't sure they'd be able to have a Christmas that year at all.

And how do you explain that to three little kids?

She wasn't much a person of faith then, but she cried and prayed to God one night as she went to sleep. What happened the next day might as well be pulled straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie. And you'll have to hear her tell it.

What unfolded that Christmas wasn't the end. It changed the way Billie saw things, and would end up changing—even saving—her life.

Today, Billie is the director of retail for the Grand Junction, Colorado, corps. She's worked for The Salvation Army for well over a decade.

Now she's helping make Christmas brighter for others.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Ok, trivia time:

• What is the color of Santa's suit?
• Can you name the animal that pulls Santa's sleigh?
• Why is Christmas celebrated across the world?

Or rather, how do you explain the story of Christmas to kids?

In a season filled with celebration and merriment and presents and fun…as parents we, of course, want to help our kids understand and appreciate the reason for it all, the gift we were given, the birth of Christ.

Majors Emmanuel and Jennifer Masango understand this well as the parents of three boys and also as Salvation Army officers, or pastors, currently serving as Western Territorial Youth Secretary and Territorial Candidates' and Recruitment Secretary, respectively.

Their best tip? Keep it simple and be intentional.

And we have just the new Advent resource to do just that and enjoy a small meaningful moment with your family throughout this season, which they'll tell you more about. You can find it at caringmagazine.org/advent and I am inviting you to grab that resource today, involve your kids in a fun family night coloring and putting together a classic paper countdown chain to hang in your home this Christmas and remind you of that greatest gift of love.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Welcome back to Table-ology, a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day by Major Nancy Helms.

If you're just joining in, head back to part one to hear more about this series and then continue on.

We hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We are interrupting our ongoing festive Christmas programming here on the Do Gooders Podcast to bring you something different, something special—a seven-day Scripture study in the lead up to Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving is a time where families, friends, even strangers, gather around tables to share meals and fellowship, offering thanks to God for his abundant blessings in their lives.

But what if we celebrated Thanksgiving and every meal as the early Church of Acts did?

While it's my voice you'll be hearing, this study was written by Major Nancy Helms, a former guest on the show, who serves as The Salvation Army Western Territorial Director of Disabilities Ministries and Director of Personnel for the College for Officer Training at Crestmont.

Each of the next seven days will include part of the study along with a reading of the day's Scripture selection and a closing prayer.

I hope it will serve as a meditative moment for you as you prepare your heart and home for this Thanksgiving.

This is part one by Major Nancy Helms.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.