At the Frontier

Welcome to a new series—Walking With Jesus: A Journey to the Cross.

Over the next four weeks, we'll be guided by Major Dr. Terry Masango through a thoughtful exploration of Scripture and its meaning in our everyday lives.

In this series, he invites us to walk alongside those who encountered Jesus on his journey to the cross—from the lost sheep being carried home on the shepherd's shoulders, to the Good Samaritan who showed true compassion across social boundaries, to the thief on the cross who found salvation in his final moments, and finally to the empty tomb that changed everything.

You'll be challenged to see yourself in these stories—sometimes as the lost sheep, sometimes as the Good Samaritan and always as recipients of God's grace.

Today, we'll discover the lengths to which the Good Shepherd will go to find those who have strayed.

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Today, we're closing our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series with perhaps the most critical need of all: shelter.

Recent government data shows homelessness has soared to the highest level on record, with more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States—an 18 percent increase over last year.

Behind these sobering statistics are real people seeking safety, warmth and a path forward. And The Salvation Army is responding in communities across the West, providing over 3.8 million nights of lodging last year alone.

In our final episode of this series, we're exploring how The Salvation Army's sheltering programs serve as more than just a roof overhead—they're often the first step toward rebuilding lives.

From emergency overnight shelters in Portland to Santa Monica's Hope Team meeting people where they are on the streets, to warming centers in Pocatello during brutal winter temperatures, these programs are designed not just to provide immediate safety but to create pathways to permanent housing and healing.

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We're back again today with our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series, and this time, exploring how food assistance helps create warm, stable homes for our neighbors in need.

Food insecurity is a big problem in the United States, as 47 million people—including 14 million children—do not have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from.

Beyond that figure, many more people—estimated in the millions by Feeding America—do not meet the government's definition of food insecure but still turn to the charitable sector for support.

And in Gillette, Wyoming, that includes The Salvation Army.

Jenny Hartung, who leads The Salvation Army's Service Extension Unit in Gillette, has witnessed the evolution of need and Salvation Army assistance over the past decade. What started as a single shelf of emergency food has grown into a 15,000-square-foot facility that's warming both hearts and homes through food assistance, social services, and soon, a bridge housing program for women.

Today, Jenny is here to share how The Salvation Army in this small town of some 30,000 people is making a big impact—distributing over 2,000 food boxes every month and showing us all what's possible when a community comes together to care for its neighbors.

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Continuing our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series, today we're tackling a challenge that affects countless families during these coldest weeks of the year—keeping the heat on. For many of our neighbors, the choice between staying warm and affording other essentials is a harsh reality.

Did you know roughly 11 percent of Americans live in poverty, which is about 36.8 million people, according to the Census Bureau? Many more still find the cost of managing daily life difficult.

The Salvation Army is active in every zip code in America to feed, shelter, assist and equip those in need. And one of those approaches is assistance with rent, utilities and other vital payments.

In Fairbanks, Alaska, where winter temperatures can plummet well below zero, The Salvation Army is working to ensure no one has to choose between staying in their home and keeping their heat on.

Captain Jon Tollerud, the corps officer or pastor of The Salvation Army in Fairbanks, is here today to share how their utility assistance program is warming homes and hearts, offering not just immediate relief, but long-term solutions for families in need.

And stick around to the end to hear this week's challenge for you.

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DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

On this show, we like to share stories of everyday people turning hope into action in small, real-life ways right where they are—people like Suzanne Pickering.

As a representative of Banner Health, Suzanne started a winter coat and blanket drive in partnership with The Salvation Army in Tucson, Arizona.

She knows firsthand what it is like to need a little help—and after seeing people without a warm coat amid freezing temperatures, she said she decided to do something about it.

She said, "The Salvation Army once helped me and it was exactly what my family needed—hope." Now some 20 years later, she organized this Warm Up Tucson drive—doing what she can with what she has right where she is.

As part of our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series, we're asking how we can embolden a spirit of care and community, especially in these coldest weeks of the year. Stick around to the end to hear this week's challenge for you.

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In disasters, we often see something remarkable: how communities come together, how neighbors help neighbors, and how hope persists even in the darkest moments.

And notably, it's up to each of us and the little choices we make to keep that spirit of community alive, not just in times of crisis, but every day.

Today, I want to share a few stories that capture this perfectly.

When we talk about warming hearts and homes, we're talking about more than just physical warmth. It's about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and cared for.

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DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

One of the most powerful tools available to us is our own mindfulness.

Dr. Jon Kole is the Medical Director and Senior Director of Psychiatry at Headspace, which calls itself "the mental health app for every moment." From guided meditations to one-on-one coaching, the Headspace team of clinical experts and trained coaches work to offer science-backed care.

He's joining us today to explore how mindfulness and meditation can help us navigate life's challenges, whether we're dealing with disaster recovery or everyday stress.

New research shows even small amounts of mindfulness practice can significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Dr. Kole will help us understand the science behind these findings and share practical ways to build resilience through mindfulness.

Whether you're processing the trauma of a disaster, supporting others through crisis, feeling very much out in the cold, so to speak, or simply looking for ways to better handle life's daily pressures, this conversation offers hope and practical tools to help you love your nervous system.

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DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

What would you take if you had to evacuate your home?

Are you prepared?

A study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found less than half of American households had discussed or developed an emergency plan.

After hearing the stories of many families I know having to evacuate with little to no warning, I decided it was time to finally get serious and actually make a plan for our family.

And today, we're turning that question into action as we walk through, step by step, the 3P's approach to family emergency preparedness: Plan, Pack and Practice.

No fancy gear, no doomsday prepping—just practical, affordable steps that any family can take.

Get our Quick Guide to Creating Your Family Emergency Plan here.

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In our recent episodes, we've explored what it means to lose home—from the immediate chaos of evacuation to the grief of loss, to the challenging work of supporting a community in crisis. Today, we're examining the deeper psychological impact of disaster on communities.

Dr. David Eisenman has spent more than two decades studying how disasters affect public health and community resilience. As director of UCLA's Center for Public Health and Disasters and a practicing physician, he brings both research insight and frontline experience to our conversation about healing after loss.

We discuss how communities can support one another through trauma, what the long-term effects of displacement look like, and how we can build resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

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Help us love beyond disaster at salarmy.us/socalfire.

Last week, we explored what home means—those mental souvenirs we collect, the everyday moments that make a space our own, and the devastating impact when that sanctuary is suddenly gone. We heard about The Salvation Army's immediate response to the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles communities.

Understanding, of course, things are changing quickly on the ground—as of this recording, The Salvation Army is serving at multiple area evacuation shelters, meeting physical needs and emotional and spiritual care, or what we like to call a "ministry of presence."

In Pasadena, California, Captains Nick and Becky Helms are adapting to a new kind of ministry.

Like many in their congregation, they were forced to evacuate with their four children as the fires approached. As both residents and spiritual leaders in the community, they have a unique perspective on what it means to help others while experiencing the same uncertainty themselves.

They join us to share their story and help us understand how we can support those who have lost not just their stuff, but their home.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.