At the Frontier

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

As wildfires burn across Southern California, The Salvation Army is there.

We're there before, during and after disasters strike and are committed to serving the whole person—physically, emotionally and spiritually.

With thousands of structures burned, so many have lost so much.

What would you take if you had to leave?

I'm sure you too have considered this impossible question. Documents. Photos. Jewelry. Medicine. Heirlooms. Clothing. Chargers.

It doesn't feel like enough.

Because there's stuff, and then there's home.

Yes, the stuff can largely be replaced. What's not replaceable is home.

Come along with me in the back of a Pasadena Police car as we drive through neighborhoods ravaged by the Eaton Fire, and as we consider how we can warm hearts and warm homes in tangible ways for our neighbors in need.

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What are your plans for the New Year?

As we step into 2025, many of us are thinking about resolutions, goals and what lies ahead. But what if planning for the year ahead was less about our own agendas and more about trusting God's plans?

In this timely rebroadcast, we're revisiting our conversation with Megan Fate Marshman, who continues to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church and the Director of Women's Ministries at Hume Lake Christian Camps. She recently released a new book, "Relaxed: Walking with the One Who Is Not Worried about a Thing," but her insights from her book "Meant for Good: The Adventure of Trusting God's Plans for You" feel especially relevant as we begin a new year.

So listen in as Megan shares in this past conversation how to practically trust God's plans, even when the path isn't clear, and discover why this trust might still be the most important thing you plan for in the new year.

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Welcome to this special presentation of "Army of Stars," a radio program that captured the spirit of giving during the golden age of radio.

From the 1930s through the 1990s, this series brought together some of entertainment's brightest stars in support of The Salvation Army's mission.

And today, we're traveling back to December 25, 1949, for a particularly memorable Christmas broadcast.

Hear from a best-in-class lineup of operatic talent—including Lawrence Tibbett, Kirsten Flagstad, Lisa Albanese and José Berling—a Nativity story reading by Jean Hersholt, beloved by radio audiences as "Dr. Christian," and a message from The Salvation Army's then National Commander Commissioner Ernest Pugmire.

While much has changed since 1949, The Salvation Army's commitment to serving those in need remains constant.

So let's return to Christmas Day, 1949, as an Army of Stars salutes The Salvation Army.

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As you well know, Christmas is a time like no other in The Salvation Army.

There's the red kettles, the Angel Trees, the holiday meals and so much more.

Christmas is a season of giving, which for many of us means showering those we love with gifts. But it's also about giving to those most in need.

And in Juneau, Alaska, board members, donors and volunteers help to make sure inmates at Lemon Creek Correctional Center can send their children a gift, too.

Each year, The Salvation Army in Juneau sets up an inmate toy store, offering incarcerated individuals the chance to shop for a gift specifically for their child and write a personalized note in their own handwriting.

And as you might imagine, the stories are heartwarming. Through this effort, one inmate even reconnected with his family after being estranged for many years.

And Cathy Muñoz has the stories to tell.

Cathy is the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in Alaska, and has served as a Salvation Army Advisory Board member in Juneau for some 25 years.

Having long been involved in this ministry, Cathy is on the show today to share more about this seasonal effort to bring the spirit of giving behind bars and a chance to play a direct role in making the holiday season a little brighter for families.

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When we think about Christmas, we often think about love—love that came to Earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and love that compels us to give freely to those around us.

And today, we're exploring how The Salvation Army is brightening the holidays by sharing that love across the Western United States.

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Everything feels a bit more whimsical this time of year. And maybe you're after a little more of it?

As bestselling author Bob Goff will tell you, we can't catch what we don't chase.

Which is why he's out with a new devotional next week called "Catching Whimsy: 365 Days of Possibility."

In it, he offers daily thoughts to help you chase after a more meaningful life, experience a more engaged faith and approach the challenges that will likely come your way with greater intention and confidence than perhaps you have experienced in the past. And with a short daily entry, it's an adventure to last you a full year.

Bob spent decades as an attorney, became the Honorary Consul to Uganda, and gave up his law firm to pursue writing and speaking full time. He's a New York Times bestselling author several times over, runs a popular weekly podcast, and will tell you life is too short to just go through the motions.

Whimsy, he says, shows up as joy and hope and generosity and selflessness and endless amounts of curiosity.

And some things, like whimsy and wonder and passion and the ability to give and receive extravagant love are worth catching. You might be just a decision or two away from a more beautiful and winsome life.

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Chances are, if you've been online at some point over the past decade, you've probably watched a TED Talk.

You know the format—world-renowned speakers, experts and innovators on various topics take center stage to present one great idea in 18 minutes or fewer.

TED Talks often challenge conventional thinking and offer new perspectives. They can be inspiring, thought-provoking, and even controversial—sometimes sparking spirited discussions and debates.

More than one billion TED Talks are viewed every year. And chances are, you know the name TED, in large part, because of a man named Chris Anderson.

As the curator of TED, Chris helped transform TED from a small, annual conference in Monterey, California, into the global phenomenon it is today. His TED mantra—"ideas worth spreading"—continues to flourish around the globe. It's created a platform for people from all walks of life to gain access to new ideas and research on virtually any topic they find interesting, for free.

Today, we're talking with Chris about generosity and his recent book, "Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading." In it, he explores the power of human kindness and its potential to transform the world. He explains why simple acts of generosity can have a profound impact on individuals and communities, and how the spread of kindness can create a more connected, compassionate society.

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It's no secret having a safe and stable place to live is at the very foundation of overall health and well-being.

That's why, in The Salvation Army, there's no such thing as no place to go.

We uniquely understand the statistics on those experiencing homelessness—which by the latest counts means tonight in America more than 421,000 people are without a place to call home. We also know that number doesn't provide a full picture of need.

With one in 10 people living in poverty today, housing insecurity is not limited to a certain "type" of person.

Need can affect anyone.

That's why each year, The Salvation Army provides over 10 million nights of shelter to those in need.

From emergency shelters to utility assistance or permanent supportive housing, we are working to meet the need for refuge.

And in Seattle, Linda Byrd is one of the people helping to welcome those guests and make them feel more at home.

But for Linda, being a shelter monitor for The Salvation Army is more than a job. As she says, it gave her a purpose. It gave her a reason to live.

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The Salvation Army has a long history of serving those who have served our country.

It all began with donuts and coffee for soldiers during World War I, and it only grew from there. Today, The Salvation Army offers a range of veterans services, providing comfort, support, counseling and a home to thousands of veterans in need each year.

Did you know veterans make up 8 percent of the population of those experiencing homelessness in the U.S.?

In many cases, housing insecurity, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-medication and substance abuse disorders can cause those who gave everything to lose everything.

It happened to Eric Yanes—but Eric didn't give up hope.

And it wasn't the end of his story.

Eric got connected to The Salvation Army Veteran Grants Per Diem program in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which provides individualized case management and furnished apartments for veterans and their families. Like many of The Salvation Army's programs, it aims to address the immediate symptoms of food insecurity, poverty and homelessness but is also designed to help identify and treat its root cause and find healing.

This Veterans Day, allow me to introduce to you a veteran who will tell you he is embracing the magic of every mundane moment in his ordinary, beautiful life.

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Hope is what propels us through the uncertainty and chaos of our slumps and our challenges.

But in our broken, imperfect world, a lot of people are finding their peace is constantly under threat, and because of that, it's harder to experience genuine hope for the future.

Irwyn Ince is a pastor, author and coordinator of Mission to North America for the Presbyterian Church in America. In his new book, "Hope Ain't a Hustle: Persevering by Faith in a Wearying World," he explores the true nature of hope and its transforming power.

Irwyn reminds us that true hope isn't fleeting. It's rooted in something much deeper: our faith in God and his promises.

Using the book of Hebrews as a framework, he shows us how to place our confidence in the finished work of Jesus and how that can change the way we think and live. He reminds us that even in—and especially in—the midst of suffering and disappointment, we can find hope and persevere.

This is a conversation about the source of true hope, the instructions for hopefulness we find in Hebrews, and the role community plays in our ability to sustain hope over time.

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