Will you join us again in 2012?
Bell ringing is a unique way to experience the spirit of the season and to helping others at Christmas through the work of The Salvation Army. Sparing an hour or two of your time to help those less fortunate in Marathon County is a great way to give back and get into the holiday spirit!
This Month at the Salvation Army of Marathon County:
April 2012
Thank you to the local Boy Scouts for your sercive and your Food Drive. We received over 5200 pounds of food to help fill out pantry shelves!!
May 12 we have to great Postal Workers food drive to help fill our shelves of our pantry.
A Message from the Captains:
On February 27, we (Captains Brian & Katrina) were privileged to leave for a 12-day trip to the Holy Land. Our trip began with a visit to the ancient harbor of Joppa (now called Jaffa) where Jonah fled by boat to escape God's call to preach in Nineveh and where Peter had his vision of a sheet filled with animals lowered down from heaven. The next day we explored sites in the northern part of Israel including Megiddo, prophesied site of the Battle of Armageddon, Mount Carmel, where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and a visit to Jesus' boyhood home of Nazareth for a glimpse of life in a village from the first century.
As we headed down the Sea of Galilee we saw a synagogue in the city of Chorazin and stopped in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked His disciples "who do you say that I am?" The next day we boarded a boat for a ride on the Sea of Galilee. The boat was captained by an Israeli Christian who sang praises to Jesus and shared the history of fishing on the lake. Later that day we visited Capernaum and saw remains of the synagogue that Jesus preached in as well as remains of Peter's house. At first I was a bit skeptical that they could identify Peter's house from the other ruins but after considering the supporting evidence it is quite probable that this was the very house Jesus stayed in with Peter and his family. Wow.
We visited a number of other sites in Galilee where Jesus performed various miracles and shared His ministry, including the Mount of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was preached. We then began to make the descent to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. We passed the place where David hid when fleeing from Saul called En Gedi and Gideon Springs where God directed Gideon to choose only the warriors who drank water by bringing their hands to their mouths. It was then on to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
After a night at the Dead Sea, we traveled to Masada, the mountain fortress built by Herod and the place where Jewish zealots chose death rather than serving as slaves to Rome. On the ascent to Jerusalem we stopped at a Bedouin encampment for a camel ride and a Bedouin lunch served in a large tent.
In Jerusalem we started our visit viewing the old city from Mount Scopus. Then we walked the road Jesus would have traveled across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. At the Garden of Gethsemane, Commissioner Barry Swanson lead us in a time of worship among the ancient olive trees.
The experiences in Jerusalem are too numerous to share here so we will save those for another time. Let me say that the first part of this trip in northern Israel and the region of Galilee helped bring alive the events recorded in Scripture. It helps us appreciate the rugged terrain and how close everything is. On the Sea of Galilee surrounded by mountains, hills and valleys you can understand how the lake could be stirred up by sudden storms. From the hillsides overlooking the lake you get a feel for what it must have been like to hear Jesus teach to the multitudes. It is true, you can get all this information in books and you can look at pictures, but there is something powerful in experiencing these places and reading the stories associated with them in their actual context.
DOING THE MOST GOOD®
Help us with fundraising to provide programs and services to people in need.
Donations help locally in 4 areas including:
The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter Program - Basic needs are provided for homeless men, women and families. Efforts to secure permanent housing are undertaken by utilizing case management and other on-site programs for all shelter residents.
The Salvation Army Feeding Program - Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am. to Noon, to anyone needing a nutritious meal in a safe, clean and welcoming environment.
The Salvation Army Emergency Assistance Program - Marathon County residents in distress receive material support, including food, clothing and limited rent and utility assistance to help prevent homelessness. Disaster services are also provided.
The Salvation Army Youth Programs - At-risk youth and their families are offered a variety of opportunities to grow physically, mentally, academically, socially and spiritually in a safe, supervised environment.
A United Way Member Agency
Financial contributions are greatly needed and provide The Salvation Army with the funds to provide services year-round.
To donate by phone, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
To donate on line, click the red kettle to the left
To donate by mail, send checks to:
The Salvation Army
202 Callon St
Wausau, WI 54401
One Mission Reaching 42 Million People
"...to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination."
Because of your faith in our work - and your support of our mission - we have touched the lives of millions of needy people. The Salvation Army's life-changing programs and services help people not only here in our own community, but all across the country and around the world. With you by our side, we...
Feed the Hungry - We provide physical nourishment - bags of groceries, staple food items, hot meals - along with spiritual sustenance to hungry and hurting families and individuals.
Help the Homeless - Whether it's a warm bed, a voucher for a local hotel, or placement in a transitional housing program, we offer safety for men, women and children who just need a break from their struggles.
Remember the Elderly - We lovingly and respectfully take time to visit nursing homes to listen to, talk to a pray with residents, and offer year-round programs for our senior citizens.
Assist Struggling Families - For families who don't know where to turn, we offer assistance with food, clothing and utilities, guidance and counseling, and the reassurance that someone cares.
Aid Victims of Disasters - Hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes, and/or tornadoes. You name the emergency and one of The Salvation Army's 500 Disaster Canteens has been there - offering assistance, encouragement and relief.
Make the Holidays Brighter - We provide toys for underprivileged children, food for hungry families, and do all we can to help make the holidays brighter for our neighbors in need.
Care for Our Children - Camp...mentoring programs...sports...after-school activities and more. We help equip children with the skills they need to become successful adults.
Reach Out With a Hand to Help and Hands to Heal - We strive to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. So we're especially grateful that we are ready to serve our neighbors in need - all because you took the time and effort to share and care.