Major Marta and Captain Raymond Arocho | Buffalo (Citadel), N.Y.

Major Marta Arocho and Captain Raymond Arocho highlight the significance of building relationships at the Buffalo Citadel in upstate New York.


Major Marta Arocho

What excites me is to be able to see how God and the Holy Spirit is transforming and changing lives through the ministry that we’ve received. It excites me to see how people have a desire to grow faithfully in the Lord. God and the Holy Spirit are renewing and encouraging them. They desire to serve God, help one another, and show love to the church and the community.


Captain Raymond Arocho

God is our anchor. I feel inadequate sometimes, but that’s when God comes in.

God keeps showing us that, when it comes to our youth, they’ve got this. The challenge is that we are being shaped by a culture that depends on outside information instead of the Bible. We try to tell them, “Hey, social media is good, but it depends what kind of media you’re going to.”

With families, the key is to get the parents involved. One mother is now thinking of going into officership; she has the quality, but that is up to her. Visitations are important but hard because people can be very private. But once we’ve built a relationship, that becomes an open door.

I’m a listener, and an absorber. Regarding our youth, I like to observe. What’s God’s will and purpose for them? That’s why I’m always in prayer. Yes, I’m helping them, but really, I’m helping me. That’s the beauty of my relationship with God.

When a youth calls me from college and says, “Thank you for having the basketball team,” that, for me, is the reward. We don’t really like to be in the spotlight. We’re in the trenches.

I would never have thought I’d be in Buffalo for 12 years as one who is delivered and is helping somebody else. I want to share that experience. I go to the Adult Rehabilitation Center and deal with men in addiction. I do it because my biggest thing is seeing somebody delivered by the resurrection power of Christ.

We can’t do this by ourselves. We have an area commander if we need support. We have programs within the division that offer counsel. Let’s connect. Let’s talk. We may not interact sometimes but just being present is important.

Congregations can show appreciation for pastors by showing up. A relationship has to be constantly nourished, or it fades. If you disappear for a month, I’m like, OK, where’ve you been? I love you. I understand life happens.

 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” —Thessalonians 5:12–13


October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we’d like to thank our Salvation Army officers — pastors — for their faith, their dedication, and the hard work they do for their communities and the Lord.