Divisional Spotlight: Massachusetts
by Colonel Richard Munn
As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, events are already underway in Massachusetts, where the spark of revolution first began. Here is a region steeped in history — the arrival of the original Pilgrims, the Boston Tea Party, the dramatic ride of Paul Revere, and the key battles of Lexington and Concord and later Bunker Hill. These are synonymous with the American story.
Massachusetts has developed a global reputation as a seat of higher learning, medicine, and the arts — think Harvard, MIT, Berklee College of Music, Mass General, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This is the land of the Kennedys, Red Sox Nation, Celtic Pride, and the Patriots football dynasty. It is the home of Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Gordon College. It hosts the world’s oldest yearly marathon. Both basketball and volleyball were invented here.
Factor in the natural landscapes of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Berkshires, classic New England townships with steepled parish churches, and the world-class city of Boston and you have an extraordinary state.
So, it is with no surprise that The Salvation Army has immersed itself in this gilded tapestry with characteristic vigor and aplomb, often referred to simply as the “great Massachusetts Division.” Here is where Samuel Logan Brengle memorably walked across Boston Common. The division was home to Envoy Tom Ferguson, the South End Boys Club, the Cambridge Citadel Silver Band, and the Harbor Light Center. Today the new Boston Kroc Center, the Wonderland Camp and Conference Center, and the Cambridge Corps shelter ministry all rank as national leaders in their fields.
Spearheading this multifaceted command are Majors Everett and Patricia Henry, divisional leaders. SAconnects secured a one-on-one interview, to get you, our faithful readers, the story behind the story.
What are your divisional statistics: number of corps, senior and junior soldiers, officers, employees?
- 28 corps
- 1 summer camp and conference center
- 1 Kroc Center
- 1,924 senior soldiers
- 269 junior soldiers
- 67 officers and envoys
- 321 employees
Click to view a full breakdown of the Massachusetts Division
How would you describe the personality of your division?
We are a hardy group of people focused on God’s mission of love, a galaxy of stars rather than a single star of brilliance. Unity of the community of faith is a hallmark of the division. This is expressed daily in a multitude of ways, through service to all in both isolated rural towns and intensely urban neighborhoods, through our well-respected summer camping and music programs, and through devout gatherings for weekly worship and esteemed social service practices.
What is the geographic and cultural terrain of the division?
We have the congested multiethnic urban wards of Boston, the rural quietness of the Berkshires mountain range, and everything in between. The area is long renowned for its high density of Irish, Italian, African American and Caribbean residents, and today this is being expanded by new populations of Latino and Asian ethnic representation.
Here is the site of several historic evangelical revivals, the land of Jonathan Edwards, D.L. Moody, Tremont Temple, and Park Street Church.
What especially notable expressions of ministry exist within the command?
We have a notably strong feeding ministry throughout the division, which brings hundreds of people through our corps and institutional front doors every day. This is a lifeline to many, both locally vulnerable families and newly arrived immigrants and refugees.
As an aesthetic expression of our faith, we have an ever-evolving arts ministry, from well-attested brass and vocal music to sacred dance and contemporary musicianship. These are highlighted annually in our much loved Sounds of Christmas and Music Conservatory. For current innovation, we have the well-supported Plugged In podcast by the Music and Youth Department.
Continuing in that connective vein, we have an expanding social media footprint to deliberately reach the lost and grow the saints. And of course, we all love Camp Wonderland, “the happy summer place,” which just celebrated its 100th year.
What brings you the greatest joy?
Seeing people experience their full potential in Christ, caring for others and self, is an unparalleled reward. Here is the heart of all we represent, as reflected in the teaching of Christ, to love God wholeheartedly, and to love our neighbors ourselves. Seeing all the personalities of the division gathered for events such as family camp, youth councils, Star Search, and numerous regional gatherings brings its own special joy.
What is God up to in the division these days?
It seems clear to us that God is stirring hearts to have a strong desire and to intentionally dive deeper into His Word. The zeal is noticeable across the division, from children learning Bible verses, to veteran soldiers faithfully investing in Sunday school classes and Bible study.
What makes this even more powerful is that this is coupled with God’s call to care for those living on the margins. We truly are “the place for people who have no place.”
Any final insights or thoughts for our readers?
Massachusetts is renowned for revolution and revival. We aim to embody those great movements, a division of spiritual reformation and renewal. We want to publicly thank our army of soldiers, officers, employees, and friends who make this division so special, and we earnestly ask your readers to keep us in prayer, to be a catalyst for the territory.
Thank you, Everett and Pat — how we delight in the revolutionary work of the Kingdom in a strategic state for our nation. The Massachusetts Miracle is alive and well. Be sure of our interest and support. An army is cheering you on.
