Empowerment Conference 2025

by Warren L. Maye

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

—1 Peter 1: 3–4 (NLT)

The Inheritance: Empowerment Conference 2025, hosted by The Salvation Army, brought together 99 delegates for a weekend of worship, reflection, and community engagement in Scranton, Pa. The event celebrated African heritage, ethnic and cultural diversity, and spiritual empowerment through dynamic speakers, music, and workshops.

At the front desk of the Scranton Hilton & Conference Center, Envoy Anita Brown-Hinson was met with unexpected warmth. “Oh, The Salvation Army!” exclaimed the clerk, recognizing her uniform. Gesturing to a colleague, he added, “We both graduated from the Scranton ARC. We’re so grateful for your ministry.” Their heartfelt appreciation was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of The Salvation Army’s work.

Hinson, who serves as a chaplain in the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division, knew that Adult Rehabilitation Center program well. She was moved to know they had successfully completed the program and were now gainfully employed in Lackawanna County within a five-minute walk of the University of Scranton, the Steamtown National Historic Site, and the Scranton ARC.

Elsewhere in the hotel, another employee told Hinson, “We’re so glad you’re here. We hear the Christian music. When y’all celebrate, you celebrate Christ!” Indeed, the praise and worship celebration went on during the Friday evening keynote session.

“It’s a godly heritage,” said Hinson later, reflecting on the weekend event. “We are sharing our inheritance, who we are.”

Empowering a mission-driven community

“God is listening,” declared Envoy Kenneth Burton, O.F. (Order of the Founder), of the Harlem Temple Corps. Setting a powerful tone, his message challenged attendees to move beyond passive participation and actively apply what they learned in their communities. This was not “just another experience,” Burton emphasized, but a divine opportunity to prioritize love, service, and Christ-centered living.

Excitement built with the warm welcome of Commissioners Ralph and Susan Bukiewicz, territorial leaders. Their presence not only highlighted the event’s significance but also reinforced the spirit of unity and collaboration. This conference was more than an assembly; it was a commitment to grow, learn, and serve, rooted deeply in faith and community engagement.

“As we gather today, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible strength that lies within our diverse community,” said Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz. “Each one of you plays an essential role in our shared mission, and I am truly grateful for the unique contributions you bring to our ministry.”

Instead of delivering a traditional sermon, Bukiewicz shared a personal reflection on what true unity and transformation really mean. “It’s all about saying yes to God,” he said. “In a world filled with shifting cultural messages, the timeless truths of Scripture serve as our anchor. When we align our lives with God’s Word, we not only witness our own personal growth but also foster deeper connections with one another, even across our differences.

“This weekend, I encourage all of us to remain open to fellowship and to be guided by the Spirit. Let’s affirm each other’s value and recognize that every individual here brings something special to our shared journey. We are all part of something greater, and with God’s blessing, we can navigate this path together, united in faith and purpose.”

Celebrating belonging and diversity

True inclusion goes beyond open doors, Captain Darell Houseton reminded the delegates. It requires open hearts and intentional reconciliation. Drawing from Isaiah 61:3, he encouraged attendees to see themselves as “Oaks of Righteousness,” rooted in faith and strength. As chair of the Territorial Committee for Salvationists of African Descent, Houseton urged all members to lead inclusively and mentor others, shaping a future where everyone feels truly valued.

About the committee’s legacy, Houseton said, “Their pioneering efforts laid the foundation for inclusivity, reminding us all of the importance of honoring our history as we move forward.”

Guarding your eternal inheritance

In a stirring keynote address, Captain Shean W. Bolton, corps officer in Lorain, Ohio, invited delegates to prepare their hearts for God’s presence and remain anchored in Scripture amid life’s distractions.

“Let’s read together from God’s Word,” he began, drawing attention to the story of Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21. Bolton warned against the dangers of greed and deception — forces that can rob believers of their spiritual inheritance, just as Ahab and Jezebel unjustly seized Naboth’s land.

The vineyard is a powerful metaphor for our eternal inheritance: life with God, secured through Christ’s death and resurrection. Bolton urged listeners to remain vigilant, guarding their faith against fleeting worldly temptations and valuing their spiritual birthright above all else.

“This evening,” he declared with passion, “we must take a stand against any deception from the enemy that threatens to steal what God has promised us.”

His message was a call to live intentionally, rooted in truth, guided by Scripture, and focused on the eternal reward that awaits those who remain faithful.

The call to live as heirs, not orphans

On Saturday morning, Envoy Jennifer K. Graham began by calling officers to honor and support envoys, reminding everyone that each role is divinely appointed.

Graham, a Licensed Master of Social Work who serves as a chaplain with the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division, further explored the concept of spiritual inheritance: the believer’s imperishable, undefiled hope gained through Christ’s resurrection and sustained by God’s mercy — not by bloodline, status, or effort. She challenged people to live as heirs, not orphans, by stewarding God-given gifts, establishing godly family boundaries and values, and breaking destructive generational patterns.

Finally, with great energy and enthusiasm, Graham urged active faith — personally interceding for others and serving as bridges to extend God’s inheritance to future generations. “The Cross doesn’t just break curses,” she asserted. “It is rewriting covenants! Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah!”

Empowering the soldier’s voice

Territorial Sergeant Major Heather Green, chair of the soldier-led Territorial Soldiers Express Council, addressed the delegates. The council is made up of Green, one cadet, and one soldier representative from each division. They meet to gather ideas, concerns, praise reports, and mission opportunities from the ranks.

“In just over a year, we’ve seen territorial leadership actively listen and implement changes to meeting minutes and policies to ensure the soldier’s voice is heard at every level,” Green said. Soldiers, who often outlast officers through appointments, were encouraged to get involved or connect with their divisional representative via saconnects.org/tsec.

Testimonies of survival and service

Cadet Nigel Majomeka (Proclaimers of Transformation, 2025–2027) shared a moving testimony of survival and redemption. After a near-fatal car accident, he experienced God’s miraculous preservation. Reflecting on a rebellious youth and a strained relationship with his father, Majomeka described how faith restored their bond and led him to ministry. He once pursued data science, but Majomeka answered God’s call to officership, testifying to the transformative power of grace.

Territorial Secretary for Program Lt. Colonel Margaret Davis celebrated the group’s heritage of empowerment, thanked God for recent spiritual outpourings, and recalled her and her husband’s service at National Headquarters (NHQ) from 2021 to 2024.

Davis honored the late Dimitri Michelle Warren, a devoted African American who had served as the assistant director of Social Services at NHQ. In doing so, Davis encouraged everyone to cling to Jesus to receive their eternal inheritance. Her husband, Assistant Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel David Davis, anticipated that a revival would lead up to The Salvation Army’s 2026 Congress. He urged participants to embrace God’s transformative word.

A testament to faith and community

On Sunday morning, the final day of the conference, Major Juanita Stanford, corps officer of the Cleveland West Park Corps, opened with heartfelt praise and thanks for the chance to worship and serve alongside other believers. Drawing on Christ’s inheritance as described in Colossians, she reminded listeners that our true legacy is spiritual, not material. She shared stories from her and her husband’s own ministry in Cleveland’s diverse “Little Arabia,” where the gospel crosses every cultural and economic boundary. “Paul’s letter to the Colossians is highlighted as a guide for standing firm against false teachings and persevering through life’s messiness,” she said.

Using an HGTV-style home-renovation analogy, Stanford encouraged believers to examine their faith’s foundations “down to the studs,” and invest in “generational” spiritual wealth. Her heartfelt, personal testimonies — of her son achieving his wings as a commercial airline pilot and her sister’s new Habitat home — illustrated God’s faithfulness. Stanford’s message closed with a call to “build one another up in love, remember God’s promises, and keep pressing toward the heavenly inheritance.”

The conference affirmed that spiritual inheritance is not just a concept. It’s a call to action, unity, and transformation rooted in Christ.