Wade in the Living Water
by Warren L. Maye and Hugo Bravo
For five days, the “Living Water” (the Word of Almighty God) anchored the Old Orchard Beach Camp meetings in Scripture. This theme was echoed through heartfelt messages and lively music and creative performances by the ocean in Maine.
Commissioners Ralph and Susan Bukiewicz, USA East territorial leaders, and Bible teachers Commissioners Mark and Sharon Tillsley and Captains Joel and Kathleen Ashcraft helped bring that metaphor to life. In their own ways, each speaker communicated how exposure to God’s Word can cause it to flow forth from within each believer and revive today’s spiritually parched world. These journeys through Scripture challenged listeners to courageously step deeper into their faith.
Special guest, singer-songwriter Randy Bonifield, and the New York Staff Band (NYSB), the Eastern Territory Staff Songsters (ETSS), the Adult Rehabilitation Center Combined Chorus, the MOVE Dance Company, and UNBOUND set a worshipful tone for the meetings. An elaborate Family Fun Night kept the children happy with a Super Slide, ice cream truck, face painting, petting zoo, games, and toys, all topped off by a 30-minute kids’ devotional.
Water stories
At the Seaside Pavilion, the need for Living Water was dramatically illustrated via depictions of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:1–34). A video clip from the award-winning series The Chosen (S.1, E.8) and a live scriptural recitation by Lt. Colonel Christine Rock, territorial secretary for Women’s Ministries, passionately reenacted the moment when Jesus spoke of Himself as the giver of Living Water.
When Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz, territorial president of Women’s Ministries & Officer Development, spoke, she directed her audience to another memorable water story from the Bible. She read from Judges 7:4–8 and described how God had directed Gideon to select just 300 battle-ready warriors from many thousands by how they cautiously drank water from a stream.
From that example, Bukiewicz derived five virtues of a Christian warrior:
- Follow the Almighty God.
- Even if we’ve been confronted with a stream from which we can drink, never bow, but keep your head up.
- Be aware of the enemy.
- Never lay down your shield and weapon, which are the holy words of God and prayer.
- Bring the water to your face.
“The Lord will see that we have enough of it to keep us alive. Our faithful obedience will bring the victory,” she said.
On Sunday morning, Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz, territorial commander, continued the metaphor by challenging everyone to truly integrate themselves into the Living Water of God. Quoting Jesus from John 7:37–38, Bukiewicz said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
As evening fell, the sky dimmed, stillness came, and a cool breeze flowed through the Pavilion as the territorial commander continued. The audience sat mesmerized as Bukiewicz referenced Ezekiel 47, and then Psalm 1. He eloquently took them on a deep dive into the living waters of God.
“Now, let me bring you back to Sunday morning, friends,” he said. “This is not swimming class. But it is taking a look at God’s Word. Imagine again the streams of living water. God invites us through His Holy Spirit who says, ‘Go deeper. Go deeper. Go deeper.’”
‘Love Beyond’ at the Pier
For four nights, the Old Orchard Beach Pier became a showcase for Salvation Army worship, music, and dance. The variety-show style and order of performance was intentional, said Kathryn Higgins, arts ministries director. When a loud, crowd-pleasing live pop song or a hip-hop performance is followed by a quieter, more reflective dramatic piece, she said, it’s in those moments when one-on-one ministry sprouts.
“The two goals of the Pier ministry,” Higgins said, “are for the event to create positive interactions with The Salvation Army, and to give everyone an opportunity to encounter Christ.
“This is one of our few truly public-facing events. Usually, they are very internal. So, when we choose a theme, it must be something the public needs to hear,” she said. “Over the years, we’ve learned that many people here have been hurt by their own church and have walked away from it.
“We incorporated Love Beyond to this year’s Pier ministry, because it’s a popular Army slogan and a great message that Jesus’ love goes beyond anything we could ever imagine or understand.
“Every time people look at the stage and hear the Sinner’s Prayer, it makes me well up a little. It tells me we’re doing something right.”
Worshiping the Good Shepherd
A rainy and colder than expected Monday morning moved the Bible study from its yearly beach location to the Corps Tabernacle. The lesson, hosted by Captains Joel and Kathleen Ashcraft, focused on how worship helps us develop a posture of surrender to the Lord.
“Worship transforms us,” said Captain Kathleen. “The practice of worship is the practice of regularly being transformed by God.”
“The songs in the Book of Psalms are of worship,” said Captain Joel. “Psalm 23 itself might be the most famous psalm ever. It elicits emotion, because God made us emotional creatures. Think of the emotions that come to mind when you read it: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.’
David uses the language of God as the shepherd and us as the sheep, Captain Joel explained. Shepherds protect their flock and guide it toward greener pastures.
“Our worship should be directed toward something that helps us,” he said. “When we have an understanding that there is a God, a shepherd for us who protects us and provides peace and comfort, we are then allowed to develop a posture of surrender.”
Captain Joel made note of the green pastures in the Psalm, and how King David would have written it while living in ancient Palestine, a land known more for dry deserts than green pastures.
“A shepherd in Palestine would have spent days looking for green pastures for his sheep,” he said. “Look at that metaphor of our own reliance to God. We are all walking through our own deserts, angry and frustrated. But Jesus is the one who is whispering in the back of our mind, saying, ‘Do not forget. I am a good shepherd.’”
‘Thy kingdom come’
Commissioners Mark and Sharon Tillsley shared memories of visits to the Holy Land during their Bible study series on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
“I love the story,” said Commissioner Mark. “Paul emphasized in this letter that Christ is the promised Messiah who doesn’t usher in a new religion, He brings continuity and completion. And then it’s not a different thought. It’s the gospel. That’s from the Alpha to the Omega, the beginning to the end, the beginning of God’s revelation to the end of the revelation. This is all about the gospel message.”
The Tillsleys’ three-day Bible study covered Galatians 1:1–24, pointing out such themes as the coming of God’s kingdom, Paul’s role as a servant, and how as heirs of Abraham, we are all members of the family of God.
“We’re going to look more closely at how Paul identified himself in the line of the faithful prophets, and how he used his now primary identity as a servant of God. I hope you’ll find it interesting. I certainly did when I recognized, maybe for the first time, that his were direct allusions to the prophetic utterances of Ezekiel, and Isaiah, Old Testament prophets. Paul was, in a beautiful way, choosing those passages and saying, ‘This is me now.’”
Marching orders
The Pier ministry’s annual March of Witness roared down from the top of Old Orchard Beach to the town square in front of the stage. Even the sounds of passing police cars and fire trucks were no match for the NYSB as they performed at the Pier alongside the ETSS.
Captain Amber Maynor, corps officer at the Old Orchard Beach Corps, welcomed the crowd. “The Salvation Army has been coming to Old Orchard Beach for 139 years. We keep coming back because this is a place where we feel we belong. Many of us come to vacation here because it is familiar, and that’s how others see The Salvation Army itself. They see the Army and they know us, because whether in this country or countries across the world, we offer the same message of love.”
Maynor compared the feeling of walking into a Salvation Army corps to the comforting feeling of walking on a beach. “That’s what you get when you come to The Salvation Army, a feeling of comfort and love,” she said. “From the youngest to the oldest, there’s a place for you.”
Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz pointed to the NYSB and ETSS and said, “You might be thinking the same thing that I am—they’re really good! These are men and women who attend The Salvation Army as their church, and each one testifies how God has changed his or her life. They are returning their gift of music back to God.
“You might see the Army as the folks who ring bells at Christmas, or the ones who take your used clothing, or those people who help the homeless—and all that is true,” he continued. “We do all that, and more. We do it as an expression of God’s love. If there is anything that we can do for you today, even if it’s just to pray with you, we would be honored to do so.”
The afternoon meeting closed with a patriotic rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The sound of God’s song
On Tuesday evening in the Pavilion, worship leader Randy Bonifield, the NYSB (B/M Derek Lance), and ETSS (director Erik Jones) offered a stupendous concert with rich congregational singing, the highest quality of brass band music, and a diverse vocal repertoire.
“Commissioner Susan reminded us on Saturday night that God’s people need to be alert and always knowing what’s going on around them,” said Lt. Colonel Margaret Davis, territorial secretary for Program, during her inspiring devotional message.
Davis shared how, at the end of the Book of Zephaniah, God Himself had promised to celebrate with songs of joy.
“We need to always look up. And when we look up, we see that His love is further expressed in many different ways,” Davis said. “Look at the people around you here tonight. Your family and your friends. There’s so much love in this room.
“How wonderful it is to be a part of the family of God. A smile, a kind word, a whispered prayer, a touch, a hug, and a helping hand are all expressions of God’s love for us. Even strangers can be evidence of God’s love. I think many of them are angels unaware. Look up and look around you at beautiful Old Orchard Beach. His love is in the roar of the ocean and the rolling waves.”
Save the date!
Next year, we look forward to celebrating the 140th anniversary of The Salvation Army at OOB. Join us for the Pier Festival, which will run July 24–27, and the Camp Meetings, July 26–29.
