Press: Divisional Spotlight: PENDEL
This story was originally published by Colonel Richard Munn in SAConnects
Picture a parish that contains rural, coastal, and city attractions of international renown over the large geographic area of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Here is a very special region, ranging from Lancaster County’s profound Amish culture and pastoral beauty to historic symbols like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa., and from Delaware’s pristine beaches and myriad waterways to its proud claim as the nation’s first state.
These places are stamped into the consciousness of our entire country. Think of real-life icons like Benjamin Franklin and the writing of the U.S. Constitution, or pop culture’s Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the NFL’s current Super Bowl champion Eagles. What a parish.
In 1879 this is where The Salvation Army began its presence in the United States, with indomitable 17-year-old Eliza Shirley starting meetings in a disused chair factory and pleading with General William Booth for reinforcements.
Here is one of the pillar divisions of the USA Eastern Territory, a standard-bearer for many years. PENDEL (aka EPA) is a statistically large division, with its beloved Ladore Camp and Conference Center at the heart, a state-of-the-art Kroc Center, and a long-standing legacy of unsurpassed music and creative arts.
What are we up to these days? To gain a current snapshot, SAconnects managed to catch divisional leaders Lt. Colonels Janet and Larry Ashcraft to get the story behind the story.
How would you describe the personality of the division?
Our personality is best summed up in the theme one local corps uses — “Love God. Love Others. Be a Bridge.” This means bridging a divide between God and people by pointing them to Jesus through our words and service. It also means in this polarized society seeking to bring people of opposing views to “reason together” and get to understand each other.
What are your divisional statistics: number of corps, senior and junior soldiers, officers, employees?
The Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division consists of:
- 42 corps
- 1 Kroc Center
- 3,205 senior soldiers
- 351 junior soldiers
- 94 officers
- 2 envoys
- 1,200 employees
View a full breakdown of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Area Division
What is the geographic and cultural landscape of the division?
Our corps are as diverse as our terrain. The division is marked by Appalachian foothills in the southwest, the Pocono Mountains in the northeast, large rural stretches in the extreme north, beautiful beaches in Delaware, and the sixth largest city in the U.S., Philadelphia, with a tightly packed metro area of 6.2 million people. Our total population is about 10 million people.
Our corps feature individuals from several African countries, Latino countries, Haiti, the Middle East, India, Korea, and Anglos, just to name a few. The gospel is shared in Creole, Spanish, Korean, English, Gujarati, and some African dialects.
What especially notable expressions of ministry exist within the command?
The division boasts an array of social service ministries, including several pantries, shelters, feeding programs, homes and programs for developmentally challenged individuals, permanent supportive housing, foster care and adoption services, and anti–human trafficking programs to name a few.
Of course, we have a very large Kroc Corps Community Center in the North Side of Philadelphia.
What brings you the greatest joy?
Our greatest joy is to see the Booths’ vision coming to life before our eyes. Many corps are successfully bridging the gap between social service ministry programs and the Adult Rehabilitation Centers to congregational life in our division.
We have two corps that were down to just a handful of people after COVID. Their Sunday attendances were between eight and 10 most Sundays. The officers and faithful soldiers made it a matter of prayer and became intentional about sharing the gospel with those at their feeding programs. One corps started a Salvation Meeting at their feeding program. People came to Jesus. Now in both corps, volunteers and those who sought our assistance or helped us deliver it have become soldiers and adherents. You have a very hard time finding a seat on Sunday morning in those corps. This is being replicated in several of our corps.
What is God up to in the division these days?
We see a great awakening taking place in our corps, music programs, and discipleship. Outreach is taking place as a result. One ministry that has recently sprung up is a home Bible study hosted by soldiers. They have invited first-generation Americans and new arrivals to our country to this Bible study. As a result, people from other faith traditions are coming to Jesus.
Any final insights or thoughts for our readers?
We celebrate the diversity in our division. When you look out at our divisional events, the congregation looks like John’s description in Revelation 7: “I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
At our last Family Camp, we ended one meeting by singing “How Great Thou Art” in five different languages. We were reminded of the universality of the gospel. It is not just an American gospel. It is a message of redemption for the whole world.
How can we all pray for the division?
We retire in the summer. Pray for a smooth transition of leadership and for ongoing revival. Also, the division has launched a campaign to raise $300 million over the next five years to bolster and endow our ministries around the division. Pray for the blessing of God for this endeavor. We believe it is His vision for us to do this. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We believe if we are faithful to Him, He will do it.
Thank you, Janet and Larry — God is blessing you all in the great work of Kingdom ministry. Be sure of our interest and support. An army is praying for you.