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October 15, 2015
A man with a plan
By Brooke Turbyfill
Southern Spirit staff
ajor Ray Cooper, assistant national chief
secretary, was assigned the planning of
the third of seven sessions during the
International Congress held in London
July 1-5, 2015. His experience in eventplanning in both the USA Southern
Territory and at the USA National
Headquarters qualified him for this
challenge, although never on such a
gigantic scale.
After more than 20 years in corps
appointments throughout the AlabamaLouisiana-Mississippi, Florida and
National Capital-Virginia divisions,
Major Cooper was appointed to
Southern Territorial Headquarters as
assistant program secretary in 2005.
Included in that six-year appointment
were many opportunities to participate
in the planning of territorial events
such as commissioning, congresses,
Territorial Executive Council and
TSINC. He said that the highlight of
those years was serving as director of
the Southern Bible Conference.
In 2011, he was appointed to serve
as the secretary to the Commissioners
Conference at National Headquarters.
“Over the past four years, it’s been a
Major Ray Cooper’s knack for event-planning
has landed him some nifty assignments
wonderful experience to sit with this
group three times during the year
as they discuss matters of national
Salvation Army ministry, new ideas for
Army programming, various areas of
public service, government relations,
etc. It really is quite fascinating to
observe the numerous areas where the
Army is at work across the USA,” said
Major Cooper.
Other duties were added to his initial
appointment, when in May 2012 he was
appointed as assistant national chief
secretary. These included logistical
planning for the three National
Advisory Board meetings each year. In
2014 he was chosen by General André
Cox to serve as assistant recording
secretary for the 2014 International
Congress of Leaders, traveling to
Singapore for the 10-day meeting. In
his current role, he has accompanied
the national commander on a trip to the
White House to welcome Pope Francis
to the United States upon his recent
visit.
During a trip to Atlanta working
with the NAB in January 2014,
Worship leaders
receive intensive
instruction in
worship arts
The Music and Creative Arts Department hosted
the Territorial Worship Arts Retreat at Camp Walter
Johnson in the North-South Carolina Division on the
final weekend of September. Each Southern division
had the opportunity to send nine delegates for a
weekend of intensive training.
Special guests included Randy Bonifield
(contemporary worship), Marlene Dickinson
(dance), Chris Segre-Lewis (visual art), Bill Booth
Theater Company of the USA Central Territory
(drama), Cheryl Werner (media) and Joshua Powell
(sound). The guest instructors offered teaching and
encouragement to delegates across the various tracks,
meeting in general and breakout sessions.
Rachel Wiley, a delegate from the National CapitalVirginia Division, followed the contemporary worship
track under the leadership of Bonifield. The group
was challenged to put together a contemporary
worship service and receive feedback from Bonifield.
“This was the first year I was eligible to attend the
Major Cooper received a letter from
International Headquarters requesting
him to come to London, where he was
informed that he had been appointed
to plan, produce and direct the
second of five major evening sessions
of the 2015 Boundless International
Congress, attended by more than 15,000
delegates from 126 countries where
the Army serves. This session took
place on “Founder’s Day,” July 2, the
exact date – 150 years ago – on which
William Booth had begun the ministry
in London that would become the
worldwide church and social services
organization, The Salvation Army.
“While I was honored with the
opportunity, I was overwhelmed
with all that the next 18 months
would involve,” he said. His role
involved numerous trips to Dallas,
Texas, to work with event production
company Corporate Magic; recruiting
participants; and planning the session
designated “A Serving Army.”
Major Cooper’s capability for
planning events, working with people
and developing event programs
Major Ray Cooper was asked by the
General to plan one of the sessions
at this past summer’s International
Congress in London.
prepared him. “I really enjoy the
meeting planning aspect. I am
continually grateful to God, first for
my salvation, and then the calling he
placed on my life to serve in the ranks
of Salvation Army officership. My
appointments have each been quite
different, but the ultimate goal of each
has remained the same – to minister
the message of Christ as he leads,
whether with small groups of children
in Mississippi or with thousands at the
center of the Army world.”
Joshua Powell of the Territorial Music Department teaches the fundamentals of sound engineering.
retreat, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience,”
Wiley said. “It was wonderful to be able to be the
student and hear someone else’s perspective and
teaching. It was also great to fellowship with other
leaders and artists who share the same heart for
worship and are passionate about what they are doing
in their areas of ministry. There are times when, as
a leader, you need to be filled before you can pour
into your people. This retreat was great for those
experienced leaders, but also for those who are new,
wanting to learn something that will be beneficial to
take back with them.”
The Territorial Worship Arts Retreat is a biennial
event with a focus on equipping worship leaders,
creative artists and audio visual-media specialists to
make worship in the corps more dynamic.
Army rallies for human trafficking fight
By Brooke Turbyfill
Southern Spirit staff
Two Atlanta events were held in
conjunction with the Annual Day
of Prayer for Victims of Human
Trafficking Sept. 27, 2015. Themed “A
House of Refuge,” the day called on
Salvationists around the nation to pray
for an end to the