Swoneky Lay Leadership

05/08/2026

Milestone season is here – awards days, graduations, end-of-year banquets, and the beautiful chaos of wrapping up another school year. It's a season of pride and exhaustion in equal measure.

We wanted to share something for every TSA family navigating this stretch: God is present in the transitions – not just the milestones.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" – Isaiah 43:19

He's not waiting for the cap-and-gown photo. He's in the carpool line. The last-minute grocery run for the class party. The quiet ride home when your kid finally opens up about what's really going on. The late-night planning sessions for summer programs that haven't started yet.

The new thing God is doing doesn't wait for the schedule to clear. It springs up in the in-between – and that's exactly where faithfulness lives.

So if you're running on fumes and holding it all together through the final weeks: you're not behind. You're right where God meets you.

Praying for every family, every officer, every corps leader navigating this season. Who else is in the thick of it right now?

05/07/2026

What does it look like to serve side by side in ministry? Priscilla and Aquila offer a powerful example in Scripture. Always mentioned together, this couple lived out their calling through shared leadership, hospitality, and a deep commitment to the gospel. Their story reflects something deeply familiar within The Salvation Army today. Explore how Priscilla and Aquila embody the heart of Salvationism in the latest installment of "Salvationists in Scripture", only on our e-Newsletter 👉

Salvationists in Scripture: Priscilla and Aquila by Colonel Richard Munn Within the pages of the greatest story ever told, we find a cast of larger-than-life characters from diverse regions and times. Some

05/03/2026

If you're still planning week to week, you know how exhausting that feels. Join us May 7 at 12:15 PM EST for a Lunch & Learn focused entirely on planning a program year that actually works. We're talking calendars, themes, staffing, budgets, and how to build margin into your schedule before the chaos hits.

This is for youth leaders who refuse to burn out before the year even starts. Bring your lunch. Leave with a plan. Register now.
https://www.youthdownsouth.org/lunch-and-learn

05/03/2026

'Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."' 📖 John 8:10-11

This story is intriguing on several levels. The lady in question had been ‘caught in adultery’ (v 3), but there is not a man being charged with her, as one might have expected. Where is he? Also, if she had been seen in such circumstances, it is likely that a trap had been set for her – it being highly unlikely that the authorities merely stumbled across this sinful deed. Finally, this woman found herself being used merely as a pawn by the teachers of the law and Pharisees while they tested Jesus. Their interest hardly seems to be in the woman and her adultery, but much more about how they might catch Jesus out. Despite her actions, it’s hard to not have sympathy for her.

The woman stands before Jesus in shame and terror. The leaders had exposed her adultery and the law required her ex*****on. The tension was almost tangible. But Jesus began to write on the ground with his finger. We don’t know what he wrote, but his spoken words were potent: ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’ (v 7). One by one they dropped their stones and walked away. The law is unaltered, but the woman is forgiven.

If we are genuinely repentant, there is no unforgivable sin. We should turn from our sin and seek forgiveness. But equally, if we find we have a stone in our hand, having seen or heard of the behaviour of someone we know, it might be time to drop it and walk away.

➡ Begin a new journey with the next edition, Words of Life – Life on the edge, ready for you now on the YouVersion Bible App now:
🌐https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/70703

05/01/2026

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 | 𝗠𝗮𝘆

Friends, we are starting our FIFTH month in the Bible! If this is your first time, WAY TO GO! If you have read through the Bible in the past, we hope you are seeing NEW THINGS God is doing!

On the first of each month throughout 2026, we will provide the monthly guides for our favorite reading plans - The Bible Recap and 52 Weeks in the Word!

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 (𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤) 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐃!

To access The Bible Recap 👉 https://www.thebiblerecap.com/start
To access 52 Weeks in the Word 👉 https://www.trillianewbell.com/52-weeks-in-the-word

04/26/2026

As Salvation Army officers, following God’s call often means stepping into the unknown— not just for the Officers, but for their families too. What does it look like to trust God through seasons of change? Take a moment to read this powerful reminder that even when life feels uncertain, God’s plan is steady, intentional, and full of grace. Featured on our e-Newsletter 👉

Trust in God’s Plan by Colonel Crista Dalrymple

04/15/2026

Scarcity is a constant anxiety that there isn’t enough. Not enough people, money or time. Is The Salvation Army at risk of losing its impact? Or are we looking at it the wrong way? Captain John Clifton invites us to consider a perspective of abundance, and the belief that as Salvationists, we have more than enough for mission. Read more:
https://salvationist.ca/articles/scarcity-or-abundance/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRMgF1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFMY2R2MUVBeENPRmtJdzBnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiIw9_Ql7sevGYeenW4BOuP9uXKG-sTe6f2EfKXSNG3r87n-b6cCMP0ULlzs_aem_WrcNSfyiZm9mNx9IJJH56Q

Why The Salvation Army needs to let go of fear and commit to creativity.

04/13/2026

Low attendance and low engagement do not mean your youth ministry is failing.
Sometimes it is the season.
Students get busy.
Sports pick up.
School gets overwhelming.
Families travel.
Schedules shift.
What you are seeing might not be a lack of interest, but a change in capacity.
Before you assume something is broken, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Then, focus on what you can control:
• Prioritize relationships over packed schedules
• Choose one thing you can do well instead of trying to do everything
• Stay consistent so students know what to expect
• Keep your message clear and centered on Christ
You do not need to launch five new programs to grow.
Sometimes growth looks like simplifying your approach, showing up well, and creating spaces that feel real and intentional.
Do not be afraid to think outside the box either. Ministry can happen over a shared meal, a pickup game, a hobby, or a simple conversation. It does not always have to look like a formal program to be meaningful.
Small, consistent, thoughtful steps build momentum over time.