By: Will Hale

Chaplains and Adult Rehabilitation Center Command officers from around the Southern Territory congregated in Atlanta in July to discuss the creation of a new curriculum to train liaisons between the ARC and the corps.

The ultimate goal of the interactive, video-based curriculum is to determine best practices for leading beneficiaries and their families to the corps. Presenters Maureen and Dr. Tim Laniak offered theological guidance and insight into the work of ARCs across America and especially in the South.

Attendees reviewed, through the teaching of Maureen Laniak, the history and purpose of both the ARCs and the corps.  Dr. Tim Laniak discussed ecclesiology – theology as applied to the nature and structure of the church. Those in attendance reviewed case studies from cities where ties between the ARC and corps flourished.  In those cities, men once considered lost causes surrendered to Christ and were transformed into soldiers. Some of those men and their families later became Salvation Army officers.

Attendees discussed discipleship and shared their own experiences. Ultimately, the conference led to valuable insight and best practices critical to the ongoing work of a new training curriculum.

Asked about her love for The Salvation Army, Maureen Laniak said, "I am all in.  Both feet."

After the conference, Dr. and Mrs. Laniak were headed to Tampa.  Their son, a soldier and graduate of the ARC program, was receiving his second-year sobriety chip.