Um Life audio. Hi from the Salvation Army and you're listening to Words of Life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. Welcome back to Words of Life.
Before we get into our final episode of this series of testimonies that we've been sharing, We have some really exciting news that the Salvation Army has a new-ish podcast. And to tell us about the show, what listeners can expect by tuning in, we have the host of the show, Ashley Escobar, with us. Hey, thanks for having me. Thanks for hanging out with us.
So, yeah, just tell us, first of all, what's the name of the show?
So, the name of the show is Open Air Podcast. And it's based off of Matthew 10:27, which says, What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
So, Open Air Podcast is inspired by the Salvation Army's old tradition of preaching out in the streets, out in the open. It is within the women's ministries section of the Salvation Army, but it is literally for everyone. It's not just for women. The thought around it, I believe it's part of my personal and professional calling always to create spaces for people to share their stories. I think that's so important.
Stories of what God has brought them through, what he's done in their lives. what they believe he's doing now in and through the Salvation Army. Each episode features unscripted, authentic conversations with A variety of guests and leaders as we explore stories of faith, service, struggle, and hope.
Well, Ashley, thank you for stopping by. Before we get into today's episode, we're gonna share a brief clip. from OpenAir. Enjoy. Hey friends, today I've got my coworker Sheena Evans here on the pod with me.
And today we're going to talk about two things that I'm really passionate about and I know she's passionate about, which is motherhood and social justice. I have so much to say about just raising girls.
However, I was also thinking about this in terms of just raising little innocent people. Um,. The world is really it the real the world can be really nasty, right?
So it is inspiring this teacher in me. Oh gosh.
Sometimes I have to. think of the teaching moments that I can present in a space where they can understand as, you know, little people. Yeah. And where it's not, you know, traumatizing them because I do work in a I have a very heavy Call to advocate for those who are being abused day to day or being exploited in ways that they never knew that they would be. But I think helping them understand their little world and their space and having these teaching moments is huge.
But also, Educating my circle, the people that my kids hang around, the people that have kids, my friends who have little ones. Like, let's be educated on this topic, not just this topic, but just in general. Because, like I said, the world can be really harsh. But if we're aware and we're educated, it's going to serve as a more solid foundation for that community in general.
So I think that's. Kind of how having kids has inspired me in that way. Be sure to check out the Open Air Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or check out the show notes in today's episode. We'll have a link there as well. During the Salvation Army USA Southern Territories Commissioning 2025.
Soundcast offered a space for individuals to record testimonies about people who have been pillars of hope and guidance in their walk with God. These are their stories. I am Shimae Hewitt. I'm a captain in the Salvation Army, and I'm Tamarik. Hewitt Ellis Captain at Peachcrest Corps, and we are the Hewitt sisters.
When I think of my mother, I thank her for the role of intercessor. I remember her taking us to prayer meetings, 4 o'clock in the morning, and just teaching us how to fast and pray. She's an evangelist, even taking us and teaching us how to go out to the community and share the gospel.
So that's what she has passed down to me. For my dad it's wisdom. Uh guidance. strong faith. and musical inspiration.
So That's what has been given to us. Hey, you're listening to the Salvation Army's Words of Life. We're going to take a quick ad break and we'll be right back. Americans have a big healthcare problem. Over 100 million citizens carry medical debt while paying for overpriced and complicated health insurance.
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That's chministries.org/slash wellness. They say, I look like her, my mom. Marvelous is her name, but my passions and who I am, excited. I agree with definitely the prayer warrior as well. But my mom was a French, she loves French.
She was a French teacher before she became a Salvation Army officer. She was pioneering in the Caribbean. Her passions and desires for youth was magnificent. There was never a court that she went to that they said the youth didn't grow. She was outgoing in the community, so the community knew her as well.
Um, and she was as passionate. Back to the French, um, she definitely loved French among the islands. She brought that into the salvation army as well and would teach us wonderful songs, which we have passed on. My husband and I, Jamal Ellis, passed on to our children as well, and to others as well. My dad, definitely, she may mention music, but he's also passionate with his preaching as well and with his ministry.
A love when you know Major Hewitt, you know a love for passion of singing and dancing. And definitely, our youngest, Daniel Ellis, got that as well.
So, just love this.
Well, I can say for mommy, mommy was a no-nonsense. No nonsense, even for boys, your focus is on education. And you, and so we had to make sure we got our studies in, you know. But even if that grounding in God, so even if you're you say, Oh, I'm going over here, she, I remember, she pat me down, woo, woo! Woohoo!
Cover her in the name of Jesus. And if I there was one, I remember one guy in particular. She said, I give you six months because she could see he was not in the way of God. And it wasn't even six months. I don't even think it was three months, you know.
So I thank her for that because her grounding in God has helped me even now in the decision making to make sure I stay on the path of God. Yes. But it also sounds like she still made room for to let you make your own mistakes. Like this guy that she was like, this isn't going to work. Yeah.
She didn't forbid you. No, no, no. But she already gave. And so that in that, you saw, man, she has some insights. And so you kept seeing some little pieces of that.
What about you? Definitely for me the same because we grew up together, you know, and mom was always everywhere that we went. She made sure she was always there. And in addition to that, it wasn't just us as far as that grounding. All of our friends knew her.
All of our friends knew of that training.
So she tried. To train them as well and equip them in that knowledge of God, but in who they are as women, so we became strong women of God and of our community, and who we are.
So, we knew who we were in our identity and who we were in God, but who we are as leaders from youth. We were leaders, and that's why when we grew up, now we try to pass that on to others as well. Same thing with our dad as well, he was always instilling us to be godly women and who we are. And so, again, it wasn't just for us, but all of our friends around they instilled that in the friends that are around us, and today. Even when I met my hobby, mom was there.
And I said, okay, mom, what you think? What do you think about him? You know, and he came alongside and he just loved on her. And she said, yes, that's the one.
So that's giving that approval as well. But it's because she instilled that in us to look for that right person at the right time. They still instilled in us. To love God, love each other, love people in who they are. And so, because of that grounding and in them both speaking into our lives, we try to model.
I tried to model that in my marriage with Captain Jamal and I, and again with Miss Hewitt, Shimay, my sister, I call her Miss Hewitt, but with Shime as well, just speaking that love in to say that you may start off in life with an intention and a hope in that God is still in the midst and he will work things out. Just continue to trust him. And both of them made sure that we understood that, that life happens, but still, God will never leave you or forsake you. Keep trusting him. We pray that you're enjoying and being blessed by this conversation.
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That's chministries.org slash wellness. What's something that you would like to say to them? Either something that you wish you said more of, or just something that you just want to share? on a public platform?
Well, that that is a question. Uh we haven't got that yet. Um we've got lots of other questions. We haven't got that. Shimena as mom um as we shared, mom passed just a few months to us ago, six months to September of last year.
And even for that, we're still working through, yeah, you know, that, and we haven't gotten that question. Like, if mom was here, we've talked, we've talked, we've talked to other people, talk with dad as well. If mom were here, that is a question. What would we say to her? Because we try to share that with family a lot, and we're like, mom.
Thank you. Thank you for always instilling in us who we are as young ladies, giving us a very extremely strong foundation. Thank her for her sacrifices. Thank her for the many nights that she woke up and told her. took us to the prayer meetings with family around, invested in family.
When times were hard, or you know, and she said, No matter how hard times get, God will always be with us and He always makes a way. We have seen miracles happen because of her prayers in our lives in the islands and especially up here in America as well today. Our ministry and what we do is a testament to both of them.
So we say thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for us, for praying for others around us, and to Bad as well. Dad has always been there with wisdom, no matter what. Dad knows we can, he said we can always call on him, and he has always been there, not just for us, but for others as well. And so that's just a tribute to say thank you, Dad, for always being there for us, for always speaking into us. And for mom, thank her for the same training and instilling in us who we are as strong women today.
The good thing, the good thing I can honestly say. is that I do believe that before she passed. And while daddy is still alive, I do say to them, What's I have said my words?
So for. In all vulnerability and honesty, I do say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for as a child those times when I didn't understand and I'm like, oh. As teenagers, do as young people do, and release that, right? And then the second piece is the thank you.
I do, I did tell her thank you before she passed. We had our conversation and I said, You know, I love you, right? She said, Yes.
So that I can treasure because I got to clean my heart. And I also got to pay homage, right? What I will say, which he didn't ask, is where do we go from here now? And that's what I will say to all people listening. The past, you have nothing to control the past.
What you have is today. Don't waste today.
So, what I do now, I take every opportunity to hang more, to enjoy each other more, to spend time more while you have. you have Let go of the past. Embrace the now. The Salvation Army's mission, doing the most good, means helping people with material and spiritual needs. You become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army.
Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to offer your support. You can subscribe to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store or visit SalvationArmysoundcast.org. Join us next time for the Salvation Army's Words of Life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life.
Thanks so much for listening to Words of Life. We want to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the show. Visit lifeaudio.com where you'll find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They have shows about prayer, Bible studying, parenting, and more. Thanks again for listening.
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