November 22, 2024 • 31 mins
Have you ever wondered how the unpredictable weather in New England could spice up your Halloween? Our latest episode kicks off with a humorous and lively conversation about just that, peppered with a charming tale of Mackenzie and her newfound obsession with the "happy birthday fart song." We touch on the serious matter of the upcoming election, discussing the importance of peace and unity amidst political differences and the church's role as a beacon of compassion and grace.
We're thrilled to welcome our special guest, Chris Molinaro from the Massachusetts Music Department of The Salvation Army. Chris shares insights from his journey into the music community, adding depth to our discussion with his unique experiences and perspective.
Our exploration of vibrant music and youth programs showcases the dedication and achievements of young talents like Mason and Meadow from Fall River. We celebrate the flourishing initiatives in Haverhill and Fall River, highlighting personal connections and the unique impact of The Salvation Army’s programs tailored to each community. With stories of personal growth, community engagement, and the joy of music, this episode is sure to leave you inspired and grateful for the meaningful relationships that enrich our lives.
Stay tuned for PART TWO with Chris Molinaro!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
welcome back everyone .
We are here with episode number21 of the plugged in podcast,
how you guys doing today good,how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
full of fake energy I'm channeling it it's a
beautiful day live off of mycoffee live fresh.
It is nate, it is a beautifulday.
Live off of my coffee LiveFresh, it is.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Nate, it is a beautiful day, so we're in.
Well, I was going to sayNovember.
I guess the drop date isNovember.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, it's actually Halloween.
It is, I just took my skeletonearrings off.
Happy Halloween.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
But it's supposed to be.
You told me when you came in 78degrees today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I can't.
I can't keep up.
This is why all of our childrenare sick, because it's like
crazy.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, Friday it's going to be like 54, 53.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Oh, my Atlanta it keeps going.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
There's like huge swings in the weather and I
guess that's like a normal fallthing for New England, but it's
like dramatic.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Our first October here.
It snowed, yeah, and now wejust broke out shorts today,
nice what.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Well, 78 degrees, that'll match perfectly.
Mackenzie is going fortrick-or-treating tonight as a
little beautiful butterfly, Nice.
So she's got her wings andshe's all about that, and Caleb
is the rainbow skeleton thathe's going as.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I forgot about the rainbow skeleton.
Yeah, so I don't have a ranttoday, but I do have a Mackenzie
story.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
If we have time for it, yes, go for it.
Okay, so a couple weeks ago wasCaleb's fourth birthday and I
don't know what possessed me todo this, but we were in the car
and I was looking up on Spotifyhappy birthday songs and then
there's this track title thatsays the happy birthday fart
song.
Oh gosh, I'm like of course Igot to play it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Classic dad move.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, yeah.
So we play this fart song andthe kids think it is the
funniest thing they have everheard.
So the entire drive to daycareCaleb is just like repeat, play
it again, play it again, play itagain.
So we played it like 30 timesand it's exactly what it sounds
like it's happy birthday in theversion of farts.
Yes, so super mature.
So his birthday passes and wedon't play this again, we don't
(02:04):
talk about it, don't evenmention it.
I would say 10 days later.
So Mackenzie's really into.
She's trying to sing right now.
That's part of hercommunication.
So all the time, literally allthe time, she's like Twinkle,
twinkle, and then it getsinterchanged with Mommy, mommy.
So she'll just be singingTwinkle all the time.
(02:27):
Well, so we're like driving tochurch a couple Sundays ago and
we're in the car and again thissong has not been referenced for
like 10 days like nothing.
And so Mackenzie, just in theback seat and this is, you know,
again, pretty usual for her,and we just hear Twinkle Twinkle
and like, so we just heartwinkle twinkle, and so we just
(02:48):
like died.
We like died laughing, and thenshe absolutely hammed it up.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So then she was just like she's like I have an
audience, the more reaction I'mgoing to keep going, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Oh, that's so funny.
But like little baby Mackenzie,she thought that was just the
funniest.
It was the funniest thing, itwas incredible.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
It's awesome oh, I love her so much.
She's hilarious.
She has such a littlepersonality she does have a
personality.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
She's so cute.
I feel like she, uh, she getsit from uh, not from her so much
from her daycare but when shecomes home from daycare she's
got her hair in a bun or it'slike neatly braided.
Like I feel so bad because Isent something like I sent her
to daycare and she her hair kindof looks like a rag doll.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I'm sorry girl.
I tried my best I tried my best.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
I gotta learn how to do that, yeah, yeah, I gotta
learn how to do the the hair,because I'm not.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I'm not up to par yet you'll get there watch some
youtube videos.
Oh, that's my life.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I'm, I'm in it, yeah pretty soon I'll be doing the
french braid master breeder andlike, yeah, twists and bows and
and barrettes, all of it, yeah,yeah, so at the time this
episode drops, uh, we haveprobably eclipsed election day.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah, it's hard to say right now, before the
election.
Obviously it's razor closeright margin and and, uh, one of
the things with the SalvationArmy is the organization remains
apolitical, so we don't haveanything to say on either side
of the aisle.
But I think it's reallyimportant for all of us to keep
the country as a whole in ourprayers.
(04:21):
I think, again, this episodewill drop on the other side of
the election, but I think on thefront side of it we're all kind
of wondering what's going tohappen in either direction.
We just hope that everybody iswithin themselves and staying
safe and just kind of you knowall the I don't know, do you
(04:43):
guys want to keeping theirwitness intact?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, yeah, I just, you know it's.
It's really easy to allowpolitical conversations and
arguments to divide us, but we,we are called to be peacemakers,
you know, agents of peace in aworld full of chaos.
And so people are watching us,the church, a little closer than
they would be watching networknews, you know, and they expect
(05:07):
something different from us.
And so we have a responsibilityto pray, a responsibility to
live like Jesus and to modelcompassion and grace, and so
that's what I'm trying to do,yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, I think that's.
Maybe this I mean strongest.
Uh, outward witness of achristian is not anything they
say yeah it's not any invitationto church, it's not any
powerful prayer.
It's how someone observes youfrom afar yeah like they.
They can notice if you're aperson, uh, filled with the
fruit of the spirit, yeah, andthat is evident to the world,
(05:41):
right?
So, as we're in the other sideof the election, we're just yeah
.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
What Nate said, all the things that Nate said.
We are a witness to the world,yep.
Well, moving past the election,so we've got a couple things
coming up on today's episode.
A little bit later we're goingto invite the newest member.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yay Of the.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Massachusetts Music Department.
We've been Where's yeah, yeahyeah, so chris molinaro is going
to be coming on the show hestarted last uh, february.
Yeah, so the year is is rollingthrough.
(06:23):
He's now kind of in the secondprogram season with us and uh, I
have a billion great things tosay about chris.
Maybe you guys want to chime infirst.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I love Chris.
Chris is Jen used to say atcamp.
If she could copy and pasteChris as a staff member, like
that's what she would do,because he was just always so
versatile when there was a cabinthat needed to be filled in.
He went from being, you know,creative arts director to the
Woodchucks counselor.
Or you know, he was just soversatile.
(06:55):
He understood the, the mission,he understood the impact and
was just like whatever you needme to do, let's go Um.
And always did it with a smileon his face.
If he needed to mow the lawnlike he was just doing whatever
he needed to do and he's just,he's just, and that's who he is
in life.
He's just, he's just a kindhearted, go with the flow,
(07:17):
passionate person and we justlove Chris.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The word that comes to my mind when I think of Chris
is genuine.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Because what you see is what you get.
Yeah, he's relatable.
He deeply cares about thethings that you care about, and
every conversation you have withhim, you walk away knowing that
you, like you, were listened toand truly valued what was on
your heart, and so that's thetype of person he is and
(07:44):
continues to bless us and alsobless this division, using his
gifts and the opportunities Godhas given him.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, when you said the word in my mind was very
close to authentic, mine wasgenuine.
You said authentic, right, Isaid genuine.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Okay, speaking of listening to the conversation.
Okay, I was like what'shappening Listening to the
conversation.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Both words fit.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I think they go hand in hand when you watch Chris
teach music really teachanything you can just see right
away that he is invested in thatperson, Not only learning but
having a good time Feelingvalued.
It's been a pleasure to havehim come into the department and
just see kind of the directionwe're heading.
So we're going to hear hisstory here in a little bit.
(08:23):
I just wanted to tease thatChris Molinaro coming up later
in the episode.
Before we get to that, so inkind of the season of election
and casting a vote, we're goingto play a quick game of Family
Feud.
Ooh.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Da-dun-dun, da-dun-dun.
Is that the song?
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
Oh, I instantly second-guessedmyself.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
No, no, I was thinking, maybe I would add it
in post.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Were you going to harm it?
Speaker 1 (08:46):
No, but then I was wondering no, we'll probably of
knowledge for copyright law.
And there is nothing that Ithink.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I hate, more or am less interested?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
in than copyright law .
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It's important.
I've seen your annual emails goout.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh yeah, it's important, but there's nothing
less interesting to me, butanyways.
So Family Feud let's do it.
Okay, so mine is boring, so I'mjust going to go first.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
All right, go ahead.
I doubt it's boring.
No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
So it's kind of Thanksgiving.
No, it's actually boring.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So it's legitimately boring.
Let me set the standard.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay, I read through like a hundred different
questions and I like hadanalysis and you arrived at the
boring one.
Yeah, yeah, all right, so areyou ready for this?
Okay, let's go Nate and Lorettaname a popular Thanksgiving
tradition.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Can I go first?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Go first, yeah, Watching football.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, good answer good answer.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
That's the number one answer.
Yay, that was 32.
People said watching football.
Wow, okay.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Nate Number one answer wow.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Name a Thanksgiving tradition.
I'm sorry, I really apologize.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Eating food Eating Thanksgiving dinner.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, I'm going to say yes.
Okay, that's the third answer.
Having a big family dinner, 22people, alright, so Loretta,
name a Thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
There's only two more answers on the board I like I
have no idea besides food andfootball.
Uh, cooking good answer goodanswer.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Good answer.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Good answer one x good try, good try okay, nate
name a thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Tradition um getting ready for black friday shopping
that's a good one, but that'stwo x's.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right, so, and back to lorita a boring one, but
clearly I can't think ofanything else.
All right, so we've saidfootball you said.
You said having a big dinnerand watching football is what
you said but family is includedin that dinner one right,
because I was going to saygetting together with family.
That's what I'm going to say.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I'll accept it for the point of the podcast, but
taking a family photo is onthere, so that's number four.
All right, one more answer 28people said this Tradition Nate,
it's what your dad or yourgrandpa makes you do around the
table.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Oh.
Thank you, share what you arethankful for share what you are
thankful for how this is gonnago.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I wouldn't have got that matt all right name up.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Oh don't look.
Please drop my ipad.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
You really panicked like I was actually going to,
not not lorita, there's nolosers anyway okay, name a place
where you would never want tohear someone say, oops, the
bathroom.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Okay, name a place where you would never want to
hear someone say oops.
The bathroom In line withMackenzie's fart story Nope not
one, oh wow.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I'm going to say the dentist Doctor.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Okay, I'll give you operating room.
That's number one answeroperating room operating room.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yep, okay, so we got one.
He's gonna say like yourwedding vows, like I take the
rachel.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Oops, that's not one okay, uh, a pilot on an airplane
.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
We're flying an altitude of three, oops, oops.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Can you imagine?
One is a place you could work.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Hmm.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Okay, that narrows it down.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
So, like an animal cage.
What like an animal cage Like?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
what Was that?
The first thing that came toyour mind when you were like a
place I can work An animal cageI was thinking like someone
accidentally let out the lionsat the zoo.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
What's?
In your brain Someone I don'tknow.
They released the animals.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
No, tiger King, I don't know.
No, you're so far off.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Okay, never mind, I'm so far off.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
This is going to give it away.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Well, I gave all of them to you.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Chernobyl.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Oh, a nuclear reactor , oops.
Far stretch from letting thelions out and then Animal Cage.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
In.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I told you I'm good for one idea A place someone
works Animal cage.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I'm just gonna give you the last one, so I can't
yeah, it's fine.
And then the last one Is duringa job interview.
Okay, yeah, those are the ones.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So we're gonna take A quick break On the Plugged In
Podcast so Nate can revisit Hisanimal cage.
Yeah and no, the next segmentcoming up is our interview with
Chris Molinaro, also later inthe podcast.
So we talked about this in ourlast episode, but if you are
following along with us in thebook the Ruthless Elimination of
Hurry by John Mark Comer, weare into the book this week that
(13:50):
talks about the solution.
So, coming back from the break,we'll have Chris Molinaro.
All right, welcome back to parttwo, episode number 21 of the
Plugged In Podcast.
And, like we prefaced earlier,we are happy to have special
guests with us today.
The newest member of theMassachusetts Music Department
(14:11):
in the Salvation Army, welcometo the show Chris.
Molinaro, happy to be here.
I love it.
I got it, you only have fourthere, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
when I've been watching the podcast I assumed
you got like a whole thing.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Oh no, it's much and they're really tiny.
Well, I guess the tension.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So by the time this drops, the previous episode will
have aired.
But I made a huge mistakebecause I pressed the wrong
button, so we introduced theguest and then.
Huge mistake, because I pressedthe wrong button, so we
introduced the guest and then.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I was mortified.
I was absolutely mortified.
It was great.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It was like we know I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, but it was reallyfunny.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well, chris, all of us around the table, we know you
and now we've been working withyou for the past several months
.
But, chris, you are a listenerof the Plugged In podcast and
maybe one of our earliestlisteners from the very
beginning.
Uh, not that that matters, but,um, it's good to have you on
the show.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Finally, we've I think you're probably the most
like mentioned name on thepodcast that hasn't been on the
show yet I remember saying tonate like right away, when I saw
the first podcast, I was likehey, if hey, if you need someone
to talk about camp, like bringme on, because I love camp and I
think that's a great way tobring people in.
And then you know, things have.
Things have happened since, soI'm not here to necessarily just
talk about camp, but I willtalk about it if you want me to.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Oh, yeah, well, it was so funny because early on we
were like we need to get Chrison.
But then like we need to getChris on, but then you had you
were working in this in theschool system.
We were like, oh, and you guysdon't want to record after you
know.
Well, we tried that once and wehad like kids and pack and
plays it just was not great, butnow we're here for all the
listeners out there.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
This is, this is your handbell guy, okay so this is
this.
Oh, I'm gonna talk about thatso no, chris, for all the
listeners out there, can youtell us a little bit about
yourself, your story you camefrom, kind of.
What has brought you to thispoint today, where you're at?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Well, I'll start right away by just saying, if
you didn't know, I didn't growup in the Salvation Army.
I did grow up in church.
I was a part of the MethodistChurch growing up in New
Hampshire all the way throughhigh school and went off to
Gordon College you know it's aChristian school but lots of
denominations there Started tosort College you know there's
lots of.
(16:17):
It's a Christian school butlots of denominations there
Started to sort of, you know,figure out my own faith.
And then, after Gordon College,I kind of struggled to find my
own church Until just the lastyear I started going to the
Quincy Corps and feel verywelcome and comfortable there.
But you know, as far as mymusic history, like I said, I
grew up in the church and I wasvery grateful that my church had
(16:38):
a lot of musical offerings.
My dad was actually my firstchurch music director.
He did the children's choir.
So for as long as I canremember I started singing with
him and then around third gradejoined the youth choir and was a
part of that through middleschool and then into high school
, joined the adult choir.
So I'd been singing in churchfor a very long time and I often
(17:02):
my sister, corinne, is alsosinging in that choir for a long
time and I often, hey, do youremember this song we sang,
because we have such fondmemories of that experience and
working with that music director.
But I also, in that same church, fell in love with handbells.
Yeah, and there was actuallytwo choirs.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
There was a yeah there we go.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
There was a children's handbell choir, then
there was also an adult choir,so same thing.
I kind of was playing in both.
Uh, but what was great aboutthe children's uh, the the young
adult, sorry, the children'shandbell choir was it wasn't
just for children.
Our parents came along, my momwas there with me, my sisters
were there, it was awesome andit's a great way to access music
(17:45):
.
If you don't love to sing,can't play a brass instrument,
handbells, I think is a greatway to have accessible music, a
great way to just be introducedto notation as well.
Like our first choir director,our handbell choir director
would highlight our notes.
If you're assigned to G and A,she would highlight those two
for you so you knew which notes,because sometimes handbell
(18:05):
sheet music can have a lot ofnotes on the same staff.
So very accessible and makingmusic with others right away was
awesome.
I also had a wonderful musicexperience in the public schools
, very, very strong musicdepartment in Rochester, new
Hampshire, very inspired by allthe music teachers I had from
elementary through high school,and that kind of led me to want
(18:29):
to, you know, be a music teachermyself and give back to kids
what I got.
So went to Gordon College formusic ed graduated and stayed
here in Massachusetts, was inDedham Public Schools for almost
six years and loved it very,very much.
Got a lot out of thatexperience and along the way,
was also involved in CampWonderland.
(18:51):
I got involved back in 2016,.
Never left still there you know, with this job.
But I think along the waythrough those eight years at
Camp Wonderland met a lot ofwonderful people, strong
connections in the Army and, youknow, looking back now I can
see that God was encouraging meto be a part of this, because my
next step was coming here andkind of bring both my worlds
(19:16):
together, this idea of churchmusic and music teaching, and I
think since I've been in thisjob since February, I've really
enjoyed piecing those togetheragain and I think this is where
I'm supposed to be.
So that's kind of what'sbrought me here, very
appreciative of everyone thathas supported me along the way
(19:36):
to get to this point, and I'mloving what I'm doing.
Everyone asks me how's the newjob, how's it working with Matt?
And same response every timeliving the dream.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
And some people are like oh, some people say that
sarcastically.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Absolutely not.
No ounce of sarcasm in that Iam living the dream.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
That's awesome.
Can you tell us you've had alot of different jobs at Camp
Wonderland?
Oh yeah, and that's awesome.
Can you tell us you've had alot of different jobs at Camp
Wonderland?
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Oh yeah, and different names too, like
Pioneer Chris.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Actually, just yesterday atFitchburg a team Emmy walked
around the corner at the coreand was like hey, you're at camp
.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
And I was like yeah, why are you here?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Well, now I'm teaching music, so just another
camp job.
But I started out as pioneerdirector and that's just enough.
I mean, having this job is anact of god, like he opened this
door for me.
But but starting at camp aspioneer director, only god could
be that funny.
Because, friends, I've neverbeen an outdoorsy person until I
(20:31):
started working at camp and Iwas just.
My friend went the year beforeand he encouraged me to join.
So I was like like, all right,let's see what I can do.
And I actually I was 19 at thetime, I think 1920.
I had, I had decided I wasgoing to be a junior counselor,
because I didn't know what thatmeant, but I was way too old to
be a junior counselor.
And then got on the phone withElizabeth and Elizabeth said
actually, I think, becauseyou're a teacher or want to be a
(20:53):
teacher, I think a programdirector would be great for you,
which I agreed, and PioneerDirector was the available one.
So I said sure.
And then little did I know I'dbe sleeping outside two nights a
week with bugs, and the Pioneersite is such a great, great
place.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yeah, it's beautiful, great place, but putting up
tents and taking them down.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Really force that one out there.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
It's funny because, as I've had different jobs, I
actually haven't been out to thePioneer site in like a couple
of summers.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
That's awesome, yeah, some PTSD.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
But anyway, um, love the Pioneer director, love that
program and and, uh, thatopportunity for kids to camp out
, it's, it really is a greatprogram.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It's just not my favorite thing but it's so funny
because I mean, up until thelast summer you worked.
Last summer it was like Chriswas the resident fire builder.
Right, right, it was likewhere's Chris?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Even the next job after Pioneer Director.
Halfway through my secondsummer I became a unit leader.
And it was like, oh well, youstill got to sleep out, because
those are your boys out there.
Oh, come on, I can't get away.
And then the next summer I wasstill unit leader and I'd still
fight Elizabeth, hey, it's goingto be storming tonight.
You think we could not go.
No, get out there.
You know there was one timewhere we left in the middle of
the night due to a storm andthat was insane, but anyway.
(22:06):
So pioneer director, unitleader and then archery director
, which is a lot of people,because I did that, I think, for
three summers.
A lot of the people I seeremember that.
So they call me Archery Chris.
Someone called me Range DaddyChris.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I don't like that one Range Daddy.
Chris, I just put that outthere.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Maybe we can cut that out.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
No, no, no.
That's going to be on youremployee evaluation now.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Range Daddy, chris, and that was great too, because
that's another new skill that Iactually did not know until I
signed up for that job and likea month before I started that
summer I got certified andduring that that was like a one
eight hour course to getcertified, to teach kids how to
use weapons.
I never touched a bow or anarrow in that certification.
(22:48):
It wasn't until I got there theweek before camp started that I
was like, can I set up therange?
Because I got to practice and Iwas pretty good at it and I
really enjoyed doing it and justthis idea of doing the same
lesson over and over again forevery group got a little mundane
but they enjoyed it.
So much.
And it was nice that so many ofthem said that was their
favorite part of the week, notfor me, but to give them that
(23:12):
opportunity to work on that, to,to, to work on that skill.
And you know, every that lastsummer that I did, I was like
all right, you're really good atthis.
Hey, in a couple of years youshould come do this so I don't
have to do it anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
That's how we do it right.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Just keep going back and then along the way I also
was the creative arts director,which was pretty cool.
That got me into writing theskits for Morning Disco, which
has been one of my favorite jobs.
I've had Just that creativeoutlet, but also it's a way to
preach to the kids and I reallyappreciated that.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
I've also filled in, oh, and I was also the canteen
queen with my friends in St.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Katie.
That was incredible because itwasn't like most canteen queens.
Canteen Queens have, likethat's been their job, like they
just they do canteen.
They go out and shop and havesome of the roles.
But I was also doing archery atthe time, so I'd go like do
archery and then quick book itto the canteen while Katie's
getting things set up.
I'd open the windows and youknow whatever.
And um, and Katie did all theshopping.
(24:12):
Thankfully I didn shopping,thankfully I didn't have to go
out and do that.
Um, but uh, that was a learningexperience too.
It just and patience, you know,with those kids and with those
counselors, um, but really funand, like I said, I filled in
for and then I've also beencounseling um.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
It's great my experience it's awesome because
I counseled for two teen camps.
One this uh one, two summersago, on the summer before that,
and such a unique opportunity todevelop the relationship with
those kids.
But I think a week is enoughfor me and teen camp is a deuce
anyway.
So that's my experience at campand now I get to run the music
(24:49):
camp and the music conservatoryevery summer and that was an
incredible experience thissummer to kind of you know I'd
been a part of music camp but tosee it from this perspective
was incredible.
Summer, and that was anincredible experience this
summer to kind of I.
You know I'd been a part ofmusic camp but to to see it from
this perspective was incredibleso your current title is now a
divisional music program manager.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So for listeners of the podcast, can you walk us
through now?
I know no week is the same, notwo days are the same, but in
general give us a kind of aoverview of what your week in
the Massachusetts division mightlook like.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, so on any given Tuesday, wednesday or Thursday,
you might find me in your core.
You know, teaching lessons.
I'm going to about eight ornine core on rotation.
When I started in the spring, Iwas only going to a few, so
there were a couple that I wasgoing to every week, which was
wonderful, going to a few, sothere were a couple that I was
going to every week, which waswonderful.
Um, but because you know, Iwere able to start up some
programs that weren't happeningin the spring.
(25:39):
I'm usually going to a coreevery other week, um, and the
officers are typically fillingin that that, uh, that week that
I'm not there and doing somegreat things, like in haverall,
when I go, I'm doing singing andsome brass, and when I'm not
there, uh, lynn ann's doing mage, mage is doing timbrels and
some other worship arts, whichis great.
Yeah, um and uh.
(26:00):
You know the fall river core.
They have a great program andhonestly they don't need me.
Majors Castillo are doing agreat job there.
But when I'm there, I'm able tokind of supplement what they're
doing and they're able to do alittle bit more, yeah, uh.
And then when I'm not there,they're just, you know, still
killing it and they're doing agreat job there.
But along the way, if I'm not ina core teaching, I'm thinking
about these other programs suchas YAM, star Search, music Camp,
(26:23):
music Conservatory andpreparing for that.
We're still ways out from thefinale of YAM and Star Search,
but I'm already starting tothink about what those events
are going to be like and hopingthat every year we'll get more
people involved and every yearit'll be more impressive and
more fun and all this stuff.
So I really enjoy that idea oflooking forward to the future
(26:47):
and preparing for those events.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
We had a segment all the way back in well, I say
season one, but we kind ofdropped.
We don't really have seasons,but there's a segment called so
Stinkin' Proud Of, and we wentaround the table and we just
like to share.
At the beginning it wasyouth-based, but it can really
be open to the whole division.
So the people that you'reworking with or just things that
are going on in your life, isthere someone or something that
(27:09):
you're just so stinkin' proud ofthat you have to share?
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Yeah, I could have to share.
Yeah, I could absolutely talkabout this forever so please
tell me to shut up if I go toolong, um, but I'll try to narrow
it down a little bit.
I'll start big um, the, the,the youth that came out to music
conservatory.
Uh was incredible.
I um, really, really enjoyed.
I knew a lot of them already,but getting to develop that
relationship over the course oftwo weeks was incredible and I'm
so proud of everything thatthey accomplished.
I mean, giving up two weeks ofyour summer like that is a
sacrifice, you know.
And then most of them also cameout to music camp.
That's the third week and Ithink Naomi Ross came to like
(27:44):
five sessions this summer.
So like you know it's a lot, butI appreciated their sacrifice
and their dedication to whatthey're doing so I was so
stinking proud of them.
But if I could narrow it down alittle bit, I would say I'm
really stinking proud of Masonand Meadow Helly yeah, their
dedication to improving theirtalents and being involved in
(28:04):
everything they can.
They're coming to YAM, comingyou know their weekly, I think
twice a week core programs inFall River and came to Music
Conservatory and Music Camp andparticipated in Star Search.
They actually their singingcompany in Fall River was able
to go to Hershey's and they werethere for that, and I think
Meadow was also part of theTimber Brigade there.
(28:25):
So they're so involved and I'mso proud of them.
And I'll also say I'm justagain so proud of the Fall River
Corps.
They have regularly 20-pluskids coming every every week
like twice a week and it's just.
I love it so much.
I mentioned this at YAM.
But when I walk into the coreand they're all like, yeah,
chris, I'm like thank you, thatwas the boost I needed.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
When I'm feeling like I don't know if I'm you know
they give me the boost I needand I really love going down
there.
But yeah, so stinking proud ofmason and meadow and again, I
could go on and on about thedifferent programs and the kids
and I'm so stinking proud of,but I think the one thing that
I'll say, one last thing Ipromise that I'm so proud of is
(29:07):
that you know, every core'sprogram, that, every core
program that I go to um is sounique, yeah, and it's unique to
the, to the community that'sthere.
it's unique to their needs, totheir desires, and I'm so happy
that I'm not doing the same.
Archery lesson no it's so true.
I'm programming and the officersare programming to what they
(29:28):
want and what skills they have,and that's so great that we get
to, just, you know, learn aboutthat community, those kids,
those adults because I'mteaching a lot of adults too,
which is wonderful.
So when I go to Lynn, it's thatafter-school program of young
kids, like 25 first graders.
I love that.
And then I go to Boston Centralafter that and it's like some
young kids to adults.
(29:49):
It's awesome, it's so unique,and so I love that about our
core programs.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I remember a long time one of the best pieces of
advice that I got from CaptainJay Nags at the time.
I think many of us will know,captain Jay, but he said to me
if you're ever kind of feelingweighted down by whatever you
want to nitpick in the SalvationArmy, whether it's the
bureaucracy or divisionalheadquarters or all those things
, captain Jay said if you needto pick me up and this is I, was
(30:16):
just you sparked this.
He's like get in the Corps, getback on the frontline ministry,
do some teaching, be with thekids, be with the people and
you'll quickly remember like whywe're here what we're doing.
And it's like an antidote forthe soul.
So we have a few I don't wantto say silly.
Well, we have some silly.
We have a few more questionsfor chris.
We're going to take a quickbreak here on the plugged in
(30:38):
podcast.
Can you stay with us, chris?
Absolutely okay, so we're gonnatake a break.
We'll be right back with morewith chris molinaro.
Thank you.
welcome back everyone .
We are here with episode number21 of the plugged in podcast,
how you guys doing today good,how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
full of fake energy I'm channeling it it's a
beautiful day live off of mycoffee live fresh.
It is nate, it is a beautifulday.
Live off of my coffee LiveFresh, it is.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Nate, it is a beautiful day, so we're in.
Well, I was going to sayNovember.
I guess the drop date isNovember.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, it's actually Halloween.
It is, I just took my skeletonearrings off.
Happy Halloween.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
But it's supposed to be.
You told me when you came in 78degrees today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I can't.
I can't keep up.
This is why all of our childrenare sick, because it's like
crazy.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, Friday it's going to be like 54, 53.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Oh, my Atlanta it keeps going.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
There's like huge swings in the weather and I
guess that's like a normal fallthing for New England, but it's
like dramatic.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Our first October here.
It snowed, yeah, and now wejust broke out shorts today,
nice what.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Well, 78 degrees, that'll match perfectly.
Mackenzie is going fortrick-or-treating tonight as a
little beautiful butterfly, Nice.
So she's got her wings andshe's all about that, and Caleb
is the rainbow skeleton thathe's going as.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I forgot about the rainbow skeleton.
Yeah, so I don't have a ranttoday, but I do have a Mackenzie
story.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
If we have time for it, yes, go for it.
Okay, so a couple weeks ago wasCaleb's fourth birthday and I
don't know what possessed me todo this, but we were in the car
and I was looking up on Spotifyhappy birthday songs and then
there's this track title thatsays the happy birthday fart
song.
Oh gosh, I'm like of course Igot to play it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Classic dad move.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, yeah.
So we play this fart song andthe kids think it is the
funniest thing they have everheard.
So the entire drive to daycareCaleb is just like repeat, play
it again, play it again, play itagain.
So we played it like 30 timesand it's exactly what it sounds
like it's happy birthday in theversion of farts.
Yes, so super mature.
So his birthday passes and wedon't play this again, we don't
(02:04):
talk about it, don't evenmention it.
I would say 10 days later.
So Mackenzie's really into.
She's trying to sing right now.
That's part of hercommunication.
So all the time, literally allthe time, she's like Twinkle,
twinkle, and then it getsinterchanged with Mommy, mommy.
So she'll just be singingTwinkle all the time.
(02:27):
Well, so we're like driving tochurch a couple Sundays ago and
we're in the car and again thissong has not been referenced for
like 10 days like nothing.
And so Mackenzie, just in theback seat and this is, you know,
again, pretty usual for her,and we just hear Twinkle Twinkle
and like, so we just heartwinkle twinkle, and so we just
(02:48):
like died.
We like died laughing, and thenshe absolutely hammed it up.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So then she was just like she's like I have an
audience, the more reaction I'mgoing to keep going, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Oh, that's so funny.
But like little baby Mackenzie,she thought that was just the
funniest.
It was the funniest thing, itwas incredible.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
It's awesome oh, I love her so much.
She's hilarious.
She has such a littlepersonality she does have a
personality.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
She's so cute.
I feel like she, uh, she getsit from uh, not from her so much
from her daycare but when shecomes home from daycare she's
got her hair in a bun or it'slike neatly braided.
Like I feel so bad because Isent something like I sent her
to daycare and she her hair kindof looks like a rag doll.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I'm sorry girl.
I tried my best I tried my best.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
I gotta learn how to do that, yeah, yeah, I gotta
learn how to do the the hair,because I'm not.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I'm not up to par yet you'll get there watch some
youtube videos.
Oh, that's my life.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I'm, I'm in it, yeah pretty soon I'll be doing the
french braid master breeder andlike, yeah, twists and bows and
and barrettes, all of it, yeah,yeah, so at the time this
episode drops, uh, we haveprobably eclipsed election day.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah, it's hard to say right now, before the
election.
Obviously it's razor closeright margin and and, uh, one of
the things with the SalvationArmy is the organization remains
apolitical, so we don't haveanything to say on either side
of the aisle.
But I think it's reallyimportant for all of us to keep
the country as a whole in ourprayers.
(04:21):
I think, again, this episodewill drop on the other side of
the election, but I think on thefront side of it we're all kind
of wondering what's going tohappen in either direction.
We just hope that everybody iswithin themselves and staying
safe and just kind of you knowall the I don't know, do you
(04:43):
guys want to keeping theirwitness intact?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, yeah, I just, you know it's.
It's really easy to allowpolitical conversations and
arguments to divide us, but we,we are called to be peacemakers,
you know, agents of peace in aworld full of chaos.
And so people are watching us,the church, a little closer than
they would be watching networknews, you know, and they expect
(05:07):
something different from us.
And so we have a responsibilityto pray, a responsibility to
live like Jesus and to modelcompassion and grace, and so
that's what I'm trying to do,yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, I think that's.
Maybe this I mean strongest.
Uh, outward witness of achristian is not anything they
say yeah it's not any invitationto church, it's not any
powerful prayer.
It's how someone observes youfrom afar yeah like they.
They can notice if you're aperson, uh, filled with the
fruit of the spirit, yeah, andthat is evident to the world,
(05:41):
right?
So, as we're in the other sideof the election, we're just yeah
.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
What Nate said, all the things that Nate said.
We are a witness to the world,yep.
Well, moving past the election,so we've got a couple things
coming up on today's episode.
A little bit later we're goingto invite the newest member.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yay Of the.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Massachusetts Music Department.
We've been Where's yeah, yeahyeah, so chris molinaro is going
to be coming on the show hestarted last uh, february.
Yeah, so the year is is rollingthrough.
(06:23):
He's now kind of in the secondprogram season with us and uh, I
have a billion great things tosay about chris.
Maybe you guys want to chime infirst.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I love Chris.
Chris is Jen used to say atcamp.
If she could copy and pasteChris as a staff member, like
that's what she would do,because he was just always so
versatile when there was a cabinthat needed to be filled in.
He went from being, you know,creative arts director to the
Woodchucks counselor.
Or you know, he was just soversatile.
(06:55):
He understood the, the mission,he understood the impact and
was just like whatever you needme to do, let's go Um.
And always did it with a smileon his face.
If he needed to mow the lawnlike he was just doing whatever
he needed to do and he's just,he's just, and that's who he is
in life.
He's just, he's just a kindhearted, go with the flow,
(07:17):
passionate person and we justlove Chris.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The word that comes to my mind when I think of Chris
is genuine.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Because what you see is what you get.
Yeah, he's relatable.
He deeply cares about thethings that you care about, and
every conversation you have withhim, you walk away knowing that
you, like you, were listened toand truly valued what was on
your heart, and so that's thetype of person he is and
(07:44):
continues to bless us and alsobless this division, using his
gifts and the opportunities Godhas given him.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, when you said the word in my mind was very
close to authentic, mine wasgenuine.
You said authentic, right, Isaid genuine.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Okay, speaking of listening to the conversation.
Okay, I was like what'shappening Listening to the
conversation.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Both words fit.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I think they go hand in hand when you watch Chris
teach music really teachanything you can just see right
away that he is invested in thatperson, Not only learning but
having a good time Feelingvalued.
It's been a pleasure to havehim come into the department and
just see kind of the directionwe're heading.
So we're going to hear hisstory here in a little bit.
(08:23):
I just wanted to tease thatChris Molinaro coming up later
in the episode.
Before we get to that, so inkind of the season of election
and casting a vote, we're goingto play a quick game of Family
Feud.
Ooh.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Da-dun-dun, da-dun-dun.
Is that the song?
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
Oh, I instantly second-guessedmyself.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
No, no, I was thinking, maybe I would add it
in post.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Were you going to harm it?
Speaker 1 (08:46):
No, but then I was wondering no, we'll probably of
knowledge for copyright law.
And there is nothing that Ithink.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I hate, more or am less interested?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
in than copyright law .
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It's important.
I've seen your annual emails goout.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh yeah, it's important, but there's nothing
less interesting to me, butanyways.
So Family Feud let's do it.
Okay, so mine is boring, so I'mjust going to go first.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
All right, go ahead.
I doubt it's boring.
No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
So it's kind of Thanksgiving.
No, it's actually boring.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So it's legitimately boring.
Let me set the standard.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay, I read through like a hundred different
questions and I like hadanalysis and you arrived at the
boring one.
Yeah, yeah, all right, so areyou ready for this?
Okay, let's go Nate and Lorettaname a popular Thanksgiving
tradition.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Can I go first?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Go first, yeah, Watching football.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, good answer good answer.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
That's the number one answer.
Yay, that was 32.
People said watching football.
Wow, okay.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Nate Number one answer wow.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Name a Thanksgiving tradition.
I'm sorry, I really apologize.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Eating food Eating Thanksgiving dinner.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, I'm going to say yes.
Okay, that's the third answer.
Having a big family dinner, 22people, alright, so Loretta,
name a Thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
There's only two more answers on the board I like I
have no idea besides food andfootball.
Uh, cooking good answer goodanswer.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Good answer.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Good answer one x good try, good try okay, nate
name a thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Thanksgiving tradition.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Tradition um getting ready for black friday shopping
that's a good one, but that'stwo x's.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right, so, and back to lorita a boring one, but
clearly I can't think ofanything else.
All right, so we've saidfootball you said.
You said having a big dinnerand watching football is what
you said but family is includedin that dinner one right,
because I was going to saygetting together with family.
That's what I'm going to say.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I'll accept it for the point of the podcast, but
taking a family photo is onthere, so that's number four.
All right, one more answer 28people said this Tradition Nate,
it's what your dad or yourgrandpa makes you do around the
table.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Oh.
Thank you, share what you arethankful for share what you are
thankful for how this is gonnago.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I wouldn't have got that matt all right name up.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Oh don't look.
Please drop my ipad.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
You really panicked like I was actually going to,
not not lorita, there's nolosers anyway okay, name a place
where you would never want tohear someone say, oops, the
bathroom.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Okay, name a place where you would never want to
hear someone say oops.
The bathroom In line withMackenzie's fart story Nope not
one, oh wow.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I'm going to say the dentist Doctor.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Okay, I'll give you operating room.
That's number one answeroperating room operating room.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yep, okay, so we got one.
He's gonna say like yourwedding vows, like I take the
rachel.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Oops, that's not one okay, uh, a pilot on an airplane
.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
We're flying an altitude of three, oops, oops.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Can you imagine?
One is a place you could work.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Hmm.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Okay, that narrows it down.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
So, like an animal cage.
What like an animal cage Like?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
what Was that?
The first thing that came toyour mind when you were like a
place I can work An animal cageI was thinking like someone
accidentally let out the lionsat the zoo.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
What's?
In your brain Someone I don'tknow.
They released the animals.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
No, tiger King, I don't know.
No, you're so far off.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Okay, never mind, I'm so far off.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
This is going to give it away.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Well, I gave all of them to you.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Chernobyl.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Oh, a nuclear reactor , oops.
Far stretch from letting thelions out and then Animal Cage.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
In.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I told you I'm good for one idea A place someone
works Animal cage.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I'm just gonna give you the last one, so I can't
yeah, it's fine.
And then the last one Is duringa job interview.
Okay, yeah, those are the ones.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So we're gonna take A quick break On the Plugged In
Podcast so Nate can revisit Hisanimal cage.
Yeah and no, the next segmentcoming up is our interview with
Chris Molinaro, also later inthe podcast.
So we talked about this in ourlast episode, but if you are
following along with us in thebook the Ruthless Elimination of
Hurry by John Mark Comer, weare into the book this week that
(13:50):
talks about the solution.
So, coming back from the break,we'll have Chris Molinaro.
All right, welcome back to parttwo, episode number 21 of the
Plugged In Podcast.
And, like we prefaced earlier,we are happy to have special
guests with us today.
The newest member of theMassachusetts Music Department
(14:11):
in the Salvation Army, welcometo the show Chris.
Molinaro, happy to be here.
I love it.
I got it, you only have fourthere, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
when I've been watching the podcast I assumed
you got like a whole thing.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Oh no, it's much and they're really tiny.
Well, I guess the tension.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So by the time this drops, the previous episode will
have aired.
But I made a huge mistakebecause I pressed the wrong
button, so we introduced theguest and then.
Huge mistake, because I pressedthe wrong button, so we
introduced the guest and then.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I was mortified.
I was absolutely mortified.
It was great.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It was like we know I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, but it was reallyfunny.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well, chris, all of us around the table, we know you
and now we've been working withyou for the past several months
.
But, chris, you are a listenerof the Plugged In podcast and
maybe one of our earliestlisteners from the very
beginning.
Uh, not that that matters, but,um, it's good to have you on
the show.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Finally, we've I think you're probably the most
like mentioned name on thepodcast that hasn't been on the
show yet I remember saying tonate like right away, when I saw
the first podcast, I was likehey, if hey, if you need someone
to talk about camp, like bringme on, because I love camp and I
think that's a great way tobring people in.
And then you know, things have.
Things have happened since, soI'm not here to necessarily just
talk about camp, but I willtalk about it if you want me to.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Oh, yeah, well, it was so funny because early on we
were like we need to get Chrison.
But then like we need to getChris on, but then you had you
were working in this in theschool system.
We were like, oh, and you guysdon't want to record after you
know.
Well, we tried that once and wehad like kids and pack and
plays it just was not great, butnow we're here for all the
listeners out there.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
This is, this is your handbell guy, okay so this is
this.
Oh, I'm gonna talk about thatso no, chris, for all the
listeners out there, can youtell us a little bit about
yourself, your story you camefrom, kind of.
What has brought you to thispoint today, where you're at?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Well, I'll start right away by just saying, if
you didn't know, I didn't growup in the Salvation Army.
I did grow up in church.
I was a part of the MethodistChurch growing up in New
Hampshire all the way throughhigh school and went off to
Gordon College you know it's aChristian school but lots of
denominations there Started tosort College you know there's
lots of.
(16:17):
It's a Christian school butlots of denominations there
Started to sort of, you know,figure out my own faith.
And then, after Gordon College,I kind of struggled to find my
own church Until just the lastyear I started going to the
Quincy Corps and feel verywelcome and comfortable there.
But you know, as far as mymusic history, like I said, I
grew up in the church and I wasvery grateful that my church had
(16:38):
a lot of musical offerings.
My dad was actually my firstchurch music director.
He did the children's choir.
So for as long as I canremember I started singing with
him and then around third gradejoined the youth choir and was a
part of that through middleschool and then into high school
, joined the adult choir.
So I'd been singing in churchfor a very long time and I often
(17:02):
my sister, corinne, is alsosinging in that choir for a long
time and I often, hey, do youremember this song we sang,
because we have such fondmemories of that experience and
working with that music director.
But I also, in that same church, fell in love with handbells.
Yeah, and there was actuallytwo choirs.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
There was a yeah there we go.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
There was a children's handbell choir, then
there was also an adult choir,so same thing.
I kind of was playing in both.
Uh, but what was great aboutthe children's uh, the the young
adult, sorry, the children'shandbell choir was it wasn't
just for children.
Our parents came along, my momwas there with me, my sisters
were there, it was awesome andit's a great way to access music
(17:45):
.
If you don't love to sing,can't play a brass instrument,
handbells, I think is a greatway to have accessible music, a
great way to just be introducedto notation as well.
Like our first choir director,our handbell choir director
would highlight our notes.
If you're assigned to G and A,she would highlight those two
for you so you knew which notes,because sometimes handbell
(18:05):
sheet music can have a lot ofnotes on the same staff.
So very accessible and makingmusic with others right away was
awesome.
I also had a wonderful musicexperience in the public schools
, very, very strong musicdepartment in Rochester, new
Hampshire, very inspired by allthe music teachers I had from
elementary through high school,and that kind of led me to want
(18:29):
to, you know, be a music teachermyself and give back to kids
what I got.
So went to Gordon College formusic ed graduated and stayed
here in Massachusetts, was inDedham Public Schools for almost
six years and loved it very,very much.
Got a lot out of thatexperience and along the way,
was also involved in CampWonderland.
(18:51):
I got involved back in 2016,.
Never left still there you know, with this job.
But I think along the waythrough those eight years at
Camp Wonderland met a lot ofwonderful people, strong
connections in the Army and, youknow, looking back now I can
see that God was encouraging meto be a part of this, because my
next step was coming here andkind of bring both my worlds
(19:16):
together, this idea of churchmusic and music teaching, and I
think since I've been in thisjob since February, I've really
enjoyed piecing those togetheragain and I think this is where
I'm supposed to be.
So that's kind of what'sbrought me here, very
appreciative of everyone thathas supported me along the way
(19:36):
to get to this point, and I'mloving what I'm doing.
Everyone asks me how's the newjob, how's it working with Matt?
And same response every timeliving the dream.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
And some people are like oh, some people say that
sarcastically.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Absolutely not.
No ounce of sarcasm in that Iam living the dream.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
That's awesome.
Can you tell us you've had alot of different jobs at Camp
Wonderland?
Oh yeah, and that's awesome.
Can you tell us you've had alot of different jobs at Camp
Wonderland?
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Oh yeah, and different names too, like
Pioneer Chris.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Actually, just yesterday atFitchburg a team Emmy walked
around the corner at the coreand was like hey, you're at camp
.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
And I was like yeah, why are you here?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Well, now I'm teaching music, so just another
camp job.
But I started out as pioneerdirector and that's just enough.
I mean, having this job is anact of god, like he opened this
door for me.
But but starting at camp aspioneer director, only god could
be that funny.
Because, friends, I've neverbeen an outdoorsy person until I
(20:31):
started working at camp and Iwas just.
My friend went the year beforeand he encouraged me to join.
So I was like like, all right,let's see what I can do.
And I actually I was 19 at thetime, I think 1920.
I had, I had decided I wasgoing to be a junior counselor,
because I didn't know what thatmeant, but I was way too old to
be a junior counselor.
And then got on the phone withElizabeth and Elizabeth said
actually, I think, becauseyou're a teacher or want to be a
(20:53):
teacher, I think a programdirector would be great for you,
which I agreed, and PioneerDirector was the available one.
So I said sure.
And then little did I know I'dbe sleeping outside two nights a
week with bugs, and the Pioneersite is such a great, great
place.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yeah, it's beautiful, great place, but putting up
tents and taking them down.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Really force that one out there.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
It's funny because, as I've had different jobs, I
actually haven't been out to thePioneer site in like a couple
of summers.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
That's awesome, yeah, some PTSD.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
But anyway, um, love the Pioneer director, love that
program and and, uh, thatopportunity for kids to camp out
, it's, it really is a greatprogram.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It's just not my favorite thing but it's so funny
because I mean, up until thelast summer you worked.
Last summer it was like Chriswas the resident fire builder.
Right, right, it was likewhere's Chris?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Even the next job after Pioneer Director.
Halfway through my secondsummer I became a unit leader.
And it was like, oh well, youstill got to sleep out, because
those are your boys out there.
Oh, come on, I can't get away.
And then the next summer I wasstill unit leader and I'd still
fight Elizabeth, hey, it's goingto be storming tonight.
You think we could not go.
No, get out there.
You know there was one timewhere we left in the middle of
the night due to a storm andthat was insane, but anyway.
(22:06):
So pioneer director, unitleader and then archery director
, which is a lot of people,because I did that, I think, for
three summers.
A lot of the people I seeremember that.
So they call me Archery Chris.
Someone called me Range DaddyChris.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I don't like that one Range Daddy.
Chris, I just put that outthere.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Maybe we can cut that out.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
No, no, no.
That's going to be on youremployee evaluation now.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Range Daddy, chris, and that was great too, because
that's another new skill that Iactually did not know until I
signed up for that job and likea month before I started that
summer I got certified andduring that that was like a one
eight hour course to getcertified, to teach kids how to
use weapons.
I never touched a bow or anarrow in that certification.
(22:48):
It wasn't until I got there theweek before camp started that I
was like, can I set up therange?
Because I got to practice and Iwas pretty good at it and I
really enjoyed doing it and justthis idea of doing the same
lesson over and over again forevery group got a little mundane
but they enjoyed it.
So much.
And it was nice that so many ofthem said that was their
favorite part of the week, notfor me, but to give them that
(23:12):
opportunity to work on that, to,to, to work on that skill.
And you know, every that lastsummer that I did, I was like
all right, you're really good atthis.
Hey, in a couple of years youshould come do this so I don't
have to do it anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
That's how we do it right.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Just keep going back and then along the way I also
was the creative arts director,which was pretty cool.
That got me into writing theskits for Morning Disco, which
has been one of my favorite jobs.
I've had Just that creativeoutlet, but also it's a way to
preach to the kids and I reallyappreciated that.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
I've also filled in, oh, and I was also the canteen
queen with my friends in St.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Katie.
That was incredible because itwasn't like most canteen queens.
Canteen Queens have, likethat's been their job, like they
just they do canteen.
They go out and shop and havesome of the roles.
But I was also doing archery atthe time, so I'd go like do
archery and then quick book itto the canteen while Katie's
getting things set up.
I'd open the windows and youknow whatever.
And um, and Katie did all theshopping.
(24:12):
Thankfully I didn shopping,thankfully I didn't have to go
out and do that.
Um, but uh, that was a learningexperience too.
It just and patience, you know,with those kids and with those
counselors, um, but really funand, like I said, I filled in
for and then I've also beencounseling um.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
It's great my experience it's awesome because
I counseled for two teen camps.
One this uh one, two summersago, on the summer before that,
and such a unique opportunity todevelop the relationship with
those kids.
But I think a week is enoughfor me and teen camp is a deuce
anyway.
So that's my experience at campand now I get to run the music
(24:49):
camp and the music conservatoryevery summer and that was an
incredible experience thissummer to kind of you know I'd
been a part of music camp but tosee it from this perspective
was incredible.
Summer, and that was anincredible experience this
summer to kind of I.
You know I'd been a part ofmusic camp but to to see it from
this perspective was incredibleso your current title is now a
divisional music program manager.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So for listeners of the podcast, can you walk us
through now?
I know no week is the same, notwo days are the same, but in
general give us a kind of aoverview of what your week in
the Massachusetts division mightlook like.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, so on any given Tuesday, wednesday or Thursday,
you might find me in your core.
You know, teaching lessons.
I'm going to about eight ornine core on rotation.
When I started in the spring, Iwas only going to a few, so
there were a couple that I wasgoing to every week, which was
wonderful, going to a few, sothere were a couple that I was
going to every week, which waswonderful.
Um, but because you know, Iwere able to start up some
programs that weren't happeningin the spring.
(25:39):
I'm usually going to a coreevery other week, um, and the
officers are typically fillingin that that, uh, that week that
I'm not there and doing somegreat things, like in haverall,
when I go, I'm doing singing andsome brass, and when I'm not
there, uh, lynn ann's doing mage, mage is doing timbrels and
some other worship arts, whichis great.
Yeah, um and uh.
(26:00):
You know the fall river core.
They have a great program andhonestly they don't need me.
Majors Castillo are doing agreat job there.
But when I'm there, I'm able tokind of supplement what they're
doing and they're able to do alittle bit more, yeah, uh.
And then when I'm not there,they're just, you know, still
killing it and they're doing agreat job there.
But along the way, if I'm not ina core teaching, I'm thinking
about these other programs suchas YAM, star Search, music Camp,
(26:23):
music Conservatory andpreparing for that.
We're still ways out from thefinale of YAM and Star Search,
but I'm already starting tothink about what those events
are going to be like and hopingthat every year we'll get more
people involved and every yearit'll be more impressive and
more fun and all this stuff.
So I really enjoy that idea oflooking forward to the future
(26:47):
and preparing for those events.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
We had a segment all the way back in well, I say
season one, but we kind ofdropped.
We don't really have seasons,but there's a segment called so
Stinkin' Proud Of, and we wentaround the table and we just
like to share.
At the beginning it wasyouth-based, but it can really
be open to the whole division.
So the people that you'reworking with or just things that
are going on in your life, isthere someone or something that
(27:09):
you're just so stinkin' proud ofthat you have to share?
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Yeah, I could have to share.
Yeah, I could absolutely talkabout this forever so please
tell me to shut up if I go toolong, um, but I'll try to narrow
it down a little bit.
I'll start big um, the, the,the youth that came out to music
conservatory.
Uh was incredible.
I um, really, really enjoyed.
I knew a lot of them already,but getting to develop that
relationship over the course oftwo weeks was incredible and I'm
so proud of everything thatthey accomplished.
I mean, giving up two weeks ofyour summer like that is a
sacrifice, you know.
And then most of them also cameout to music camp.
That's the third week and Ithink Naomi Ross came to like
(27:44):
five sessions this summer.
So like you know it's a lot, butI appreciated their sacrifice
and their dedication to whatthey're doing so I was so
stinking proud of them.
But if I could narrow it down alittle bit, I would say I'm
really stinking proud of Masonand Meadow Helly yeah, their
dedication to improving theirtalents and being involved in
(28:04):
everything they can.
They're coming to YAM, comingyou know their weekly, I think
twice a week core programs inFall River and came to Music
Conservatory and Music Camp andparticipated in Star Search.
They actually their singingcompany in Fall River was able
to go to Hershey's and they werethere for that, and I think
Meadow was also part of theTimber Brigade there.
(28:25):
So they're so involved and I'mso proud of them.
And I'll also say I'm justagain so proud of the Fall River
Corps.
They have regularly 20-pluskids coming every every week
like twice a week and it's just.
I love it so much.
I mentioned this at YAM.
But when I walk into the coreand they're all like, yeah,
chris, I'm like thank you, thatwas the boost I needed.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
When I'm feeling like I don't know if I'm you know
they give me the boost I needand I really love going down
there.
But yeah, so stinking proud ofmason and meadow and again, I
could go on and on about thedifferent programs and the kids
and I'm so stinking proud of,but I think the one thing that
I'll say, one last thing Ipromise that I'm so proud of is
(29:07):
that you know, every core'sprogram, that, every core
program that I go to um is sounique, yeah, and it's unique to
the, to the community that'sthere.
it's unique to their needs, totheir desires, and I'm so happy
that I'm not doing the same.
Archery lesson no it's so true.
I'm programming and the officersare programming to what they
(29:28):
want and what skills they have,and that's so great that we get
to, just, you know, learn aboutthat community, those kids,
those adults because I'mteaching a lot of adults too,
which is wonderful.
So when I go to Lynn, it's thatafter-school program of young
kids, like 25 first graders.
I love that.
And then I go to Boston Centralafter that and it's like some
young kids to adults.
(29:49):
It's awesome, it's so unique,and so I love that about our
core programs.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I remember a long time one of the best pieces of
advice that I got from CaptainJay Nags at the time.
I think many of us will know,captain Jay, but he said to me
if you're ever kind of feelingweighted down by whatever you
want to nitpick in the SalvationArmy, whether it's the
bureaucracy or divisionalheadquarters or all those things
, captain Jay said if you needto pick me up and this is I, was
(30:16):
just you sparked this.
He's like get in the Corps, getback on the frontline ministry,
do some teaching, be with thekids, be with the people and
you'll quickly remember like whywe're here what we're doing.
And it's like an antidote forthe soul.
So we have a few I don't wantto say silly.
Well, we have some silly.
We have a few more questionsfor chris.
We're going to take a quickbreak here on the plugged in
(30:38):
podcast.
Can you stay with us, chris?
Absolutely okay, so we're gonnatake a break.
We'll be right back with morewith chris molinaro.
Thank you.
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