It has been said that The Salvation Army is always one generation away from extinction. New soldiers both young and old are always needed to fill the ranks, carry the flag and continue the hope-giving mission and helping work of The Salvation Army. Thankfully, the Columbia, S.C. Corps has been blessed to recently enroll and re-enroll a rather large group of Junior and Senior Soldiers on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the Salvation Army Center for Worship and Service in Columbia.
Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis, honorably retired Salvation Army officers currently residing in Orlando, Florida, were invited to lead the Sunday service and enroll the new soldiers.
“This is very exciting. It’s not often we have the privilege of enrolling Junior Soldiers and Senior Soldiers together,” said Commissioner William Francis. “This is the present and the future of this corps and of the kingdom of God.”
Commissioner Francis went on to tell the Junior Solders that he has a little book at home that he has had since commissioning. “In that book is the name of every Junior Soldier I’ve had the privilege to enroll,” he said. “You’re names are going in it. You’re in the hundreds but you’re there.”
1 John 4:4 was one of the morning’s key verses, which states, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
Wendell VanKallen, one of the newly enrolled Senior Soldiers, can holdfast to this passage. The Salvation Army helped VanKallen with clothing, housing, and furniture. The former veteran who experienced homelessness is now energized to be a member of an army whose mission is to help people in desperate need.
“This is a blessing, a new season,” he explained. “I want to give back to the community and help people who have been in situations like me.”