Posted on
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
New Salvation Army Officers Hit The Ground Running With Vision For Youth
By PATRICK BUTLER
Religion Editor
Religion Editor
Captains Zach and Shelley Bell have been in Tyler about 10 days but already, they say, their perception of the town has been formed. The new Commanders of the Tyler Corps of the Salvation Army don’t hesitate to say what they think of their new home.
It’s great.
“We feel blessed beyond imagining,” said Bell in his office on Monday. “We’re amazed at the support this community gives the Salvation Army through its involvement. The people’s hearts and minds are into it and already we see them giving into the community.”
“We feel blessed beyond imagining,” said Bell in his office on Monday. “We’re amazed at the support this community gives the Salvation Army through its involvement. The people’s hearts and minds are into it and already we see them giving into the community.”
The local Salvation Army is only as good as its volunteers and supporters, he said. Captain Shelley Bell agreed.
“The support the army gets is reflective of the kind of loving community this is,” she said. “We didn’t see this kind of recognition where we came from.”
The two captains were reassigned to Tyler from their command in Kentucky. Being picked by the Salvation Army to lead the Tyler Corps after John and Melanie Falin were reassigned to Atlanta, Ga. in June, was “humbling” Bell said.
“The Salvation Army is sensitive to the community and they prayed over Tyler,” he said. “They really want to find officers who will be a good fit to the community and they picked us. We’re humbled to be here. It does not cease to amaze us.”
Hitting the ground running, the captains said new programs are coming to the Salvation Army soon. But giving all to serve God and man is not new to them.
Both were raised in a Salvation Army household. Mrs. Bell, a Texas native, moved from city to city, as a child, and then out of state.”
“We spent a lot of time in Florida with the Salvation Army there,” said Mrs. Bell, who holds an undergraduate degree in psychology. “My sister and brother still work with the Salvation army.”
Bell, who holds a degree in business, spent much of his time watching his parents work with the Salvation Army in the Washington D.C. area. Both were effusive about what their experiences had done for them.”
“Both of our parents are the ones who modeled the love of Christ in front of us,” he said.
Mrs. Bell added, "They didn’t try to ‘protect’ us from the people they were serving. They pulled us into the ministry.”
Bell said, “We saw it all, and saw the enthusiasm and love shared among friends and strangers. There was joy for them in serving God and serving others day in and day out. It was a lot of fun.”
“From day one I was involved with ministries like the Angel Tree,” Mrs. Bell said, “and taught to look beyond myself.
“There’s a tremendous spiritual blessing in helping others,” Bell said.
Already they have plans to build on “the foundational work” that the Captains Falin, laid.
“The Falin’s had a vision for youth, and so do we,” Bell said.
CLUB 316
“Club 316” — pronounced similar to John 3:16 — is an idea of the Salvation Army to reach youth “not be able to afford to take the “wonderful opportunities” the free program offers.
Starting as early as next month, free new programs for youth will be implemented at the Salvation Army Center of Hope; a music development program for brass instruments and piano, an athletic program, and Club 316 (three sixteen) a character development program.
“It’s a character development program for kids, similar to the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts but with a Biblical emphasis,” said Bell.
“Some kids might not be able to afford these kinds of after-school activities,” said Mrs. Bell. “This is what Club 316 is good for.”
Mrs. Bell helped develop the curriculum for Club 316 and coordinates the “Sunbeams” and “Girl Guides” outreach programs to girls.
“The Salvation Army has been involved in character-building for years,” said Bell. “These are tried-and-true programs.”
The new club will start sometime in mid August. The other programs will be added as volunteers make themselves available for staff positions, they said. A new Salvation Army officer to Tyler, Lt. Jennifer Schmidt, will coordinate teen outreach.
“This is home now,” said Mrs. Bell, “So we’re looking for ways to reach out. Our passion is youth work and ministry.
“Any Salvation Army center is only as good as its volunteer support,” said Bell. “And from what we’ve seen in Tyler, there is a great base of committed and excited support.”
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