May 30, 2015
ARC closeup: Tampa, Florida
2
Tampa ARC alumni
are best evidence of
center’s effectiveness
By Laura Haas
Southern Spirit staff
The Tampa Adult Rehabiliation
Center has a lot going for it.
With the highest graduation rate of
any center in the territory at 47% and
an alumni network spanning across
the nation, the center consistently has a
waiting list for the 144 beds it offers to
men seeking help with their recovery.
“It’s really an amazing and
wonderful environment to get to come
to every day,” Major Dawn McFarland
said.
Since opening its doors in 1926,
the Tampa center has a long history
in the community and many of its
graduates have spread out across the
territory, leading to referrals from
far-off places. Beneficiaries have
flown in from Hawaii, New York City,
California, Tennessee and Texas, based
on recommendations from family
and friends whose lives were forever
changed by the Tampa center.
“We probably have the largest group
of alumni in our territory and many of
our alumni lead our programs,” Major
Paul McFarland said.
Their alumni organization boasts 200
members and many of them now work
for the adult rehabilitation center and
many others have become leaders in the
community.
Two of the center’s alumni, a local
chiropractor and pharmacist with 18 or
more years of sobriety, currently serve
on the advisory board. Another was
named 2014 youth leader of the year for
the Florida Division.
“We have a history that goes back
that far with so many people,” Major
Dawn said. “We are just blessed by that
and we’ve reaped the benefits of those
who have come before us. This is our
third center and we’ve never had that
many volunteers that were alumni.”
When asked to name one individual
who stood out to them as a true success
of the program, Majors McFarland
struggled to choose just one. One
graduate leads the praise and worship
band at the Tampa Corps and the
center. The sports and recreation
director who was just approved for
the upcoming session of cadets is a
Majors Paul and Dawn McFarland enjoy witnessing the transformation they see in
the men at the Tampa Adult Rehabilitation Center.
graduate, along with the program
director and the store manager.
Sometimes it’s the men who
experience the greatest changes that
make the biggest impact on their hearts.
“We had one gentleman who came in
and if you talked to him, he flinched,”
she said.
His name is James and he had been
living on the porch of his family’s home
because he was not welcome inside.
James graduated, moved out, found a
job and has returned as a group leader
and sponsor for current beneficiaries.
“We can hardly talk about him
without wanting to cry,” Major Paul
said. “God has shown us that there’s
no throwaways. We could have easily
overlooked him, but he really sticks out
to us. He’s my hero.”
youthdownsouth
Witness
Wednesday
Hannah and Sarah Isner
are sisters from the
Grafton, West Virginia,
Corps. After youth
councils they decided
to make Wednesdays
in school “Witness
Wednesday,” wearing
their youth councils shirts
and encouraging others
around the division to do
the same ...they’ve also
started doing Bible study
during a free period at
school, meeting in the
school lunch room.
A salute for Corps Cadet grads
During youth councils this spring 134 Corps Cadets graduated across the Southern Territory. Pictured above
are the graduates from the National Capital-Virginia division, under the leadership of the divisional youth
leaders, Captains Tim and Bethany Delaney. Congratulations go out to all of the graduate Corps Cadets of
the USA Southern Territory. At Commissioning weekend in June, the Saturday morning meeting will focus on
Corps Cadets. A number of the Corps Cadets in our territory who are bold for the Lord will be highlighted in
that meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 at the Atlanta Temple Corps.
Majors McFarland say that they are
blessed to come in to work every day
and see lives forever changed.
“You see people go from essentially
having no will or passion or desire
to live other than seeking whatever
substance they can get ahold of and
they are transformed,” Major Dawn
said. “Within the first month they look
physically different. When they are
treated with dignity and valued, they
begin to value themselves and that
changes the look in their eyes.”
Though they loved being corps
officers, they said that this particular
ministry is the right fit for them.
“We both have a passion for it,” he
said. “There are many successes, even
small ones. It’s a privilege to walk with
these men.”
thejobboard
Grants and contracts specialist
Tampa, Florida
The Tampa Area Command is looking for an experienced
grants and contracts specialist to prepare grant narrative
descriptions; document current agency programmatic
practices; seek information on industry accepted best
practices; and prepare concept papers and various reports
or presentations. The position is also responsible for tracking
grants, assisting with development of grant attachments
and assembling materials as needed. The person in this
position works closely with the director of development,
other members of the Development Department and
the management team to achieve all defined goals of the
department. For more information or to apply, please contact
Pamela Miller via Email (Pam_Miller@uss.salvationarmy.org).
Food service manager
Camp Keystone
Starke, Florida
Ca