September 15, 2015
6
South installs new
TSM John Reeves
John Reeves was installed as the
newest territorial sergeant-major
in an induction ceremony led by
Commissioner Don Bell on Saturday,
Aug. 15. Reeves is the corps sergeantmajor of the Alexandria, Virginia, Corps
and was nominated for the position by
corps officers Lieutenants Nathan and
Kelsey Bridges.
He has previously served as the
divisional sergeant-major for the
National Capital-Virginia Division and
is involved in every area of ministry,
teaching Sunday school, Adventure
Corps and working with the divisional
youth band. As TSM, he will be the
chairman of the Territorial Soldiers
Ideas, Needs and Concerns committee
and will attend Bible conference,
commissioning and the welcome of the
cadets.
The positions of TSM and the
TSINC committee are both unique to
the Southern Territory. The TSM is
intended to be a direct link between
the territorial commander and the
soldiers. Reeves, like his predecessor
J.P. Long, will serve a three-year term
before resigning, at which point another
soldier will take his place. After his
induction, he addressed the soldiers of
the territory in a brief speech.
“I am truly humbled,” Reeves said.
“I never felt like the right choice, but
Major Mark Brown
Commissioner Don Bell installs John Reeves as the territorial sergeant-major. Flagbearers were Lieutenants Nathan and Kelsey Bridges
when God comes knocking on your
door, you’ve got to open it up and say
yes, and so I did. If you would join me,
I know that we can make this Southern
Territory even greater.”
Laura Poff
International Service Fellowship gathers at SBC 2015
At an early breakfast on Tuesday
during the Southern Territorial Bible
Conference, about 80 came together
who share a common interest:
international Salvation Army service.
Seasoned “missionaries” and shortterm volunteers in other countries and
those with one or more appointments
overseas shared their stores and
questions. Also attending were a few
who are interested in serving overseas
in the very near future.
Most of the officers who have held
the appointment as overseas personnel
services director during the past 50-plus
years were there as well.
Representative speakers from each
of the five worldwide Salvation Army
zones shared some of their experiences:
(Above) Seventy-eight people attended the breakfast. (Right) Major Jean Deuel presents Majors
Larry and Evelyn Repass a gift of
recognition for their service.
Book recounts stories and
legacy of Brigadier Henry
In “A Mountain Man with a
Mission,” Major John Merritt’s 1997
interviews with the late Brigadier James
Henry are made available to the public
for the first time, introducing his life
and legacy to a new generation.
Organized into a chronological
structure, the interviews tell the story of
his early life and ministry as an officer
of the Mountain Mission corps in North
Carolina and of his time traveling the
country with his wife Brigadier Ruth
Henry, as the territorial and national
evangelist.
His officership spanned 40
transformative years for the nation
and The Salvation Army, from
commissioning in 1941 to his retirement
in 1981. The Henrys were sent to
the Mountain Mission following the
declining health of the ministry’s
founder Major Cecil Brown. During
their service there the Henrys founded
the now internationally adopted Men’s
Club program and learned to be all
things to the people they served.
Brigadier James Henry was raised
in the mountains and understood the
culture of the people around him; this
allowed him greater access to them. He
learned to be a vet, barber, plumber,
construction worker and teacher and
to fill any role that was called for. He
set up the first phone lines and indoor
restrooms in the corps and quarters
and visited with the people others
feared in order to invite them to the
corps, often traveling from home to
home on horseback. He led the first
area command – in Hampton Roads,
Virginia – and was lifelong friends with
Sidney Cox.
In “A Mountain Man with a
Mission,” you will find a historical
account of a very different time in The
Salvation Army and in the world, as
told by a man who lived them. These
days, officers of the USA Southern
Territory live in relative comfort
compared with the everyday struggles
of service just a few decades ago. This
account paints a picture of officership
as sacrifice and struggle for the sake of
others.
Laura Poff
Major Doris (Champion) Costner
Zambia (1987)
Majors Michael and Teresa Hawley
United Arab Emirates (2010)
Majors Brad and Anita Caldwell
Georgia (2008)
Majors Donald and Jean Wilson
Venezuela (1987)
Majors Charles and Toni Trask
Philippines (1981)
A list is available of those who have
served internationally and the countries
in which they served so that any corps
or institution may take advantage of
this tremendous human resource for
programs in support of World Service
giving; contact Major Jean Deuel at
404-728-6700 or Major Evelyn Repass at
Evelyn.Repass@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Atlanta Temple
celebrates 125th
year in October
The Atlanta Temple Corps is turning
125, and festivities are planned for Oct.
16-18. Highlights will include musical
guests, Southern Territorial Band
and Songsters, and performances by
the anniversary band, songsters and
timbrels as well as by the present band,
songsters and youth music groups.
Special guests will be Commissioners
Kenneth and Jolene Hodder.
The weekend will also be comprised
of an exhibition that looks back at
the corps through the years and an
anniversary banquet (tickets required,
but free of charge). Previous corps
officers of the Atlanta Temple Corps
will lead various focus groups