Church

Esky’s Salvation Army gets new captains

ESCANABA -- Two new pastors -- officers, as the organization calls them -- have arrived in Escanaba to preach and serve at the Salvation Army of Escanaba.

While each of the thousands of centers for the Salvation Army may act slightly differently, the organization, which dates back to Victorian England, is a Christian church and a social services provider. Its practicers are called salvationists, and its ministers are officers -- whose ranks depends on time served.

When William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, wanted to make things better for people living in the slums of late-1800s London, he wrote a book entitled "In Darkest England and the Way Out." He wanted to bring his country's downtrodden to new light.

"A population sodden with drink, steeped in vice, eaten up by every social and physical malady, these are the denizens of Darkest England," wrote Booth in 1890. "...I think I see my way out, a way by which these wretched ones may escape from the gloom of their miserable existence into a higher and happier life."

Before people could be brought to God, their basic needs had to be met. This is why Booth's organization is multi-purpose. Soup kitchens were essential then and now.

The Salvation Army's official mission is "to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination."

In Escanaba, the local corps provides a food pantry, community hot lunch four days a week, a resale store, seasonal assistance and emergency support in addition to a chapel. Others may offer addiction support, shelter and traveling canteens.

The current community center and church at 3001 Fifth Avenue South was acquired by the Escanaba Salvation Army in the 1980s, while Lee and Melody Morrison had been the local officers. It had previously been Escanaba Baptist Church.

Within the Salvation Army, leadership at the various posts rotates every few years.

The Salvation Army has four territories in the United States. Escanaba is within the Central territory, whose base and College for Officer Training is in Chicago.

"It’s like a seminary. So we are being trained as pastors, but we’re also being trained in all of the field work," explained Teri Ellison, one of the captains newly-appointed to serve the area.

She and her husband, Bryan Ellison, recently relocated to the Upper Peninsula after serving a church in Iowa. They are replacing Captains Doug and Kim Winters, former heads of the Salvation Army in Escanaba, who have just retired.

When first ordained after two years of training, officers with the Salvation Army begin as lieutenants. After five more years, they become captains; in another ten, they are considered majors.

Captains Teri and Bryan Ellison are to achieve the rank of major next year.

The military verbiage -- referring to ministers as officers -- has been a tradition in the Salvation Army since its formation in 1890s London, when the British Army was admired by many.

The Salvation Army is its own religious denomination, which Teri referred to as similar to Wesleyan or Nazarene, though Booth had been Methodist before he began evangelizing and later formed the Army. Bryan said the organization is faithful to the Bible -- "We believe that the Bible is inherent. It’s perfect. There are no mistakes," he said.

In order to bring an end to the social problems in "Darkest England," Booth's model included "soup, soap and salvation" -- a saying still used today to refer to the services provided by the Salvation Army.

Though some controversy has found the Salvation Army in the past -- namely, allegations that the organization did not serve the LGBTQ community -- leadership has fought to overcome that reputation in recent years. The website for the Salvation Army's USA Central Territory states that they offer job training and food and more to all groups, and have even established shelter specifically for transgender people who are more at risk of assault.

"We’re committed to providing spiritual and emotional care to those in need regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity," the organization states.

Since people who up going to the Salvation Army for food, assistance, church, etc. tend to be those who have "fallen through the cracks" of society -- lonely veterans, people with disabilities, anyone experiencing poverty -- the organization continues to work on achieving its original mission.

The Ellisons believe they were chosen by the divisional commanders to come to Escanaba because their expertise will suit the area's needs. Bryan is an accomplished preacher; Teri had worked in human services and has administrative and social skills.

Post assignments could change at some point in the future, but the Ellisons hope to stay.

Teri remarked that they have for years enjoyed traveling to the Keweenaw, even before they knew they would one day be assigned to the U.P.

"We grew up in east central Minnesota, so this climate... We love it here," Bryan said.