06/12/2026
Almost a year.
On June 23rd, I will have been serving at The Salvation Army Salisbury Corps for one full year. It's hard to believe how quickly the time has gone by.
One of the blessings of being in one place for a year is that you have time to look around. You get to know your community. You learn its strengths, its needs, its opportunities, and its challenges. I've spent this past year studying Rowan County, watching trends, looking at statistics, meeting people, building relationships, and asking one simple question:
"Where can The Salvation Army make the greatest difference?"
At the same time, I've enjoyed watching my sessionmates and fellow Salvationists across North and South Carolina share what God is doing through their ministries. Every testimony, every new program, every soul saved, every family helped reminds me of something important:
We're not fighting this battle alone.
And make no mistake—it is a battle.
That's why over the past month I've been working on what evberyone calls our "Battle Plan." A plan for where God is leading us next. A plan that helps us focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact for the Kingdom.
When I first arrived, my mother gave me some advice.
"Don't go into Salisbury and change everything."
Good advice.
But I also remember hearing someone tell me years ago (My Father)
"If you continue doing what you've always done, don't expect significant change."
That statement has stuck with me.
The truth is that God didn't place us here simply to maintain. He called us to minister. He called us to reach people. He called us to move forward.
As I've been putting together our Battle Plan, I've spent a lot of time writing about who we are. I recently completed an "About Us" section for our Corps and it caused me to realize something.
The Salvation Army Corps Church is different.
And that's okay.
In fact, that's a good thing.
I've heard people argue that the uniform is old-fashioned. That it makes us stand out too much. That it keeps us from blending in with everyone else.
To that I say:
Praise God for the uniform.
Not because it makes us better than anyone else.
Not because it makes us holier than anyone else.
But because it reminds us that we have been set apart for a purpose.
Recently, I attended the funeral of one of our soldiers, David.
David didn't grow up in The Salvation Army. He chose to become a soldier because he saw something different. He saw people who loved God, served others, and lived their faith openly.
At the funeral, our Corps Sergeant-Major, Betty Wilson, and I were all in uniform. After the service, people came up and thanked us. They thanked us for the words of comfort, for the encouragement, and simply for being there.
Then we traveled to the National Cemetery.
David had served his country faithfully in the United States Army.
As his casket arrived, soldiers stood at attention.
Salutes were rendered.
Commands were given.
Rifles fired.
Honor was shown.
Respect was given.
And as I watched, I couldn't help but think that William Booth understood something important.
Sometimes people need to see who we are before they hear what we have to say.
The uniform was never about drawing attention to ourselves.
It was about drawing attention to Christ.
It was about being visible reminders that God still loves people, still saves people, and still changes lives.
The Salvation Army was never intended to blend in.
We are not trying to be the Baptist Church.
We are not trying to be Life Church.
We are not trying to be anyone else.
We are The Salvation Army.
We have a unique mission.
A unique calling.
A unique history.
And a unique opportunity to reach people in ways that others cannot.
As we move into our second year together at the Salisbury Corps, my prayer is simple:
Lord, help us become everything You have called us to be.
Help us stand out—not for our own glory, but for Yours.
Help Rowan County see Christ in us.
Help Salisbury know that The Salvation Army is here, that we care, and that we serve a mighty God.
The battle plan is being written.
The mission remains the same.
And I can't wait to see what God does next.
