The Northwest Division’s Kalispell Corps recently en-rolled eight junior soldiers, affirming the success of the corps’ youth programs and its outreach to the community.

The enrollment was “bathed in the presence of the Holy Spirit,” said Corps Officer Captain Daniel Freeman. Conducting the enrollment was Divisional Youth Secretary Major Nancy Davis, who inspired the corps to pair each junior soldier with an adult mentor — a plan that not only gives each youth individual guidance but also involves the adults of the corps with the youth.

Led by Captains Daniel and Doreen Freeman, the corps is reaching out to this tourist town of 35,000, nestled beside Glacier National Park in northwest Montana.

	Point 3 Make ministry to youth a priority

This small corps–30 to 40 worship on Sundays–maintains a number of successful youth and social service programs. The youth programs, under the leadership of YPSM Karen Holmquist and Youth Director Carla Brandt, have tripled in size. Guards and Sunbeams meet at the same time as women’s ministries, so mothers are also involved. The Christian-based childcare programs–day care, pre-school, and after-school–are flourishing.

The corps offers a weekly free medical clinic with church members as volunteers, and in January a full service dental clinic will open at the corps.

Kalispell has the largest thrift store in Montana and Freeman acknowledges they couldn’t maintain their programs without the store’s support. He also credits the community of “down-to-earth, relaxed people who are very supportive of the Army and its programs.”

And he gives credit to the previous corps officers, Captain Monte Jones and Envoys Steve and Daylene Staneart, who developed the corps’ vision. “We’ve been able to refine and focus the vision–to make sure these separate programs are working together to accomplish our mission: to give others the opportunity to know Jesus.”