The training that the Salvation Army provides to its leaders is thorough, to be sure. But no two places are exactly alike, and Capt. Joshua Keaton and his wife, Capt. Amanda Keaton, are still learning about Henderson as they jump in to the day-to-day operations of their new assignment.
Capt. Joshua Keaton was John C. Rose’s guest on Thursday’s Town Talk and he said it’s been a busy time since they left their previous assignment in Concord, NC, and made their way to Henderson in mid-June. Father’s Day weekend, to be exact.
The local Salvation Army, based at 2292 Ross Mill Rd., serves a handful of surrounding counties – not just Vance County. From summer day camp to daily food distributions, there’s something going on most of the time at the Ross Mill Road facility.
There are two weeks left of summer day camp, then the Vacation Bible School will be Aug. 1-5.
The after-school program cranks up on Aug. 22, with daily pickups from a number of schools in Vance and Granville counties. Keaton encourages parents to get those completed applications in as soon as possible – space is limited.
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Keaton said he and his wife have a long association with the Salvation Army – they met at an SA camp in West Virginia in 2006 – he was a lifeguard and she was in charge of the dining hall. They married in 2009, and he said they “saw there was a need and felt the Lord nudging us to do more.”
The “more” turned into learning all about the Salvation Army – he called their time in Georgia “730 days of full-on engagement of learning the ins and outs of the Army – what you’d basically do during seminary,” he said.
The team spent several years in Greenville, SC before moving to Concord, NC and now to Henderson. They earned the rank of Captain and hope to achieve the rank of Major when the time comes.
Whether he is overseeing local programs like food distribution, inviting people to shop at their thrift store or talking with folks who have fallen on hard times, Keaton said he and his wife are willing to meet people wherever they are.
“We see constantly people struggling – spiritually, financially – being a shoulder they can lean on in their weakest moment is always a blessing to me,” he noted.
Life can change in an instant, he said, adding that it is important for him to live a life in service to the Lord.
“Everyone needs to receive salvation,” he said. “My goal is to lead you to it…the ultimate goal is to win souls for Him.”
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