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■ By Angela BlackburnOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF

The Salvation Army worked forthem when they needed it and nowthey work for it.

Both Majors Dan and WendyBroome, the new pastors at theOakville Salvation ArmyCommunity Church — and theheads of the local Salvation Army’svaried social programs — were ledto the Salvation Army by a differ-ent circumstance.

For Wendy, 46, the SalvationArmy came into her life at ageeight, when her dad, Bob Manlowleft her life. He died of emphyse-ma.

“We didn’t belong to a churchand the Salvation Army will marryand bury anyone. My mom calledthem and they buried my dad,”recalls Wendy, a Picton, Ontarionative.

The family then began to wor-ship at the local Salvation Armychurch and by age 24, Wendy, whowas working as a registered nurs-ing assistant in Peterborough, washeading toward a career with theArmy.

Dan didn’t become acquaintedwith the Salvation Army until hewas 17 and his mom married aSalvationist and he began attend-ing the church.

By 1993, Dan had tried severalthings including attending busi-ness college to study accounting.

“Nothing I ever tried fit,”admitted Dan, who was born inToronto and grew up in Belleville,Ontario.

The Salvation Army, meanwhilehad always intrigued him — andeventually he found it fit.

“It still does,” he said.Dan also has a special interest

in corrections work, a field inwhich he has spent quite a numberof years.

“My brother had a difficult timewith alcohol and drugs and spentmany, many years behind bars,” hesaid, admitting it was often dis-

heartening to see that little wasconnecting with his brother toeffect change.

In working in the correctionsfield, as a jail chaplain, Dan admit-ted there is a good feeling thatcomes when a positive connectionfor change is made every once in awhile with an inmate.

The Broomes met while Wendywas working as a camp nurse andDan as a camp cook.

They married four years later,after Dan had attended college andWendy had wrapped up her firstcommissioned assignment as anofficer with the Salvation Army inBermuda.

Their first married assignmentsaw them go to Paris, Ontario.

They were also pastors of theSalvation Army church in Milton

and chaplains at Maplehurst andVanier correctional centres formen and women.

Wendy also worked inBrampton’s Salvation Army familyservices program.

Dan said he liked working incorrections as he’s not one to sitbehind a desk.

“I believe in hands-on work,” hesaid. “It’s the opportunity to makea difference in the life of someone.”

And though now he can befound at a desk in Oakville, whatWendy agrees is a small, butmighty church in Oakville keepsthe couple m busy not only behindthe desk and at the pulpit, but in avariety of programs including theLighthouse shelter.

That allows the mix of leading acongregation and still having prac-

tical, hands-on work.“We had been in pastoral work

before and we missed that part ofit, having a congregation, takingcare of the flock and all that. Weboth missed the pulpit, the teach-ing and preaching,” said Wendy.

“We asked for a small to medi-um sized church and we were will-ing to go anywhere. We were led toOakville,” said Wendy.

The practical side of assistingpeople locally through theSalvation Army Oakville’s socialprograms is akin to the practicalwork Dan felt he was doing whenhe was not only trying to reach aninmate in a bid to turn a lifearound, but helping those tryingto re-establish themselves uponrelease, through finding shelterand support programs.

Likewise, Oakville’s shelter isnot just a transient shelter,explained Dan.

Rather, those who stay theremust be approved by the Region ofHalton and can stay for a longerperiod than just overnight. Theyare also provided with supportiveprograms and assistance to helpthem get on their feet again.

The Salvation Army Oakvilleoperates a community church onRebecca Street. It also operates theLighthouse shelter, a family shel-ter program and family communi-ty services.

“Right from the start, we feltthis fit us, it fits like a glove,” saidWendy.

The couple arrived in early Julyand has committed to stay at leastfive years.

Growing the small Oakvillechurch is important to them —and the future of the church.

Key to getting that job done isletting the community know thechurch exists, as well as the localsocial programs, and that youdon’t have to be experiencingtough times to join the church,which also offers a Sunday school,a kids’ club and has a brass bandthat makes the Broomes proud.

“A lot of people in Oakville see usas the shelter, food bank and familyservices, but they don’t always seeus as the church,” said Wendy.

“We do these things because weare a church,” she said.

However all public funds col-lected for the Salvation Army’ssocial programs go to the pro-grams, not the church, said Dan.

To that end, the Broomes are

Tis the season for the Salvation Army“A lot of people in Oakvillesee us as the shelter, foodbank and family services, butthey don’t always see us asthe church. We do thesethings because we are achurch.”

■ Major Wendy Broome, pastorOakville Salvation ArmyCommunity Church

NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER

AT THE PULPIT: Majors Wendy and Dan Broome are pastors of the Oakville Salvation Army Community Church.

Majors led to callingwith Salvation Army

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