30 August 2014

Editor's Note:  This is the third article in a series of "welcome" articles focused on the officers who are new to the Northwest Division as well as those who have been given new appointments within the Division. To read the previous articles, please see the links at the bottom of this page. Newly Appointed Lieutenant To Assist At Seattle Temple Corps

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The Salvation Army Northwest Division welcomes Lieutenant Rebecca Lewis. She has been appointed to serve as the Assistant Corps Officer - working alongside Majors Rob and Amy Reardon - at the Seattle Temple Corps. This is her first appointment following her recent commissioning as a Salvation Army officer in June of this year.

For many officers a new appointment can mean moving to places never imagined, but for this new lieutenant, her first appointment means a return to the area she calls home. Born in Seattle, and raised in Edmonds, her first contact with The Salvation Army came through an aunt who was working at the Renton Corps as a janitor. "Sometimes, me and my siblings would go to work with her." Lt. Lewis explains, "We didn't know what The Salvation Army was at that point. We didn't know it was a church. I just remember playing around in the building while my aunt worked."

At the age of 15, she was offered an opportunity to attend the Army's Tahoma Wilderness Camp for teens in Eatonville, WA. After two more summers attending the camp, she applied to work on the camp staff and spent the next eight summers working her way up from waitress to counselor to wilderness camp cook and finally to being the Director of the Tahoma program... "It was such a great experience. It was there that I learned about The Salvation Army and who Jesus was. I have been working for The Salvation Army in some capacity ever since."

This new appointment also offers a chance to reconnect with friends and "family" within The Salvation Army including the Reardons (then Captains) who enrolled her as a Salvation Army soldier.

As part of the officer staff at Seattle Temple, she will be taking part in The Salvation Army's mission to provide help to the neediest people in the. In 2013, nearly 800 people were helped by The Salvation Army in the north Seattle area, which includes Ballard, the University District and Shoreline. Available programs include emergency assistance for food, rent and utility bills, as well as a food pantry. Seasonal assistance programs include back-to-school supplies, Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas Toy-N-Joy and Adopt-A-Family programs for qualifying families and individuals. In North Seattle and everywhere else, all Salvation Army services are provided without discrimination.

Welcome, Lieutenant Lewis - we look forward to working with you in the future and wish you every success in your new appointment!

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In Her Own Words

Hello Seattle!

Born and raised a Seattlite, I am more than overjoyed to have been appointed to the Seattle Temple Corps as the Assistant Corps Officer! Hi! My name is Lieutenant Rebecca Lewis!

I am a product of Camp. I attended Camp Arnold as a teenager and then began working for the camp, spending a total of eight summers in the shadow of Mount Rainier working with youth. In the Fall of 2005 I moved to the slums of Vancouver, British Columbia to attend The Salvation Army's War College, a yearlong Discipleship and Mission Training School. For many years after, I moved to various locations and served both The Salvation Army and local communities.

In October 2010 I was called into Officership and in August of 2012 I entered into The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training in Crestmont, CA. These past two years have been both a huge challenge and an even greater joy! God has confirmed His call on my life by walking with me through the fire to prepare me for a life of ministry. He reminds me daily that “He alone is my portion and my cup” (Psalm 16:5) and that His plan is perfect.

I am beyond excited to be back at Seattle Temple as an Officer! What better place to learn how to be an Officer than the one in which I learned how to be a Soldier? I look forward to the season that is upon me and for ministry to the Corps as well as the surrounding community!

- Lieutenant Rebecca Lewis

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Previous Articles In This Series

July 25, 2014	Lieutenants Jonathan and Nikki Woollin Appointed To Lead Longview Corps
June 12, 2014	Majors Ron and Ronalee Fenrich Appointed To Lead Puyallup Valley Corps