Maj. Linda Jones says she looks forward to continuing the local ministry's outreach to the community as a new officer at The Salvation Army in Mitchell.
Jones, 53, took over as pastor of the local Salvation Army earlier this month when Capts. David and Marcie Mowers transferred to The Salvation Army in Aberdeen after completing a two-year assignment in Mitchell.
Jones moved to Mitchell earlier this month after a one-year assignment in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
"It's a calling," Jones said of joining The Salvation Army. "I felt that God had called me to do this."
Jones, a licensed practical nurse, has lived and worked throughout the Midwest. She was born in New Castle, Ind., but grew up in Ohio and Illinois.
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As an officer, Jones said she enjoys the versatility of The Salvation Army, which has allowed her to pursue a path in nursing.
Jones began attending The Salvation Army church in 1976 and a year later, she joined the organization. In 1980, she trained to become a pastor.
Since then, she has seen a variety of assignments in her career with the church, including working several years in eastern Michigan.
Prior to her assignment in Fort Dodge, she worked in Chicago for seven years. There, she traveled to parts of Wisconsin and Indiana, and taught Bible classes and performed other duties.
One of Jones' duties is to also conduct Sunday's worship service at The Salvation Army, which has about 40 parishioners of all ages.
Jones said she tries to end each message by being right with the Lord.
"A lot of people who come here have been coming here for a long time, so we try to teach them holiness -- how to walk right, how to treat people" Jones said, "and what you say and do matches up."
Jones said she has always enjoyed living in small towns because of what they have to offer.
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"I like getting involved in the community. I haven't been here long enough to do all that," Jones said.
"You know you've made it in a community when they recognize you out of uniform," she said with a laugh.
Jones enjoys working with and ministering to people from all walks of life. She hasn't been in Mitchell long enough to set any concrete goals, but she would like to "grow the young" in the church.
