Falmouth Salvation Army says goodbye to stalwarts and welcomes new family (From Falmouth Packet)

Falmouth Salvation Army says goodbye to stalwarts and welcomes new family

11:30am Sunday 15th July 2012 in News

Falmouth Salvation Army is saying goodbye to two familiar faces of the past ten years and welcoming a family in their place.

Captains Chris and Liesl Baldwin are leaving for pastures new, to be replaced by new leaders Lieutenants Mark and Alison Godwin, who have three sons James,ten; Arnold, nine; and Malcolm, five.

Two years ago, mobile hairdresser Alison and road safety engineer Mark quit their jobs in Cheltenham to move to the Salvation Army’s William Booth College in Camberwell, London.

Now, having completed their Salvation Army Officership Training and Ordination there, they come to Falmouth full of enthusiasm.

It was about 16 years ago that Alison first felt called to be a minister. Having been attracted to her local Salvation Army church by the kindness of its members, she chose to make the Christian faith her own.

Mark explained that he came to experience a new found sense of peace after returning to church. He said: “My life is so much better for trusting in God. Before, I was controlled by drink and gambling. Now I am free.”

They are both keen to make a difference in the community.

The couple’s welcome and installation service will be on Sunday, July 29, at 10.30am at the Salvation Army headquarters in Brook Street.

Mark and Alison will be taking the place of Captains Chris and Liesl Baldwin, who have been the leaders of the Salvation Army Church in Brook Street for the past ten years.

They have been appointed to the Salvation Army’s William Booth College in London as tutors to cadets studying to become Salvation Army officers.

Chris and Liesl said: “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity of living in such a beautiful town and the privilege of working alongside the kind people of this community.”