(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  The Salvation Army recently promoted Stephen and Nancy Ball, corps officers for the San Bernardino Corps, to the rank of Major.

The majors took over leadership of the San Bernardino Corps in 2007. The promotion does not change their assignment, but recognizes a total of 15 years of service to the Salvation Army as part of its officer corps.

“We felt a calling to help The Salvation Army in its mission to change lives by meeting the most basic human needs and teaching them of God’s love for all,” said Major Stephen Ball. “In San Bernardino the Salvation Army has been meeting those needs for almost 125 years, and we’re glad to be part of that.”

The couple was commissioned as officers and ministers of the Salvation Army in June of 1996. Their first appointment was with the Hemet Corps, then to Escondido. They spent a few years at the Army’s Sierra Del Mar division headquarters in San Diego, where they were in charge of youth ministries, before coming to San Bernardino.

“I join the entire Advisory Board in congratulating the Balls on their recent promotion,” said Tom Brickley, chair of the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is a group of volunteers who assists the Salvation Army in fund raising and raising community awareness of the organization.

“The Majors’ dedication to the Salvation Army ministry, the San Bernardino Corps and its service recipients is beyond comparison,” Brickley continued. “They have accomplished a great deal in the few short years they have been here, and I hope it will be many more years before the Salvation Army decides to relocate them to another assignment.”

One of the majors’ accomplishments since arriving in San Bernardino was guiding the transition of the San Bernardino Corps’ Hospitality House from its former location on Kingman Street to its current location on Tenth Street.

The Salvation Army had sold the Kingman Street shelter to the California Department of Transportation in June 2007 when Majors Stephen and Nancy Ball came to San Bernardino. It was then demolished to make way for freeway widening.

The Salvation Army received approval to run the shelter from the already well-used Corps Headquarters building on Fifth Street, which it did until 2010. During this time, under the majors’ leadership, The Salvation Army acquired and renovated the Tenth Street building, turning it into a shelter where up to 80 people have private family rooms for up to 90 days.

The majors have also built up the youth programs offered by the San Bernardino Corps. They help children throughout the neighborhood attend summer camp, a Pinewood Derby race and other events put on by the Salvation Army.

Locally, they have increased attendance at character-building programs for girls, boys and teenagers, and have implemented a new program, the Modern Day Princess program for young women ages 12-22.

The majors also oversee many programs for adults, including providing meals for up to 200 people six days a week. The Salvation Army also provides a Sunday morning worship service, a program to help men who have completed drug or alcohol rehabilitation transition back into society, holiday gift baskets containing food and toys for families in need, and assistance with disaster relief throughout the Inland Empire.

For information about any of the services offered by The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps, call (909) 888-1336.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org  or by calling (909) 888-1336.