Today we’d like to introduce you to Captain Jeanette Jensen.
Hi Captain Jeanette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My parents are also officers/pastors in The Salvation Army, so I was born and raised in this organization. As soon as I was born and my mom was able to be up and about, I was on her hip joining her and my dad on their nursing home visitations, Women’s/Men’s Ministries offered, social service appointments administered , and church services led. My first position was being the preschool Sunday School teacher at the age of 12. At the age of 14, I was a paid bellringer after school and on Saturdays.
By 16, I started dating my now husband. We married in 2009 and went into The Salvation Army Training (seminary college) in Chicago, Illinois in August 2010. 2 years later we completed our training, received our entry rank of Lieutenant and was commissioned to Clinton, IA. Fast-forward 13 years and 4 additional appointments later (Decatur, IL; Moline, IL, Fargo, ND, STL- Maplewood, MO), my husband and I are now Captains with 2 more years to go until we make the rank of Major.
We have loved spending the last 4 years in STL. Living in the city, but feeling the quaintness of “smalltown” life within the towns has been so interesting and fun to explore. We have fallen in love with the people and pace of life here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The life of a Salvation Army officer is a life that demands sacrifice. William Booth, our founder, had the opportunity to send an encouraging word to the entire world of Salvationists (which was very costly). That message was “Others.” For others, my family has given up the luxury of owning our own house and instead live in a borrowed parsonage. We borrow the churches vehicles to get around, and we own little to no furniture. The only things we own would be our clothing, our children’s toys/our entertainment, and our little Schnoodle- Ariel.
The Salvation Army can then move us wherever we are needed and we go to continue our work for OTHERS in another community all under the mission of The Salvation Army: to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without discrimination. Through our food boxes, heating and cooling shelters, community events, and church services.
Our other struggle has just been lack of staffing/volunteers and resources. We have a big vision that has a lot of needs to get us there. The SNAP benefit struggle has been an unfortunate spotlight to getting some of those needs highlighted, but we continue to build our networks and sphere of influences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
People don’t often associate The Salvation Army with being a church, but we are first and foremost a place of worship. That means that I view my primary role as ‘pastor.’ I’m more proud of our Sunday Services. I share the pulpit with my husband 50/50. From that ministry, everything else I do pours out. Our adult groups, our AfterSchool Club316, our Maplewood Marketplace pantry, our facility rentals…everything flows from the blessings we’ve been given from God.
It makes us uniquely set apart to serve the holistic individual. Both my husband and I are trained and prepared to help the whole person: spiritually, physically, and mentally.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
As a child, I just always remember being at a Salvation Army building or event with my parents. What made me feel special was I wasn’t just some kid they had to bring with them because I was theirs and they were obligated by love and necessity to bring me with them. My parents made me feel like I was a partner in ministry with them. I- along with them- got to “care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloveable, and befriend those who [had] no friends…” (a quote from our ordination covenant of a Salvation Army officer).
It is this great heritage I still carry with me as I raise my children in this organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/midland/stlmaplewood/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salarmymaplewood/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSAMaplewoodcorps
