Salvation Army Hires New DirectorsDale and Sandra Brandenburg for the past 12 years have served those who come to the Salvation Army who are cold, weary, and needy.
They now will serve as Kosciusko County's Salvation Army new directors.
An open house will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Salvation Army, 501 E. Arthur St., for the public to meet the Brandenburg's.
Coming from Milwaukee, Wis., their duties begin today. They replace Kosciusko County's former Salvation Army directors Captains Jody and Amy Dalberg who served for four years.The Dalberg's last day was Sunday and they will serve as corps officers for the Salvation Army in Branson, Mo.
"We want to build on what previous officers have done and move the work of the Salvation Army forward," said Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries director.
Locke said it is not uncommon after a few years for directors to be appointed to new Salvation Army chapters.
The Brandenburg's duties in Warsaw is the couple's fifth Salvation Army appointment.
The couple is originally from Danville, Ill., and have served with the Salvation Army for 12 years.
The couple were Nazarene ministers with the Salvation Army. Dale was a Nazarene pastor and they served as youth ministers in the Nazarene church in Fithian,Ill., for four years.
When they joined the Salvation Army they were in Chicago for two years where they took part in College For Officers Training with the Salvation Army.
The training allowed them to become officers with the Salvation Army.
They then served as corps officers for two years at the Salvation Army in St. Charles, Mo.
After serving in St Charles they went to Sedalia, Mo., and served as community center directors for four years.
When they served in the Salvation Army in Sedalia they oversaw five counties.
They then trained for a year to be administrators in the Northside Adult Rehabilitation Center in Chicago with the Salvation Army.
They then went to Milwaukee, Wis., and served as administrators for the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. They served there for the past two years before coming to Warsaw.
The center had a 100-bed facility and was a live-in and work-in facility for alcoholics, recovering drug addicts, and the homeless.
They then were transferred to the Warsaw Salvation Army.
The couple said they are excited to serve as directors of Kosciusko County's Salvation Army.
"We are excited to be in this community doing the work we love to do," Dale said."
"I am a farm boy who grew up on a farm in Illinois and am looking forward to serving here."
Sandra said she is exited to get back in the corps working with the youth.
"We spent a Sunday and worshiped with those at Salvation Army and we know there is a lot happening in this community and that is exciting," Sandra said.
Sandra said there seems to be good leadership in place at the Salvation Army of Kosciusko County.
"We have seen so far that this is a wonderful community with nice people and we are so excited to minister in a small town where people are so personable," Sandra said.
The couple will be in charge of the Salvation Army responsibilities in Kosciusko and Whitley counties.
"The first six months we will learn the city and counties and find out what is needed and engineer programs to meet the needs," Dale said.
The couple said they look forward to working with other agencies to serve the community.
"No one agency can meet the needs of a community, you need partnership," Dale said.
The couple have three grown children and an 11-year-old daughter, Kristi, who will live in Warsaw in the Salvation Army quarters with the couple. They also have seven grandchildren.
