Esteban and Karen Pommier are serving as Salvation Army of Kosciusko County’s new directors and pastors.
An open house is Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Salvation Army, 501 E. Arthur St., Warsaw, for the community to meet the Pommiers.
The couple began their duties June 27, and replace former Captains Dale and Sandy Brandenburg, who transferred to the Kokomo Salvation Army. The Brandenburgs served from 2009-2011.
The Pommiers’ duties as directors of the Salvation Army will be community development and overseeing social services operations.
The couple will graduate next year from the College For Officer Training in Chicago for the Salvation Army. Serving at the Kosciusko County Salvation Army is part of their second year of training.
The Pommiers have two sons, Gabriel, 3, and Adrian, 2. They also have one son on the way.
The Pommiers both have bachelor’s degrees in Bible studies, communications and Christian ministry from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.
Esteban has a master’s degree in non-profit administration from North Park University, Chicago.
Esteban was born and raised in Bolivia, and Karen was born and raised in Mexico City.
The Pommiers worked in East Chicago as Salvation Army kettle campaign coordinators in 2007 and 2008, and served at the Salvation Army, Rockford, Ill., as directors of Hispanic programming in 2009 and 2010.
They are bilingual and speak Spanish and English.
Their goal is eventually to start a program at the Salvation Army to serve the Hispanic community.
The Pommiers look forward to serving as pastors of the Salvation Army church that meets at 11 a.m. Sundays.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries coordinator, said the Salvation Army welcomes the Pommiers.
“They have the educational background and their bilingual abilities will be an asset,” Locke said.
