ESTEVAN - The new Salvation Army pastor for Estevan is impressed with what she has seen thus far.
Capt. Jaclyn Wynne arrived in Estevan in early July. Since then, she has been getting to know the people who work at the Salvation Army locally, the customers who visit their thrift store and the community as a whole.
“So far, it’s been really quite enjoyable,” she told the Mercury.
Estevan is a “very lovely” community. She appreciates that it’s quiet. The people are very friendly, and she’s not surprised when she says hello to someone and they want to stop for a conversation.
“It’s very friendly and it’s been very clean. I have enjoyed trying out different things. I have eaten at some of the local places,” she said.
The people she talks to in Estevan take a keen interest in what is happening with the Salvation Army, and those who work at the thrift store are wonderful.
“We’re running like a team already. It didn’t take very long to adjust to that at all. And then the people everywhere that I’ve met so far have been super friendly and super helpful,” she said.
Wynne started her time with the Salvation Army in the tiny fishing community of Glover’s Habour, N.L, and then moved to Mississauga, Ont., where she worked at Erin Mills Community Church.
“There was lots in the building,” said Wynne. “There was a daycare, women’s counselling centre, food bank and family services.”
Part of Wynne’s responsibilities will be restarting a church in Estevan. The Salvation Army’s church has been dormant locally for two years. She said they will be looking at what they want.
“I don’t want to just repeat all of the different services that other churches are offering. So we’re taking the time to look and see where we can be of best service in Estevan and Weyburn.”
She hopes they will eventually gather again, with an emphasis on the community. It might be a while before they meet on a Sunday, and there might be other programs and services offered.
“I’m still getting to know what the community is, so we might offer a Bible study at some point, or we might offer a chapel type service on a weekday night,” said Wynne.
The gathering aspect is important for community, she said, and the ability to gather is what separates it from an online service.
Ronza Reynard will continue to be the director of ministry for the Salvation Army in Estevan and look after the different community services, so if people have questions about the food bank and other family services programs, they would turn to Reynard. Wynne’s focus would be the church aspect.
Wynne will split her time between Estevan and Weyburn, although she will likely be in Estevan four days a week and Weyburn once. Her role in Weyburn will likely be more of a chaplain, in which people can drop by and talk to the pastor.
For more information, visit the Salvation Army Cornerstone Circuit Facebook page.
