Commissioners Bamford
Commissioner Bill Bamford was born in Philadelphia, Pa., to Salvation Army officer parents. In 1980, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and worked for seven years as a pharmacist in Massachusetts where he and his wife lived. Lorraine Bamford (née Brown) had grown up in the Massachusetts area.
She studied foreign languages at Eastern Nazarene College and taught French and Spanish in Hingham, Massachusetts. In 2000, Bill earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Geneva College.
While on vacation at Old Orchard Beach, the Bamfords were called by God to officership and entered the Salvation Army’s School for Officer Training. They have served in appointments in the Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware, Western Pennsylvania, Southern New England, and Northeast Ohio divisions. In the South America West Territory, they served for almost four years
as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries. This territory encompasses the countries of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Commissioner Lorraine coordinated the Army’s Anti–human trafficking ministries.
Today, they serve as Territorial Commander and as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, respectively, in the USA Eastern Territory.
Commissioners Bamford are blessed with three children (Michelle, Nicole, and Bill,) and four grandchildren—with another one on the way.
Susan McMillan
Commissioner Susan McMillian
Susan McMillan a Salvation Army officer for 35 years, has served in Canada, Mexico, South America, and International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, England. Her appointments have varied in scope from corps officer to social services, hospital administration, finance and administration. She is now the Territorial Commander (TC) and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries (TPWM) for Canada and Bermuda.
Susan was born in Toronto to officer parents. She holds a Bachelor of Administrative Studies and Masters of Business Administration from York University. She is also a Chartered Professional Accountant. She trained in the Joyful Evangelists Session at the College for Officer Training in Toronto and was commissioned in 1979.
Her first appointment was Assistant Corps Officer for Rosemount, Montreal. Later that same year, she became Private Secretary to the TC for Mexico and Central America, performing administrative work and English– Spanish translation, including simultaneous translation.
In 1983, Susan returned to Canada as Corps Officer for Mimico, just outside Toronto. The following year, she was appointed as Counsellor for the Dufferin Residence in Toronto, for post–psychiatric care in a residential environment. In 1988, she became Administrative Consultant for the 22 Homes for the Aged.
In 1990, Susan became Financial Secretary in the South America East Territory, serving as Director of Finance for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
She returned to Canada in 1994 and was appointed as Administrative Assistant to the Chief Medical Officer, Scarborough Grace Hospital, Toronto. Susan acted as cultural interpreter and conducted research and drafting of clinical practice guidelines for the hospital and preparation for accreditation.
In 1995 Susan became a representative of the Governing Council of the Army to the Board of the Hotel- Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, Ontario, as well as Chair of a planning committee and site manager for Grace Hospital during its merger with the Hotel-Dieu Hospital. She coordinated programs to ensure mission effectiveness in the organization and assisted departments in the preparation of their budgets.
In 1998, Susan became Financial Secretary at Territorial Headquarters. In 2000 she was appointed as Secretary for Business Administration, serving as Chief Operating Officer managing 11 departments related to the temporal matters including: Emergency Disaster Services; Finance; Government Relations; Information Technology; Jackson’s Point Conference Centre; Legal Office; National Recycling Operations (Thrift Stores); Property; Public Relations and Development; Supplies and Purchasing; and World Missions.
2003 saw an appointment as Chief Secretary for the South America West Territory. The second–in–command position involved supervision of all the work in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
In 2008, Susan was appointed to IHQ as Under Secretary for the Americas and Caribbean. This involved being liaison to all nine territories in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean.
She returned to South America East in 2010 with an appointment as TC, in charge of the Army’s work in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
In 2014 McMillan was appointed as TC, taking charge of the Army’s work in Canada and Bermuda.
The Commissioner comes from a Salvationist family, some of her great–great grandparents were officers and local officers. Her hobbies include reading mystery novels, sewing, and beading. She’s a Star Wars fan and enjoys watching NCIS (all of them). Canada and Bermuda Territory
Canadian Staff Band
The Canadian Staff Band, in its earliest form, existed as a Territorial Band in the early 1900s. On May 29, 1914, most of the band perished during the sinking of the Empress of Ireland in the St. Lawrence River. While attempts were made to restart the band shortly after, it was not until 1969, under the territorial command of Commissioner Clarence Wiseman and leadership of then Captain Norman Bearcroft, that the band was reformed. Since this early beginning, the band has served under four other Staff Bandmasters: Robert Redhead; Brian Burditt; Kevin Hayward; John Lam (current BM).
The Staff Band sets the example for all aspects of Salvation Army banding in the Canada and Bermuda Territory. The band members are dedicated to the primary task of winning souls for Jesus through a motivation of musical enjoyment and an honest desire to witness for Christ. Throughout the past four decades, the band has both led and participated in countless worship services, special Territorial occasions such as Commissioning events, congresses, and concerts, whether on stage or in the street. In addition to monthly corps engagements, the band has represented the Canada and Bermuda Territory by conducting various international tours which include the USA, England, Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland,
Norway, Brazil, and Australia and New Zealand. The band rehearses weekly and strives to display musical virtuosity by using a diverse repertoire including traditional symphonic works, selections based on well known hymn tunes and contemporary Christian music, as well as marches and brilliant festival arrangements. The band is comprised of men and women from various corps around Ontario who form a unique fellowship of support, and effective ministry and strive to stay relevant in a changing musical world.
Bandmaster John Lam
John Lam was appointed in 2008 as the fifth bandmaster of the Canadian Staff Band. A passionate music educator, John has enjoyed his career teaching instrumental music for the Thames Valley District School Board. He is currently Head of Performing Arts at Glendale High School in Tillsonburg, Ontario. John enjoys teaching at numerous music camps for the Salvation Army.
Lt. Colonels Allan & Fiona Hofer
Allan was born to Salvation Army missionary officer parents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1961 where he came to know the Savior. After graduation, Allan became a travel agent. He later moved to Switzerland where he worked for the Army and became a candidate.
In 1984, Allan entered the International Training College in London, England as a member of the Proclaimers of the Gospel Session. During his second year, he met Fiona Pressland as she became a member of the Messengers of Peace Session.
Fiona, a daughter of officers, moved throughout the United Kingdom and New Zealand territories with her parents. She gave her heart to the Savior in England. In New Zealand, Fiona became a kindergarten teacher. She returned to England in 1983 where she worked in the overseas department at IHQ before following her calling to officership.
Allan, commissioned in 1986, was appointed as a youth officer to the Regent Hall Corps in London and in charge of the Westminster Corps.
After Fiona’s commissioning in 1987, they were married. They have served in corps appointments in Switzerland, Portugal, and in England. In the USA Southern Territory, Atlanta Temple Corps, Georgia. They were divisional commanders in Brazil and in Switzerland.
The Hofers returned to Atlanta as Training Principals, followed by appointments to the International College for Officers in London as Principal and Secretary for Spiritual Life Development. They served as the Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries for the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory.
Since April of 2017, Allan has served as the Territorial Secretary and Fiona the Assistant Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development in the USA Southern Territory.
Captains Keith & Pamela Maynor
Captains Keith and Pamela Maynor are Eastern Territory Officers, currently serving at National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia since 2014. As the National Youth Secretary, Captain Keith coordinates the National Young Adult Initiative and the National Advisory Board’s Strategic Plan. His responsibilities also include overseeing the development of youth ministry curriculum, such as Sunday School and Corps Cadets. Keith is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communications and Leadership. Captain Pamela currently serves as the Editor of Young Salvationist magazine. After graduation from the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) in 1999 with a BA in Primary Education, she followed God’s calling, came to the United States, and worked almost five years in the Youth Department in the Southwest Ohio & Northeast Kentucky Division, where she met and married Keith Maynor. They worked as corps helpers of the Dayton, Ohio Corps for six months prior to entering the College for Officer’s Training in August 2005. Their first appointment in 2007 was as corps officers in Wellsville, New York. In 2011 they were appointed as divisional youth and candidates secretaries of the New Jersey Division. The Maynors have three children—Chayse (7), Riley (5) and Liam (1).
Mark Schultz
Say the word, “Hymn,” and a stained-glass sanctuary of wooden pews will most likely come to mind. But sing a Hymn, and whatever your state of mind, it will be melodically transformed into a personal sanctuary of serenity.
That’s the power of music.Noting the results of these timeless compositions, platinum recording artist Mark Schultz selected eleven of the most inspiring, and set off to
re-imagine them for another fresh century of listeners.His just-completed CD is simply titled, “HYMNS.”With a musical finesse that’s garnered multiple Dove nomination and awards, Mark has fashioned a collection that introduces today’s generation to the oldest of standards –while at the same time honoring today’s elders with a Schultz-twist on their most fondly remembered classics. Teaming up with producers Craig Swift and Chris Bevins, Mark has enhanced the timeless quality of each composer’s original hymn, by both rephrasing their insightful words and melodies – and on some tracks – even penning additional verses of his own.From the atmosphere setting ‘Doxology’, and the Irish rhythms wafting through ‘Blessed Assurance’, to the driving harmonies declaring ‘It is Well’, Schultz’s signature voice and keyboard are transporting. Each lyric, each phrase compels the listener to strive for their own spiritual sanctuary.Mark’s anthem-like renditions of ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ and ‘Before The Throne of God’ are heart-pumping declarations that will persuade your feet to move. And the collection’s only medley, ‘Nothing But The Blood/I’ll Fly Away’ will set your already-dancing-feet down in the deep South – where country-flavored vocals and a breathy harmonica are all the music necessary to commence an old fashioned “Amen” service.Although the classic, ‘How Great Thou Art’ is affective with a mass choir and a full orchestra, Mark Schultz makes the familiar lyric personal, intimate with a simple strumming flattop and smattering of harmony. And the often overused, ‘Amazing Grace’ — just fits! It’s as if the over 200 year old composition was specifically written for this 2014 collection. Likewise, Mark’s prayerful, ‘Give Me Jesus,’ is as moving today, (in its digital form), as when the melody first reverberated off the stained glass windows of a church, decades ago.And when Schultz reprises the old standard, ‘This Is My Father’s World,’ he sings as if it were a lullaby between a parent and a child; reminding us all that we are simply children of The Father.Ironically, when he played this track for his parents, Mark’s mother, Ronita, sighed, “This is my favorite one.” With a smile of recollection she let the hymn’s simple melody carry her back to her childhood; back to a hardwood pew, a Summer Bible Camp, and the pleasure of harmonizing the song with her friends.The image of his mother humming along with the recording, revisiting that serene “sanctuary” in her mind, was overwhelming for Schultz; for standing next to her, holding onto her leg, was Mark’s own two year old son, Ryan. The sight of his boy listening to his grandmother sing a song that he, too remembered from his own childhood, gave purpose and a fresh, full-circle meaning to his new collection of old classics.Mark Schultz’s “Hymns” are not just re-imagined compositions. They’re our reconnections to the past, our reminders in the present, and our rekindled reason to keep the music alive for the next generation.
They’re the songs we sing for serenity…They are the Hymns we still hum.
~ Barton Green
