Divisional Spotlight: Northern New England
by Colonel Richard Munn
Perched at the very north-northeast corner of the USA Eastern Territory is the Northern New England Division, a darling for many. Small in population but geographically large, ideal summers but inhospitable winters, old Yankee wealth and Appalachian poverty: These are the paradoxes of the region.
Encompassing three states — Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont — the area is renowned for both winter and summer recreation with pristine ski slopes, miles of hiking and snowmobile trails, majestic mountain ranges, busy coastal ports, and serene lakeside cabins. Here the Appalachian Trail ends, or begins, at the famed Mount Katahdin; and here is imperious Mount Washington. Here is where the sun first rises on the Eastern Territory.
Picture lobsters, clams, blueberries, saltwater taffy, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, moose, and lighthouses. There are no large cities, but plenty of small, hardy towns and many miles between them all. Houlton, Maine, is the northernmost corps in the territory, and over many decades Old Orchard Beach, Maine, has been the destination for hundreds of Salvationists on pilgrimage to the annual camp meetings series in the impressive Seaside Pavilion. Crossing the Piscataqua Bridge into Maine is a rite of passage for many, as car windows are ceremoniously rolled down and fresh air comes flooding in. “The Way Life Should Be” confidently emblazons the highway welcome sign.
Reflecting the hardy, unpretentious, frugal New England values, forging a living on the granite terrain, The Salvation Army is similarly unfussy about her business, tenaciously serving local communities. Exemplary New England summer camping is present in the breathtaking Camp Sebago, Divisional Youth Music and Arts are alive and well, with many miles traveled for monthly rehearsals, and the population spike of retired officers in the area adds seasoned wisdom to the divisional family.
At the heart of this dearly loved command are Majors Crista and Stewart Dalrymple, divisional leaders. SAconnects intersected their crisscrossing travels for an illuminating interview, to get you, our faithful readers, the story behind the story.
What are your divisional statistics: number of corps, senior and junior soldiers, officers, employees?
- 20 corps
- 1 service center
- 209 service units
- 1,162 senior soldiers
- 112 junior soldiers
- 39 officers
- 4 envoys
- 70 full-time employees
- 88 part-time employees
Click to view full breakdown of the Northern New England Division.
How would you describe the personality of your division?
God calls us to be light, and in a part of the country that has shorter days and longer winters, we would say that our division strives to shine in the shadows. We are people who are seeking what the Lord is calling us to be as individuals and as a corporate church body. We also enjoy fellowshipping with one another and eagerly look forward to times when we can gather together as a divisional family.
What is the geographic and cultural terrain of the division?
The Northern New England Division (NNE) geographically is the largest division in the territory, encompassing Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Geographically we have it all — awe-inspiring mountains, craggy cliffs, sandy shores, and crystal-clear lakes — a bit of heaven on earth. As we drive through the division on Sundays, our worship time begins well before we arrive at the corps. God has graced this division with such beauty that we cannot help but be in awe of Him. Culturally the heritage of New England was primarily shaped by Indigenous peoples and English colonists. In recent days, we have witnessed new waves of immigration, and the three states continue to welcome people from all over the world. Portland Citadel best reflects this diversity, but we see it in many of our corps.
What especially notable expressions of ministry exist within the command?
Our corps ministries are growing, and our officers are thinking outside the box as they endeavor to be innovative in engaging and meeting the needs of their community. Two new programs in particular are the J-1 summer student visa outreach program in Old Orchard Beach and the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) children’s program in Berlin, N.H. Both are endeavoring to share the love of Jesus in creative ways. Our EDS (Emergency Disaster Services) program is also growing under the leadership of Katie Perrett. She has only been with us for 15 months, but already we feel more trained and prepared for ministry during times of calamity.
What brings you the greatest joy?
Seeing our people respond to the spirit of God within worship brings us the greatest joy. At our most recent Youth Councils we saw the mercy seat lined with young people craving the presence of God in their lives. This spilled over into vespers with the camp staff, many of whom were at Youth Councils. We see a continued desire to grow in the Lord, and this warms our hearts more than anything else could.
What is God up to in the division these days?
God is calling us to go deeper with Him as a division. We are being intentional with both evangelism and discipleship. Each and every divisional event has a call for salvation and a call for holiness, and our hope and prayer is that we will grow abundantly, both spiritually and numerically.
Any final insights or thoughts for our readers?
If you’ve never been to NNE, you really need to visit — you will find beauty here any time of the year.
How can we all pray for the division?
Pray for the continued moving of the Holy Spirit in our corps and communities and that lives would be changed and hearts transformed in our communities as we share God’s love. Please pray for our corps officers, envoys, soldiers, and employees who are on the front lines, serving diligently.
Thank you, Crista and Stewart — how we rejoice in the heartwarming presence and service of the command. The Northern New England Division is the sweetheart of the territory, a great army coming from the land of the north. You can count on our commitment and support. An army is cheering you on.
