Lts. Adam and Amanda Hines never dreamed they would become Salvation Army officers. They expected to raise their family in the small town of Manly, Iowa, located near the Minnesota border. They met there in 2005 while Adam was teaching middle and high school social studies, and Amanda was pursuing a teaching degree after leaving her military career in nursing. As part of Amanda’s education, she had to observe Adam teaching for 10 hours.
“I ended up observing him for 30 hours,” Lt. Amanda said with a laugh.
They fell in love and married two years later. As they dreamed about their future, their plans did not include The Salvation Army. They knew almost nothing about it.
I was captivated by The Salvation Army’s mission. I just knew it is where we belonged. —Lt. Amanda
Just months after Adam and Amanda were married, their dreams turned into a nightmare when Amanda was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She would spend the next five years paralyzed by anxiety.
“I couldn’t go to the grocery store without having a panic attack. The doctors thought I had extreme mental illness,” recalled Lt. Amanda, who was homebound much of the time she was raising their children, now 15, 16, and 18. Amanda also has a daughter, 22, who recently graduated from college.
Thankfully, a surprising breakthrough occurred in 2013 when Amanda came down with influenza. While treating her for the ailment, doctors discovered she had lupus—a disease in which Amanda’s immune system was attacking her own tissues and organs, including her brain. After five years of anguish, Amanda and Adam were relieved to learn that lupus, which is highly treatable, had been the cause of Amanda’s issues, not PTSD.
As part of Amanda’s treatment, doctors advised her to volunteer to reacclimate to the outside world. Amanda’s mom had volunteered at the Mason City, Iowa, Corps and suggested she try it. The corps offered plenty of opportunities for involvement as it had a pantry, youth programs, community services, plus Sunday morning worship.
“Until that point, I had no idea The Salvation Army was a church,” Lt. Amanda said. “Members of Salvation Army corps don’t just go to church, they live out their faith every day.”
I was captivated by The Salvation Army’s mission. I just knew it is where we belonged, said Lt. Amanda, who had been attending a different church with Adam for several years.
Adam and Amanda soon became regular members of the Mason City Corps. Eventually, they began directing the youth programs offered there.
“I loved the fact that at The Salvation Army, you can’t separate the teaching from the doing,” Lt. Adam said.
The couple’s decision to become officers began to take shape at a retreat in 2016. One of the main speakers shared about leaving her teaching career to become an officer and the fulfillment she’d found. Her story resonated with Adam, who had been a teacher for 12 years. He liked the idea of becoming an officer but was conflicted about leaving his career.
Amanda, however, was all-in on becoming an officer. She’d felt called to become a minister many years earlier, but her idea was shot down by the wife of a local deacon who told her that women aren’t allowed to preach.
The Salvation Army is the perfect place to put theory and practice together for God’s glory. You can’t do it any clearer. —Lt. Adam
“The lady told me that maybe I could be a great pastor’s wife someday. So, I wrote off the idea,” recalled Lt. Amanda, who was thrilled to find out that gender equality has been central to The Salvation Army since its founding.
Amanda was patient with Adam as he pondered the idea of becoming an officer. Eventually, he surrendered to God’s calling.
“The Salvation Army is the perfect place to put theory and practice together for God’s glory,” Lt. Adam said. “You can’t do it any clearer.”
The Hines entered the College for Officer Training in Chicago in 2020. Upon being commissioned in 2022, they were appointed to lead the Lakewood Temple Corps in Maplewood, Minn., where they still serve today.
“We love where we landed,” Lt. Amanda said. “We could not have chosen a place where we would be happier.”
During the past few years, the Hines have focused their time and energy on boosting the outreach
programs offered by the corps. They’ve held SA Gaming events which draw dozens of local youth to play video games together.
“Our focus is building relationships and community, fostering trust and providing a safe place for wherever they are in their lives,” said Lt. Amanda. “We see a great combination of new and regular attendees, and each session brings new connections.”
In addition to video games, the Hines have seen an increased interest in board and tabletop games, and foosball has grown in popularity. One of the unique features of the game nights are Q&A boards where gamers can ask questions about what’s on their minds; sometimes the questions are faith-related which gives an opportunity for conversation about God.
We were meant to become officers later in life because of everything God did to prepare us for it. —Lt. Amanda
Another addition to the corps schedule has been a contemporary worship service on Saturday nights. It offers a dynamic and inclusive approach to complement the traditional Sunday morning service, effectively reaching out to new demographics that may be underserved or unengaged by the more conventional/traditional worship formats.
This alternative timing and style create an inviting atmosphere for individuals who may have scheduling conflicts on Sundays, such as young families, professionals, and those involved in various weekend activities. By incorporating modern music, relevant messages, and a more casual setting, the contemporary service resonates with younger generations and those seeking a fresh, relatable expression of faith. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community and connection, encouraging those who attend to invite friends or family who might be hesitant to attend a traditional service.
“Ultimately, this blend of worship styles enriches the corps’ overall outreach efforts, making it more accessible and appealing to a diverse array of individuals to enhance spiritual growth and community engagement,” said Lt. Amanda.
In the community, the Hines have enhanced relationship-building with local schools, law enforcement, and faith leaders.
Lt. Amanda is very engaged in a group of leaders from churches and faith-based organizations who attend a monthly meeting with the mayor of Maplewood. As part of another group of faith leaders connected with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, she volunteers as a chaplain and meets monthly with the other pastors who serve as chaplains.
There are gaps in our community, and we can fill them when we work together, when we ‘Go and do something.’ —Lt. Adam
“Building these relationships has given us direct connections to programs for clients, as well as partnerships with our community events,” said Lt. Amanda.
For instance, members of the Lions Club volunteer at the corps’ coat distribution and hold their annual chili dinner fundraiser at the corps. The partnership and connection with a local women’s shelter has brought participants to the corps’ free music lesson program. Being on the YMCA Board has allowed Lt. Adam to share community events quickly with some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Lt. Amanda serves on the Maplewood Police Department’s Multicultural Advisory Committee which meets monthly and works to build connections and trust between law enforcement and the community, specifically with immigrants, people of color, indigenous people, and faith communities.
“This connection has allowed us to be a voice for the people we serve with our local government and build beneficial connections with public safety,” explained Lt. Amanda.
The Hines say they have no regrets about the life-altering decision they made to become officers and feel that God’s timing is perfect.
“We were meant to become officers later in life because of everything God did to prepare us for it,” Lt. Amanda said. “My ministry has been enhanced so much by all of the trials I’ve gone through.”
When Lt. Adam reflects on his decision to become an officer, he recalls a conversation between William Booth and his son, Bramwell. According to the story, William was troubled by the poor he saw who slept on the bridges and urged his son Bramwell to “Go and do something.”
Lt. Adam concluded, “There are gaps in our community, and we can fill them when we work together, when we ‘Go and do something.’”