Salvation Army Leaders Leaving After 'Great Four Years'

STATESVILLE, N.C.,None — Cpts. Glenda and Phillip Priest, who have led the Salvation of Iredell County for the past four years, are leaving Statesville.

The couple is being transferred to Charlotte to head-up the Salvation Army Corps and Boys & Girls Club in the Belmont neighborhood.

"It's always sad when you leave an appointment but you're excited about what God has in store for your future," Phillip said.

The Priests' last day on the job will be Sunday, June 19, and a farewell service is set for that day at 11 a.m. Their first day in Charlotte is June 20.

Lts. Chwight and Jani Olige, who moved to Statesville in 2007 from Orangeburg, S.C., will take over for the Priests.

The move, Glenda said, comes as no surprise. She explained that Salvation Army couples are typically transferred every three years or so.

The Belmont Salvation Army location includes a music conservatory, Boys & Girls Club, senior program, Sunday service and youth outreach, according to Glenda.

"Our focus will be to bring the Gospel to the neighborhood and meet the needs of the community in any way we can," she said.

Glenda said she was thankful for the community's support over their tenure.

"We couldn't have done what we did in this community without everyone giving us 100 percent support," she said.

She said the experience here has been a good one.

"I think it has been a growing time," she said. "Personally I've grown and learned so much."

Added Phillip: "It's been a great four years here. We met a lot of great people here."

Transferring to Charlotte will be a homecoming of sorts for Phillip, whose first appointment was in Charlotte from 2000 to 2004.

WSOC