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Hawaii soldiers and friends welcome new divisional leaders.
Fred Rasmussen, Major
Returning to Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division for a fourth tour of duty, Majors John and Lani Chamness were recently installed as the new divisional leadders by Western Territorial Chief Secretary Colonel Dave Hudson.
“We are honored by the responsibility given to us and we are thrilled to be ‘home’ again,” the Chamnesses said. They previously served in the division as corps officers, Marshall Island coordinators, and divisional youth leaders.
The evening installation program at the Kroc Center’s Lord’s Chapel featured the debut of the new divisional brass ensemble, the divisional Hula Halau and representative lei greeters from all segments of The Salvation Army ministry in Hawaii who gave a traditional island welcome to the Chamness family.
Lani Chamness responded with testimony and song to express her joy at returning to the place of her birth as part of the divisional leadership team. John Chamness challenged the crowd with a scriptural message calling for new and heightened levels of involvement in the active soul-saving ministry and work of The Salvation Army.
“I give you permission to do something that will encourage, equip and engage the people of this division to higher pursuits for an almighty God,” he said.
The evening ended in thanks to God for supplying the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division with yet another visionary leader who will be bold for heaven’s sake. We rejoice in his abiding love and care for this special place in his creation story—the beautiful islands of the central Pacific ocean.
