Lt. Jonathan Tollerud
After a nearly 29-year career, Salvation Army Majors Michael and Jennifer Bates recently announced their intentions to retire. The Bates have been the corps officers of the Salvation Army in Wrangell for the past four years, according to Michael. They have been good years, and he said they have made many friendships and are tremendously grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Wrangell community.
Retirement was something the two of them had been discussing for about a year, he said, but with him turning 64 on November 20, he said they agreed it was time to just get it over with.
They will be moving to Homer, on the Kenai Peninsula, though Michael said they intend to come back and visit Wrangell from time to time.
"Homer was our first, myself and Jennifer, our first Salvation Army appointment as a married couple back in 1991," he said. "We were the first Salvation Army officers in Homer."
Replacing the Bates in Wrangell is Lt. Jonathan Tollerud. Tollerud and the Bates family actually have a long history. The families have known each other for close to 30 years, Michael said, and he has known Tollerud since he was a child. It was a surprise to hear that he would be coming to Wrangell, he said, but he hopes the position will be good for him.
Tollerud arrived in Wrangell last Thursday and delivered his first sermon in Wrangell last Sunday.
"I'm very excited to be here, to see what opportunities just arise, ways we can impact the community and help," Tollerud said. "We believe that the Salvation Army is here to be a force for good, hence our slogan 'Doing the Most Good,' but we want to do everything we can to be an impact in the community in big ways."
Tollerud is the son of Salvation Army officers, he said, and grew up moving from place to place. He joined the army at 18-years-old and assisted with the Salvation Army's work in Cordova. In 2017 he moved to California where he attended seminary, or the College for Officer Training as the Salvation Army calls it. He received his first assignment in June of this year, to be an assistant in Kenai. Then, when the Bates put in for retirement, he was assigned to be the corps officer of Wrangell.
"Growing up I kind of decided that the place I retire in my life was Astoria, Oregon," he said. "I had never been to Alaska at that point but I still had decided on Astoria. Wrangell shares a lot of similarities to that area: More of a rainforest, more of a tight-knit community, but it also just rains a lot and I like that. I'm a big fan of rain."
The duties of a Salvation Army corps officer are varied, Tollerud said. Besides seeing to the spiritual well being of the corps and wider Wrangell community, Tollerud will also be helping to organize several social service programs they offer. This includes the food pantry, Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance programs, and utility/rent assistance programs when the funds are available.
Tollerud said that no big changes are planned in the near future, with the change in leadership. In general he said the best idea is to wait 90 to 180 days in a new position before making any wholesale changes to learn what works and what needs improvement. The Salvation Army is located at 611 Zimovia Highway. More information about their hours and programs can be found at http://www.wrangell.salvationarmy.org/wrangell_corps/
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