FOR EIGHT years, Johnny Horton served his country in the Marine Corps, and for 20, he has served the citizens of his country as a member of the Salvation Army. His work has taken him to Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Paducah, Kentucky, but he has served right here in Bowling Green for the past three years.
Horton is not just a Salvation Army soldier but also a captain and part of Salvation Army Bowling Green’s leadership. It isn’t an easy position to get, as officer candidates must go through an intensive two-year training course before being commissioned as lieutenants, ordained as ministers, and assigned to active duty while continuing to advance their education. Promotion to the rank of captain takes even more education, service, and responsibility.
Horton and his wife, Monica, were ordained and commissioned together after his service in the military, and now they work together daily as captains in the Salvation Army. It’s a unique situation, Johnny said, and it works out well as they honor each other’s space and respect each other’s work.
While in Bowling Green, Johnny said he has been most involved with the Salvation Army’s homeless ministry. Parts of that ministry include the Center of Hope, a 77-bed shelter, as well as a soup kitchen and a food pantry. All those aspects allow Johnny to serve, which he feels is God’s calling. His time in the military and his work with the Salvation Army are a part of that calling.
“To help people up and give them a helping hand — that’s what the Salvation Army does,” Johnny said. “That’s why it’s important for us.”
While the Hortons have continued those good works, they have also made some big changes in how service groups reach citizens who are in need.
Just this past August, the Salvation Army opened the Life Navigation Collaborative Center in partnership with LifeSkills, Hotel Inc., Room In The Inn, and Goodwill Industries. It is housed in a renovated Salvation Army building and is a single location for those seeking help to get the services they need. Johnny said his biggest goal right now is to keep that center running and to make it as useful and impactful to the citizens of Warren County as possible.
“That’s the vision right now,” Johnny said. “That’s something that’s been a vision of ours since we moved here.”
Each quarter, the Salvation Army puts on a “Lunch and Learn” for everyone who is interested in the organization. Johnny said that is the best way to figure out how to help.
“I would just ask that if anyone wants to learn more about it and what goes on and how far our reach is if they would just call and ask when the next available ‘Lunch and Learn’ is, and we can set them up,” Johnny said.
The community has already been very responsive to the Salvation Army’s work — Johnny said he and his wife have been honored and privileged to work with the Bowling Green community these last few years.
“[We] just really appreciate the [love] and support this community [has shown] the Salvation Army and the support they continue to give,” Johnny said.
The Hortons’ work has similarly supported the Bowling Green community, but the example they give of a life of service is possibly even more valuable. After all, there’s no telling what a community in service can accomplish. GN
