SALVATION ARMY CADETS TRAIN IN CAPE; ARMY HAS PLENTY OF WORK TO GO AROUND

Unloading cases of donated meats and frozen foods, helping a boy's club bag groceries at a local store or chaperoning young girls to camp have all been part of the job for Michael and Amy Castillo.

And that was only in their first week in town.

What the remainder of the summer holds they aren't sure of, but they are excited about the possibilities.

"I didn't realize there would be so much to do," said Amy Castillo. The Castillos are quickly learning that the Salvation Army has a job to do and plenty of work to go around.

"Most people know the Salvation Army for helping people," Michael Castillo said, but there are ministry aspects to the job as well.

The Castillos, and their two children, Emily, 5, and Andrew, 2, are working in Cape Girardeau this summer as part of an officer training program with the Army. They will work primarily with programs for teen-agers.

While much of their work will be centered around youth activities, vacation Bible school and camps, it could include other duties like preaching, dedicating babies or performing funerals. Disaster relief efforts are likely if heavy rains continue in the area, the Castillos said.

The Castillos are enrolled in a Salvation Army Training College at Chicago and expect to complete their studies by 2001. When they do, they will be ordained ministers and commissioned as lieutenants.

The Salvation Army requires anyone seeking to become an officer attend a 22-month training program, which is somewhat like a denominational seminary program. The goal is to teach the cadets more about the Salvation Army and its work around the world.

The Salvation Army began in 1865, as a movement founded by William Booth. Members of the early movement were likened to a Christian army.

Today, the army rank continues. Officers are commissioned as lieutenants and after five years are promoted to captains. Upon 15 more years of service, captains are promoted to the rank of major. All the officers wear uniforms.

The commitment to enroll in the Army's training college wasn't made from a quick decision.

"It takes a lot to get in," Amy said. The couple had to complete much paperwork and undergo medical examinations.

During the fall and spring, they attended classes about the Army's history, work overseas and Bible classes. They helped with kettle campaigns and attended worship services.

Amy Castillo grew up as a Salvationist in Michigan but didn't really want anything to do with the work. Michael Castillo, also a Michigan native, was raised Catholic. When they began dating, she invited him to church with her.

"I wasn't as serious, but if I had to be there, I wanted him to come with me," she said.

Michael took the services more seriously and "got his calling from God," she said. Now the couple hopes to work as a ministry team wherever God calls them and the Salvation Army places them to work

In the Salvation Army, women are accepted on equal terms as men. Married women receive the same commission as their husbands.

"Without God's calling you'd have a rough road ahead," Amy Castillo said.

She would like one day to work overseas with the Salvation Army but for now is content to serve in the Midwest.

"We'll see what happens when the kids get older and where we are best suited," she said.

But coming to Cape Girardeau has almost been a perfect match, the Castillos said.

The corps, the name given to the local Salvation Army center, has already welcomed them with open arms.

"We've already been accepted by the people here so it won't feel odd ministering to them," Michael said. "It makes it a lot easier."

"The people are closer and simple, down-to-earth and have welcomed us," Amy said. "They are good, spiritual people."