By: Captain Kim Grimes

When I think about my calling, I think of how God called a 12-year-old girl who came from a broken, single-parent home, who had been in foster care because of an abusive home life and did not have a chance of making much of her life until September 1986.

In September 1986, two families (two single moms and five kids) traveled from McKinney, Texas, back to Dalton, Georgia, in hopes of starting over, homeless with no money and a broken down car. We found ourselves at sitting a Krystal's restaurant, being fed by strangers. They took us to a place called The Salvation Army.

At the time, the Army's women's shelter was a house across the street from the corps. Like every family, we had to meet with the case worker/bookkeeper the next day. She helped us get into school and even introduced us later that week to her three daughters, who were about the same age as my sisters and me. She also told us that if we came to church on Sunday, we could go back to the house for lunch, so we did that.

Well, I was not happy with having to go to church, so I wore no shoes that first Sunday, knowing I would not be asked to come back. But that did not work! So the next time, I was cutting up, and the officers (Lieutenants Gerald and Teresa Street) met us at the back door and invited us to come to the youth programs. They also showed me who to walk up the hill with after school, so I did. These officers told me about Christ and even gave me a horn to play (Thanks to Major Otis Street).

Six months later, I was asked to attend youth councils, and there I found myself on stage at the Future Officers Fellowship call. How did I get there on stage (I have no memory of going up there) and what was FOF?  It was all God!

I entered training in 2000 as a Crossbearer and was commissioned in 2002. I am currently serving as a corps officer with my husband and daughter in the wonderful Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. God can use the abused, hurt, angry, forgotten, broken, homeless and hopeless person to do his work! I thank God for my friends and the wonderful Salvation Army family I have.

Romans 8:38-39 is my life verse, and The Song Book of The Salvation Army is my second favorite book!

If I had to choose one of my favorite hymns it would be:

# 257, Verse 4:                                                                                                                   Wondrous Deliverer! Sin-forgiving Saviour! Cleanser of hearts!                                               Unfailing friend and guide!                                                                                                            No one has ever trusted unavailing, No one has claimed of his love and been denied.

Chorus

I know a fount where sins are washed away,

I know a place where night is turned to day;

Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see;

There’s a wonder-working power in the blood of Calvary.

Oliver Cooke (1873-1945)