September 30, 2014
6
Tuscaloosa, Ala., eyes
new shelter facility
Ground was broken recently for The Salvation Army’s new
shelter in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The former shelter at that location
was destroyed in an April 2011 tornado. Plans for the shelter
call for it to have 73 beds as well as a safe room where the
community can take shelter during severe weather. Major
Pam Moretz said the shelter is being planned in a way that
will facilitate future growth as it is needed and that the
new facility will be equipped with specific areas for families,
singles and even an area dedicated specifically to veterans. A
recent study commissioned by The Salvation Army revealed
around 400 people in the Tuscaloosa area without homes.
The Tuscaloosa Salvation Army’s goal is to have the new
shelter open by August 2015.
promotedtoglory
Major Evans
Colbert
Graduates of the Keitt Institute leadership intensive, helping women who are or have
taken part in the programs offered by Haven ATL, smile with certificates in hand.
Keitt Institute partners
with Haven ATL to lend
helping hand to women
By Brooke Turbyfill
Southern Spirit staff
Local talk show host, national
speaker and certified life coach Jennifer
Keitt and her daughter Morgan Keitt,
chief operating officer of the Keitt
Institute, recently partnered with
Haven ATL to help women who were
participating in its programs.
Hilary DeJarnett, anti-trafficking case
manager in Atlanta, gave direction on
which women should participate in a
seven-week leadership intensive this
summer. Jennifer Keitt, who has spoken
at several divisional events throughout
the Southern Territory, said this
summer’s training was very in-depth
and covered spiritual, emotional and
physical well-being.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to
partner with Haven ATL. We developed
an original 200-plus page life manual –
it’s a leadership intensive, but it’s a life
leadership manual; it’s comprehensive,”
said Keitt.
Every Friday for three hours, Jennifer
and Morgan taught from the manual,
covering topics such as how to establish
boundaries, spiritual gifts, God’s
design, personality profile, finances,
beauty, health, fashion, relationships
and conflict resolution. Jennifer said
that seeing the women restored
emotionally was incredible. “Most of
these women were abused and had
traumatic sexual experiences, and that
segment in particular was absolutely
phenomenal to watch them digest
their design as women – seeing their
restoration was life-changing,” she said.
Women in the program – seven
of whom graduated at the end of the
seven weeks – also learned about
developing a life mission and purpose
and how to maintain the changes they’d
been making in their lives.
Cathy Blash, a Haven ATL program
Mother and daughter team (L-R) Jennifer
and Morgan Keitt
participant, graduated from the
leadership intensive. She said it
empowered her to stop making excuses,
let go of things that she doesn’t have
control over and be humble. “I have
realized that I am a leader even though
I doubted myself. As I become a leader
and help others, I am also helping
myself,” she said. “I finally realized that
I can believe in myself and use my gifts
in a positive way.”
DeJarnett said the curriculum
enabled the women to envision strong
futures. “I think it was powerful for
the women to graduate and get their
certificate. They each shared about
their strengths, gifts and goals and
were recognized for all that they
accomplished – they showed up ready
to work and engage in the different
topics each week. This gave them each
more confidence and direction in where
they want to be headed in their own
lives.”
“We definitely want to continue this
partnership with Jennifer and Morgan.
We were so grateful for their support
of our program. They created an
amazing curriculum that was engaging
to the women and girls; they provided
encouragement and challenged the
ladies to look at how they can grow
emotionally, relationally, financially,
occupationally and sexually.”
Major Evans
Colbert was promoted
to Glory Aug. 31,
2014. The funeral
service was held at
the Charlotte, N.C.,
Temple Corps with
Major Tim Carter
preaching the message. Following
the service, the committal was held at
Charlotte’s Sharon Memorial Park.
Born on June 14, 1923, in Huxford,
Ala., as the sixth of seven children of
Mack and Addie Colbert, “Chief” loved
to tell people he was born in L.A. -“Lower Alabama.” He
enlisted in the U.S. Navy in
September 1943 and proudly served
during World War II in the Pacific on
the U.S.S. Merrimack. Evans thought
he would make a career in the Navy
but God had other plans for his life. He
often recounted the moment he found a
quiet place on the ship, knelt alone and
accepted God’s call to serve him in the
ministry of The Salvation Army. Evans
was commissioned as a Salvation Army
officer in June 1948, a member of the
King’s Messengers session. He retired
in June 1988 and continued to work for
The Salvation Army, retiring a second
time the day after his 85th birthday.
Evans met Catherine Juanita Smith,
a pretty, brown-eyed, cornet-playing
Salvation Army captain when he
was 18-years old and married her
on his 23rd birthday in 1946. They
served together in 10 states and
16 appointments. Catherine was
promoted to Glory Ap ɥ