They're captains, and they are taking over the helm of the Big Spring Salvation Army, but Ed and Terrie Cheshire are far from rough and tumble pirates sailing the seven seas.

In fact, they're just happy to be in Texas.

“Prior to coming to Big Spring they had us stationed in Plainview, which is about three hours north of here,” said Ed Cheshire. “So we didn't move far. We originally left from Corsicana to go to training. Corsicana is about 60 miles south of Dallas. So we've been very thankful that when they assigned us they brought us home to Texas, and so far they're letting us stay.”

The Cheshires took over duties for Russ and Linda Keeney, longtime leaders of the local Salvation Army, after the pair were transferred to the corp's Midland office.

Terrie Cheshire said she was shocked when they learned they would be taking over the helm of the charity's Big Spring operation after only two years in the corps.

“We were shocked when we received the word we were coming to Big Spring. We had only been there (in Plainview) two years, and we made a lot of progress while we were there,” said Terrie Cheshire. “But, apparently, we had finished what they had sent us there to do in those two years and they were ready for us to move forward and take on some bigger challenges. This is definitely going to be a bigger challenge.”

Ed Cheshire, who was an aircraft hydraulics repairman for the Texas Army National Guard prior to entering the ministry, said it was a tremendous leap of faith for him and his wife to enter the ministry, but in the end everything has worked out for the best.

“I don't know if we were scared or just confused,” said Ed Cheshire. “We both felt the Lord's calling in our lives. However, after the first few months it's like, 'Now what?' What direction do we go in, what do we do to answer that call? Once we entered training in Atlanta, Ga., I'm not quite sure the confusion was cleared up, but eventually it did. And two years later we landed right here, back in Texas.”

Terrie Cheshire said a strange string of events — including a back injury — guided her and her husband to the Salvation Army.

“I was a file clerk for an insurance company, and when we moved to Corsicana I started working with the elderly in their homes, making sure they had everything they needed,” said Terrie Cheshire. “From there, I injured my back and was unable to go back to that line of work. That's when I went and applied at the Salvation Army. I love to help people, so that was really the changing point in my life.

“I took a job as a social worker at the Salvation Army office in Corsicana. While I was there I took on the responsibilities of the office manager and I began doing the books. We started going to church there and we just fell in love with the work the Salvation Army does. Heart to God, hand to man. God called us to this ministry.”

And while the Cheshires are adamant they don't plan to change the programs the Keeneys left behind, Ed Cheshire said they do want to make some additions to what the local charity does.

“Our biggest goal is to share with the public more of what the Salvation Army does. Everyone in the community is aware of what we do now — the Boys & Girls Club, the shelter, our Christmas programs — but there's just so much more the Army is involved with, not just locally, but statewide and nationally, and even internationally.

“We want to bring these things to light so people understand the ministry that started with William Booth in England has grown and encompasses everything from helping someone with a bag of groceries to a mop and a blanket in a time of disaster. From spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to being involved in human trafficking worldwide and trying to bring that to light and stop it. I've likened the Salvation Army — to steal a line from the movie “Shrek” — to an onion. There are lots of layers to it.”

As for the transition from Plainview to Big Spring, the couple agree it's the hard work of the local corp's employees and volunteers that has made it all as smooth as possible.

“It's really not all that tough when you have the direction you have as a Salvation Army officer. Every corps you go to is sort of the same. There are still plenty of differences, but as far as picking up the fan drive or the back-to-school drive is concerned, it's something we would be doing anyway. You pick up the ball you're handed and keep carrying it. You adjust your lifestyle and your business ethic to fit the situation and go on. You always keep it in mind that no matter what I have to go through, you never want to short-change the community or change any of the services that have existed for years.”

“It has a lot to do with the employees and the volunteers,” said Terrie Cheshire. “You walk in and your employees are already working on the things they need to be working on. They really are a key asset. They play a very large roll in just how smooth that transition goes. We couldn't do what we do without them.”

For more information on the Big Spring Salvation Army, call 267-8239.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it