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Salvation Army finds direction Jackson County�s new leader continues �life calling� By Meg Landers John Van Cleef, new head of the Jackson County Salvation Army, has posed a question to his church: What do we want to be? Van Cleef wants the church to be something for Rogue Valley kids and imagines building a new youth center within the next couple of years. Those who�ve watched him in action the last four months have no doubt that Van Cleef has the vision and energy to do that, and more. "He likes to deal with kids," says Nick Vorona, a 12-year member of the Salvation Army advisory board. "He�s going to do something for the kids in the west end of the valley." "He�s going to turn out to be one of our better officers," says Bill Seibert, who�s been on the board for 42 years. "He�s very personable, likes people, enjoys meeting people and working with people," says Seibert. "That�s what we really need." A sixth-generation "Salvationist," Van Cleef grew up in a family of Salvation Army officers. His parents, sister, brother and wife have all served in the Salvation Army. For four years until July, he and his wife, Lisa, worked together as officers in Carson City, Nev. When she�s not raising their three children � all 6 and younger � Lisa works along with her husband. "It�s a life calling," John Van Cleef says, "placed on our hearts by God." One of Van Cleef�s first agenda items for Medford is having the church assess the needs of the community. From there, he�ll initiate a strategic study, which will lead to a master plan. "This is a perfect neighborhood to have a youth center," Van Cleef says, surveying the church location at 304 Beatty St. "He has the energy and the vigor to do these things," says Vorona. Van Cleef, 31, came to the Medford agency after some troubled times for the Salvation Army, although officials say the agency turned the corner on its financial troubles under the tenure of commander Bob Roome. "The officer I�m following gave financial, programmatic and spiritual stability," Van Cleef says. "He paved the way for us to begin the process of expansion and branching out and dreaming in new directions." The former commander�s efforts nearly erased the agency�s $300,000 operational deficit, officials say. The Salvation Army struggled financially over the last 13 years and intermittently shut down its shelter and food service. Income from its thrift stores and donations hadn�t kept up with operating expenses. Known for its Christmas season bell ringers, the Salvation Army gets most of its money from grants, mailings and individual donations. "We were (over)spending all the time," Vorona says of the days of financial struggles. "We took a different approach." Vorona says the Medford agency has shifted that approach in recent years from focusing on providing food and shelter for a more transient population to becoming a "homeless transitional shelter" that works with individuals and families to build a future of independence and productivity. The Salvation Army has had to become selective about who it serves, and now refers people with issues such as drug addictions to other agencies. "We can�t be all things to all people," says Vorona. Running a shelter, food service, multiple thrift stores, a church and outreach programs, as well as handling emergency intervention, food baskets, kids� camp and fund-raising, gives Van Cleef a lot of responsibilities. Even so, the Salvation Army does not want to lose sight of the needs of the individual, he says. "One way or another," Van Cleef says, "we�ll help get you fed if you�re hungry." Despite the big plans and the many responsibilities, Van Cleef says the Medford Salvation Army�s battle plan is simple. "We want to build whole people: spirit, soul and body, through Jesus Christ," he says. "To help them live independently." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.