Salvation Army awards Chapman highest honor

Retiring pastor John Chapman is leaving town, but before he does so at the end of the month, he was bestowed with the highest award Salvation Army gives to civilians.

The Others Award honors the 19-year First Baptist pastor for his volunteerism in the community, Havre Salvation Army Social Services Director Trina Crawford said Tuesday.

Chapman said the award was a surprise. But, he said, he loves mentoring and giving.

"It keeps me off the streets," he jokingly said is the reason he has volunteered.

Chapman told a story about a man dressed in work clothes with long hair who approached him while he was ringing the Salvation Army Red Kettle bell a few years ago in front of Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods. Chapman said the man told him that he really appreciated what the Salvation Army does for the poor.

"'When I came back from 'Nam, nobody seemed to care about the poor but the Salvation Army,'" Chapman said were the man's words.

Those are the kind of moments he will always remember, he said.

Crawford nominated Chapman for the award in February. In the recommendation letter, Crawford calls Chapman "our Go To" person.

Chapman takes care of prayer requests, he connects seekers to area churches, he has helped with specific fundraisers and other needs through his church, Crawford wrote.

Crawford added Chapman has been involved in community events like National Day of Prayer special events that honor veterans.

For the last six or seven years, Chapman has been the chaplain at Northern Montana Care Center, and he has been the kettle coordinator for the Salvation Army's annual winter fundraising campaigns.

Chapman is also a mentor for those in the Army's relatively new Reintegration Into Society Program.

"I can't tell you the many times that we are having a deep discussion with someone reaching out for God and he walks in and becomes part of the discussion," Crawford said.

Chapman's wife, Connie, has also been heavily involved in the community. They said they both got involved right away. She, too, has served as part of the kettle campaign and she has been on the board of the Feed My Sheep Soup kitchen.

"If half of us would do half of what they do, this would be a terribly different world," Crawford said.

The Chapmans are leaving May 28  to retire "back home," to San Diego. They are looking forward to being close to family again and to freezeless winters, but he will miss Havre as well, John Chapman said.

"It's going to be hard to replace him, but I trust God will send someone,"  Crawford said.