Rod and Deb Parsons are ready for their street ministry in central Albury. Picture: JOHN RUSSELL
SALVATION Army officers Rod and Deb Parsons have taken to pounding the footpath in Dean Street on Friday night as part of their new Border ministry.
The married couple, both newly-commissioned lieutenants, began work at the Albury Citadel this month and are keen to learn about social issues in the city and neighbouring towns.
“We go up and down the street in threes between 9.30pm and 11.30pm, with cold water for people if they want it, or mostly just to talk to people,” Lieutenant Rod Parsons said.
His wife said the idea was “to share God’s love in a practical way” by having a chat with people of all ages.
“We love doing it and already have some regulars,” she said.
One of them generally goes out with two other Salvos on a roster basis as “Street Crew”.
They have ordered black shirts with the army’s Red Shield printed on them.
The street walks began before Christmas with the couple’s predecessors, Captains Marco and Bindi Lupis, who have since been posted to Wagga.
Rod and Deb Parsons recently graduated from the Salvos’ officers’ school, Rod having worked as a fitter and machinist for 25 years and Deb at the Defence Department at Cooma.
They have been married five years and are in Albury with daughter Chloe, 8, though each has older children from earlier marriages.
Both became Salvos in 2004 and uniformed “soldiers” in 2006.
Albury is the southernmost part of the Salvos’ eastern region and the Parsons’ district extends from Corowa to Tumbarumba.