Salvation Army of Whitley County finds a new home at Eagle Quest Church
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Above, Eagle Quest Church on SR 109 will become the new home of the Salvation Army of Whitley County on June 2. Below, at top, the church's distinctive sign along SR 109. Beneath, from left, Salvation Army director Pat Mossburg, Eagle Quest Church Pastor Rick Pride and Salvation Army board member Steve Beck take a look the space they'll be sharing. At bottom, Pride and Mossburg share a laugh in Mossburg's new office. 
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The past few weeks have been emotional ones for Pat Mossburg, unsure whether the organization she leads to help our community’s needy might, itself, become homeless.
When First Presbyterian Church, where the Salvation Army is currently housed, announced they would be closing, Mossburg and the Salvation Army board of directors met and began discussion options for the future. The might have been able to stay at the church – but without the support of several other organizations joining them there, they could not have afforded the utilities alone.
Mossburg believes that every dollar that can go into the community should go into the community, so she was hopeful somewhere, someone might again welcome the opportunity to share space with the organization that does such good with so little means.
On Wednesday, that dream was officially realized.
Pastor Rick Pride of Eagle Quest Church, located at 1120 North SR 109, announced that the doors of the church have been opened to the Salvation Army.
An answer to why seems apparent from a scripture printed in the church’s brochure, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person fails, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble,” it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.
Real trouble is right. Mossburg knew the Salvation Army may need to find a new home early this winter, but it wasn’t until the news of the church’s closure became public that she really began to worry.
Salvation Army board member Steve Beck immediately approached Pride and asked if his church might have space for the Salvation Army. “I’d been to special events they had before and thought it would be a good place to be,” Beck said.
“Why not,” Pride said. With the support of his congregation, he told Beck they did have a place for the Salvation Army to call home.
“I said it was a perfect marriage of two ministries in our community,” Pride said. “(The congregation) is very excited and very enthusiastic about the opportunity to have them here.”
“It’s an opportunity for us to partner together to help people in the community,” Pride said. “It’s an opportunity for us to really work together – and it can do nothing but produce good results.”
The Salvation Army’s moving day is slated for June 2 and they will be closed that day, reopening on June 3 at the new location. 
Inside Eagle Quest Church, a fresh coat of cheerful yellow paint is on the wall of the Salvation Army’s new office. Light shone through a big window with one pane of green glass in the lower right corner. Looking around at the progress, Pride, Mossburg and Beck were all beeming Wednesday afternoon.
Mossburg said the ability to offer a private location to meet with clients is appealing, as is the fact it is on the main level so that handicapped clients will have easy access to the Salvation Army. Other benefits include a nearby children’s area where a parent can allow their child to play while they talk with Mossburg.
In the future, Mossburg is eager to begin thinking about plans for growth at the new location – primarily in programs and enhanced community involvement. She’s also hoping to become active in some of the activities the church already has going on.
“I’m hoping to get more kids involved and maybe together we can occasionally touch more hearts in the community with random acts of kindness,” Mossburg said.
For now, though, she’s focused on the move and getting to know the members of Eagle Quest Church who have so warmly opened their doors to her. And her mind is still on those she’ll miss at First Presbyterian Church.
“I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate what First Presbyterian Church did for me by allowing Salvation Army to have a home there for awhile,” she said. “I care deeply about them.”
Mossburg has one need at the new location: a small computer desk or table – roughly just 2 foot by two foot. At the new location, she’s hoping to set up a small station where people can access the computer to sign up for services online, search for jobs and access information. If you have such a table or desk, call Mossburg at 248-1711.
The Salvation Army’s hours will be the same for now at the new location – open Monday-Thursday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. each day.
Sometime in June, the community will be invited to see the Salvation Army’s new location with a “Donuts & Dedication” event. Talk of the Town will share information about that event as soon as they are available.