Majors Lonneal and Patty Richardson stand with the newly appointed officers to the Midland Division

There were more than 3,000 Salvationists in St. Louis this weekend, enjoying music, laughter, fellowship, and even confetti raining from the ceiling. The Salvation Army had a wonderful time this weekend, because we had 32 amazing reasons to celebrate.

The Salvation Army’s Central Territory held its 2013 Family Congress and Commissioning event June 7-9 in St. Louis, welcoming thousands of Salvationists and their families to a weekend of workshops, worship services, musical performances, and the commissioning and ordination of 32 Salvation Army cadets who also received their first appointments.

The commissioning and ordination was delivered by General Linda Bond, International Leader of The Salvation Army, with service appointments delivered by Territorial Commander Commissioner Paul R. Seiler. The Midland Division – which includes southern Illinois, St. Louis, and most of Missouri – learned it would be welcome five new officers: Lt. Shawn DeBaar and his wife, who will be stationed in Branson, Mo.; Lt. Jared D. Collins and his wife, Lt. Tonia Collins, Sedalia, Mo., and Lt. A.J. Zachery, East St. Louis (all pictured above)

For links to our pictures from the weekend, we invite you to visit our Flickr page.

Those who attended The Salvation Army’s Prayer Breakfast were expecting to be inspired by International Leader General Linda Bond’s words, but few could have guessed they’d be moved to tears.

General Bond spoke of the Army’s work throughout the world during the event Friday morning at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, saying as long as there were children in dysfunctional homes, families going to bed hungry, and an entire population of people in need, she will keep fighting.

Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins hugs a resident after serving her family a hot meal after they have been without power since Friday.

Four days after another tornado pummeled the St. Louis community, residents in the suburb of

Berkely were still without electricity Tuesday but The Salvation Army made sure they at least at a hot meal to eat for lunch.

“We’ve been without electricity since Friday, and I knew several people were in the position where they could not prepare food for themselves or their children,” said Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins. “So we contacted The Salvation Army and they graciously and generously have been out here all afternoon feeding our residents.”

Mayor Hoskins and Councilwoman Louvenia Mathison joined Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services volunteers and staff on a canteen, serving a spaghetti dinner, snack, and water to Berkeley residents.

A line of Berkeley residents waits for their turn at the Army’s canteen

“I was worried about how I was going to feed my grandchildren today,” said one resident. “This meal is a godsend.”

The Salvation Army has had a constant presence in the St. Louis neighborhoods affected by Friday’s severe weather, including St. Charles County, Ferguson, Berkeley, Hazelwood, Florissant, Earth City, and Moline Acres. The Army’s canteen will visit the other side of the river in Alton Wednesday, where near-historic flooding has taken place.

A child receives his spaghetti lunch from a Salvation Army canteen.

“We’re very grateful and thankful for The Salvation Army and what they do for our community,” Mayor Hoskins said. “I urge everyone to contribute to them whenever they can because you never know when you’ll be in a position to need their services.”

To donate toward the Army’s disaster response efforts, visit www.STLSalvationArmy.org.

Residents in St. Charles County receive assistance from The Salvation Army on Saturday, June 1.

St. Louis North County residents eat hot dogs served by The Salvation Army on Sunday, June 2.