Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
There were some tears shed Tuesday evening at the retirement celebration for The Salvation Army Envoys Ken and Sina Locke, but there also was laughter and joy, prayers and levity, love and admiration.
Alan Alderfer estimated he’s known Ken for about 30 years. Alderfer served on The Salvation Army Advisory Board for over 20 years and got to know Ken through Rotary Club originally and then when he served on The Salvation Army board.
“I just had a wonderful experience and really saw Ken really lead people and bring help to people who really needed it,” he said.
Alderfer said Ken is one of the most empathetic people he’s ever met.
“He really wants to help people and he did that every day of his life, day in and day out, and not many of us get to say that,” he stated.
Max Mock said he has known Ken since about the 1970s.
“He’s been a great guy. A great person to be around. He’s done a lot for this community, not only through The Salvation Army, but Scouting and other activities in the area,” Max said.
The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Co-President Sue Mock said she’s known Ken since he came to Warsaw, while Co-President Doris Cook said she’s known him about 15 years.
“He is kind of the epitome of servant leader. He makes everyone feel comfortable. God’s love is shown through his actions, his words, his laughter. He makes people comfortable. They come to him without shame, guilt. He’s a perfect person in the role that he’s been in,” Sue said.
Cook agreed, saying, “He’s such a kind person. He really is. And he’s easy to talk to.”
Though the Lockes aren’t moving out of Warsaw, Cook and Sue agreed the Lockes’ retirement was bittersweet.
“There’s a time when everyone needs to step back and physically take care of themselves a little bit more. But, I know he’s still going to have his fingers throughout the community - it’s just going to look different. We’re going to miss him terribly, but he’s going to be around,” Sue said.
Glenn Hall has known the Lockes for about the last nine years.
“Ken, first of all, has a heart for people and that’s the thing that has touched me the most. He’s one of those people that you can call at the darkest hours of the night, and not only at night, but in the darkest hours of people’s lives. And if he can help, he and Sina will be there, there is no question. But it’s his heart for the community and his heart for the Lord. To me, he is the living example of being the hands and feet of Jesus,” Hall stated.
In the last hour of the three-hour celebration at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw, a ceremony took place, beginning with The Salvation Army Maj. Mike McKee giving the welcoming and invocation.
“We’re here for a few reasons. We’re here to celebrate not only the years of service, but all the people who were touched through the ministry of Ken and Sina Locke,” he said. “I look around and I see a bunch of people who are just wonderful and we appreciate, and I know the Lockes appreciate, everybody coming out on their special day.”
After a prayer, The Salvation Army (ret.) Maj. Kjell Steinsland and Maj. Vicki Steinsland had the Lockes join them at the front of the room.
“So first let me say that we are honored to have this privilege to do this. We’ve known Kenny for a really long time, long enough to call him Kenny. And when Sina entered into our life - you know Sina, she’s easy to love - so we’re grateful to be family first in God’s kingdom, but we’re also grateful just to be family because we love them so much,” Vicki said.
She explained The Salvation Army retirement ceremony is generally done beneath two flags. Sometimes it’s two Salvation Army flags, but Ken and Sina chose to use the U.S. flag for one of them because Ken was once in the Army. She also explained The Salvation Army flag, which has blue that stands for the purity of God, red for the shed blood of Jesus by which one has redemption and the yellow sunburst in the middle symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The flag used in Tuesday’s ceremony also says “God’s Soldier Session,” which is from The Salvation Army’s training college. Ken and former wife Teresa are members of the God’s Soldier Session, and several of their session mates were in attendance Tuesday to celebrate with him.
Kjell said Ken and Teresa entered The Salvation Army seminary back in 1979. He then gave a rundown of Ken, Teresa and Sina’s history with serving with The Salvation Army.
“Ken has served the Corp here for 28 years - two years as a Corp officer, 20 years as the Corp community ministry director where he compassionately met the needs of those who came every day,” Kjell said. “And for the last six years, Ken served as a Corp administrator.”
After Kjell presented a framed “certificate of retirement” to Ken, Vicki then talked about Sina’s involvement with The Salvation Army after being introduced to it by Ken. On June 9, Ken and Sina celebrated 30 years of marriage.
“So, Sina, first I want to thank you for your years of ministry at the Cardinal Center and then Manchester and Grace colleges. God used you in these places to share his grace and compassion,” Vicki said.
In 2021, Sina accepted the role of envoy at The Salvation Army Warsaw Corp where she served in ministry with Ken.
After finishing reading Sina’s information, Vicki presented her with her own framed retirement certificate.
A round of applause was given for the Lockes, there was a prayer and then Hall sang a song he dedicated to Ken and Sina.
On behalf of the Women’s Auxiliary, Sue Mock and Cook paid tribute to Ken and Sina. Sue pointed out the Auxiliary’s motto is “Not what we gain, but what we give measures the worth of the life we live.”
To Ken and Sina, she said, in part, “You are the epitome of servant leaders and living life within our motto. You have given your leadership, wisdom, inspiration, humor, time, energy, friendship and love as we have reached out together to bring love and hope in Jesus’ name to our community. Our hearts will be forever entwined through shared memories ... Our lives have more meaning and balance because of your ministry with our auxiliary.”
Sue said the auxiliary members donated to a love gift to the Lockes in gratitude and appreciation.
Ken and Sina then took to the podium. He shared how he found The Salvation Army through a volleyball program in Iowa.
“I felt a real sense of community, I felt a sense of challenge that this was a Christianity with its sleeves rolled up. It really fit my personality,” he said.
He told the story of how and where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
“Have I been perfect the last 50 years? No way, but my Lord and Savior Jesus is perfect. And he’s had a perfect plan for me,” Ken stated.
He talked about the Lord blessing him and Teresa with three children, and God blessing him with Sina, “his Viking queen.” He said Sina has done a wonderful job at The Salvation Army and the Lord has blessed them in “so many ways.”
“I think Sina and I, the thing that we pray about the most, we just pray that you have seen the marks of Jesus in us. If you have seen that, then we have done our job. All of the other things we’ve done, yes, is important, but I pray that you have seen Jesus in what we do. I pray that you have seen Jesus in our lives,” Ken stated.
He thanked everyone for attending the celebration, and reiterated that they’re not moving away, just taking a rest for a while. He thanked the community for being so wonderful to them.
After a prayer by (ret.) Maj. Wes Green, Kjell, Keith Petrie and Maj. Mark Martsolf offered a little levity with a Viking ceremony.
