Majors Robert and Monica Covert said their biggest priority right now is listening. The couple are the newly installed officers for the Turlock Salvation Army Corps and they said “listening and learning” are the most important things they can do as they begin their ministry in Turlock.

“We just got here July 1, so our first priority is really just to observe and listen to the community and see what it is that the community may need and see if we’re serving that niche,” said Robert Covert.

The Coverts come to Turlock from the Missoula area of Montana, but they are not strangers to California. Robert Covert is originally from the Bay Area and they have children who live in Southern California.

The Coverts are truly a Salvation Army couple. Robert is a fifth-generation Salvation Army Corps officer and pastor. Monica grew up across the street from a Salvation Army facility in Phoenix, Arizona. And one of their daughters works for the Salvation Army as a regional youth program director.

“I was the youngest of eight, raised by a single mom. And it was just a sheer blessing and luck, whatever you want to call it, of living across the street from the Salvation Army. I always had a place to be. All of the kids did, and because of that, those of us who grew up in the Salvation Army neighborhood, we often say we were raised by the Salvation Army,” said Monica Covert.

“Between the two of us, we kind of consider ourselves a perfect storm…We really are passionate about what the Salvation Army does, and the ministry opportunities that are available, as well as the ability to help those who are less fortunate,” said Robert Covert.

While the Coverts are still getting to know Turlock, the needs of the community and how the Salvation Army could help, they have already identified one priority — families.

“Families are struggling, so this after-school program is so vital to the community…The important thing is the families and supporting them and our kids programs. Because this is where we can speak into the trajectory of their lives,” said Monica Covert.

“I was an inner-city kid, but because of my opportunity [growing up across from a Salvation Army Corps in Phoenix, Arizona], that changed the trajectory for me. I’m living proof that it does work, of what the Salvation Army programs do.”

One of the things the Coverts are already excited about in Turlock is the corps’ gymnasium. They see it as a wonderful resource for the community and has a lot of potential to bring people together.

The Coverts said they are excited to get to know more of the community and invite everyone to get involved with the Salvation Army. Robert Covert also want to remind everyone that the Salvation Army isn’t just a community resource, it’s also a church.

“Sometimes it gets overlooked with the Salvation Army, that we are a church as well. Everybody knows us for our youth programs, but we do church services as well every Sunday,” said Robert Covert.