HOULTON, Maine — Salvation Army officials have appointed a new leader — Capt. Frank Nataluk — to head up the local branch.
Nataluk replaces Lt. Dominic and Elizabeth Nicoll, who served as the leaders of Houlton’s branch from August, 2015 to June 2017. The Nataluks had intended to retire from active duty and agreed to relocate to northern Maine to help out with the Houlton branch.
Nataluk’s wife has relatives in Hartland, New Brunswick, and Houlton was close enough for them to visit more frequently, while assisting the Nicolls with things at the local branch. The Nataluks purchased a home in Houlton and were preparing for the move when he was presented with a different course of action.
“We felt God’s call to come up this way,” he explained. “But then in April, we were called by our divisional commander and were informed that Dom and Liz were moving. He asked if I would consider taking over things up here. After some prayer, we decided God was keeping a door open for us.”
The Houlton location is his fourth appointment with the Salvation Army. Prior to coming to Houlton he and his wife, Melissa, served in Rochester, New Hampshire.
The couple served in Westbrook for four years before moving to Flemington, New Jersey, for another four years, but then a desire to return to New England led the couple to New Hampshire for the past five years.
Relocating to northern Maine was a bit of an adjustment at first, he said, but the couple has quickly acclimated to life in Houlton.
“The people here are super friendly, which is wonderful to see,” he said. “I am outside mowing the lawn and people wave. That didn’t happen in Rochester.”
With 13 years of experience, Nataluk is no stranger to managing all aspects of the Salvation Army. One thing that will be different from previous assignments is that Nataluk’s wife will not be working in an official capacity. However, that is not to say that she will not be helping out.
“Until this appointment, my wife and I have always served together,” he said. “Now, she is retired, but will probably be my No. 1 volunteer, especially on the administrative side of things.”
Nataluk said while Rochester may be much larger than Houlton there are some similarities.
“From what I have heard, this area is similar to Rochester in some ways, especially with its drug problem,” he said. “Up here it is more methamphetamine use, while in Rochester it was more heroin. We have been talking about how we can have a positive impact on this problem up here.”
Meeting with community members will be a high priority in his new assignment. Identifying new sources of funding will be another challenge. Nataluk said he also hopes to place greater focus on the church.
“The Salvation Army is a faith-based organization, so we believe God is the key,” he said. “If a family is living a way that God wants us to live, they will have a much better life.”
He praised the work done by the Nicolls over the past two years and added he hopes to continue the positive work done by the couple. Nataluk said his ideal goal is to see the Houlton branch continue to grow, especially on the church side, under his leadership.
Church services are held each Sunday at 12 Court St. in Houlton. Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m., followed by the holiness meeting at 11 a.m. More information about the Salvation Army is available on the local branch’s Facebook page.
