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Captain Ken Chapman of Salvation Army relocating

Harold Gater

Clarion Ledger

Captain Ken Chapman of the Salvation Army rings a bell next to one of the Army's tradmark red kettles in Jackson, Miss.

The head of the Salvation Army in Jackson is relocating.

Captain Ken Chapman and his wife announced in a Facebook post that they are moving to Tulsa, Okla. Chapman and his wife came to Jackson from Atlanta in 2008.

"Family and staff have been notified...Jessie and I are under Farewell Orders, on our way to be the Area Commanders of Tulsa, Oklahoma. After seven years in Jackson, Mississippi, one can only imagine we are having to process many emotions. At the same time, we are excited about the possibilities that God has presented to us today. Our desire is to serve Him - wherever and whenever He leads. In the meantime, there is still 8 weeks of work to do. We will work hard in Jackson until the day we drive a moving truck to Tulsa. We also pledge to pour everything we have in us into the Tulsa, Oklahoma Area Command when we arrive. There are so many relationships and precious people in our lives and we thank God for each of you. Most importantly, we are so grateful that the Lord has (and continues to allow) allowed us to serve in this Blood-washed Army. In the words of a famous retired Colonel - Hallelujah anyway!"

Chapman was hired right out of college in 1979 to become band director at a high school in Georgia. "Teaching was my first love, and I always wanted to be a high school band director. It was 10 years of wonderful times," Chapman said in a 2013 interview. He continued his education at Georgia State University, earning a Master of Music Education and a Master of Conducting. He left teaching to become the director of bands for one year at his alma mater.

While at Georgia State, Coca-Cola held their centennial celebration. Chapman was chosen to be the music coordinator for that event. That led Chapman to open his own business, which became known as Creative Events International. When planning began for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Chapman became the executive event producer. He supervised events that involved musical legends like Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli and Curtis Mayfield.

Then Chapman said the Lord called him to leave all that he owned and become a full-time officer in the Salvation Army, which he had already been involved with.