Alice Webb

“It was bittersweet leaving Germantown,” says Alice Webb, standing in front of a stained glass window from the Germantown Corps. “But here at the Kroc Center, we immediately started growing in numbers. It felt amazing.”

On Sunday mornings, as the corps officers work behind the scenes preparing for the service, the first Salvation Army representative to greet the congregation is often the welcome sergeant. It’s an appointment given to soldiers in corps both large and small. At The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Philadelphia, Alice Webb fills that role. 

“It gives me great honor,” says Alice, “that I was commissioned for the role of welcome sergeant, and that I was trusted to do it.”

Trust has been a key factor in Alice’s connection with The Salvation Army. In 1969, she and her family moved to the Philadelphia neighborhood of Germantown. A Salvationist from across the street offered to take Alice’s children to the local Germantown Corps for activities. Alice accepted, and soon her kids were taking senior soldier classes there. “They became soldiers before I did,” she says. 

Six years later, after her sister died, Alice took on the role of guardian to her sister’s five children. The Salvation Army’s presence became more important to Alice than ever. 

“One Christmas Eve, I came home to see gifts for all the kids in the house from The Salvation Army—a toy and an article of clothing for each of them,” says Alice. “They must’ve checked their sizes beforehand, because it all fit perfectly. That was one of many things the Army was doing for us. Meanwhile, I was volunteering in every kids’ event that I could because my own were learning so much as soldiers.”

Soon she started volunteering in other ministries, such as Christmas toy drives and cooking meals for seniors. Alice had never played an instrument but quickly learned the triangle, so she could chaperone the band on trips. Her devotion to the Germantown Corps made her a natural choice for welcome sergeant.

“The Salvation Army was different than other churches I had attended. There was a level of comfort and honesty there that my family didn’t feel anywhere else. I remember a Sunday when one of my children had to wear old sneakers during service. He had lost his prescription shoes. In some places of worship, you can feel the heads turning toward you if you’re not wearing your best on Sunday. But the Army never judges anyone for what they can’t afford, or what they wear on Sunday. That was very big for my family and me.”

In 2010, the Germantown Corps closed its doors to make way for the new Salvation Army Kroc Center in Philadelphia. Many in Germantown were nervous about attending church in the state-of-the-art facility. As many of them understood it, it’s the Salvation Army corps officers who get moved to new locations—not the congregation. 

“Before we left Germantown,” says Alice, “members of the ministry came to the neighborhood where the Philadelphia Kroc now resides. It was important that we let the new community know that this building was a church where they would all be welcome.” 

At the same time, with the new building located about half an hour away from the old corps, they all knew some members would have trouble getting to church. 

“They made sure that everyone who needed a ride to the programs and services always had one. Even today, they still do that,” says Alice. Along with her responsibilities on Sundays, she continues to volunteer in the children’s ministry on Tuesdays. “I only have one granddaughter in the programs now, but all the other kids there call me grandma as well,” says Alice. “Years ago, I trusted The Salvation Army with the kids I was raising. Now, other families trust me with their own children too.” 

Alice says members and volunteers at the Kroc are still surprised to see their pastors move away every few years. It’s why being the welcome sergeant means so much to her.

“In other churches, the pastor stays in one place until he passes away. In the Army, church leaders can be called to leave out of nowhere, even if they’re doing a great job and the ministry loves them. I’ve seen quite a few officers come and go from both Germantown and the Kroc, which is why the role of welcome sergeant is important. I’m always here to serve and volunteer, and I’m going to be doing it as long as the Lord blesses me to do it.” 

photo by Talya Hailey McCaulley