WELCOME REV. PATTON        by  Joyce Grant        

We are so happy to welcome Rev. Joab Patton as our new transitional pastor beginning Sunday September 7th.  (I believe he prefers to be called "Joe.")  He is an ordained Disciples pastor having received his Master of Divinity Degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.  He served 21 years on active duty as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army ministering to our service personnel and their families, retiring with the rank of Major.

He has served assignments in Germany, Puerto Rico, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, Fort Belvoir, Virginia and in Desert Storm.  He has received a number of oak leaves for meritorious service.  His years in the Army afforded his a great deal of specialized training such Clinical Pastoral Education, Suicide Prevention and other helpful subjects.

Since retirement, he has served as interim to the Community Christian Church here, Burlington First Christian Church, Sterling First Christian Church, and Idalia St. John's United Church of Christ.  In addition, he has taught Communication courses at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs.

He and his wife Ann have two grown sons and one grandson.  Since he will be staying two or three days here in Salida and his wife has a full time job in Colorado Springs, we may not get to see her very often.