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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 22, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Couple raised in Salvation Army stayed with the church for life Continued from page 3 VISIT US ONLINE Don't let hearing loss prevent you from enjoying life! ON SITE HEARING TESTS BY OUR DISPENSING AUDIOLOGISTS The latest in digital technology 60 day trial period & more DVA, WSIB, third party insurers Ministry of Health/ADP approved Registered Audiologists OAKVILLE'S BEST BUY ON BATTERIES CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ates 5 627 Lyons Lane Suite 203, Oakville 905-339-1397 www.oakvillebeaver.com she met Stan -- who was involved in the Salvation Army through the youth groups and band, but wasn't clergy. From a family of seven headed by Clarence and Pearl Higdon, Stan grew up in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland and at age 15 he went to work with a construction company. Upon graduating high school Stan went to work full time at the construction company and quickly became a supervisor, eventually responsible for financial matters in the company's administrative ranks. "I wasn't feeling comfortable with the work. I knew God was calling me to more," said Stan. Upon meeting Deborah, the couple received permission from the church to date, but Salvation Army rules being what they are, they could not marry unless both were clergy. "I had to resign to get married," said Deborah. Though she thought the hiatus would be shorter than it was, as Stan had an interest in becoming a minister -- it became 13 years. Stan built the couple's home and they had three children -- today they are Adam, 29, Peter, 25 and Deborah Higdon Sarah, 25. Their daughter moved to Oakville with them, but their recent trip was the first vacation the Higdons had ever taken alone. They even had friends accompany them on their honeymoon in the late 1970s. It was in the late 1980s that Stan applied to the Salvation Army College for two years of training while Deborah worked -- as secretary for correctional and justice services for the Salvation Army. Stan was ordained in 1992 -- and Deborah was re-accepted as a clergy member. For numerous years following, Stan Higdon the couple was posted together at various Salvation Army churches in Newfoundland. Then, with their children nearing adulthood, the couple was posted to Winnipeg. Their kids stayed in Newfoundland. The couple was posted for two years in Winnipeg, however it was not an easy assignment. It was a time during which Stan struggled with the distance from their children. Though he admittedly would have welcomed a new assignment, he never formally voiced a request to the church, but was happy when the move to Oakville occurred. See Salvation page 5