PROFILE: Stephen and Madelaine Lyle are ready for anything as they join Salvation Army

Laura DeSantis

July 21, 2007 11:15 pm

— Juggling work and family is hard, but imagine being on-call 24 hours a day, spending time with the kids and still managing to reach out to people in need.
It’s all in a days work for Stephen and Madelaine Lyle, who are the newly appointed corps officers of the Tonawanda Salvation Army Corps. The ordained couple is responsible for overseeing all Salvation Army programs throughout the Tonawandas, including service, ministry and assistance to dislocated or impoverished individuals and families.
“People lose their jobs or homes,” said Stephen Lyle. “Salvation Army is there to help with the little things.”
The couple’s experience with the Salvation Army is vast, as the two have been working with the organization for years. Stephen Lyle grew up with Salvation Army parents and has traveled not only all over the state, but all over the world, including to Zambia and the Republic of Georgia, to do mission work. Madelaine Lyle became involved after coming to Syracuse from Cuba in 1994.
“A pastor came to talk to me,” she said. “I realized (The Salvation Army Corps) was exactly what I wanted.”
Both Stephen and Madelaine Lyle went to The Salvation Army School for Officer Training, which is where they met. Now, after spending four years at their previous post in Wellsville and volunteering in New Orleans, the Lyle’s have plans to expand the Salvation Army programs in the Tonawandas. They are currently working on Vacation Bible School and Home League Women’s Ministries. Next year, Madelaine Lyle hopes to start a “storytime program” for children and their parents.
“We’re excited to be here,” said Madelaine Lyle. “We know we’re going to face some challenges, but we love to talk to people and make them feel loved.”