Local Spotlight: Amber and Kyle Maynor

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Salvation Army of Old Orchard Beach Corps recently welcomed Captains Amber and Kyle Maynor.

As Salvation Army officers, they are ordained ministers who will serve as pastors and oversee operations at the local corps at 2 Sixth St. in Old Orchard Beach.

The Maynor family recently relocated to Old Orchard Beach after spending two years serving the Salvation Army in administrative positions in the West African country of Ghana.

Both Kyle and Amber are second generation Salvation Army officers. They have known each other since 1999, when they were 15.

“We met at camp, in a 12-passenger van,” said Kyle.

“I was the crazy one in the back,” said Amber, and they both laughed.

The two were going to a camp for children of Salvation Army officers. Amber was socializing with her friends who were getting a bit rowdy, while Kyle, who had just moved to the state and didn’t know anyone, was quietly sitting in the front.

A year later they went back to camp, where he worked as a lifeguard and she worked in the office, and they began dating.

The couple married when they were both 19.

“Everyone said, why are you marrying so young,” said Amber, but it turned out to be a blessing, when about six months later Amber’s father died, and the couple was able to take in Amber’s then seven-year-old brother, Jeremiah. After becoming parents early on in their marriage, the couple went on to have four children – Ava, 17; Kenson, 14; Kyran, 11; and Samara, 9.

“We are excited to be here. Both of us growing up, came here during the Salvation Army Camp meetings - not every year, like some families- so we are familiar with Old Orchard Beach,” said Amber.

“It’s a great family community,” said Kyle.

Amber and Kyle officially became the new corps officers in Old Orchard Beach this month, and as the congregation jokes, the Maynors are now Mainers.

“We already feel loved and welcomed,” said Amber.

The two said they felt called to become officers.

“God revealed to us that there was a need for officers, for more people to lead,” said Amber. “It’s easy to point and say somebody else will step up and do it, but God wasn’t looking for someone else, he was looking for us.”

“There was a conference where the General of the Salvation Army came, and he brought a baby out, and he said, ‘look, someone needs to care for this baby. Who will be the next corps officer for this child. They need someone to invest in them and teach them about Christ,” said Kyle. “And that’s when the Holy Spirit spoke to her (Amber), and she said, ‘yes, I will help that baby.”

“And that’s still our philosophy now, just caring for people, showing love. So many people don’t have someone to listen to them, or talk to them, or look in on them,” said Amber. “That’s what we want to do, show God’s love to the people we come in contact with. That’s our first mission, is to love people.”

The Maynors are hoping to revitalize youth programs in the church, and will continue to assess the needs so that there is something for everyone at every stage of life.

“We really want this to be a place where people feel welcome,” said Amber.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.