"I dedicate this building as a haven from the world, as a center for Christian love, a place of joyous fellowship, and a refuge for the troubled and weary," said Commissioner Ronald G. Irwin, in English and then in Spanish, when he dedicated the Queens Temple in 1998.

Irwin, then territorial commander, said, "I dedicate this building as a place of training for Christian soldiers who will go forth from this place equipped with the whole armor of God and do battle for the Lord in loving and obedient service. May the fragrance of this place permeate the whole neighborhood with the love of God."

Irwin spoke those prophetic words as members of the Queens Temple Corps Community Center dedicated the spacious, freshly painted building in Jackson Heights, N.Y. Then-Auxiliary Captains Angelio and Antonietta Rosamilia, who had assumed command of the corps in 1993, stood before the capacity crowd of nearly 400 people and committed themselves to fulfilling Irwin's call to service.

Seven years later, that dream has become a reality. Innovative programs such as English as a Second Language (ESL) studies have attracted not only Spanish-speaking students but also people whose first language is Portuguese and Russian to the corps. When students graduate from the program, they dress in cap and gown and receive congratulations from government officials and divisional Salvation Army leaders.

"Our corps is not a community center in name only," said Major Angelio Rosamilia. "We try to make it actually be the center of the community." Community organizations such as Firefighters for Christ, Correctional Officers for Christ, Police for Christ, and the local community board hold regular meetings at the corps. Other community affairs and neighborhood organizations also use the corps for events.

At Queens Temple, Star Search, the Salvation Army's musical program for aspiring musicians and singers, takes place every week.

"We have Star Search on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays," said Rosamilia. And with a multimedia system that uses three large projection screens and massive speakers, congregants enjoy an experience similar to the Army's Friday Evening at the Temple (FET).

"We have many concerts ... theater plays in which we invite members of the community," he said.

Ministry and mission have been the focus at Queens Temple. "People are comfortable and happy. They tell me, 'I feel good here," Rosamilia said. "All our soldiers receive people with love."

The Rosamilias also raise up leaders through their ministry. Since the beginning, the corps has consistently sent candidates to the School for Officer Training. Currently, five cadets in the "Heralds of Good News" session and seven in the "Visionaries" session are from Queens Temple; together, the groups represent 10 percent of the cadet body.

"Those people that I send to training [now corps officers] follow the same model and are sending people to training too—from as far away as Ohio," said Rosamilia.

He believes that the corps' approach, which focuses on meeting human need, is responsible for the corps' success.

"We are not complicated, but practical," he said.

The Rosamilias plan to increase their vision for ministry by keeping their heart, ears, and eyes open for new ideas and ways to reach people for Christ. Said Major Angelio, "We started with the same vision as the Founders—make [ministry] applicable to today's generation."