Logan Corps relaunches with its focus on two Kingdom principles
- simoneworthing
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
BY SIMONE WORTHING
Radical hospitality and authentic relationships – that’s the focus of Captains Ashley and Rita Biermann as they lead Queensland’s Logan Corps into an exciting new chapter.
“It was humbling to watch the community connections and relationships that were guided and led by God’s gracious rhythms of grace come together in a moment that brought everything together,” Ashley said after the official relaunch of Logan Corps, which is located 27km south of Brisbane.
“It truly was a culmination of an 18-month piece of work, intertwined with God’s mission in Logan.”
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander, and Major Mark Everitt, Queensland Divisional Commander, attended the relaunch, unveiling the centre’s plaque that reads: “For the Glory of God and service of the community.”
“This sums it up for me,” said Ashley.
The Logan Corps relaunch was the celebration of a faith, mission and disciple-making community and a gathering place for the diverse Logan communities. Around 90 people attended the launch from across many organisations.
“It was a wonderful affirmation of the work that’s been happening,” said Ashley. “And by God’s grace, he’s just opened doors where we couldn’t believe.”
The previous Logan Corps ran a similar ministry and outreach under the leadership of Majors Ashley and Bronwyn Barkmeyer, but sadly, had to close when the lease on the premises could not be renewed.
Ashley and Rita began their appointment at Logan Salvos in January 2024.
“There were no volunteers, no ready building, no nothing. It was just both of us,” said Ashley. “We spent six months faithfully seeing who was around, what was being done, what the needs were, and how our council development application was progressing.
“The Salvation Army purchased a small shopping centre on Station Road, down from the Woodridge train station, 12 months after the former corps closed. There are five retail shops that we lease out, and there is a space called ‘Shop 6’ between the retail shops and the corps. While we have responsibility for the whole centre, the corps is in ‘Shop 7’.
“In ApriI 2024, I met with our local councillor to explain the vision behind our development application for shops 6 and 7 as a space for ‘a hand up’ and working with Disability Employment Services. The Army’s Employment Plus Local is now building a team to assist people on a humanitarian journey with pathways to work.”
Rita explained that the mission began developing organically, at the roots of the local community.
“We began without programs, just to see who came in and what their needs were,” she said. “Logan is rich with community support, but our focus was on ‘what is missing’. We didn’t want to duplicate anything that is already happening in the community.
“We asked ourselves where the space is that God wants us to sit in as The Salvation Army, and even as a church. We hadn’t planned on starting a church per se, certainly not immediately, but God grew it from two to four, then eight within three weeks, and then it was 16. Close to 50 people have come through the faith community, and around 25 come on a Sunday now.
“We have people from Papua New Guinea, immigrants, refugees, an Iranian Christian and a Muslim who works next door. So, it’s like God is bringing his children from all around the world into this space. And so that is exciting.
“We’re here for the people, relationships and supporting other community partners that are here doing the same work. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we’re utilising their strengths to complement what we are doing, working smarter, not harder. But we’re doing different work too, and we want to create a space that’s safe for people to be seen and to have very natural, organic connections to Doorways, to Moneycare, to Employment Plus Disability, where it’s not just a transaction – we bring a little bit of humanity.”
Radical hospitality
Ashley explained that the goal was to create a residence in the middle of Logan so they could invite people into their home. “It’s a beautiful space; Rita has done an amazing job of making it comfortable.
“The whole design is focused on radical hospitality and authentic relationships – this is what made disciples in New Testament times, and our research backs that up. And so does the feedback from people on the streets around us. They want a home they can come to.
“We’ve had reasonable engagement from the homeless that are in the area, and they are connecting with us, using the showers and the laundry. We’re opening up space for an occasional meal, as well as working hard towards a mid-week chapel.
“Doorways operate two days per week. One day per week is an employment day with Employment Plus and other partnering organisations. Moneycare is not far away, and we’d love to have housing. We have an entry space into domestic violence support and some case work.
“On Sundays, we have church at 9am and the centre is open until 1pm. We’re exploring their discipleship journey – not just as The Salvation Army, but as a new plant. The Salvation Army is such a beautiful picture of a missional organisation, so its foundations are very easy in a space like this. We are actually on mission all the time, every day of the week, loving God and others.
“We’d also like to explore more deeply the possibility of connections with local workers, as we feel we are here for them too, as well as others.
“Watch this space.”
READ MORE: Meet the Officer – Captain Ashley Biermann
