Salvo leaders equipped to take the Army forward

Participants at the Salvation Army Apostolic Leadership School hear from one of the speakers.

BY LAUREN MARTIN

Thirty Salvation Army leaders from across Australia attended a week-long Apostolic Leadership School at the Collaroy Centre on Sydney’s northern beaches in late August.

Major Kim Haworth (Assistant Chief Secretary – Mission) said the idea for the school originated while she was serving in the Tasmania Division and further developed when she was appointed as NSW/ACT Divisional Commander.

Kim explained that the former Divisional Commander, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas (now Territorial Commander), had previously laid the foundation for the ‘prophetic’ in the division, which the spirit then inspired Kim and others to broaden into the Apostolic Leadership School – embracing and encouraging all five leadership gifts of Christ.

“We lead in the line of apostolic succession – that’s who the people of God are,” she said. “The ‘Apostolic’ in the title, ‘Apostolic Leadership School’ refers to the fivefold leadership gifts of Christ found in Ephesians 4 (rather than referring solely to the gift of the apostle.) It’s all five, which are the organic mobilising gifts to advance the Kingdom and continue the ministry of Jesus, which is our mandate.”

Participants spent long days immersed in worship, prayer, teaching, and prophetic activation, practising hearing from Jesus and acting on his promptings.

“I have learned so much about my ministry, I have learned so much about the need for consecration … I need to be consecrated before God before anything can happen within the church, within the ministry, within The Salvation Army,” said Major Darren Dwyer, Corps Officer at Gawler in South Australia.

“We’ve been praying that we would be a ‘blood and fire’ Salvation Army.”

Captain Joanne Williams from Sydney’s Eastern Beaches Salvos said the school was transformative: “This week has been a wonderful week to go deeper with God to search our hearts and press in for the gold, press on for the ‘more’.

Teachers at the school included Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Major Kim Haworth, South West Sydney New Expressions Leader Major Lynden Spicer, Salvation Army Executive Strategist Christopher Trodden and Salvation Army Mission Consultant Colin Stoodley.

“We’ve been praying that we would be a ‘blood and fire’ Salvation Army,” said Christopher, “and all week it’s [the teaching has] been anchored in who Christ is and the whole idea that the fire of the Holy Spirit is just blazing brightly. It’s been absolutely wonderful, and everyone has been involved, and they are going to be carrying the fire as they go out.”

Senior soldier and Executive Strategist Christopher Trodden (left) and Salvation Army Mission Consultant Colin Stoodley teach at the Apostolic Leadership School at the Collaroy Centre.

Teaching through community groups and Bible studies were led by Auxiliary-Lieutenants Katharine and Russell Brown, Captain Sally Stevens and Joel Spicer. Callum Greenaway and Shushannah Anderson led worship each day.

“We feel an impetus from the Holy Spirit to rediscover, as God’s people dedicated to serving through The Salvation Army, what it means to operate in the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher – and how these gifts work together to advance the kingdom of God,” said Kim.

“We are believing that apostolic leadership in its fullness is needed to produce disciples who are able to carry the mission of God in Australia in these days.”

Renewed focus While most of the students at this first Apostolic Leadership School were from the NSW/ACT Division, one delegate from each of the other divisions was invited.

It is hoped that the school will become national in the future. It is part of a renewed focus on the apostolic to advance the Kingdom of God through The Salvation Army in Australia.

Other training being offered to Salvation Army leaders is the Mission Renewal Initiative (MRI), which began in 2024 through the Faith Communities Development Stream, taking participants through a re-learning of what it means to be a Jesus movement.

Delegates broke into two smaller ‘community groups’ to study the Bible, pray for each other and seek to hear God’s voice.

“These two development opportunities dovetail beautifully in the way the Lord is leading us in these days,” said Kim.

Miriam said apostolic groups are rising up throughout the nation across the church and The Salvation Army.

“This has been another step, coming together to learn, experience, hear and speak. An ‘iron sharpens iron’ experience. There is great hope and a great future as God rises up teams across the country, bringing these graces to the nation. We need each other. These are exciting days to be in!”