1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?   Helen and I are currently serving as Corps Officers at Carindale Salvos in Brisbane. We love the diversity of ministries at the corps. Journeying in life with young and old; those new in faith and those with vast experience. There’s a real spectrum of demographic here. We love the opportunity to serve alongside a great team through seasons of change and transition.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   Yodelling, throat singing, ultra-cross fit and liturgical dance would be my mainstay pastimes bringing me and others untold joy … Nada! (no) ... [thankfully Brad was only joking!]. I love spending time with Helen and our daughter, Hedy. I enjoy relaxing with the latest Grisham, Connelly, Child, or Harper novels. Watching sport or binging a Netflix series. Replaying Seinfeld for the thousandth time. I really enjoy live concerts and musicals or watching comedians. Travelling and exploring new places. I do enjoy the natural feel good that exercising like running, biking, or squash engenders – to my chagrin, I just do it uber spasmodically these days. I’m more into chair yoga now minus the yoga!   3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?   That’s tough. All time or now? I probably don’t have one all-time favourite, but one key song that comes to mind is ... And Can it Be (to the more recent tune). Why? Rich, inspiring lyric, compelling music. We sang it acapella as cadets in India and a host of times during key moments in our training, at Commissioning and since. It challenges and inspires whatever circumstance or season I’m in. I always feel the tangible sensation of God’s presence when worshipping with this song.    4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? Any of the other disciples (aside from Luke, Matthew and John and Peter), whose accounts of Jesus were not included in the biblical record. Their life and journey with Jesus in ministry and life post resurrection, and ascension.    5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   I would say pursue and embrace the adventure that is God’s will with all that you are. Officership for us is part of God’s dynamic call to follow Jesus and invite others to do the same. It’s servant leadership. It’s compelling. It’s challenging. It’s diverse. It’s dynamic. It’s revealing. It’s joyous. It’s a journey of discovery and faith. It’s an abject privilege. Would I recommend officership? Absolutely! I’d recommend following Jesus wherever he leads, whatever he calls you into. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

General Paul Rader signing his book ’To Seize This Day of Salvation’ in 2015 . Image: File  BY MAJOR PETER FARTHING*    It was a sad time in London. My wife Kerrie and I had been down to see the oceans of flowers spread around Buckingham Palace in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. Then, on the day after Diana’s funeral, we were leading the meeting at The Salvation Army’s Regent Hall corps, when in walked the tall and dignified figures of General Paul and Commissioner Kay Rader, the international leaders of The Salvation Army. When the meeting finished, the General chatted with us and our children, giving a first-hand account of the funeral which he had attended.    A few days later, Kerrie and I received an invitation to lunch at the General’s office. We went nervously, dressed in full uniform, sat at a small formal table in a little alcove beside the office, and enjoyed conversation with two very impressive people.     Paul Rader was Promoted to Glory this January 2025, aged 90. He was, I believe, a very consequential leader.    Heritage   Paul’s father, Colonel Lyell Rader, never fit the mold as a Salvation Army officer and spent much of his life in either revival work or youth work. In the 1980s I happened to be at a big Army meeting in Ocean Grove, New Jersey when he was awarded the Army’s highest honour, the Order of the Founder.  Read more: Former world leader of The Salvation Army promoted to glory   Studies   In a small town in Kentucky, at Asbury University, young Paul Rader met a girl named Kay Fuller. She had never encountered The Salvation Army until she met Paul. “Earlier on in my walk with the Lord I felt a call to missionary service,” she once said, “So the worldwide Salvation Army appealed to my sense of calling to serve the needy of the world.” And Paul had that same heart for missionary service.    Fast-forward to the winter of 1961. By then, Paul Rader had earned a theology degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, plus an MTh with a focus on mission studies. And now they were new Salvation Army officers, and in Korea. Paul Rader in 2012. Image: File Korea   They were, “very sensitive to the feelings of the Koreans”, said one of their peers, Commissioner Peter Chang. “Paul and Kay would learn all the right things to do . . . and did them, all the time . . . while they made themselves one with us as Koreans, eating and enjoying Korean meals, attempting to do everything the way it was done in Korea, so they earned great respect and much love from their fellow officers and comrades. We knew they did it because they really loved the Lord and The Salvation Army. This was their calling.”    As South Korea recovered from the Korean Conflict, its economy began to boom. And at the same time, the Christian church in Korea boomed in a full-scale revival. Churches were growing at a prodigious rate; The Salvation Army had flat-lined.   Around that time, Paul discovered the writings of Donald McGavran. ‘This might be the answer,’ he thought. He knew that Fuller Theological Seminary in California had launched an Institute of Church Growth in which they taught McGavran’s ideas. Paul decided he should study for the Doctor of Missiology degree at Fuller.     Fuller   Taking homeland furlough in 1971, Rader called at the Army’s headquarters for his territory in New York. He knew the Army was not approving doctoral studies. The esteemed Education Secretary said she couldn’t see why he needed to go to California to study. No doubt Paul and Kay were praying hard.    Paul asked for a two-year study leave. The territorial commander said, “We cannot agree with your going to Fuller.” Instead, he offered a corps appointment, maybe with time for study in New York. But Paul was convicted about Fuller for the sake of his work in Korea.    He and Kay offered to go out on their own, take a leave of absence, and take on the financial responsibility for the degree themselves. The commissioner didn’t budge. “You must either accept this appointment or go on ‘without appointment’ status for a year, which protects your officership,” he said.    Physically and emotionally spent, Kay slid into depression and hurt. They returned to her family in Georgia. When the course commenced, Paul left the family and flew to California alone. As they had no income, Kay took a job as a teacher.    Eventually, after protests from some officers and some open-minded thinking, the Western Territory gave Paul an appointment which only required weekend work, and Kay an appointment with youth in the Pasadena Corps. The Eastern Territory picked up Paul’s tuition fees.    When Dr Paul Rader returned to Korea in 1973, he had a strategy. It called for revitalised congregations, and crucially, for many new corps. And a shift to self-support.    The timing was perfect because Korea was soon to have its first Korean-born territorial leader, Commissioner Chun Young-sup. Together, they and other leaders led a transformation – self-support became the goal.    The change did not come easily or fast. By 1975, the territory was still not growing. At a church growth conference of key leaders and local officers held in 1976 the mood was depressingly negative. Until the Field Secretary, Colonel Kim Soon-bae declared, “We can, if we will!” The mood changed dramatically. Before long, scores of red markers were placed in a large map of Korea, indicating communities where a corps plant might be possible.    When Paul Rader became the Chief Secretary the following year, he and the TC aimed to double the number of corps and soldiers within 10 years.    [The Korean Territory did eventually grow, and now boasts 210 corps with 45,644 senior soldiers, 3970 adherents and 6464 junior soldiers. There are 624 active officers in the territory].    America   In 1983, somewhat reluctantly, they returned to the USA after serving in Korea for 22 years. Then, in 1989, when Paul was 55, they became the territorial leaders for the USA Western Territory.    Now the missionary was in multicultural western USA. He applied what he knew, launching an aggressive growth initiative called MISSION 2000. During his term he also emphasised integrated missions – that is, a natural oneness of caring and evangelistic ministries.    Planting new congregations was a priority – Paul knew from his mission studies that planting is a major way the kingdom of God advances. I have been told that Rader gave the planters permission to start churches without the large commitments to social work which is standard in American corps. During the period of the Rader’s leadership, the territory saw a net gain of 64 corps.     General   In July 1994, Paul Rader was elected General of The Salvation Army, the first General from the United States.   Kay was also featuring heavily. Carroll Ferguson Hunt writes in If Two Shall Agree , her biography of Paul and Kay, that at congress meetings and conferences around the world:   It was not expected that Kay would speak unless for a woman’s meeting or to give a brief testimony before the General took the podium. This was tradition, after all. The Raders decided that Kay should speak in all meetings, that her ministry should be a regular feature of every event. “We had to revise programs sent to us, because it wasn’t anticipated that this would be true,” the General said. ​  He added: “The reason for this was to empower and affirm all the gifted women out there who rarely saw a married woman leader do these things. Seeing us in action, they might decide, ‘Hey—it’s okay for me to get up and do these things.’ They needed to see that. We felt the point needed to be made, and it was not lost on them.”  General Paul Rader during his tenure as the world leader of The Salvation Army. Image: File Youth   In their welcome meeting in London, General Paul launched the Million Marching campaign, a call for major commitment to the recruitment of senior soldiers around the world. “Everywhere we went, we would bang away at that,” he said.    During his term he also emphasised integrated missions—that is, a natural oneness of caring and evangelistic ministries.    In those years a number of gifted leaders rose up among young Salvationists around the world. Conferences were held, training offered, missions started in inner city areas. Groups and leaders from different nations began to network.     General Rader perceived the Holy Spirit at work. He referred to that stirring as a ‘renewal movement.’ To fan the flame, he called together 500 young people from around the world to an International Youth Forum, in Cape Town, South Africa.    The General then also set up a Latin America Strategy Commission, under the direction of Commissioner David Edwards.     Commissions   Some of Rader’s largest impact came through the commissions and symposiums he set up. In these he found a remarkable way to influence the Army around the world. In fact, they mark his unique contribution.   There was, for example, the Spiritual Life Commission chaired by Colonel Robert Street. It issued a series of ‘calls’ which were widely circulated. And the book, written by Street, Called to be God’s People , spread the word further.    Retirement   Paul Rader retired as an officer in 1999. But he had more to do. Soon after, he took the position of president of the Asbury University and led that body for six years. "Rader set a goal to make Asbury more diverse and reflective of the kingdom of God,” the university wrote in its obituary. That was typical of Paul Rader.  ​  And now he has gone to Glory.  ​  He was a remarkable man. A weighty spiritual leader.  *Major Peter Farthing is a retired officer of the Australia Territory. This article is an edited version of Peter’s full article on General Paul Radar found here . ​ If you would like to watch General Paul Rader interviewed in retirement about his associations with Billy Graham, click here .

There are lots of people to love and be thankful for in our world – partners, friends, families and people in our community. “Why limit Valentine’s Day to just romantic love when all love is worth celebrating?”  BY FAYE MICHELSON   The oft-quoted line from the movie Forrest Gump , “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get”, is perfect for Valentine’s Day.   Will your beloved one or secret admirer send you heart-shaped choccies or a dozen long-stemmed roses? Perhaps take you to a candlelit dinner or a picnic by the beach? Or do you know exactly what you’re going to get – nothing!   For all its glitter and red hearts, what many people get from Valentine’s Day is stress. There’s the expense, the commercialism or the feeling of being excluded because there is no one to spoil you, or for you to spoil.   But take heart – a big, glittery, red Valentine’s one – because this year, we’re going to make the most of the day of love. Why limit Valentine’s Day to just romantic love when all love is worth celebrating? Not-so-romantic legends To be honest, the whole legend of St Valentine is anything but romantic. There are several saints called Valentine recognised by the Catholic Church, and the Roman Empire martyred all of them. The legends include the third-century priest Valentine, who defied Claudius II and continued to marry soldiers despite the emperor’s edict to ban marriage because single men made better soldiers.   Another legend centres on the Valentine who helped Christians escape Roman prisons. Unfortunately, it ended badly for both these Valentines. There’s also a legend to explain the origin of the Valentine’s Day greeting with yet another Valentine – imprisoned, of course – who wrote a letter to his beloved and signed it ‘From your Valentine.’   As at least one of them was believed to have been buried on 14 February, that’s the date we now observe. Many traditions have evolved, some through commercial interests. For instance, who would have thought England’s postal reforms would make a huge impact on Valentine’s Day? When the postage stamp was introduced in 1840, making sending letters accessible and affordable to the common folk, 400,000 Valentines were sent the following year. And, not only that, but these missives could also be sent anonymously, helping along the notion of secret admirers. Different traditions While celebrations here largely centre on romantic love, Valentine’s Day is marked in different ways in different nations.   Finland and Estonia call it Friend’s Day, a time to get together for meals and have fun with the people who are important to them, whether best buddies, neighbours, or family. The day was officially included in Finnish calendars in the mid-1990s, with giving cards an important part of the celebrations. Nearby Estonia adopted Friend’s Day not long after, with the celebration gaining popularity after the Iron Curtain lifted.   Friendship is also the focus of Valentine’s Day celebrations in some Latin American countries, such as El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Amigo Secreto (Secret Friend) is a version of Kris Kringle, a fun tradition among school children where they draw a name to buy a small gift to exchange with each other. Similarly, in the US, it’s common for primary-aged children to celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving their classmates cards, often with a lolly attached, with a message about what they appreciate about the recipient. It’s fun but also an opportunity to think about others in a positive way.   So, forget about any preconceived rules about how and with whom you’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day. There are lots of people to love and be thankful for in our world – partners, friends, families and people in our community. You know what? I love the coffee in our local café – I might just give the barista a little choccy heart this Valentine’s Day and tell her how much I appreciate her.

To read Valerie’s promoted to glory notice, click here

International Social Justice Commission staff and delegates are an active part of the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women held in New York. The Salvation Army in Australia sends delegate(s) to the event each year. The International Social Justice Commission (ISJC) is The Salvation Army’s strategic voice to advocate for human dignity and social justice with the world's poor and oppressed.   The ISJC is part of The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) and its office is based in New York City.   The ISJC advises the General and other senior leaders at IHQ in matters of social justice.   The directors (Colonels Ian and Wendy Swan), and staff are the Army’s principal international advocates and advisers on the social, economic and political issues and events that perpetuate social injustice in the world. The commission is also the secretariat to the work of the International Moral and Social Issues Council (IMASIC) and the International Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response Council. Two Salvationists from the Australia Territory are part of the International Social Justice Girls Group. Click here for photos and details. In a nutshell, the purpose of the ISCJ is to:   ·      Advise the office of the General on issues of global biblical justice ·      Advocate with the world’s poor, marginalised and oppressed so their voice is heard ·      Be a recognised centre of research and critical thinking on global justice concerns ·      Collaborate with like-minded organisations and partners to advance the cause of justice ·      Provide resources and experiences that build capacity and inform practitioners live by the principles of biblical justice and compassion to inspire others to do likewise.   For more information and to download resources, click here .

Dear friends, ​​ ​ Did you know that kindness is scientifically contagious? Studies show that when we witness an act of kindness, we’re more likely to pass it on. This phenomenon, is known as ‘moral elevation’ and it stirs something deep within us when we see goodness in action, inspiring us to do the same.​ ​ Kindness might seem like a ‘nice to have’, but Jesus showed us that it’s so much more. His kindness wasn’t just about small gestures; it was unreasonable! He touched lepers, dined with outcasts, wept with the grieving and washed the feet of those who would abandon him. He gave kindness freely and calls us to do the same, especially when it’s challenging.​ ​ Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.”​ ​ On Random Acts of Kindness Day (17 February), I encourage us each to think about kindness in a deeper way – the kind that goes beyond what’s expected and has the power to change lives and communities. ​ ​ Kindness isn’t just something we do; it’s who we are.   I remember a time when I witnessed an act of kindness that inspired me.   I was with a fellow officer, deep in conversation as we walked to our destination. Someone was sitting on the side of the road. While I noticed them in my peripheral vision, nothing deeper registered with me. However, my colleague saw more. Despite our conversation, she noticed that this person might be in distress and stopped to check on them.   To her, it may have been an unconscious gesture, but to me, it was a beautiful act of kindness. This moment has continued to motivate me to look for ways to see and connect with those in our community who are easy to walk past.   My colleague saw the other person with more than just her eyes, and it created a ripple effect that has inspired me to always be on the lookout for ways to show kindness.   I’m so encouraged by the many ways you already practise unreasonable kindness in your daily lives. Whether in small, quiet actions or big gestures, your kindness makes a difference and helps us to fulfil this beautiful vision of transforming Australia one life at a time with those practical expressions of the love of Jesus.  ​ ​ ​Together, let’s make kindness our everyday practice!​ ​ God bless you each.   Colonel Winsome Merrett ​​ Chief Secretary

SAES staff and volunteers with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and State Member for Townsville Adam Baillie MP. Image: Daryl Crowden The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) are partnering with the Queensland State Government and Premier David Crisafulli MP to provide timely assistance to those affected by devastating flooding in North Queensland. The SAES team consists of coordinating staff stationed across the country and over 3000 volunteers, ready to be deployed when disasters hit. They have now met the basic needs of more than 700 people whose lives have been affected by days of flooding across areas of North Queensland including towns near the Gulf of Carpentaria, and as far east as Ingham. Read more: SAES responds to ‘once-in-a-century’ flood crisis in North Queensland On his Facebook page, SAES General Manager Daryl Crowden thanked the Queensland Government and Premier for their support. “[SAES] are pleased to partner with the Queensland Government to support flood-affected families in North Queensland,” Daryl wrote. “Thanks for your support of Salvation Army Emergency Services Queensland team David Crisafulli MP.”

Many Salvation Army workers and volunteers received 2025 Australia Day awards, including (from left) Bill Moorhead, Major Wendy Hateley and Major Darren Dwyer. BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE Salvationists, volunteers and supporters of The Salvation Army across Australia have been recognised for their contributions to their communities and the nation with Australia Day awards. Each year, the Australian Federal Government and regional councils award individuals and organisations that have greatly contributed to the community with their skills, time or other resources. This year, several Salvation Army staff and volunteers were recognised, and one corps was awarded for its community efforts. Major Darren Dwyer speaks at the Gawler Australia Day awards ceremony. In South Australia, Riverside Corps Officer Major Darren Dwyer was recognised as Gawler’s Citizen of the Year for tireless efforts to the Gawler community, especially in homelessness support. You can read more about Darren here . Also, in South Australia, Playford Corps was awarded Community Group or Initiative of the Year by the City of Playford for consistently providing gifts to families in need at Christmas. Over 300 families received support from the corps during the 2024 Christmas period and more throughout the year, and The Salvation Army Playford was congratulated for its far-reaching support across the city. Major Wendy Hateley (left), who received the Australia Day award on behalf of Playford Corps, with Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty and other recipients. Queensland land developer and Salvation Army philanthropist Bill Moorhead was recognised by Bundaberg Regional Council as Citizen of the Year for his dedication to the Bundaberg region. Bill’s work with The Salvation Army Bundaberg has been ongoing for the “best part of 20 years”, according to Corps Officer Major Chris Millard. “He’s one of our biggest advocates for us here in town; he’s amazing,” Chris said of Bill. Chris said Bill was heavily involved with recovery efforts by the corps following the Burnett River flooding in 2010-11 and established the Bundaberg Business Lunch for the Red Shield Appeal. Bill Moorhead (left) has been involved in supporting The Salvation Army in Bundaberg for more than 20 years. “He helped us take [The Red Shield Appeal] to a different level,” Chris said. “So, we don’t do a doorknock anymore. We try to raise all of our money through [the] lunch. We try to get businesses to help support us, and he’s the big driving force for that because he knows everybody.” Bill also supports many other community organisations in the area and is heavily involved in local sports and sustainability initiatives. In New South Wales, Captains Philip and Donna Sutcliffe from Northern Rivers Salvation Army also received a nomination for an Australia Day award from the Lismore City Council. “We love working in this community,” Philip said. “We are humbled that someone would put our name forward for this award. We do what we do because we love Jesus and love serving the people here in the Northern Rivers.” Captains Philip and Donna Sutcliffe and other recipients of Australia Day awards in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Also in NSW, Princess Delany was named Bayside Council’s Young Citizen of the Year for her community work with the Hurstville Salvation Army, as well as her involvement in the NSW Youth Parliament Program. Hurstville Salvation Army Team Leader Major Judith Soeters stated that as a dedicated Salvationist, Princess had been involved in the youth group, songsters, and children’s ministry. She also participated in Carols in the Domain as part of The Salvation Army choir and helped with the Red Shield Appeal. Wollongong Rising Star, Salvationist Jurni Young. Image: Tarrawanna Salvation Army Facebook page From Tarrawanna Salvation Army Corps in Wollongong, New South Wales, Jurni Young was awarded a Rising Star Award by the City of Wollongong for her community efforts. Jurni serves as a volunteer in the Kids in the Kitchen program, as well as the Red Shield Appeal. She is also undertaking a cadetship through St John Ambulance. In the Northern Territory, Salvation Army volunteer Veronica Wilson was nominated for a Citizen of the Year Award by Katherine Town Council. Salvation Army philanthropists were also recognised with Medals of the Order of Australia. These included Ms Peta Lorraine Freeman OAM in Western Australia and Mr Gerald Leslie Snowden OAM in New South Wales. The late Mr Peter Thomas Smith OAM, former collection organiser for the Red Shield Appeal in the Strathfield zone of NSW, was also recognised posthumously for his service to the community of Inner West Sydney. Mr Russell Donald Postle AM was also awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to community health, the accountancy profession and the community. He was once the coordinator of the former New Farm branch of the Salvation Army during the Red Shield Appeal. We have made every effort to mention everyone who received awards on Australia Day, but please let us know if we have missed anyone by emailing me at kirra.nicolle@salvationarmy.org.au This post was updated on 7 February to include Jurni Young, and 10 February to include Veronica Wilson.

Imam Moustapha Sarakibi, Chair of the Merri-Bek Interfaith Network opening the event on 9 February. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE   Representatives from faith groups – including the Hindu, Baháʼí, Jewish, Sikh, Sufi, Alevi, Buddhist and Christian religions – gathered at Glenroy Community Hub in Victoria on 9 February to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week.  The event was hosted by the Merri-Bek Interfaith Network, which includes Captain Steph Glover from Merri-Bek Salvation Army. Merri-Bek Corps members also led the group in singing ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’ to begin the event, accompanied by the corps’ brass band.  Steph said the event was quite a moving one, especially for those who have recently had windows to their offices smashed or buildings graffitied in incidents alleged to be religiously motivated. She said many Palestinian and Jewish residents in the area had been taking cover in fear of attacks. She said as a precautionary measure, the event, originally planned for an outdoor location, had been moved to an indoor one.  She said reciting the Shared Act of Reflection and Commitment – a declaration spoken at the beginning of each meeting – reminded them of the values they all shared.  The Act of Reflection and Commitment declared at each Network gathering. Image: Supplied “As faith leaders, we wanted to be the ones to go out and set an example and say, ‘Actually, we all might have slightly different beliefs, but what we do all agree on are these things’,” Steph said.  Representatives from each faith tradition present at the event shared a message of peace through song, dance, prayers and spiritual readings. Attendees exchanged olive branches as a symbol of peace across religions.  Steph described the Network as a “really, really close-knit community” which met once every couple of months.   Images courtesy Merri-bek City Council

In the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, The Salvation Army is working hard to provide holistic care to their community throughout seven different locations. With their ‘no wrong door’ policy, they offer support through transitional housing, financial counseling and recovery programs while also providing food hampers and community gardens. Mark Soper (Shire Salvos Team Leader) says that the goal is to “create the best holistic communities where people can find faith in Jesus, (and) can be supported and loved in a professional manner.”

It’s in this world and time that we are called to be a non-anxious presence, Danielle Strickland writes. Image: Unsplash BY DANIELLE STRICKLAND Mass disappointment in systems, structures and leaders has led to an easy invitation to despair. These are dark times. Wars are raging, economies are struggling, nationalism is on the rise across the world, many Christian leaders we thought would bring light and hope are tainted, their light extinguished as their complicity with darkness is exposed. We are left wondering what to do, where to go, how to find our faith – if it even matters. Mark Sayers wrote a small, weighty book a few years ago called A Non-Anxious Presence . He explored era shifts in history and explains that between eras exists a 50-year gap often called ‘the grey zone’. Basically, this 50-year window in time is when all hell breaks loose due to chaos and crisis the shift causes. Everything that used to work doesn’t anymore, but the new ways are not yet fully here. This leaves people confused, scared and left to try and find their own way, identity, meaning and purpose in the absence of certainty and a seemingly inevitable flurry of panic. It is within this space and time that Christians have a unique opportunity to be a sign of a Kingdom that is deeper than our fears and cultural identities, wider than our divides and inclinations to self-preservation, and more reliable than any system or force past or present. It’s in this world and time that we are called to be a non-anxious presence – secure in the Hope of eternity and the promise of God’s Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. It’s a word. I think Mark is right. Somehow, it helps to locate our anxiety and uncertainties, it’s good to be honest about our fears and disappointments. AND it’s also right and true and good to be thankful that in this exact space, our prophetic imagination will help us discover the way our lives can be a sign of the sure hope of God’s presence and purposes for this time. That’s what I’m giving myself to these days: being a grateful, non-anxious presence, displaying the beauty and goodness of God ‘with us’ and ‘in us’ right now, co-creating new ways of working that honour the sacredness of each other, demonstrating the wonder of collaboration over competition and nurturing faith-filled witnesses to the ways of Jesus. In the bleak backdrop of our shifting world, I’ve never been more thankful or hopeful. This is a miracle. This is part of an article which first appeared on Danielle's blog, Right Side Up in November 2024. Danielle is a writer, communicator and former Salvation Army officer based in Canada.

Camilla Worsnop was honoured by her award nomination and its recognition of the Army's work across the not-for-profit sector. Camilla Worsnop, Senior Legal Counsel with The Salvation Army, was chosen as a finalist for the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia’s ‘Not for Profit Lawyer of the Year’ award late last year. “It was a wonderful recognition of all that Camilla brings to her role, our legal team and The Salvation Army more broadly,” said Helen Michas, General Counsel with the Army’s Legal Department. Camilla spoke recently with Salvos Online journalist SIMONE WORTHING about her role and the significance of this award nomination. What does your role with the Salvos involve? I am part of the small (but mighty) legal team in Business Support, based at THQ Blackburn. We strive to provide outstanding legal support to ensure delivery of the mission, including Salvation Army services and programs throughout Australia. Given the small size of the team, we all need to be able to provide support across portfolios, although I work mainly in Quality and Safeguarding, Aged Care, Procurement, Family and Domestic Violence and Housing, just to name a few.   What do you find rewarding about your role? I could never have imagined that moving to an in-house legal role would provide me with exposure to such a broad range of legal work. I have been given so many wonderful opportunities to develop my legal skills in this role including working on major projects, negotiations and being involved in complex legal matters. It is particularly rewarding to assist in matters that deliver services or programs that make a significant and immediate social impact on those that need it.   Many of our readers will remember the former Salvos Legal. What does The Salvation Army do now in the legal space? The Salvation Army’s legal team provides high-level legal support across The Salvation Army, including Mission Enterprises. Generally, the legal team will assist with bespoke agreements/contracts/deeds, memorandums of understanding (MoU), collaboration or sponsorship agreements, funding agreements, civil or legal proceedings issued against The Salvation Army, legal disputes with third parties or staff, estates and bequests, privacy matters and general advice related to governance, compliance, regulatory matters, as well as general corporate and commercial legal advice.   What was the significance of this award for The Salvation Army? I believe this nomination also provides recognition of The Salvation Army’s enormous contribution to the not-for-profit sector across Australia. The Salvation Army attracts highly skilled and trained professionals that want to contribute to a cause or mission they deeply care about.   How did you feel about being a finalist? I was very honoured at being selected as a finalist. I am also very grateful to my colleague Bridget Negri for the nomination, and endorsement by Helen Michas, General Counsel. I work with an amazing team that provide support and bring positive energy to all that we do.   The Legal Department   The Legal Department provides legal support to all Salvation Army personnel, portfolios, departments and its distinct legal entities.    The Legal Department is a national function, that ensures:   The Salvation Army manages legal risks and resolves those risks in a timely manner to enable it to achieve its mission and vision. The ongoing availability of objective and independent legal advice based on a comprehensive understanding of Salvation Army operations and legal structures. Consistent processes and systems for nationwide legal support using a combination of in-house and external expertise as appropriate  Control over legal costs, provision of instructions to and oversight of, external lawyers.