What if our holiness because of Jesus was contagious, asks Major Anita Caldwell. Image: Getty MAJOR ANITA CALDWELL*    One cough and we hope people do not think we are contagious. We stay home from work and take our temperature to be sure we are not contagious. Over the past two years, being contagious is a very real threat in the world.    What if holiness was contagious? What if others chose to walk with us in our day-to-day lives hoping to ‘catch’ holiness?    Holiness was my father’s passion. He seldom preached a sermon without preaching on holiness. To him, holiness was about listening and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit in his day-to-day life. Holy living for him was daily surrender and seeking out others who needed his Saviour. He loved to laugh with family, but he would also cry with the brokenhearted. Few people would know that his one goal was winning them to Jesus and discipling them in their faith.  Our garden was another great passion for my father. Every year, Dad carefully planted gardens for the best results, harvesting the most delicious veggies. Each day, we watered, fertilised and pulled weeds. Every year, he continued to expand and enrich the soil. He would spend hours moving precious rich dirt from a nearby creek to enrich the soil. The harvest was always amazing. Why? The fresh vegetables were just one of his tools for loving people to Jesus. He would watch for the slightest opportunity to invite people to our home, and, of course, while they always left with fresh vegetables, they could not leave without a conversation that would lead to Jesus and closed with prayer. Look to Jesus Peek with me over the shoulder of Jesus, the fitting example as he showed us how to disciple others. First, he walked with people. He had no office, no building, no expectation that people would come to him. He built a relationship with them. Holy discipleship is built on holy relationships.  He ate with people, and people enjoyed being with him. His first miracle was at a wedding. Watch him as he eats with the tax collectors. As they enjoyed life together, people wanted to follow him and learn from him.   Remember those moments when he prayed with people. He exemplified love, joy, peace and goodness, and therefore, people sought him. They longed to know him.  Watch as he sits at the well of Samaria and invites a woman to Living Water. He did what no one would do in his day. People with leprosy felt his touch when no one would touch them. Smell the fish cooking by the sea as he prepared breakfast for his disciples. Holiness and discipleship go hand in hand. Bill Ury says, “Holiness is nothing less than self-giving love. More than conceptual, this love is tangibly self-offering, self-dispensing, and self-emptying. It is the essence of biblical discipleship.”  Not only will holy living drive us to disciple others, but we will value each person God brings across our path, and he will give us the tools to disciple them. The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to lead people to Christ. We can try in our own strength, but we will always be too busy, too afraid. People in our world today hunger for relationships that engage, and they are even more hungry for those relationships that are filled with joy, laughter, and positivity. These characteristics are birthed in our hearts through surrender and holy living. When we give our lives totally to God and trust him with each day, people want to be discipled by us for Christlikeness because they see Christ in us!   Steps to discipling Know you are forgiven and have turned away from sin: “go and sin no more” (John 8:11).  Ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify you and set you apart for his glory and service.  Seek him and grow in his grace every day through prayer and reading of God’s Word.  Pray that God will lead you to someone who either does not believe in Jesus or is new in faith.  Spend time building a relationship! Eat with them, have coffee with them, listen to their story.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you and speak to you as you lead that person to see and know Jesus.     Don’t rush the process! Remember the worth of fresh veggies and cookies!     Share God’s Word together, pray together – be contagious by living out holiness with pure love!  My father first had a deep love for the Holy Spirit and surrendered his life to God. With that surrender, he wanted nothing more than to lead someone to Christ and disciple them to know God as he knew God. Love for gardening was a blessing, which became his tool to engage and build relationships with others. Read Anita’s article: Holiness a piece of cake!? Contagious holiness will lead us to enjoy discipling others to Christ.  The Salvation Army co-founder, General William Booth, said, “We are a salvation people – this is our specialty – getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within, which is finally perfected by the full salvation without, on the other side of the river.”  With the joy of the Holy Spirit, now let us go and disciple others! Let holiness be contagious through us!  *Major Anita Caldwell is a retired Salvation Army officer from the USA Southern Territory. Throughout her officership, Anita has served in corps, RHQs, THQs and teaching appointments, including several years in the Eastern Europe Territory in leadership and principal roles. She was also an area commander, senior Kroc officer and Director of Curriculum at The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College. Anita is the author of Holiness Alive , Holiness and the Hymns: Daily Devotions for Holy Living , and the children’s book Sarah the Cat . . . and Jesus: Teaching Your Children and Grandchildren to Listen to the Voice of The Holy Spirit . Anita has also been a guest writer for The Salvation Army devotional Words of Life .

Participants in the Boronia Corps martial arts program say they greatly benefit from the positive aspects of the Monday night sessions. BY LERISSE SMITH I can still vividly recall the first time I watched the 1980s cult classic The Karate Kid . While most of us can probably still remember the sharp Kiai! and Hiya! sounds echoing in our minds during the training and fight scenes, and the distinctive headbands, the heart of the film revolves around a teenager, Daniel, who becomes the target of a gang of students at school.   The teenager then meets the eccentric Mr. Miyagi, a karate master who teaches him to defend himself and put his bullies in their place. He shows him that true strength comes from within. He teaches the teenager that the secret to karate lies in the mind and heart – not in the hands. I experienced this very theme firsthand when I visited Boronia Corps (Vic.) to see Knox Dojo in action. It was far more profound and inspiring than I had expected. The experience turned out to be a living testament to the philosophy of Kyokushin, which in Japanese means ‘Ultimate Truth’.  The name selected by the founder, Mas Oyama, describes the pinnacle of martial arts training. Not an end result but a never-ending path to the point where dedication, perseverance and sweat meet strength, humility, and wisdom. Yes, there was sweat – and interesting sounds of all sorts! But I learned that Kyokushin Karate goes beyond physicality. It instils self-awareness, self-control, and respect for others, with the values of integrity, humility, and perseverance becoming ingrained, empowering individuals to become better citizens and make a positive impact on society. As I watched people of all ages gather in their crisp white uniforms and varying coloured belts to train in the martial art supported by the Salvos, I was struck by the powerful example of these values in action. The martial way always begins and ends with courtesy in the form of a bow. And with the Dojo Kun’s core values boldly displayed on two large screens in the Dojo space, the courtesy and respect from each participant towards one another, their instructors, and their Master, Sempai Aharon Claridge, was immediately clear.   The martial way always begins and ends with courtesy in the form of a bow. And with the Dojo Kun’s core values boldly displayed in the Dojo space, the courtesy and respect from each participant towards one another, their instructors, and their Master, Sempai Aharon Claridge, is immediately clear. Even amidst some fast-paced action, including the well-known high kick manoeuvres, there was a calm reverence for the discipline of Kyokushin Karate. Each martial art movement is precise and measured, while sounds are an important part of the practice and serve various purposes, such as demonstrating power, focus, or intention. I could not help but notice a particularly heartwarming moment when a young boy sparred with an older and taller opponent. The gentleman encouraged the boy so warmly that he forgot his small stature and embraced the courage inside him. It was truly uplifting. Age is no barrier for these two karate martial artists as they spar and learn together. When I wandered outside to the peaceful, bush-lined area at the rear of the church, where some participants were honing their skills and fitness, I again saw total concentration and unwavering devotion to their martial art, as well as respect for oneself, for others, and for the art itself. Kyokushin Karate, I realised, is not just a martial art sport – it is a philosophy in motion. It is not just about training – it is a way of life. It was inspiring to see how the Salvos have united the community by providing a safe and welcoming environment where individuals from all walks of life could grow and learn together through cultivating martial arts skills and personal growth whilst being encouraged and supported by their local corps. It took the vision of Tracey Brown, the corps leadership team and Sempai Aharon to transform their church auditorium into a space for personal and communal growth. Through this simple but powerful act, they have fostered connections that have improved lives. And there was no more powerful testament to this than when I had the chance to speak with a few of the martial artists who shared their personal transformations. Frank spoke about how karate had given him the mental fortitude to push through tough health issues, while Lyndsay described how it taught him the importance of humility and being a role model. Kobe shared how karate was everything to him and how its values really spoke into his life. Put simply, Kyokushin Karate had changed their lives – and others – for the better. The relentless pursuit of excellence had fostered mental resilience and a determination to overcome challenges. Their personal stories gave me a newfound respect for Kyokushin Karate. Regardless of age, gender, or background, martial arts welcomes all who seek personal growth and empowerment – whether you want to compete, improve self-defence skills, or simply find inner strength. My experience at the Knox Dojo also left me with a profound sense of gratitude. I realised the many valuable life lessons Kyokushin Karate can instil in all of us and how the Salvos’ support and encouragement of a great community initiative are truly shining for the benefit of others. And in the martial arts world, the rewards of a confident and grateful heart are truly abundant.

BY CAPTAIN OLEG SAMOILENKO The Salvation Army officer is an example that should always be joyful, healthy and successful – this is what people often think, but is it really like that in real life? I have been a Salvation Army officer for over nine years, and for over three years I have been living with depression. Captain Oleg is now the corps officer in Warsaw, Poland. Sometimes, there are days when you do not see any sense and your helplessness is stronger than your desire. The hardest thing at these moments is to preach on a Sunday, because you must be the one who gives hope and inspiration to others. You try every day, you pray and you believe that things will get better, but it does not always work. At these moments, there will definitely be someone ‘very spiritual’ who will tell you that your faith is too small, that psychologists are all a scam and you just need to pray more. You come home and the only thing you want is to lie down and do nothing. Thoughts begin that you are not enough. Ukrainian in Poland In 2022, when the war in Ukraine began, my family lost our home, our city was very badly damaged and bad news came more and more often that someone had died. I remember how hundreds of people came to us for help, refugees from Ukraine who had lost everything they had. Those days, I thought that I have no right to my problems, because there are those who are even worse. Could it be even more difficult? It turns out that, yes. My stepfather in Ukraine died. My mother and I could not go to the funeral because there was a war in our city. Ukrainians shelter from Russian attacks in a basement bomb shelter. As a migrant in a foreign country, I always feel lonely, because society reminds me that I am only a guest (even in your own corps). You ask yourself questions at such a moment, where is God in my life? But despite all of that, every day I start as a new life. I do not know what this day will bring me, but I know that I need to move forward. Sometimes you need to stop and rest. Sometimes you need to take your difficulties and put them aside to be ears for others. Then most importantly, you have to find a balance, and that doesn't come easy. Every day you work on yourself. Every day is a battlefield, sometimes a victory, sometimes a defeat. God is always in your life, no matter what. If you are also an officer of the Salvation Army, then you know well that in our service it can be difficult. Sometimes too difficult. But, there is something that gives strength to go on and believe in God's plan. Many people look at us and think that we are stronger, wiser and more happy than they. They forget that every officer is first of all just a human, who daily does his/her best. God is always in your life, no matter what. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees are finding shelter and assistance in Poland. On my dark days I remember that God knows when and what to give us. Every desert teaches us new skills. Some people told me that my depression is sin and it’s a lack of faith. Some told me that there is no reason to be ‘sad’. I believe that most of these people had good intentions, but for sure the wrong approach. Maybe you are someone who lives with depression too. Maybe you know what this fight means. Then know that you are not alone. We are still worthy, we are still enough and we are still loved by God – no matter what people say. Maybe you have people with depression in your corps. Then remember that a hug and listening often means more than very smart spiritual advice. Don’t fail by teaching those who, just now, need love. From left, Oleg with his mum (Iryna), wife (Dominika) and daughter (Michilina), in Poland. Maybe today I go through my desert, but I also go through a wonderful adventure of being an officer of The Salvation Army, and this means that my heart is still given to God and my hands are serving others. Sometimes those hands have fallen down, but God helps me to lift them up and turn to others who are in need.   Captain Oleg Samoilenko and wife Captain Dominika Domanska are corps officers in Warsaw, Poland.

Exhibitions at IHQ’s Gallery 101 are free to the public and focus on the work and mission of the international Salvation Army. London may be almost 17,000km from Australia (using Canberra as a starting point), but Aussies can still visit Gallery 101 at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) – online. The gallery hosts free exhibitions throughout the year, many of which publicise The Salvation Army's work and mission worldwide. Others showcase local artists whose work aligns with the organisation’s aims and significant events. Recent exhibitions available to view online include ‘Spotlight on South Asia Zone’, ‘What Would it Take to Change the World?’, ‘Celebrating Stories of Hope’ and ‘The Fight Against Poverty and Injustice’. Current exhibitions, including ‘Remembering the Holocaust’ which runs until 30 January (GMT), are only available online after their physical viewing date. This current exhibition began on 27 January to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It shares the history of the Holocaust and showcases the work being done by organisations around the world to prevent future genocides. The exhibition also explores the work of Lieutenant-Colonel Alida Bosshardt , a Dutch Salvation Army officer who found safe homes for Jewish children during the German occupation in the Second World War.  International Headquarters The Salvation Army has occupied the 101 Queen Victoria Street site since 1881. When the current building opened in 2004, it allowed IHQ to become more than just an administrative centre. Glass walls with Bible quotations and the public Café 101 allow IHQ to live up to the challenge of General John Gowans that it should be a “building that speaks for itself”. You may not be able to grab a coffee from the café, but Aussies can certainly spend time in the gallery and learn more about The Salvation Army’s work and mission across the globe. For more information and to access recent exhibitions at Cafe 101, click here . For more images from Cafe 101 and its recent exhibitions, click on the arrow below.

Victorian SAES volunteer Pearl Dunn says she just could not believe it when the SAES named their new truck Pearl, in honour of her more than 30 years of dedication and service to the team. Pearl loves being part of the SAES and is pictured with Daryl Crowden, SAES General Manager.  BY LERISSE SMITH   It is not every day a shiny new emergency services truck is named after a lovely lady.    But when the Victorian Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) were looking for a name for their newest truck, they couldn’t go past bestowing the honour of the name ‘Pearl’ in recognition of their volunteer, Pearl Dunn, who has given more than 30 years of unwavering dedication and service to the team.    The new truck, funded through the SAES’s partnership with Woolworths, was recently unveiled and commissioned at Pearl’s Melbourne retirement village where she lives – much to her surprise.    “You know what? I still can’t believe it,” Pearl says.   “I have just loved working with the team. I started when my husband died. I heard about it, and I thought it sounded good. It has been amazing. We have done all sorts of funny and strange and sad and happy things and helped so many people. The new truck is a vital addition to the Victorian SAES fleet. “I just do it because I love it. Carolyn (Response Coordinator of the Victorian SAES), Robin (Maintenance Officer) and the whole team are great to work with. They make it so easy.”   During Pearl’s many years of service, impacted communities and first responders have benefitted from her care, including Black Saturday (2009), the bushfires of 2019 and 2020, the Victorian floods of 2022, the Lancefield and Flowerdale fires, chemical industry fires, and many Salvation Army events throughout the state.   “Pearl has been a devoted member who has served Victorians in need,” said Carolyn Spratling, Response Coordinator of the Victorian SAES. “And she is always ready to don the Hi-Viz and do it again.”   Surprise visit The SAES team had the opportunity, with the support of Pearl’s children and the management of the village she lives in, to spring a surprise commissioning of the truck on Pearl. Carolyn remarked it was a wonderful occasion and celebration of Pearl’s commitment to others – and the more than 1500 volunteers that serve alongside SAES across Australia.   Pearl said she loved the SAES team and the people they served. Over the years, her role included serving food to many people, from emergency services personnel such as firefighters to the public.   “What really hits you every time you go out with the team to serve and help people are the firefighters, police and SES who always say, ‘Oh, we are so glad to see The Salvation Army here’,” Pearl reflected. “They are really pleased that we are there.” “What really hits you every time you go out with the team to serve and help people are the firefighters, police and SES who always say, ‘Oh, we are so glad to see The Salvation Army here’.”   Another key role for Pearl has been to provide a listening ear. Looking back over 30 years, the volunteer said a key learning had been to see the love of people in communities and unite to help one another.   “The love of people in communities has made me feel really good,” Pearl said. “Both the ones you work with and the ones that you are helping.”   Pearl still recalls the time when a young teenager helped the local community during the Black Saturday bushfire crisis.   “I still remember him coming in. He could not see,” she said.   “His eyes were covered in soot. He was only a kid, and I tried to give him a rest, and he said, ‘No ... I just have come to get my eyes washed out so I can go out again.’ He was one of the people that has really stuck with me. He would not stop to rest. He had to get back.”   She plans to continue volunteering with the SAES as long as she can and hopes that others will be interested in signing up as a volunteer. The craft group at Pearl’s retirement village knitted lots of support teddies for the Victorian SAES team to give to families who have lost their homes. The teddies were recently delivered to the team alongside a very generous donation. At Pearl’s recent special event, the Victorian team also delivered a presentation and spoke to the residents about all the jobs she had worked on over her 30 years and how the SAES walked alongside families that had lost their homes through house fires and other single incidents.   After the presentation, the retirement village’s craft group decided to knit many support teddies for the SAES team to give to families who had lost their homes. The teddies and a very generous donation were recently delivered to the team.   “We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in the community supporting our work,” Carolyn said.   “I can also report that the first teddy has found itself in a very beautiful new family where it will be so loved.”

Riverside Salvos leader Major Darren Dwyer has been named Gawler's Citizen of the Year. Photo courtesy of The Bunyip BY JEM NASH*   The South Australian town of Gawler has announced its Australia Day honours recipients, with Riverside Salvos Corps Officer Major Darren Dwyer winning the top award. Darren has been named Gawler’s Citizen of the Year for his tireless efforts in the community, particularly around homelessness, headlined by the annual Hope Cup Cricket Challenge. Darren with his award that was presented on Australia Day. Now in its third year, the Hope Cup is a community event held each November that raises funds to assist and support people who are sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness in Gawler and surrounding areas. Darren is a strong advocate for improving homelessness and the lives of those around him, opening The Salvation Army church for the homeless to have a shower and a meal and providing emergency relief and food parcels, clothing, and transport for the elderly for appointments. Darren said it was a “complete surprise” when he was informed of the honour but declined to take credit, instead giving it to the people around him. “As most people will know, I’ve got a fantastic team that do all the hard work and make me look good,” he said. “That’s it, I’ve just got a fantastic team around me, and whatever we turn our hand to, they just step up so they’re just fantastic. It’s about them, not me.” Town of Gawler, in collaboration with the Gawler Apex Club, will hold its Australia Day Breakfast at Apex Park on 26 January where Darren will officially be presented with his award. *Article courtesy of The Bunyip publication The two teams that battled out the Hope Cup in November 2024. Major Darren Dwyer is in the front row with the pads on.

Join Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and Colonel Winsome Merrett as they share their vision and excitement for 2025 with The Salvation Army Australia. From thriving creative corps to innovative leadership pathways, there are many opportunities to serve, grow and collaborate. Discover how the strategy is driving mission expressions across Australia and hear about the success of a groundbreaking pilot program tackling local community needs. Let’s shape the future together by praying for courage, wisdom, and faith. Join us on this exciting journey to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? My wife, Sandra Mortimer, and I were appointed to Katherine Corps (NT) as Corps Officers this year after nearly six years as Corps Officers in Cooma (Southern NSW). We are auxiliary-lieutenants in our second tranche appointment. What do I find most satisfying? So much of what we do here includes sharing the workload with Sandra so we can manage a very busy corps and social support program and preaching and sharing the gospel amongst the broken and vulnerable, including in the local Kriol dialect in song, the Bible and sometimes in my message. We also have our  ‘Community of Hope’, known as the Katherine Hub, where community members get access to two meals, showers and laundry Monday to Friday, a place to rest out of the sun and rain, and professional case work to help manage homelessness and progression into housing and care. Our hub also partners with all the local NT NGOs to offer emergency relief five days each week, legal supports (NT Legal Aid), AOD supports and access to medical care as needed. Our corps has grown to an average of 36-plus people each Sunday night (with many thanks to the work of our predecessors in facilitating this), and we get to work alongside our TSA Rural and Remote (Flying) Chaplains and other Christian faith expressions in our day to day work. Mostly, I love the trust and relationships we have been blessed with amongst our homeless and at-risk community members. They are beautiful people, those seeking and those faithful we see each day.  I love that we have been able to encourage some volunteers to assist and support the broad work of the Army in this place. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I’m very keen to ensure I have ‘self’ time each week, even if that is not always a complete day at a time. I usually spend a couple of days each month cutting back the scourge of bamboo plants we have at the quarters (necessary green cover, but they grow so rapidly), which is also quite the workout in 36-plus heat. Other than that, I’m a keen photographer and get out when I can. I brought my pushbikes up from hilly Cooma to this (mostly) flat country, but finding time away from the corps when it is not so hot I can’t ride is challenging. I’m gradually getting back on the bike, at least indoors when I can. We also have made an effort to see some of the amazing country up here – definitely worth being here if just for that – on our days off. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? Oh, that is a hard one. I grew up with classical music, going back as far as Hildegard (Gregorian chant), through the ancient, classical, baroque and oratorio forms. I discovered as a teenager modern jazz, rock, folk etc, and love the grand master, Bob Dylan. That said, I also love modern music and song, despite not being able to play (at all) or sing (not very well). I turn to various worship music from Hillsong, Bethel Music and small online resources such as Sounds like Reign for our intro and worship music. Recently, I’ve played Bethel’s ‘High King of Heaven’, which is uplifting, full of grace and energy. Most recently, though, I have discovered the Indigenous music from the Ngukurr Language Centre, which we play in church, including an awesome little chorus: Priesim Im (in English and Kriol): Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let all God’s people praise the Lord. Shake off those heavy burdens, Lift up those Holy hands. Let all God’s people praise the Lord Preisim im, preisim im, Larram mols pipul preisim im. Libum ols trabul langa im En weship langa Jisas neim. Larram ola pipul preisim im. This simple chorus relates our need to praise God all the time, no matter what, and to leave our troubles with Jesus. It is a simple and beautiful message that engages with our corps community in such meaningful ways. 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? Definitely Job. I love Job’s story – hardship, losing absolutely everything, his willingness to argue with God (keeping it real) about what was happening to him, and through it all, staying true to God as his servant and Lord almighty. I want to talk about how Job thought and managed to stay so focused on Yahweh, on the lessons and faith of this amazing, humble man. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? Officership is an amazing gift – to formally minister or pastor a congregation and community is such an honour. It is also very hard work, from washing floors and dishes to being visible as a servant supporting our broader community, and very rewarding personally and spiritually. I’d say talk to your mentors and officers about your path (commissioning, the auxiliary stream or ministering as a soldier) and calling, officership must be supported by a calling from God to support our entry into, to guide and sustain us in this role. It is not for the faint-hearted but is for the obedient and faithful. Make sure you stay close in your relationship with God, use the mentoring and professional development available through the Army and let God lead. Officership can mean moving away from all you might know, and places you may have lived, a sacrifice challenging and amazing at the same time. We can’t do this without the closeness of the Holy Spirit. I would also talk about the wonderful and challenging people we get to minister with and to. I have loved the people we have ministered to and with; seeing their faith and joy in Christ is awesome; seeing people find faith, planting seeds and watching people grow in Christ and in their own personal capacity makes everything worthwhile. Standing alongside broken and addicted people in mourning, or in court, or at the shops, being able to pray with people (because sometimes they expect it, and sometimes we hear that quiet word of God to do so) and bringing joy and peace into people’s lives is what serving as an officer is all about in my mind. It doesn’t matter if you come in as a commissioned officer through college, or as an Auxiliary as we did – being able to stand aside from our past and serve where God calls us is amazing. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

1.  What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? From January 2024, I was co-appointed along with my wife, Rita, to Logan Salvation Army. It has been a challenging appointment with no corps, no volunteers just a building (in a derelict state) in the centre of Logan Central. It is out of this I have found both satisfaction and comfort in the wise words of Solomon: “…Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 127:1a). Building from the ground up a new faith community and new mission centre is challenging yet satisfying. It is an appointment that is continually leaving me to seek God and his purposes because unless he builds it, the labour is indeed in vain. Eyes fixed on Jesus. Captains Rita and Ashley Biermann preparing hampers for the Logan community before Christmas. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I am an avid online gamer and enjoy nothing more than my current favourite game (Marvel Strike Force). It allows me to switch off from the demands of frontline mission and ministry. Other favoured pastimes that allow me to relax and unwind are our garden, walking with my wife, Rita, the movies, and I just love a great science fiction/fantasy book. Anthony Ryan, Brent Weeks and Tad Williams are among my favoured authors.   3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? Not trying to avoid the question, but being what Gary Thomas (author of Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God ) would call an ‘Enthusiast’ is the way I connect best with God. I do find that if the song celebrates God or declaring the name of Jesus, it has my attention. Singing of God’s goodness, his mercy and his love is the best way to spend time.   Last year, one of my favourites was the ‘Goodness of God’ by Bethel Music. It reminds me of God’s love that leaves the 99 sheep and goes after the one. It reminds me of a God that is good and pursues us with his love. It reminds me of a God who gave his son for the whosoever.   So many more I could list. This year has had very little worship leading due to the nature of this appointment so most of my worship has been in the car. I am looking forward to 2025, as we begin our church/corps plant in Logan to again have a place where I can declare God’s goodness, mercy and love in song. Hallelujah!!   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? The book of Job was the first book of the Bible I ever read. Such a strange choice. Suffering beyond measure yet vindicated and restored by God. I would love to speak to Job. The transforming power of suffering is one that the modern church seems to shy away from. Yet Jesus, Paul and James all mentioned that there would be trials and tribulations. I think I would love to hear in Job’s own words how he made his way through those days of suffering. To just listen to his take on traversing the storms of life still carrying his faith. That would be just the best chat over a coffee. “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? One cannot say it is an easy calling. Officership has experienced great challenges over the past six years with an international pandemic and a time of crisis in housing. Personally, a local flood event provided a great challenge. Yet, in all this challenge, I see an Army that is moving away from identity and form. There is a renovation that has a strong sense of Holy Spirit leadership and eyes focused on Jesus. There are the buds of new hope in contrast to a world that struggles to provide hope. Officership is a transforming journey of discipleship with Jesus. Keep the eyes fixed on the author of our faith, and one never knows where you will be ministering in his name. What would I say? Keep listening to the Spirit and walk where he invites. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am an auxiliary-lieutenant at Reservoir Corps and about to go into my seventh year as a corps officer alongside my husband, Matt. I have lived, volunteered and worked in the community of Reservoir and with Rezza (Reservoir) Salvos for over 18 years now. The most satisfying part of being part of this community is the longevity that I have been able to have in this space. I have seen multiple generations come through our church and programs, and my own kids are now at school with the next generation of kids that used to come along to our kids and youth programs! We have had someone I enrolled as a junior soldier hold the flag at the dedication of both of my kids as a senior soldier. We have seen and journeyed with people through big wins and hard lows and been able to provide a consistent, safe space in Reservoir for people to grow, learn, journey, heal and exist just as they are. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly and am thankful for every day.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I have learned over the last six years to prioritise my own wellbeing and growth and set boundaries so that I can be a healthy and happy human with strength and energy to give to my job, community, as well as my own kids and family. I love to read, play video and board games, create art, and go running and do strength training. I’m a big gym nerd, getting in gym sessions 4-5 times a week to lift weights, train cardio and, most importantly, move my body to support my overall mental health and wellbeing. Fitness has had such a big impact on me over the years that I also took on studying my Certificate 3 & 4 in Fitness in my spare time. It’s taking far longer than I had planned, but I’m nearly done!   3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? I’m going to say the David Crowder Band Oh For Joy album [because we’ve just had the Christmas season]. It gets a lot of playtime in our house over December!   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? Honestly, I just want to hear from the women who walked with, learned from and supported Jesus, and shared the Good News once he was gone from the tomb. It’s safe to say they have never gotten enough credit or time or energy even within the written accounts of the New Testament, and I would love to hear from them the work I know they did that was pinnacle to the stories we read about now.   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 that the route of being an auxiliary-lieutenant has been an overall really good journey for me. It’s not without its challenges, and it might not be where I stay forever, but I am so grateful that I have been able to work in my community in this role over the last six years, and I’m looking forward to the next three that we have signed up for. Auxiliary-lieutenancy is a really great option for those people who are ‘job ready’, experienced, passionate and want to serve in the capacity of an officer within a shorter time frame. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?   Our current appointment is at Geraldton Corps (WA). We were appointed to Derwent Valley Corps in Tasmania and spent eight years there. It is a beautiful spot, but it can get quite cold, so I asked for somewhere a bit warmer for my tired, cold joints. We are now in Geraldton, which is definitely warmer, and my joints love it, although some days my joints feel like they could melt! Besides the warmer weather, Geraldton is also a beautiful spot, and I have found the people very friendly here and quite receptive to the Salvos. God is in all the places I have been, and I am sure he has many opportunities for me here as well. One of those opportunities is to do some outreach at the Greenough Prison, so I certainly am getting a wide overview of the local community. We are also seeing a willingness for our local Salvo community to work with the Indigenous community through our ongoing RAP. It is very satisfying to see the local Salvo community willing to share the love of Jesus with others.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   I love photography. I find it gives me a whole new perspective on what I am actually looking at. I must not only frame the scenery but also allow for lighting and perspective (something interesting). I like to use my photos and videos in reflections that I like to share in corps or online. I believe God’s creation is not just to look at but to enjoy and share my enjoyment of it. Each of my photos also has memories attached to them, but it is difficult then to cull my thousands of photos taken in RAW format, which takes up heaps of memory on my hard drives.   3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it?   Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher. It speaks to me of my calling into The Salvation Army. It spoke of my joining, college, corps and every hour since. I can do nothing on my own, and all that I do and all that I am is totally dependent on my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.    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?   I have often felt an affinity with the Apostle Paul when he says in Ephesians 3:8, “I am less than the least of all God’s people, his grace was given me to preach.” I would like to talk to Paul about that grace and his view on being content in all circumstances. I find it incredible that Paul could be content when people were speaking out against the message he was called to give. Paul learned to give grace as well as receive it. Sometimes, my impatience gets in the way of giving grace so Paul could teach me a lot about contentment in all circumstances.   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   I could recommend officership only if it is a calling. The calling that you have is far more important than any position or task that you have to perform in life. Officership is tough and sometimes your calling is all that you have left some days. I would not have been able to make it on my own or even survived officership without my Lord and Saviour leading and guiding me all the way. Is officership for you? First, ask if you are prepared to leave the world behind and follow Jesus. If you are willing to follow Jesus, then officership is for you in all its forms and positions. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I recently took up a new appointment as Corps Officer in Alice Springs with my husband Tim. Before this, I had two concurrent appointments: Corps Officer at Port Adelaide/Semaphore Salvos and Chaplain at Bramwell House, a residential centre for women and children who have left family violence. Port Adelaide/Semaphore Salvos is a corps re-plant. I lived and worked there for three years and was not successful in re-planting the corps. Yet it was satisfying to have been involved in establishing two groups that will continue: a house church led by a Christian couple and an English-as-a-second-language conversation group at a café (now led by a community member). I completed my Diploma of Chaplaincy online while gaining practical experience at Bramwell House. The most satisfying aspect of this appointment was witnessing God at work within the families and children and seeing specific prayers answered. The highlight of this year was meeting with a non-Christian resident after she had left Bramwell and hearing how she and her son have connected with a local church and are exploring faith together. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? Corps planting is so much fun because a vital part of a corps planter’s work is to build relationships within the community. The main way we did that was to join various sporting and recreational groups. Over the three years, I enjoyed making new friends while doing all my favourite things: tennis, art, poetry, storytelling, running and walking!  I also enjoyed spending time with my husband and my two grown sons in the best suburb in Adelaide: Semaphore. We went walking, running or riding along the beach, and had endless choices of coffee shops along the main street.     3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? I am an author and I connect much more with words rather than music of any genre. So, my favourite Christian songs are the Psalms. They wonderfully express the full range of human emotions and the freedom we have in bringing all our sorrow, angst and disappointment to God as well as our joy and worship.    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? When I was called to be an officer, I felt a great affinity with Moses. Like me, he struggled to see himself as a competent communicator and thought that God should send someone else. I would love to chat with Moses about his close relationship with God; he spent so much time in the tent of meeting, and it is written: “The Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend.” 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 share these words of Jesus with anyone who thinks that God is leading them towards officership: “Don’t be afraid” and “Surely I will be with you wherever you go”. One of my biggest hurdles in saying yes to officership was that I was afraid to hand over control of my future to God; it’s a lifetime commitment. Yet God is the only safe person who can control our life; if we hold onto that control or entrust it to another human being, we end up being controlled. He loves us more than anyone, and he knows better than we do what is best for us, our children and His Kingdom. I have experienced the reality of that truth a thousand times over in the past 18 years, while serving as an officer in three states of Australia.   Officership is a life of freedom, flexibility and adventure. Yes, it’s a big risk, but the risk that Jesus took in leaving heaven to rescue us is so incomparably greater. If he said yes, how could I say no?   *Interview by Lerisse Smith