The ‘Just Move’ program at Balga Salvos in Perth offers affordable and fun after-school dance classes to children in the community. Dance teacher Tahlia Proctor says the goal of Just Move is to connect kids with Jesus through dance. The songs reflect what Jesus can do in their lives. Each session ends with a small devotion or prayer. It is a small vehicle to show kids they are special and that Jesus loves them.

Colonel Kelvin Merrett (left) and Marcus Packham, General Manager of Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, with the 'Publishing Office' plaque. BY LERISSE SMITH A unique plaque that once proudly adorned The Salvation Army’s old printing works factory in East Melbourne is back in the spotlight thanks to an exciting transformation within its historic walls. The historical ‘Publishing Office’ plaque, belonging to the old printing press that published all Salvation Army publications, including the well-known ‘War Cry’ magazine, was proudly on display at The Salvation Army Museum in Melbourne. Now, the plaque takes pride of place as part of the Lanson Place Group’s transformation of the old building at 502 Albert Street into its first boutique hotel in Australia, the ‘Lanson Place Parliament Gardens’. Printing press workers gather around General George Carpenter (second from left) to check one of The Salvation Army publications that was printed at the old printing factory. The company has ensured it has paid homage to the old building’s history on its new hotel site, featuring the plaque plus historical black and white pictures of its colourful past provided by the museum. It has also kept the façade, which is a heritage-listed piece. The 1901 facade of the old Salvation Army printing works factory that remains today and welcomes people to the new Lanson Place Parliament Gardens Hotel. “It is very exciting they want to keep the heritage of The Salvation Army alive,”  said Judi Agnew, Relationship Manager of Corporate Partnerships. “It’s special they are very keen to keep the heritage they have picked up and to recognise it. They wanted to pay homage to The Salvation Army, and one of the first things they did was to volunteer their staff to do something for the Salvos before the hotel was half finished. The staff took part in activities at The Well in St Kilda and undertook a tour of the Salvos museum.” Victoria’s Divisional Commander, Colonel Kelvin Merrett, attended the hotel’s official opening on 2 December along with Judi, who took part in the plaque presentation to the hotel and its ribbon-cutting ceremony, plus an evening celebration event. One of the historical photos of The Salvation Army’s old printing press machine with a staff member checking one of its printing plates. The Salvos’ presence at the opening helped strengthen the relationship with the Lanson Place Group, which bought the site (circa 1901) 18 months ago. It wanted to incorporate a Salvation Army connection throughout the building and named the hotel’s restaurant ‘Chronicle’ as a nod to the building’s history as a printing press. Installation artworks referencing print and typography reflecting the building’s past history are throughout the hotel. Additionally, historical books on the life of General Eva Burrows, and a book by Museum Manager Lindsay Cox, titled Cuppa tea, Digger?,  are displayed within the hotel. Judi said the Lanson Place Group is committed to giving back to the community through The Salvation Army and inviting guests to consider making a donation. Printing press staff gather for a group photo at the height of operations earlier last century. Setting sights on the future, both the Salvos and the Lanson Place Group are eager to maintain their special connection and find new ways to support the Salvos while also connecting their staff to the mission. “We look forward to progressing thoughts and ideas as we partner together into the future,” Judi remarked. “We will forever be linked in history.” Attending the old printing press plaque presentation and opening of the Lanson Place Parliament Gardens hotel was Marcus Packham, the General Manager of Lanson Place Parliament Gardens (left), Colonel Kelvin Merrett, Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Judi Agnew, Relationship Manager of Corporate Partnerships. Michael Hobson, CEO of Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited and Xiaodan Zhu, the Property Development Manager of Woodlink.

Each week throughout 2025, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. The focus territory/region shares prayer requests to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week ( 6-12 January ), we are praying for the Pakistan Territory.   The territory is made up of 41,158 senior soldiers, 3,599 adherents and 9312 junior soldiers. There are 134 corps, 380 outposts/societies, 467 officers (350 active and 117 retired), 1 Aux-captain, 22 cadets and 125 employees.   Please pray for the territory’s strategic priorities: • Financial sustainability. We have moved towards financial independence and sustainability by promoting stewardship (including tithing) among our people, by careful financial management and by promoting enterprise skills at the community level. • Discipleship. We are engaged in theological education development at all levels to equip soldiers and officers. We want prayers for spiritual revival in The Salvation Army in Pakistan as so many unregistered denominations are confusing our soldiery. • Growth. We are looking to open new corps, societies, outposts and community service centres. Please pray for the new physical rehabilitation centre we are working towards opening. • Relationships. We have developed new and existing relationships with government officials and with other churches at both divisional and territorial levels. • Leader development. We have developed officers through effective succession planning, leader development and refresher courses. • Commissioning. In April, 15 cadets from the Champions of Mission session will be commissioned. • The General’s visit. May wisdom, clarity, and unity guide all decisions and actions leading up to General Lyndon Buckingham’s visit to the Pakistan Territory in April. For more information on the Pakistan Territory, click here . For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2025, and to download the calendar, click here .

(From left) Hornsby Corps member Nuria Gonsalves, volunteer Ling, Captain Lydia Hong and volunteer barista Vitaliy Noskov are part of the team of The Gateway Café. BY LAUREN MARTIN   A one-day-a-week missional café initiative at Hornsby Salvos in Sydney is providing opportunities to connect with people, service and faith.   Norwest Hornsby Gateway Corps is located just off the main street in one of the most northern suburbs of Sydney. It’s a busy site, with a bustling Family Store and an Employment Plus office. Corps Officers Captains Lydia Hong and Sean Li said they wanted to create a space where regular shoppers at the store could relax, chat and engage with The Salvation Army’s mission of loving God and loving others.   Captain Lydia Hong (second from right) with three café community members who have become Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) volunteers. “We were inspired by the Auburn Corps café that serves the community by offering low-cost coffee and meals,” said Lydia. “After the [COVID-19] pandemic, we really felt the need for not a free meal, but a low-cost meal where people can feel safe to come together.” The corps also received inspiration and support from the Shire Salvos café (‘The Village’) in Panania, south of Sydney, which had just recently opened. “Natalie, the manager, spent the whole morning with me and gave me many logistic ideas; she was great,” said Lydia.   Nuria Gonsalves, a member of the Northwest Hornsby Gateway Corps who works for The Salvation Army’s Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team, was excited to participate in the initiative.   “There is a high population of Indians, Chinese, Iranian, Nepalese as well as English speakers in the area,” she said. “There was no one to cook Indian food, so I said I would volunteer a few days.” Captain Lydia Hong speaks at the opening of The Gateway Café in May 2024. The Gateway Café launched on 10 May 2024 and quickly gained popularity, despite the corps doing no advertising. “It’s just word of mouth,” said Lydia. “Our Family Store is a very big destination shop in the local area. About 200 people visit us every day to shop or donate. So, we have a pretty sustainable customer base.”   The café serves low-cost food from different cultures, including $2 coffees and a variety of cakes. A local bakery donates bread, which is given away for free.   During its pilot stage, Lydia said 80 per cent of customers came from the social housing accommodation near the corps, and 90 per cent had a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background.    One of them, volunteer barista Vitaliy Noskov, encountered the Salvos when he came to Australia after fleeing Ukraine when war broke out in his country in 2022. He says The Salvation Army has assisted him tremendously. “When we arrived in Sydney on 11 May 2022, after one month, a young lady, Lydia [Captain Lydia Hong], connected to us. I don’t know how. She called and started to support us with some furniture and some food. Volunteer barista Vitaliy Noskov loves his role and is grateful to the Salvos for their support. “So, every week, she would bring it to us, a lot of food and fresh food and some veggies and she invited me to go to the church every Sunday. This was actually a very hard time for me. At the time, I felt unwell and a lot of depression and sadness.”   A few months after arriving in Sydney, Vitaliy found out he had serious medical issues and needed surgery. Lydia and Sean supported him while he was at Westmead Hospital, visiting and praying.   “The whole church prayed for me,” said Vitaliy. “I was very nervous. They sent many, many letters to hospital. I had a lot of support.”   After he recovered, Vitaliy wanted to “give back” to the organisation that had assisted him so much. He completed a skills course at TAFE, and then The Salvation Army funded him to do a barista course. When The Gateway Café opened, Vitaliy was ready to serve coffee on the machine. He says he loves his role as a barista at the café, which is a warm, friendly place to work and serve. “I feel good; I have a passion to help people,” he said. “The Salvation Army for me gave me hope, belief and real support. I’m blessed!” On any given Friday at The Gateway Café, you can find groups of people chatting, some members of the public and some corps members, like retired Salvation Army officer Pam Webster. Employees at The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus often meet clients at the café to have job-coaching chats in a less structured environment. An EPlus Disability Employment Service representative also attends the café once a fortnight to provide information for those who enquire or have barriers to employment and want to know more about the service.   Lydia gave a warm welcome to everyone who attended the café opening. “The café is a very organic faith pathway,” said Lydia. “We have seen God bringing people to church. Four people have come to church, and they were connected through The Gateway Café. We just have one-on-one intentional chats about life.”   While some café volunteers and customers have been drawn to church, others have been drawn to service. Lydia said that in August, the Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team had planned a Saturday training day at the corps. On the Friday before, she talked about it with some of the customers. They appeared interested, so she invited them along.   “Five people came [to the SAES training], and four of them decided to register!" she said.   Other connections are starting to happen. Employment Plus introduced the corps to the Australian Seniors Computer Club Association, which was looking for a space. Late in 2024, the corps opened its indoor area to the club and hosted a morning tea from the café for them.   “God is moving and drawing people,” said Lydia. “It’s exciting!”

Being a very literal person can be amusing at times, and also dangerous, and also frustrating – more for others than me. I tend to react more to words than the ‘feeling’ or sense behind the utterance of the word.   If I suspect someone is mad at me, I will ask them how they are feeling, and if they say, ‘Just fine’. I will say, ‘Good’, and happily move on with my day. They said they were fine.   I once served as a corps officer at a corps that hosted a weekly community meal program and, occasionally, we would have someone who was aggressive or threatening in their behaviour, often due to drug or alcohol use prior to their arrival.   One night, we had to ask a man to leave the activity. He hung around outside our entry, complaining about being excluded. We assured him he could return the following week, but our rules for behaviour were well known, and he had breached them and was not permitted back in that evening.   After storming around and yelling at the sky for a while, he came up to within a foot of me, held a fist up and yelled, “Do you want me to bash your brains in?”   I immediately replied, “No! Of course not. Who would agree to that? Who would say yes to that? It’s a closed-ended question. Go away and think of a better question.” And I turned and walked away from him.   He went and mumbled and muttered and paced for a few more minutes and then came up to me and said, “Do you want me to kick your head in?”   I was disappointed and said to him, “It’s the same question! No, I don’t want you or anyone to kick my head in. Again, why would I say yes to that? It’s just a different closed-ended question. No one is going to say, ‘Yes, please. Kick my head in.’ Now go away and think of the right question to ask.”   He stumbled away, looking sad and perplexed that somehow he’d got the question wrong again.   He wandered around mumbling for a few minutes and then came back to me and said, “If I leave now, can I come in next week?” I said, “As long as you’re sober, my friend, yes, you can. That’s a good question.”   He said, “Okay. I’ll do that.” He shook my hand and said, “Thank you. Have a good evening,” and walked away.   Could I have got my brains bashed or kicked in? Well, possibly. But I knew the man well, and his bark was far worse than his bite. Besides that, he was quite drunk and probably seeing three of me, so as long as he didn’t aim for the one in the middle, I figured I’d be okay.   Major Mal Davies is the Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division

Step into the life of David with Major William Geracia in this inspiring sermon. From shepherd to warrior to king, David’s journey reveals profound lessons about joy, repentance and God’s grace. Explore how David’s triumphs and struggles as a man after God’s own heart offer timeless insights into finding renewal and purpose, no matter where you are in life. Heroes of the Faith  is a four-part Bible teaching resource that explores the lives of four heroic Bible characters: Joseph, Elijah, Rahab and David. For each Bible character, there is a video Bible message and discussion questions to equip your congregation or small group to watch, share and pray. The full suite of resources can be found here.

BY MAJOR GRANT SANDERCOCK-BROWN* Believe in good. It’s a little slogan, and honestly, its smallness means it probably has lots of meanings. But it is not without meaning. And it says something. I certainly hope we wouldn’t argue for the opposite, ‘Don’t believe in good’. Good and goodness matter. Of course, it is possible to not see good, to ignore it, or even to mock it. I don’t think we should. To believe in good and to see goodness all around us matters more than we might think.   You might ask, what do I mean by good? A freshly baked croissant is good, and an ocean swim on a hot day is good, but that’s not what I think our slogan is about. Julia Baird has written a wonderful book titled Bright Shining. And as you might suspect when a book’s title is coopted from the hymn Amazing Grace , her book is about grace and the bright shining moments of grace that are all around us in the extraordinary and supremely ordinary events of our lives. Baird points out in her book that “there is a small mountain of studies showing that when we witness acts of profound virtue and moral beauty, we are uplifted”. And her descriptive words express what I think about when I say ‘I believe in good’ as well as offering a very good reason for so doing.   Video: Everyone has the capacity to Believe in Good We need to seek ways of being that uplift us because we live in an information age where we are often overwhelmed with distressing images, stories, and news. Political narratives are too often based on playing to our fears and disturbing our peace. Of course, we know why. Fear sells newspapers and makes headlines. Fear gets clicks on social media. Fear, far too often, makes the world go round!  However, to believe in good, seek the good, and desire to be good is to intentionally shape our lives another way.   Baird’s ideas echo the words of the Apostle Paul. In a letter to the church in Philippi, his advice was, “ whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, think on such things ” (Phil. 4:8). Focus your mind and heart there, he urges, and the God of peace will be with you. Look at the goodness, beauty and love around you and allow these things to shape your heart and hopes.   Of course, Christians believe that all goodness has its source in God. So, it is no surprise that God’s people expect to see good and believe in good. We know that wherever we see acts of profound virtue and moral beauty, we see traces of the divine. God is good, God is at work in the world he loves, whether we recognise it or not. “In a culture riddled with anxiety and fear, we need to seek the goodness and love and beauty, bright shining, all around us.”   I have seen a Salvo case worker calmly and patiently absorb the violent words and anger of a desperate addict because her goodness and compassion for him were bigger than her fear for herself. I have seen an anxious and worried mother walk into a beautifully decorated space to choose Christmas gifts for her children and weep tears of gratitude for the generosity of others. I have seen a Salvo officer gently kiss and then stroke the forehead of an ill woman in her undignified dying.   In a culture riddled with anxiety and fear, we need to seek the goodness and love and beauty, bright shining, all around us. We need to believe in it and, above all, create it. I believe that one day, God will set everything right, that there will be no more mourning or crying or tears or pain, and that we will live in the eternal goodness of God. That day is not yet here. But until it is, I will believe in good; that there is great good in the world, in people, in marvellous acts of kindness and generosity. In extraordinary sacrifice and bravery. In quiet courage and unrelenting compassion. And in the good of a thousand daily actions of ordinary Salvo workers and volunteers who create these shining moments of goodness that transform people’s day and sometimes their lives. So, yes, I believe in good. Why wouldn’t I? *Major Grant Sandercock-Brown is the Corps Officer at Nambucca River (NSW) and an Adjunct Lecturer for Eva Burrows College Other articles on the subject: Andrew Hill on ‘what is good?’ Peter McGuigan on ‘a breath of fresh air’ Naomi Singlehurst on ‘the ripple effect’

General Lyndon Buckingham shares his New Year Message for 2025 from the Chapel at The Salvation Army International Headquarters, London. A new year! 2025! I have no idea what it means for you. Some of you may be launching into the new year full of enthusiasm and expectation. Others – you may be launching into 2025 with feelings of trepidation or anxiety because of the circumstances that are your reality.   Whatever the case may be for you, the truth is there is no better decision that we can make at the beginning of the year to make our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a priority for us. Whatever our circumstances, whether it’s bright and sunny or dark and uncertain, we know that we can put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ ... A promise for the new year: “ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” ( Romans 15:13 ). This is the joy of the Christian experience,” the General continues. “This promise that the Lord himself is with us, whatever our circumstances, whatever our opportunities and he promises to remain faithful to us. To watch the General's New Year Message, click on the arrow below.

Explore the remarkable story of Rahab in this inspiring sermon by Major Robyn Black. Drawing from Hebrews 11, Major Black highlights Rahab’s courageous faith which stood firm in the face of adversity. Learn how this unlikely hero played a pivotal role in the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land and what her story teaches us about trust, redemption and God’s transformative grace. Heroes of the Faith  is a four-part Bible teaching resource that explores the lives of four heroic Bible characters: Joseph, Elijah, Rahab and David. For each Bible character, there is a video Bible message and discussion questions to equip your congregation or small group to watch, share and pray. The full suite of resources can be found here.

The Salvation Army in Tagabe, Vanuatu, where Australians Major Darren Elsley (top) and Daryl Crowden are involved in emergency assistance following the earthquake. BY SIMONE WORTHING Two Australian Salvo workers – Major Darren Elsley and Daryl Crowden – are assisting in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the coast on 17 December.   The earthquake, with its epicentre approximately 1750km east of Australia, lasted around 17 seconds and destroyed about half of the buildings in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. The CBD will not be operational for some time. Daryl Crowden leads the SAES and is experienced in international emergencies. “About 80,000 people are estimated to be affected, with the government confirming 14 fatalities,” said Daryl, National General Manager - Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES), who is leading The Salvation Army’s response, with support from the Australia Territory and International Headquarters. “Over 265 injured people have been treated at the main Vila Central Hospital.   “Since the 17 December earthquake, there have been several aftershocks of varying but strong intensities, with a 6.1 magnitude aftershock in the early hours of 22 December.   “Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the infrastructure is severely affected with limited access to clean water, so waterborne diseases are likely to spread.” To donate to The Salvation Army Australia Earthquake Response Appeal, click here . Daryl has been the SAES General Manager since July 2023, after returning from many years of overseas experience with World Vision, Medical Teams International and The Salvation Army International Emergency Services (IES). He continues to play an active role with the IES.   Darren is the R emote and Rural Chaplain in Far West NSW and is also part of IES. He worked in Vanuatu following Cyclone Pam in 2015. Prior to his current chaplaincy role, he oversaw The Salvation Army community in Tagabe, just outside Port Vila, when he was the Tweed Heads Corps Officer. Daryl and Darren arrived in Vanuatu on 26 December. Before establishing their program, they will conduct needs/gaps assessments and network with other agencies. Upon arrival, “I received many hugs and kisses,” Darren shared. “It’s been nearly two years since my last visit, which I had thought would be my last, as I no longer have an appointed role here. My first visit to Vanuatu was in 2013, and a year later, we accepted three senior, and 25 junior soldiers, and many others since. Three congregations had been planted across three islands. So it’s been quite a journey with these beautiful and faithful people. They have endured a lot, including several natural disasters.  Major Darren Elsley shares during a church service at Tagabe Salvation Army on 30 December. “We immediately went to The Salvation Army outpost in Tagabe to check in on the welfare of our soldiers and Salvation Army friends,” Darren continued. “The Salvation Army community were very relieved and happy to see us. Their faith remains strong. They continue to meet together regularly for prayer, worship and to share meals together (sounds like the church in Acts 2, doesn't it!). They continue to proclaim that God is good – all the time, even amidst crises.   As well as working in Vanuatu with IES, Darren also served in Romania (seated right corner) after the Russian invasion of Ukraine “We then spent Saturday connecting with NGOs, such as World Vision, to get a general overview of the situation and gather intelligence to inform our appropriate response. World Vision have been making use of the Army’s worship shelter to offer psychosocial care. “It was a privilege to worship at The Salvation Army yesterday (30 December). At the foot of the surrounding hills, now scarred by landslides caused by the earthquake, we were welcomed with hugs and kisses, and, after the service, a tray of fresh tropical fruit. The no-frills, unpretentious, genuine worship in the open air surrounded by beautiful greenery concluded with members sharing their stories and together singing, ‘ You are so faithful to me, I give you all the glory and the honour’.” The Salvos in Tagabe sustained some damage during the earthquake . Daryl shared that the greatest impact being reported in the Tagabe community (and across the Island (Efate) is psychosocial. “People are afraid. The aftershocks, of course, don’t help. Most households in that area have damage caused by a surface displacement of between 1.0 to 1.5 metres. At 21 Jump Street (the Salvos), a full 2500 litre water tank moved 1.5 metres on its concrete seating, ripping pipework aside and destroying hardware.” But while residents of Vanuatu are used to natural disasters, one community member shared: “It ’s usually cyclones, we have plenty of them, but we know when they’re coming, we can prepare for them, we know where they’ll hit, and after so many, we know pretty well what the damage will be – but this earthquake - there was [of course] no warning. Darren explained that they “have attended to immediate building repairs and replacements that were required at the outpost. Our further response is still in the planning stages as we continue to meet with NGOs, government bodies, and cluster groups to better inform our most appropriate and effective response.” Daryl said, “While we, The Salvation Army, are by no means a big player in this response, or bringing a huge budget to the ministry, over the next few weeks, we will be working with the Government of Vanuatu and other NGO actors to see what we can do to support our Salvo family and their neighbours in the Tagabe community.” To donate to The Salvation Army Australia Earthquake Response Appeal, click here .

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?   I am the Corps Officer of both the Port Augusta and Whyalla Corps in South Australia. Having to think about what I find most satisfying is an interesting question because sometimes it depends on the day and what has been happening. Whilst both corps are different in terms of what happens and the communities that they are in, what’s important is that I get to do life with a wide range of people from different circumstances, backgrounds and cultures. It’s a great way to learn about others, how to interact and how to best share God’s love with them. I really enjoy seeing ‘the penny drop’ for people. This may not be something dramatic or life-changing in a major way. It can be something as simple as someone seeing the importance of coming alongside others, and being a listening ear and discovering that sometimes just being there is enough to bring hope to someone.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   Relaxing and unwinding can be a difficult thing today. We are so bombarded with social media and emails that sometimes it feels like we can’t disconnect. When I do get the chance, I enjoy reading a good book, jigsaw puzzles, watching a good movie – sometimes it will be one that I’ve seen hundreds of times because I know I can watch it and not have to put effort into trying to keep up with what’s happening. I even love to watch a good documentary on either history, crime-related or true-to-life happenings. One of the better ones that I’ve watched is on how forensics have been used to solve crimes. I also enjoy watching a series called Ghost Hunters – where they actually go in to disprove paranormal activity. It might seem strange, but I really find those sorts of things relaxing.   3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it?   There have been so many over the years. For me, I think it depends on what’s going on in my life and how God uses the music to speak to me. I do like the music of Casting Crowns, Rend Collective, Chris Tomlin, The Lads and Phil Wickham to name a few. At the moment I have really been drawn to Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham. It’s a great reminder of the importance of looking to God rather than the battle that is raging. It can be so easy to focus on what can be seen and to lose heart. But when I remember that God has it all and can see my victory that I have nothing to fear. It’s also a great reminder of the importance of prayer in all circumstances as we fight on our knees allowing God to do what he needs to do.   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?   Daniel – I think it would be fascinating to hear about his experiences whilst living in exile in Babylon. He was a man who knew what it was to rely on God through it all and still pray even when he didn’t see answers to those prayers. I would also love to talk about his faithfulness to God and what was going through his mind when he was thrown into the lion’s den – was there fear? What were his thoughts when God closed the mouths of the lions? And how did things begin to change when he came out of the lion’s den? “If God is calling you to officership then go for it. There is nothing better than being in the centre of God’s will.”   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   If God is calling you to officership then go for it. There is nothing better than being in the centre of God’s will. Don’t worry about if you don't have the right ‘skills’ now. God equips those he calls, and he will show up. Sure, there will be days when you wonder if you have made the right decision. But you get that with any choice you have to make. Trust God in the decision and you’ll be surprised where he takes you. *Interview by Lerisse Smith

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?   My current appointment is Corps Officer at Hobart (Tas) together with my husband Johnmark. We have had the privilege of being there for eight years and we look forward to continuing to partner with God with His mission in the beautiful city where we live into the future. We have two adult children, Joshua and Lucy, who we delight in, and our kelpie dog Meg. I love to see lives transformed holistically and to see all people flourish and thrive. I love to see people do things they never thought possible and to see people give glory and honour to God and His work in their lives. I love to see people who have no home come and see me and tell me the good news of finding housing. I love to see people set free from addiction and trauma. I love to see people feed with full bellies. I love to see children and young people choose Jesus in a world that is not easy to live in and to see them step into His love and grace. I love to see people experience salvation and know intimately the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   It’s more than possible to relax and unwind, especially when you live in a magnificent part of the world. I love taking our dog Meg for a run on the beach or for a walk in the bush. I love to play netball, go shopping for shoes, and catching up with friends.    3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?   Every year, I choose a song that is my anthem for the year – it’s a song that, when times are tough, it helps me to put things in perspective and when times are full of joy, to remember all good things come from the Lord. This year, my song is ‘He Will Hold Me Fast’ by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Selah. It reminds me that no matter what I go through, no matter what life throws my way, His love is what grounds me and remains at the very centre of who I am, and it’s going to be more than okay because I will be raised with Him for eternity. We recently had a prayer weekend, and I am loving ‘Love of God’ by Brandan Lake and Phil Wickham – you should go and have a listen! 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?   Eve. Growing up in the church meant I heard a lot about Eve, and I have to say, I didn’t like her very much. She was the villain of the creation story. The mess-up, the seductress, the failure. The dangerous one and the reason everything went wrong. What’s more, because I was a woman, a daughter of Eve, those traits applied to me as well because the way we view her impacts the way we see ourselves and the women around us. Eve, however, was not the villain in the story; she was a beloved, restored, redeemed child of God. Eve was also chosen by God. When we remember that Eve rejected God and had aligned herself with Satan, the dynamics of their relationship changed. And yet God chose to remove her from Satan’s side and placed her on his own instead. He chose her! He chose her! I would love to hear how she felt and how it changed her life and impacted the generations to come. 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 absolutely recommend officership ... not because it’s easy or without challenge, but if God is calling you to something, He will honour your faithfulness to that calling in ways that are unexpected and surprising. I continually experience the reassurance of God’s calling, which holds me through times of doubt, uncertainty and frustration. He also has sent people in my life that have and continue to encourage me, cheer me on and support me which helps me flourish and thrive in my ministry.   You never know where officership will take you and the people you meet along the way, but together with God, your life will never be the same and completely life-changing for the better! *Interview by Lerisse Smith