I want you to think about your ordinary life, the things that you do on a daily basis, your coming and going, and your interactions with other people. The approach that you take to the work that’s been entrusted to your care and maybe view it as an act of worship that can bless the heart of God and also bless and influence those around you. To watch the devotional, click on the video below. Information on the General’s visit to Australia can be found here .

A letter of invitation from Commissioner Miriam Gluyas It’s time for us to gather!   General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham are coming to visit us (26 August to 2 September) and will be travelling across the country to connect and celebrate how Christ is at work in our territory.   We want to see you engaged in this! It’s going to be every generation, every nation, everyone!   Information on the General’s visit to Australia can be found here ‌ Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed will be at our forefront, with a theme of pre-eminence. We want Christ to be pre-eminent in our lives, always, throughout the territory and across the world.    ‌ It’s time to register, we want you to be part of this.   ‌ I can’t wait to see you there!   Bless you, grateful for you and to you.  ‌ Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Territorial Commander ‌The Salvation Army Australia Territory REGISTER HERE Information on the General’s visit to Australia can be found here

The Hope and a Future team sang, led worship and gave their testimonies at the Gold Coast Temple Corps. BY SIMONE WORTHING Since completing the 42.2km Gold Coast Marathon last Sunday (7 July), the young participants in the Hope and a Future program have been learning, serving and enjoying some downtime from Tweed Heads in Northern NSW to Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Major Earle Ivers led the leadership training at the Gold Coast Temple Corps. After a well-deserved rest on the Monday, the team spent Tuesday morning at the Gold Coast Temple Corps, where Corps Officer Major Earle Ivers shared some leadership development sessions adapted from the Officer Training College campuses in Port Moresby and Kainantu, Papua New Guinea. This included the topic of understanding and leading yourself before you can lead others. “This was a very significant time for everyone as they spent time focusing on their own life’s marathon,” said Major Lynne Medland, Program Secretary, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory, who is travelling with the team.   Tuesday afternoon and evening was spent at the Tweed Heads Corps, joining the carpet bowls program and small group time. Sharing a meal and discussion at Tweed Heads Corps. Wednesday was back to the Gold Coast with the team sharing with the women’s fellowship group and watching a timbrel display. After an afternoon off at the Spit, the team enjoyed a meal at the Temple with some corps members, and then either joined the Gold Coast Temple Band for rehearsals or the Bible Journalling group. The team led devotions to conclude the evening.   Thursday held a special surprise for the team. Sea World Gold Coast generously sponsored entry passes and a dolphin experience for the team. “The opportunity to meet a dolphin right up close was a highlight for everyone, and the Leviathan roller coaster is an experience that will never be forgotten and is being retold with a lot of laughter,” said Lynne. The visit to Sea World was a delightful surprise for the team! “It was a celebration day for all the hard work over the past six months – the early mornings, the hours of training, the sacrifice of family and personal time … I am insanely proud to have walked this journey with all of you all.” Sunshine Coast The team continued their activity-packed schedule, visiting Salvos Family Stores, a 5km parkrun at Golden Beach on Saturday morning and a ‘Just Men’ conference for the men.   During the Sunday morning service at the Caloundra Corps, Bill Hunter interviewed two team members – Parka and Kari – and the group sang. Sunday afternoon saw the team singing, sharing their testimonies and marathon experiences at God’s Sports Arena in Brisbane. The team shared again at God's Sports Arena. “It was a great afternoon of celebration, faith, love, kindness, enthusiasm, energy, encouragement, with some emotion thrown in for good measure,” said Envoy Bill Hunter, who leads GSA and is head coach for Hope and a Future. “Love, encourage and don’t judge.”   The team then joined young Salvos for the youth night at North Brisbane Salvos.   “On Monday, we went to the Broncos for a tour and received two large bags of footballs to take home,” said Bill, who is also a former chaplain to the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team.   The team returned to Papua New Guinea yesterday (16 July), processing all they have learned and experienced and looking forward to the hope and a future that awaits as they continue their studies and training – a future not just for them, but for their corps, communities, workplaces and nation. To see more photos, click on the slideshow below.

Majors Julia and Glenn Price are finding God in both the noise and the quiet of Hong Kong. The Australia Territory has 32 Aussie officers serving overseas, one at International Headquarters in London but based in Australia, and 10 overseas officers serving in different appointments here. Over the coming months, Global Focus will feature many of these officers – who they are, where they’re serving, the joys and challenges they face and what life looks like for them in their unique corners of The Salvation Army world. Majors Julia and Glenn with sons Matvei, next to Julia, and Nikita, celebrate Chinese New Year. Majors Glenn and Julia Price left Australia in December 2023 with their sons Matvei, 13, and Nikita, 18, to take up new appointments in the Hong Kong and Macau Territory as of 1 January 2024 – Julia as Protection Coordinator for Children and Vulnerable Adults and Spiritual Life Development Secretary, and Glenn as Secretary for Business Administration. Glenn and Julia (who is originally from Russia) previously spent over 10 years serving in Eastern Europe. Salvos Online journalist KIRRALEE NICOLLE recently caught up with them to find out how their new life is going.   How have you found living in Hong Kong, particularly after so much experience in Eastern Europe? The Price family overlooking Hong Kong. It’s a very different culture! With our history of living in Russia and Australia for such long periods of time, we had never imagined ourselves living in Asia. We speak fluent Russian and English, so we have always felt very comfortable using those languages, but now we are trying to learn Cantonese and it is a very challenging language to learn. On the street, English is not spoken very frequently here, so we are finding ways to adapt. I (Glenn) have been learning to use a translation app to carry out tasks like buying groceries – I used it to find garlic the other day! We’ve also been adapting to working alongside others who don’t share our languages. Our church services and church songs are also entirely in Cantonese, and often a kind person will translate to English for us.   Can you tell me a little bit about your roles and what your work days look like? Glenn: I’m Secretary for Business Administration, which might sound like a boring job, but I enjoy it! We will typically start our day with the Territorial Morning Prayers/Chapel for 15 minutes, then I will go to my office and start going through my emails, which are always full. I oversee nine departments including our Finance Department, Recycling Program (like Salvo Stores/Family Stores), Booth Lodge (a TSA hotel), Communication and Fundraising, Design Media Department and trade initiatives. The list goes on! Something interesting is that we use signed bank cheques here often, so a part of my job is signing a big stack of cheques. It’s a very administrative role, and I think one for which God has been preparing me for many years. That is something I have become very confident in – that God uses everything in our lives to prepare us for what is next, and that he is currently preparing me through this role as well. The Prices enjoy the lights and brightness of Hong Kong. Julia: I am working as a Protection Coordinator for Children and Vulnerable Adults as well as a Spiritual Life Development Secretary. The main way to sum up my work is that it is all about people. We have 35 schools including childcare centres, nurseries and kindergartens. We also have centres for the elderly, and work with those with disabilities as well, so there are many in a vulnerable category. My other role as Spiritual Life Development Secretary provides the opportunity to engage with the officers on regular basis and teach our cadets. It is a beautiful reminder that we are not just an International NGO here, we are ‘salvation’ people who want to maintain focus on Jesus and bring hope, love and joy to the community.   Can you tell me about some of the day-to-day things that have changed for you since moving such as your living arrangements, transport and school. What do those look like for you? Major Glenn and Julia Price are appointed to the Hong Kong and Macau Territory. We no longer live in the western suburbs of Sydney in a house with a green lawn outside, with fresh air blowing and cockatoos screeching in the morning. We live right in the heart of a city on the 13th floor of the same building we work in and take a lift down a few floors to our offices each day – the Territorial Headquarters for Hong Kong and Macau. Apartments here are typically quite small, and we have adjusted to new living conditions. Glenn’s day starts at 5.30am each weekday and he takes our younger son Matvei to school on the Metro to commence school at 7.40am. Nikita keeps busy studying the Cantonese language on the Hong Kong Island. His lessons are on weekdays, and he studies in a small group. Glenn will also often play darts at home with our sons as a way to continue the tradition of something we did before we lived in Hong Kong. Julia has been baking bread for 18 years, and it’s a tradition she continues here as well, partly for that continuity and also because bread here is very different and the cost is so high. Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. For instance, one litre of fresh local milk here costs the equivalent of $5 AUD.   Are there other things about Hong Kong that Australian readers may not realise?   The history here is phenomenal. It is so vast and deep, and fascinating to see it so well-preserved, such as the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre just near The Salvation Army Headquarters. One thing that is interesting is there is very little grass here. Apart from maybe some small bushes, there is little greenery and lots of buildings. The incredibly large population and concrete setting means there is also very little quiet time. There appears to be no silence or solace from the passing taxis, buses and millions of people. Julia wrote in her devotional journal soon after we arrived, “Lord, there is no quiet time. How can people stop and hear your voice?” But it is beautiful, and God is everywhere, in both the noise and the quietness.

The Salvation Army Steet 2 Stage rap team is about to hit schools and Salvation Army centres around NSW. BY REECE CARR*   A series of concert events designed to raise awareness about youth homelessness will tour schools and Salvation Army centres across NSW during National Homelessness Week (5-11 August 2024).   Owen Davis, who experienced a life of drugs and crime as a teenager before being helped by the Salvos, is now helping young people in need through his company, Street 2 Stage , which is about to embark on the Homeless Rap Show tour.   Owen’s new concert series features rap, real-life stories, a five-minute video, lasers, 3D projectors and loud, heartfelt music designed to educate and entertain young people. Two members of the Street 2 Stage rap team speak to a school student after a performance. Growing up was a struggle for Owen. He was kicked out of the house at only 13, lived on the street day and night, and was in and out of jail. Drugs and crime were the only thing Owen knew. Despite all this, the Salvos helped Owen, gave him a bed to sleep on, food and shelter, and helped him get off the drugs. Although there were ups and downs with Owen, the Salvos stayed true to their word and continued helping and providing for him, knowing he wasn’t a bad person, just a broken one.   “The streets became my family; I learnt everything that I know now from them,” says Owen. Rap music has given Owen Davis a purpose in life. Now, Owen is passionate about helping others because he knows the struggle they go through every day. He wants to show that there is hope through the homeless rap genre, which Owen would like to promote in his shows and performances with Street 2 Stage.   This genre is about expressing the struggles of living on the streets through real-life stories and real situations and turning it towards rap music. Owen mentioned that once he started rapping, he felt like he had a purpose, a goal to do better and push for his dreams.   He said the genre of rap got him out of crime, strong drug use and overall made him feel like a better individual: “I walked away from fights instead of taking them.”   For more information about Street 2 Stage and to book Owen and his team for a performance, go to street2stage.com.au   *Reece is a guest contributor for Salvos Online

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying? I am currently a corps officer/team member at Cairns Corps in Far North Queensland. My current appointment is in the youth and children’s ministry. One of the things I find most satisfying is making a tangible difference in young people’s lives. I also teach moral values, ethics and spiritual principles, which I think will help young people develop a strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong. One important thing that makes me satisfied is that children and youth can seek guidance, find mentors, and receive encouragement during challenging times. By investing in the younger generation, these ministries contribute to the overall improvement of the community as children and youth grow into responsible, contributing adults. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? Monday is my off day. I usually go for a walk, garden and cook. I love cooking and will try some new recipes. I watch movies with my hubby, and sometimes we explore different places. I do rest too. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? My favourite song is Goodness of God – it reflects experiencing God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout my life and connecting deeply with my faith. It also serves as a personal devotion and reflection tool, allowing me to meditate on God’s goodness in my private worship times. It also serves as a personal devotion and reflection tool, allowing me to meditate on God’s goodness in my private worship. It provides encouragement and hope, reminding me of God’s unwavering presence and support in all circumstances. Singing this song in a worship service setting fosters a sense of unity and shared experience among worshippers, strengthening the community bond. It reminds me of God’s blessing and inspires me to live my faith confidently and joyfully.   “Becoming a Salvation Army officer is a noble and impactful path. It’s a journey of faith, service and community.”   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? Apostle Paul was a pivotal figure in early Christianity whose transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a passionate apostle highlights his profound encounter with Christ. His character is marked by zeal, intellect, resilience, compassion, humility and theological depth, making him a cornerstone of Christian theology and history.     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 not easy, but it is an incredible journey. It is a multifaceted and demanding role that combines spiritual leadership, community service and administrative duties. It requires a high level of dedication, adaptability and compassion but offers the profound reward of making a significant difference in the lives of those in need. You experience personal and spiritual growth and be part of a global mission with eternal significance. Becoming a Salvation Army officer is a noble and impactful path. It’s a journey of faith, service and community. If you feel called to this role, it can be one of the most rewarding ways to serve God and humanity.    – Interview conducted by Lerisse Smith

Australian officers Commissioners Robyn and Wayne Maxwell with Major Daniel Templeman Twells (left) Principal of the Officer Training College in Japan, and Lieut-Colonel Tamotsu Nishimura, Chief Secretary, with the school's newest flag. Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army.   Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another.    This week (22-28 July) we are praying for the Japan Territory. Majors Daniel and Melissa Templeman Twells are serving in Japan for the second time. Australian officers, Majors Daniel and Melissa Tempelman Twells, serve in the Japan Territory – Daniel as Training Principal and Spiritual Life Development Secretary, and Melissa as Corps Officer, Koto Corps. Praise: ·       Praise God for the successful launch of  525 Campaign – Together We Enter the Gates of The Lord!  – a territorial prayer initiative with accompanying devotion guidebook, as we believe there will be five cadets in 2025! Prayer for the territory: ·       The territorial theme for 2024 is  Generation to Generation  based on Psalm 145:4-5 (NIV). Please pray that the spiritual legacy of previous generations of Salvationists will continue to be built upon, and expressed in creative and innovative ways to future generations. ·       Please pray for the executive officers’ councils. This year, the first session was held in June and another session will take place in October. Please pray for the territorial leadership team as they lead and guide these important gatherings. ·       Please pray for all corps and social centres located throughout the territory, for all mission expression leaders and their teams, and for the recipients of their ministry. Prayer for Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES): ·       Please pray for the SAES teams that have been supporting local churches and serving community members on the Noto Peninsula following an earthquake on 1 January this year. ·       Please pray for the team leaders and volunteers as they provide ongoing emergency assistance in this way. Pray that the connections made between local churches and community members will continue to grow and deepen. Prayer for Obihiro Corps (Hokkaido Division) and corps officers Lieutenants Kiyoshi and Mitsuyo Higuchi: ·       Please pray that parents and children who are isolated in the area or who are worried about raising children can come to Obihiro Corps’ Family Song program and that they might encounter God's love through this important ministry. ·       Please pray that the Obihiro Corps will be able to begin further work in the community. Prayer for the officer training college and training principal Major Daniel Templeman Twells: ·       Please pray for a positive response throughout the 525 Campaign (May 2024-March 2025), that people will respond to God’s calling upon their lives and offer themselves for officer training in the 2025 academic year. ·       Please pray for the staff of the officer training college as they prepare in faith to receive officer cadets for training and explore new ways of providing theological education and spiritual life development opportunities for all people throughout the territory in the years ahead. To read more about the Japan Territory, click here . To read about the recent visit to Japan, including photos, by Australian officers, Commissioners Robyn and Wayne Maxwell, Zonal Leaders for the South Pacific and East Asia Zone, click here . For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here .

Major Peter Brookshaw will launch his new book, Who Am I to Change the World? , next Saturday, 27 July, at Morley Salvos, Perth, where he is the Corps Officer. Peter gives a glimpse into the book with this excerpt below BY PETER BROOKSHAW   If you want to change the world, you have to get off the couch.   There, I’ve said it. I’ve laid it out right from the outset. You cannot change the world sitting on the couch. You may well read this book on the couch, but you cannot implement its ideas by staying on the couch. This book is about growth. It’s about looking at core principles that will help identify ways to grow and develop into the person you are meant to be.   In essence, this book is about getting off the metaphorical couch of mediocrity and taking life by the horns and changing the world. I believe that God has placed within everyone the capability to do something significant and life on earth is so short, so let’s start on it now. The days are too limited to be coasting through the years without identifying how we can take the opportunities before us so we can grow far beyond where we are now in our spirit, mind and body capacities to make a positive difference in our world.   But before I go any further, what has all this got to do with the couch? The couch is a metaphor. A picture that helps us identify that we are not necessarily reaching our full potential in life ...   When we look at the global environment in which we live we can see that the world needs changing. I’m excited to think that this book might at least play some small part in empowering someone to grab hold of their potential and the opportunities to run like crazy to an amazing people impacting finish line.   Do you want to change the world – your immediate world, or even the wider world?  If so, will you let me help you to get off the couch?   To read more, you can purchase the book at the 27 July launch for the special price of $20.   The book is also available from Salvationist Supplies and bulk orders from Salvos Publishing .   Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas has fully endorsed the book.   “If you are feeling like your life has got into a bit of a rut, that you are living a life of mediocrity, instead of significance, then this book is for you!” Miriam said.   “Peter Brookshaw presents a holistic approach to personal development, so that each of us can live life to the full. I love that it is so practical, with exercises, goals to set and achieve, with great illustrations and check-ins along the way.   “Peter lives out personally, what he writes and acknowledges that self-development is not always easy. However, I believe that we all need to pursue Jesus’ directed growth.   “I encourage you to read his book and to also have a friend read it so that you stay accountable, helping to ensure you don’t just get off the couch, but you have the courage to stay off it.”   Pete, himself, said his prayer is that his book will impact people to the extent that they put their faith into action and live out their potential in Christ.   “Bringing lasting joy, fulfilment, peace and care to the world doesn’t come through staying on the couch or by simply climbing the corporate ladder, making large sums of cash, paying off our mortgage and having great holidays,” he said.   “When we look at the global environment in which we live we can see that the world needs changing.   “I’m excited to think that this book might at least play some small part in empowering someone to grab hold of their potential and the opportunities to run like crazy to an amazing people-impacting finish line.”

Salvationist Dr Britta Lacey works as a General Practitioner. BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE   The newest Under-35 Board Participant has been chosen to help shape the future governance of The Salvation Army Australia Territory. Dr Britta Lacey, a senior soldier at North Brisbane Corps, has been chosen to participate in the program for an initial period of 12 months, commencing August 2024. The news was announced by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander and Chair of the Board. TSA Secretary to the Property Trusts Liz Cruickshank wrote in her announcement on behalf of Commissioner Miriam Gluyas that Britta, a General Practitioner now working in Brisbane, had met Jesus through The Salvation Army when living in Sweden. “Britta loves seeing people live in the reality of the love Jesus has for them, and desires to see The Salvation Army continue to meet people’s needs and share the love of Jesus.” Upon returning to Australia, she continued her involvement in Townsville Riverway Salvation Army and Mount Isa Corps. Liz said Britta felt it was a privilege to get alongside community members through her work as a GP and support them in times of vulnerability, joy and sadness. “Britta loves seeing people live in the reality of the love Jesus has for them, and desires to see The Salvation Army continue to meet people’s needs and share the love of Jesus,” Liz said. “Britta hopes to be able to use her GP work to engage with community members and see them live healthy lives in body, mind and spirit.” Liz said Britta brought professionalism, intellect and a genuine care for the wellbeing of others to the Board. “This is an excellent opportunity for Britta to represent the broader needs of our movement as well as showcase her deep understanding of the heart of The Salvation Army Australia,” Liz said. “The Board is thrilled to welcome such a gifted and person-centred soldier to the Under-35 Board Participant Program.” The Under-35 Board Participant Program was first announced in 2021 to encourage the input of younger voices at the most senior leadership level of the movement. Then-Territorial Commander and Chair of the Board Commissioner Robert Donaldson said at the time that the initiative was a tremendous opportunity and that it could not be underestimated how valuable the experience would be from a personal, professional and Christian leadership perspective. “If we want to have an under 35-year-old Salvationist really speaking into [the Army’s] direction, they need to be at the top table – not the top management table but the top governance table,” Robert said. To view a video about The Salvation Army Governance Board, click here .

Peter Kenyon brings a wealth of experience to his role as keynote speaker. BY ANTHONY CASTLE   This year’s Community Arts Engagement Conference (C^E24) will be held at the  Treacy Conference Centre with social entrepreneur Peter Kenyon (OAM) as keynote speaker.   Hosted in the surrounds of Melbourne’s Royal Park from 16-18 August, the theme for C^E24 is ‘Made to Create’. Peter will share his knowledge and experience at the weekend, gained from decades of community work.   “I’m a person of faith and often do work around the reinvention of churches, how they reinvent their role and their communications style,” Peter says. “I work in the area of community and economic development. My perspective is strongly of an asset-based model, that every community and every community member has gifts and strengths.”   A community enthusiast and social entrepreneur, Peter Kenyon has worked with more than 2000 communities in Australia and in 59 countries. Peter seeks to facilitate fresh and creative ways that stimulate community and local economic renewal through his organisation, the Bank of I.D.E.A.S .   “The Bank of IDEAS has a very simple vision statement,” Peter says. “We support the development of communities where everyone matters, where everyone belongs, and everyone contributes, with the opportunities to use gifts and talents. It applies to faith-based organisations particularly.”   In the last year, Peter has worked with 70 communities from Margaret River to Launceston to Mission Bay, and convened community-building conferences in Australia, India and New Zealand. As keynote speaker at C^E24, Peter will deliver four sessions, sharing the ideas of asset mapping and community building.   “I never see diversity as a problem,” Peter says. “Rather, it indicates a whole range of gifts that people bring to the table. As an organisation, The Salvation Army has massive organisational gifts, all these services and programs and this amazing mosaic of churches and congregations too.”   C^E24 is for musicians, artists, creatives and those who want to build caring and healthy communities. The conference will focus on practical hands-on insights, workshops, and demonstrations. Sessions include the flagship ‘Just Brass’ program and other engagement programs like Limelight Choir, Just Move and Singing By Heart (Dementia Friendly Singing Groups).   “What I’m particularly interested in is breaking down the barriers between those who serve and those we serve too,” Peter says. “Everyone, no exception, brings gifts to the table. It’s part of our role, part of our mental health and self-worth. Whose gifts are being under-utilised? Often, it’s those who are marginalised, the homeless, young people, older people. The most important question to me is, what do you care about? Everyone cares about something. How do we start with that?”   The Salvation Army Worship Arts Australia sees the potential of music and the arts to achieve its mission of sharing the love of Jesus to transform Australia one life at a time. Christian missional creatives are invited to join this August to reimagine mission through the lens of the arts.   “The arts are a liberating force,” Peter says. “It allows us to get out of our confines. I’ve often found that through the arts, the least engaged become engaged. I very much see my role as a storyteller. I don’t give lectures, I tell stories. I connect stories to practical experiences people can relate to, reminding people that this is what the Kingdom of God is about.”   For more info on C^E24, click here

Thought Matters is the annual conference organised and facilitated by The Salvation Army’s South Pacific Theological Forum (SPTF). The SPTF facilitates theological discussion, which informs ministry practice. It is composed of representatives from each contributing territory: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga Territory. This year’s conference will be held in Sydney on 1-3 November, based on the theme ‘To serve a present age: Ekklesia in the 21st century​’.   Call for abstracts Abstract submissions would be welcome from diverse perspectives: church history, biblical studies, practical theology, missiology and lived experience. Possible topics may include:   • New mission spaces as expressions of the Spirit’s work in the present • A pastoral theology of online church • Social justice as new evangelism • AI and faith: What does it mean to be God’s image-bearers? • Defining church in online, virtual, AI environments • How to enable attunement to the presence of Jesus in the generational church? • The decline of the Western church and rise of the Global South – implications for faith and practice?   Abstract submissions close on 2 August 2024. To submit your abstract, or for further information, email thoughtmatters@ebc.edu.au To read abstract submission criteria and other information, click here .    To check out the Thought Matters Facebook community, click here .   To watch a video about the conference, click here or on the arrow below.

The Drop-In youth zone in regional Victoria has given young people the space to have fun, form friendships, and have a say about their future.   It is a lively Tuesday afternoon in regional Victoria as spirited young locals gather for a rejuvenating dose of fun at their local Colac Community Centre. Splashings of vibrant paint fly through the air as the youths double over with laughter whilst creating artworks of all sorts in a space uniquely their own. Yet this energetic scene has not always been the norm for the teenagers until an unknown donor and The Salvation Army intervened, as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH discovered.   It took a life-changing and profound moment in the heart of Colac township to change the trajectory of its young people. When an unknown town resident witnessed a distressing scene last year where a local lady struggling with substance abuse issues acted erratically in the busy business district, yelling and screaming at anyone walking or driving past, it had a profound effect. Adding to the deep impact for this person was observing how the local corps officer, Lieutenant Paul Trotter, and a shop volunteer went to the lady’s aid, helping with clothes, emotional and practical support, and providing a safe place. It was to be a pivotal moment for the community member who decided to turn adversity into opportunity, donating a large sum of money to the Salvos to support young people specifically. Hence, ‘The Drop-In’ new youth space was born. “It’s been an absolute lifesaver for the young people,” said Josiah Van Niekerk, Community Engagement Coordinator and head of Business Development of the Corps. “There is absolutely nothing for local young people to do in our township of 20,000 people except a bowling alley and swimming pool – and they must pay to attend these facilities. “The Drop-In has given them a home away from home, and a home they are building with their friends to grow a sense of belonging and hope. It is a space for youth, a place for youth, and shaped by youth. If we did not have the funds from the generous donor, it would not have been possible.”   Colac Corps Officer Lieutenant Paul Trotter (left) and Community Engagement Coordinator Josiah Van Niekerk.  After receiving the huge donation, a case of six degrees of separation led to the realisation of the new youth space. Unbeknownst to each other, Marita Brady, CEO of SkillsConnections, and Josiah had separately considered creating a much-needed social youth space in the region. It was only at a Schools and Communities Together (SACT) meeting of local organisations that they realised their shared vision and passion for local youths to finally have their own space. “We both talked to the same School Principal on the same day, about the same thing, about the same vision, not knowing each other had done the same thing,” Josiah said. “It was just this coincidental, unusual kind of thing. So, when we realised our shared vision for the local young people, the decision was made to work collaboratively. We all wanted to be involved – and so the concept of The Drop-In was born.” Discussions began with the local Victoria Police community liaison officer and a working group made up of SkillsConnections, Victoria Police and Colac Salvos for the new youth space to be created as a program underneath the Salvos banner as it attracted volunteers and had public liability cover. It also had the space at their Community Centre. Josiah also consulted with Scott Kean, the Victorian Secretary for Youth and Young Adults, for his input and direction. “And it snowballed from there,” Josiah added. “The most involved part was investigating internally on what it would look like for us to do it as we had no experience or kind of history with youth work in Colac. “It has been a great blessing and testimony that the new initiative has engaged people in the community ... and to be a vessel to create a space for the needs of young people.”  Welcoming space The Drop-In runs every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon after school for a few hours. The working group’s top priority has been creating a space that is safe, fun, and welcoming for all. Chatting with young people about what they would like in their new space was of paramount importance. The result was fitting out the new area with a bunch of paints, creative arts equipment, a table tennis table, a massive Connect Four game and a five-foot Jenga physical skill game. Further activities will be added over time as the young people immerse themselves in their new zone.   Two young people from Colac proudly show their handiwork after having lots of fun in their new youth space, creating their own vibrant paint works.   With The Drop-In now operational, both Josiah and the Salvos team will be undertaking outreach work and liaising with families to help them understand the new youth initiative is a safe space where all the appropriate checks have been done. The staff also wants to ensure parents are comfortable sending their kids to The Drop-In and arranging drop-offs and pick-ups. “That’s going to be the next barrier for us to kind of overcome in that space,” Josiah remarked. “But we have had a really good start. We aim to provide a space where teenagers can connect with others in a supervised and safe place and be able to switch off from their problems, and they also get a chance to experiment with games and arts and crafts that they wouldn’t normally have access to. More community organisations are coming on board with The Drop-In, including the Colac Otway Shire and employment agencies, which provide volunteers. All secondary schools in the area are also on board and supporting the initiative with volunteers. Support has also been forthcoming from local radio stations, the ACE radio network, news outlets, and journalists, thanks to a good rapport between the Salvos and the media. “The radio station has a brekkie program featuring two guys who are local celebrities,” Josiah said. “So, it has really been really powerful to be able to have their support of all the work we are doing but particularly in this new initiative. They have been so supportive. I will just walk in and say, ‘Hey guys, are you up for an interview?’ And they respond, ‘Yeah, cool!’.”   Local young people proudly show off their colourful clothing painting designs created at their new Drop-In youth space. Community support has been pivotal for the township, as the issues facing its young people are, in most cases, the same for all young people of this generation. Josiah said the effects of technology, substance use, and fractures in the community led to many family and relationship problems and a lack of depth in relationships, especially for youths. “We are creating spaces at our community centre, including the new space for young people to build relationships, which is so powerful.” He believed society did not have a culture where humans created really good, long-lasting relationships, and many factors came into play in the brokenness of relationship building, such as all the innovations people took for granted and that went unchecked, which now became a normality in young people’s lives. Josiah further added that young people should be consulted about how all innovations could help or hinder society’s ability to form long-lasting relationships.   The opening of the new Colac Corps centre last year. “We are creating spaces at our community centre, including the new space for young people to build relationships, which is so powerful,” he reflected.   “Functional families that have succeeded in schools and have succeeded in relationships are often the first ones to leave the township. So, when you lose these role models, you lose these impactful young people straightaway, so the challenge is getting them to stay to be part of shaping the culture.” Being an integral vessel for wholescale community change to happen through the apparatus of The Salvation Army that went back to its founders, William and Catherine Booth, and to create tangible, impactful Kingdom change in the region, is also of paramount importance. “If we are serious about creating change in our community, we need to be serious about creating changes in our families, marriages and individuals,” Josiah commented. “Through doing God’s work, I believe we can create tangible, earth-shattering change in our communities and, most importantly, break generational and community barriers, including all the new barriers our young people are facing.”