Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (10-17 August) we pray for The Salvation Army in the Sweden and Latvia Territory. This territory has 270 officers (136 active, 134 retired); 5 cadets; 74 corps; 4 societies and outposts; 2484 senior soldiers; 1277 adherents; 139 junior soldiers; 1112 employees Commissioner Lisbeth Andersen leads the territory. The work of the Sweden and Latvia Territory includes: · Homelessness services · Support for older people · Summer camps for young people · Modern slavery and human trafficking response. New enrolments for the Sweden and Latvia Territory. Praise points: Sweden: • We praise God for his goodness and mercy that endures forever. • We praise God for the increasing number of cadets at the training college for officers. On Sunday 23 August, we will welcome six cadets to the training college. At the same time, we will also welcome our new Territorial Leader for Sweden and Lativa, Commissioner Lisbeth Andersen. We thank God for Lisbeth and pray that God will bless her. Latvia: • We give thanks that the work of the Holy Spirit is evident in Latvia. • We give thanks for the 10 senior soldiers, 1 junior soldier and 2 adherents enrolled so far this year. • We give thanks for stronger links with Sweden after visits from their cadets and a youth mission trip, where both countries' youth connected together in worship, prayer, service and lots of fun. • We give thanks that people are saying yes to becoming officers. In this territory, the Gospel is preached in English, Latvian, Russian and Swedish. Prayer requests: Sweden: • We pray for our vision ‘Forward with Jesus’ and the strategic framework that will be launched this (northern) autumn. • We pray for people in Sweden to discover and seek God's word now that the Bible Society is launching a new translation of the Swedish Bible (New Testament) in August. • We pray for our country, Sweden, and the political election that will take place on 13 September. • We pray for our regional congresses, which will take place in three locations in Sweden (Umea, Stockholm and Gothenburg) during September and October. We pray that God will meet and equip his people to be his witnesses today. • We pray for the ‘Design for life’ weekend in October. We pray that people in Sweden will discover what God is calling them to do in his Kingdom. • We pray for children and youth in Sweden, that God will protect them, and that they will be saved and become disciples of Jesus. Latvia: • We pray for the people who have enquired about becoming officers, that we can find the finances and best way to train them. • We pray for the youth and children of the region. • We pray for more income to enable us to become self-sustaining. • We pray for the impact of our regional camp held last week (6-9 August), where over 100 people gathered for worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship. To find out more about the Sweden and Latvia Territory, click here. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, and to download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here.

A proud mother points to an image of her child she is holding at the Communities for Children Listen Louder exhibition in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. Children from the Derwent Valley, Southern Midlands, Brighton and Central Highlands regions of Southern Tasmania have been sharing their stories through art, photography and film as part of The Salvation Army Communities for Children ‘Listen Louder’ project. Working alongside community artists David Adams and Evi van der Niet, children explored what matters most to them through large-scale portraits, short films and visual storytelling. The resulting exhibitions provided communities with a unique opportunity to engage with children’s perspectives, experiences and ideas. The Derwent Valley Crew’s promo postcard for the Listen Louder exhibition. Children and artists were supported throughout the project by The Salvation Army Communities for Children South East Tasmania Community Engagement Lead Katrina Higgins, and Community Partner organisations, Kids and Teens in the Valley and Hobart City Mission's Oatlands Hub. Their strong local connections helped create welcoming and inclusive spaces where children felt safe to participate and share their stories. Grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Listen Louder highlighted children’s rights to express their views (Article 12), seek and share information and ideas (Article 13), and participate freely in cultural and artistic life (Article 31). Liana Harding, Manager of Communities for Children South East Tasmania, said these rights are central to the initiative and the way Communities for Children works alongside local communities. The Derwent Valley Crew prepare for the exhibition launch. “At Communities for Children, listening to children and valuing their perspectives is central to how we work,” she said. “Our place-based approach recognises that children are experts in their own lives and communities. Projects like Listen Louder create meaningful opportunities for children to contribute their ideas, share their experiences and help shape the communities in which they live, learn and grow.” As participant Ava explained: “Adults should listen to children because they have a lot of important things to say and should be listened to.” The project served as a powerful reminder that when children are given meaningful opportunities to share their ideas, they offer valuable insights into their communities, relationships and the places where they live, learn and grow. Listen Louder was supported through Communities for Children South East Tasmania, which is facilitated by The Salvation Army. To learn more and view the children's artwork and films, visit the Communities for Children South East Tasmania website. The Listen Louder, Oatlands exhibition launch. Listen Louder exhibition opening portraits displayed at Willow Court, New Norfolk.

The Saltivka Outpost, Ukraine, works to give children a safe place to be a child during the war. The Children’s Ministries team at Ukraine’s Saltivka Outpost – a district of the eastern city of Kharkiv and located only 20-25km from active regional frontlines and the Russian border – were ready and waiting for children to come to Sunday school the morning after a drone strike on adjacent residential buildings. In Kharkiv, the war is constant, with many days beginning and continuing with the sounds of explosions, sirens and wailing ambulances. Last Sunday morning 9 August, drone strikes targeted high-rise residential buildings in Saltivka, destroying several floors of one apartment block, killing three people, and leaving residents trapped. Many residents, including children, spent the night in the corridors of neighbouring homes. “You can only imagine what they felt,” the Children’s Ministries team shared. “Fear, explosions, loud sounds, anxiety for their loved ones and their home ... And yet they came. They came to the Sunday school. They came where they are awaited. “We meet them, play, create, communicate, talk about good, faith, friendship and hope. Because even during the war, childhood should not consist only of explosions, sirens, and fear. “Yes, we are scared. Yes, we hear explosions. Yes, rescuers and medics work every day right next to them. But we stay close to the children. Because it is very important for them to know that there is a place where people are waiting for them; there are adults who care about them; there is a space where they can, at least for a few hours, just be a child. “We cannot stop the war. But we can do a small good every day – support the children, give them care, knowledge, joy, and hope. Thank you to everyone who helps us continue this work.” Ministry for children and youth, Saltivka Outpost, Ukraine.

Carolyn Russell and Stefano Verrelli at the Parliamentary Launch of The Red Shield Report 2026. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Red Shield Report, an annual publication released by The Salvation Army in line with the Red Shield Appeal, this year showed devastating results. Cost-of-living pressures, food insecurity and housing affordability barriers facing many surveyed families and individuals who accessed The Salvation Army’s Doorways emergency relief services are extreme. The survey findings showed that 87 per cent of respondents were living below the poverty line, with 92 per cent finding it difficult to afford basic living costs. The cover of the 2026 Red Shield Report. Such findings are dire, but they would remain uncalculated without the efforts of The Salvation Army’s award-winning Research Team, part of the Centre for Mission Impact. The team has been consistently producing a Red Shield Report each year for the past 13 years. Research Projects Officer Carolyn Russell and Research Analyst Dr Stefano Verrelli were core to the 2026 Red Shield Report survey design. I recently caught up with them to chat about what the experience was like for them. Salvos Online: Can you tell me a little bit about yourselves and how you found yourselves in these roles? Carolyn: I started working in government and across the community sector in operational, coordination and project roles, and then I applied to the Salvos. I’ve been working here for just over 12 years now. I started off in social programs and policy before moving into a research and projects role. I suppose I found myself in that space because I wanted to make a difference. I’ve always had a really strong interest in social research and using data and evidence to inform positive and meaningful change for individuals and communities facing disadvantage. I’ve always had a strong social justice approach, so I think it was a really natural progression and evolution. Stefano: I started with a degree in psychology. I’ve now spent more than 10 years working in social research and spent the last five and a half years working with The Salvation Army’s research team. My initial interest in going into psychology was wanting to help people, particularly people experiencing poor mental health. As I progressed through my studies, I developed a deeper appreciation of social research and how it can help us understand the complexity of the human experience, both the positive and negative sides of it. What drew me to research is how it allows us to move beyond our assumptions to what the evidence is actually telling us, so we can better understand what is actually happening and how we might contribute to positive change. I then completed a PhD in social psychology, where I continued exploring those questions through a social justice lens. As I was doing that research, I realised that I wanted to work closer to the communities experiencing some of these social issues. I valued my academic experience, but I wanted that connection between the research I was doing and people's everyday life to be more direct. That’s what led me into the social services sector, and ultimately, the Salvos. I see my role as building that bridge between people’s lived experiences, frontline practice, the research and evidence side, and high-level decisions that can lead to broader change. Image: Supplied What can you tell me about the process of designing a survey for a report like this? Stefano: The survey design is quite an iterative process. We have core questions that we ask year in, year out, but each year builds on what we learned in previous years. The design of the survey is also strongly grounded in current affairs – what are the current policy trends and what’s happening in the broader economic environment. With ongoing cost-of-living pressures and the housing crisis, we wanted to understand how that looks for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people and communities. We explore that through a mix of rating scales or closed-ended questions, as well as open-ended questions. We find that the open-ended questions show us the complexity of people’s experiences and what sits behind some of the numbers. They often reveal details or experiences that we may not have anticipated when designing the survey. We can then take that finding and develop it into a question in the following year’s survey to understand how widespread that experience is. For example, one year a number of people shared with us in their open-ended responses that they were losing considerable weight because they couldn’t afford enough food to eat. The following year, we wanted to understand, well, how prevalent is this experience of quite severe food insecurity? So, we created a closed-ended question where people could indicate if this had happened to them in the past 12 months, and we learned that unfortunately it was happening quite frequently amongst people coming to our emergency relief services. This year we found that 40 per cent of survey respondents said they had lost weight because they could not afford enough food. So rather than designing the survey based only on what we think is happening, we draw on what people have shared with us about their lived experiences. Those insights help shape how the survey evolves each year and what we explore in greater depth. Carolyn: It continues to evolve. It just keeps growing. I think that’s one of the challenges – we don’t want to make it too long and deter people from participating, but we want to be able to cover topics for a broad audience and for broad stakeholders. So that can be a challenge. We want people to complete it, but for it not be too burdensome. Stefano: And that’s another of the most important considerations when designing the survey and conducting research in the social services sector, making sure that the survey is not only rigorous, but also safe and respectful for the people completing it. We are asking people to share challenging and sometimes sensitive experiences of hardship, so participation is always voluntary, people can skip any question, they can stop at any time. We also pay close attention to the language we use, making sure questions are written in a way that is accessible and non-judgmental. We want to collect evidence that is meaningful and robust, but never at the expense of someone’s wellbeing. Good survey design is always that balance between rigour and care. People are trusting us with their experiences, and we have a deep responsibility to handle that trust with care. Carolyn: Respondents have shared they’re really glad that they’ve had an opportunity to voice their concerns and experiences, and that somebody’s listening. If they choose not to participate, that’s okay too. That doesn’t impact on the services that they receive. Stefano: We also try to explore the hardship that people are experiencing, but also balance that with questions about hope, questions about the support they’ve received and what keeps people going. It is important that we don’t reduce people to the difficulties they’re experiencing. We want to understand hardship, but it doesn’t define the whole person, so we try to reflect that complexity as carefully as we can. We want to collect evidence that is meaningful and robust, but never at the expense of someone’s wellbeing. Good survey design is always that balance between rigour and care. The findings in the report were quite heartbreaking to read, including increasing food insecurity and cost-of-living impacts on children and families. Can you tell me a bit about what it was like for you personally to handle such data and self-reported hardship? Stefano: Every year, the scale of the hardship we see is overwhelming. It’s quite enormous. And I think sometimes when you just look at the numbers, it can become quite difficult to comprehend the scale of it. For example, what does 98 per cent of people experiencing something like food insecurity actually mean? But it’s the open-ended responses that never allow you to forget what those numbers represent – the stories that sit behind those really high percentages. And that’s what always grounds me, it is the part that always hits me in the gut. Some of the stories are devastating. But I always have to remain conscious that the emotional impact on me doesn’t even come close to what the experience is like for the person living through that hardship. So, every time I read these stories, I feel this even greater responsibility towards the people who have trusted us with that very personal, often painful part of their experience. Behind every number, behind every story, there is someone who has trusted us with what’s happening in their household, and we have this responsibility to ensure those experiences are represented accurately and with respect, and in a way that can help bring about change. Carolyn: I think it’s really challenging to hear those repeated experiences of hardship and poverty year in and year out, and you hope that things change over time, but it just doesn’t seem to. This year I felt there was just this really strong sense of despair among respondents. It felt more grave than previous years, like there is this increased level of desperation to make ends meet. It was really confronting that people were starving themselves or going without their critical medication or healthcare because that was seen as not being a priority. People were obviously prioritising housing because it’s critical obviously, but I think it’s just that level of self-deprivation and that constant going without that's quite challenging to read. But also, I feel incredibly humbled and really privileged that we had more than 4400 people who responded and shared those struggles and experiences with us. I felt really honoured and privileged that we could provide them an opportunity and a voice to ensure that their experiences are seen and heard by decision-makers and that such pathways can make a difference for them. That evidence and insight can create change, and we can use it to advocate and support discussions with policymakers to hopefully help people experiencing such chronic disadvantage. Behind every number, behind every story, there is someone who has trusted us with what's happening in their household, and we have this responsibility to ensure those experiences are represented accurately and with respect, and in a way that can help bring about change.

To read Alf’s Promoted to Glory notice and appointment history, click here.

Cooma Corps Officer Aux-Lieut Debbie Bartlett (right) and Debby McGrath, who have become great friends through the ‘Sew Together’ group. BY LAUREN MARTIN In 2025, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Debbie Bartlett sat in front of a shopping centre, collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. She was in the middle of a season of deep grief, having lost her sister just before an appointment change and a move to Cooma, a small town in the NSW Snowy Mountains region. She had met people, but she really knew no one at all. The Cooma Corps was in transition when she and her husband, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Bryan Bartlett, arrived, and they oversaw the completion of a building project and the re-establishment of the ministry. “I thought that the best way to make friends would be through my craft,” Debbie said. “I started going to a few [groups], but months down the track I had acquaintances, but I still didn’t have a friend.” That was the situation she found herself in on that Red Shield Appeal day, when a woman walked out of the shopping centre and made eye contact. “I noticed her bag and commented on it,” said Debbie. “I had made a similar one for my sister for her last birthday. She asked me, ‘What’s your sewing story?’” The two hit it off, and soon another woman joined them after they noticed her homemade pants and asked whether she had made them herself. That day, at the Red Shield Appeal collection table, the three decided to start a new craft group. “God had been working at me,” said Debbie, “telling me, ‘You need to do something.’ I was very cautious of using my craft, which was my outlet of recharging, as a ministry, because I didn’t want to lose the passion or the enjoyment out of it.” But that day, Debbie stepped out in faith. The craft group – ‘Sew Together’ – has run every Thursday since. It started off slowly, but this year it really took off, with women involved inviting other women, and even people who wouldn’t describe themselves as ‘crafty’ coming along. “I say, ‘It’s not about the craft, it’s about the connection. If you want to make friends, come along – it’s a safe place for everybody.’ I often just take my craft, but I don’t do it. It’s a time to have connection and time to do life together.” ‘Sew Together’ regular Debby McGrath says she first heard about the group while attending Canberra City Salvos with a friend. She had brought some homemade cards, and someone there mentioned the craft group. She was given Debbie’s number, and the two women connected. “I said to her, ‘I think we’re kindred spirits,’ remembers Debby, who adds that Debbie Bartlett agreed!” “I love watching all these women that come together,” she says of the group. “There’s young mums, there’s older ladies that just enjoy the company, there’s Debbie who is so willing and able to help with anything, and I feel like I’ve been able to contribute as well. I help with morning tea, because my passion is food and hospitality.” The Sew Together group meets every Thursday at Cooma, southern NSW. She says she has come from a church background where evangelism was seen as a gift given to certain people, but she can see, through being part of ‘Sew Together’, that speaking about Jesus with others happens naturally. “Every week, you get together, and you journey with these women, and you hear their stories, and you can speak into that because God is flowing through you,” she says. “It’s very organic.” Debbie Bartlett says one of the biggest joys of ‘Sew Together’ has been seeing how God is building healthy community through it. A new woman started coming after recently moving to town. Debbie later found out that others in the group had taken her out to lunch and arranged to meet on another day to show her around town. Another time, when Debbie couldn’t make the group, a fellow member arranged to open the centre and run it so that fellowship could continue. It has become a vital social connection for many members. “God is at work,” said Debbie, who has also made cherished friendships through “Sew Together”. God often brings blessings at just the right time and in just the right places. Red Shield Appeal collecting will always feel somewhat special to Debbie Bartlett now, as she remembers what it birthed when she really needed it. READ MORE: Cooma Community of Hope offering a different Kingdom space

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am currently working together with my husband, Bernie, as auxiliary-lieutenants, and we are the Corps Officers at Eastlakes Corps. We have been here for 34 years and have been leading for the past eight! We love our people. I think the most satisfying thing about my job is seeing the lightbulb come on for people when they get to know Jesus. I particularly love discipling young adults! 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I have a newfound love of crochet! I love watching movies and being with my dog. She’s one and adorable. She’s a Golden Groodle. I also love hanging out with my husband, two grown kids and their partners – they’re my favourite people in the world. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? I love the song ‘Build a House’ by Megan Tibbits. I had it on repeat for weeks a couple of years ago. It talks about how we try to build things in our lives, only to mess them up. We often end up having to redo or relearn them. I want to spend my life in God’s house with God’s people. I’m committed to building the house. I don’t know ... it just speaks to me. 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? David! I totally relate to how flawed he was, but also to how he so desperately loved and cared for his people. I love how he poured out his heart to God and how he was a worshipper and a skilled muso. I love how there were times when he was sad and constantly complained, but then he remembered the goodness of God, and that always helped him return to praise. Can’t wait to meet him. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I totally would. It’s not for everyone. I love how the Army is recognising different pathways to ministry now. We were never called to training college, but we have been called to love and lead our people. I actually love my job. It’s different every day, and I get to talk about Jesus constantly. It’s a beautiful privilege! More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

Pastoral care, hospitality and support in Glasgow Salvation Army teams joined in a shared Christian outreach during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July-2 August. More than 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competed in the international event – a 10-day celebration of sporting excellence. The games spanned four venues and 10 sporting disciplines, including six para-sports. Glasgow City Centre Corps was a hub for Glasgow Churches Together, a team that included Glasgow City Mission, Glasgow Street Pastors and Sports Chaplaincy UK. Throughout the Games, the hall was open from 10am to 6pm with refreshments and opportunities to rest, recharge and socialise. The special edition was given out on the streets and in the hubs during the Commonwealth Games. “We have a huge team here,” explains manager Harry McCafferty, just prior to the Games opening. “If you include the paid staff and the volunteers, we have about 95 people! As well as helping with refreshments, we’ll be able to provide clothing, because people coming might not have the right items for the weather.” “It’s targeted at athletes if they haven’t got the right clothes or need somewhere to meet their family,” says corps leader Captain Ian Arthur. “I have experience as a sports chaplain, which will be helpful. Sports Chaplaincy UK delivers chaplaincy to the Games, but the chaplaincy teams will be able to bring any athletes here if they need a quiet space.” Representatives from Employment Plus were also present at the hall, along with other Salvation Army services. ‘Good News for Everyone’ staff were giving out Bibles. Glasgow Street Pastors usually patrol the streets on a Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4am but extended their shifts to cover afternoons and early evenings during the Games. “Our teams were armed with maps, ponchos, phone chargers, a friendly smile and the desire to show the love of God to everyone they meet,” said Elizabeth Lacey from Govan Corps, who is the coordinator for Glasgow Street Pastors. Hospitality, pastoral support and wraparound services were part of The Salvation Army’s involvement in the recent Commonwealth Games. “Shieldy was also out on the streets, along with water, leaflets and the 18 July edition of Kids Alive! (The Salvation Army’s UKI children’s magazine), which featured the Commonwealth Games,” said Commissioner Ivor Telfer, “We went to all the Games locations and had opportunities to chat and really be visible. “The extent of The Salvation Army’s work is a great secret to most people,” Ivor continued. “The Salvation Army is present in the majority of the Commonwealth. At the hall, we had a 30-minute video showing the Army’s work playing on one of the TVs.” Working with Churches Together, The Salvation Army also helped provide sermons and children’s stories and prayers for churches to use. ‘Move of Hope’ exhibition opens at IHQ IHQ staff explore the new exhibition of The Salvation Army's global work against modern slavery and human trafficking. The Salvation Army’s international Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response team has launched an exhibition of its work in Gallery 101 at International Headquarters (IHQ), London. Unveiled on 30 July 2026, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, ‘Move of Hope’ brings together stories from across The Salvation Army world. Through the experiences of survivors and the communities supporting them, the exhibition demonstrates that freedom is possible when people choose compassion over indifference and action over silence. Survivor leader and advocacy specialist Malaika Oringo. “Survivors are not defined by what happened to them. They are defined by their strength, their dignity and their future," said Priscilla Santos, International Coordinator for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response, at the opening. For more information and personal testimonies from victim survivors, click here. For more information about The Salvation Army’s international work to end modern-slavery and human-trafficking, click here. Rwanda: Strengthening childhood education For 49 years, The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) has been helping individuals, families, and communities around the world address the physical, social and economic challenges they face. Engaged in more than $50 million worth of active projects, SAWSO helps by employing a holistic, faith-based and community-focused approach to meet the needs of those in poverty. In 2025, SAWSO delivered $50 million across 152 projects in 69 countries, working through The Salvation Army’s global network in 134 countries. The Rubuye Preschool Project is seeing positive results in early childhood eduction outcomes. In Rubuye, a coordinated early-learning initiative is improving the quality and safety of preschool education across 11 under-served communities. An initial assessment identified significant gaps: untrained teaching staff, unregistered centres, inadequate and unsafe facilities, limited inclusion for children with disabilities, lack of child-sized furniture and unstructured meal preparation. To address these needs, SAWSO, in partnership with international and local branches of The Salvation Army, partnered with parents, parent teacher associations and the local government to upgrade the infrastructure and strengthen school management. The project resulted in safer classrooms, 20 trained early childhood education teachers and a new selection of age-appropriate furniture. It also created inclusive learning spaces and introduced standardised feeding systems that meet basic health and safety requirements. More than 300 children now attend preschools in Rwanda that meet minimum international standards for learning, protection and development. Improved attendance and classroom readiness indicate early gains in educational outcomes. Christmas comes early For the first time, The Salvation Army US celebrated Christmas in July by bringing Red Kettles to Walmart locations across the country. Officers, employees and volunteers rang the bells throughout the month to raise funds that help provide food, shelter and other essentials to neighbours in need all year long. Thank you to Walmart for supporting this initiative, and to everyone who stopped by and gave at a kettle. Your generosity makes a real difference for your neighbours in need. The bells will be ringing again before you know it!

(From left) Auxiliary-Lieutenant Katharine Brown, Salvos Stores Area Manager Jeff McCartney and Fairfield Corps volunteer Joseline at the Coffee and Connect ministry inside Salvos Stores Fairfield in south-west Sydney. BY LAUREN MARTIN Every second Monday, when people walk into Salvos Stores Fairfield in south-west Sydney, they are greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The source? A coffee machine manned by members of the nearby corps, who invite people to connect, share life and pray. ‘Coffee and Connect’ is a ministry that started this year after months of prayer. Auxiliary-Lieutenants Katharine and Russell Brown, Corps Officers at Fairfield, felt led by the Holy Spirit to their Salvos Store, and a prayer walk with others confirmed it. “The aim is to make relational connection, and share the love of Jesus with the volunteers, staff and community members,” said Katharine. “While prayer-walking in Fairfield with the other members of the South West Hub team, it was confirmed that Salvos Stores Fairfield would be a place of connection.” So far, God has opened doors for Katharine and a ministry volunteer, Joseline, to come alongside people who are lonely, isolated, and newly arrived in Australia. “One lady mentioned she felt like Jesus hugged her through the love that was shown to her,” said Katharine. “Another lady returned in the next fortnight to say that after we prayed for understanding in the relationship between her and her son, she had noticed there was a great sense of peace in her household.” One woman who reconnected with Katharine and Joseline at Coffee and Connect joined them for church at Fairfield Corps that Sunday. For Katharine, getting out of the corps building and into the community is an important part of discipleship – following the ways of Jesus. “Jesus primarily ministered to marginalised people by healing the sick and proclaiming good news of His Kingdom in the places where crowds gathered in the community,” she says. “This is part of Jesus’ ‘go’ ministry that he is calling us as a Salvation Army movement back to, in this modern context.” The ministry has been fully backed by Salvos Stores Fairfield Manager Julie Bryce and Area Manager Jeff McCartney, who said: “Coffee and Connect assists the store in letting locals see the bigger picture as to what The Salvation Army is and does. It also gives our team (volunteers and staff) an understanding that there is more to what they do than just ‘sell stuff’. “Let’s not only spread the word of God but also spread the good news that Salvos Stores is more than just a shop. It’s The Salvation Army and a place where the community can be in their ‘happy place’.”

Students listen in during the Homelessness Workshop before heading out on the walking tour. REFLECTION BY LERISSE SMITH The juxtaposition was impossible to ignore. Across a serene Melbourne city park, a photographer captured the joy of a bride and groom on their wedding day. Their moment was filled with celebration and hope for a future of love, financial security, and a place to call home. Nearby, a group of Year 9 students were captured in a very different moment. As part of a learning activity, they were asked to imagine being a young person experiencing homelessness with only $50 to survive the next 24 hours. While one group celebrated the hope of a secure future, the other was considering what life would be like if that security disappeared. As I joined students and teachers from Hawkesdale College for the Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour, it quickly became clear that this was far more than a school excursion. It was a compelling, real-world experience that challenged students’ assumptions about homelessness and encouraged them to consider how they might respond with compassion and contribute to meaningful change. Students were invited to step beyond assumptions and encounter homelessness not as a statistic or a headline, but as a human experience shaped by circumstance, vulnerability, resilience – and hope. Watching the students engage, I was reminded that some of the most powerful learning happens beyond the classroom. I found myself learning alongside them – reminded that understanding often begins when we are willing to listen before we judge. Listening to Bronwyn Covill, Victorian Schools Engagement Program Leader, guide the workshop through discussion, activities, and lived-experience videos, I was struck by how quickly assumptions began to shift. The conversation moved beyond what homelessness looks like to understanding the complex circumstances that can lead someone to a place they never imagined they would end up. And one truth stood out immediately: homelessness is often hidden in plain sight. It reinforced that homelessness could affect anyone, with causes ranging from family violence and a lack of affordable housing to financial hardship and relationship breakdown. The distance between stability and crisis is often much shorter than we imagine. It’s easy to believe homelessness happens to ‘other people’ until we recognise how quickly circumstances can change. A single event can reshape a life. As we walked through Melbourne’s CBD, listening to stories of people who had experienced homelessness and visiting places of refuge with Salvos Schools Engagement Coordinator, Hannah Fowler, after the workshop at Project 614, I was reminded of John, an older gentleman I interviewed several years earlier. Salvos Schools Engagement Coordinator Hannah Fowler leads students and teachers from Hawkesdale College on the Homelessness Walking Tour of Melbourne. Once living what many would describe as the Australian dream – with a successful business, financial security, luxury cars and a home – he was struck by a serious accident that left him out of action for many months, triggering a chain of events that eventually saw him lose his livelihood, the cars, his wealth and his home. He still recalls the indignity of sleeping under bridges, the stench of certain public toilet blocks, and the constant hunger that accompanied life without a safe place to call home. With support from The Salvation Army, John eventually rebuilt his life. He told me that having a front door, a warm bed and a private bathroom felt like living in a palace. His story has stayed with me because it challenges how we define security, success and what it truly means to feel at home. Together, John’s story and the stories shared throughout the tour reinforced that homelessness is not a distant issue but a human reality unfolding in the communities we pass through every day. And as the tour drew to a close, I saw firsthand that when young people are given the opportunity to engage with complex issues, they leave informed, inspired, and ready to champion social change. This is reflected in the actions of many students, who leave not only with greater awareness but also with a desire to turn compassion into action. Some schools go on to organise a range of fundraising initiatives, from sleep-outs and support for the Salvos Red Shield Appeal to volunteering with their local Salvos corps and preparing Christmas hampers. Others develop ongoing partnerships with their corps and local communities. I left the tour with a renewed sense of hope. Hope not only for the young people who took part, but also for the conversations and actions they will carry into their communities. Hope found in the dedication and passion of the Salvos Schools team, who remind us that behind every statistic is a person with a story – someone who deserves to be respected, seen and heard. Hope found in the compassion of a classroom full of engaged teenagers eager to make the world a better place. And hope found in journeys such as John's – a reminder that behind every story of homelessness is a person, a journey, and the possibility of a new beginning. To go to The Salvation Army Homelessness Week 2026 website, click here.

A Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour in progress in Melbourne. A city walk-and-talk might not sound life-changing, but for thousands of students across Australia, the Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour is proving transformative. By combining a Homelessness Workshop with a powerful city tour, the program immerses students in real places and real stories, opening their eyes to the diverse experiences of homelessness and creating powerful opportunities for corps to build strong connections with school communities. As Australia marks Homelessness Week 2026 with the theme ‘Homelessness Action Now’, Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with the Salvos Schools team about their impactful educational program and how it is equipping the next generation with the knowledge, empathy and confidence to champion meaningful social change. It’s no ordinary school excursion. A group of Year 9 students from Hawkesdale College in regional Victoria stand quietly in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Traffic rushes past. Around them, the city carries on as normal. Over the next hour, these familiar streets will become a classroom unlike any other. What follows is a powerful experiential tour that explores sites of refuge and stories of lived experience related to one of the nation’s most pressing social issues: homelessness. It aims to foster compassion, build empathy, and empower students to take social justice action to address the growing crisis. “I feel so inspired to know that this generation and these students in Victoria that have participated now have the language to respond to homelessness,” reflects Grace Davidson, National Schools Engagement Manager, when discussing the greatest impact of the tours. “To have an understanding that is informed by evidence of lived experience rather than stereotypes. I just have so much faith and drive that this is supporting people today by telling them about the assistance available and potentially some destigmatisation around experiences of hardship … There’s compassion, there’s action from how the school supports The Salvation Army following the tour, but also a generation going forward with compassion and understanding.” Grace Davidson running a Homelessness Workshop as part of the Salvos Schools tour. Since its inception over 10 years ago, the Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour has expanded across the nation with great success, providing an educational and impactful experience for students in Years 9 to 12. It now operates in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. At the heart of the experience is a two-hour journey that combines a one-hour Homelessness Workshop with a one-hour city tour. The workshop uses activities, videos and discussion to unpack how and why people experience homelessness in Australia, challenge common stereotypes and explore the many ways The Salvation Army supports people facing hardship. Students then head into the city, walking a circuit through the CBD and stopping at locations where people have previously slept rough. With permission, educators share true, de-identified stories from people who once stayed in those places, helping students connect lived experience with the realities around them. For Grace, that is where it becomes about connecting with someone’s story. “It’s taking students out of the classroom and providing an immersive and formative kind of interaction around homelessness to come to a place of compassion, to see homelessness for what it is, a human rights issue,” she explained. “The Salvation Army is advocating for a future where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring. This workshop asks us, as a society or a school community, to consider how we can better address the issue.” READ MORE: My experience of joining the tour In Melbourne, the Salvos Schools team works closely with Salvos Project 614, whose staff are based at its Bourke St site. The city tour provides schools with an opportunity to learn how The Salvation Army is responding to homelessness and the services and support it provides to the community. The reality of homelessness often challenges students’ first impressions as they embark on the two-hour tour. Many assume homelessness only means sleeping rough. Through the workshop, they learn that rough sleeping represents only a small proportion of homelessness, while many others experience homelessness in overcrowded housing, supported accommodation, boarding houses, staying with other households, or in other temporary accommodation. For many students, it’s a turning point. Bronwyn Covill, Victorian Schools Engagement Program Leader, says that realisation is often one of the day’s biggest moments. “One of the biggest takeaways they get is that they didn’t think homelessness was a real problem,” she says. “Then they come out realising it’s a much bigger problem than they thought and also that it’s in every community, not just the CBD.” To go to The Salvation Army Homelessness Week 2026 website, click here. The Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour runs every day of the school term, with groups of around 25 students participating in each session. Students who engage in the tours come from schools across all divisions, with Year Nine students often taking part to complete a city experience that forms part of the Victorian curriculum. The tour is one of more than 13 educational programs aligned with Australian curriculum standards, usually centred on a Salvation Army service or theme. Addressing topics such as homelessness and financial hardship, the programs use age-appropriate language to equip students to understand these issues and to know how to seek support for themselves or others. But the impact doesn’t stop with students. The homelessness tour program also creates powerful opportunities for local corps to connect with schools. Those introductions can spark lasting partnerships. Whenever a school books the tour, Salvos Schools invites local corps representatives to attend, meet teachers and students, and share the work underway in their own community. These connections can have a lasting impact – and break down barriers. “Schools are so warm to The Salvation Army,” Grace says. “They have brought their students to learn about The Salvation Army. When a local Salvos representative attends the tour, students can put a face and a name to the Salvos building down the road from them. It means local students, and their families by extension, can better understand our local programs and services … it breaks down barriers.” It is hoped that the experience marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between schools, the corps, and the local Salvos teams. Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, visited Project 614 in Melbourne in June and joined the Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour with a group of Year 9 students. Schools regularly organise fundraising events, sleep-outs, casual clothes days and donation drives, while others begin volunteering with their local corps or Salvos stores. Some of the outcomes have been extraordinary – and inspiring. “There are so many benefits that I’ve seen when a corps has come along because they’re able to follow the tour and speak to some of the teachers,” Grace says. “I've seen beautiful examples of ongoing support locally in terms of fundraising. I’ve also seen schools starting up meal programs for corps. I know of one school that sent school maintenance staff to volunteer at a corps, and they built a community laundry. So, you just don’t really know what’s going to come from that connection.” Sometimes the inspiration becomes deeply personal. Students have made fundraising bookmarks to sell to their friends and families; others have written letters to their MP, volunteered at their local Salvo stores or through the local corps. The Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour is equipping the next generation with the knowledge, empathy and confidence to champion meaningful social change. So, what spurs them on? Quite simply, they find the experience of the homelessness tour quite surprising. “We get a lot of ‘it was eye-opening’ in our evaluation forms and ‘we didn’t know it was that big of an issue’,” Grace explains. “They feel motivated to better address it, through a greater understanding of it, but also this increased empathy, compassion. You can often feel that students feel inspired to act, which is really lovely.” Ultimately, for the National Schools Engagement Manager, one of the most important outcomes is shifting everyday conversations. “We emphasise that one of the simplest and most powerful ways students can make a difference is by continuing the conversation. Homelessness has too often been swept under the rug in previous generations,” she says. “And I believe that this workshop tears that rug out. For this generation to go forward with the knowledge, compassion and confidence to respond to homelessness, they’re not just changing the conversation; they’re changing the future.” For more information on Salvos Schools and the Salvos Schools Homelessness City Tour, click here.

The gathering also celebrated the unveiling of the official International Youth Congress 2027 logo, designed by Savannah Archer from The Salvation Army in Australia. Chosen from more than 70 submissions from around the world, the vibrant design reflects worship, diversity and unity. Savannah was online to witness the announcement and said she felt called by God to use her creative gifts in service of God’s mission. BY IHQ COMMUNICATIONS There is just under a year to go until The Salvation Army’s International Youth Congress 2027 (IYC27), to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15-20 July next year. The countdown officially began on Thursday 16 July 2026 during family prayers at The International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, where staff and guests gathered 12 months ahead of the congress. Centred on the theme ‘Empowering a Generation’, the congress will bring together approximately 2500 young adults aged 18 to 25 from The Salvation Army around the world (The Salvation Army now operates in more than 130 countries). Delegates will focus on deepening their relationship with God, discerning God’s calling on their lives and returning home equipped to serve as Christ-centred leaders in their churches (corps), communities and nations. Opening the gathering, International Youth and Children’s Officer Major Juanita Wright welcomed those attending in person and online, including representatives from The Salvation Army in Indonesia, the International Youth Congress planning teams and members of the International Children and Youth Advisory Group. “Today is more than just the launch of the International Youth Congress,” said Major Wright. “It’s a declaration of our collective commitment to our young people across the globe … We see you, we hear you, you matter!” To watch the launch video, click on the arrow below. IYC Coordinator Major Ian F. Payne and IHQ Youth and Children Specialist Kevyn Oliver shared the vision for the congress, describing it as an opportunity to invest intentionally in young leaders and listen to their voices. Their ideas would be incorporated into the planning of the Congress and would equip them to serve confidently in their local corps, communities and nations. They invited Salvationists around the world to begin praying intentionally for every stage of the preparations over the coming year. Leaders at IHQ launched IYC27 with now less than one year to go to the event. General endorses congress General Lyndon Buckingham gave his wholehearted endorsement to the International Youth Congress, describing it as a vision born through prayer and affirmed by senior international Salvation Army leaders at the International Conference of Leaders in March 2026. Reflecting on Proverbs 16:3, he encouraged Salvationists everywhere to commit every stage of the preparations to God. “As we continue to seek his guidance, his wisdom and his blessing, as we plan, as we pray, as we engage, then I think as a global Army there can be within our hearts a sense of expectation that something groundbreaking, ground-shifting, movement-moving is going to happen as a result of our commitment to this event,” he said. General Lyndon Buckingham endorsing IYC27 at the recent launch. Prayer remained at the heart of the launch as leaders prayed for every aspect of the congress. Intercessions covered the international planning teams, the Indonesian hosts, the International Children and Youth Advisory Group, the selection of delegates and the spiritual impact of the gathering. There were prayers for wisdom, unity and protection for those organising the event, and that God would already be preparing the hearts of the young adults who will gather in Indonesia next July. Participants also prayed that delegates would return home inspired, equipped and empowered to serve Christ and the world in their local communities and across the global Salvation Army. REGISTER: Australia Territory Salvos are invited to register for the congress here. The Registration deadline is Friday 4 September 2026. To read the original story on The Salvation Army International website, click here.