Studio off the Street program participants (from left) Susie, Ross and Manuel. By CLIFF WORTHING Providing an art studio in the park, positive engagement and access to services have produced fantastic outcomes for Indigenous rough sleepers in Darwin – as well as art worthy of exhibition. To date, the Salvos program ‘Studio off the Street’ in the Northern Territory capital has secured accommodation for 30 community members, helped 17 participants return to Country, and connected all program participants with health services. “The purpose is to initially give participants a safe place to paint,” said Jamie-leigh Barnard, Doorways NT Regional Manager. “During the process, we build trust, help engagement with other support programs, and facilitate return to Country for those who want it.” Studio off the Street began informally in 2019 when Ross, from remote west Arnhem Land, attended a Salvos hostel open day. Ross requested a safe space to paint, away from street noise. Ross became a regular, creating stories of Country on stray pieces of bark or canvas. Ross grew up in Gunbalanya Country, 300km east of Darwin. When he was 25, he suffered a serious accident that required life-saving surgery in Darwin. For the first time, Ross left his ancestral lands without family support and with no comprehension of the English language. After leaving hospital, Ross ended up living rough on the streets of Darwin for a further 25 years. Over time, Ross secured accommodation at the Army’s House 49 hostel and continued painting daily. Ross began encouraging family and friends to paint with him because he shared that The Salvation Army was a safe space to create art and spend time together. About two years ago, program coordinators, Jamie-leigh and Dino dos Santos, Outreach Case Manager with the Street to Home program, secured funding for two years from a Salvation Army community grant. Funding allowed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement program to continue and expand. Part of that expansion enabled the program to employ Sharon Butcher as a community engagement worker, an accomplished artist with lived experience of rough sleeping. Sharon was born and bred in the remote community of Papunya. She is known for her bush banana Dreaming works, which are displayed in some Australian and overseas art galleries. Sharon Butcher, the program’s community engagement worker. Prior to her employment, Sharon was sleeping rough in Darwin. She heard about Studio off the Street from program participants and began attending regularly. “Our team identified that Sharon took on a natural leadership role within the program, supporting program participants, organising program materials and conducting regular referrals to The Salvation Army,” Jamie-leigh said. “The program keeps the mind busy, reduces alcohol consumption, and provides an opportunity to sit around and talk about our Dreaming stories,” Sharon said. “Community members trust me and trust that I can help them with referrals to The Salvation Army to get food and accommodation.” About 30 people regularly participate in the program. Every Thursday, workers set up in a local park. They provide tables and chairs, canvas and paint, music, hot tea and sandwiches. Participants sit in their own family groups, sharing their techniques and stories with anyone willing to listen. “Often tourists walk by, see the painters and come over to talk and learn about the rough sleeper community and stories of Country,” Jamie-leigh said. “We even have passers-by donate money on the spot to support what is happening.” “Painting and art is a medicine – it keeps the mind busy” – Program participant Eunice Another participant, ‘Cindy’, an elderly Indigenous lady, approached the workers for help with accommodation. They supported her in sustaining a tenancy, shopping and cooking, and stopping the misuse of alcohol. Ross (back seat) gives the thumbs up as Darwin Salvos workers Dino and Jamie-leigh drive him back his Gunbalanya home and family where he was met by his niece. One of the most heart-warming outcomes of Studio off the Street occurred recently when Jamie-leigh and Dino packed up Ross’ belongings and beloved paints and canvas to drive him the 300km back to Gunbalanya Country and reunite him with family and place. “I can’t see myself doing any other work,” said Jamie-leigh. “Ever since I was young, I felt called to work the most vulnerable.” Current funding for Studio off the Street ends this June, but Jamie-leigh and Dino are hopeful donors can appreciate the positive outcomes and support the current model going forward. “It will continue in some form because it is so successful,” said Jamie-leigh. “We just hope to gain funding so participants can receive the full benefits.”

Two members of Sing and Strum with their ukeleles. BY LERISSE SMITH It may be small in stature, but the humble ukulele is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This is obvious at Mornington Salvos in Victoria, where a dedicated group of ukulele enthusiasts gather each week. In the warm and inviting ambiance of a majestic old church hall, a group of women assemble on a crisp Melbourne day. Ukeleles and song sheets in hand, they are ready to merge their music and voices.   It’s going to be a great day.   The dedicated music lovers have a quick chat and catch-up before readying themselves for yet another glorious afternoon of singing and playing to their heart’s content ably led by Dave Parker, Community Music Activities Coordinator at Mornington Salvos.   “It’s a good meeting of minds and hearts singing songs,” Dave says. He says the ukulele has grown in popularity over the past couple of decades, with COVID-19 also helping the instrument’s appeal as people took it up as a way to keep busy while stuck inside.   “For me, the most important thing about this particular group is the fellowship that we have with people from all walks of life. They are just ordinary people from the community who want to get out and about and play a little bit of music.” Scan the group’s song books, known as ‘Sing and Strum Ukulele’, and classic hits range from the old to the new. Moon River, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, Kumbaya, Johnny B Goode, Lean On Me and  We Are Australian are among the favourites . Dave leads Kumbaya at Sing and Strum, which meets at Mornington Salvos. Chat to Dave about his beloved group of 'musos', and it is immediately apparent he is passionate about what he does and why he does it. Tuesdays are always a great day out for him, with the ukulele music group running in the afternoon following his VAMP (Varied Abilities Music Program) Music Disco in the morning.   The humble beginnings of Sing and Strum started three years ago. As a talented and experienced musician, singer and teacher who played regular gigs with his band, Dave found himself without regular music work when COVID-19 forced the creative arts industry to shut down.   However, it did not stop Dave from his lifelong love of playing music to entertain and touch people’s lives, his 40 years of music teaching and his unwavering desire to encourage and support others in experiencing the joy of learning an instrument.   “After 9/11 happened, there was a significant increase in New York community music activities because people needed to rediscover connection and belonging,” he says.   “Music has the power to draw people from different backgrounds together into worthwhile and purposeful shared friendships.” The Sing and Strum ukulele players with leader Dave Parker. Image: Lerisse Smith The Sing and Strum players meet each week in the church hall for a music session followed by a cuppa, bikkie and friendly chat. Regular community concert performances are also part of the fun.   Some of the members have had no musical background, while others have played guitar or piano. But it doesn’t matter. Regardless of the skill level, everyone loves the special bond they have created.   “It’s great fun; I love it,” says Conny, one of the group members.   “I have been here since it’s started. You can laugh when you make mistakes and no one wants to miss out on the fellowship. Dave is such a great teacher. The spirit is here. I walk out flowing with joy.” Dave says friendship and fellowship were a key component to the group’s success. About five or six attend the Mornington Salvos church, while another 10 to 12 attend other churches. But all are from the local community.   Additionally, Dave provides advice and assistance on purchasing or renting a ukulele whenever needed. He was also a guest speaker at the recent Salvation Army Community Arts Engagement Conference in Melbourne.   Dave reflects on the success of the group. “It's just a little bit like The Salvation Army’s Home League used to be I guess, providing a place for people to meet in fellowship and have a fun time in a creative activity.”   “I believe the ukulele group will continue to build a bridge between the community and our faith community at Mornington Salvos.”

For tribute report, click here

The Buckinghams with Salvation Army mascot ‘Shieldy’ during their tour of Australia. Photo: Neha Bogati In an interview with Salvos Online journalist LAUREN MARTIN after their Australian tour, the world leaders of The Salvation Army – General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham – discuss the importance of rest and spiritual wellbeing and of demonstrating this to others. Lauren: Well, you have circumnavigated this vast nation of ours, what have been some of your highlights?   General Lyndon: I think for me, in each division, there has been an enthusiasm and joy about being together … and I’ve sensed that in each of the places [we have travelled to], there is a hunger for a fresh release of spiritual energy that will result in innovation and creativity around the mission of the movement. And the Army world is looking to Australia, ‘Come on guys, you can do it; let’s get on with it!’  The potential of that excites me.   Commissioner Bronwyn: One of the highlights for me has been seeing the young adults involved in ministry and leading worship. The group of young people who raced to the altar in Brisbane – that was such a special moment where you just see that the spirit of God is on the next generation.   The seven days of the Australian tour were a whirlwind – so, as busy international leaders, how do you carve out time for Jesus in your schedule?   General Lyndon: Bronny and I maintain a fairly disciplined approach to the protection of our spiritual wellbeing. People have a right to expect that of us as spiritual leaders of the movement. We have got to be in the throne room, we have got to be in prayer, we’ve got to be people of the Word. So, in our normal daily pattern of life, we are carving out good time to ensure that that happens. We hold ourselves to account for that and we have people who speak into our lives about that. So, we are filling the tank so that when we have the opportunity to engage in ministry like this, we’re not coming to this from an empty tank. We are coming full! We are coming ready! We are coming prepped. We are prayed up! We are ready to go. And, you can feel the Spirit of the Lord reviving you and restoring you and enabling you to do that.    But, I know, when I get on the plane to go back to London, I will be depleted, I will be vulnerable, so it will be important for me, immediately when we get home, to get back into my regular patterns of being in prayer and in the Word on a regular basis so that spiritual energy and intimacy with the King is being restored and cultivated. I think that the people we serve deserve to expect, and to know, that it is taking place.   Commissioner Bronwyn, I recall that during the Queensland Divisional Officers Councils, the Divisional Commander had really encouraged his officers and mission leaders to take a sabbath, and you stood up and publicly thanked him for that. Tell me about the importance for you of deliberately carving out time with God?   Commissioner Bronwyn: I’ve done a lot of reading about sabbath in more recent years, I guess because life has become busier and busier, and the responsibilities and demands of ministry have become heavier. The responsibility of international appointments is an amazing privilege, but it’s a huge responsibility. So, I’ve done a lot of reading and studying about sabbath and the fact that it’s not only that Jesus encourages sabbath, it is actually one of the 10 commandments.    Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham addresses the congregation at the Sydney Rally. Photo: Steve Haworth I don’t believe that in our busy ministry space, sabbath is necessarily about Sunday ministry. Often, we think about Sunday being the sabbath, but for those of us who are giving out in ministry, that’s  not the sabbath rest piece. So, somewhere else in the week, there needs to be that space for coming aside and engaging in those activities that bring us into the presence of the Lord, whatever they are. That’s not necessarily about just sitting down with your Bible and praying; it might just be a beautiful walk in nature; it might be engaging in family activities. Whatever it is that brings us life – and restores us – is part of the sabbath piece, and I want that our salvationists and our officers would be engaging in that.   General Lyndon: For me, I think, I get ‘energised’   by being with people. But I get ’restored’ by being with the Lord. So, any opportunity where I can slow it down, quieten it down and be a bit still allows the Lord to do what only the Lord can do – because there are things that only he can do in terms of our souls’ wellbeing and health. And so, I appreciate the value of the sabbath because it’s where I feel I get most of my restoration. I know when I need it, I can feel it, I can feel it in my attitude toward people, I can feel it if I’m becoming a bit irritable, I know I need a sabbath rest. I need to go and re-switch all the buttons and get things back in the right place. I make no apology for it. Sometimes it might be a weekday where I’ll say to the team, ‘I’m not coming in tomorrow, I need sabbath rest’. Or it might be a Saturday that we grab in between specialing events. We are pretty guarded about it.    You’ve been talking to officers and mission leaders across Australia about the importance of coming to the table, as described in Psalm 23, feasting on all the goodness that God has for us and being an example of spiritual wellbeing for those in our congregations or spheres of influence.   General Lyndon: Yes, absolutely. We can’t do the role and we can’t serve the people if we’re not in a good space ourselves, a wholistically good space ourselves – so sabbath is part of our work. It’s part of our gift to the people we serve to be in those spaces [of spiritual rest and refreshment]. And I think people are hungry for it. At each venue we have been in, there is a sense in which people are hungry for God to work in their own lives, but also within the life of the movement so that we can engage again in fresh and innovative ways with our people.    To listen to General Lyndon Buckingham’s message: ‘Present, Prominent, Pre-eminent’, click here Please continue to pray for our world leaders as they return to their international duties. Pray also for the Holy Spirit to continue to guide, revive and refresh our Salvation Army in Australia as we seek to be a movement of Jesus-focused, Spirit-led and hope-revealed people.

Under the leadership of Territorial Envoy Nathan Casey (left), Revolution Church in Adelaide hosts a thriving program for new parents. By ANTHONY CASTLE Rev Minis is a new parent’s group at Revolution Church in Oakden, Adelaide. The church members open the corps building to the community each Monday, sharing the tools they have with parents and carers who need them. Launching in November 2021, the initiative has reached hundreds of people and grown to other communities, demonstrating the potential of people over program. “It’s free play for kids, a space for mums to connect and chat over a good coffee,” explains Territorial Envoy Nathan Casey, Corps Officer at Revolution Church. “As a church, we have five mums that set it up and pack it down. Within a couple of weeks, it went from mum to mum and more turned up. Before we knew it, there were 50 people, all just coming from a natural network. We didn’t start a program. It began with relationship.” The formula for Rev Minis is simple – parents from the corps open the space, share the toys and activities from the children’s programs, invite their friends and promote the gatherings on Instagram. Over the past year, the initiative has grown new friendships, a supportive community and a range of responses that help meet the challenges of parenting. “We’ve had mums support one another through post-partum depression,” explains Nathan. “A walking group came out of Rev Minis. We have a table where people can donate clothes and kids gear, and people can take what they need. Dan (Casey) and I are often behind the coffee machine, and it’s free for any who turn up.” Sharing resources The idea arose after Nathan spoke with Bek Casey, mother and community member of Revolution Church, about the type of space that mums want and how they could provide the community that parents need. The church shared the resources they already had, focusing on open-ended play, sensory play and seasonal crafts. “As a mum myself, I knew what impact this space could have and really wanted to help create something that made sense for mums today,” explains Bek. “Our first Rev Minis was just the regular mums and pre-schoolers who attend Revolution Church. I shared photos of the kids and activities, as did the mums who came, and it started gaining traction. Every week this year, we have had an average of 50-plus people coming each Monday.” “The testimonies from mums I have spoken to is that they look forward to walking through that door every Monday morning” The initiative was grown through social media. As participants tagged the gatherings in social media, more began following online, and new people walked through the door each week. More than 200 different individuals have come through the doors of Rev Minis since 2021. “The testimonies from mums I have spoken to is that they look forward to walking through that door every Monday morning,” Bek says. “They know they are walking into a safe environment for them and their ‘minis’. We have adopted the belief that this playgroup is just as important for the parents as it is for the children, so while the ‘minis’ are engaged, the parents can sit down and relax with a coffee and speak openly to one another about the daily struggles they may be facing with zero judgement. Coffee messages While caffeine is often a must for those with newborns and toddlers, each takeaway cup at Rev Minis bears the slogan ‘God so loves…’. When a parent or carer orders a coffee, their name is written on the cup, just beneath the slogan. Each coffee then becomes a personalised message of love, and the Rev Minis gatherings an expression of a loving community. “The key is that it’s about people, not program,” explains Nathan. “It’s low-cost. It’s accessible. It builds natural community. All you need is four or five mums in a faith community who invite their friends.” The Monday morning program attracts more than 50 people. The success of Rev Minis has been spreading. The initiative has already been trialled in different ways at other Salvo churches, in the Mount Barker and Parafield Gardens communities, prompting many to consider the tools they already have at their disposal. “We use the resources we already have,” says Nathan. “There’s no program element, there’s no volunteers. This keeps it relational, as opposed to service-based. It’s about community building community.”

An interactive calendar about the High Council provides historical snapshots and current information about the upcoming High Council. To keep updated with the upcoming High Council to elect a new General for The Salvation Army, as well as some interesting historical snapshots and current information on how the High Council works, check out the interactive calendar on The Salvation Army International website. For example, did you know that the 2023 High Council is made up of 112 Salvation Army leaders, including: • Active commissioners who are territorial commanders or who hold an international or national headquarters or territorial leadership appointment (excluding the spouse of the General) • Territorial commanders with the rank of colonel • Territorial leaders with the rank of colonel. For a list of the 2023 high council members, click here .

Major Emma Moore presents her session on the topic of ‘Holiness and Love’ at Brengle Institute. BY MAJOR SANDY MACDONALD   Twenty delegates from all Salvation Army divisions in Australia, plus two delegates from New Zealand, gathered at Eva Burrows College in Ringwood, Melbourne, in August for the 71st Australian Brengle Institute.   Brengle Institutes are a time focused on holiness teaching. Invited delegates are renewed in their faith, refreshed in their dedication and have their passion reignited by the Holy Spirit so that they can embrace holiness as the foundation of their relationship with God and live it out. The teaching is distinctly Wesleyan and grounded in Scripture, as lived out through The Salvation Army.   This was the first Brengle Institute held in Australia since 2018, as the 2020 event could not go ahead due to COVID-19. Before coming together as the Australia Territory, the former Eastern and Southern territories would alternate hosting this national biennial event. This year was the first time auxiliary lieutenants were invited to this space alongside commissioned officers.   The teaching faculty was drawn from Eva Burrows College’s Higher Education and Officer Formation Streams. Reverend Dr. Arseny Ermakov’s daily biblical teaching was a highlight for many delegates. Major Heather Jenkins, Major Sandy MacDonald, Major Emma Moore and well-seasoned holiness teacher Major Dr Grant Sandercock‑Brown also provided various teaching content.  Eva Burrows College staff, presenters and delegates to the Brengle Institute in August. Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett was the guest speaker on the opening night and Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas also made time to connect with delegates despite a busy travel schedule. Captain Kylie Herring guided our corporate times of worship, praise and prayer, while Major Christine Wright oversaw the entire event. Melbourne even turned on beautiful, sunny winter weather for the week!   Another memorable and meaningful element of Brengle was the opportunity for delegates to testify to the grace of God in their lives: “I loved the moments of grace, the opportunity to share our story and have others listen and affirm things in us (knowing that this group understands the pressures and ups and downs of ministry life).”   While not all delegates currently minister as corps officers, this sentiment from one of the delegates summed up the week well: “Brengle has given a beautiful, God-given time away from the busyness and complexity of corps life, and allow me to stop, reflect, pray, think, etc. It’s recharged the soul.” Another delegate said they left with “a greater depth of understanding of what it means to live a holy life” and that the time was “a rich experience of worship, networking, and fellowship.”   While a shorter format was adopted this year compared to past Brengle Institutes, many delegates left wanting more and wishing they had longer to dwell on the teaching and fellowship of the week. Brengle delegates were: Major Pete Brookshaw Captain Dean Clutterbuck Captain Roz Edwards Major Darren Elkington Captain Kaylene Ford Major Tim Gittins Captain Adrian Hamond Captain Marie Kovacs Captain Joycelyn McIver Major Sugunama Meredith  Captain Jacqui Milkins Major Dale Murray Major Paul Ong Major Rod Serojales Captain Taryn Singer Aux-Lieutenant Caleb Smith Major Leanne Smith Major Catherine Spencer Captain Amy Stobie Major Claire Watson Captains Christina and David McEwan attended from New Zealand

Giving yourself time for God to speak into your daily walk with him is a theme of Commissioner Jolene Hodder’s book, Sensational Grace. By CAPTAIN STEVE HAWORTH* For the Dr Who fans out there, you would be familiar with the Tardis, Dr Who’s time-travelling mode of transport. The compactness of the outside appearance of the Tardis betrays the vastness of what is revealed on the inside as you step through its doors. And so, it was when I picked up this 73-page book and began reading and discovered the vastness of what was written on the pages contained within. Sensational Grace , not unlike the Tardis, takes us on a time-travelling journey through Commissioner Jolene Hodder’s life as she shares 31 moments in time that have impacted her life and the lives of those around her. Commissioner Jolene Hodder is serving as USA National Secretary for Program in Alexandria, Virginia. She has taken her ordinary everyday life and, through her relationship with Jesus, has turned these moments into extraordinary encounters, as she shares the love of Jesus in the everyday. Through stories of song, nature, and even fertiliser, we get an insight into a life well lived. Each story is a one-page insight into her life and ministry, preceded by a quote and followed by a relevant Bible verse and space to write your own reflection on how this short story has impacted you in the moment. Sensational Grace is a delightful journey that can be used as a daily devotional, inspiration for a sermon, a group study, or just to brighten up your day as you allow God to speak into your daily walk with him. I hope you enjoy these short stories as much as I did. Sensational Grace is available at this site: click here or here * Captain Steven Haworth is the Area Officer – Sydney, NSW/ACT Division

Katrina has received help and support to get clean from drugs and alcohol, and now assists others through Salvation Army services and chaplaincy. By KATRINA From a very young age, I struggled with addiction, even stealing my mother’s cooking sherry. I’d been abused by someone close to me and understand now that drinking was my coping mechanism. Through primary school, I drank continually, but by high school, I started smoking marijuana and taking pills. There were many challenges at home and my behaviour wasn’t good, so I went into a youth hostel at 15. I was taking drugs, drinking, and often getting arrested. They said that if I didn’t go to rehab I would be back on the streets again. So I went to Perth to deal with marijuana and alcohol, but instead I was introduced to heroin by a bunch of city kids. It became a vicious circle, and the fourth time I was in rehab a guy came and spoke about another program, but I had no intention of going to a Christian rehab. I ripped his pamphlets up, but then I thought, “At least that’s 12 months of accommodation.” I went through the motions of rehab for around six months – I was getting clean, and it was a good place to be. Finding faith We were in chapel one day, and I had what I can only describe as an encounter with God. Something in me changed. I went on to finish the program and do a six-month traineeship at the same place, then a training course in YWAM (Youth With A Mission) because I knew I wanted to serve God. In the role I travelled to India, then home to help start Aboriginal ministries. That was great and we did a lot of good, but when I left that job, I ended up back in addiction. That became a cycle through a few roles until I experienced the worst time of addiction I’d ever been in. I went into full-blown heroin addiction. I got arrested for many things and ended up in a psych ward for months with a camera on me because my partner at the time had died of a heroin overdose. I had absolutely nothing – no family connection, no home, no possessions, no friends. So, I cried out to God again. Serving others I was eventually released into the care of my family, which was strange, but things were better this time. I walked into a Salvos church and soon started going to church every Sunday. When we went into COVID lockdown, I thought, “Oh my, I’m gone. I haven’t got the support of church.” But during the lockdown, I got even closer to God. “I love the work I do now with The Salvation Army and no day is the same as the last.” I went back to church after the lockdown a totally changed person. That’s when I knew I was going to serve God again, but this time as a whole person. I love the work I do now with The Salvation Army and no day is the same as the last. I work with our Salvos Doorways team, supporting people who come for help and case management. We do toasties twice a week, and I sit with people and get to know them as we chat over food and coffee. I love it! I also felt called to study chaplaincy, so am doing that at the moment as well. Since I have been clean of the drugs, I’ve married, and that is also really good. Hope and freedom I’ve had a lot of trials over the last few years, as I have over much of my life, but the difference is now that nothing budges me from knowing that God loves me. We’ve just had Easter, and that is the key to Christianity. Jesus dying so we can have forgiveness – Jesus rising from the dead so we can have freedom. It is the start of experiencing a life full of love and hope and change. God really is so good!

The Norwest Region Rouse Hill Corps, which recently underwent renovations, has set itself up to be a warm, welcoming place where newcomers feel a sense of belonging. By CAPTAIN EMMA HOWAN* When I find myself having to move house, getting art and photos on the walls is one of the important things to me. Once I can see myself in a new space, it starts to feel like home. It’s a similar thing when I walk into any new environment; I’m curious to see what the space is saying about itself and whether this is a space that is right for me. Do I belong here? I’m a regular customer of my local coffee shop. This coffee shop has a mismatch of retro chairs and tables. There is a community noticeboard with posters and flyers for a huge variety of events, support groups, health and fitness groups, religious activities and much more. There is a growing tally of suspended coffees. This is where someone can pay for a coffee, and someone else who might not otherwise be able to afford one can collect it. There is a range of art, books and toys, and there is even a place to add a photo of your pet. This coffee shop could appear at first glance to not really know what it is or who it is for, but to me, it shows that whatever walk of life you are from, you belong here. One can feel at home as a regular customer at a local coffee shop. I am a fourth-generation Salvationist on my mother’s side. When we have those generational links in The Salvation Army, it can, sometimes, be easier to find a sense of belonging. We know what to expect, have family and friend connections, some perhaps from children and youth camps, and so the list goes on. However, I’m sure all of us have, at some point, wandered into a space where we felt that we just didn’t belong. We notice it quickly and could find ourselves not wanting to return there. This causes me to question: what do our spaces say, and are they spaces for those outside the current fabric of The Salvation Army, and will they experience a sense of belonging? The Salvation Army was established to be that mismatch of chairs and tables. People that, at first glance, might not fit together. As Salvationists, we sit very firmly in a calling to the whosoever. In one of our Salvation Army doctrines, we state: “We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved” (doctrine six). Our belief of this surely must see a passion within us for all people to find a sense of belonging within The Salvation Army and in God’s family. We would never want someone to leave one of our Salvation Army expressions because of a feeling that they don’t belong. The sense of belonging that my local coffee shop provides reminds me to be mindful of the way we do things in our physical places and how we interact with each other, which might be a barrier to the whosoever trying to find a place to belong. This challenge sits with me daily to be (re)creating Salvation Army spaces where whatever walk of life someone is from and whatever journey they are on up to this point, all people can find belonging in Christ here because all do belong here. Captain Emma Howan is the Corps Officer at Blenheim Corps in New Zealand. This article first appeared in The Officer magazine (April-June 2023 edition).

The three cars to be used by the Driver for Life program in Gympie were on display at the launch. The Salvation Army Drive for Life program has hit the road in the Queensland city of Gympie.   The Salvos have partnered with Roadcraft Driver Education to bring the program to the region, 170km north of Brisbane. The official launch was held on 30 August.   A Welcome to Country opened proceedings, followed by an explanation of the program and a practical driving demonstration from the Roadcraft team, which showed guests the importance of appropriate reaction and braking distances. A barbeque and refreshments concluded the launch. Roadcraft and Salvos representatives were on the job manning the barbeque at the launch. “We are very grateful to open our new location at the Gympie Corps, where our new coordinator will work hard to assist disadvantaged youth in obtaining their driver’s licence,” said Drive for Life Team Leader Arianna Briceno.   “Roadcraft has provided us with wonderful support and guidance throughout this process and have helped us share about our initiative with the local community.”    The Drive for Life program has been operating since 2008 and has expanded to more than 14 locations with a team of more than 100 staff and volunteers across Australia.   The Drive for Life website states that the program has supported many young people in achieving their Learner and Provisional licences, establishing positive relationships, broadening employment pathways and developing future goals and aspirations.   Bundaberg Tom Quinn Centre manager Jessica Tobin speaks on behalf of The Salvation Army at the launch. “We estimate over 10,000 young people have passed through our program and moved into further education or employment,” Arianna said. “Approximately 75 per cent of young people enrolled in our program achieve their learner licence, and 68 per cent will go on to achieve their full driver’s licence. Participants in our program receive road safety education and go on to become safe and responsible road users.”   “I’m so pleased that this program is here,” said Roadcraft CEO Sharlene Makin. “It’s just so lovely we can finally get something organised for them.” The Drive for Life program relies on volunteers to assist with mentoring and driving instruction. For more information on becoming a Driving Mentor, click here For more information on the Drive for Life program, click here   To view a Salvos Studios video on the Bundaberg Drive for Life program, click here

Colonel Rodney Walters, Sheba Nandkeolyar, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Captain Tara McGuigan and Major Peter McGuigan at the Multicultural launch in Sydney. By PETER McGUIGAN Remarkable stories of struggle and achievement in the lives of people from ethnic backgrounds punctuated The Salvation Army’s multicultural media launch in Sydney on Friday 5 May. A common thread through their journeys had been the Salvos’ care, both in times of crisis and in their aftermath. The event was attended by representatives from many ethnic media organisations as well as business and community leaders from Sydney’s multicultural community and Salvation Army personnel. Event organiser Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of leading marketing company MultiConnexions, spoke of a time in her life when she had called on the Salvos for help in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. As a student “When I was 20 and doing my MBA,” Sheba said, “I picked up an unpaid internship in Calcutta and couldn’t find any place to stay. Then someone suggested I try The Salvation Army. ‘Aren’t they for the helpless people?’ I said. ‘But isn’t your situation helpless?’ she replied. “So, I called The Salvation Army on a landline as we didn’t have mobiles in those days. I will never forget what followed. I said, ‘Do you have a place for me to stay?’ They said, ‘No, but come along tomorrow and let’s chat.’ The next morning when I went to The Salvation Army, they said, ‘We have a place for you, but it’s dormitory accommodation; are you okay with that.’ ‘Absolutely,’ I said.” But recovering addicts were also placed in the dormitory, and the Calcutta Salvos said Sheba would need her father’s permission. So, she rang him on their landline, and when he answered, they took the phone off her and sought his permission for Sheba to stay. “My father replied, ‘This is excellent! Maybe she will be able to change somebody else’s life.’” Sheba also told of how grateful and humbled she had been the previous week when awarded The Salvation Army’s Eva Burrows Award at the launch of the Red Shield Appeal in Sydney. The award was given for her outstanding service to The Salvation Army in facilitating the multicultural launch of the Red Shield Appeal over two decades resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of ethnic media exposure at no cost to the Salvos. Multiculturalism matters Guest speaker Jodi McKay, former Leader of the Opposition in NSW and now Chair of the Australia India Business Council, recognised Australia’s Indigenous Peoples as the original owners of our land. Jodi said that everyone else, “every single one of us”, were immigrants and that in her time as Leader of the Opposition, she had chosen the Multiculturalism portfolio for herself. Jodie McKay, Chair of the Australia India Business Council, was the guest speaker. “I believed that I needed to demonstrate that we were about inclusivity, about everyone belonging, recognising and celebrating each other … our languages … religious practices … cultures … foods … clothing … “For me, knowing that The Salvation Army has a multicultural launch is incredibly important in two ways. One, it sends a strong message that multiculturalism in this great country we live in matters. That it’s about tolerance, harmony and accepting each other. [I see] these as the fundamental principles, the values the Salvos hold dear. “The second way is that [holding this event] recognises not everyone receives their information in the same way. And it’s usually because of language. Newly arrived immigrants particularly often don’t understand the role of the Salvos or what it means when someone knocks on their door at Red Shield time or about the incredible work of the Salvos … It’s about making sure all people understand and, therefore, that all are valued.” Recognition During her address, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army Australia Commissioner Miriam Gluyas told the story of her encounter with an African family in Auburn, considered one of the most multicultural suburbs in Australia. “This is my kind of room,” Miriam began. “I love the people of the nations. I was once posted from Newcastle, where it’s 97 per cent white Aussie, to Auburn, where it’s quite the opposite, and I loved it. I also loved my time serving in Papua New Guinea. It was the most amazing experience of my life. A Salvation Army mission comprising people from 40 different nations. Friends, that’s who we are. We are hope givers and hope bringers. – Commissioner Miriam Gluyas “Fifty-one per cent of people in Australia now come from other nations. When I was at Auburn, we were a very white Salvation Army, and I said, ‘God, you’ve got to bring some people from the nations.’ And then, one Sunday some Africans wandered into our building, heard the songs we were singing and stayed. They had nothing. They had come through two refugee camps where the kids became seriously ill. “They turned up on our doorstep, and we loved them immediately; we heard their stories, and it broke our hearts. And we learned how to love well. But these beautiful people who came with hearts to make a new beginning struggled with recognition. Their degrees were not recognised, they had to learn another language, they had to go back to college – and they did it, and they did it with such grace. “When I left Auburn, people from 26 nations were part of The Salvation Army there, and I understand that number now to be 40-plus. Can you imagine that? A Salvation Army mission comprising people from 40 different nations. Friends, that’s who we are. We are hope givers and hope bringers. “What I really love is that in the one family who originally came to us with nothing – no work, no housing – one of them is now a community engagement officer, one of them is a head of nursing and the other a social worker. They restarted their lives and now give back to Australia every single day.” Miriam apologised for the discrimination many migrants and refugees had experienced since coming to Australia. She thanked them for the contribution they now give to making Australia a better place for all and for the great variety they bring to Australia. Finally, she said, “And we love you each”. Giving dignity Captain Tara McGuigan, Assistant Public Relations Secretary and Relationship Manager for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities NSW/ACT, likened the experience of many migrants and refugees in Australia to being bowled a ‘googly’ in cricket. “You might get bowled out once or twice, but you always come back for the second innings,” she said. Captain Tara McGuigan shares about her experience on Nauru. Tara shared about her experience on the island nation of Nauru, where The Salvation Army looked after the welfare of asylum seekers. She had been a member of the first team of Salvation Army personnel to arrive on Nauru in 2012. “Plane after plane of asylum seekers started arriving,” she recalled. “One of them was filled with Iranian men. When they arrived at the detention centre, the first man off the transfer bus looked around at the conditions and started yelling, ‘We are not animals. We are not animals.’ He was upset. He was angry. He was dishevelled. “Friends, we are here to bring dignity to people’s lives. Our team got around this man. We sat and talked with him. He calmed down and started crying. He shared his story, and it broke my heart. I am still so moved when I think of this scene [witnessed by hundreds of others] … But Ahmed [not his real name] now has residency in Australia. He’s established and set up his own business. His children and his family are here. The children are doing well in school, and one day they will be leaders giving back to this country.” A new start As a young girl, testimonial speaker Durga Owen experienced family separation and fear for her life during the decades-long civil war in Sri Lanka. At one point, an opportunity opened for them to travel to Australia by plane, and they took it, not knowing what might await them. Testimonial speaker Durga Owen shares her story. Upon arriving in Sydney with her mother, Durga said all they had was what was in the suitcases they had brought with them, and they endured 18 months of struggle and trauma. Her father, a lawyer and educator by profession, was in a detention centre in Switzerland. It was the 1990s and, after their early hardship, they were given access to a small flat in O’Connell Street, Parramatta. “I was 11-and-a-half years old having been released from this very traumatic year and a half in my life,” she said. “I remember standing in this tiny apartment with not a single belonging other than a bag of clothes … “I saw my mother, the strongest woman I know, break down that day. Through all the years and the ordeal of displacement, I had never seen her cry,” said Durga. “And then she remembered someone telling us we should pay a visit to the Salvos … Three days later, a Salvos truck arrived with everything we needed in that home and for our new life in Australia. “This meant much more to me than furniture only, a voucher only or food only. It brought me a sense of purpose as a young person. It brought me hope. And this is what The Salvation Army does. It brings hope – that there is someone there in your time of need, and it doesn’t matter who you are. Often you don’t hear about their work because it is quiet and silent and respectful of the dignity of the people they serve.” Durga, now a lawyer herself and who lectures in law at the Western Sydney University, said this experience of the Salvos helped establish in her a view of what true success is: “A lifetime of service to others.” Secretary for Communication Colonel Rodney Walters concluded the event by recognising the power of the stories that had been shared. “I love the fact that we have a big God who created us all … We are all Australians,” Colonel Walters said. He then prayed, thanking God for the people in the room, for “who they are and for what they have given to Australia”. Networking opportunities were another feature of the event, creating a buzz effect as people connected with each other and the Salvos’ 2023 Red Shield Appeal campaign: “So nobody struggles alone.”