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Once, during a THQ appointment, the head of my department and I realised that we had an area of service that needed revamping and it would mean changing some staff roles, adjusting several budgets to start an entirely new budget, purchasing some IT equipment and establishing some new work procedures and protocols that would have a small operational impact on all of THQ. I proposed that it would take several months of planning before we could commence the new service and we would be best served by putting together a small working group to think through the logistics of the change and write some new policies and procedures. He agreed and we arranged a meeting with the Chief Secretary to discuss our proposed way forward. At this meeting, the Chief was in full agreement with us, and I was glad we were going to move forward on a helpful remedy to a problem. Just as we were walking out of the office, the Chief casually called out to us, “Oh, and I’d suggest putting together a little working party to discuss and select who should be on the working party for the proposal.” My boss gave a non-committal nod and we exited. As soon as the door closed and we began walking away, I said to him: “I am not putting together a working part to select the working party.” He gave me a slight smile and said: “I was going to suggest you put together a working party to select the working party who will select the working party who will actually do the work. Unless, of course, they delegate it to a sub-working party.” So, we were in agreement. We got back to his office, picked half a dozen key people and – incredibly, without the aid of a working party – in 10 minutes, we’d selected our working party. Way back in the 1980s, there was a British political satire called ‘Yes, Minister’ that screened on TV for three series and was followed by a sequel show, ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, that aired for a further two series. Both shows humorously explored the behind-the-scenes working life in a cabinet secretary’s office. At one stage, Sir Humphrey Appleby (played wonderfully by Nigel Hawthorne) said: “Civil servants have an extraordinary genius for wrapping up a simple idea to make it sound extremely complicated.” The Salvation Army has had the same tendencies over the years, although it is, I have to say, getting better. From time to time we have made the simplest things far more complicated than they need to be. For example, we must be the only church that’s ever had orders and regulations for colour sergeants (i.e. the person who looks after the flag). I was at a corps once where there was, apparently, some disagreement among the Home League ladies about whose responsibility it was to care for the tea-towels they used each week. To placate the seething mob, the corps officer – during a Sunday morning meeting, with a certificate and the colour sergeant (!) holding the flag – appointed a lady as the Home League Tea-Towel Secretary and, amazingly, another lady as Assistant Home League Tea-Towel Secretary (I can only assume it was in case there was a tea-towel emergency and the HLTTS was unavailable). Now, on reflection, I’m actually impressed these people were chosen for office without being selected by a working party! – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

In Week 2 of the Self Denial Appeal, we meet Donato who is in Year 11 and dreams of becoming a marine engineer. Donato and his family have been assisted by the SiKAP Program in the Philippines, which has helped them transition from child sponsorship to a community-sustainable program. This has given Donato hope for the future and a secure income for his family. This Self Denial Appeal, you’re encouraged to take the time to reflect on how you can make a sacrificial commitment to display your love for God and others in action. To donate or find out more visit my.salvos.org.au/self-denial-appeal

To read Esther’s tribute, click here

There are times when our Salvos Online reporters are personally impacted by the stories they cover. The Wyndham City Salvos food relief story is one example. BY LERISSE SMITH It took a shiny red bus with lots of colourful fish and amazing human beings with open hearts to truly humble me. Here I was on a sunny Friday afternoon at Melbourne’s Werribee Train Station being warmly greeted by the ‘Salvos on the Move’ outreach ministry team. I immediately felt part of the ‘fam’. They work together beautifully, just like a well-oiled machine. And, oh, I was proudly wearing my shiny new Salvos polo shirt for the first time, too. I felt really good. I had visions of what to expect – but nothing could prepare me for the sheer volume of people waiting patiently in a line-up. The young, the old, people with families and without families, people from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, and those who could only speak in their native tongue. All were there for one overarching reason – to receive food relief. It was a humbling experience. Some had smiles, others a more pensive demeanour. But all scanned the many boxes of colourful culinary delights attentively as they quietly decided what offerings best suited their circumstances. There was no judgment or discrimination of any sort as to why they were there. All were welcomed. All were fed. Soon, it became apparent that the red Salvos shield embroidered on my shiny new polo was an open, welcoming, and comforting invitation for people to talk. And talk they did. I hoped working in the social welfare sector for many years would ensure I was mentally prepared for those suffering at the coalface and any personal story that came my way. But when a softly spoken gentleman informed me at the station that he simply did not have money to buy food and had resorted to stealing at times (something he absolutely did not want to do), I found myself having to quickly compose myself, take a breath, and continue to be emotionally present for he deserved nothing less. Falling on financially tough times can happen to anyone. The brave retelling of his life story was one of many people who felt free to share, and thanks to white plastic chairs scattered amidst the friendly chaos, hot sausages, hugs, and constant ‘Hi, how are you? Great to see you’ greetings, helped foster a friendly vibe between team members and those they serve. And it was sitting on a white chair that I found myself chatting with another lovely gentleman, Sammy, who quickly made it known he had one big life story to tell. He states in quick succession that he had it all, lost it all, and “would be dead” if it were not for the Salvos, a chance drop-in at Wyndham City’s Salvation Army church that was to be the catalyst for his life turning around for the better. Sammy loves the Salvos. They love him, too. And every Friday, he’s there with a big smile. I told Sammy he should write a book one day. He’s thinking about it. And, oh, he loves flashy cars, too. It was abundantly clear all locals who gather outside the Hunger Buster have enormous gratitude and respect for Wyndham City Corps ‘Salvos on the Move’ outreach ministry and its amazing selfless team of volunteers. I do, too. They are a great bunch. Their leader, Tim Kite, is a wonderfully passionate ambassador for Christ and lives what he preaches. He cares for everyone. And so, too, James, Adele, Jan, Judith, Andrew, Otineru, Tammie and Robby, who were rostered on that Friday and welcomed this girl from the burbs with open arms. I have no doubt the wheels on the bus will go round and round again for many more miles to come – and I can’t wait to board again.

Tomorrow (17 February) is international Random Acts of Kindness Day, a day that celebrates ... well ... random acts of kindness all over the world. When random acts of kindness become habits and a lifestyle, the impact is even more powerful, writes Salvos Online’s FAY FOSTER During a summer of violence in the 1990s, a reporter in the Bay area of San Francisco remarked that people should stop reporting on “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty” and start “practising random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty”. That statement started a movement, and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was born. Random acts of kindness happen when we decide, often on the spur of the moment, to do something nice for someone. For example, we might decide to send flowers to someone we haven’t seen for a while, give money to a person on the street, or pay for the coffee of the person behind us in the fast-food drive-through. On 17 February each year, Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated internationally. Celebrating this day can be a lot of fun as we think up and carry out random acts of kindness. However, kindness can be so much more than just a series of random events. Instead of, or in addition to, the random performance of acts of kindness, we can plan and deliver acts of kindness that aim to meet the needs of those we know or have heard of. These could be one-off acts, such as providing a person in poverty with a coat to keep them warm, treating a hurting friend to lunch or help­ing someone with their housework when they’re not feeling well. They could also be regular, purpose-driven acts, such as phoning a lonely person on a regular basis, donating to a worthwhile charity or volunteering at a drop-in centre or aged care facility. The most empowering and effective form of kindness is a lifestyle of kindness. This is where we decide that we are going to be kind people; we are going to make kindness a part of our character and our everyday life. We might make a habit of holding the door for the person behind us, letting a mum with little children go ahead of us in the supermarket queue, or looking out for those left out and including them. We can develop the habit of saying kind words to everyone we talk with, and of always thanking those who help us. Our emails and telephone calls can exude kindness. We may still perform acts of kindness that are random or regular, but our kindness has sunk into our souls and impacts our every thought and action. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation recognises that randomness is not the most desired result of their work in inspiring us all to be kind. Their slogan is “Make kindness the norm”. The norm for each individual, each family, and every society. When we look back on our lives, one of the things that most, if not all, of us remember is a time when someone was unkind to us. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” said memoirist, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Kind words and actions make us feel better, softer and stronger. Unkind words and actions can harden our spirit and destroy our confidence and self-worth for a very long time. We can let the kindness or unkindness of others determine our life choices, attitudes and achievements. One way to become a kinder person is to always try to put yourself in the shoes of the person you’re talking with or thinking about. When you think about their life, their situation, their family, you might feel less judgmental and more compassionate. Each person is largely the product of their family background, circumstances and experiences. It takes sincere desire and effort to become the person we deeply want to become – the one who is consis­tently kind and compassionate to others, rather than being blown around by our own hurts, history and circumstances. Thankfully, kindness is one of the fruits, or gifts, of the Spirit of God. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbear­ance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” (Galatians chapter 5, verses 22-23a). As we open our hearts to God and to his working in our lives, kindness grows in us and the whole world benefits. In a world where we can be anything – let’s be kind!

It’s a bustling Friday night at Melbourne’s Werribee Train Station. Commuters abound, and station calls resound. Suddenly, looming high on the horizon, comes a shiny red bus – a big one adorned with colourful fish – and pulls up at the adjoining bus terminal. Affectionately named ‘Hunger Buster’, the bright attraction forms an integral part of Wyndham City Corps ‘Salvos on the Move’ outreach ministry to the local community – and it’s saving lives. Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH went along to discover why. It's a weekly ritual that some people simply could not do without. With shopping bags under their arms and hearts full of hope, local community members congregate around Werribee’s train station bus terminal late on a Friday afternoon, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the shiny red Hunger Buster bus and its amazing volunteer team. Its arrival around 5pm is a cause of much relief. As soon as the food bus doors open, the dedicated outreach ministry team, complete with never-ending smiles and a supportive listening ear, immediately set up generous trestle tables of fresh food, barbeques and hot drinks to provide essential support to those in need. For many, it’s a lifesaver – a chance to quell the hunger pains. “I simply do not have enough money to buy food,” says one gentleman waiting to be served. “I have had to steal some food from supermarkets at times, which I don’t like doing and am ashamed to do because it’s not right, so I can eat. Coming here just helps me so much, and that someone asks me how I am doing and is interested in me.” Another lady holding a much-loved sausage and bread in hand says the hot barbeque provided by the bus outreach ministry is the highlight of her week. “It’s the only hot food I have during the week,” she said. “I am so very grateful they supply this to the community.” Personal stories of hardship, loneliness and isolation are often heard on a Friday night – just ask Tim Kite, Ministry Assistant of Outreach at Wyndham City Corps, who has headed up its ‘Salvos on the Move’ outreach bus ministry during the past three years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for essential food relief has skyrocketed from about 50 people to more than 150 people lining up every Friday night. Numbers increased to well over 200 at Christmas. “I started with about four boxes of food,” Tim said. “Now we have over 40 boxes of food. Every Friday, there’s a big line now. There’s just such a great need that’s out there. We know people are living and camping in their cars and getting a meal at our bus. Some don't even have access to Centrelink payments. We do get people who are homeless, and some in need of just a conversation.” While the numbers have increased, so has the team's determination to continue pouring hope, friendship and a listening ear into all those they meet and to treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter their circumstances. And spurring the team on is the rich history of ’Salvos on the Move’ that began more than 18 years ago with a new lease of life injected into the service last year when CDC Victoria donated the new red bus. The outreach ministry also has key donors – Second Bite and 7-Eleven Australia – which continually provide food from fresh fruit and vegetables to pre-prepared wraps and sandwiches. The produce varies throughout the year depending on stock and the seasons. However, fresh fruit and vegetables and a hot snag are guaranteed year-round. The key focus of the outreach ministry is not only providing essential food relief but also sharing the gospel of Jesus and extending an invitation for people to visit Wyndham City Corps. Free Bibles are also given out, and many people dedicate their lives to Christ. Last year, Tim’s biggest highlight was seeing more than 10 families from the bus outreach ministry attend the church. “The actual goal of having the bus out there is that we ultimately want to lead people to Jesus.” – Tim “We often hear in the past that William Booth talked about the ‘soup, soap and salvation’ mission of The Salvation Army. We envision the bus to be the first point of contact for people, to give them the food parcel, fill their tummy, and to know they are loved and cared for and to follow them through. But we are also seeing lives transformed from the outreach ministry.” Tim said he always held John 12:32 close to his heart when thinking of reaching the local community: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. “Feeding people on a Friday draws all people. I’ve seen lives change, communities change. We are not always going to be in darkness – there’s always hope and that the light is always greater than the darkness,” he said. “By us rocking up with a big red bus, it’s that flame of hope that life will get better. Without hope, people don’t envision change and that better days are ahead. I hope that’s what people see at the bus – a cup of water, a hot meal, a hug.” Locals regularly thank the outreach ministry team for their outstanding service to the community. A common remark volunteers regularly receive is that without the Salvos, they would not know what to eat that night. “I vividly remember one lady walking up the ramp one night and thanking us because she had not had anything to eat the whole day,” Tim said. “It was such a thrill when she came to church after that Friday and to be connected into the community.” Leading the team can be heartbreaking at times, especially when families line up for food relief with little children in tow. Many are from Myanmar (Burma). So, Tim ensures a little box of lollies is handed out to the children. Assisting the Burmese community greatly is a young girl who helps the team by translating the Burmese language into English. “You see a smile from a frown, and it’s so worth it,” Tim said. “I am so grateful. There’s nothing more of greater value than a human being, a soul. We are so blessed to be part of their lives and to hear when they are doing well. Without the love of Jesus in my heart, I would give up. It’s what gives me that joy and the passion for what we do.” Looking to the future, Tim is hopeful the outreach ministry will continue to grow and reach more locations in the community. “I always say to the team if we touch one life, it’s worth it,” Tim said. “I particularly remember one Friday night last year when it was pouring rain. A person visited the bus who was from overseas. I had the opportunity to pray over him. Afterwards, he came up to me and said he was going back to Jesus. I remember walking back to the bus and tearing up. I said to the Lord: ‘If tonight was just for that one soul, it was so worth it.’”

UK Salvos launch ‘Stuff on the Bus’ The Salvation Army launched Stuff on the Bus on Canvey Island, Essex County, late last year. Stuff on the Bus is a new mobile community supermarket where customers can get discounted food from a refurbished double-decker bus. Responding to the rising cost of food, The Salvation Army is working in partnership with Essex County Council and Feeding Britain by jointly funding this initiative, which aims to bring some relief to local people who are struggling to make ends meet. Holly Alberici, Pioneer Leader of The Salvation Army on Canvey Island, said she believes the new service will make a significant impact. Customers have the opportunity to buy items at a greatly reduced price after paying a £5 ($AUD9.70) annual sign-on fee. “We are hoping to fill in the gap between food bank and supermarket,” she said. “People can jump on board and get what they need. Rising food prices are impacting more and more people and I’m looking forward to the community using the bus in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment.” The supermarket will be on the bottom deck of the bus while the top deck will have facilities including a mobile banking unit, Employment Plus, a service run by The Salvation Army to help people become job-ready, and a wellbeing coach. The new Stuff on the Bus service will initially run for two days a week. A personal shopper service will be offered for customers living with a disability. The bus can reach community residents who may not otherwise be able to make trips to a local supermarket. It offers the same shopping experience with people able to stock up on a variety of fresh food and household items at much reduced prices. Salvos serving in Ukraine Despite living in a warzone with missile and drone attacks increasing, Salvation Army corps continue to support people spiritually, emotionally and, as much as they can, physically as well. In the Dnipro Corps, around 350 people were assisted with essential clothing and given the opportunity to ‘shop’ themselves from donated items. “We thank God for the opportunity to serve and support people during these trying times,” said Corps Leader, Natalia Rak. Making a difference in Mandeville Mandeville Corps in Jamaica, Caribbean Territory, runs a vegetable farm project to help support vulnerable people in their communities. Their crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, yams, sweet potatoes, red peas and corn. The rich and fertile soil continues to produce a bountiful harvest of crops. “A huge percentage of the produce is used in the community, especially among the many single-parent families and homeless people that the corps supports as part of their social program,” said Lieut Junior St Cyr, corps officer. The Divisional Commander of Eastern Jamaica, Major Boyeke Nana Agyemang, said that Lieutenants Junior and Roslyn are hardworking officers and many wonderful things are happening there. “I am quite hopeful that other officers, especially those in rural communities, will contact The Salvation Army Projects Department and take advantage of opportunities of this nature,” he said. Responding to wildfires in Chile A long drought followed by exceptional heat and wind brought deadly blazes that ripped with devastating speed through the coastal town of Viña del Mar, Chile, earlier this month. Tragically, the lethal wildfires have taken the lives of more than 100 people, with hundreds missing as the death toll climbs. Whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to ashes, and around 15,000 residences have been left in ruins. The Salvation Army in Valparaiso is part of the Emergency Commission and has contributed two essential projects: Feeding Locations: The Salvation Army teams are providing hot meals in two locations and offering additional support to affected families. Emergency Housing: 3650 families have lost their homes to the wildfires. The Salvation Army has been assisting in the provision of 50 prefabricated houses. Colonel Alex Nesterenko, Territorial Commander, South America West, has emphasised the need for additional (shelter) support. “Given the urgency of the situation, many families are in shelters due to a lack of housing, so it is essential to provide them with a home as soon as possible,” he said.

Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday – often called Pancake Day – and Salvation Army expressions around the country took the opportunity to enjoy a pancake or three with their communities. Shrove Tuesday is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, and many corps held discussions around Lent as part of the day. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting, and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were ‘shriven’ (absolved from their sins). A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the ‘pancake bell’ and is still often rung today. Shrove Tuesday is traditionally the last opportunity to use up eggs, fats and oils before the Lenten fast – and Salvation Army centres around the country took advantage. At the Balga Salvos Community Cafe in Western Australia, more than 70 people had a fun morning eating pancakes, drinking fresh coffee and sharing life together. A celebratory pancake breakfast at Victoria’s Merri-bek Salvos attracted many community members, with the air-conditioning on full as Melbourne sweltered in 38° heat. A pancake lunch was on the menu at Noosa Coolum Salvos in Queensland, with an ‘open table’ and plenty of pancakes, fruit, maple syrup and cream. Also in Queensland, Bayside Salvos served pancakes for breakfast and discussed the meaning of Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the upcoming Easter Season with our community through table conversation. Pancake Day was celebrated in South Australia at Riverside Gawler Corps, where they advertised it as ‘Pancake Fiesta’, complete with the third running of the All Age Lemon Rolling Tournament! In Port Augusta (SA), the occasion gave staff, volunteers, church and hub members the opportunity to come together for a special pancake breakfast. Pancake Day is celebrated all over the world, particularly in English-speaking regions like the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada. In France, the USA and some other countries, it is called ‘Mardi Gras’ or ‘Fat Tuesday’. Hexham Corps in England held a ‘Pancake Fun Day’, during which pancake-makers sharpened their flipping skills in the kitchen (below).

Owen became blind after experiencing a childhood accident. Instead of panicking or blaming God, Owen believed that God had a plan for his life. Owen is an active soldier at Waverley Temple, and his faith motivates him to be there for other people, to help them and to give back to those who have helped him.

BY DEAN SIMPSON The newly formed Salvo Slammers basketball team hit the court for the first time in their shiny new uniforms at the weekend in a curtain-raiser to the Sydney Kings National Basketball League home match at Qudos Bank Arena. The game was the final of the Corporate Cup, a three-on-three tournament involving teams representing sponsors and organisations involved with the Sydney Kings NBL franchise. Major Darren Kingston led the Slammers onto Qudos Arena to the stadium announcer’s booming voice. Their opponents were a team representing the Guzman y Gomez fast-food restaurant chain. “We entered a Salvos team in this season’s Corporate Cup, but we really didn’t have an official name or official singlets. We thought we’d better look the part for the final, so my brother Nathan organised the kit (singlet and shorts) and came up with the name ‘Salvo Slammers’. So, yeah, it was technically the debut of the Salvo Slammers on Sunday,” Darren laughed. The Slammers were beaten by a point, but that wasn’t the point, Darren said, admitting they still felt like winners as they came off the court. “It was a great experience. We had a lot of fun.” The Salvo Slammers comprised players from four Sydney corps and centres – Macquarie Fields Mission, Parramatta Corps, Inner-West Corps and Shire Salvos. The team for the Qudos Bank Arena match included Darren Kingston and his sons Josh and Ben, Kem Pobjie and his daughter Nika, and Josiah Collinson. Josiah’s brother Noah and their father, Major David Collinson, are also part of the team and played in the tournament’s early rounds. “We did really well in the early rounds of the Corporate Cup (played at the Kings’ training headquarters at Moore Park in December), and we made it through to the final,” Darren said. “We haven’t really got a sponsor, but we do have the words ‘Bible Notes’ on the back of our singlets. Bible Notes is an app my brother created ... it helps you take sermon notes and devotional notes and gives advice on that sort of thing, and it also has the Bible on it in different translations. It’s growing in popularity, so we’re hoping people will see our singlets and go and try the app.” Darren, who is a team member at Macquarie Fields Mission in Sydney’s south-west, said he would love to turn the Salvo Slammers team into an ongoing sports ministry. “Basketball is pretty popular among young people in the Sydney region, and it would be great to get the young people we work with involved in the Salvo Slammers team and perhaps join a local comp. There’s also The Salvation Army interstate basketball carnival that’s held every year, so that’s something else we could aim at. “Sport is a great way to connect with people, so my prayer is that God will use this team to reach people for the Kingdom.” More photos from the game (all photos by Lena Pobjie):

Are you planning to participate in Lent this year? Lent, which commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert enduring tempting by Satan, begins on 14 February this year, and finishes the Thursday before Good Friday – 28 March. This season usually involves giving up something you love for that time – with chocolate, coffee, social media, favourite treats and unhealthy habits being among the popular targets. This year, The Salvation Army International Headquarters is encouraging Salvos communities around the world to reflect on God’s outrageous love and his generosity to us – and make it known to others – by participating in 40 acts of kindness across 40 days. These are acts of giving out to others, inspired by scripture – and all those who participate will engage in the same 40 acts of kindness, regardless of where they are in the world. To learn about the daily acts and follow the content, click here. To view and download the resources, including a journal containing all 40 acts and in multiple languages, click here. To receive prompts on your newsfeed for each day of Lent, follow @SalvArmySpiritualLife on Facebook and Instagram Let's make a kind difference in our world this Lent, one small significant act at a time. #LentOfKindness “God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.” 1 John 4:9 GWT

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week we are praying for the Pray for USA Southern Territory. ·       We ask God’s blessings upon our territorial priorities that are divided between three categories: Love, Serve and Disciple. The emphasis is “All for Jesus” as we move through 2024 in all levels of Salvation Army service and ministry. ·       We are boldly asking God for 50 candidates for the Keepers of the Covenant session entering the training college this August. Pray that men and women will heed God’s call to be officers. ·       Although we have resumed all our activities, the attendances in our corps are still below what they were before the pandemic. Pray that there would be renewal in our ranks. ·       Pray for our ministry among those suffering most acutely. Opioid and meth addiction is at epidemic levels in areas of our territory. Human trafficking is increasing despite efforts to intercede. The Army is doing meaningful work with wonderful results but so much more needs to be done. ·       We praise God for our evangelistic outreach through our frontline ministries in the corps and adult rehabilitation centres, our online ministries (soundcast in English and Spanish), and through social media. We ask for wisdom as we seek the Spirit’s guidance to reach more souls for God’s kingdom. For more information about the USA Southern Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.