Prayers for India’s South Western Territory include more candidates, jobs for young people, and strength for those facing religious opposition to their Christian faith. Photo: Kunal Kalra on Unsplash 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 (23-29 September), we are praying for the India South Western Territory.   This territory is made up of one state – Kerala.   Statistics at a glance: Officers  609 (active 276, retired 333) Aux captains  15,  Envoys  11, Employees  88 Corps 318 Outposts  12 Senior soldiers  27,885 Adherents  4667 Junior soldiers  2189   Prayer requests for India South Western Territory: Pray for Wayanadu. Wayanadu is a district in Kerala which has recently experienced devastating landslides. More than 400 people have died and 150 are still missing. Rescue operations are underway with the government and NGOs doing their best to protect and provide food and shelter to the people in the affected area. Please pray for all those people who are suffering as a consequence of this natural disaster, for those grieving, and for those who are missing to be found.   Pray for candidates for Salvation Army officership. The shortage of candidates is one of the serious issues facing the India South Western Territory. For various reasons, most young people have no interest in officership. Please pray that young people will respond to the call to serve as officers in The Salvation Army.     Pray for young people facing unemployment and barriers to employment. Unemployment is a big issue in Kerala. Job vacancies are low and job opportunities for Christians in the government sector are declining. There is a limit to the number of jobs available to Christians (1 per cent). Please pray for job opportunities, particularly for our young people.   Pray for those facing religious opposition In certain parts of the state, there is a lot of religious opposition towards Christians. Many Salvationists are facing opposition because of their faith and are feeling uncertain. Please pray for them to stand boldly as Christians, even when this feels difficult.   Praise points In the midst of these issues, we are so grateful to God for good leadership, for committed Salvationists, and for the resources we need for a better future and to overcome financial challenges.   To find out more about the India South Western Territory click here   For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here .

Helping others in the community has played a powerful role in Andrew’s healing and recovery. By ANDREW I was born in Melbourne and brought up in the Catholic Church. My parents owned a large toy store, which was a bonus as a kid growing up, and I loved minibikes and all that sort of stuff. My family moved to Queensland when I was 14 and life changed. I was a reserved child and making new friends was difficult. I wanted to make friends and fit in, but it was a challenge. One night I was invited to hang out with some guys, and we got some beer. They all thought I was hilarious after a few drinks, so they invited me back the next day. Unfortunately, the alcohol got worse for me over the years, even though I was always functional. I became a greenkeeper and generally worked in horticulture, but I’ve done other things as well. To me, an alcoholic was someone on the park bench, not someone with a job and housing, but over time I got to the point where I hated myself. Every single day I just had to get drunk because I didn’t like the person I’d become. There were so many rock-bottom moments over the years – waking up in a police cell covered in my own blood with no idea how I got there or what had happened. It finally got to a point in my life after drinking for 30-odd years that something changed – I believe God intervened somehow. I rang my father and said, “Please come and get me.” That was back in 2016, and I started going to a 12-step program. During that time, I had a couple of relapses and decided to change my 12-step sponsor. The guy who became my sponsor, Paul, was a Christian and in the Salvos, and we just clicked. Andrew loves volunteering at Caloundra Salvos’ House 4 Hope. One day, over a cuppa at his place, he prayed for me. Nothing dramatic. But when I was driving home, I had tears in my eyes. it was like a release, and I thought, “Yep, there’s something in this for sure.” I went to the local Salvos with Paul and then to a small group gathering. I just loved the feeling. I started going to the Salvos corps (church) and found something genuinely peaceful about the place. I also loved what they were doing to support people who were struggling, and I wanted to get involved. Now I spend about 10 or 12 hours a week volunteering at the Salvos House of Hope, where people can collect their grocery cards and food. I help out by giving cards and packages to people and having a chat. I’ve got a disease called CMT – Charcot- Marie-Tooth, which is a nerve disorder that causes muscle waste in my limbs. It is degenerative, so I’ll probably end up in a wheelchair, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m just grateful for my life and feel so blessed to be sober and alive. I would say to people who are struggling that there is hope. There is love to be found, and Easter is a good time to remember that God is love. For so long, I couldn’t function without alcohol, and I had no hope whatsoever. Then God intervened in my life and from where I was in 2016 to where I am now has been just an amazing turnaround. It took care and effort from others like Paul. It took an intervention from God. I’ve also learned that helping other people is one of the most powerful things you can do – not only for others and your community but also for yourself!

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE   Increased financial stress from the cost-of-living crisis is driving a new Salvation Army initiative. Normalising Money Conversations has been developed by The Salvation Army Financial Inclusion Community to encourage people to talk openly about their personal financial stories, a staff member says. Financial Inclusion Project Officer Bee Orsini said shame was the biggest barrier for those seeking financial help. She said the Normalise Money Conversations drive was firstly focused on Salvation Army staff, officers and volunteers as a way of leading by example in opening the conversation and was part of a broader need to engage with a new cohort of people who might have secure jobs, assets and mortgages but were reaching the limits of their financial capacity. “We’re really wanting to hold a space for reducing that stigma,” she said. “Particularly as more people [who] have never sought support from an organisation like the Salvos are going to be needing to do that.” A Salvation Army survey of 900 Australians conducted in 2023 found that 46 per cent of those surveyed agreed they would feel ashamed reaching out for help if facing financial difficulty. Eighty-eight per cent of those surveyed agreed that if they were in financial difficulty, they would try to solve it themselves before seeking help. Bee said everyone had a unique money story. She said a large part of the focus of Normalising Money Conversations was about living a Jesus-centred life, where a neighbourly economy of mutual support was prioritised. “It’s thinking about how we can support each other to help make our burdens or our worries feel a bit lighter,” Bee said. “The other thing I’m hoping [to see] is that we are really proactive and intentional, through the conversations we're having, to connect people to practical support.” Salvation Army Moree Program Coordinator Jason Poutawa said that he had made his fair share of mistakes with money and had often made guesses about what to do with his finances. But he said these experiences helped him connect with others struggling to make good decisions about their money. Jason Poutawa is the Program Coordinator at Moree Salvos in northern NSW. “I think the more people feel confident to face their financial challenges head-on, with support, the more capable we are of overcoming them,” Jason said. “We don’t know what we don’t know, and the more we can have these types of conversations with people, the more information and experience we can draw from to move forward.” He said the key was relationship, and rather than feeling a need to share all the details, it was about being open enough to be real. Jason also said showing curiosity was far more helpful than passing judgment. “It’s always a choice, so I don’t pressure people to talk about it,” he said. “But often, because I have a good relationship with them, they are willing to trust. “If I have a relevant story to share about how I’ve gone about the situation before, I share it.” Jason said he mentored one young man who had been spending money faster than he could earn it. Once they decided on goals to work toward, the man was able to save enough money to purchase his first car. “Often it will come up in general conversation – the thought of buying something or saving for something – and then I just ask a few questions about that. It often leads to their bigger picture of what they really want, and we set a goal from there,” he said. Cost-of-living and personal debt distress were the leading causes of elevated distress among Australians reporting suicidal behaviours, according to statistics from Suicide Prevention Australia released in March 2024. Bee said the cost-of-living crisis had created a hopeless situation for many who were constantly bombarded with statistics from media sources that only confirmed what they were already experiencing. She said conversations around money were a way to empower those feeling the weight of crushing financial burdens. “[There are] things that people are already doing in their lives that are good for their finances,” she said. “They just maybe can't see it because of the stress that they’re feeling. “Every conversation is that opportunity [for] hope, and that hope can actually save someone’s life.” For more information, click here In an emergency, call 000 Lifeline — 24/7 crisis and suicide support — 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – 24/7 online and phone support and counselling Launch event held at Redfern The Salvation Army recently held a launch event for the new Normalising Money Conversations campaign. The event, called Money Conversations: Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures, was held in the Territorial Headquarters Redfern office in Sydney.   The focus was on enhancing the financial wellbeing of our teams and their families and encouraging people to create a healthy mindset around money. The event, co-hosted by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, gave employees practical tips on building financial resilience and explored money conversation starters. It aimed to break the taboo around financial discussions and help people feel confident and equipped to talk about money in their personal and professional communities.   Miriam presented at the event on aspects of her own money journey, reflecting on the pride she feels about family members who have worked through their own financial challenges.   “Being able to talk to family and friends about finances and having people to point them to in hard times is key,” she said. For more photos from the Redfern event, click through the slideshow below:

At 84, young at heart, Ian aka Mr Salvo, is doing a wonderful job as a Salvo's volunteer in Batemans Bay, NSW. He enjoys meeting new people and having great conversations with them. He says, "It's nice to be amongst the people, and it's the best job in The Salvation Army."

Major Peter Collins’ new self-published book is available now. BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE In his reflection on his and his ancestors’ involvement in The Salvation Army Training College in Melbourne, Major Peter Collins depicts shifts in Salvation Army culture and training study programs and the rise and fall of broader theological and societal movements. As a third-generation officer, Peter entered training college as part of the 1975 Overcomers session. He details his, at times, amusing, often meaningful and heartfelt memories from his years at the training centre at 68 Victoria Parade and then 303 Royal Parade, Parkville. This included his experience of evangelistic doorknocking in the Carlton Housing Commission flats, a task that he hadn’t initially wanted to undertake. “This seemed to me an invasion of the privacy of the … tenants,” he wrote. “I complained about this incursion, but the good Captain asked me to comply with the training requirement. I was allocated the top floor, and so I bypassed the lift and reluctantly and slowly climbed the stairs. When I knocked on the first of the twenty doors, a dear pensioner lady opened the door and, seeing the uniform, exclaimed, ‘Oh, Salvation Army – I am so pleased to see you! No one comes to visit here anymore. Please come in’… Half an hour later, after tea and refreshments and a prayer, it was time to leave and return to the bus via the lift, and in a thoughtful and thankful frame of mind!” Peter also highlights the changes in college life using letters and notes from across the decades, including, in the beginning, a rather harsh letter from then Commissioner Thomas McKie to Peter’s maternal grandmother, Ruby Spiller. In this letter, Thomas reminds Ruby that should she “be found unsuitable for the position of a field officer”, she should be prepared to go back to her corps “and be a good and true soldier of Jesus in The Salvation Army” and “not consider the Army responsible in any way for any pecuniary loss … sustained”. This stern introduction is later contrasted with accounts of practical jokes, game-based learning and budding relationships between officers at the training colleges. Peter’s account will appeal to those who have also attended Salvation Army training colleges or have had family members attend, as it captures the nostalgia and camaraderie of college life well. It will be an exceptionally sentimental read for anyone who attended alongside Peter. This self-published book by Balranald Books is available by contacting Peter at margpedro@gmail.com .

Every Saturday will eventually usher in a Sunday. Each winter will finally give birth to spring. By JO-ANNE BROWN Growing up, Easter was always a special season of the year – partly because we often went away as a family and partly because of chocolate! Yet I was also mindful of everything else that Easter was about. When we didn’t go away, Good Friday was always marked with appropriate solemnity and Easter Sunday with joyful celebration. And smack in between was Saturday – an ordinary day, with shopping, household chores and playing in the neighbourhood. Now, I am becoming more aware of what that first Saturday might have been like for those who loved Jesus. They didn’t have the assurance of an Easter Sunday as we have had for over 2000 years. What would it have been like for them? The one they loved, who had been their hope and their future, had just been cruelly executed and placed in a tomb – a tomb heavily ‘guarded’ with a massive stone. What do you do when your heart is in anguish, when your hopes and joys have been shattered, and when you really don’t know what comes next? What do you do when your heart is in anguish, when your hopes and joys have been shattered, and when you really don’t know what comes next? We do know that Easter Sunday follows Good Friday, even if we have to wait for a day! Many of us also know what it is like to live between the anguish of death and loss, and the not-yet-seen and barely believable future of hope. As we ponder Easter Saturday, an ordinary day in between two most extraordinary days, we have the opportunity to reflect on how we hold the unknown, the darkness, and the pain of loss and death when we don’t yet see new life. This is a time of waiting, hoping, of believing this moment is not all there is. As I reflect on this in-between space, the darkness of waiting in the unknown between death and resurrection, my thoughts drift to all that can happen in such spaces of darkness and uncertainty, to all that might be happening when we see nothing and have no sense of what’s going on, or even if anything is going on. The natural world The caterpillar in the chrysalis springs to mind, slowly turning into an unrecognisable mush before emerging as a vibrant butterfly who flutters her wings and takes flight into places we cannot follow. I think of planting daffodil bulbs in autumn when other plants seem to be losing leaves and slowing down so that we can experience a display of beauty and delight in springtime. We don’t see what is happening deep in the earth during these weeks and months, but surely some life force is at work to bring forth the spring flowers! There are animals that retreat to dark places in the winter where they go into a state of hibernation. During this time their body temperature drops (sometimes almost as low as -3C!), their heart rates slow and they live off the fat stored in their bodies – in some cases up to seven months! This is one way for many animals to survive adverse winter weather. They may look like they are unconscious, even dead, but amazing physiological changes are happening within their bodies and their brains to keep them alive – and to re-energise them as the weather warms up. We think of babies being formed in the womb (Psalm 139:13-15) and broken bones healing and being knit together within the darkness of our bodies. Before modern medical imaging, human eyes could not see this happening, but there was an innate knowing that in the darkness and waiting, something new and something healing was happening – and that in time, it would be revealed. The story of God’s people has much to say about both waiting and darkness: There is Jonah’s experience in the whale – a dark, liminal space that becomes transformative for him and the people of Nineveh. I think of Mary and Martha during the days that Lazarus was in the tomb, knowing that Jesus could have come to prevent his death, but didn’t. I imagine their anguish and grief. Then Jesus did come, declared himself to be the resurrection and life (John 17) and proved that he was indeed exactly that! What greater transformation could there have been, not only for Lazarus but also for his sisters? Awareness of seasons These experiences show us there is far more happening in the dark in-between spaces than we can ever imagine or plan for. Yet, in the pain and suffering that we still endure, how do we hold on? How do we keep going between the anguish and despair of a Good Friday and the new life of Easter Sunday, when we don’t know how long the dark in-between will be, and when we can’t see what the new life and hope might look like? We can draw some insight from what we read in the Gospel stories. We know that Jesus predicted his resurrection, but it seemed beyond comprehension to those who loved him that new life could possibly come from the horrific events leading to his death and burial. To them it seemed that dead was dead, buried was buried, and there could be no other outcome. So, they clung to what they did know and grieved together. The women offered each other comfort as they gathered their spices and planned to go to the tomb as soon as the Sabbath was over – comfort in sharing their pain together, and in holding to rituals and traditions that were meaningful to them. We have all experienced such times of darkness, waiting, and the utter uncertainty of any hope in the future. St John of the Cross, a Spanish priest and mystic of the late 1500s, described such experiences as a “dark night of the soul”. It is the awareness that these in-between times are seasons and that the journey toward the light and deeper union with God is still happening, even when we cannot see the progress, that gives us hope. Every Saturday will eventually usher in a Sunday. Each winter will finally give birth to spring. Being able to hold on to what we do know, and seeking wise and compassionate companionship along the way, enables us to sit in the darkness and to wait for the dawning of a new day, a new season and a new hope. To view the video, click here

An artist’s depiction of Mary’s encounter with the ‘gardener’. Artist unknown. Image reproduced courtesy of bishopfisher.wordpress.com By JO-ANNE BROWN MARY’S STORY* It’s early in the morning and the heavy darkness of the night is just beginning to lift. The heavy darkness in my heart, however, still sits like a stone deep inside me and yet my eyes are dry. I gather fragrant oils and spices and quietly leave the house. It is a long, slow walk to the place where he is buried, and my thoughts turn to those last days, so filled with trauma, and to the early days, which seem so long ago now. Love and compassion I remember the first time he looked at me – a look of compassion when I had been so used to people looking at me with contempt or disgust. He saw me as though he saw into the very depths of my heart – and still didn’t turn away! I couldn’t hide anything, even if I had wanted to. He reached out and touched me, healing me from the pain and suffering within, from the feelings of failure and unworthiness. No one had ever touched me with such compassion before. No one had ever truly seen me before, seen who I was beneath all the layers and masks I had worn for so long. Life was never the same for me after that. I was filled with joy and felt completely free for the first time ever. I wanted nothing more than to fall at his feet, the feet of Jesus, son of God. Jesus spoke words of life, truth and freedom to me, and I was so incredibly thankful. I longed to learn more from him, to learn the ways of true love and compassion, to learn forgiveness and trust, to learn how to live with kindness and hope in a world that can be cruel and chaotic. I did learn all that and more from him. I saw him show compassion to all sorts of people, even those who were unkind to him. I saw him touch and heal those who most needed it. I saw how he spent time with people who no one else wanted anything to do with. I learned from him what forgiveness looks like and feels like – and how freeing such forgiveness is. Jesus crucified And I saw him stripped and whipped, beaten and tortured. For months I had walked with him and his companions on roads throughout the country as he taught and healed. I walked with him on his last walk through the streets of Jerusalem, broken and bloodied and carrying a cross. I stood there as he was nailed to that cross and hung there to die. I watched, with the other women who loved him, as his body was taken from the cross and placed in a tomb. And I watched as a massive stone was rolled across the entrance to the tomb so that no one could move his body. This bothers me now as I approach his tomb. I want to anoint his body, according to our customs, but I have no way to move the stone from the entrance of the tomb and I don’t expect there to be anyone around to help me. Mary approaches the tomb. Image courtesy of Mary Magdalene the film. I lift my gaze toward the tomb and my steps slow and the oils and spices fall out of my arms. The stone has been moved, and I can see right into the tomb! I can’t even imagine how that happened. I run to tell our friends that Jesus’ body has been taken away and Peter and John run back with me to see for themselves. They look inside, and all they see is empty grave clothes. There is no body. They go back to where they are staying, but I cannot bear to leave the tomb. I have no idea where Jesus’ body is, and this grief overwhelms me. Sobbing, I look into the tomb, and it is no longer empty. Two angels, dazzling in white, are sitting where Jesus’ body had been placed. I can barely speak for grief, but I tell them that the body of Jesus has been taken and I don’t know where he is. I hear a voice behind me, asking why I am crying. He must be the gardener and must know something, so I explain that I am looking for the body of Jesus and plead with him for help. Jesus is alive As I look at him, hoping he can tell me where Jesus is, he speaks my name! And I know! This is Jesus! I hadn’t recognised him at first, but when I hear him speak my name, as he has done so many times before, I know it is Jesus, alive! I know, and I believe. All the things he had taught us, all the strange promises that didn’t make sense – it is all true. It is three days since his death, and Jesus is no longer in the tomb but alive and speaking with me! I think of his mother, his family and closest friends, and I am amazed that it is me, an ordinary woman, standing here outside the tomb, speaking with Jesus who is so clearly full of life. Again, like that first encounter so long ago, I am filled with joy and want nothing more than to tell the whole world that I have seen the Lord! Jesus is alive! * Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus and the first to witness his resurrection.

Merri-bek City Corps staff and members of the teams from OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Deloitte Australia at the vision clinic day.  BY LERISSE SMITH An exciting new eye-care program hosted by Merri-bek City Corps in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs is providing life-transforming vision restoration to those in greatest need. A team from the corps recently ran a OneSight Vision Clinic in collaboration with The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Deloitte Australia to provide free optometry testing and glasses to local community members who would otherwise be unable to afford prescription glasses. It was an outstanding success. “It’s life-transforming,” said Captain Steph Glover, Corps Officer - Team Leader of Merri-bek City Salvos. “We had people in tears this morning saying, ‘This is going to change my life.’ We had children now able to learn because they can see, through the provision of the glasses and correct prescription. Others can start working because they have the ability now to see. We also had people from refugee families who desperately needed help. “We are so grateful to the Foundation for providing the optometrists and prescription glasses for those unable to afford the costly expense of having prescription glasses.” Community residents have their eyes checked for free prescription glasses thanks to the free vision clinic. A team of employees from Deloitte Australia also volunteered a day to assist with the One Sight Vision Clinic, checking community members in and coordinating the day’s flow.   Other Deloitte staff spent the day in the kitchen, alongside local chef Dougie Thompson, cooking restaurant-quality meals that were packaged for struggling community members. “Chef Dougie is such a blessing to our local community,” Steph remarked. “He is passionate about supporting those in need and gives generously of his time, resources, and skills to bless others. Chef Dougie also oversees the Christmas Day lunch at our Brunswick site, where over 100 community members gather, who would otherwise be on their own. We are so grateful to him.” The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation aims to eliminate uncorrected poor vision in a generation by creating sustainable access through an innovative approach to impact philanthropy, partnerships and raising awareness. Their staff provided a range of prescription glasses to local residents. If they did not have the correct prescription at the clinic, a new pair of glasses was ordered for the community members. The provision of free prescription glasses greatly benefited those in the community, from community members pursuing careers and pathways to help others to local residents struggling with the rising cost of living. One resident, Akachukwu, a sponsored PHD student from Nigeria who came to Australia to study malaria in pregnancy, attended the OneSight clinic and benefited significantly from the gift of prescription eyewear, as her studies require extensive reading. Additionally, the new glasses will prevent Akachukwu’s eyesight from further deterioration.   “Akachukwu will one day return to Nigeria to tackle the prevalence of malaria in pregnancy in her home country, which complicates up to 58.1 per cent of pregnancies,” Steph explained. Melody Lamb (Community Engagement Ministry Worker), chef Dougie Thompson. Another local community member, who lives week to week on food parcels and struggles with chronic pain and illness, was overwhelmed that she would receive prescription glasses worth over $500 at no cost.  “I could not have even dreamed of affording glasses,” the local resident remarked. “Seeing clearly has become a luxury, along with almost everything else in my life. I live week to week off basic food parcels, using one light in the house and unable to afford to turn on a heater. I am so grateful!” The local Salvos team also filled her pantry with some special items and provided her with ready-made meals cooked by chef Dougie and the Deloitte team. With the clinic being a great success, plans are underway to run it again in the future. “All in all, it was a wonderful opportunity to, once again, open our doors, welcome, engage with, and share the love of Jesus with our wider community,” Steph said. “And to make them aware of all the other services, activities, and ministries we provide.” Click through the slideshow below to view more photos of the eye-care day.

Salvation Army Worship Arts musicians Maddie Rennie, Dan Casey and Luke O’Dea in the recording studio. By ANTHONY CASTLE Revolution Worship is releasing a new video resource to equip local mission expressions and support the different abilities that different corps may have. Revolution Worship is a platform for new music within The Salvation Army, overseen by the Worship Arts team. “These videos are about using the music we make,” explained Dan Casey, Worship Arts Coordinator. “We have studio versions out, but we want to be able to point towards one person in your corps with an acoustic guitar and say, ‘This is how you can do it’. “With these videos, they can watch us perform it in that setting; then there are also videos with lyrics to the songs at the bottom. It’s a resource to use if you don’t have many musicians in your corps or if you have none.” The videos feature three songs that have already been released, with two versions available to model and support different approaches (brass arrangements for the songs are already out). Luke O’Dea, Maddie Rennie and Dan Casey – creating music and video resources for corps to use in worship settings. “The Salvation Army is very diverse in its expressions of worship,” Dan said. “Not everyone can pick up a studio song and do it on a Sunday. What we want to do is make something that makes sense for a local mission expression to be able to use. This is a way to model what it looks like for musicians, and to also resource corps that have no music group.” The video resources will be released one at a time, rolling out from Easter weekend, and will be available on the Salvos Toolkit . Songs featured are ‘Our Redeemer’, ‘Love Never Ending’, and ‘You Are Holy’. “This is our stuff, and we want people to feel able to use it. It belongs to The Salvation Army – you don’t need copyright to put this online. These are our songs,” Dan said. More on Revolution Worship’s releases can be found here and on YouTube .

REVIEWER: MAJOR MAL DAVIES   In February 2023, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas commenced her current appointment as Territorial Commander of the Australia Territory, and from the very start, she has promoted a three-part rallying cry for the territory: Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed.   While it’s aspirational, it’s also inspirational, and the territory has found new missional energy and focus as it seeks to realise this rallying cry.   This new book offers a very clever approach to expanding on and explaining the rallying cry to its readers. Rather than offering an academic theological unpacking of the three-part call, the book provides story after story from Salvationists, corps and social centres that ‘show’ each part of the call in action.   As with any change, new process, or new method, while some people get on board quickly (they can envision the outcomes already), most of us need to see what it looks like first. This book allows us to ‘see’ what it looks like. As you read through the stories, you can’t help but be energised by their positivity – lives transformed, God at work.  Lieut-Colonel Stuart Reid and Aux-Lieut Rosy Keane promote the book. The book opens with a preface by Commissioner Gluyas as she speaks of her motivation for producing the book. We then have a very helpful overview of the rallying cry by Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane, Secretary for Spiritual Life Development. The bulk of the book is then divided into three sections, each containing about 15 short stories (one or two pages) on the elements of the rallying cry: Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed.   In the conclusion to the book, Commissioner Gluyas writes: “In a post-modern, post-Christian and hopefully post-COVID world, The Salvation Army, especially in the Western world, has a great opportunity to reimagine. Now is the time to reimagine an Army fit for purpose for the 21st century and take bold steps to make this a reality. Faith needs to rise.”   She then discusses how corps life, as we know it, could adapt and take different forms. ‘Gathered worshipping communities’ are akin to current corps as places where we gather to worship, serve and grow together. ‘Communities of hope’ serve in the local community, and the focus is on building relationships outside of our church walls; they’re about Salvationists walking alongside people in engaging and helpful ways. ‘Community tables’ are where people gather informally to discuss faith matters. They can take place in a home, at the corps, in a café, in a social centre, in a park – anywhere!   Commissioner Gluyas points out that the focus of all three approaches is relational; they’re about building a community of faith, be it with a few or with many.   At the end of the book, there are helpful links to online resources and more stories supporting the rallying cry, meaning the book moves beyond stories and text to provide help and advice on how to actually move forward in practical ways. I also appreciated the inclusion of the lyrics to Charles Wesley’s hymn ‘A charge to keep I have’, especially the second verse: ‘To serve the present age,/ My calling to fulfil,/ O may it all my powers engage,/ To do my Master’s will.’   As mentioned earlier, this is a clever book because it is real. It is not the dry unpacking of the theology behind an ecclesiological methodology; it is story after story of how we can do ministry that keeps Jesus at the centre, is led by the Spirit, and reveals the hope God offers freely to all.   The book is $25 and available from Salvos Publishing here .

The on-site inspection was attended by (from left) Eleri Morgan-Thomas, Brooke Neill, Ben Moroney, Amelia Natoli, Guy Barnett MP and Premier Jeremy Rockliff MP. By CLIFF WORTHING Tasmanian government officials have gathered at The Salvation Army community housing development site for an update on construction progress. Attending from the government on 27 March were Jeremy Rockcliff MP (Premier of Tasmania), Guy Barnett MP (Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing) and Eleri Morgan-Thomas (CEO Homes Tasmania). Major supporters of the project, Bruce and Brooke Neill of The Select Foundation, were also in attendance. The Salvation Army and VOS Construction provided the update. “This is a great example of Homes Tasmania partnering with The Salvation Army and Select Foundation to deliver social housing for Tasmanians,” Guy said. “It was extremely pleasing to inspect progress on the Salvation Army’s 21-unit development in Moonah today.” An artist’s impression of the Hopkins St development The housing development is on the Hopkins Street site of the old Moonah Corps, which was relocated to Glenorchy in Hobart’s north-west. It will provide affordable housing for women over 55, the fastest-growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness. Construction began in mid-2022, and the development is on track for completion by July 2023. “Progress is happening very quickly ,” said Amelia Natoli, the Army’s Public Relations Manager in Tasmania. “Two months ago, the top level was just a frame, but now flooring is going in, and painting is creating a welcoming, homely feel.” Looking over the plans (from left) Eleri Morgan-Thomas, Guy Barnett MP, Amelia Natoli and Premier Jeremy Rockliff MP. Amelia said the construction was providing experience for apprentices, with it being the first big project for some of them. “We really like that aspect of this project,” she said. “It’s truly supporting our Tasmanian community in numerous ways. ” Another important aspect of the new units is the proximity to government and community services. Former Tasmania Divisional Commander Captain Kim Haworth, now the leader of the NSW/ACT Division, played a significant role in the initial stages of the development. “We realised we had this wonderful piece of land, in a great location, and how could we best use that to serve the most vulnerable Tasmanians,” she said. “The truth is that a project like this can't be done without key partnerships.”

The sewing project has helped students develop their fine motor skills, precision and concentration, whilst also involving mathematical calculations for measuring materials and double-checking their work before cutting. Tanzania is far from the shores of Australia. However, the East African nation famous for its sprawling wilderness and Mount Kilimanjaro, feels close for students at Queensland’s Salvation Army Independent school who have developed a special connection with the country - and it all began with some cotton and thread as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH discovered.   It is a sight to behold.  Take a peep inside the sewing room at Queensland’s Salvation Army Independent School and you’ll find both teenage boys and girls hard at work sorting through piles of material, heads down at sewing machines, and marking fabric for yet another colourful creation – and it’s all for a great cause.  A talented young student finishes off yet another colourful creation for St Jude. The talented Year 10 and 11 students are positively impacting the lives of school students across the world through sewing much-needed pencil cases for The School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania. And the project, which began last year, has been a resounding success. “Their effort is creating ripple effects beyond their classroom and all the way to Tanzania,” said Gemma Sisia, Founding Director at The School of St Jude. “We really love what the students at The Independent School are doing in their sewing class. We rely entirely on the generosity of our supporters from around the world to make our mission of providing free, quality education for 1800 bright, poor students a reality. One hundred per cent of our students are on scholarships. Any and all donations are truly appreciated.” Spearheading the sewing initiative is a retired Salvation Army corps officer, Major Lyn Cook, who has dedicated 46 years of her life to The Salvation Army servicing communities across Queensland, including at Pine Rivers. It was a phone call from The Independent School that saw her take up the offer to teach the class. Talented young students proudly display the beautiful pencil cases made by them and other sewing class students for The School of St Jude in Tanzania. Initially, Lyn thought making bags was on the agenda and started to think of what material she would need. However, after realising crafting pencil cases was the order of the day, just one immediate thought came to her mind – zips. “Horror of horrors, I hate sewing zips with a passion!” she said. “But the kids didn’t, so we pivoted. The kids didn’t know that zips were difficult. So, they just sat down, and in the first lesson, after they had learned, and none of them had touched a sewing machine before, I got them to do straight lines and fancy stitches off the machines. And then they sewed zips because they didn’t know they were difficult.” This exciting initiative has become an integral part of the school curriculum, with students eagerly looking forward to their sewing class every week. Major Lyn Cook says to interact with the kids and see them grow in confidence gives her joy. The project helps students develop their fine motor skills, precision and concentration. It also involves mathematical calculations for measuring materials and double-checking their work before cutting. Additionally, students have learned English and Math skills through reading patterns. Pines Rivers Corps has supported the project with donations of sewing machines, finances, and fabrics. Additionally, corps members donated sewing machines, two of which were specifically given to students who said they would like a machine at home.  Unique partnership The relationship between the two schools was initiated through The Salvation Army’s Partnership with the TechnologyOne Foundation. Craft supplies for the initial startup equipment were provided by the foundation. The Salvation Army’s Relationship Manager Corporate Partnerships (Qld), Jennifer Kennedy, said the partnership aimed to provide young people with every opportunity to positively impact their future, both in Australia and overseas.   “It has been rewarding for students at both The Independent School and St Jude's School in Tanzania to develop a bond through a craft activity,” she said. The Founding Director at The School of St Jude, Gemma Sisia, (centre), Dr Sule (left), one of the inaugural alumni doctors from St Jude, and Winnie Nemes (right), also an alumni of the school, together with TechOne Foundation Champions. Independent School Assistant Principal Kimmi Naidoo said the sewing class formed part of the ‘Happiness Project‘ within its service-learning framework. It provided a platform for the school to connect further with the students, with a team of community members also visiting to support the students. “It’s all about heart and it’s all about passion,” Kimmi remarked. “It’s really good to see the community working together.” And the greatest benefit of the sewing project for students? “It gives them a voice in their learning,” Kimmi explained. “It also enables them to build that self-efficacy … to build confidence and feel like they belong. They feel as if they are achieving, but not only that, they feel that they’re giving back; they have the power to change the world.” Emotional development One of the talented Year 11 students who participates in the sewing initiative, Deshaun, said the sewing class made him happy. “The space is calm,” he said. “And there’s good communication.” One other young person delights in ripping off the metre of fabric and is the best cutter, according to Lyn. Furthermore, he is an inspirational student who did not interact with others when he first arrived at school but now communicates well and is very talkative. “That’s the other side of this project,” Lyn said. “To see the emotional and psychological development and the impact of creating something substantial, a beautiful creative art piece of a pencil case, and seeing the effect on their actual educational development too. The first pencil case they make, they iron it up so, it's beautiful. They literally run down to the front reception desk to get a photo taken with their first pencil case. It’s quite amazing to watch.” A special chart plots the students’ progress. Four volunteers, including a tailoress, assist the young people. Students can add a special touch to their pencil cases with positive affirmation cards or a “with love” message on the back. The students’ handiwork has also gained local attention, with creations such as aprons, ladies’ drawstring bags and Christmas Santa sacks for children in need benefiting the local community. With the sewing project a triumph, plans are that it will continue into the future. “The sewing project gives me life,” Lyn remarked. “And to interact with the kids and see them grow, to see them growing in confidence, and the knowledge that they have a skill that not everyone has and which they can use gives me joy.” Gemma remarked that it was fantastic that Lyn was helping the students learn a valuable skill while helping others in the process. “I believe it is an important skill, and over here, it helps create self-reliance,” she said “So, I really commend what the students are doing, and thanks to The Salvation Army, too. We are grateful to TechnologyOne for connecting us and making it possible for us to receive the pencil cases for our students sometime in the future.” The sewing project has been a great success with a special sign on the door reminding students to enjoy life – one stitch at a time!