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

Homeless at 17, addicted to meth and grieving a sister she lost to heroin and suicide, Danielle had every reason to give up – but God had other plans. Seven years clean and counting. Danielle says that she has made a full surrender to Jesus. The Salvation Army Australia Alcohol and Other Drugs welcomes all people without prejudice and seeks to support them to access the treatment they need. Visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/services-and-support/alcohol-and-other-drugs/ If you or someone you know is at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, The Salvation Army is here to help. Visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/services-and-support/homelessness-support-services/

Daryl Crowden shares how 135 years of integrated crisis response continues to shape disaster management across Australia and the world at the recent Disaster and Emergency Management Conference. BY SIMONE WORTHING Daryl Crowden and Major Bindy Lupis represented The Salvation Army at the Disaster and Emergency Management Conference on the Gold Coast last week. The conference brings together frontline agencies from Australia, New Zealand and, increasingly, from the Asia Pacific Region and globally. Fifteen countries were represented, including a delegate from Norway who specialises in counter-terrorism. Daryl is The Salvation Army’s General Manager Emergency, Aid and Development, and Bindy serves as Senior Program Manager, Response and Wellbeing for The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES). Daryl presented on ‘Integrated Crisis Response Isn’t New: 135 Years of Global Practice from The Salvos’. He explained that “The Humanitarian–Peace–Development (HPD) Nexus is often discussed as a contemporary approach to addressing complex and protracted crises. However, my presentation explored how many of its core principles have been embedded in The Salvation Army International’s work since William Booth’s 1890 vision of ‘Rescue, Rehabilitate, Reintegrate’. “Drawing on both historical foundations and current practice across Australia, the Pacific and other fragile contexts, I reflected on why the Nexus is best understood, not as a project or program model, but as a mindset – one that intentionally integrates humanitarian action, development outcomes and peace-building efforts,” he said. “A key message was that sustainable transformation is built on long-term community presence, trust, local leadership and genuine partnership. When relief, resilience and social cohesion are designed and delivered together, communities are better equipped to withstand shocks and create lasting change.” Daryl’s shared from William Booth’s book In Darkest England and the Way Out (1890), where, essentially, the General spoke about rehabilitation, reintegration and what is essentially peace-building and humanitarian development. Daryl spoke about how many core principles of crisis response have been embedded in The Salvation Army International’s work since William Booth’s 1890 vision of ‘Rescue, Rehabilitate, Reintegrate’. He emphasised that The Salvation Army is structured for sustainable transformation and has been doing it for 135 years, with varying degrees of effectiveness. “The Church or the faith-based organisations are by DNA integrated programming models because of our relationships in communities,” he said. “We have this trusted relationship that can develop peace or social cohesion – which means peace-building. “We do humanitarian aid, development and peace-building – and when we do those things together, integrated and seamlessly, we are extremely effective. To conclude his presentation and the discussions that followed, Daryl thanked everyone who contributed questions and shared insights. “The conversations reinforced the importance of moving beyond silos and working collaboratively to create more integrated, dignified and transformative responses for communities facing crisis.” Mental health and wellbeing For Bindy, a personal highlight of the conference was “hearing Dr Tony Smith’s keynote on the Whakaari/White Island eruption, which reinforced the importance of prioritising the mental health and wellbeing of emergency services personnel. “The impacts of disasters extend well beyond the event itself, making ongoing support for responders a critical priority.” Major Bindy Lupis, Senior Program Manager, Response and Wellbeing, Salvation Army Emergency Services, pictured here at the opening of the new SAES Depot in Victoria last month. Bindy also shared that “it was fantastic to have The Salvation Army Emergency, Aid and Development represented by Daryl Crowden whose workshop explored how 135 years of integrated crisis response practice continues to inform contemporary disaster management. “Drawing on The Salvation Army’s global experience, the presentation highlighted the importance of connecting immediate relief with recovery, resilience-building and long-term community development to create stronger outcomes for communities affected by crisis. “I was proud to see The Salvation Army contributing to these important conversations and demonstrating how our mission continues to make a meaningful difference before, during and long after disasters occur.”

Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (3-9 August) we pray for The Salvation Army in the Brazil Territory. This territory has 162 officers (114 active, 48 retired); 3 cadets; 42 corps; 6 outposts; 1584 senior soldiers; 111 adherents; 379 junior soldiers; 438 employees Colonels Rafael and Karina Giusti lead the territory. The work of the Brazil Territory includes: • Community centres • Education • Emergency response • Homelessness services • Modern slavery and human trafficking response. Praise points: We thank God for the time of service of Colonels Wilson and Nara Strasse, leaders of Brazil Territory appointed to Spain and Portugal Territory. Prayer requests: Please pray for: • The new Territorial Leaders, Colonels Rafael and Karina Giusti. • Retired officers who are sick and experiencing family problems. • The financial improvement of the territory. • The project with the retired officers’ “ELITE SQUAD”, that they will support and reinforce our work, especially the new initiatives, with their experience. • The youth ministry throughout the territory, that God will continue to raise up and strengthen this ministry, reaching more children and young people with the message of the gospel. We pray that many will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, have their lives transformed and that there will be significant growth in the youth ministry throughout the territory. • The candidates for the college of cadets, that the Lord may continue to call men and women to officership. We pray that more people will hear God's voice clearly, respond in faith and obedience to his call, and say “yes” to becoming Salvation Army officers. • Pray as we re-evaluate our programs, asking that God will show us the necessary paths for change. • For more people to find salvation through our activities. • For new openings of work. • For the retreat with the officials of the territory in November. • For social projects, so that we have relevance wherever we are working. • For the youth leadership training. • For more candidates for officership. • Pray that God will grant us wisdom, direction and resources, enabling us to identify the real needs of communities, develop effective responses, and strengthen care for people in vulnerable situations, promoting hope and transformation through the love of Christ. • The development and growth of local Women's Ministry officers and their commitment to God. • For new strategies to reach young women in communities. • For revival, a passion for Christ in evangelism and a willingness to go beyond the four walls of the church. To find out more about the Brazil Territory, click here. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, and to download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here.

Vicky Brown says God miraculously changed her perspective on life when she went back to church. TESTIMONY Vicky Brown has been a soldier at Newcastle Corps for the past 15 years and volunteers two days a week, including assisting The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES). Here she shares her story for Salvos Online*. Thirty-three years ago, my father had just died, and my mum was distraught. She decided that she wanted to go to church and wanted me to take her, which I did [to a Salvation Army corps.] And every week I would just take her to church, sit there and listen. [At the time], I was angry. When I was only 13 years old, my parents split up, and for quite a lot of years they were separated, and from then every little thing that went wrong in my life was all God’s fault, never mine. I got married, I had children, and I have a good married life and three children, but I never really thought about it – still, everything that went wrong was still God’s fault. But you know, you just live life and time goes by and then when my father died, our family fell apart all over again. After a year of going to that corps, my mother decided that she wanted to change churches, and I found that I didn’t, I was happy where I was. I realised I wasn’t going to church just because I was taking my mother; I’d found God again. It changed my life. It made my life more positive. I didn’t dwell on the negatives anymore. I found that it was never God’s fault; it was always my attitude. I started to see things from a different perspective than what I normally had. When you’re helping out with welfare and things like that, and giving out toys at Christmas, I realised that my life is pretty darn good compared to a lot of people and that instead of being grateful for what I had, I was just being resentful for what I didn’t have. There was never this flash-in-the-pan moment. It was just a gradual awakening; it just happened slowly, bit by bit. I didn’t look at the problems in my life as problems anymore; I looked at them as learning experiences. Vicky Brown (right) and her daughter Amanda assisted people affected by bushfires that swept through the Cessnock area of the Hunter Valley just before Christmas, 2023. I believe in The Salvation Army’s work. Whatever needs doing, I’m in for it! It gives me something to do now that I’m retired. I come in here two days a week, and if the emergency services [SAES] need me and I can fit it in, I’m quite happy to do that. I got a phone call at home one Sunday a few years back saying the emergency services needed people who can do SAMIS [Service and Mission Information System], so I said, ‘Yeah ok,’ and the next thing I know I was out Cessnock way when they had that major fire, and I was doing emergency relief and I saw a whole new side of things. I went to Queensland when the tornado went through there; I was on Tambourine Mountain with people who had lost absolutely everything. They would come in, and they would be crying and not knowing what was happening. They would walk out, and sometimes they would run back and throw their arms around you. Just sitting for 10 minutes talking to them just changed how their day was. That’s a big something. Vicky says she is willing to assist with any task at Newcastle Salvos. “Whatever needs doing, I’m in for it!” she says. We are just loving them into the Kingdom of God. I found that really rewarding. Now, when things do go wrong in life, because believing in God and loving God does not stop the bad things from happening, but when they do, I have a whole community around me. All the church praying. Normally, bad things would ‘wipe me off the face of the earth’ nearly, but now I’m choosing to remain positive, and I know God has me in his hands. *As told to Lauren Martin READ MORE: Help in the Hunter Valley For more information on Newcastle Salvos, click here

Each month on Salvos Online, Rosy, the Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, shares her thoughts and reflections on the spiritual issues that shape our lives as Christians, exploring how our faith intersects with our everyday experiences and how we can deepen our relationship with God. Today, she focuses on two events that reflected The Salvation Army’s strategy for strengthening its mission in Jesus’ name. Last month, I had the pleasure of attending two events in drastically different locations, yet the vine of Jesus Christ bore fruit on both occasions. I was in Darwin and Adelaide for the South Australia/Northern Territory Division’s introduction to The Salvation Army Australia’s National Strategy, which is being rolled out. Then it was off to the Gold Coast, where I attended the exciting MORE Conference, designed to encourage and equip our leaders working in youth and young adult ministry. Firstly, the strategy. As we met with groups in Darwin and Adelaide, we had the distinct joy of affirming that this strategy is simply a consolidation of what so many of us are already doing. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas puts it this way ... 10 words to remember: Spiritual and Social Transformation. Holistic Integrated Mission. Local Mission Delivery. If you’re anything like me, it can take a few passes through a dense sentence to understand it. I have been known to swallow a nectarine stone because I was too lazy to take it to the bin, and I almost choked on it! (For the record, don’t try it). So, I want to make sure that, when I am digesting information, it isn’t a similar experience! Our Salvation Army has always held the cross of Jesus as the ‘and’ between Spiritual and Social Transformation. ‘Soup, Soap and Salvation’ spoke to Catherine and William Booth’s belief that a person could not always hear the Good News clearly if they were hungry and frightened, with nowhere to sleep that night. In providing succour, an old-school word for rest and relief, the hope was that the Good News would permeate their whole person as the person of Christ became hope revealed through Spirit-soaked Salvationists. The promise was that we would be ready to share the Good News of God when they asked why we were helping. It was because of the love of Jesus, who loves each of the people we serve more than anyone else does. Now for Holistic Integrated Mission. Holistic is a word that sometimes gets a bad rap for being a bit ‘woo-woo’. But holistic is much like the te reo Māori word hauora, which means whole-of-life wellness. Who wouldn’t want that? We believe in whole people, whole lives, whole communities and whole nations being transformed by Christ’s power! Integrated mission is not merely about working together. It is about thinking, planning, operating and serving in an interwoven way, like a plaited mat that many Pasifika cultures make together. Each piece of flax is carefully selected, prepared and threaded over and under, as elders disciple younger people in the craft. Holistic Integrated Mission is a worldview in which we bring a spiritual view of wholeness into our operations through true unity. As a movement, every expression works in harmony, deliberately choosing oneness and seeking one another out for expertise, partnership and planning, so we can work more fully together to serve the needs of our communities. And Local Mission Delivery is the practice of on-the-ground, frontline ministry: bringing mission to life in every place with a Red Shield on the door. From our Salvos Stores to our playgroups, from our Salvos Funerals service to our alcohol and other drug centres, our staff, volunteers, retired officers and donors are all part of a larger network that loves and lives in its local community. I had a picture in Adelaide when I took Divisional Commander Scott Frame’s shoe off and declared that, just as the lace on our shoe is one, it weaves across two distinct sides. It goes through every lace hole to secure the shoe. Every expression of our movement needs to be laced together: our soldiery and social services, our worshipping communities, enterprise and support, all alongside one another, for social and spiritual transformation to happen. For Holistic Integrated Mission to happen, we need the laces pulled together. No expressions or holes can be missed. That way, we won’t trip over loose laces. And when we commit to unity and remaining together, it means we will be fleet of foot: faster and more effective in running to meet the needs of our people through our Local Mission Delivery. I saw this so clearly as we worshipped together at MORE Conference with the children, youth and young adult leaders of our Territory. You should have seen it! For the record, it’s every year, and you can go in 2027! What joy to see the interlacing and the heart of our movement at its best; to hear teaching on sustainable leadership, times of ministry, connection and upskilling, prophetic prayer and worship, and times of planning together with our teams, as we look for ways in The Salvation Army to keep moving together as one. All three days together were about drawing the threads (or the flax) together and ‘go back out’: filled with the Holy Spirit, who brings dead things to life. Together we usher in hope for the whole world. The strategy is a seed. It is about being sent. As Christians, we are a people sent to the nations and the ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus Christ. As those who serve with The Salvation Army, no matter our capacity, those 10 words signal a laser-sharp focus on being an army of salvation, sent to bring the Good News to those whom society often sidelines, and to minister to Australians who need our practical help the most. Our young people will be the ones leading the way. In the next article, I’ll explain how I see that happening through our youth and young adult spiritual life forums, discipling, and reverse mentoring. Spiritual and social transformation. Holistic integrated mission. Local mission delivery. And all for the one word that defined the life of General William Booth: ‘Others’.

A scene of jubilation as Salvos Striders PNG celebrate their successful marathon with mentors and supporters. Photo: Greg Vali. BY SIMONE WORTHING When Team GABIDADAMA gathered in the dark at The Salvation Army’s Papua New Guinea Territorial Headquarters in Boroko at 3am last Saturday (25 July), the runners, their mentors and supporters were ready. Their hard work and resilience paid off. Seven first-time marathon runners crossed the finish line in impressive times ranging from 3 hours 38 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes. An eighth teammate, Bala, was unable to run after a family tragedy. The term GABIDADAMA is a specific team name and rallying cry used by The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea for its distance runners, representing resilience, faith in action, and community encouragement. The PNG team of 10 young runners had been training and preparing to participate in the Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday 5 July as part of the Hope and a Future program, but only two were granted visas to come to Australia for the event. READ MORE: Runners fly the flag for depleted PNG marathon team Head Coach Bill Hunter, Territorial Envoy, and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander and co-founder of the Hope and a Future program, decided that, regardless, every runner would complete a marathon (42.2km) and chose a different finish line for the entire team. The runners began the marathon at 3am to avoid the worst of the heat and humidity. For the first time in the history of the PNG Salvos Striders, Team GABIDADAMA completed a full marathon on home soil, becoming the first team in the program's history to conquer the 42.2km distance in Papua New Guinea. The runners and their PNG and Australian mentors were encouraged and cheered on throughout the run – much of which was done in the dark in the early hours of the morning to avoid the worst heat and humidity – by more than 100 supporters lining the course. Local Salvation Army corps made signs, ran parts of the marathon alongside the runners, staffed aid stations and cheered from vehicles, while a police escort provided security. The runners started at Boroko and then completed three laps around Ela Beach to make up the distance. Supporters encouraged the runners along the route of the marathon. Hohola Corps youth created the start and finish line, and 25 former Hope and Future marathon runners also returned to support the team. The finish at Boroko erupted with music, dancing and celebrations led by Territorial Leaders Colonels Chris and Tilitah Goa. Coach Bill Hunter said the marathon was the culmination of months of perseverance through disappointment and personal hardship. “We’ve been so impressed with your leadership, your growth, your perseverance and your dedication to the training,” he told the team after the race. “After all the changes to the schedule and the delay, you still ran incredibly well. I think it's the fastest we’ve ever finished a group.” The team and their supporters celebrated in style as all the runners completed the marathon in excellent time. During a moving debrief over lunch, many runners reflected on the challenges of the past year, including the disappointment of missing the opportunity to travel to Australia and other personal struggles they had faced. “Those six months of training were not wasted,” one runner said. “Though we didn’t go, we have faith that something will happen for us. We just ran 42 kilometres this morning. I want to thank God and thank you for the blessings you provided for us.” Another reflected on how the team had carried one another through the setbacks. “This year was a tough year, but we overcame everything. We all cooperated together, smiled together and encouraged each other.” For one runner, completing the marathon marked the end of months of uncertainty. “The time where I was supposed to visit Australia was gone. I wasn’t okay with that. Now I’m okay because I finished the run in PNG.” Another admitted there had been times when quitting seemed easier. “Everyone knows I was the one saying I wanted to give up,” they said. “But today I’m proud of myself and proud of everyone who supported me. Even though we couldn’t make it to Brisbane, at least we fulfilled our dream today.” To watch the video of the marathon, click on the arrow below. Mentor Michelle Watts (Creative Director – Salvos Studios) reminded the team that the marathon was only one chapter in a much bigger story. “I think this year is a good reflection of life,” she said. “You’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but you’ve stuck together. You’ve shown perseverance, encouragement and joy. Australia felt like the big goal, but it’s not the pinnacle. God has so many amazing plans for you. This is just one step.” Michelle also reflected that, “Seeing the young people being supported by their own friends, family, past program participants, Salvation Army leaders was just incredible. The love and support they have for one another is powerful.” The event was made possible through the support of the PNG and Solomon Islands Territory, including Colonels Chris and Tilitah Goa, Captains John and Rose Raga, Alyshia Van Kannel, Bill Hunter, mentors Michelle Watts and Sharon Callister, and support crew Eric Parlato and Kayla O’Brien Parlato. Reflecting after the marathon, Bill paid tribute to everyone who helped make the historic day possible. “I couldn’t have done it without these amazing friends of mine,” he said. “Sharon Callister and Michelle Watts are absolute marathon mentor legends who got our team through despite everything thrown at them. Eric and Kayla helped in so many ways. The marathon doesn’t happen without these guys – and, of course, so many of our PNG friends. Thanks, PNG. It’s been a blast.” Bill with fellow mentors Sharon Callister (left) and Michelle Watts.

Supporting people who are experiencing homelessness is a hallmark of The Salvation Army. This week is Homelessness Week – a campaign that raises awareness of the reality of homelessness in Australia and what can be done to drive lasting change. More than 122,400 people across Australia are living without a safe, secure and affordable home. This includes people sleeping rough, living in cars, staying in shelters or on other people’s couches, and in unsuitable housing. The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of homelessness services in Australia and we believe in fighting for the rights of those experiencing homelessness ... • We see situations like this every day, and we believe this should not be anyone’s reality. • We believe everyone deserves a stable home where they can develop relationships, belong to a community and thrive. • We believe in good, and we believe we can end homelessness – for good. If you share this vision, then partner with us this Homelessness Week to help make it a reality. Homelessness Week is an annual campaign coordinated by Homelessness Australia, the national peak body for homelessness in Australia. It aims to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness in Australia. Their theme for Homelessness Week 2026 is Homelessness Action Now. The Salvation Army makes a huge impact in the fight against homelessness. In 2025, nationally The Salvation Army’s Homelessness services: The Salvation Army has put together an engaging website that has more information and stories in support of Homelessness Week. Go to the website here, where you can find an array of stories supporting Homelessness Week, such as these below. For the MySalvos toolkit for all the resources, click here.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I serve as the Corps Officer/Team Member in the Westside Melbourne Salvos Hub, serving across Sunshine, Brimbank and Sunbury. Recently, I found myself reflecting on my Officer’s Covenant. One phrase captured my heart all over again. It speaks of proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, loving the unloved, and befriending those who have no friends. Guess what? I get to live those words every day. Westside Melbourne has wonderful worshipping communities, but my appointment has reminded me that ministry is far bigger than a Sunday gathering or preaching from behind a pulpit. More often, it happens over a shared meal, beside someone waiting for a shower, while handing out groceries, listening to a difficult story, praying with someone in crisis, or simply remembering a person’s name. If I could describe this appointment in one word, it would be ‘participate’. Isaiah paints a vision of new heavens and a new earth. Revelation closes with God making all things new. That has become one of the defining images of my ministry. Every act of justice, every expression of mercy, every life restored, and every person who discovers the hope of Christ becomes a small but real glimpse of God’s coming Kingdom breaking into the present. What a privilege it is to participate in His renewing work. That is why I feel so blessed in this appointment. 2. Away from the appointment, if that’s possible, what do you do to relax or unwind? Self-care has become an important part of my discipleship. Over the years, I’ve crossed many liminal spaces in life and ministry. I arrived at my first appointment as a single officer, and as life has unfolded, my understanding of rest has grown with it. Today, I find joy not only in solitude but also in the gift of meaningful relationships and sharing ordinary moments with people I care about. Those moments remind me that God’s grace is often found around an everyday table as much as in extraordinary moments. One rhythm, however, has remained constant: running. I love running because it helps me pay attention to both life and God. The more I run, the more I realise it is a wonderful metaphor for discipleship. Some weeks the kilometres seem effortless. Other days, despite all the training behind me, every step feels like hard work. Faith can be like that too. Following Jesus doesn’t always become easier with time, but we learn to keep putting one faithful step in front of another. I’ve discovered that when I combine running with the ancient spiritual discipline of meditation, the rhythm of my footsteps becomes a kind of liturgy. The problems that seemed enormous when I laced up my shoes often look much smaller by the time I get home, while God somehow seems much bigger. I also love reading. Books allow me to sit with great thinkers, pastors and saints who continue to shape my understanding of God and people. They remind me that while ministry happens in the present, we don’t have to learn everything for ourselves. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? At the moment, it has to be ‘The First Hymn’ by Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding. One of the unexpected joys of this appointment has been becoming part of the Brimbank Salvos choir, the Suavis. That may surprise anyone who knows me well because I couldn’t hold a tune if I wrapped both arms around it! Our conductor, Merryn, often asks us to ‘drop a note’. The problem is that my note usually lands in another suburb! Yet somehow, with remarkable patience, she gathers my scattered notes and weaves them into harmony with the rest of the choir. It’s become a gentle reminder of the Holy Spirit’s work in my own life. Left to myself, my life was out of tune. By God’s grace, He continues to gather the scattered pieces and compose something beautiful. One of the songs we sing is ‘The First Hymn’. What makes it so special is its remarkable story. It is based on what is believed to be the oldest surviving Christian hymn (preserved on a papyrus fragment), sung by believers nearly eighteen centuries ago. It is stuck on repeat in my car. I find myself imagining those early Christians lifting these same words to God, long before church buildings, denominations, or even the New Testament had been fully gathered. Their worship continues to echo through history. When I sing that hymn today, I am joining a chorus that began long before me and, according to Revelation, will continue long after me, when every tribe, every language and all creation gather before the throne to worship the Lamb. I love that thought. Worship isn’t simply something we do. It’s something we are invited to participate in. Across the centuries, God has been gathering scattered voices into one great chorus of praise, and by His grace, I get to add my voice to the song. READ MORE: Meaningless become meaningful for José 4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? I think I’d choose Barnabas. He is one of the quiet heroes of the New Testament because he had an extraordinary ability to recognise the grace of God at work in people. That is a remarkable gift because when someone sees God’s future in you before you can see it yourself, it can change the trajectory of your life. Barnabas didn’t simply encourage people. He helped them become who God was calling them to be. Have you ever met someone like that? Someone who saw more in you than you could see in yourself? I have. I think our Territorial Commander, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, has that gift. There was a time when my application for officership reached a red light. Commissioner Miriam looked beyond my history and recognised what God might yet do through my life. That act of grace was, in many ways, a reflection of the spirit of Barnabas. We often remember Paul, but I sometimes wonder whether the Church would have embraced him in quite the same way without Barnabas. After Saul’s conversion, the believers in Jerusalem were understandably afraid of him. He had the reputation as a persecutor of Christians. Where others saw suspicion, Barnabas saw grace. Where others saw a dangerous past, Barnabas discerned God’s future. He took Saul, introduced him to the apostles, and used his own credibility to help the Church receive him as a brother. I’d love to ask Barnabas what he saw that others couldn’t. How did he learn to recognise the grace of God in people when everyone else was still captive to their past? What gave him the courage to risk his own reputation for someone whom others still feared? I think those are important questions for our own culture. We often define people by the worst chapter of their lives. Once trust is broken, suspicion comes naturally. Barnabas invites us to ask a different question: What if the grace of God is already at work in this person’s life? His story reminds me that encouragement is far more than offering kind words. It is seeing people through the eyes of grace, becoming a bridge instead of a barrier, and helping others become who Christ is calling them to be. By God’s grace, I hope to become a little more like Barnabas. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I wouldn’t recommend officership because it’s a career – I’d recommend it because it’s a calling. Years ago, not long after my life had begun to change, I attended a Salvation Army meeting in Coffs Harbour with friends from prison and rehab. Commissioner Floyd Tidd was preaching, and throughout his message he kept pointing in our direction. I remember feeling increasingly uncomfortable. After the meeting, he came looking for me. He smiled and said, “I wasn’t pointing generally. I was pointing at you. God will use you in The Salvation Army.” My immediate response was, “Don’t confuse God’s will for your life with God’s will for mine.” I thanked him politely and walked away. At the time, I wasn’t dreaming about officership. I was simply trying to rebuild a life that addiction had almost destroyed. I was grateful just to have another chance, another day, another opportunity. Officership wasn’t on my horizon. Looking back now, I smile. Not because one conversation changed my life, but because God refused to let His invitation disappear. I’ve come to believe that God often speaks with remarkable clarity. In Jesus’ parable of the Great Banquet, the invitation was never the problem. The invitation was clear. The tragedy was that people found reasons not to come. When God calls, He has a gracious persistence. He keeps inviting, confirming, nudging and opening doors until the question is no longer, ‘Is God speaking?’ but, ‘Will I say yes?’ So, if you sense that God may be calling you into officership, don’t dismiss it too quickly. Pray. Listen. Seek wise counsel. Test what you’re hearing. But don’t be surprised if the invitation keeps finding you. There are easier ways to make a living, but I can’t think of a better way to spend a life. Officership has taken me into a place where human need and human hope meet. It has taught me that our calling is far bigger than simply meeting immediate needs. It is an invitation to participate in God’s renewing work. Every act of compassion, every proclamation of the gospel, every shared meal, every life restored becomes a small but real foretaste of the new creation Isaiah envisioned, and Revelation promises, where sorrow, injustice and death will one day be no more. Officership is about saying ‘yes’ to Jesus. It’s a specific way of participating with Him as He makes all things new. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

The artwork of retired Major Topher Holland is on display at Norwest Salvos Rouse Hill in Sydney. BY LAUREN MARTIN An ‘art and prayer exhibition’ being held at Norwest Salvos Rouse Hill in north-west Sydney is showcasing the artwork of retired Salvation Army officer Major Topher Holland. Event organiser, retired Major Colin Daines, said he was inspired by attending a Baptist Church art exhibition last year, which enabled him to encounter God in a unique way. As prayer team leader at Norwest Salvos Rouse Hill, he approached leadership with the idea of a prayer weekend with a difference. ‘Behold – an Art and Prayer Exhibition’ opened yesterday (Thursday 30 July) at the corps and will run until tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 1 August). It features the artwork of Topher, with captions and prompts that encourage people to pray and seek what the Lord wants to say to them during their experience. “We are hoping people will take the time to wander, pause and linger. There will be 18 to 20 pieces to have a look at in total, with captions to read, to reflect, parts of Scripture, and some seats to sit in if you want to sit and pray,” said Colin. “For me, it is important because I really felt that this is a way we haven’t explored prayer in our setting before. What does the Holy Spirit say to us through art?” People are invited to sit and prayfully reflect on each piece of art. Topher says it’s the first time his works have been exhibited: “It gives me great joy in working on my artworks called ‘Behold Drawings’. I want people to reflect on the art and see what the drawing’s story is. I believe that ‘eyes that look are common, but eyes that see are rare’. “I hope people have a fresh and renewed encounter with Jesus and they’ll see things.” He said his creative process involves praying throughout his work. One drawing in particular, a painting of Jesus, made him “become more aware that Jesus is consumed with passionate, unconditional love for me. I know the power of eye contact, and I experienced again the depth of Jesus’ love for me. So that’s what happened to me. “I want people to see what’s in the drawing and then reflect on that.” A number of the artworks depict birdlife. Miracle in the midst One separate artwork will feature the story of organiser Major Colin Daines, who, late last year, became seriously ill and underwent delicate brain surgery. His family, corps, and connected Christians prayed for a miracle. He survived. The story of his encounter with God during his recovery has been depicted in an artwork by a family member. “When I was in hospital in my comatose state, I had a spiritual experience through a number of visions,” said Colin. “God said to me, ‘I’ve got more to show you.’ One of the visions was of me floating on my back on these sort of waves, and having a funnel in my chest and all this stuff coming into me. And it was images of prayers and people and God’s blessing. “When I woke up, I could not hold back the tears of heaven. These visions continued through the operation and recovery, assuring me of God’s presence. He had my attention. He orchestrated the physical healing miracle and a new spiritual experience. Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul.” A variety of works are on display at the exhibition. Colin said that since then, his prayer life has deepened. “I think my relationship with God is much less in the head and more in the heart. The spiritual world and how God works in that, while it’s still a mystery, is real, and I experienced it.” He said the ‘Behold’ exhibition this weekend is one way that people can experience God outside of the ‘intellectual’. “I’m hoping that people will look for what God is saying through that art, look at not only just the artist, but the God behind it, and see and hear what the Holy Spirit might be saying to them.” ‘Behold – Art and Prayer Exhibition’ will be held at Norwest Salvos Rouse Hill, 6a Edwards Road, Nelson, from 30 July to 1 August, 10am–5pm Daily. Entry is free

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

General Lyndon Buckingham launches a new Commission on Membership, Covenant and Belonging. General Lyndon Buckingham has appointed a new Commission on Membership, Covenant and Belonging. This Commission will work to strengthen The Salvation Army into the future. Following fruitful discussions at the International Conference of Leaders in March, the General has appointed a Commission on Membership, Covenant and Belonging (CMCB). The Commission's principal purpose, as outlined in its Terms of Reference, is “to analyse and determine The Salvation Army’s membership structures in alignment with Army doctrine, Orders and Regulations and other official Army publications”. Its work will be guided by a commitment to doctrinal fidelity, covenantal integrity, holiness formation, mission integration, ecclesiological clarity, global unity with contextual wisdom, and youth and intergenerational formation. The Commission aims to strengthen Salvation Army discipleship by fostering clearer belonging, deeper covenant teaching, meaningful service, robust holiness formation, authentic youth engagement and greater ecclesiological clarity across the global movement. Its vision is to help The Salvation Army become more welcoming without becoming less covenantal, more contextual without becoming fragmented, more accessible without becoming vague and more missionally effective without becoming less holy. The General has appointed an 11-member Commission, co-led by Commissioner Geoff Webb and Colonel Dean Pallant, with representatives from across the international Salvation Army. Members are Major Amy Reardon (IHQ), Colonel Bishow Samhika (ICO), Lieutenant Emily Betts (IHQ – Americas), Commissioner Evie Diaz (USA Central), Commissioner Henrik Andersen (IHQ, based in Sweden), Major Juanita Wright (IHQ – Youth), Songster-Leader Karl Westwood (UKI), Lieutenant-Colonel Nigel Cross (SMMT) and Commissioner Yusak Tampai (IHQ – SPEA). The General may also appoint consultant members to provide additional expertise. Corresponding members will be engaged throughout the process, ensuring voices from young people, South Asia, Central and Southern America, and other parts of the international Army are heard. The Commission will work to an ambitious timetable, with territorial leaders consulted at key stages. Its recommendations will be presented to the International Conference of Leaders for consideration in November 2027. Your prayerful support for the Commission will be gratefully appreciated as it undertakes this significant work for the future of The Salvation Army.