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The Salvation Army’s International Literature Program (ILP) is delighted to announce that the Song Book of The Salvation Army has been translated into Telugu, “opening up the beautiful hymns and songs of our faith to even more people”. Telugu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and other parts of southern India. The ILP is based at International Headquarters and provides quality and affordable Christian resources for Salvation Army territories worldwide.

The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe is using funds provided by International Headquarters to launch a solar panel project that aims to provide sustainable and cost-effective power sources. Territorial Headquarters in Harare and Divisional Headquarters in Kadoma (Mashonaland West Province) have been working closely on the project. Territorial Headquarters, which has a history of power outages, has welcomed the new solar panels to produce consistent power and reduce disruptions to work for employees and officers. Kadoma’s Divisional Headquarters has been facing two main problems: finding a cost-effective power source and gaining access to clean running water. Previously, the headquarters relied on diesel generators to fuel essential services, which kept services running. However, the generators were costly and unsustainable. The solar panels were recently installed and now provide enough electricity to power Salvation Army buildings and the electric pump for the bore. Listen to the full story in the video above, or click here.

The Salvation Army has issued a heartfelt thank-you to those who supported the Kmart Australia Wishing Tree Appeal last Christmas. With the support of everyday Australians, the Salvos were able to make Christmas brighter for many families struggling to make ends meet. “Thousands of families were assisted, and stories abound of how gratefully the toys and other gifts were received,” said Major Warren Elliot, The Salvation Army Public Relations Secretary for Victoria. “Many spoke of the relief and joy they were able to experience knowing that their children were able to receive such lovely gifts at this special time of year. “We know times have been tough lately, as our services have been facing increasing demand. Since the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal began 36 years ago, we have been able to distribute an incredible 10 million gifts to Australian families in need. “Thank you again for allowing us to deliver goodness and joy to so many. We look forward to doing it all over again this year.” #TheSalvationArmy #Salvos #BelieveInGood #ChristmasAppeal #KmartAus

In this 'God Defining Moment', Major Wendy Hateley reflects on God's wonderful provision over the years and how she and Paul have seen his hand at work many times. Wendy says that they have relied on this fact for their entire officership, that "Even when you can't see how it's going to happen, God is always going to provide."

BY ANTHONY CASTLE The Salvation Army WA Emergency Services fed large numbers of emergency services personnel at the Gingin complex fires, north-west of Perth, in mid-January. Perth experienced scorching summer temperatures across the week, with 6000 hectares burned just 85kms north of the city. Emergency services crews worked to consolidate containment lines and keep the local community safe. “This season, we have experienced more larger fires than we have seen in previous seasons,” said Benjamin Day, Emergency Services State Coordinator WA. “These bushfires are growing fast, resulting in significant resources being deployed to control these fires. Our services have been stretched on a number of occasions, and we have at times experienced shortages of volunteers.” The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) were dispatched to multiple sites in early January, supporting incidents in Oldbury, Champion Lakes, Chittering, Bindoon and Gingin (also aiding in the search for a missing person in the Perth suburb of Mundaring). After supporting responders, SAES crews stand down, and volunteers clean and restock for future call-outs. “We have been provided with support from our eastern states’ teams also, which has been a tremendous support,” Benjamin explains. “We still have a long way to go this season, so we will continue to call for volunteers as the need arises. We would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to please get in touch.” To volunteer email volunteeringwa@salvationarmy.org.au, or go to https://my.salvos.org.au/salvatio.../volunteer-with-seanddm/

By LERISSE SMITH Excitement is building for a special group of young people who will soon celebrate a major milestone in life, giving them the opportunity to create a trajectory of success for their future. The Salvation Army’s North/West Metro Youth Services, Melbourne, has invited 18 of its young people to Sunshine’s Youth Hub on 6 February to receive their formal scholarship certificate from the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation. The foundation has gifted funding to support their educational and employment pursuits. It has been a dream come true for the recipients who were unable to fund their future aspirations. “It’s life changing for the young people,” said Ralph Salera, Regional Manager of North/West Metro Youth Services. “The Hugh D.T. Williamson scholarships provide an amazing opportunity for our young people, empowering them to pursue education without financial barriers. By alleviating the burden of education costs, it enables them to participate in their education so they can make lasting contributions to their communities and beyond. “Beyond the financial support, it’s also all about the opportunity to participate without barriers, boosting confidence, unlocking potential and creating a trajectory of success for these individuals. It's not just about education; it's about offering opportunities to young people to celebrate education and allow young people to thrive.” Special relationship The scholarships embody what Hugh D.T. Williamson wanted for young people – to empower young minds, nurture their potential, and inspire them to achieve their goals. The special and long-standing partnership between The Salvation Army Westcare/Youth Services and the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation was forged back in 2002, with the organisation engaging in financial support for youths and the community. Predating Australia One in 2018 (when The Salvation Army became one territory in Australia), it was involved with Westcare. The Foundation has built a special and close relationship with the Youth Services in the West and Sunshine with more than 80 young people benefitting from scholarships totalling $80,000 in the past four years. The upcoming occasion to celebrate the formal presentation of the most recent scholarships will not only be a highlight for the scholarship recipients, but also for the Trustees of the Foundation who are passionate about supporting them. “The current Trustees of the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation are very pleased to continue the support of the Foundation for the work of The Salvation Army,” said Stephen Newton, The Chair of the Trustees of the Foundation. “Support that began as the result of the keen involvement of Hugh Williamson himself – an honorary colonel, a recipient of the Army’s highest award, a past Red Shield Appeal chairman, and a significant donor and benefactor for the Army’s programs – including making it possible for Army personnel to attend programs at the Mt Eliza Business School. “We now follow his lead, in making it possible for those wishing to pursue further study to do so through the Hugh D.T. Williamson scholarships.” A key part of the event will be the opportunity for the scholarship recipients to speak about their future plans. “It creates a memory for the young person and acknowledges what they're doing is actually important and valuable,” Ralph said. All workers across the North/West Metro Youth Services team nominated people for the scholarships. They considered five key areas such as their needs and future aspirations. The Chair of the Trustees of the Foundation, Stephen Newton, who works closely with Youth Services, then collaborated with Ralph and Chloe Lynch, program manager of North/West Metro, to allocate the funds. Dreams achieved Many success stories have arisen from previous scholarship funding. Past recipients have achieved their dreams – from becoming nurses, completing youth work and architecture courses, through to pursuing the business sector and in one case, becoming a doctor. One young person traversed a journey from being a massage therapist to a travel agent, and then qualified as a veterinarian. Material and practical support aid have been provided through the Foundation funding too, which offers flexibility depending on the person’s needs. The aid can range from computer equipment, childcare, driving lessons, travel tickets, work boots and study desks to pre-course fee payments. Some youths have also received their third cycle of scholarship funds to complete their courses. One of the great benefits of the scholarships has been young people being able to make a decision on their career path. “It is certainly something that we drive,” Ralph said. “We have seen young people take all different journeys, and we're seeing people just know what they want and get it. It has been great.” Inclusion There has been no judgment or discrimination around any young person that comes into the Youth Services no matter their background, history or life challenges. The team want them to feel that they can tackle any course or just sustain basic employment if other circumstances were impacting them such as homelessness, family violence or mental health issues – and to always feel supported by staff who advocate for them. “If a young person has a desire to be in education, we will move mountains to ensure they have access to it,” Ralph said. “The last thing we want is for them to feel they are different than any other student . . . They are as equal as any other student going into that space. There’s no barrier such as ‘you can't do that’ because you can't afford it. There's no judgment. “If a young person wants to study to be an astronaut, then let’s get you into a course to be an astronaut. It’s that attitude that develops young minds and develops the opportunity for young people to study, that is a key passion of the Foundation. The focus is on opportunity for education and the attitude that, if we invest in young people and their education, then we're all going to be better off for it.” In recognition and appreciation of the Foundation’s ongoing support of The Salvation Army and Youth Services program, a special plaque has been erected outside the original training room at Sunshine Hub which is now known as the ‘Hugh Williamson Education Centre’. A table donated by the Founding Chair of the Trustees of the Foundation, Denis Tricks, also acknowledges its four founding members so both staff and the public know of the Foundation’s highly valued commitment and support. “They are a strong key partner in the relationship with The Salvation Army –and we want to keep it forever,” he said. “They have always been a strong advocate of what we do. We’ve been able to support a normal journey of a young person who's trying to explore their world and what they want from their life – and that's been the beautiful part of Hugh Williamson.”

BY SIMONE WORTHING Daryl Crowden, General Manager - Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES), spent four days last week in the disaster-ravaged Queensland communities of Cairns and Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, and the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Logan regions in the south-east. He began his visits in Cairns and Port Douglas, meeting with the SAES teams serving in recovery hubs, assisting those impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent floods and widespread destruction. Daryl also participated in the teams’ nightly online catchups. “This gave me an opportunity to meet a whole lot of volunteers that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” he said. As General Manager of SAES, a role he took up in July 2023 after many years of experience overseas with World Vision, Medical Teams International and The Salvation Army International Emergency Services, it was also Daryl’s first opportunity to see the SAES recovery teams actively responding in a significant emergency and The Salvation Army’s model at work. “While I think there are some processes and systems which can probably be updated and improved over time, the attitude of our people – officers, staff and volunteers – is just amazing,” he said. “In most cases (like Jasper) our people were there before and during the crisis, and as members of the impacted communities, will be there for the long haul of recovery. Thanks team – your compassion is a true reflection of the Christmas season. “Also thanks to partners like Queensland’s Department of Communities, Woolworths, and the public who have donated, enabling us to see our new friends through a tough time for the long haul.” In South East Queensland, Daryl visited most of the recovery hubs in the area, including Mt Tamborine, Upper Coomera, Jimboomba, Labrador and Coombabah. Unfortunately, volunteer numbers are not keeping up with the increased need in these impacted communities. When Daryl visited Mt Tamborine there weren’t enough volunteers, so he spent two hours interviewing, hearing people’s stories and pre-screening. “I love being hands-on,” he said. “Having the chance to do this just gives me great emotional energy to deal with the other aspects of the role, such as strategic and external engagement.” As part of this aspect of the role, Daryl met with local councils and the Mayor of Mt Tamborine – higher level connections which are often easier to make in a crisis. In their regional SAES roles, Adam Cole (South Queensland) and Major Lincoln Stevens (North Queensland) and Major Leanne Stevens, Recovery Team Leader (national), have been working hard over the long term to establish deeper relationships with the government. “This has really paid off and we have been deployed into areas that probably even a few months ago we didn’t think we’d get into,” explained Daryl. “And that’s in part because our workers have just turned up and done well. As a result, people from the Department of Communities and others are really positive about wanting us here. “People are very keen to work together, so being able to connect with some of those people and understand what they're looking for then helps us shape what we do. We make sure we're delivering what they want, but we also make sure that we can develop design processes and protocols that are compliant with whatever the standards or the expectations of government are.” Jesus with skin on People both inside and outside The Salvation Army often ask why, as a church, is The Salvation Army so involved with emergency services? “I think it’s for the same reason as I do it,” Daryl explained. “During my 24 years as a Salvation Army officer, I had numerous opportunities to run a corps, to preach and to run what I guess most people would consider the normal model of Christianity and mission. But when I started doing this kind of stuff, when I got to sit with people at their worst and not necessarily pray with them, not necessarily talk about Jesus, but just be, it was like, as someone said, a framework of ‘being Jesus with skin on’. I believe I have had more opportunities just to be that, more opportunities of genuine relationship and connection with people in this world than I did as an officer. My style of ministry is reflected in this work and it’s also why The Salvation Army does it. “Our roots are about sitting down with people in crisis – the messy people, the chaos - and bringing, even if it's momentary, sense out of that for people. And I think that's why The Salvation Army does it. “I can't give statistics of people who go to the Mercy Seat, but I can tell you stories of people who walked away lighter, not necessarily because they got a voucher, but because they got half an hour of someone's undivided attention. And I think that's Jesus in the crisis centres. “And for me personally, although I'm not sure everyone in The Salvation Army would agree, we have volunteers that are both committed Salvationist Christians and not Christians, but whether they profess Christianity or not, the same effect happens. People walk out of that place knowing that someone cared for their life. And it gives me that opportunity to sit with people who don't profess religion or like church but want to be part of what Jesus did.”

To read the tribute, click here

By LAUREN MARTIN A Salvation Army recovery team is back in the bushfire-affected NSW Hunter Valley this week, after a fire destroyed and damaged homes just a week before Christmas. Recovery worker Vicky Brown and her daughter Amanda are revisiting the towns of Abermain and Kurri Kurri to offer bushfire assistance to those affected by the blaze. Vicky said before Christmas she saw a lot of distressed people, and now, there are others who are only just realising they can receive support. “We just saw one gentleman who lost his entire home,” she said. “It burned to the ground. A lot of other people are living with relatives or friends because their homes are not habitable. She said people are surprised and grateful that The Salvation Army is able to assess their situation and give them cash grants. “I tell them, ‘People donate money to help people in their time of need and it’s my job to give it out.’ “But more than that, it’s the kind words we can offer. We listen to them and talk to them,” said Vicky, who is a soldier at Newcastle Salvation Army. “We can be Jesus to these people, even if they don’t realise it.” Vicky’s daughter, Amanda, has been a volunteer in The Salvation Army Emergency Services for many years, and began volunteering in recovery two years ago. Just last week, she travelled with Vicky to spend a week on Queensland’s Gold Coast, assisting people after the devastating storms that damaged many homes. “I just love helping people and being able to put a smile on people’s faces when they’re going through the worst situation they have ever faced,” she said. The pair said the recovery assistance on the Gold Coast was incredibly busy, with lots of people needing assistance. This week, in the Hunter Valley, the pace is slower, and more meaningful conversations can be shared. “We talk to them, and we listen to their horror stories, we look at their photos and their videos. They appreciate the fact that there is no judgement, just love. “That’s the most rewarding part.”

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 Russia Territory. Please pray for: ·      The physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of our officers and soldiers. ·      Wisdom in finding ways forward to continue the mission of The Salvation Army in Russia. ·      New ways of reaching out to people. ·      New ways of self-support and sustainability. To read the recent Salvos Online article about the Russia Territory, click here. To find out more about the Russia Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and and to download the calendar, click here.

By CAPTAIN SERGIU NICA I remember the first news, the first alarms and the first explosions in Lviv (Ukraine). I remember how we were hiding in a narrow corridor with our two children in our apartment on the ninth floor. We remember how all the doors and windows in the apartment rattled from the explosions, which were only 800 metres away. All this seemed like a nightmare and a terrible dream, but in fact – it was our new reality! I had a strong worry and fear for our two children. In such moments of concern, uncertainty and anxiety, people normally start thinking of a way out and the right solution. Prayer and trust in God were our first steps and the light to overcoming fear. There is always a way out at the end of any tunnel, and there is always a light at the end of any tunnel. Although sometimes I feel anxiety, at the same time, because of my faith, I know that I continue to trust God. I am not alone. The Lord is with me even during these difficult days. In God and with God I find the solution to all problems. He is the way out of any tunnel. He is my salvation, and he is the light for me that leads out of this dark tunnel. A lot can be said about the light because of this war – for me it is complete trust in God. It is clear to me – continue living, even when, at times, it is very difficult. The light is Christ whom I see every day in my life. He shines and gives hope not only to me, but also to the people around me. Light is my victory: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:1-5 Captain Sergiu Nica is the corps officer in Lviv, Ukraine

Members of The Salvation Army and the Catholic Church met at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican in Rome to hold the next meeting in the second round of Informal Conversations in November 2023. The specific theme for this year’s gathering was ‘Missional discipleship: Hope in a Change of Epoch’, with presentations of a theological paper on ‘Encounter with the Living Christ and the hope that is within us’ and a more practical paper on ‘How do we ensure that our works are expressions of hope and vehicles for encounter with the Risen Christ?’. The 12 delegates also joined a World Day of the Poor mass in St Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Pope Francis. Salvation Army Commissioner Jane Paone, Co-Chair of the Informal Conversations group and Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations, said that, “The discussions we had were extremely insightful and provided an opportunity to learn from one another. Throughout the conversations, there was an awareness of how Christians were being called to live boldly, reflecting the hope that is within them, despite the many changes around the world. In the sharing, delegates were stimulated to reflect on their own attitudes as missional disciples. “We think we are agents of hope when it is the people receiving who become givers of hope to us. The essence of being a Christian is not about ideas, but about an encounter with a person. One of the biggest challenges we have is how to transmit our faith today.” Bishop Brian Farrell, The Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, challenged the group to “realise that we are sent here, representing our traditions . . . to make an effort to make sure we pour this grace into the life of our communities.” As the Informal Conversations meeting concluded, the group reflected on the discussions, and all delegates agreed that they had learnt from one another’s traditions, gifts and strengths. There was also an awareness of the need to include young people and be there to listen to honest questions in a changing epoch. The next Informal Conversations meeting will be held in The Salvation Army’s Sunbury Court in London in November 2024, with the theme ‘Shared Missional Vision in a Changed Epoch: Re-imagining the Communication of the Gospel’.