Search Results

By SIMONE WORTHING Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) response and recovery teams and volunteers have been catering in evacuation centres, conducting assessments and providing access to financial assistance in recovery hubs, packing hampers and essential supplies, and being a listening ear and supportive presence in Queensland for over a month. In Far North Queensland, where Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the coast on 13 December 2023, SAES teams have been active from Cairns to Cooktown. In South East Queensland, where a severe storm and rainfall event has been impacting the area since Christmas night, multiple sites were set up from Mt Tamborine to Mudgeeraba on the southern end of the Gold Coast. “Our response teams located in Cooktown and the South East concluded their services after 87 staff and surge personnel (staff from different Salvation Army departments) gave over 1382 volunteer hours and provided 4644 meals and refreshments,” said Daryl Crowden, General Manager - Salvation Army Emergency Services. “The Queensland Government (Department of Communities) ‘contracted’ the SAES to attend recovery centres and partner in the provision of recovery funding for Tropical Cyclone Jasper and then soon after for South East Queensland flooding on 20 December 2023. With the contract they also released $350,000 to The Salvation Army as a contribution to our program. “Over 26 days (20 December – 14 January), SAES recovery team members and Salvation Army surge staff booked over 3577 hours and provided just under $2M in direct community grants to over 17,600 individuals.” The SAES teams are keeping a close watch on “intensifying activity” in the Coral Sea that could develop into Tropical Cyclone Kirrily early this week. Storms and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding is forecast across Kimberley, Northern Territory and much of Cape York peninsula. Personal stories As impressive as these numbers are, they do not tell the whole story. “These numbers … do not capture the outstanding and exhausting work of the corps (Salvation Army churches) in the areas impacted,” Daryl shared. “At the same time as dealing with the personal impact of flood waters, Cairns Corps delivered over 640 Christmas food and toy hampers, supported countless people, cleaned out homes and provided additional financial and material support, and acted as a focal point for local churches and community. “As outstanding as all this is, it still does not tell you the story of the people involved – both our own people and those they have sat with, listened to and served. The stories of life impact continue, and we are privileged to hear these and to know that once again SAES, the corps, local mission expressions (including Doorways emergency relief and Salvo Stores) and those who have joined us, have contributed to The Salvation Army’s vision of transforming Australia one life at a time, with the love of Jesus.” Just one example comes from a family in South East Queensland: “We are a family on the northern Gold Coast that lost power and our water supply during the recent storm,” said Suni. “There was also damage to our trees. We applied for relief from The Salvation Army at the Coomera Community Hub and received a generous gift voucher - such a relief at what has been an expensive time with all the little unexpected costs as well. We just wanted to thank the organisation for the generous support of the community in a time of need. A special thank you to the people at the pop-up tables in the Coomera Centre who did their best to serve all who came and showed kindness and caring even under pressure. We are so grateful for your services and will show our support in return when the time comes.” Additional assistance Daryl explained that the SAES is aware that many people need ongoing assistance. “The Queensland Government’s estimate in the South East is that 130,000 people were impacted by loss of power or other storm affects, and as of Sunday 14 January, about 100,000 people have sought help of some sort. And these numbers do not include the Far North. “Unfortunately, our government contract concluded on 14 January and the SAES will no longer be present in recovery centres, providing Tier 1 (immediate need) grants.” However, The Salvation Army is aware that more people need help. “The SAES is developing a concept for additional assistance for those that suffered major damage through the provision of Tier 2 and 3 grants,” explained Daryl. “We have the mechanisms in place for this and will apply to the government for funding to employ staff to manage the increased workload.” Heartfelt appreciation Daryl shared his thanks to all involved in helping those impacted by these challenging events. “I want to express my gratitude, and that of my team, for the support provided by divisional and territorial leaders, and especially to all those Salvo staff that gave their time, away from home at a very special time of the year. We can’t do it without you.” Major Leanne Stevens, Recovery Team Leader, SAES – National, summed up the extremely busy but rewarding last four weeks: “As we draw to a close in assisting people from Cyclone Jasper and the Gold Coast storms, I would like to give my appreciation and thanks for each one that has assisted in the background and at the frontline. “You have been absolutely amazing in representing The Salvation Army in your space. “I have heard many great stories and comments from the public, for how grateful they have been for the help from the Salvos. You have sat and listened when people needed to be heard, you have shed a tear with people who just wanted to know someone cared, you have sat with the lonely when they truly needed a friend. You have reflected exactly who we are – people of compassion and our love for all humanity. “It has been challenging but rewarding. Tireless but invigorating. Long days and lots of conversations. With all that, I want to say a heartfelt and grateful big ‘thank you’. I have valued and appreciated all you have done and who you are in such a demanding and chaotic space!”

Each Wednesday night, our corps hosts a free meal for those needing one, and usually that’s around 110-130 people. It’s a lovely community, and the meal is preceded by a chapel service and followed by social activities and a Bible study, all of which attract different numbers of people. At the commencement of each meal, we make some announcements, do devotions and say grace, and we also sing happy birthday to whoever is having one. I’m sure we have a few regulars who seem to have a birthday every few months, but we’re happy to give them some attention anyway. Recently, I was seated at a table with a birthday boy turning 62 and one of the other diners said, with a smile, “Now we get to give you birthday punches”, and he hit him on the shoulder gently. We had a laugh about how he would cope with about 120 people queueing up to give him birthday punches. By my reckoning, that’s nearly 7500 punches! I’m thinking that if we were hosting our meal back in his day and Methuselah showed up on his 969th birthday, after being sung to he’d possibly receive 116,260 punches. And if each person gave him the obligatory ‘and one for luck’, that would be 116,400 punches. I’d suggest he may not make his next birthday. In fact, he probably wouldn’t even make the next day. Imagine his birthday cake! Think of a cake with 100 candles on it for someone celebrating their centenary, and now think of a cake with close to ten times that many candles. You’d need to alert the local fire station before you even lit the cake. What do you give someone for their 969th birthday? Socks? Probably not. Golf clubs? I doubt it. A gym membership? Well, no. You’d need to think of something they haven’t already got. Good luck with that. “Happy birthday, Methuselah, here’s your bellybutton fluff remover.” Mind you, if Methuselah received gifts from each member of his extended family, he could probably open his own shop anyway; so your chance of finding him something he doesn’t already have grows even slimmer. The Bible says he had a son, Lamech, and “other sons and daughters” (Genesis 5:26), so that’s at least five children. We also know Lamech had four children and that families, back then, were generally large. So even if we assumed Methuselah’s descendants only lived a mere 100 years or so, he may still have had hundreds and hundreds of descendants at his 969th birthday party. That’s a lot of party pies and fairy bread! Birthday traditions differ in different cultures around the world. In Lithuania, it’s customary for the person who’s having the birthday to sit in a decorated chair that’s then lifted up by the party guests. The chair is lifted up the number of times matching the age of the person having the birthday. So we’re lucky Methuselah wasn’t Lithuanian. Imagine him filling up on Coke and cake and party food and ice cream and cheese and dips and lollies, and then being lifted up and down in a chair 969 times. You would NOT want to be one of the people under him in that chair. Happy birthday for whenever you get to your next one; be grateful that it won’t be your 969th and that you won’t need a defibrillator after blowing out your candles!

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 Pakistan Territory. 2023 praise points: ·       Colonel Diana MacDonald's leadership as a woman leading Pakistan Territory in an Islamic country. ·       22 cadets were commissioned from the Reflectors of Holiness session in March. ·       Re-opening of Jhang district in April. ·       Opening of a new corps, Jinnah Abadi, in the Sahiwal Division. ·       Opening of a new society, Chastian, in the Sahiwal Division. ·       International appointment, Captains Humaira and Asher, in October. ·       15 cadets, the session of Champions of the Mission, entered training college. ·       Territorial review held in November. ·       Graduation of cohort 2 with a Certificate in Leadership Development in November. Prayer requests: ·       Opening of new corps in the territory. ·       The work of The Salvation Army in Pakistan and spiritual revival in the territory. ·       The upcoming general election in February, and ongoing inflation and economic and political imbalance in the country. ·       Cadets from the Champions of Mission session. ·       Ongoing climate change. Strategic Priorities: ·       Financial sustainability – We will move towards financial independence and sustainability, by promoting stewardship (including tithing) among our people by careful financial management, and promoting enterprise skills at the community level for reducing reliance on external sources of finance. ·       Discipleship – We will engage in theological education development at all levels for equipping of soldiers and officers. ·       Growth – We will open new plants, such as societies, and re-open some former mission units such as corps and social centres based on assessments of mission potential. ·       Relationships – We will develop new and existing relationships with government officials, and with other churches, at divisional and territorial levels. ·       Leader development – We will develop officers through effective succession planning, leadership development, and refresher courses. For more information on the Pakistan Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I’m a corps officer at Kwinana & South Metro Salvation Army in WA. I enjoy the variety of ways this role provides for me to interact with the community, including via schools, emergency relief, community service groups, businesses, our thrift shops, our church and hotel and street ministry. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I like to take time away from crowds and to be in nature, so walking, bike riding or ocean watching is very regenerating for me. I’ve also recently discovered Aqua Chi, which is similar to Tai Chi but in a heated pool. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? It’s unfair to ask for just one favourite! Another in the Fire by Hillsong United reminds me that whatever I’m going through I’m never alone because there’s another with me. Also In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty because I’m reminded that it is Christ’s love and power that keeps me standing. 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’ve always wanted to have a talk with Martha, particularly about the time when Jesus came to her home, and she worried about all that needed to be done as she and Mary were hosting. I have sometimes been called a Martha but am learning to take Christ’s words less as a criticism, but more as a comfort; that he knows my heart and mind so well, yet also knows that I need help to change in order to receive what I truly need. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? Officership can be a rollercoaster ride – exhilarating with shouts of joy and terrifying with tears too. I am thankful for the privilege of being an officer and of being used by God to bring hope and to transform lives, including mine. The way this happens, though, is not always easy, and many times I have questioned why I do what I do. It has been a rewarding but also a tough journey, tougher than I expected. One of the toughest parts can be believing that God wants me just as I am – with all my insecurities and imperfections – to lead others. Of course, I’m not doing it on my own, nor does God leave me as I am. The growth and the pruning; the embracing and the letting go, are both wonderful and hard work at the same time. Remembering that I, as a shepherd, am also a ‘sheep’ is necessary, in order to give myself the grace to accept that I don’t have all the answers or strength or power to do things on my own. I tried arguing against being an officer, but God won in the end. I won, too, because God’s way is much better! Interview by Major Mal Davies

When have you felt excited to give? Do you consider yourself to be a generous person? How do you feel when you have the opportunity to give to others? Paul called the believers to be generous and cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). Jesus also modelled and taught about giving. He gave of his time and energy, his money and his power. Ultimately, he gave his life. Today’s topic is being generous - giving. To find video downloads, sermon outlines and discussion questions for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/

The Salvos Youth and Family Domestic Violence Service teams from the South Australia/Northern Territory Division were delighted to meet with Laura Messing from @Altera Digital Health last week for a handover of more than 28 laptops for young people and women in their care to use. “Imagine having to leave your device behind and not being able to have connectivity at such a critical time,” said Laura. She was thinking of the women and children who turn to the Salvos for crisis support. “Or being a young person unable to afford basic technology to support study or finding a job.” Katie Lawson, State Manager, Youth Services SA/NT, said that these laptops would provide “independence and boost our clients’ ability to reconnect. So much of our daily lives depends on access to technology. and now we can provide this at critical times in the lives of those we support. “We are so grateful to Altera for their generosity and compassion.”

When we know and love Jesus, we want to share the good news of the gospel with others. Some people have the gift of evangelism and are quite comfortable sharing about their faith. Many of us, however, need help to develop habits in this area. Watch this video and check out Mission Resources’ sermon outline and questions for helpful hints on how to develop good habits around sharing your faith. To find video downloads, sermon outlines and discussion questions for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/

In any relationship, communication is critical. Good communication needs to be consistent and persistent. We need to share our thoughts, needs, anxieties and desires. We also need to listen to the other person. Prayer is communication between God and people. Prayer is crucial in our relationship with God. He longs to spend time with us and we need to spend time with him. When we have an open dialogue with God we allow him to speak truth, conviction, and instruction into our lives. To find video downloads, sermon outlines and discussion questions for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/

The theme for this year’s Self Denial Appeal is ‘Love in Action’. It highlights the Apostle John’s first letter to the early Christian Church where he reminds believers that Christ’s love must be more than just words or feelings. Every year, the Self Denial Appeal calls members of The Salvation Army to sacrificially give to the appeal specifically for mission in countries around the world where there is great need. Traditionally, the call has been to give one week’s salary. Such acts of generosity are love in action — the kind Jesus called us to. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions” (1 John 3:16-18, NIV). This year’s Self Denial Appeal focuses on Indonesia, the Philippines and Tonga. The appeal officially commences on Sunday 11 February. The Altar Service (Week 6) is scheduled for Sunday 17 March. For more information or to donate online, go to the Self Denial Appeal page here. The Self Denial Appeal resource toolkit, which includes videos, print and promotional resources and devotionals, click here.

BY SIMONE WORTHING Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams have been catering at three evacuation centres in Victoria in the aftermath of the heavy rain and severe storms that have lashed the state over the past week. Several communities have been inundated with flood waters and, although these are receding now in some towns such as Seymour and Yea, rivers are expected to rise in the northern regional city of Shepparton. Beginning on Monday 8 January, SAES teams served at the Bendigo, Echuca and Seymour evacuation centres. “Our teams spread out across the state to assist and support community members who were impacted by the floods,” said Carolyn Spratling, SAES response coordinator in Victoria. “The team at Bendigo provided material aid, including bedding, toiletries, baby needs, ladies’ personal needs and dry clothing as needed; in Echuca, we served meals to the evacuees from the northern town of Rochester; and in Seymour, the teams provided bedding, toiletries and catering to those who had to evacuate. “An SAES team also went to Rochester to run a community barbecue. We thank all our volunteers who have given up their time over the last 24 hours to serve impacted communities.” The teams have now completed the required catering and assistance and have been stood down. Financial assistance The flood response is already moving from the emergency to recovery phase. “Local councils are keeping records of people coming through evacuation centres, who they are housing, and who may need assistance going forward,” explained Territorial Envoy Margaret Coombridge, SAES recovery coordinator Vic/Tas. “There is always great concern for those who have been experiencing homelessness and camping close to rivers and waterways. “In Seymour and Shepparton, the SAES continues to work with the local councils to support people who might need assistance. As referrals are received, we are also encouraging community members to access Doorways assistance by contacting The Salvation Army’s phone assistance line (PAL) Victoria on 03 8873 5288. "It is during 'non-event, down times' that the SAES works hard building relationships with local council by supporting events and exercises. It is because of this work that the team is invited into communities during and following disaster events to work with others and provide support to those impacted." To see more photos, click on the slider below.

I love cricket. Like most Australian kids, I learnt how to play in the backyard and spent many hours batting and bowling with my brother and sometimes with my father or grandfather. Playing with my father was hard because he was so unselfish – he’d get a turn at batting and just deliberately hit catches to us! I find watching T20 cricket (20 overs per side, for the uninitiated) an amusing way to waste a few mindless hours at the end of a working day. And one-day matches are rarely played these days, but they also have some entertainment value. What I love is test cricket; it’s the game they play in heaven. (I recognise some of you may differ from me on that last theological point.) I recently had some time off work and spent four days on my couch watching a test match. It also gave me time to think of what some biblical characters may perform like on the cricket field. Moses would be a great swing bowler. He would bowl the ball and then stand and just spread his hands apart – like splitting the Red Sea – and the ball would swing to one side. When he got tired of bowling towards the end of a long spell, teammates would stand next to him and hold his arms up so he could continue. Samson would be a powerful, big-hitting batsman and use his bat like a club. He wouldn’t run much (he’s not really built for quick singles), but he wouldn’t need to; he’d just smash boundaries. If his bat broke in half, he’d just continue using half a bat and swinging it like, I don’t know, like the jawbone of a donkey. Judas would try and bribe the umpires. Enough said. Peter would play like it was tippity-run. Hit the ball, run. Hit the ball, run. Hit the ball, run. It wouldn’t worry if the ball went straight to a fielder, back to the bowler, or over the boundary fence. Just hit it and run. Peter only knows one way. He’s never blocked a ball in his life. Jonah would hit the ball, call for a single and then run in the opposite direction. He’s just wired to do that. If the aim is simply to run down the pitch to complete a successful run, Jonah will run the other way. Then he’ll complain about the lack of shade near the pitch when he’s batting. David would be a quick and accurate bowler, but he’d have an illegal action, and the umpire would call him for throwing. David would complain: “But my arm’s not bent; why are you no-balling me?”, and the umpire would respond: “Yes, your arm’s straight, but you’re using a SLING!” Jesus would be the wicketkeeper. Nothing gets past Jesus. Express ball. Leg-spinner. Bouncer. Way down the leg side. Yorker. Huge outswinger. Jesus would stop everything. Some bowlers would try to test him and offer a real googly, but nothing gets past Jesus. Nothing. Thomas would make a terrible umpire: “Umm, I don’t know. I think it’s out. Or in.” Noah would be a bat maker: “I prefer gopherwood; it handles wet weather well.” Paul would be a fine cricket writer: “Let me just write an article about how the match is going, or maybe a two-part article – 1 Day’s Play and 2 Day’s Play.” Job would make a miserable player: “Out? Why me? It’s always me. Sure, tell old Job he’s out. No one cares about old Job.” While this might all sound a bit fanciful, you must remember that cricket is one of the few sports mentioned in the Bible. Right at the dawn of creation, we read in Genesis 1:1: “In the big innings, God created the heaven and the earth”. See? All done while he was keeping one eye on the cricket. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

What disciplines can we put in place to help us grow closer to Jesus? This week, Salvos Online looks at some spiritual habits that can transform us as disciples of Jesus. This devotional series by Mission Resources covers: Bible reading, prayer, evangelism (sharing faith) and generosity (giving). The resources feature videos, sermons and discussion questions that explore each of these important Christian habits. Today we look at the importance of reading God’s Word, the Bible. It allows us to connect with God and helps us to understand God’s wisdom, purpose and direction for our lives. To access all resources for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/