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The Christmas Kettle takes on many forms around the world and is a beacon of hope for millions of people who receive the support and services that The Salvation Army provides throughout the year. Originating in the United States in the late 19th century, the brainchild of Captain Joseph McFee, the Christmas Kettle emerged as a response to those facing hardship during the festive season. Witnessing the struggles that people were enduring, including homelessness and hunger, Joseph drew inspiration from his days as a sailor in the British port of Liverpool, where he encountered ‘Simpson’s pot’, which was a large iron kettle that was used as a collection pot for donations for the needy. Adapting this idea in the US, in 1891, he placed a similar receptacle at the Oakland Ferry Landing in California and was successful in collecting funds to feed the poor during Christmas. The idea proved to be a major triumph, so Joseph encouraged other Salvation Army territories to try this concept, and by 1895 the Christmas Kettle was being used to raise money in 30 regions across the West Coast of the USA. Today in the Northern Hemisphere, the Christmas Kettle campaign remains a symbol of hope, with compassion and generosity at the core of the tradition. We can often get caught up in our own lives during the festive period and forget to think of those less fortunate. Christmas and the (northern) winter season can be a difficult time of year for many, so this can be an opportune moment for us all to think about how we can spread hope in our community and to those in need. For more images on Christmas kettles around the world, click on the slideshow below.

To read the tribute for Bruce, click here

The Salvation Army in Tennessee, USA, is responding in the aftermath of the extreme storms and tornadoes that wreaked havoc in Middle Tennessee on 19 December. The extreme weather, including wind speeds between 218 and 265km/h, caused fatalities, injuries and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. Incident Commander for The Salvation Army in Nashville, Captain Philip Canning, said, “Now that we are over 24 hours into our response, we have a much better view of the need in our community. We are serving hot meals, snacks and drinks at multiple locations in Madison and Hendersonville to make sure those who remain in their homes without power, and those who are returning to their homes, to start clean-up efforts, have access to hot meals and support for any emotional and spiritual needs they might have. Sometimes, being able to share your experience with a willing ear over a hot cup of coffee can help lift a weight from your shoulders.” To date, The Salvation Army has provided: 815 meals, 595 snacks, and 1188 drinks. The clean-up will begin with Kentucky and Tennessee Division Emergency Disaster Services Director Bo Sells meeting with Captain Philip Canning to begin damage assessments in areas north of the city. Major Ken Chase has also been deployed and will be responding to the Clarksville area. Southern USA Territory Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator Jeff Jellets explained, “The damage and trauma left behind from the extreme storms has been extensive; work now begins on assisting the people of Middle Tennessee to begin the recovery efforts. “I am proud that many of our officers are helping directly with the recovery efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Middle Tennessee and all the emergency services workers working hard on the recovery. Additional resources will likely be provided once we have a clearer picture of the situation.”

BY GENERAL LYNDON BUCKINGHAM The scene was a familiar one. A street filled with festive lights and decorations, music playing and crowds of people moving along, taking note of all the Christmas details. Right at the end was a house in relative darkness, with just a small box containing a nativity scene on the front lawn. Most people did not even bother to check it out. Most simply considered the Christmas display was over before they reached that house. But right there was a visual representation of the quiet heart of Christmas. Not a flashy display. Not a lot of lights and sounds. Just a quiet focus on the one who is born to be our Saviour. I sometimes wonder whether it is easy for us to miss the quiet heart of Christmas. Even when looking at some of the Christmas story, we may miss the central message of it all. Each of the gospel writers presents Christmas differently. Some might say that only Matthew and Luke include the Christmas story. But I want to suggest that each of the gospels brings its own special emphasis. “The word made flesh dwells among us – full of grace and truth.” Mark, possibly the oldest of the gospels, has no stories of birth or infancy. Instead, Mark’s ‘Christmas’ is embedded in the opening words, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1 New King James Version). Jesus is shown to be the Son of God from the very beginning. That’s the good news. John also does not contain birth or infancy stories but shows the centre of Christmas originating in the heart of God. The word made flesh dwells among us – full of grace and truth. Matthew opens with a long list of names in Jesus’ family tree. It’s easy to skip over this and miss its significance. Included are five women who all showed remarkable faith despite society’s harsh judgment of them. Tamar – who tricked her father-in-law into pregnancy; Rahab – a prostitute who helped the Israelite spies; Ruth – a despised foreigner; Bathsheba – an adulteress; and Mary – an unmarried mother. Each was part of Jesus’ family history. If Jesus will later be shown to identify with sinners, it’s because it’s ‘in his genes’. Jesus is connected with people like us who – despite sinfulness and frail humanity – show faith. Matthew then makes the connection with Jesus being Immanuel – God with us, in our humanness. All of this happens before the traditional Christmas characters – the Wise Men – even appear. They come to find the one born to be King. Luke has the angels announcing that Jesus is the Saviour, Christ the Lord. This is not given to the people you would expect but instead to shepherds – often considered religious outcasts because of the nature of their work. For such as these, living on the margins of society, Jesus comes as Saviour. “With all the other things that happen at this time of the year, may we focus our hearts and minds on the quiet heart of Christmas: the reality of who Jesus is.” Each of the gospels presents a different view of Christmas. It’s easy for us to become so engaged with the trappings of the Christmas story. That may include things we have become accustomed to that are not even mentioned in any of the gospels. Instead, we can sometimes miss the quiet heart of Christmas as related in Scripture. This year, perhaps we can focus again on what the gospels actually tell us about the coming of Jesus. One who comes for those who are sinners and outcasts. One who comes to be King. One who comes to be Immanuel – God with us. One who comes to be our Saviour. One who has existed from all eternity. With all the other things that happen at this time of the year, may we focus our hearts and minds on the quiet heart of Christmas: the reality of who Jesus is. The Son of God. The eternal Word made flesh. Our King. Immanuel. Our Saviour. Christ the Lord. With the songwriter, we say, “O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.” May God bless you at this Christmastime and throughout the coming year. Lyndon Buckingham General To view the video of this message, click on this link: https://vimeo.com/salvationarmyihq/generalschristmasfilm?share=copy

Throughout December, Corps and mission expressions across Australia have the opportunity to be part of this year’s Christmas Day Offering to support a young adults mentoring program in Papua New Guinea. Changing the future of a country begins with strengthening young leaders and giving people hope for the future. The Salvation Army International Development in Australia partners with young Salvationists in Papua New Guinea in the Youth Mentoring Program. Participants develop their leadership skills through a unique road marathon training program, which focuses on four pillars – faith, fitness, education and leadership. Investing in one of our closest neighbours will empower the nation’s emerging leaders, help bring communities together, and release hope for a brighter, more equitable future, all in the name of Jesus! If you would like to support the Christmas Day Offering appeal and are not able to attend a service on Christmas Day, you can give online by visiting salvationarmy.org.au/ChristmasOffering

BY ANTHONY CASTLE We all know the Christmas story. I spent one Christmas working with children in the care of the state. I travelled across town to work with a boy whose family had fled genocide. After arriving in Australia, the family unit broke down, and the boy was separated from his siblings. Another carer and I stayed the night with the children, reuniting the siblings for Christmas Eve. After dinner, we walked the brothers and sisters through the streets to see the lights of the neighbouring houses. It was their first Christmas together in years, bathed in the colours of the flashing plastic decorations. One of the children stopped and pointed at a house, recognising a picture of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the rising star, the angel, the child in the stable – lit up in the front window. They knew the nativity. After the children were in bed and the presents tucked beneath the tree, I found a mattress in a spare room with a couch cushion and a spare sheet. I lay in the dark the night before Christmas and thought of that boy, the violence he and his family had fled, and their homelessness, and I remembered what that child had said when they saw the house with the nativity. That’s the Christmas story. The children recognised the nativity. They had a church background with some memory of the story – Joseph and a pregnant Mary must leave their home and are unable to find somewhere to stay, Mary delivering the child in a stable. The family are visited by shepherds and wise men and are warned of a coming violence, soon to seek refuge in a foreign land. I grew up with this story, too, the image a decoration in Christmas windows, but I often get caught up on the nativity when I see it. The plastic decorations seem cheap, inaccurate. “The challenge for us is to point out where we see that story now” The nativity accounts in the gospels of Matthew and Luke both agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, this his mother was Mary, and that Joseph was not his biological father. The two gospels differ from there, however, with the journey to Bethlehem, the angels, and visiting shepherds coming from the gospel of Luke, and the star, the wise men and fleeing to Egypt coming from Matthew. The family trees in either gospel differ, the timelines don’t always match, and there isn’t a stable in either account. We conflate the details, and when I see a nativity with the shepherds, the wise men, and the child in the stable, I often think, “That didn’t really happen like that.” It surprised me, at first, that these children who had fled genocide and homelessness would recognise the nativity. It didn’t matter to them if the decoration was accurate or historical, they knew the story. It’s perhaps easy to get distracted by the plastic decorations, the star, the angels and the stable and miss what’s really at the heart of the nativity: a vulnerable child now homeless, a refugee family, visited by strangers. I wondered if what mattered to them in that story was that picture of the vulnerable child and the picture of safety. I woke on Christmas Day, watched the boy open presents alongside his siblings, and then travelled home. The children had recognised the Christmas story the night before, but I could recognise it in them, too. We had acted out our own nativity on that Christmas Eve, and while I am unsure if there had been a rising star or an angel present, I had played the role of a visiting stranger (though I suspect I’d do a better sheep herder than wise man). We all know the Christmas story, and while the details of the nativity didn’t really happen like that, the core of the story still happens today. The challenge for us is to point out where we see that story now, not to be distracted by the decorations but to recognise the nativity in the lived experience of the vulnerable and ask: where are the homeless now? Do we care for refugee families? Who is fleeing violence today? Where is the Christmas story happening this December? Which role do we play?

The Salvation Army shield featured on the Grossmünster – a Romanesque-style Protestant church in the Old Town of Zürich, Switzerland, as the third advent candle was lit on Saturday. The candle, part of the city’s ‘Advent wreath of Peace 2023’ campaign, emphasised solidarity. The well-known Zurich light artist, Gerry Hofstetter, together with Grossmünster pastor Christoph Sigrist, are behind the campaign and invited The Salvation Army to participate. Every Saturday from 2-23 December, between 5pm and 8pm, one of the four towers is being lit up like a giant red candle.

BY LAUREN MARTIN It has been announced that this year’s Christmas Day offering will go towards The Salvation Army’s Youth Mentoring Program in Papua New Guinea. The program, which has been running since 2014, aims to change the future of the nation for the better, by strengthening young leaders and giving people hope for the future. Each year, candidates for the program are selected and offered a Youth Mentoring Program scholarship, which focuses on four pillars – faith, fitness, education and leadership. Part of the program involves training for, and running, in the Gold Coast marathon. “This requires participants to develop perseverance, resilience, determination and discipline, which are important leadership qualities,” says program coordinator, The Salvation Army’s Bill Hunter. Recently, Bill travelled to the PNG capital Port Moresby with Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas to select the 2024 Youth Mentoring Program participants. “We were heading to Ela Beach thinking there would be 20-30 people there, [for the initial run and interview process] and we saw this massive group of young people doing a warm-up. There were about 70-80 people there! “About 50 or 60 were running to try and get into the 2024 program, and then there were quite a few past participants there for support. Word has certainly gotten out across The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea about what a huge opportunity being part of the program is.” Ten young people were selected for the 2024 program, most of whom were from villages outside of Port Moresby. “One of the girls we selected, her mum and sister were killed in a tragic accident 10 or 12 years ago, and her dad had died just the day before selection trials,” said Bill. “Yet, she still turned up to do the trial run and interview process. She kept saying, ‘I’m doing this for Dad.’” Those chosen for the 2024 team are: Parker Savi, Michael Gari, Essau Ios, Greg Mave, Saina Dauma, Tau Kila, Jessida Kakpet, Omis Diruza, Penina Mano, Kari Mano. Two local mentors who participated in last year’s program were also chosen. Bill said one of the most encouraging things about the selection process this year was the involvement of past participants, who had grown to become assertive leaders, both within The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea, and in the local community and organisations in which they work. “We asked them to take us through the selection process. This program has been able to empower them. They have become assertive leaders.” Miriam served in Papua New Guinea for several years and says despite the fact that the country is rich in resources, almost 40 per cent of its population lives in poverty. The literacy rate is just 62 per cent. “Investing in one of our closest neighbours will empower the nation’s emerging leaders, help bring communities together, and release hope for a brighter, more equitable future, all in the name of Jesus!” The Territorial Commander is encouraging Salvationists to give generously to the program during their Christmas services. Salvationists can give at salvationarmy.org.au/christmasoffering

The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 19 December 2023: Effective 4 December 2023 Captain Emma Xiang, Chaplain, Gateways - Homelessness VIC East, Victoria Division. Effective 10 January 2023 Aux-Lieutenant Soseh Cowham*, Team Member, Northern Rivers - Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Casino, NSW/ACT Division‌. (*Congratulations to Soseh Cowham who has recently been accepted as an Auxiliary-Lieutenant). Major Erica Jones, First Five Years of Officership & Aux-Lt Development Coordinator‌, Office of the Secretary for Personnel. Captain Donna Sutcliffe, Team Leader, Northern Rivers - Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Casino, NSW/ACT Division (Title Change). Captain Philip Sutcliffe, Team Leader, Northern Rivers - Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Casino, NSW/ACT Division (Title Change). Effective 5 February 2024 Captain Gavin Jones, Corps Officer, Karratha, ‌Western Australia Division. Captain Jodie Jones, Corps Officer, Karratha, ‌Western Australia Division. The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 21 November 2023: Effective 21 November 2023 Major Brendan Nottle, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Melbourne Project 614, Victoria Division (title change). Major Sandra Nottle, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Melbourne Project 614, Victoria Division (title change). Lieut.-Colonel Stuart Reid, Spiritual Life Projects Team Leader, Office of the Territorial Commander (Title Change), Assistant Head of Mission Support, Office of the Secretary for Mission (‌Concurrent Appointment unchanged)‌. Effective 1 December 2023 Major Nigel MacDonald, Chaplaincy Team Leader, Salvos Stores, Mission Enterprises. Major Tracey Wicks, Chaplaincy Team Leader, Salvos Stores, Mission Enterprises. Effective 10 January 2024 Major Gaye Day, Corps Officer, Whyalla, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, ‌(Concurrent Appointment). Captain Richard Day, Corps Officer, Whyalla, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, ‌(Concurrent Appointment). Lieutenant Alice Edge, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Unley, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, ‌(Title Change). Captain Neil Gray*, Corps Officer, Palmerston, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, Response Coordinator, SAES - Northern Territory, Office of the Secretary for Mission‌, (Concurrent Appointments). Captain Sherrelee Gray*, Corps Officer, Palmerston, (Primary Appointment), Chaplain, Catherine Booth House, South Australia / Northern Territory Division‌, (Secondary Appointment). Major Esther Ong*, International Services Support Officer - Team Member, Office of the Secretary for Personnel. Major Paul Ong*, Team Member, Sydney City Salvos, Chaplain, Inner City, New South Wales / ACT Division, (Concurrent Appointments). Major Judy Shaw, Chaplain, Salvos Stores - South Australia, Mission Enterprises. Major Kaye Viney, Chaplain, Catherine Booth House, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, ‌(Rescinded Appointment). Major Charles Watson, Missional Engagement Officer, Subiaco Third Place, Western Australia Division, (Additional Appointment). Major Sharon Watson, Missional Engagement Officer, Subiaco Third Place, Western Australia Division, (Additional Appointment). *Majors Esther & Paul Ong and Captains Neil & Sherrelee Gray have been re-accepted as commissioned officers. The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 1 November 2023: INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS Announcement made in conjunction with Hong Kong and Macau Territory: Effective 1 January 2024 Major Glenn Price, Secretary for Business Administration, Hong Kong and Macau Territory. Major Julia Price, Territorial Protection Coordinator - Children & Vulnerable Adults (primary), Territorial Spiritual Life Development Secretary (additional), Hong Kong and Macau Territory. Announcement made in conjunction with Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands Territory: Effective 4 January 2024 Major Melba Crisostomo, Territorial Director for Schools, Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands Territory. The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 10 October 2023: Effective 10 October 2023 Captain Scott Ellery, Assistant to Public Relations Secretary, Western Australia, Office of the Secretary for Communications, ‌(pro-tem). Major Reno Elms, Response Coordinator - South Australia, Office of the Secretary for Mission ‌(Title Change). Major Lincoln Stevens, Response Coordinator - North Queensland. Office of the Secretary for Mission ‌(Title Change). Captain Greg Turnbull, Corps Officer, Greater Grampians Salvos*, ‌Victoria Division ‌(Title Change). Captain Lynne Turnbull, Corps Officer, Greater Grampians Salvos*, ‌Victoria Division (Title Change). *Greater Grampians Salvos will be a multi-site expression with individual expressions called: •‌ Greater Grampians Salvos - Ararat Corps • Greater Grampians Salvos - Stawell Corps Effective 10 January 2024 Major Donna Todd, Faith Communities Development Secretary, Queensland, ‌Office of the Secretary for Mission. Major Colin Hopper, Faith Communities Development - Special Projects, ‌Office of the Secretary for Mission. The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 29 September 2023: INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS Effective 1 January 2024 Colonels Kelvin and Cheralynne Pethybridge, officers of the Australia Territory currently serving respectively as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women's Ministries, Eastern Europe Territory, are appointed as Chief Secretary, International Headquarters and Secretary for Leader Development, International Headquarters. Effective 1 February 2024 Colonels Geoff and Kalie Webb, officers of the Australia Territory currently serving respectively as Executive Secretary to the General and Under Secretary (South Asia), International Headquarters, are appointed as territorial leaders for the Kenya West Territory: Colonel Geoff Webb as Territorial Commander and Colonel Kalie Webb as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. They will be succeeding Commissioners Joash and Florence Malabi (R) who have been giving pro tem leadership to the territory. The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 20 September 2023: Effective 20 September 2023 Territorial Envoy Margaret Coombridge, Recovery Coordinator, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) - Victoria/Tasmania, Office of the Secretary for Mission, ‌(Title Change). Major Sue Hopper, Program Manager, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) -‌ National, Office of the Secretary for Mission, (Title Change). Major Bev Kingston, Recovery Coordinator, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) - NSW, Office of the Secretary for Mission, ‌(Title Change). Major Leanne Stevens, Recovery Team Leader, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) - National, and Recovery Coordinator, ‌Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) - Queensland, Office of the Secretary for Mission, ‌(Concurrent Appointments)‌. Effective 10 January 2024 Lieutenant Peter Hardy, Corps Officer, Fassifern, (Queensland Division). Major Jeff Waller, Territorial Chaplaincy Specialist, Office of the Secretary for Mission, and ‌Divisional Chaplaincy Manager, South Australia/Northern Territory Division, ‌(Concurrent Appointments), and C‌haplain, Salvos Stores - NT Mission Enterprises, ‌(Additional Appointment)‌‌. The Territorial Commander announced the following appointments on 15 September 2023: INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENT Announcement made in conjunction with Sri Lanka Territory Effective 1 November 2023 Major Peter McGuigan, Property Secretary (primary appointment), ‌Assistant Secretary for Business Administration (additional appointment), Sri Lanka Territory. Captain Tara McGuigan, Public Relations Secretary, Sri Lanka Territory. The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 23 August 2023: Effective 24 July 2023 Major Kylie Kop, Honoured Friends Coordinator, Office of the Secretary for Communications. Effective 1 September 2023 Major Darren Aitken, Corps Officer - Team Member, Merri-bek City Salvos*, Victoria Division (pro-tem). Captain Melanie Cop, Corps Officer - Team Member, Merri-bek City Salvos*, Victoria Division. Captain Meg Dale, Corps Officer - Team Member, Merri-bek City Salvos*, Victoria Division. Lieutenant Steph Glover, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Merri-bek City Salvos*, Victoria Division. Lieutenant Alison Templar, Corps Officer - Team Member, Merri-bek City Salvos*, Victoria Division. *The Merri-Bek City Salvos is a new multi-site expression encompassing the Merri-bek Corps and Brunswick Corps. Major Andrew Jarvey, Area Officer, Southern WA, Western Australia Division (moving to full-time). Major Priya Morgan, Ministry and Support Manager - Family Violence, National, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Major Christine Pickens, National Coordinator/Trainer, Positive Lifestyle Program, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Major Karina Wood, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Mandurah, Western Australia Division (moving to full-time). Effective 15 October 2023 Major Nancy Chuang Lu, Corps Officer - Team Member, Project 614, Victoria Division. Captain Paul Chen, Corps Officer - Team Member, Waverley Temple, Victoria Division. RESCINDED APPOINTMENT Effective 14 August 2023 Major Niall Gibson, Corps Officer - Team Member, Katherine Corps, SA/NT Division, (Rescinded Additional Appointment, pro-tem). The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 17 August 2023: Effective 1 October 2023 Major David Collinson, Executive Officer, Mission - Salvos Stores, Mission Enterprises. The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 25 July 2023: Effective 1 July 2023 Major Gary Masters, Assistant to Secretary for Communications, Office of the Secretary for Communications. Major Claire Watson, Chaplain, Bramwell House, South Australia/Northern Territory Division (Additional & pro-tem Appointment). Captain Tara McGuigan, Public Relations Secretary, ACT/Southern NSW and Multicultural NSW, Office of the Secretary for Communications. Effective 20 July 2023 Major Russell Anderson, Chaplain, Langi Kal Kal Prison, Victoria Division (Additional Appointment). Effective 7 August 2023 Captain Katrina Hindle, Red Shield Defence Services Representative, Enoggera (Qld), Office of the Secretary for Mission. Effective 14 August 2023 Major Evonne Packer, Assistant to the office of the Head of Social Mission, Office of the Secretary for Mission (pro-tem). Effective 1 September 2023 Major Dean Clarke, Area Officer, ACT/NSW South Coast, New South Wales/ACT Division. Major Craig Farrell, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Richmond, Victoria Division. Captain Ellen Farrell, Corps Officer - Team Member, Richmond, Victoria Division. The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 27 June 2023: Effective 12 June 2023 Captain Dale Allan, Special Projects Officer, South Australia/Northern Territory Division (pro-tem Appointment). Effective 13 June 2023 Captain Annita Allman, Children's Ministry Leadership Development Specialist, Office of the Secretary for Mission, (Concurrent Appointment). Effective 10 July 2023 Major Phil Staines, Team Leader - Inala Street Level Mission, Queensland Division (title change). Effective 17 July 2023 Major Michelle Oliver, Enterprise Change Advisor, Governance - Office of the Chief Secretary, (Additional Appointment). RESCINDED APPOINTMENT Effective 1 July 2023 Captain Greg Turnbull, Chaplain - Langi Kal Kal Prison, Victoria Division, (Rescinded Additional Appointment). The Territorial Commander approved the following appointments on 22 May 2023: Effective 15 May 2023 Major Melanie-Anne Holland, Modern Slavery and Anti-Human Trafficking Territorial Contact, Governance - Office of the Chief Secretary, (Additional Appointment). Major Phil Inglis, Enterprise Change Advisor, Governance - Office of the Chief Secretary, (Additional Appointment). Effective 22 May 2023 Major Julia Metcher, Corps Officer, Tarrawanna, New South Wales / ACT Division, (Concurrent Appointment, pro-tem). Effective 1 June 2023 Major Lynn Boughton, Officer Personnel Secretary - Team Leader, SA/NT, Office of the Secretary for Personnel, (Concurrent Appointment). Major Andrew Jarvey, Area Officer Southern WA* & Divisional Mission Project Officer (pro-tem), Western Australia Division. *Reallocation of Southern WA Area pro-tem Major Lance Jeffrey, Chaplain - Homelessness, Melbourne & Western Metro regions, Victoria Division. Captain Aaron Stobie, Officer Personnel Secretary - Team Member, SA/NT, Office of the Secretary for Personnel, & Corps Officer - Team Member, North East Salvos Campbelltown/Oakden, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, (Concurrent Appointments & Title Change). Captain Lauren Stobie, Corps Officer - Team Leader, North East Salvos Campbelltown/Oakden, South Australia / Northern Territory Division, (Title Change). Effective 3 July 2023 Major Jenny Begent, Assistant Secretary for Mission, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Captain Brad McIver, Head of Social Mission, Office of the Secretary for Mission. The General approved, and the Territorial Commander announced the following on 19 May 2023: Effective 30 June 2023 Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Venables will take Extended Leave, Long Service Leave and Sabbatical Leave. Effective 1 July 2023 Major Gregory Morgan, Secretary for Mission, Office of the Secretary for Mission, (with promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel). Captain Stuart Glover, Secretary for Business Support, Office of the Secretary for Business Support. Appointment of Governance Lead to be announced. International Appointments Announcement made in conjunction with The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia Territory on 11 May 2023: Effective 1 August 2023 Captain Kris Halliday, Corps Officer, Amsterdam West, The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia Territory. Captain Ashir and Hummera Morris, Corps Officers - Team Members: Central Vic Salvos with responsibility for Bendigo Corps, Victoria Division. Territorial Appointment The Territorial Commander approved the following appointment on 11 May 2023: Effective 8 May 2023 Major Brad Watson, Vanuatu Ministry Oversight, Office of the Secretary for Mission. (Additional Appointment). The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 19 April 2023: Effective 12 April 2023 Auxiliary-Lieutenant Matthew Pethybridge, Corps Officer - Team Member, Norwest Salvos - Rouse Hill, Dural, New South Wales / ACT Division, (pro-tem, Concurrent Appointment). Effective 20 April 2023 Major Karen Masters, Communications Care and Support Officer, Office of the Secretary for Communications. Effective 22 May 2023 Major Belinda Spicer, Chaplain, Weeroona Aged Care - NSW/ACT, Aged Care, Mission Enterprises. The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 20 March 2023: Effective 27 February 2023 Lieutenant Steph Glover, Corps Officer, Merri-bek*, Victoria Division, (Title Change). Effective 5 March 2023 Major Karen Saunders, Corps Officer - Team Leader, Geelong, Victoria Division, (Title Change). Effective 23 March 2023 Captain Amanda Hart, Corps Officer, South Coast Gippsland Salvos**, Victoria Division, (Title Change). Effective 1 April 2023 Major Beth Brooks, International Service Support Officer - Team Leader, Office of the Secretary for Personnel, (Title Change). Major Romona Kinder, International Service Support Officer - Team Member, Office of the Secretary for Personnel, (Title Change). Major Julia Price, Associate International Service Support Officer, Office of the Secretary for Personnel, (Title Change). Effective 11 April 2023 Major Grant Sandercock-Brown, Corps Officer, Nambucca River, NSW/ACT Division, (Primary Appointment). Major Sharon Sandercock-Brown, Corps Officer, Nambucca River, NSW/ACT Division, (Additional Appointment). *Moreland City Corps name change to Merri-bek Corps **South Coast Gippsland Salvos encompasses Leongatha and Wonthaggi Corps The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 28 February 2023: Effective 24 February 2023 Lieut.-Colonel Stuart Reid, Assistant Head of Mission Support, Office of the Secretary for Mission, Spiritual Life Support Officer, Office of the Secretary for Spiritual Life, (Concurrent Appointments). Effective 6 March 2023 Captain Monty Bhardwaj, Community Services Specialist Victoria/Tasmania, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Effective 23 March 2023 Captain Amy Jones, Corps Officer - Team Member, Central Vic Salvos, with responsibility for Castlemaine Corps, Victoria Division. Effective 1 June 2023 Auxiliary-Lieutenant Catherine Philpot, Pastoral Services Manager Assistant, Office of the Secretary for Personnel. The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 13 February 2023: Effective 13 February 2023 Major David Collinson, Public Relations Secretary, NSW/ACT, Office of the Secretary for Communications (Title Change, Concurrent Appointment). Auxiliary-Lieutenant Matt Pethybridge, Team Member, Norwest Salvos - Rouse Hill, Dural, New South Wales/ACT Division (pro-tem, Additional Appointment). Effective 13 February 2023 Captain Harriet Farquhar, Team Leader - Admin Support Officer, New South Wales/ACT Division (Additional Appointment). Effective 1 March 2023 Major Clover Fabre, Chaplain, Gold Coast Recovery Services, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Effective 5 March 2023 Auxiliary-Lieutenant Nathan Rowe*, Corps Officer - Team Member, Geelong, Victoria Division. Effective 18 March 2023 Auxiliary-Lieutenant Mark Curtis*, Mission Leader, Garden of Hope, Western Australia Division. *Congratulations to Nathan and Mark who were recently accepted as Auxiliary-Lieutenants International Appointments (Announcement made in conjunction with the Japan Territory). Effective 1 April 2023 Major Daniel Templeman Twells, Training Principal (Primary Appointment) & Spiritual Life Development Secretary (Additional Appointment), Japan Territory. Major Melissa Templeman Twells, Corps Officer, Koto, Japan Territory. The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 27 January 2023: Effective 27 January 2023 Lieutenants Cindy and Henry Roehrig, Corps Officers, Inverell, New South Wales / ACT Division. (Appointments as Corps Officers, Glenn Innes rescinded). Effective 1 February 2023 Major Jeanette Stoltenberg, Executive Officer to Territorial Commander, Office of the Territorial Commander. (Additional Appointment). Effective 20 February 2023 Captain Annita Allman, Admin Support Officer, Victoria Division. (Concurrent Appointment with Children’s Ministry Leadership Development Specialist pro-tem). Captain David Allman, Corps Officer, Cranbourne, Victoria Division. Effective 1 March 2023 Major Bev Kingston, Strategic Emergency & Disaster Management Specialist – NSW Office of the Secretary for Mission. Captain Tara McGuigan, Assistant Public Relations Secretary – NSW/ACT Office of the Secretary for Communications. (Additional Appointment). Captain Matthew Moore, Officer Personnel Secretary - Team Member Victoria, Office of the Secretary for Personnel. (Primary Appointment) and Project Management Officer, Governance – Office of the Chief Secretary (Additional Appointment, pro-tem). The Territorial Commander approved the following territorial appointments on 17 January 2023: Effective 12 January 2023 Auxiliary-Lieutenant Liam Holland*, Corps Officer – Pine Rivers, Queensland Division. Auxiliary-Lieutenant Alli Holland*, Corps Officer – Pine Rivers Queensland Division. *Congratulations to Alli and Liam who were recently accepted as Auxiliary-Lieutenants. Effective 27 February 2023 Major Paul Hateley, Divisional Commander – South Australia / Northern Territory Division. Major Wendy Hateley, Faith Communities Development Secretary - SA/NT Mission Support Department, Office of the Secretary for Mission. Effective 1 March 2023 Major David Collinson, Head of Public Relations, Australia, Office of the Secretary for Communications, (Concurrent Appointment). Major Peter McGuigan, Head of Government Relations, Office of the Secretary for Communications. Major Vannessa Garven, Corps Officer - Sydney Congress Hall – NSW & Faith Integration Leader – Sydney City Salvos, New South Wales/ACT Division(Additional Appointment, pro tem).

To read the tribute for George, click here

BY LERISSE SMITH A fusion of colour, creativity and innovation featured at the opening of The Salvation Army’s new Sunshine Hub in Melbourne. Playing a vital role in the Sunshine community and surrounding precincts, the renovated two-storey premises in Devonshire Rd, officially opened by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, unites a range of Salvation Army services plus some other organisations, such as Centrelink that co-locates once a week, to service the local community and surrounding precincts. And it has been an exciting time for the Youth Services West Metro team who have seen the downstairs floor transformed from an old storage room of rubbish and cobwebs to a bright, warm and welcoming Youth Hub space for all. “It’s a beautiful space now,” said Chichi Kafula, Youth Client Services Coordinator. “There are paintings on the walls, colourful fingerprints of younger children on the windows and doors. Downstairs is now very youth friendly.” The Youth Hub occupies the ground level of the Sunshine Hub, while offices are located on the top floor. The services contained in the premises include homelessness (for adults); youth (which acts on behalf of an Access Point – a homelessness entry point that young people at risk of/experiencing homelessness can go to for support); an AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) program; Salvation Army Housing that manages its community and transitional housing properties. Additionally, there are Housing and Prison Pathways, plus child and parenting programs. Chichi said one of the key features of the Sunshine Hub was the great culture amongst staff fostered through working collaboratively and respectfully with one another and a willingness to help each other out between programs, services and staff skills whenever required to achieve the best possible outcomes. One such example is the youth services team, which bands together to assist local youths requiring help either physically, emotionally/mentally, financially, or a combination of the three. And the new creative Youth Hub downstairs is cause for much excitement for both staff and local youths. “For us, the hub is our new space,” said Kass Garofalo, Youth Hub Coordinator. “It’s about what the young people want from the space. It’s about getting input and feedback from the young people that we have coming through the hub and collecting the hard data so we can really advocate for more funding or more staffing within certain areas.” Local youths can pop into the hub anytime during the week to have some respite, hang out, use its shower facilities if needed, cook a meal, obtain some information and support from the youth services team, and anything else they may require. “Young people don’t need to be either engaged in our service or wanting to engage in our service. The hub is a place where young people can come just to use the facilities,” Kass said. “We’ve got washing machines, showers, a kitchenette, as well as a big dining table and areas to relax. The hub is basically about meeting whatever need the young person who comes through the door is looking for.” Chichi added that she found the young people who first came into the hub, especially if they were new to the youth service, often had feelings of hopelessness. “But given the welcoming hub space that Kass has taken a lot of time to create, just seeing a smile on their faces when they walk out is just something that makes me feel proud of the work that we do,” she said. Assistance offered to youths also includes housing support right through to filling out a form or applying for a piece of identification when having trouble digitising documents. One source of pride for Kass and the team is being a service that will work with young people that other organisations may turn away from assisting, for a variety of reasons, due to the many connections throughout its network. The team will undertake an assessment when the young person comes in and discusses their goals, followed by advocation in the background to get the appropriate service/organisation to meet their needs and ensure they do their job. Both Chichi and Kass said the team’s overall goal was to benefit the community in whatever way they could to assist others and focus on what they could do, not what they could not do. And success stories help keep the momentum going. “We had a young man come in who we supported last year. At the time when he came in, he just felt like there were no more options for him. He felt really hopeless,” Kass said. “But then he walked in our doors a few months ago to just say thank you and that he was still in the property we helped him obtain. It’s those little things that they do remember, and when walking past (our hub), feel they can come in and just say thank you ... so, we do see that change from when they first come in and when they leave.” One of the key issues the youth services team face regularly is housing affordability. Chichi said if they had a 16-year-old experiencing homelessness and on Centrelink, on a good day they would probably earn around $500 a fortnight that could barely see them into not even a share house, with social housing now becoming unaffordable too and in short supply. Another huge problem is early intervention, as many young people or families seek support when they are in crisis mode. The lack of mental health resources is contributing to the issue. “The main reason for entering into our youth service is if you’re at risk of homelessness or already currently homeless, so it starts from there, and then we branch out,” Chichi said. “If they’re at risk, we can do some work to help them stay in the home so they don’t have to end up being homeless. If they’re already homeless, we can do some work to help them obtain long-term housing, but usually the main entry reason would be at risk of or experiencing homelessness.” Holistic case management is a key to their work, assessing all areas of the person’s life to see what can be done and addressed, with this approach resulting in lives positively transformed. Another example is a young asylum seeker who walked through their doors and was basically the main support for his whole family as they had no work rights, no access to anything, and in rental arrears. The team was able to help the family move into another property, which they had identified already, set up house, and apply for funding for the family, plus anything else they could do to assist them. “From the day they walked in, they were very low, very meek, very quiet, not a smile on their face,” Kass said. “Now, I run into this person (the asylum seeker) on the street, and he's made the time to stop, shake my hand, and thank me (our team).”

If you and I are going to navigate the times we are living in, I believe we are going to need to take the peace-bringing character of Jesus into our hearts and minds. For Scripture tells us that God’s peace is unlike anything the world can offer, it surpasses all understanding – it does not depend on the state of a nation, nor does it hinge on personal wellbeing. By God’s grace, this circumstance-defying peace dwells within us. At Christmas, we are invited to contemplate again the gift of Jesus, Prince of Peace, who came and made his home with us: “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory ... true from start to finish,” (John 1:14, The Message). Through his earthly ministry, people watched as Jesus endured and embraced the mess of humanity, proving to be steadfast, true, and lasting, proving that peace is something worthwhile, proving that peace is not a distant dream, but an attainable reality. When we place Jesus at the centre of our lives, this same peace finds complete freedom in our hearts. And, as people committed to Jesus, we find ourselves right in the centre of his will, restoring us to a wholeness that lasts far beyond any personal trial or triumph. So, this Christmas, let’s pray that peace would not be a substitute for wishful thinking, but for purposeful action rooted in love; something we cultivate through Jesus-centred living. I pray that we, as a Salvation Army, would hold firm to the knowledge that not only can we plead, “Let there be peace on earth,” but that we would possess the will for it to begin with us. I pray your Christmas season is a blessed one. Allow your heart to become a sanctuary of peace as you experience afresh the gift of God’s love in His Son, Jesus Christ. Blessings, Bronwyn Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham (World President of Women's Ministries) To view the video of this message, click here, or watch below.